Bye Bye Kolorov

[King Kev]

I don't doubt his ability but his lack of interest today was shocking!

Didn't see the game today, but if he was so shocking why wasn't he taken off?

You would need to ask Mr Pellegrini, but believe me Kolarov had a shocker today!

[Blue Since 76]

I don't doubt his ability but his lack of interest today was shocking!

Didn't see the game today, but if he was so shocking why wasn't he taken off?

Has he ever been subbed if not injured? I don't recall and certainly not under Pellegrini.

For the record, I don't think Clichy is the answer either. He played well a few sessions ago, but has lost it since, although he did look better with a rub of games this season. We desperately need a left footed Zaba.

To make it worse, we don't have any natural cover in front of whoever is left back - on the right, it's usually Navas or Milner, but on the left it's Nasri or Silva, who both drift in leaving us lobsided. That's great in attack, as we can overload areas of the pitch, but we do look vulnerable down that side when we lose possession. A world class left back with pace would struggle at times and what we've got available is far from that.

[Nick]

Can we all just agree that next time Kola puts a ball on a plate for someone we'll revert back to the "there's no better crosser in the world than him" quotes.

Nope because hes a left back. We are scoring goals with no fit strikers; I'd argue we don't need his 'one trick' with no centre forward. I'd like a clean sheet please :). We had both fern's in front of the back 4 so there goes the 'no protection from yaya' reason.

I said before the game that if Burnley get a shot on target they will score (thats been their issue recently). I don't want to bash individuals (hart and kolorov) anymore but we need to stick with a settled back 4 as much as possible and improve on defending. Getting clean sheets when teams barely muster a shot masks our 'issue'.

We need Zabs Vinnie MDM Clichy playing together and used to whoever will be in front of them before we play Everton/Arsenal/Chelsea.

[Beefymcfc]

I seem to remember how Pellers had turned him into a quality fullback.

[Duckman]

I know a bloke who comes on here who really enjoyed the taste of his own words.

Anyway, Kola was shit yesterday, but Nick is still shit at spelling ;-)

[sheblue]

I seem to remember how Pellers had turned him into a quality fullback.

Good or bad quality?....but seriously he has never really been brilliant defensively.

[Ted Hughes]

I'd just like to state for the record, that I wasn't 'sucking off' Kolarov, for his peformance in his last game.

I don't think that an occasional good cross, is an acceptable output from a fullback, or a winger. There has to be more to their game. I hope to see a winger constantly stretching the oppo & working hard to cover, & I hope to see a fullback solid defensively plus getting forward to support the attack.

Kolarov was utter shite defensively last week but ok (nothing more) going forward, & beyond shite in both areas yeterday. One or two crosses, however good, does not represent a good performance. I guarantee Stephen Gerrard, will play more decent balls in than Kolarov if you play him fullback. That does not make him a fullback.

Kolarov is not a fullback. He did have a spell last season though, where he played like one & was at the time, better than Clichy. That, imo, is the only decent spell he has ever produced at City.

If he finds that level again, he can stay imo. If not. sell. See what he does between now & May.

Neither Kolarov, nor Clichy, are reliable players.

I agree by the way, that at the ground, where I was watching from, Mangala did very well indeed, defending half the pitch on his own, partly due to Kolarov, but not entirely so.

[City64]

I still can't get my head around why Kolarov wasn't subbed at some point yesterday ......... Pellegrini had a bad day aswell .

[Duckman]

I still can't get my head around why Kolarov wasn't subbed at some point yesterday ......... Pellegrini had a bad day aswell .

At halftime, I was just saying: If this was Football Manager, I'd fucking take Kola off.

[Blue Since 76]

Kolarov is not a fullback. He did have a spell last season though, where he played like one & was at the time, better than Clichy. That, imo, is the only decent spell he has ever produced at City.

If he finds that level again, he can stay imo. If not. sell. See what he does between now & May.

Neither Kolarov, nor Clichy, are reliable players.

I agree by the way, that at the ground, where I was watching from, Mangala did very well indeed, defending half the pitch on his own, partly due to Kolarov, but not entirely so.

Have to agree, Ted. Kolarov had a reasonable spell last season, but no more than that, and he looked good in part because Clichy looked so bad. I don't think either is anymore than a back up to a decent left back and hopefully that area will be sorted in summer.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

On his crosses, the odd one is spot on but for the most part he puts far too much pace on them which means you'd have to be bionic man to get on the end of them. And his recovery is as bad if not worse than Richards' ever was.

Sorry Mase.

[ruralblue]

Can we all just agree that next time Kola puts a ball on a plate for someone we'll revert back to the "there's no better crosser in the world than him" quotes.

. I don't want to bash individuals (hart and kolorov) anymore but we need to stick with a settled back 4 as much as possible and improve on defending. Getting clean sheets when teams barely muster a shot masks our 'issue'.

Now that bit I do agree with. Need a sustained period of having a settled back four. Injuries aside we could do with some consistency in defence.

[AntMcfc]

He's been better than Clichy for the best part of two years. I want a new LB as much as anybody but come on, you can hardly slag him off when he's not even been the worst LB at our club. Clichy, for now, is in better form and is actually contributing to an overall, systematic game - that's why he should be starting ahead of Kolarov, not because of one shit performance in which you didn't like his attitude.

[PrezIke]

he played crap. happens. however, he had been playing well for us when he was healthy and clichy was stinking it up.

funny though, seems whoever of them gets a run of games seems to improve. once they hit the bench either from injury or rotation, they seem to play not so well.

[nottsblue]

How soon before the EDS lad ( Angelino or Maffeo?) is ready? If its only a year or two then Clichy will suffice for now with Kolorov as back up

[blues2win]

Kolarov has just signed a long term contract. Can't see him going anywhere. I remember Pardew speaking in awe of him after the Newcastle game saying 'it's like playing against three players'. He was however shit yesterday. I also remember his thoughtless over hit crosses against CSKA. He can cross very well and has had a number of assists this season from memory. The thing that has disappointed me since he came here is his lack of pace plus hardly any goals from set pieces. Interested to see Ted defending Mangala yesterday. These streams may give a false picture. I thought he was poor but maybe Kolarov and unusually MDM put all the pressure on him and gave a false picture.

Angelino looks very promising but he must be at least two years from the first team. He's only 17 and fresh into the EDS. He also needs bulking up which may come with age. He's better going forward than defensively tbh. Technically excellent from the little I've seen. Doug would probably have a more valid opinion.

[Ted Hughes]

How soon before the EDS lad ( Angelino or Maffeo?) is ready? If its only a year or two then Clichy will suffice for now with Kolorov as back up

Angelino is very small compared to most typical Premier League players, so it's hard to say. He is very very solidly built & getting stronger all the time but not yet showing signs of filling out in an Aguero type way. He's small & slim & may stay that way.

Very very good footballer though (miles better than Kolarov) but not with the same power striking the ball (yet). Not really a great defender but improving. I doubt he would let us down if played as a wide mid tbh. But as a fullback ? Wouldn't win many headers for a start.

Maffeo is learning to be a proper defender. But would be challenging Zabba/Sagna, not Kolarov.

[nottsblue]

How soon before the EDS lad ( Angelino or Maffeo?) is ready? If its only a year or two then Clichy will suffice for now with Kolorov as back up

Angelino is very small compared to most typical Premier League players, so it's hard to say. He is very very solidly built & getting stronger all the time but not yet showing signs of filling out in an Aguero type way. He's small & slim & may stay that way.

Very very good footballer though (miles better than Kolarov) but not with the same power striking the ball (yet). Not really a great defender but improving. I doubt he would let us down if played as a wide mid tbh. But as a fullback ? Wouldn't win many headers for a start.

Maffeo is learning to be a proper defender. But would be challenging Zabba/Sagna, not Kolarov.

So it's likely two or three years before Angelino is ready? Is he good enough to wait for and we keep the present incumbents or do we buy a left back when someone suitable becomes available? If this lad is worth waiting for, then lets get behind Clichy/Kolorov and hope repeat performances of yesterday are few and far between. If we think waiting on a 17 year old is too risky then lets spend whatever it takes to get a tip top replacement in

[Ted Hughes]

How soon before the EDS lad ( Angelino or Maffeo?) is ready? If its only a year or two then Clichy will suffice for now with Kolorov as back up

Angelino is very small compared to most typical Premier League players, so it's hard to say. He is very very solidly built & getting stronger all the time but not yet showing signs of filling out in an Aguero type way. He's small & slim & may stay that way.

Very very good footballer though (miles better than Kolarov) but not with the same power striking the ball (yet). Not really a great defender but improving. I doubt he would let us down if played as a wide mid tbh. But as a fullback ? Wouldn't win many headers for a start.

Maffeo is learning to be a proper defender. But would be challenging Zabba/Sagna, not Kolarov.

So it's likely two or three years before Angelino is ready? Is he good enough to wait for and we keep the present incumbents or do we buy a left back when someone suitable becomes available? If this lad is worth waiting for, then lets get behind Clichy/Kolorov and hope repeat performances of yesterday are few and far between. If we think waiting on a 17 year old is too risky then lets spend whatever it takes to get a tip top replacement in

I wouldn't know with Angelino. He has only just started in the EDS as a regular this season & is learning, plus will be growing all the time. He could come on leaps & bounds in the next 6 months for all I know. Right now I imagine he would get fucked as a fullback but be a possiblility as a wide mid.

But seeing as both Clichy & Kolarov will be oldish in a couple of years, we could sign an early 20s fullback soon, dump one & then still bring through Angelino naturally over the next few years( IF he makes it in that position).

[Pretty Boy Lee]

Bad day at the office. Are we really going to have one of these threads Everytime we lose? We did win the 9 games preceding.

We all know kolarovs faults, but CMON it was what a month ago he was the only hope as clichy had to go? Let's just put it into perspective and call a shit game a shit game.