Is Coloccini still a certain starter, whenever he is fit?

Most of us, including me, were kind of against the idea of Saylor and Willo playing together. We thought it would be a conflict of styles. Willo has shown that he's not on the same level as Saylor and Colo, in some aspects, however, do you think there's some games where we could use the partnership of Willo and Salyor? Like against West Ham and Stoke, we really could use the aerial power.

Some people say that Willo is weak and poor in the air, and that he is also pushed around too easily. He's not as strong as he should be for a man of 6ft 4, but he's still significantly more of an aerial presence than Colo is, and he did well yesterday.

Yes you may use the first goal we conceded against Everton as "poor positioning", but lets face it, none of us would have picked up on that "mistake" if Gary Neville, a pro defender, hadn't have pointed it out first.I looked at the Baines goal, and it wasn't just Willo. You can't pick certain players out for that. What I noticed, before Neville showed us of Willo's poor positioning, was the disorganisation of the entire right hand side. Baines and Piennarr were annihilating Marv and Perch, and Jonas wasn't providing much valuable assistance. Anyway, I don't want to debate on that, but I just wanted to make sure that little thing didn't come up in the comments section, as a reason for Willo to be dropped for Colo every game.

Anyways, Saylor is by far the best defender we have in the air, but Willo is useful. He can't jump for crap, but if the ball is hanging in the air, his height Advantage is useful, and he was very threatening from set plays. He made a few decent knock downs and we could have scored.

I think against certain sides, it could be useful. Sides that play hoofball, or ones make useful of long balls, will not likely play a style which will require Colo's level of intellect or tactical awareness, but will pose a physical threat that Saylor and Willo could take care of together. Yesterday, I think we would have conceded without the two big lads. Norwich pummeled us quite a bit, and both Saylor and Willo made some vital aerial challenges.

Colo is a definite starter in most games, but I'm talking about sides like Stoke and WHU. Say what you want about them, they are a threat, and Willo isn't **** in the air or weak. He's not as good as he should be, but he's still decent, and 2nd in line after Saylor for a big/aerial CB.

Anyone else kind of agree?

 

Course he is.
el capitano is the first defender I'd have on the sheet.

 

Rofl could you read the article and see my points mate.

He's a fantastic defender, our best overall, but we need to think about the certain games.

There's no point in going up against a side, Colo playing fantastic, intercepting passes, being comfortable on the ball, but getting beaten constantly in the air, and not being able to do much in defending a set play, because of his lack of aerial ability, and us conceding a goals from set plays.

 

Xisco is back in training! WOOO! *sarcasm*

 

Yes

 

You cant leave Colo out for any games BUT would/could you play 3/5 at the back??? Against certain teams like Stoke I think you could go with 3 CB and 2 wing backs a bit like City are trying in games this season

---------Krul----------
---Saylor-Colo-Willo---
Anita-----------Santon
----Tiote----Jonas----
--------Cabaye--------
----------HBA---------
--------Ba/Cisse-------

I think that could be more possible than Colo being left out for certain games.

 

Didn't even read the OP.

Yes is the answer, next!

 

Yes, Colo first name on team sheet. No brainer

 

No brainer whatever the oppo. First name on any team sheet.

 

Wore my new 'lucky' Colo top for the first time yesterday. 100% success rate so far, he's got to start when he's fit.

 

I've been wondering this very same thing myself, I think it could be very effective for us.

 

It could give Cabaye and Ben Arfa the freedom they need. Plus a 3-5-2 can convert to a 5-3-2 very easily and quickly.

 

Aye Colo first name on the team sheet for me. Class player, can understand your thinking behind it though as Willo and Taylor would do a good job V the likes of Stoke, Norwich and even Everton to a certain extent as those are the types of teams that are more direct. Against better teams with cleverer strikers Colo is a must.

 

Better defender than S.Taylor and Williamson, so yes. Sure the other two will get plenty of games as Pardew will be rotating the squad.

 

I don't necessarily think you can say Colo is a better defender than Saylor, they have different attributes that make them good.

Colo is better on the ball and reads the game at a top class level. Saylor is strong, good in the air and very brave, and puts his body on the line.

You can't really say who'd get picked for a team before the other, before saying who the other options are first.

E.G. If we ended up getting a quick, nippy, skillful CB from somewhere, but one that's not that good in the air or strong, you'd play Saylor next to him.

And if we got a big, powerful CB that's good in the air, you'd play Colo next to him.

 

Hmm. A 3 defender formation, that could work against Stoke. We certainly wouldn't go and concede four...
Last season Colo played both games against Stoke, and we bossed both of them. For all Colo doesn't appear to be physically the most imposing, the way he attacks the ball is what gives him is deceptively good areal ability. Not to mention how he's almost infinitely more comfortable and controlled in possession, and the captain, I'd be surprised if we saw Saylor/Willo partnership in any premier league game where Colo is fully fit. Willo does a job, but I feel a lot more assured when Colo is on the pitch, regardless of the opposition.

 

I was thinking of some witty clever artsy response but to be quite honest it deserves an actual sensible reply. So here goes....... Colo is our best defender we have had for at least the last 10 years both technically and consistently and I would pay money to anyone who can realistically provide me with a better player......... Now before anyone says wood gate let me point out that I stated consistently (I'm typing on an iPad so spelling aside) and he was a class defender but his problem was he was never on the pitch...... Quite simply if colo and sailor get a good run together I really wouldn't swap that partnership for any in theorem......over....

 

Nor would I.

 

If Woodgate stayed fit I'm convinced we'd have been major challengers for the title with him in the team week in, week out. He was quick, strong, good on the ball, read the game well and was only about 23 at the time. Best defender we've ever had IMO.

Although I accept due to his injury problems Colo is the more reliable out of the two.

 

I like the look of that formation, but haven't seen enough of Anita yet to feel comfortable with him in a wingback position, although Tiote would offer some degree of cover.

Debuchy in that role would be awesome, but even at a push we could put Santon in there and Over the Wall in there at LWB.

I think that's a good alternative line up to go with in the more physical games that we generally come up against...Stoke to name but one. Still a massive amount of creativity in there and I like the idea of HBA in the middle having free reign to run riot.

Wonder if Pards comes on here ?