Premier League Gameweek 12

Not as good as the mighty Boyata or even Kolarov, for that matter.

What's our 5th choice CB got to do with anything? And Kolarov is a good left back, as well as one of the best crossers in the league. He is underrated.

Anyway, Rafael as a winger is just pointless. There are so many better wingers than him. He's a good right back, why move him out of position?
 
Carragher: "Howard, have you ever seen a referee make a mistake?" :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
Villa actually looked very good value for the draw, without the ball they did enough to have won the game. Southampton slowly getting found out, it's Moyesesque at times but their crossing is extremely dangerous, Clyne is a mare with his movement but they have some tough fixtures ahead of our clash and we could well be in position to move up the table.
 
What's our 5th choice CB got to do with anything? And Kolarov is a good left back, as well as one of the best crossers in the league. He is underrated.

Anyway, Rafael as a winger is just pointless. There are so many better wingers than him. He's a good right back, why move him out of position?
Kolarov's upside is his attacking ability in my opinion. Like you said, he is a fantastic crosser and a great shooter of the ball. I see him more as a left winger, left wingback. I think Rafael can play the same role.
 
Kolarov's upside is his attacking ability in my opinion. Like you said, he is a fantastic crosser and a great shooter of the ball. I see him more as a left winger, left wingback. I think Rafael can play the same role.

But when Kolarov has played left-wing, and he has done several times, he's rarely played well. It would be the same for Rafael. In principle, ok, it's not the worst idea, but there is a reason Rafael, Kolarov, Baines, Coleman etc. (Good attacking full-backs) have found success playing in the position they do.
 
But when Kolarov has played left-wing, and he has done several times, he's rarely played well. It would be the same for Rafael. In principle, ok, it's not the worst idea, but there is a reason Rafael, Kolarov, Baines, Coleman etc. (Good attacking full-backs) have found success playing in the position they do.
Fair enough, I just think some players have the ability to step further forward and be a real attacking threat. I'd play rafael at rb over a player like Clyne, but its something that I think could potentially work if needed.
 
But when Kolarov has played left-wing, and he has done several times, he's rarely played well. It would be the same for Rafael. In principle, ok, it's not the worst idea, but there is a reason Rafael, Kolarov, Baines, Coleman etc. (Good attacking full-backs) have found success playing in the position they do.

Kolarov is more made for LWB then LB or LW,as LWB he has LCB to cover his @ss when he sucks at defending imo.
 
Kolarov is more made for LWB then LB or LW,as LWB he has LCB to cover his @ss when he sucks at defending imo.

He really isn't as bad at defending as people think. In his first season he was poor but from 12/13 onwards he has been sound defensively. He is very good at holding the defensive line with his team-mates, particularly good at slide tackling and decent enough 1 v 1. The problem is he pushes forward a lot so can leave the team exposed, plus he has very poor acceleration and is one of those players who seems much slower when running towards his own goal. But for me he is still one of the best left backs in the league.
 
He really isn't as bad at defending as people think. In his first season he was poor but from 12/13 onwards he has been sound defensively. He is very good at holding the defensive line with his team-mates, particularly good at slide tackling and decent enough 1 v 1. The problem is he pushes forward a lot so can leave the team exposed, plus he has very poor acceleration and is one of those players who seems much slower when running towards his own goal. But for me he is still one of the best left backs in the league.

I agree, I think he has improved massively.
 
He really isn't as bad at defending as people think. In his first season he was poor but from 12/13 onwards he has been sound defensively. He is very good at holding the defensive line with his team-mates, particularly good at slide tackling and decent enough 1 v 1. The problem is he pushes forward a lot so can leave the team exposed, plus he has very poor acceleration and is one of those players who seems much slower when running towards his own goal. But for me he is still one of the best left backs in the league.

Well watched his games both for club and national team,cant say he is awful but defending is not his stronger suit.Even as Serb and in some way i should be biased,cant praise him more then that.
 
He really isn't as bad at defending as people think. In his first season he was poor but from 12/13 onwards he has been sound defensively. He is very good at holding the defensive line with his team-mates, particularly good at slide tackling and decent enough 1 v 1. The problem is he pushes forward a lot so can leave the team exposed, plus he has very poor acceleration and is one of those players who seems much slower when running towards his own goal. But for me he is still one of the best left backs in the league.
Aren't city looking for a new left back?
 

No idea why the moaning. The number of fixtures are same for everyone and every year there are few teams who have tough fixture lists like that. Heck, even big teams get some 4-5 tough fixtures on trot sometimes. He should be rather happy that relatively easier fixture and good job done by his team means his team sits in very comfortable position and onus is on the 'big guns' to get a result against them. For instance, as United and Arsenal trail them considerably, these two teams will have to push for win against them.
Even if from next 7 games they get 7 points, 33 points at half way is Europa league qualifying form at the minimum.
 
No idea why the moaning. The number of fixtures are same for everyone and every year there are few teams who have tough fixture lists like that. Heck, even big teams get some 4-5 tough fixtures on trot sometimes. He should be rather happy that relatively easier fixture and good job done by his team means his team sits in very comfortable position and onus is on the 'big guns' to get a result against them. For instance, as United and Arsenal trail them considerably, these two teams will have to push for win against them.
Even if from next 7 games they get 7 points, 33 points at half way is Europa league qualifying form at the minimum.
Yeah that's Premier League life.......it's great that are so many matchdays over Xmas and at the turn of the year (although there should be a winter break after all this fixtures but that's another topic)

But i can see why he is so worried

A) Next 9 PL games: Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Burnley, Everton, Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Arsenal & Manchester United

B) League Cup QF against Sheffield United....if they're going through then they're playing two semi-finals (Maybe against another top club like Chelsea, Tottenham or Liverpool) between the match against us at Old Trafford

C) Then there's a FA-Cup tie too (before their possible League Cup semi-finals)

D) They're losing Mane and Mayuka for few weeks because of the ACON

E) No international breaks anymore where some of their players can have a little rest......the games are coming now thick and fast
They had with Mayuka just one attacking player on the bench against Aston Villa (Rodriguez and Gallagher are still out) and their whole bench was not so good (Ward-Prowse and Davis are the other injured players)

F) Like said they're playing against the top clubs now in the next weeks means Southampton are now much more in the focus of the football world and that brings more pressure.......there's no doubt a difference to play on 3 pm against the likes of Leicester and few non-Southampton fans are watching their match on streams or the football world will watch the Manchester United match on a Monday night (Some Southampton players will read newspapers too)

Southampton deserve where they are the moment.......they're playing good football and their results aren't fluke results

But it will be very interesting to see where they are in the table after the match against us at Old Trafford on January 11
 
Yeah that's Premier League life.......it's great that are so many matchdays over Xmas and at the turn of the year (although there should be a winter break after all this fixtures but that's another topic)

But i can see why he is so worried

A) Next 9 PL games: Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Burnley, Everton, Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Arsenal & Manchester United

B) League Cup QF against Sheffield United....if they're going through then they're playing two semi-finals (Maybe against another top club like Chelsea, Tottenham or Liverpool) between the match against us at Old Trafford

C) Then there's a FA-Cup tie too (before their possible League Cup semi-finals)

D) They're losing Mane and Mayuka for few weeks because of the ACON

E) No international breaks anymore where some of their players can have a little rest......the games are coming now thick and fast
They had with Mayuka just one attacking player on the bench against Aston Villa (Rodriguez and Gallagher are still out) and their whole bench was not so good (Ward-Prowse and Davis are the other injured players)

F) Like said they're playing against the top clubs now in the next weeks means Southampton are now much more in the focus of the football world and that brings more pressure.......there's no doubt a difference to play on 3 pm against the likes of Leicester and few non-Southampton fans are watching their match on streams or the football world will watch the Manchester United match on a Monday night (Some Southampton players will read newspapers too)

Southampton deserve where they are the moment.......they're playing good football and their results aren't fluke results

But it will be very interesting to see where they are in the table after the match against us at Old Trafford on January 11
Ya all those things are true but bottom line is what you said in first line. He talks about his team being capable of challenging for CL places and if it is then he will have to overcome these hurdles.