Thoughts on Nastacic?

[Green & Blue]

Really surprised at how reserved everyone seems about this guy. I think he's absolutely brilliant, or at least will be in the near future. Looks so comfortable on the ball, reads the game well and outpaces a lot of strikers. For a 19 year old I couldn't imagine a better centre half!

I feel the same.Superb for his age and should learn so much playing alongside the Prince.I think we have a right good player on our hands.

[Blue Since 76]

Looks better every game. As others have said, he will make a mistake and cost us a goal or get sent off. If he can bounce back from that he could be our first choice centre half for many years

[kennyboy]

Looked better than Lescott from day one, and he is!
Kompany concurs.

[Ted Hughes]

Could become a great player & seems to be emotionally stable but he isn't the one doing the defending. If you put a clone of him in place of Vinny, we would lose every game.

Someone has to actually go out & stop people & there are two in that side who do that job: Vinny+Zabba. Nastasic is not a great defender at this time, just a very promising one.

[sheblue]

Could become a great player & seems to be emotionally stable but he isn't the one doing the defending. If you put a clone of him in place of Vinny, we would lose every game.

Someone has to actually go out & stop people & there are two in that side who do that job: Vinny+Zabba. Nastasic is not a great defender at this time, just a very promising one.

Still only 19 which is always young for a central defender. He is no baresi yet, however showing plenty of promise, still a long way to go.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

Another clean sheet tonight. The Vinnie/Nasty partnership is the future so don't disrupt it and leave it alone to grow into something very special.

[s1ty m]

Looked like he played for the Dog and Duck at first. Now, looks like potentially a fabulous player. Weird game is football. Christ, he's so cool for a 19 year old lad.

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

Despite the fact he has the odd mistake in him still, I feel much calmer knowing he's playing instead of Lescott as Lescott generally has a big rick in him just when you don't need it.

[Ted Hughes]

Despite the fact he has the odd mistake in him still, I feel much calmer knowing he's playing instead of Lescott as Lescott generally has a big rick in him just when you don't need it.

This is the stuff which does my head in.

if people prefer Nasti then that's upto them but Lescott does not make any more mistakes than anybody else & Nasti has replicated every single mistake made by Lescott . If he gets away with it; good luck to him but criticism handed out to JL is just so unfair.

[freshie]

Nasti over Lescott any day of the week for me

[Mikhail Chigorin]

Despite the fact he has the odd mistake in him still, I feel much calmer knowing he's playing instead of Lescott as Lescott generally has a big rick in him just when you don't need it.

This is the stuff which does my head in.

if people prefer Nasti then that's upto them but Lescott does not make any more mistakes than anybody else & Nasti has replicated every single mistake made by Lescott . If he gets away with it; good luck to him but criticism handed out to JL is just so unfair.

Fair comment Ted, but I think the inference is that, as he develops and matures, any mistakes that Nasti might tend to make will diminish in number and seriousness and we'll then be left with a superbly consistent footballing centre-back.

At least, I'm surmising that that's the hope in everyone and no disrespect to Lescott is meant.

[Swales4ever]

Only remarkable difference I can appreciate among the two, particularly in perspective, is the circulation of the ball and overall placement when we got the ball on the back.

Joleon has been the best CB in all Europe last season, though. imho.

[Kladze]

Aside from all else that's been said, I'm pleased by the lack of drama building up around him on the pitch.

Of course, old heads like Kompany's and Zabaletta's are guiding him but that's only to be expected anyway.

[carl_feedthegoat]

Lescotts not coming back,

[bobby brows]

the problem with Savic last year was the things that he couldn't do are the things that every single professional footballer should be able to do. i.e. head a ball.

Nastasic makes some mistakes but there mistakes that he won't make if he continues to play most weeks. what he does well are the basic which are the hardest to get right and if you can't now you never will.

[Pretty Boy Lee]

To me he looks ok at everything, but still a tad shaky and prone to a lapse.

His heading is ok, tackling ok, pressure ok and ball play ok. Nothing remarkably better than jolean, but nothing horrendous either.

I also think he's a lucky kid to be in the side right as our Belgian colossus rediscovers his form and isn't letting anything past.

[xavi6]

Massive prospect, and at 19 that's all he is at the moment. I'm impressed with his physicality and composure, especially on the ball.

One thing to note, and it was always a criticism of Lescott, is that he doesn't tend to hoof the ball forward. Here's some stats to bore you -

Against Wigan - 41 passes attempted, 38 completed (93%). Just two long passes, one of which was from the centre circle to left back.

Alongside that, Zabaleta completed 100% of his passes, none of which were long, and Kompany hit 95%.

Basically our ball retention from the back is getting better and to me it's a big factor why we're not giving up many chances (Wigan had one shot on target, Chelsea barely got a sniff, Villa didn't offer anything). Nastasic is doing very nicely in that regard as well as looking defensively competent.

[ant london]

Massive prospect, and at 19 that's all he is at the moment. I'm impressed with his physicality and composure, especially on the ball.

One thing to note, and it was always a criticism of Lescott, is that he doesn't tend to hoof the ball forward. Here's some stats to bore you -

Against Wigan - 41 passes attempted, 38 completed (93%). Just two long passes, one of which was from the centre circle to left back.

Alongside that, Zabaleta completed 100% of his passes, none of which were long, and Kompany hit 95%.

Basically our ball retention from the back is getting better and to me it's a big factor why we're not giving up many chances (Wigan had one shot on target, Chelsea barely got a sniff, Villa didn't offer anything). Nastasic is doing very nicely in that regard as well as looking defensively competent.

100% and great summary for me of what he is bringing to the side.

Lescott is a great defender but he palpably lacks confidence when he gets the ball at his feet (usually with little pressure) and seems convinced he can do nothing but knock it to Vinnnie (who is worse placed than he is) or to Kola/Dale who then give it him back...and to you again.

His tendency to do this again and again (or just lump it aimlessly upfield) just invites pressure as if makes us seem uncomfortable in possession and says "come and have a go" to the opposition IMO.

Eliminating that from the team and having someone who can actually use the ball in a positive sense is a big improvement for us in possession.

Unfinished article defensively clearly but very good signs

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Could become a great player & seems to be emotionally stable but he isn't the one doing the defending. If you put a clone of him in place of Vinny, we would lose every game.

Someone has to actually go out & stop people & there are two in that side who do that job: Vinny+Zabba. Nastasic is not a great defender at this time, just a very promising one.

Surprisingly harsh Ted.
While we couldn't swap him with Kompany, no, you have to marvel how well he has been coping at the age of 19. Seems to improve by game as well. I expect minor set back with his progression at some stage but I reckon this boy is going to be a superstar central defender in next ten years.

[dazby]

He's beginning to make his mark. I see him at the moment as Mr 75%. He's 75% good at everything but a master of none. Still, it's a great base to work from.