Demise of the "Clichy"myth

[Duckman]

RIP.

[Moonchesteri]

What myth is that?

[PeterParker]

What myth is that?

That he is a striker, good at darts.

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

Beyond shite today, yet again. It can't help what's going on inside him with the ructions in central defence but Kolarov should start in front of him every time these days.

[Esky]

Constantly makes mistakes in defense and my heart sinks whenever he's played in near the opposition's box. He's entered that Wayne Bridge phase where I'm not sure what, if anything, he actually contributes.

Any outstanding EDS fullbacks that could be promoted anytime soon? If not, it's a position that will need to be addressed going forward.

[Duckman]

What myth is that?

That he is good at defending.

[Blue In Bolton]

How has Greg Leigh been getting on at Crewe? Surely has to be a better option nowadays.

[Moonchesteri]

What myth is that?

That he is good at defending.

Ah. Thought that was buried ages ago. The Only quality he has over Kola is pace.but that doesn't make him a better defender and let's not even start on the attacking qualities

[South Stand Balti]

Clichy is at his best when he plays week in and week out. He always looks indecisive and out of sorts when he is in and out of the team.

[Goaters 103]

Poor today, but then again so was Kompany. And Toure. And Zabaleta. And Navas. And Aguero. And Fernando. And Dzeko. And most of all Pellegrini.

Do they all have a myth about them as well?

[City64]

Clichy is having a very poor season .

[blues2win]

Fat Sam says ' Mangala's just come in and they're not protecting him. You can get players down the side of him with the space that Clichy leaves'. We haven't got a good defensive full back so we need Milner on that side to protect the space. That will benefit Mangala. In my view Kolarov should be favoured now because he offers far more attacking threat. We have a very promising young EDS left back in Angelino but he's probably two years off the first team. I would buy an older experienced left back who knows how to defend and get rid of Clichy to be honest.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

How has Greg Leigh been getting on at Crewe? Surely has to be a better option nowadays.

No he most definitely is not.

[horlock2000]

So Clichy is the scapegoat then?. Despite the fact Yaya has been absolutely woeful, week in, week out. Fernando is looking half the player he was before his injury and dont get me started on Navas.

Clichy has been at his best but, as mentioned above, we need a settles back four and by constantly changing it, Pellegini is asking for trouble.

For me, Clichy is still our best option "defensively".

There is a very exciting young LD in the EDS by the way.... Called Angelino, looks a very exciting prospect but not ready for 1st team yet.

[Blue In Bolton]

How has Greg Leigh been getting on at Crewe? Surely has to be a better option nowadays.

No he most definitely is not.

Thanks for that Doug. I am just dismayed at how far Clichy has regressed in his performances for the last couple of seasons and was probably a knee jerk reaction but he is fast becoming a liability.

[Ted Hughes]

Most games I've seen, Zabba has been as bad or worse than Clichy but is immune to criticism.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

How has Greg Leigh been getting on at Crewe? Surely has to be a better option nowadays.

No he most definitely is not.

Thanks for that Doug. I am just dismayed at how far Clichy has regressed in his performances for the last couple of seasons and was probably a knee jerk reaction but he is fast becoming a liability.

Angelino is certainly a future possible left back but his strength is definitely his attacking play rather than defensive. At right back I think we have an even better prospect in Pablo Maffeo who I think is top class defensively and in recent games has been playing centre back even though he is quite a small lad.

My take on Clichy is that he might be marginally better than Kolarov defensively but not enough to make him first choice.On Saturday though he was awful with an assist for their first goal with his shocking positioning and then some appalling passes to make iut a really bad game for him.

Zaba isn't the greatest defender but such a 100% player he does get away with things helped of course by his attacking play and great link ups with Silva,Milner and Yaya especially. His main weakness is his speed which did get shown up once badly on Saturday but can often be seen when he has to chase back when attacking and out of position.

[blues2win]

Soriano stressed that the Club are looking three years ahead with their transfer policy. That should surely include avoiding blocking the prospects of the outstanding talent now being nurtured by Vieira. If we do get rid of Clichy we shouldn't buy a young talent which would wreck the prospects of Angelino. Ditto at Right Back where Sagna was a good buy on a free but also because he won't block Maffeo who as Doug suggests is probably a year ahead of Angelino in his development.

[Nick]

please can we play our most in form CB in MDM until we are settled..

mangala is starting to shit me up like savic did

[Mikhail Chigorin]

How has Greg Leigh been getting on at Crewe? Surely has to be a better option nowadays.

No he most definitely is not.

Thanks for that Doug. I am just dismayed at how far Clichy has regressed in his performances for the last couple of seasons and was probably a knee jerk reaction but he is fast becoming a liability.

Angelino is certainly a future possible left back but his strength is definitely his attacking play rather than defensive. At right back I think we have an even better prospect in Pablo Maffeo who I think is top class defensively and in recent games has been playing centre back even though he is quite a small lad.

My take on Clichy is that he might be marginally better than Kolarov defensively but not enough to make him first choice.On Saturday though he was awful with an assist for their first goal with his shocking positioning and then some appalling passes to make iut a really bad game for him.

Zaba isn't the greatest defender but such a 100% player he does get away with things helped of course by his attacking play and great link ups with Silva,Milner and Yaya especially. His main weakness is his speed which did get shown up once badly on Saturday but can often be seen when he has to chase back when attacking and out of position.

Thanks for mentioning this youngster Mr. H.

I don't think it necessarily follows that, just because someone is smaller, they wouldn't be any good, at PL level, in the centre-back role.

If it's the aerial 'warfare' aspect that gives concern, I think that a lack of inches can be somewhat minimised by the timing of the jump and the 'spring' that the defender can bring to the climb (years ago, I'm thinking of Ian Ross for Liverfool).

It's harder to leap higher from a standing start but, when just defending set pieces, taller players in the side could be detailed to mark the opposition's big so-and so's in those situations.

On the plus side, a smaller player might be faster, more mobile and more agile and, in this way, bring other attributes to the defence.

It'll be interesting to watch Maffeo's progress and what position he eventually ends up playing.