Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:Alioune DVToure wrote:I don't agree with you here, NQDP.
After a shaky start, Evra has given a lot going in both directions for the nuems. When fit, Richards has done a good job of it this season for us.
I think if your players are good enough it isn't a problem.
I also disagree about Ashley Cole. He's immense as an attacking force for Chelsea, and the extra width he gives them often enables them to play 3 CMs and boss the middle of the park.
I would agree that the fundamentals for a defender have to be a their ability to defend, but most top sides have full-backs (Alves, Evra, Ramos, LAHM!) that can give you another option going forward, which makes a side more dynamic/less predictable.
Finally, with Barry and De Jong sitting quite deep and covering a flank each defensively, it does give our full-backs license to bomb on - and they do. Look at Zabba's goal last weekend, Micah at Stoke...
Of those four only Evra is genuinely good defender. Alves is alright. Both Lahm and especially Ramos offer nothing as far as defending goes.
Last bit is exactly my point. If we had defensive fullbacks (Zabba is one actually.... only he CAN go forward) and positive central midfielders they would add 5-10 goals and 5-15 assists each. Instead we got attacking fullbacks who add maybe three goals and two assists PUT TOGETHER. Not good enough.
I agree with you in that I prefer fullbacks who can defend 1st, attack 2nd but then imo you need players who are either wingers or can go wide & provide quality in front of them. On the whole, we have neither good attacking fullbacks or quality wide players. Zabba & Micah are getting better at both ends of the pitch but aren't often producing real quality in the final 3rd, Kolarov is a waste of fucking space at both ends & in the middle & a great big fucking fairy to boot.
In the end though, it doesn't matter what we think; Bob's plan A was for the width to come from attacking fullbacks. He's changed that a little bit recently & had more width from elsewhere, even 4-4-2 on occasions but he still seems to favour getting the fullbacks forward whenever possible. If he decides to give that a go again next season, then, whether we like it or not, to make Bob's plan work, it will be in the best interests of the team to sign a better attacking left back than Kolarov unless he improves 200%.
Hopefully Bob will use wingers & attacking midfielders instead.