Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa joins AS Roma then Lyon

[Hanshithispantz]

So we're probably looking at half a dozen mistakes that have led to goals in 20 odd Premiership games, I doubt that's too far off any other season barring last year, where he was playing in a side that collectively finished 5th.

 

We've shipped goals for fun at times this season, a centre back is hardly going to be covered in glory, but I think he's looked solid all season except for when we've came up against pacey hard working forwards, who he's always struggled against.

[TheHoob]

So off the top of your head you've got 6, 2 of which were against the most in form players in the league at the time in Suarez and Bale.

 

I'm not saying he is beyond criticism but for every mistake you've just listed I could probably pick out a game this season where he has been the best player on the pitch. Yeah he hasn't been as good as last season where is was one of the best CBs in the league, but he certainly hasn't done enough to justify being dropped from the team.

[The College Dropout]

He lost out in the air from a set piece, to Hugo Rodallega. He was on the wrong side. There where only 3 attackers in the set-piece anyway. That's terrible. Freekick wasn't taken quickly, he had plenty of time to compare.

 

edit: was going to name some off the top but Haircut named some of the more obvious ones but i'll talk about what makes them so bad.

 

Let's take the freekick for example. He got turned easily by Clint Dempsey who is not particularly strong or quick. That means his reading of the situation was poor in the first place to get into the bad position then he lacked the physicality to make up for the mistake so he had to foul him. It was a yellow card offense too as the comentators pointed out. Had it been later in the game it would've been. It wasn't miles out, it was within shooting distance. Just poor defending.

 

The red card at S'land was stupid and out of character. He let the team down that day. Just an indication of where his head is at. He ended up missing 3 games as a result and he's been poor in a lot of the games he's been poor.

 

He's looked weak at times too. Lukaku and Demba caused him plenty of problems with strength and he was AWOL when we shipped goals at Stoke.

 

We are 15th ffs, how can any of our defenders have looked solid for most of the season? We have to accept that some of our better players have been under-performing. He is one. A main one. If he can go back to some of last season's form we will climb the table. It's that simple.

[mattypnufc]

He got red carded at S'land?

[NG32]

Demba went off, Chelsea scored to wonder goals.  None of which were colos fault.

 

 

And tbf, Demba Ba is a handful for any player at any level.  Thats why chelsea nabbed him on the cheap.

[NG32]

He got red carded at S'land?

[Kanj]

Wish we'd shift Colo talk to the Colo thread.

[The College Dropout]

Everyone has said S'land was the turning point.

 

He and the whole team where poor against WBA. Lukaku caused problems all day. The next league game he could've done better for the goal and got himself a deserved red card and a 3 match suspension.

 

Poor like everyone against Brugge.

 

Misses the next 3 games out of stupidity. Him not being available for such a silly offence in these games is a black mark against his name as he let the team down.

 

Didn't watch Maritimo.

 

Cost us points at Stoke.

 

Solid against a 10 man Wigan undoubtedly.

 

Poor at Fulham.

 

Average vs City

 

Solid against QPR.

 

The less said about ManU/Arsenal the best better a couple players stood out in those games positively, Colo wan't one.

 

the form has been pretty sketchy this year too.

[The College Dropout]

Sorry L'pool. Am i wrong in what i'm saying? No.

[The College Dropout]

At work, typing furiosly. sp/sentence mistakes have been made but you get the gist.

[Hanshithispantz]

He lost out in the air from a set piece, to Hugo Rodallega. He was on the wrong side. There where only 3 attackers in the set-piece anyway. That's terrible. Freekick wasn't taken quickly, he had plenty of time to compare.

 

edit: was going to name some off the top but Haircut named some of the more obvious ones but i'll talk about what makes them so bad.

 

Let's take the freekick for example. He got turned easily by Clint Dempsey who is not particularly strong or quick. That means his reading of the situation was poor in the first place to get into the bad position then he lacked the physicality to make up for the mistake so he had to foul him. It was a yellow card offense too as the comentators pointed out. Had it been later in the game it would've been. It wasn't miles out, it was within shooting distance. Just poor defending.

 

He gave away a freekick man, let it go

 

The red card at S'land was stupid and out of character. He let the team down that day. Just an indication of where his head is at. He ended up missing 3 games as a result and he's been poor in a lot of the games he's been poor.

 

What, like when he tried to knock Elmander out?

 

He's looked weak at times too. Lukaku and Demba caused him plenty of problems with strength and he was AWOL when we shipped goals at Stoke.

 

Demba Ba caused him precisely 1 problem and received a broken nose for his troubles. But he's not a physical defender and never will be, Jones tore him to shreds at St James' Park a few years ago for example.

 

We are 15th ffs, how can any of our defenders have looked solid for most of the season? We have to accept that some of our better players have been under-performing. He is one. A main one. If he can go back to some of last season's form we will climb the table. It's that simple.

I think for the vast majority of games he hasn't exactly looked a shambles that's all, the fact we're 15th and have been largely poor as a team is 1 reason why I'm not going to jump to say he's letting his off field problems effect him, or that he's unfit, or on the decline etc.

 

If seasons were reversed and we we're locked in a relegation battle for half of a season last year do you think he would have looked like one of the best defenders in the league? Not a chance.

[TRon]

I wonder if we hadn't signed Mbiwa whether the critics would be so keen to drop Colo? Because if he's been so bad, they really should say they would.

[The College Dropout]

Poor defeding is poor defending.

 

 

"He let Bale get the ball, move on".

 

Aye, getting sent off for no reason and missing 3 games, who cares though?

 

 

Oh he's not physical. That's not a problem in the Premiership.

 

 

Never he said he's looked a shambles. But he been under-performing, you see the difference? We have been poor as a team and as indivduals largely. Colo has been poor, can we just admit that? Never said he's unfir or declining but I do think one of the reasons for his own personal dip in-form is the issues that make him want to leave.

 

What is your last question about? We wouldn't be 15th had he performed like last season. same way we wouldn't be 15th if Cisse had scored 15 goals this term. We wouldn't have finished 5th with this season's Cisse. He's a valuable member of the team, his performance directly correlates to points ffs.

 

He's one of the biggest differences in us winning/losing points.

[Hanshithispantz]

Oh he's not physical. That's not a problem in the Premiership.

It's never really been a massive problem other than a handful of games, it's Pardew's job to set us up so we're not really effected by it. But yeah, surprisingly 6ft tall average build Fabricio Coloccini isn't going to out muscle 6ft 3 brick shit house Romelu Lukaku.

 

And he hasn't been "poor", so I won't admit to that, no.

 

Pointless continuing this anyway as it's probably just becoming an argument of semantics. Coloccini is a better defender than what he has looked this season, I just don't think it's down to his own poor form or off field problems etc.

[Unbelievable]

Whilst Colo has had some questionable moments this season, like most defenders do tbf, his defending has been good for the most part this season. I have been very critical about him for his off the field actions in the past two months, but to his credit he does seem to take leadership on the pitch and is still a very important player for us. To have three good centre back gives us a problem of luxury, which we aren't exactly accustomed to around these parts, and gives us the option of benching him if Pardew feels Taylor and Yanga-Mbiwa offer more in the short or long term, but this shouldn't be used as a stick to beat Colo with imho. That said, like almost everybody in our squad he has not reached the level he performed at last season, so it's fair to ask some critical questions too. Don't understand why it needs to be so black or white.

[The College Dropout]

So he has no responsibility in his poor form? I'm done.

 

I've never said he should be dropped so I don't know people keep mentioning it.

[mrmojorisin75]

But he been under-performing, you see the difference? We have been poor as a team and as indivduals largely. Colo has been poor, can we just admit that?

 

i can, he has

[Willow]

Mbiwa is starting against Metalist......right?

[Hanshithispantz]

So he has no responsibility in his poor form? I'm done.

 

I've never said he should be dropped so I don't know people keep mentioning it.

I never said that at all

 

I don't think he's in "poor form", that's my point. He's had some very poor moments which he should take responsibility for, yes.

[KDT]

Mbiwa is starting against Metalist......right?

 

Yeah he is, it's being discussed in the Colo thread.

[Kanj]

Mbiwa is starting against Metalist......right?

 

Yeah he is, it's being discussed in the Colo thread.

 

[The College Dropout]

Both went on to look very crap. Bassong has only looked a good player again 3 years later. Bassong was good for such a young man but he wasn't that good.

 

Without Ba's goals we would've been in the relegation zone, no doubt in my mind.

 

With colo on the pitch we where heading for 3 points. IMO we would've won had he not got injured. We also lost the 3 games he was suspended for after L'pool.

 

Yes, had Colo not made those two mistakes it would've been an excellent performance? Had we scored 3, it would be noted but overlooked like our poorish closing down of Chelsea's goals the week before.

 

I agree Pardew's systems haven't benefited the whole team but IMO some of his senior players have let him down. Especially the spine of the team + Jonas.

[NG32]

Both went on to look very crap. Bassong has only looked a good player again 3 years later. Bassong was good for such a young man but he wasn't that good.

 

Without Ba's goals we would've been in the relegation zone, no doubt in my mind.

 

With colo on the pitch we where heading for 3 points. IMO we would've won had he not got injured. We also lost the 3 games he was suspended for after L'pool.

 

Yes, had Colo not made those two mistakes it would've been an excellent performance? Had we scored 3, it would be noted but overlooked like our poorish closing down of Chelsea's goals the week before.

 

I agree Pardew's systems haven't benefited the whole team but IMO some of his senior players have let him down. Especially the spine of the team + Jonas.

 

Let it go man.

[Guest icemanblue]

Hey, perhaps this guy should have stayed in college? hahahahahahahaha

[LFEE]

Looking forward to this lad making his debut... Fixtures have worked out well to bed him in ready for Southampton if needed...