Given that you yourself said a while back that he'd been figured out and couldn't be trusted under pressure I'd say you think the truth's pretty close to what I've been saying.
He was much much quicker. When he was at spuds there wasn't anyone who could beat him for pace, he was a beast but put on too much muscle which slowed him down. These days you'd have him keep that pace instead of strength but back then ferdinands & Shearers were all the rage and doing the biz. Few injuries later in his arsenal career and his game was totally different.
Early sol was amazing.
I keep reading that on here. How does muscle slow you down? A sports scientist would laugh at that comment.
Sol was strong and quick, but never Rio quick. Prime Rio had absolutely fantastic pace.
He'll drag us down if he's a regular. He slows down play, gives away goals with his recklessness and is generally an accident waiting to happen in the games in which he's noticeable, ie not at home against the sides we should be beating.
I'd play him away at OT etc when we could do with another body in there to upset the opposition and generally spoil.
We don't know how well Colo and Mapou will play together so I'll let that one go, but Cabaye and Tiote? Come on, man. One's total crap and the other's never really going to excel in this league, especially not when he has to carry the other.