Kolarov

[WayneG]

He had a good game today but agree with general point that Clichy is better.
His defending can be suss and really wish he wouldnt shoot sometimes. On plus point he hits best cross I have seen from a city player in years...loved the move for Dzeko's header

[Ted Hughes]

I have slated him, but today he was superb at both ends of the pitch.

[Blue Since 76]

Credit where it's due, he was very good today. Wouldn't want in him a game where he has to defend, but looked better today. Makes you wonder why he was so bad when he was tried on the left wing.

[bluebananamilksheikh]

I have slated him, but today he was superb at both ends of the pitch.

When did he have to do anything in his own half?
He's fine in games against teams that park the bus, but as soon as he comes under any sought of pressure he comes unstuck.

[bluechester]

begining to get the mancini tactics now, any team that plays with ten behind the ball, play kolarov, he gives more going forward than clichy, when playing a top team play clichy he is better defensive

[Im_Spartacus]

begining to get the mancini tactics now, any team that plays with ten behind the ball, play kolarov, he gives more going forward than clichy, when playing a top team play clichy he is better defensive

It's so fucking frustrating. Half of the time today we were down the flanks with no forward in the box, because they were trying to 1>2 the ball beyond the last defender. Dzeko proved where his talents lie with one of the best headers you will see - from one of the best crosses I have seen in the last 10 years at City/

Kolarov flung it in once in the first half, and once in the 2nd half, and we scored from both.

Why are we not making more use of Kolarov/Dzeko, and when one or more of them is on the pitch, why are we not banging crosses in every few minutes.

[NorthernHope]

begining to get the mancini tactics now, any team that plays with ten behind the ball, play kolarov, he gives more going forward than clichy, when playing a top team play clichy he is better defensive

It's so fucking frustrating. Half of the time today we were down the flanks with no forward in the box, because they were trying to 1>2 the ball beyond the last defender. Dzeko proved where his talents lie with one of the best headers you will see - from one of the best crosses I have seen in the last 10 years at City/

Kolarov flung it in once in the first half, and once in the 2nd half, and we scored from both.

Why are we not making more use of Kolarov/Dzeko, and when one or more of them is on the pitch, why are we not banging crosses in every few minutes.

I cant think of any good reason why not my friend. And I wonder why not, every single game over and over. :)

[Ted Hughes]

I thought what we did was absolutely a tactical masterpiece & wouldn't change anything apart from a bit of finishing. Never seen City play with that kind of width before. Great workrate from Kolarov & AJ to make it function.

[Esky]

begining to get the mancini tactics now, any team that plays with ten behind the ball, play kolarov, he gives more going forward than clichy, when playing a top team play clichy he is better defensive

It's so fucking frustrating. Half of the time today we were down the flanks with no forward in the box, because they were trying to 1>2 the ball beyond the last defender. Dzeko proved where his talents lie with one of the best headers you will see - from one of the best crosses I have seen in the last 10 years at City/

Kolarov flung it in once in the first half, and once in the 2nd half, and we scored from both.

Why are we not making more use of Kolarov/Dzeko, and when one or more of them is on the pitch, why are we not banging crosses in every few minutes.

As in TH's post above, I thought that was the best our wide play has been since Mancini took over. Agree with your general point, but Kolarov, Zaba and Johnson were fantastic last night. Would be great to see the tactic used in the Everton and Sunderland type games.

[bigblue]

You won't see a better crosser of the ball this year. The ball for the 3rd goal was magnificent, almost unbelievably good. 95% of his value is on the right half of his left foot. Incredible

[blues-clues]

Our lucky 13?

Our 13th home league game/win of the season and shirt 13 produced his best performance providing assists for Edin's 13th league goal and Mario's 13th goal of the season.

Kolarov is rightly maligned for his defensive frailties but as a tool to prise open the "parked buses" he is invaluable. That said Blackburn were more like a parked scooter yesterday and only Robinson stopped us getting six or seven but the game Kolarov played yesterday would have pulled a lot of defences out of shape.

His pace regularly leaves defenders straggling but often we don't have anyone killing themselves to get into the box to get on the end of his crosses which are good. The goal Edin scored yesterday was a thing of beauty and we should be scoring more goals like that from both sides.

On a side note the problem with playing AJ on the right though is you will never get a left footer making the type of cross that comes from the dead ball line back towards the on coming strikers.

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

>>>> On a side note the problem with playing AJ on the right though is you will never get a left footer making the type of cross that comes from the dead ball line back towards the on coming strikers.

This drives me wild. Left footed player.....play him down the left wing so he can put in quick crosses without having to arse about putting it back to his better foot. Grrrrr!

[Blue Since 76]

It's so fucking frustrating. Half of the time today we were down the flanks with no forward in the box, because they were trying to 1>2 the ball beyond the last defender. Dzeko proved where his talents lie with one of the best headers you will see - from one of the best crosses I have seen in the last 10 years at City/

Kolarov flung it in once in the first half, and once in the 2nd half, and we scored from both.

Why are we not making more use of Kolarov/Dzeko, and when one or more of them is on the pitch, why are we not banging crosses in every few minutes.

You're absolutely right. Two wingers chucking in loads of crosses is the way to go. It's the reason Spurs are the best team the world has ever seen are are currently 5 points clear at the top of the league.

I suggest we sell Silva and Aguero in summer and buy Lennon and Grant Holt

[Ted Hughes]

>>>> On a side note the problem with playing AJ on the right though is you will never get a left footer making the type of cross that comes from the dead ball line back towards the on coming strikers.

This drives me wild. Left footed player.....play him down the left wing so he can put in quick crosses without having to arse about putting it back to his better foot. Grrrrr!

Don't understand why he never goes there for more than about 20 seconds. The real bit that I don't understand is; surely if AJ is a left footer on the right, then it's because he can often come inside to cross, pass or shoot, so we sacrifice the other thing for that ?

If that is the case, & baring in mind he seems to be 100% better at shooting from the edge of the box than anyone else (not surprising because Doug says he's out practicing every day) why don't we make it a priority, to try & line him up to shoot at the edge of the box ? Almost every time he has a shot, it's a goal, save or at worst a corner. No other player is such a threat.

It's like; Balo's marked, Yaya's marked, Aguero's marked, the fullbacks are marked, oh well I suppose I'd better give it Johnson. His left foot in that position is probably one of the most potent goalscoring weapons in the whole squad. We should be shouting at him to shoot, all the time, not ignoring him.

[dazby]

Kolly was defo man of the match. Brilliant exhibition of crossing.

[Im_Spartacus]

It's so fucking frustrating. Half of the time today we were down the flanks with no forward in the box, because they were trying to 1>2 the ball beyond the last defender. Dzeko proved where his talents lie with one of the best headers you will see - from one of the best crosses I have seen in the last 10 years at City/

Kolarov flung it in once in the first half, and once in the 2nd half, and we scored from both.

Why are we not making more use of Kolarov/Dzeko, and when one or more of them is on the pitch, why are we not banging crosses in every few minutes.

You're absolutely right. Two wingers chucking in loads of crosses is the way to go. It's the reason Spurs are the best team the world has ever seen are are currently 5 points clear at the top of the league.

I suggest we sell Silva and Aguero in summer and buy Lennon and Grant Holt

There are times (such as on Saturday) when we simply can't keep trying to bang the door down through the middle. We scored 3 goals from balls delivered from a wide position. We will come up against blackburn type approaches time and again in the years to come, and we cannot just hope that overwhelming posession and pressure translates into goals, as we saw at Sunderland - you will come unstuck from time to time.

Any team which is probing the opposition for an opening should at least test a defence with some crosses - even moreso when you have players like Kolarov who can deliver it, and Dzeko / Balo with the physical presence to put the defenders under pressure and Aguero to pick up the 2nd ball.

Aside from this, playing with width gives more space fo Silva and Toure to exploit

[Moonchesteri]

Another good display from him today imo. keep it up Aleks!
The booking was a bit stupid but that twat deserved a proper kicking, even without the stamp he tried to do on Aguero!!

[Duckman]

aleks could the job for us against sides we dont have to play defense against.

*this seems wrong but cant figure it out.

[Nigels Tackle]

aleks could the job for us against sides we dont have to play defense against.

*this seems wrong but cant figure it out.

2 defenders that can't defend and an attacker that can't attack. hope we steer clear of balkan players for a little while...

[Ted Hughes]

I don't think he was amongst the worst players tonight.

Having said that, I don't think he's good enough at defending to play left back for City.