Aleks Kolarov: Redeemed?

[Bridge'srightfoot]

As much as I do like Kolarov though I still think we better snap Luke Shaw up before someone else does. Young, English, very attacking so he fits our system well.

I really feel he'll be a star so hope we get him before Chelsea, Rags, Liverpool or Spurs do.
If we do though, then I think that will be Clichy out the door- he certainly wouldn't want to be 3rd choice.

What has english got to do with it?

Quota as ted said. Also it would stop the media 'city have no English players' moan. But more so he's very attacking, has a good engine, quick and good technically. Would suit our style of play well. Wouldn't surprise me if he eventually turns into a winger but he's been impressing at fullback so far.

[bayblue]

Think Kolarov has done much better this year but we need to aim higher. Defensively he is weak. His positional sense seems weak, so he appears often out of line with the other defenders and consequently doesn't cover the centre backs as well as a top class defender should. He obviously loves going forward and is good at it but I worry that he's not good enough for us when we will come under higher quality pressure.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Surely the liability tag he seems to have acclaimed can be dropped now?
Today he was as solid defensively as Clichy ever has been, he also saved us with a great tackle at the end.
Also is there a better crosser of the ball in the league? I don't think so.

[nottsblue]

Surely the liability tag he seems to have acclaimed can be dropped now?
Today he was as solid defensively as Clichy ever has been, he also saved us with a great tackle at the end
Also is there a better crosser of the ball in the league? I don't think so.

Still think we will buy a left back. Keep Clichy and allow Kola to move into midfield/wing. A ready made substitute for Nasri on the left. As you say, a fantastic crosser, especially early crosses and he has pace. Can shoot and take dead balls. Is he not wasted at fullback?

[Alioune DVToure]

Still think we will buy a left back. Keep Clichy and allow Kola to move into midfield/wing. A ready made substitute for Nasri on the left. As you say, a fantastic crosser, especially early crosses and he has pace. Can shoot and take dead balls. Is he not wasted at fullback?

It's the surprise element of his runs that makes them so effective. He can't arrive late from midfield.

It ain't broke.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Surely the liability tag he seems to have acclaimed can be dropped now?
Today he was as solid defensively as Clichy ever has been, he also saved us with a great tackle at the end
Also is there a better crosser of the ball in the league? I don't think so.

Still think we will buy a left back. Keep Clichy and allow Kola to move into midfield/wing. A ready made substitute for Nasri on the left. As you say, a fantastic crosser, especially early crosses and he has pace. Can shoot and take dead balls. Is he not wasted at fullback?

Very interesting debate. I think though he's more of a threat attacking from fullback then winger. His attacking threat comes from overlapping runs. He's so good at letting Nasri or Silva hold the ball and charging past them to the by line and delivering early, first time crosses.
Also he's best when he's running onto the ball. I don't think he would be as good if you give him the ball when he's standing still and ask him to beat two players and then get the cross in.

For those reasons, he should stay a full back, imo.

[nottsblue]

Still think we will buy a left back. Keep Clichy and allow Kola to move into midfield/wing. A ready made substitute for Nasri on the left. As you say, a fantastic crosser, especially early crosses and he has pace. Can shoot and take dead balls. Is he not wasted at fullback?

It's the surprise element of his runs that makes them so effective. He can't arrive late from midfield.

It ain't broke.

Very interesting debate. I think though he's more of a threat attacking from fullback then winger. His attacking threat comes from overlapping runs. He's so good at letting Nasri or Silva hold the ball and charging past them to the by line and delivering early, first time crosses.
Also he's best when he's running onto the ball. I don't think he would be as good if you give him the ball when he's standing still and ask him to beat two players and then get the cross in.

For those reasons, he should stay a full back, imo.

Fair comments. As they say though, you never know until you've tried. Monkey boy anyone....

[Alioune DVToure]

Fair comments. As they say though, you never know until you've tried. Monkey boy anyone....

Mancini did try it once or twice last season and it didn't really work. Maybe with this more fluid style, though.

I'd wait until we need a Plan B.

[nottsblue]

Mancini did try it once or twice last season and it didn't really work. Maybe with this more fluid style, though.

I'd wait until we need a Plan B.

I'm thinking just this season as cover for Nasri to be honest. If it worked then fair enough but not as a long term option as i'd sooner ser someone like Reus

[Ted Hughes]

Kolarov defended at times like an actual fullback today. Can't fault him.

Plus the fact that we now 'do' crosses, means that he's more likely to get a result if he hits the ball into certain areas.

Previously, when we had right footers on the left & left footers on the right, the strikers didn't know where the fuck to be, so Kolarov didn't have areas to cross into when he arrived to join the mess, as he never knew where anyone would be.

Now we have cut the ridiculous, over complicated bullshit & are playing with sense, he knows if he puts the ball into certain areas, there may be a player there, which in turn makes him more decisive on the ball. He looks more comfortable in this team.

[Duckman]

Kolarov defended at times like an actual fullback today. Can't fault him.

Plus the fact that we now 'do' crosses, means that he's more likely to get a result if he hits the ball into certain areas.

Previously, when we had right footers on the left & left footers on the right, the strikers didn't know where the fuck to be, so Kolarov didn't have areas to cross into when he arrived to join the mess, as he never knew where anyone would be.

Now we have cut the ridiculous, over complicated bullshit & are playing with sense, he knows if he puts the ball into certain areas, there may be a player there, which in turn makes him more decisive on the ball. He looks more comfortable in this team.

So Ted, in this kind of setup under Manuel, should Kolarov be offered a new contract?

[london blue 2]

How did aleks get so good? His end product is different class ad he's actually started defending as well.

I think he's been watching videos of hamann as he's got that get your body in the way and dive thing down to a T.

[Slim]

Still think we will buy a left back. Keep Clichy and allow Kola to move into midfield/wing. A ready made substitute for Nasri on the left. As you say, a fantastic crosser, especially early crosses and he has pace. Can shoot and take dead balls. Is he not wasted at fullback?

It's the surprise element of his runs that makes them so effective. He can't arrive late from midfield.

It ain't broke.

Very interesting debate. I think though he's more of a threat attacking from fullback then winger. His attacking threat comes from overlapping runs. He's so good at letting Nasri or Silva hold the ball and charging past them to the by line and delivering early, first time crosses.
Also he's best when he's running onto the ball. I don't think he would be as good if you give him the ball when he's standing still and ask him to beat two players and then get the cross in.

For those reasons, he should stay a full back, imo.

Fair comments. As they say though, you never know until you've tried. Monkey boy anyone....

He was shit at leftback and given a run in midfield as a final option.

Birmingham I think it was were going to buy him from Spurs for £3M when they were looking to cut their losses, but Birmingham reneged on the deal.

[Tokyo Blue]

Fair comments. As they say though, you never know until you've tried. Monkey boy anyone....

He was shit at leftback and given a run in midfield as a final option.

Birmingham I think it was were going to buy him from Spurs for £3M when they were looking to cut their losses, but Birmingham reneged on the deal.

Forest?

[Slim]

Fair comments. As they say though, you never know until you've tried. Monkey boy anyone....

He was shit at leftback and given a run in midfield as a final option.

Birmingham I think it was were going to buy him from Spurs for £3M when they were looking to cut their losses, but Birmingham reneged on the deal.

Forest?

Was it Forest? I forget the team, but they ended up backing out as Bale was just god awful at the time.

[Tokyo Blue]

Was it Forest? I forget the team, but they ended up backing out as Bale was just god awful at the time.

I remember Spurs fans laughing because they couldn't sell him. It was one of Brum or Forest. Doesn't really matter, I suppose.

Kolarov has been doing well. I hope he carries on.

[twosips]

Kolarov defended at times like an actual fullback today. Can't fault him.

Plus the fact that we now 'do' crosses, means that he's more likely to get a result if he hits the ball into certain areas.

Previously, when we had right footers on the left & left footers on the right, the strikers didn't know where the fuck to be, so Kolarov didn't have areas to cross into when he arrived to join the mess, as he never knew where anyone would be.

Now we have cut the ridiculous, over complicated bullshit & are playing with sense, he knows if he puts the ball into certain areas, there may be a player there, which in turn makes him more decisive on the ball. He looks more comfortable in this team.

So Ted, in this kind of setup under Manuel, should Kolarov be offered a new contract?

I'm not Ted, but if he keeps playing like the last few weeks until the end of the season then in my opinion, yes, definitely. Clichy is the odd one out at the moment.