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Battle has been joined in the race to populate the heart of the Blues back four.

Joleon Lescott’s timely return to action against Bolton, Micah Richards’ recovery from injury and Dedryck Boyata’s emergence from the reserves have all increased the pressure on those in possession of the shirts.

And the man they all have to oust for a place is the bang in form Belgian Vincent Kompany who, after playing most of his early games for the Blues in midfield, has made a successful and eye-catching switch to the centre of the defence.

Half of Kompany’s appearances as a centre half have ended with a clean sheet for the Blues and he is happy to carry on in the role as long as boss Roberto Mancini asks him to.

“I have always said that it doesn’t make a difference to me whether I play in midfield or defence,” declared Kompany.

"I expect the same performance from
myself whether I am at the back or
higher up the pitch. The most
important thing for me is to be in the
team. That is what I want to achieve."

“If I stay in the team as a central defender then that is good. I am a proper centre half as much as I am a proper midfielder it really doesn’t make a difference to me. Different coaches have different ideas where I should play and that is fine by me.

“Hopefully if the manager sees me as a long term central defender then I can grow to be a top, top player in that position.”

Mancini is likely to have a nap hand of central defensive candidates from which to choose against Stoke in Saturday evening’s FA Cup fifth round clash at CoMs.

Micah Richards is back in training following three games out with a calf strain and the knee problem that forced skipper Toure out of the win over Bolton in the second half has not proved serious and he is also in contention.

The Blues will however be without attacking threats Craig Bellamy (injured) and Adam Johnson (cup tied) for the bid to make the last eight.

mcfc.co.uk

Steve wrote:I really like Kompany, and I'm chuffed he's in the team. I can't believe he was getting so much stick on here over the summer. There were plenty of people saying he is shit at centre half. All I can say is long may this continue.

Bingo Lewis wrote:

Steve wrote:I really like Kompany, and I'm chuffed he's in the team. I can't believe he was getting so much stick on here over the summer. There were plenty of people saying he is shit at centre half. All I can say is long may this continue.

Totally agree.
And I still think he should be Captain.

Steve wrote:

Bingo Lewis wrote:

Steve wrote:I really like Kompany, and I'm chuffed he's in the team. I can't believe he was getting so much stick on here over the summer. There were plenty of people saying he is shit at centre half. All I can say is long may this continue.

Totally agree.
And I still think he should be Captain.

I think you should be captain

Bingo Lewis wrote:

Steve wrote:

Bingo Lewis wrote:

Steve wrote:I really like Kompany, and I'm chuffed he's in the team. I can't believe he was getting so much stick on here over the summer. There were plenty of people saying he is shit at centre half. All I can say is long may this continue.

Totally agree.
And I still think he should be Captain.

I think you should be captain

You know, I was considering offering my services.

I might just do that now.

Cheers Sibs

Bingo Lewis wrote:

Steve wrote:I really like Kompany, and I'm chuffed he's in the team. I can't believe he was getting so much stick on here over the summer. There were plenty of people saying he is shit at centre half. All I can say is long may this continue.

Totally agree.
And I still think he should be Captain.

btajim wrote:

Bingo Lewis wrote:

Steve wrote:I really like Kompany, and I'm chuffed he's in the team. I can't believe he was getting so much stick on here over the summer. There were plenty of people saying he is shit at centre half. All I can say is long may this continue.

Totally agree.
And I still think he should be Captain.

I think De Jong is more of a Captain.

We've been talking about great debuts recently (A. Johnson, Given, McManamanaman) and I'd like to proffer Kompany against West Ham. IIRC, the ink on his contract was still wet but he came in and did a great job in the holding role.

Steve wrote:

btajim wrote:We've been talking about great debuts recently (A. Johnson, Given, McManamanaman) and I'd like to proffer Kompany against West Ham. IIRC, the ink on his contract was still wet but he came in and did a great job in the holding role.

Spot on mate! He had me coming in my pants that day.

btajim wrote:

Steve wrote:

btajim wrote:We've been talking about great debuts recently (A. Johnson, Given, McManamanaman) and I'd like to proffer Kompany against West Ham. IIRC, the ink on his contract was still wet but he came in and did a great job in the holding role.

Spot on mate! He had me coming in my pants that day.

Too much information, Steve.

I thought he was better than alot of the previous contenders for the thankless chore of holding midfield, though. Reyna the Crab or Gelson Fernandes / Fernandes Gelson.

Original Dub wrote:Yes he's doing well - one of our best defenders in the last three games or so.

But none of our defenders look like top defenders and Kompany has been at fault slightly less than the others so in that regard he's looking better than the rest. I think Lescott is better though, but ideally I'd like Toure and Ned, with Lescott right back.

Our defensive organisation is shit though and its hard to say who the best is until we get working as a consistant unit and one weak link becomes clear... that hasn't been the case for a long long time and Dunne paid the price for that IMO.

Original Dub wrote:Yes he's doing well - one of our best defenders in the last three games or so.

But none of our defenders look like top defenders and Kompany has been at fault slightly less than the others so in that regard he's looking better than the rest. I think Lescott is better though, but ideally I'd like Toure and Ned, with Lescott right back.

Our defensive organisation is shit though and its hard to say who the best is until we get working as a consistant unit and one weak link becomes clear... that hasn't been the case for a long long time and Dunne paid the price for that IMO.

Oh how I wish we had Dunne. Now that's a centre half!

Original Dub wrote:Yes he's doing well - one of our best defenders in the last three games or so.

But none of our defenders look like top defenders and Kompany has been at fault slightly less than the others so in that regard he's looking better than the rest. I think Lescott is better though, but ideally I'd like Toure and Ned, with Lescott right back.

Our defensive organisation is shit though and its hard to say who the best is until we get working as a consistant unit and one weak link becomes clear... that hasn't been the case for a long long time and Dunne paid the price for that IMO.

Oh how I wish we had Dunne. Now that's a centre half!

Bluez wrote:

Original Dub wrote:Yes he's doing well - one of our best defenders in the last three games or so.

But none of our defenders look like top defenders and Kompany has been at fault slightly less than the others so in that regard he's looking better than the rest. I think Lescott is better though, but ideally I'd like Toure and Ned, with Lescott right back.

Our defensive organisation is shit though and its hard to say who the best is until we get working as a consistant unit and one weak link becomes clear... that hasn't been the case for a long long time and Dunne paid the price for that IMO.

Oh how I wish we had Dunne. Now that's a centre half!

I think that is the main point, its almost impossible to determine who is a good defender or not as none have had a run in the team due to injuries or suspentions. Right now I would just like to see the same four get a run of five games together and then we can decide.