Kolarov

[horlock2000]

OK, so this guys has scored a couple of nice goals but other than a nice ping... i really cant see what he brings to the table, cant defend, definately not a midielder either.Looks slow! Panic buy?!

[Douglas Higginbottom]

OK, so this guys has scored a couple of nice goals but other than a nice ping... i really cant see what he brings to the table, cant defend, definately not a midielder either.Looks slow! Panic buy?!

If he was a panic buy it was one plenty of other top clubs wanted.He has started to show what he is all about but he is a full back and not a midfield player. He isn't the greatest defender for sure but he will be fine at full back.

[halnone]

He's doing well in my opinion, but obviously there's room for improvement.

[Longball]

same as Bridges, good goin forward but cant defend imo

[BadKompany]

Pace.

He hasn't got enough to combat the games best widemen.I've got to be honest,on the evidence so far,i can't see a vast improvement on Bridge or even Garrido as yet - far too early to cement that judgement though.

[paulmclaren]

Awful today.
Whenever he lost the ball, he just jogged back, made me seeth with anger.
Tosser.
That was one bad game he didn't need.

[Im_Spartacus]

same as Bridges, good goin forward but cant defend imo

Michael?

[s1ty m]

Like Dzeko, is too slow for the PL. Another genius Mancini buy? Seems so.

[Im_Spartacus]

Like Dzeko, is too slow for the PL. Another genius Mancini buy? Seems so.

Thats very harsh on both of them after a handful od games. Dzeko was a fucking nuisances yesterday, which was exactly what we needed?

I'm not a fan of Kolarov.....yet. I suppose we have to see whether Mancini can teach him to defend and maybe see hime come on over the summer like Richards has. If he doesn't markedly improve at left back for next season, he will be a Jo/RSCesque waste of money.

[Goaters 103]

We've paid 16m for a full-back who can't defend it seems, hence we still haven't solved the left-back problem.

He seems to be a Christian Ziege type player, good going forward, decent left peg but a liability when facing any pressure or backpeddling towards his own goal.

[Blue Since 76]

OK, so this guys has scored a couple of nice goals but other than a nice ping... i really cant see what he brings to the table, cant defend, definately not a midielder either.Looks slow! Panic buy?!

If he was a panic buy it was one plenty of other top clubs wanted.He has started to show what he is all about but he is a full back and not a midfield player. He isn't the greatest defender for sure but he will be fine at full back.

What's a full back's job, if it's not defending? I could see mancini wanting to play with attacking fullbacks, but in that case, you need them with pace and stamina to get up and down the line. Pace isn't something you can learn or get through pre-season.

Zabba is still our best leftback and probably best fullback, which is criminal considering what's been spent.

[Original Dub]

I think he's going to be class. As an attacking option. Those of you who think our full backs are going to be great defenders are very mistaken - Mancini wants two attacking full backs to overlap our wingers, leaving the 3 mids and centre halves to lock up shop. I don't neccessarily agree, but that's how it is.

[branny]

Yes he looks much more effective on the left than Bellamy did :(

[Arjan Van Schotte]

i think he's good with the ball at his feet but defensively just too slow, physically and mentally.

[Ted Hughes]

Midfield in the derby was a big ask & he shouldn't be judged on it. However, watching Nani outpace Zabba & Kolarov nowhere near Zabba for pace & reactions makes me think, that whatever he does going forward, he's not going to be up to the job as a fullback against 'proper' teams that use wide players. We may be able to get away with him in plenty of games against lesser teams but the likes of the rags will target him as a weakness unless he improves 50%.

Bob MUST sign a proper LB with pace to strengthen us. If Kolarov getting skinned gets us knocked out of the Chump's Lg next season, 100s of us will be saying 'I told you so' & won't be impressed at all. If our trainers can get two yards more pace out of him then he has a chance but that's a big 'if'. We should not rely on him improving. Don't risk it Bob, sign somebody.

[blues2win]

Not one of our full backs could deal with Nani on their own whether he played on the left or the right ( he's clearly two footed). That absolutely includes Richards. Nani is probably the best wide man in the league ( Bale's a good shout obviously but he isn't two footed really). You can't show him outside because he can cut in and shoot with his left to great effect. The only solution is to double up on him as every team does against Messi ( not always successfully!). That probably meant that Barry should have helped out Zaba consistently (although he's so slow that Nani could probably do him even cutting inside). He did so occasionally but it didn't seem to be part of a clear plan and Mancini has to take the blame for that. On the goal Zaba was exposed one on one and didn't dare get tight because he feared being skinned. My only criticism of him was that he turned his back on the cross which surprised me and I hate to see.

[HeyMark]

In the modern game there are very few fullbacks who are actually good at defending. They're mainly bought on their attacking strengths which are utilised, Maicon, Alves, Glen Johnson, clichy etc, all good going forward, not so good defensively.

The two who I can think of who are good at both would be ashley cole and evra.

[craigmcfc]

Benjani was a panic buy. To say that Kolarov is one is ridiculous. He's done enough already to make me thing that he could be a damn fine City player over the next few years

[blues2win]

I agree with the point that modern full backs are much better pushing forward than defending. Ashley Cole is an exception. Kolarov has already shown that he has a fine shot, excellent dead ball delivery and can cross a ball. He's not quick enough to be a good wide midfielder. He's better getting into space from a deeper position where he's not so tightly marked. He hasn't looked good defensively but I don't think we have another player who's much better in that part of a left back's job. Bottom line to write him off now is ridiculous.

When we're up against really good wide men on the left or right we need to offer our full backs extra help. One of the two defensive players or the forward midfielder has to be detailed to help stop them playing. It can be done.

[stinky pete]

for as long as bacon face has been in charge they have virtual played the same against us.two wingers when stay on the wing because are fullbacks are poor.