Left Back

[roblues]

Wasn't Laurent Charvet a left back? I do know that he was shite.

I remember him being on the right. And he was awful, one of only a handful of players in my City supporting history for whom I can find no redeeming features.

[AntMcfc]

Clearly a position that needs addressing in the summer, so who do you want to see in and out of the club in the summer? Personally I'd get rid of Clichy and bring in Gayá from Valencia. He looks phenomenal, he's going to be the hottest LB on the market this summer.

[twosips]

Don't know much about Gaya, but i highly doubt we're gonna sign a 19 year old Spanish left back for what would be at least £10m probably when we've got a very highly rated 17 (i think) year old spanish left-back who'll be ready in a couple of years in Angelino for free. They won't want to block him.

[ross.mcfc]

No love for Michael Tarnet?

[Tokyo Blue]

No love for Michael Tarnet?

He wouldn't be an upgrade on Clichy or Kolarov just at the moment.

[Ted Hughes]

Don't know much about Gaya, but i highly doubt we're gonna sign a 19 year old Spanish left back for what would be at least £10m probably when we've got a very highly rated 17 (i think) year old spanish left-back who'll be ready in a couple of years in Angelino for free. They won't want to block him.

I'm actually fed up of boh Clichy & Kolarov now.

Each time you think it's safe to trust either of them, they kick you in the bollocks.

I'd be happy to fuck the pair of them off & sign two other experienced fullbacks, if the deal could be done without losing too much money. More realistically, keep probably Kolarov & sign a better fullback, with pace & experience, ahead of him, in place of Clichy, then see if Angelino comes through. If not, then sign another in the future, to replace Kolarov.

Having two such untrustworthy players fighting for the same spot is becoming a real weakness. I wonder how many goals have come from poor play by the two of them in recent years.

[john@staustell]

What with Kolarov allegedly abusing members of the crowd and Clichy signing a new contract, there has been quite a lot of left back discussion on here along the lines of 'I loved when Michael Ball stamped on Ronaldo', 'at least Stephen Jordan would have attempted a tackle' and 'Thatcher would have killed him'.

It got me thinking about the left backs I have seen in my time as a fan (basically, since the start of the Premier League era) - so I've ranked the top ten that I actually remember and encourage you to do the same, or at least slate my list and question how long I have actually been a fan. My rankings are based on my opinion of their playing skills:

1. Clichy 2. Phelan 3. Tiatto 4. Kolarov 5. Ball 6. Jensen 7. Tarnat 8. Pearce 9. Garrido 10. Granville

It would also be interesting to hear about some of the guys too poor to make this list. Thatcher, Jordan, Frontzeck all instantly spring to mind. (Edit - remembered Wayne Bridge but I'm going to pretend he didn't happen)
Not much behind this other than a bit of light relief and a belief that we have probably never had it better at left back.

You dont remember David Brightwell trying to play left back? Too poor to make any list.

However I would have thought that if Angelino is as good as made out, he should be knocking on the door now, even though I haven't seen him play! Pozo I have seen play and I dont really understand why we aren't using him. Especially when Sinclair makes the bench.

[Ted Hughes]

What with Kolarov allegedly abusing members of the crowd and Clichy signing a new contract, there has been quite a lot of left back discussion on here along the lines of 'I loved when Michael Ball stamped on Ronaldo', 'at least Stephen Jordan would have attempted a tackle' and 'Thatcher would have killed him'.

It got me thinking about the left backs I have seen in my time as a fan (basically, since the start of the Premier League era) - so I've ranked the top ten that I actually remember and encourage you to do the same, or at least slate my list and question how long I have actually been a fan. My rankings are based on my opinion of their playing skills:

1. Clichy 2. Phelan 3. Tiatto 4. Kolarov 5. Ball 6. Jensen 7. Tarnat 8. Pearce 9. Garrido 10. Granville

It would also be interesting to hear about some of the guys too poor to make this list. Thatcher, Jordan, Frontzeck all instantly spring to mind. (Edit - remembered Wayne Bridge but I'm going to pretend he didn't happen)
Not much behind this other than a bit of light relief and a belief that we have probably never had it better at left back.

You dont remember David Brightwell trying to play left back? Too poor to make any list.

However I would have thought that if Angelino is as good as made out, he should be knocking on the door now, even though I haven't seen him play! Pozo I have seen play and I dont really understand why we aren't using him. Especially when Sinclair makes the bench.

Angelino is nowhere near it defensively yet. If we played a system with wingbacks , I could imagine him possibly doing ok, but as a fullback, the Prem would have his balls for breakfast.

[Hazy2]

Don't know much about Gaya, but i highly doubt we're gonna sign a 19 year old Spanish left back for what would be at least £10m probably when we've got a very highly rated 17 (i think) year old spanish left-back who'll be ready in a couple of years in Angelino for free. They won't want to block him.

I'm actually fed up of boh Clichy & Kolarov now.

Each time you think it's safe to trust either of them, they kick you in the bollocks.

I'd be happy to fuck the pair of them off & sign two other experienced fullbacks, if the deal could be done without losing too much money. More realistically, keep probably Kolarov & sign a better fullback, with pace & experience, ahead of him, in place of Clichy, then see if Angelino comes through. If not, then sign another in the future, to replace Kolarov.

Having two such untrustworthy players fighting for the same spot is becoming a real weakness. I wonder how many goals have come from poor play by the two of them in recent years.

If you watched Montero, against Chambers it was the OX taking the piss with no intentions of working back and making it two player he had to beat, we have it with Nasri, and Navas, who does run around, but we lack that get the ball back ethic which has Full backs caught as we saw V CSKA alway chasing back having been caught out again. Nasr wants a CM role and with no Silva I cannot understand when he will ever get it, that is another one for Pellers to answer

[Ted Hughes]

Don't know much about Gaya, but i highly doubt we're gonna sign a 19 year old Spanish left back for what would be at least £10m probably when we've got a very highly rated 17 (i think) year old spanish left-back who'll be ready in a couple of years in Angelino for free. They won't want to block him.

I'm actually fed up of boh Clichy & Kolarov now.

Each time you think it's safe to trust either of them, they kick you in the bollocks.

I'd be happy to fuck the pair of them off & sign two other experienced fullbacks, if the deal could be done without losing too much money. More realistically, keep probably Kolarov & sign a better fullback, with pace & experience, ahead of him, in place of Clichy, then see if Angelino comes through. If not, then sign another in the future, to replace Kolarov.

Having two such untrustworthy players fighting for the same spot is becoming a real weakness. I wonder how many goals have come from poor play by the two of them in recent years.

If you watched Montero, against Chambers it was the OX taking the piss with no intentions of working back and making it two player he had to beat, we have it with Nasri, and Navas, who does run around, but we lack that get the ball back ethic which has Full backs caught as we saw V CSKA alway chasing back having been caught out again. Nasr wants a CM role and with no Silva I cannot understand when he will ever get it, that is another one for Pellers to answer

Chambers is fucking shite though. That's a big factor. Our fullbacks this season have all been shite, even when they have had people like Milner looking after them.

If they were actually good, as Clichy was vs the rags, it's a different game. Zabba has got away with murder due to his hero status, but on the whole he's been fucking terrible.

Difference is; he's coming back from the World Cup & has proved himself. Clichy & Kolarov have let us down countless times & are both at it again.

[blues2win]

What is infuriating about Clichy is his failure to get tight on his man. Just look at the second QPR goal. Granted it was a good cross but he offered far too much space. STOP THE FUCKING CROSSES.

[roblues]

What with Kolarov allegedly abusing members of the crowd and Clichy signing a new contract, there has been quite a lot of left back discussion on here along the lines of 'I loved when Michael Ball stamped on Ronaldo', 'at least Stephen Jordan would have attempted a tackle' and 'Thatcher would have killed him'.

It got me thinking about the left backs I have seen in my time as a fan (basically, since the start of the Premier League era) - so I've ranked the top ten that I actually remember and encourage you to do the same, or at least slate my list and question how long I have actually been a fan. My rankings are based on my opinion of their playing skills:

1. Clichy 2. Phelan 3. Tiatto 4. Kolarov 5. Ball 6. Jensen 7. Tarnat 8. Pearce 9. Garrido 10. Granville

It would also be interesting to hear about some of the guys too poor to make this list. Thatcher, Jordan, Frontzeck all instantly spring to mind. (Edit - remembered Wayne Bridge but I'm going to pretend he didn't happen)
Not much behind this other than a bit of light relief and a belief that we have probably never had it better at left back.

You dont remember David Brightwell trying to play left back? Too poor to make any list.

However I would have thought that if Angelino is as good as made out, he should be knocking on the door now, even though I haven't seen him play! Pozo I have seen play and I dont really understand why we aren't using him. Especially when Sinclair makes the bench.

Brightwell actually scored the winner in one of my favourite ever games (and one of my first) at home to Newcastle in a 2-1 win, playing in midfield though. - EDIT - this was probably just my 9 year old self not comfortable with the fact that a defender could score

Looking back on this thread, it was maybe the kiss of death putting Clichy at number one, but I still think we have easily the best left back pair that we have seen, and depressingly the best that we will see maybe ever.

[Dub City]

We should have signed Ashley Cole. Forget all the personal life shite he is still a far better defender than than either of our current pair.

[Ted Hughes]

What with Kolarov allegedly abusing members of the crowd and Clichy signing a new contract, there has been quite a lot of left back discussion on here along the lines of 'I loved when Michael Ball stamped on Ronaldo', 'at least Stephen Jordan would have attempted a tackle' and 'Thatcher would have killed him'.

It got me thinking about the left backs I have seen in my time as a fan (basically, since the start of the Premier League era) - so I've ranked the top ten that I actually remember and encourage you to do the same, or at least slate my list and question how long I have actually been a fan. My rankings are based on my opinion of their playing skills:

1. Clichy 2. Phelan 3. Tiatto 4. Kolarov 5. Ball 6. Jensen 7. Tarnat 8. Pearce 9. Garrido 10. Granville

It would also be interesting to hear about some of the guys too poor to make this list. Thatcher, Jordan, Frontzeck all instantly spring to mind. (Edit - remembered Wayne Bridge but I'm going to pretend he didn't happen)
Not much behind this other than a bit of light relief and a belief that we have probably never had it better at left back.

You dont remember David Brightwell trying to play left back? Too poor to make any list.

However I would have thought that if Angelino is as good as made out, he should be knocking on the door now, even though I haven't seen him play! Pozo I have seen play and I dont really understand why we aren't using him. Especially when Sinclair makes the bench.

Brightwell actually scored the winner in one of my favourite ever games (and one of my first) at home to Newcastle in a 2-1 win, playing in midfield though. - EDIT - this was probably just my 9 year old self not comfortable with the fact that a defender could score

Looking back on this thread, it was maybe the kiss of death putting Clichy at number one, but I still think we have easily the best left back pair that we have seen, and depressingly the best that we will see maybe ever.

Some of Clichy's performances for City have been as good as anything. Unfortunately, he just can't be trusted anymore. Don't understand why.

Kolarov has been mostly shit defensively & had a brief period where he looked to have turned it round. Unfortunately, he looks pretty much back to normal again now. But at least he can cross a ball & take a free kick. Clichy's value was as a defender, & the average standard of that seems to have got worse & worse, the longer he's been at the club.

[City64]

Still can't believe how good Clichy was in the derby . He must be taking the piss for all the rest of the time he has worn a City shirt .