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I don't want this to turn into a thread full of Javi-bashing because the lad's getting it from all quarters at the minute. He's being asked to do a job filling in for our skipper and main man - big enough boots to fill for someone whose natural position it is.

All that aside, it surely is time for Micah to be given the role of Vinnie's understudy. Following the frankly baffling decision to let Kolo go to Liverpool, we lack mobility in there (as well as balance) whenever VK can't play - which, let's face it, is pretty often - so the time must be upon us when Micah is asked to step in again. Whenever Vinnie's fit, Richards can scrap it out with Zabs for RB, but I think he needs to take on the added responsibility of being our go-to Vinnie stand-in.

I'm sure he'd be up for it too; he had his second best season for us playing there. Moreover, getting the chance to showcase his versatility will only increase his chances of getting the call-up for Brazil.

Does anyone NOT agree with this? I can understand why Pellegrini sees him as more of a full-back than a centre-half, given that he's barely played there for years. I'd play Lescott at Chelsea and then throw Micah in up at Newcastle.

Been saying this for years. Has all the tools, yet hasn't played there on forever.

Imo, Micah has always been a central defender. When he was struggling under Hughes, I said then that I don't think he is a fullback, he just got put there & it stuck.

The problem imo is that he's not played cb often enough in recent years & he tends to get caught out here & there when he first goes back in. He tends to drop the odd bollock as he settles down, then he gets booted back to rb. But the same thing has been happening to Nastasic on a regular basis since he came to the club, so if we are willing to put up with it in the case of Nastasic, why not give Micah a go? He is much faster & much better in the air. At a younger age, he was defending against some of the best strikers ever to play in this country, at the back of a vastly inferior team. He was, on the whole, miles better than most kids of his age accross the world & way better than Nastasic is now.

The comparison with Garcia doesn't even merit a mention as there isn't one.

If Micah had been playing cb since the takeover, I recon he & Vinny would be the nailed on No1 partnership now.

Agree. He wouldn't be out jumped or out muscled like Garcia. Positional sense not ideal but neither is Garcias.
Dont think Garcia is a bad player, lets not forget he's usually in Spains squad. He's played out of position which cant help confidence. Its strange then how he gets nod over an actual centre half in Lescott but we dont know the ins and outs of what happens in training.
Think Micah is gonna struggle to get back in England fold. Dont know why but succesive managers have ignored him. Not a problem from a City perspective as less games to be injured in or tire in.

Whilst I agree that Lescott would be a better option than Garcia, the problem is that both Joleon and Nasti really need someone solid next to them, neither will be the "lead" in a centre back pairing?

As for Micah, hmmmm, I am just wondering why he hasn't put himself forward to Pellegrini and said "look boss, that is where I started out"?

Perhaps he has offered his services and Pellegrini weighed up the options and deciding that he didn't want to risk our right back cover given how fragile Micah has been. He may also have considered that Garcia was worth gambling on last night as CSKA had been piss poor and not scored a goal in god knows how long & also had Joleon to sub him if things were really going pear shaped. (Lucky for Garcia that Sergio levelled so quickly because he would have been subbed if he hadn't? A big gamble by Pelligrini but fortunately it paid off.)

But for Chelsea it HAS to be either Joleon or Micah IF either Vinnie & Dimechelis aren't available still.

Or perhaps Micah didn't fancy put himself in the frame as he would get the same treatment that Garcia has had by becoming the fall guy. Not happy seeing him in that position but you cant blame him for being put there.

Micah has played cb for us and England. It totally perplexes me why pellers would even think about playing Garcia there. You don't need a Uefa pro licence to see that Garcia is crap. I like Pellers but I totally disagree with his decision to play garcia at cb.

no brainer

Ted Hughes wrote:Imo, Micah has always been a central defender. When he was struggling under Hughes, I said then that I don't think he is a fullback, he just got put there & it stuck.

The problem imo is that he's not played cb often enough in recent years & he tends to get caught out here & there when he first goes back in. He tends to drop the odd bollock as he settles down, then he gets booted back to rb. But the same thing has been happening to Nastasic on a regular basis since he came to the club, so if we are willing to put up with it in the case of Nastasic, why not give Micah a go? He is much faster & much better in the air. At a younger age, he was defending against some of the best strikers ever to play in this country, at the back of a vastly inferior team. He was, on the whole, miles better than most kids of his age accross the world & way better than Nastasic is now.

The comparison with Garcia doesn't even merit a mention as there isn't one.

If Micah had been playing cb since the takeover, I recon he & Vinny would be the nailed on No1 partnership now.

May be wrong but I seem to recall that he actually wanted to play FB because he felt he couldnt handle being CB ...

Now he's matured a bit I would prefare to see him try CB again as opposed to Garcia, he isnt a defender and it's a demanding role as it is. It seems that Pellers doesnt like two lefties in central defence so surely Richards should be looking at filling that hole while Vinnie is injured - he won't get as much game time if Zabba keeps up decent form.

Anyway, hopefully Vinnie will be fit for weekend - its something that needs addressing though because Vinnies injury record recently is a concern especially if its down to rushing him back too early.

He's shit as his natural position to. It shouldnt even be a question, lescott should be starting every game and mich as back up if he ain't playin fullback.

I still think he's a more effective right back and was superb for us in the title winning season, especially at OT. Not many people can deal with his pace and power flying down on the overlap. He looked even better than he did at his best at CB.

I have no doubt that he'd be a better centre back then Garcia and it does seem like a good idea but i'm not sure if his positional play is good enough to be a long term cb. He was superb under Sven there but then was average to poor under Hughes. Often he'd be left relying on his pace to try and rescue situations he'd got himself into due to poor positioning.


Agree with the OP in general. So short term yes but long term no and as others have said we really need a new top class cb.

Bridge'srightfoot wrote:I still think he's a more effective right back and was superb for us in the title winning season, especially at OT. Not many people can deal with his pace and power flying down on the overlap. He looked even better than he did at his best at CB.

I have no doubt that he'd be a better centre back then Garcia and it does seem like a good idea but i'm not sure if his positional play is good enough to be a long term cb. He was superb under Sven there but then was average to poor under Hughes. Often he'd be left relying on his pace to try and rescue situations he'd got himself into due to poor positioning.


Agree with the OP in general. So short term yes but long term no and as others have said we really need a new top class cb.

Agree with this, I thought he looked outstanding at RB in that title winning season.

By the by Pellegrini has confirmed that Vinnie is fit for Sunday.

When is Demichelis fit? Its patently obvious Pellers does not fancy Lescott or Micah to deputise for Vinny. Demichelis was his man at Malaga so maybe he's waiting for his return?

nottsblue wrote:When is Demichelis fit? Its patently obvious Pellers does not fancy Lescott or Micah to deputise for Vinny. Demichelis was his man at Malaga so maybe he's waiting for his return?

He's fit for Sunday too.

Pellegrini's post match quote courtesy of the MEN:

“Vincent Kompany and all of the other players are fit, so we are in a good shape.”

Foreverinbluedreams wrote:
He's fit for Sunday too.

Pellegrini's post match quote courtesy of the MEN:

“Vincent Kompany and all of the other players are fit, so we are in a good shape.”

Think its safe to assume Demicelis will make match day squad. Poss at expense of Lescott

nottsblue wrote:

Foreverinbluedreams wrote:
He's fit for Sunday too.

Pellegrini's post match quote courtesy of the MEN:

“Vincent Kompany and all of the other players are fit, so we are in a good shape.”

Think its safe to assume Demicelis will make match day squad. Poss at expense of Lescott

Hmmmm, definitely maybe. Wouldn't like to throw him in cold to a game like that if anything went twang on Vinnie.

nottsblue wrote:When is Demichelis fit? Its patently obvious Pellers does not fancy Lescott or Micah to deputise for Vinny. Demichelis was his man at Malaga so maybe he's waiting for his return?

Foreverinbluedreams wrote:
He's fit for Sunday too.

Pellegrini's post match quote courtesy of the MEN:

“Vincent Kompany and all of the other players are fit, so we are in a good shape.”

nottsblue wrote:
Think its safe to assume Demicelis will make match day squad. Poss at expense of Lescott

Foreverinbluedreams wrote:
Hmmmm, definitely maybe. Wouldn't like to throw him in cold to a game like that if anything went twang on Vinnie.

I wouldn't either but if we assume Lescott wont feature and its a choice between Garcia and Demichelis who's your money on? I'd for Demicelis over Garcia every time. At least he is a defender and knows Pellers systems and what is required.

Just for clarity we did not let Kolo go - he was out of contract and would only have stayed for guaranteed first team football which wouldn't happen if Kompany is fit. We need a very good right footed replacement who is prepared to spend a lot of time on the bench, which may not be easy to find: young and promising maybe, or at tail end of career like Demichelis, but probably no one at the height if their career will be too keen. Unless they are already with us or can also play another position like Micah. Shame he always gets injured at same time as Vinnie.

Hutch's Shoulder wrote:Just for clarity we did not let Kolo go - he was out of contract and would only have stayed for guaranteed first team football which wouldn't happen if Kompany is fit. We need a very good right footed replacement who is prepared to spend a lot of time on the bench, which may not be easy to find: young and promising maybe, or at tail end of career like Demichelis, but probably no one at the height if their career will be too keen. Unless they are already with us or can also play another position like Micah. Shame he always gets injured at same time as Vinnie.

Unsure about Kolo. Though he's getting games for dippers its only by default. Once Agger/Skrtle are back he'll be a sub at best again. He may as well have stayed with us as move clubs.

Correct in that it'll be difficult to buy in Jan but don't see why we have to get someone in as a stop gap. Why not break bank to get Hummels or Mangala or any top centre half? Yes we'll pay more as its Jan & yes they'll likely be inelligible for Europe but so fucking what. We are loaded and we usually have to pay more because of who we are. Whats the alternative. Make do until summer when we'll sign same player for more money because of WorldCup

I get the feeling Kolo didn't want a contract based on incentives (which our Spaniards are switching everyone to) rather than his existing top loaded contract being renewed. From what I understand we had to pay him quite a wedge to bring him here in the first place. It's a shame really as he would have had a fair few matches this season already.

I like many others always though Micah would be a CB. The season with Dunne he was superb. He has all the tools to do it imo.

Unfortunately Pellegrini was asked in a news conference about him at CB and he pretty much said Micah is a RB, end of. I dont think we will be seeing him there.

I'd still go for Rodwell, or at least try him in a less testing game. Next LC game maybe. (when fit)