Kolo Toure

[Pretty Boy Lee]

I hate to do this as I hate having a boo boy, BUT has anyone else noticed his tendency to completly mistime simple clearances lately? I'm having serious worries that this guy is going to cost us a few vital points if we stick with him. Agaisnt Wigan he made a meal of several seemingly simple clearances and it seems to be happening a lot recently.

The sad part is, outside of Ade and Carlos he was the signing I expected the most from. As much as I loved Dunnie I've craved a real ball playing CB for years, I got it in the end, but it turned out to be Kompany.

I hope I'm wrong and he turns it round, but is everyone else thinking this or am I on my own?

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

I think it's quite clear now to everyone that he is a liability. The way he singlehandedly tried to gift a relatively easy game where we were in driving seat against Wigan, was the final straw.

Anyway, I believe Lescott and Vincenzo K have it in them to be our first choice pairing in the future and Toure will probably move on. It's quite possible that Mancini will look to bring top centerback in the summer and he has already shown in my opinion that as squad players he prefers talented youngsters over seasoned pros with flaws in their game.

[Kyle]

Onouha is a great ball playing center back... If he got a run of games and felt comfortable next to Vk or Lescott he could be a great 3rd choice center back. I thought he was rather impressive against Burnley, not that he had too much to do.

[Vhero]

I think he was partly brought in as we needed a CB desperately at the time and that Hughes was coveting his brother aswell and thought with him in our team it would increase our chances. Obviously with Hughes gone our plans have changed but I don't think he is too bad and we seen worse. Not a top 4 defender though. I still can't get over how well Kompany has performed in CB since being put there..

[john@staustell]

Onouha is a great ball playing center back... If he got a run of games and felt comfortable next to Vk or Lescott he could be a great 3rd choice center back. I thought he was rather impressive against Burnley, not that he had too much to do.

Sorry mate, he´s proved many times that he aint (check out the Anfield match, their equaliser). And anytime he starts looking good, he gets injured for another 6 months.

And Boyata is a good prospect etc blah blah.

But unfortunately Kolo is our better option at present with others injured. Not saying he`s great, but there´s a tendency to big up academy players, and denigrate half-decent senior players because they´re not quite as ´invincible´ as they once were.

He´s been there, seen it, done it. But Lescott must be due back soon eh?

And i reckon most of us on here could´ve done an RB job against Burnley, including John68.

[Mike J]

I think he was partly brought in as we needed a CB desperately at the time and that Hughes was coveting his brother aswell and thought with him in our team it would increase our chances. Obviously with Hughes gone our plans have changed but I don't think he is too bad and we seen worse. Not a top 4 defender though. I still can't get over how well Kompany has performed in CB since being put there..

why? he has played there loads of times for previous club and for belgium. its always been his strongest position.

[dazby]

I think he was partly brought in as we needed a CB desperately at the time and that Hughes was coveting his brother aswell and thought with him in our team it would increase our chances. Obviously with Hughes gone our plans have changed but I don't think he is too bad and we seen worse. Not a top 4 defender though. I still can't get over how well Kompany has performed in CB since being put there..

Top bombing there Vhero. I agree 100%. I also thought centre mid was Vinnies best position.

[Vhero]

I think he was partly brought in as we needed a CB desperately at the time and that Hughes was coveting his brother aswell and thought with him in our team it would increase our chances. Obviously with Hughes gone our plans have changed but I don't think he is too bad and we seen worse. Not a top 4 defender though. I still can't get over how well Kompany has performed in CB since being put there..

why? he has played there loads of times for previous club and for belgium. its always been his strongest position.

I don't mean I'm surprised he's performing well at CB just he's performing way above my expectations and considering CB is his second position he's actually playing better there than any of our other CBs. If that makes sense?

[gaudy]

Toure was past it when we bought him,wenger knew it, arse fans knew it,everyone knew it except the people who are paid thousands a week to spot and bring in players to the club didnt feckin see it.
granted taking a player from another country and takin a chance on him can backfire but this was common knowledge as he was in our own league,watchin him closely week in ,week out.....
and giving him the captains armbard is beyond a joke.

ok think ye get it............i dont like or rate him!!!

[brite blu sky]

the only thing i would say is that if we are competing seriously for all honours next season then 2 CB and academy back up is not enough.
But as i set out in a thread a while ago, there are certain players who have to show that they have got it before the end of this season, because we will need a more comprehensive squad next season especially if we are competing in the CL.

If anything the rise of City is making the PL even tougher than it was ( the points spread suggests this ) look at the current top 3.. they are all having BIG problems with not enough fit players to fill key positions. Chelsea now have a second string defence, Arsenal also.

In the end this problem costs titles and trophies.

we may well keep Toure even if we do sign a top notch CB in the summer. just so we have enough cover.