Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa joins AS Roma then Lyon

[Ronaldo]

Having watched the Villa goal again we certainly can't afford our CB partnership to 'defend' like that too often. My only criticism of the pair of them in the past few games but it's a cause for concern.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

 

Just heard the mbiwa love on the podcast

 

Not the first time they've mentioned him, they were properly impressed when we signed him.

 

Never really listened to that one, might have to give it a go. They were bang on, he showed exactly how to deal with Benteke, gave him nothing in that game

 

I like Marcotti, although he plays devil's advocate a lot to get the other people going. The Guardian one is probably better overall, but as for the football nerd there's a fair bit to like about The Game.

[Lotus]

Having watched the Villa goal again we certainly can't afford our CB partnership to 'defend' like that too often. My only criticism of the pair of them in the past few games but it's a cause for concern.

 

Wasn't Sissoko marking Benteke? Or meant to be anyway...

[Ronaldo]

He was, yes. With Mapou on the outskirts of anything approaching a challenge.

[Lotus]

I think Krul was trying too hard that game. Think the CBs realised he was coming for everything whether he should or not.

 

I'm not convinced on the basis of that game that MYM and Colo are an ideal pairing anymore than you. Clearly they're very good when the ball is played on the deck. We'll see how they get on with the aerial stuff as the season goes on. Did well against Villa though, must be said.

 

And, if Sissoko's marking Benteke and loses him completely it's a bit churlish to blame someone else entirely.

[Tooj]

 

Just heard the mbiwa love on the podcast

 

Not the first time they've mentioned him, they were properly impressed when we signed him.

 

Never really listened to that one, might have to give it a go. They were bang on, he showed exactly how to deal with Benteke, gave him nothing in that game

 

I like Marcotti, although he plays devil's advocate a lot to get the other people going. The Guardian one is probably better overall, but as for the football nerd there's a fair bit to like about The Game.

 

I can't stand that tit Glendenning.

[Ronaldo]

I think Krul was trying too hard that game. Think the CBs realised he was coming for everything whether he should or not.

 

I'm not convinced on the basis of that game that MYM and Colo are an ideal pairing anymore than you. Clearly they're very good when the ball is played on the deck. We'll see how they get on with the aerial stuff as the season goes on. Did well against Villa though, must be said.

 

And, if Sissoko's marking Benteke and loses him completely it's a bit churlish to blame someone else entirely.

 

I'm not blaming Mapou for the goal. I just think defending set pieces should primarily be the responsibility of the CBs, especially looking at the rest of the team. If Colo and Mapou can't or won't compete in the air, we've got a bit of a blatant weakness to target and some dogshite teams will exploit it even if we're bossing the game on the ground. One of the reasons I wanted a striker like Carroll here, tbh.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

TBF Benteke and that other giant were almost above the crossbar when they jumped, and the cross was excellent.

[The College Dropout]

He was, yes. With Mapou on the outskirts of anything approaching a challenge.

 

Yep. You want your central defenders marking the biggest aerial threats, not an attack minded CM.

[The College Dropout]

I think Krul was trying too hard that game. Think the CBs realised he was coming for everything whether he should or not.

 

I'm not convinced on the basis of that game that MYM and Colo are an ideal pairing anymore than you. Clearly they're very good when the ball is played on the deck. We'll see how they get on with the aerial stuff as the season goes on. Did well against Villa though, must be said.

 

And, if Sissoko's marking Benteke and loses him completely it's a bit churlish to blame someone else entirely.

 

I'm not blaming Mapou for the goal. I just think defending set pieces should primarily be the responsibility of the CBs, especially looking at the rest of the team. If Colo and Mapou can't or won't compete in the air, we've got a bit of a blatant weakness to target and some dogshite teams will exploit it even if we're bossing the game on the ground. One of the reasons I wanted a striker like Carroll here, tbh.

 

 

Absolutely correct. I think Krul's decision to come out for everything was he/Pardew compensating for our lack of aerial prowess.

[Ronaldo]

TBF Benteke and that other giant were almost above the crossbar when they jumped, and the cross was excellent.

 

What's that got to do with the defenders taking responsibility for nullifying set pieces?

[AyeDubbleYoo]

TBF Benteke and that other giant were almost above the crossbar when they jumped, and the cross was excellent.

 

What's that got to do with the defenders taking responsibility for nullifying set pieces?

 

I thought you were talking about our aerial weakness at CB, I was highlighting the fact that even the best aerial defenders might not have had a chance.

[Ronaldo]

I can't even be bothered.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

I can't even be bothered.

 

 

Who's rattled your cage like? It was a fairly low-impact observation.

[Ronaldo]

I've said twice now that I'm not blaming Mapou.

 

Watch the goal, watch Mapou's positioning. It's not his fault who he been told to mark, obviously, but at the same time if Sissoko's a better bet (and he might be) than him and Colo to mark the opposition's main threat, we've got a problem, and it'll cost us.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

I've said twice now that I'm not blaming Mapou.

 

Watch the goal, watch Mapou's positioning. It's not his fault who he been told to mark, obviously, but at the same time if Sissoko's a better bet (and he might be) than him and Colo to mark the opposition's main threat, we've got a problem, and it'll cost us.

 

 

I agree our CBs should theoretically be marking the big lads, and we probably are (overall) slightly weak in the air. All I think is, if the alternative is playing Taylor instead of Mapou, then it's a weakness we're just going to have to live with. 

[TRon]

I've said twice now that I'm not blaming Mapou.

 

Watch the goal, watch Mapou's positioning. It's not his fault who he been told to mark, obviously, but at the same time if Sissoko's a better bet (and he might be) than him and Colo to mark the opposition's main threat, we've got a problem, and it'll cost us.

 

There's only one way to put that right and it's to buy a big centre back like Hangelaand. But then he might not be as good on the deck against more mobile strikers so you win some, you lose some.

[Ronaldo]

Or a striker who'll do everything that Cisse does plus offer what Shearer would do defensively.

[TRon]

Or a striker who'll do everything that Cisse does plus offer what Shearer would do defensively.

 

I thought you wanted defenders to be responsible for set pieces?

[Ronaldo]

I do, but it just isn't going to happen with our current 2.

[nufc4eva]

Or a striker who'll do everything that Cisse does plus offer what Shearer would do defensively.

 

I'm not to bothered if we leak a few goals to big lads as long as we score a few as well. It's the price we will pay for having ball playing defenders really and Benteke is quite a handful.

 

We don't have a Shearer or Carroll to defend corners / free kicks or good defenders in air so will need to find other ways to sniff out their danger.

[TRon]

Or a striker who'll do everything that Cisse does plus offer what Shearer would do defensively.

 

I'm not to bothered if we leak a few goals to big lads as long as we score a few as well. It's the price we will pay for having ball playing defenders really and Benteke is quite a handful.

 

We don't have a Shearer or Carroll to defend corners / free kicks or good defenders in air so will need to find other ways to sniff out their danger.

 

It's not necessary to win every header at a set piece, but it is important to challenge for them to prevent a clear head at goal. That's where we fell down with Sissoko and it can be addressed in training.

[themanupstairs]

Or a striker who'll do everything that Cisse does plus offer what Shearer would do defensively.

 

I'm not to bothered if we leak a few goals to big lads as long as we score a few as well. It's the price we will pay for having ball playing defenders really and Benteke is quite a handful.

 

We don't have a Shearer or Carroll to defend corners / free kicks or good defenders in air so will need to find other ways to sniff out their danger.

 

It's not necessary to win every header at a set piece, but it is important to challenge for them to prevent a clear head at goal. That's where we fell down with Sissoko and it can be addressed in training.

 

Spot the fuck on dude

[Mole_Toonfan]

At the end of the day Colo is not going to be around for ever as much as i love the bloke. Considering the amount of quick and tall b******s we have been linked with i kinda think Pardew see's Mapou as Colo's long term replacement and the task will be looking for someone who compliments him as much as possible.

 

 

[The College Dropout]

At the end of the day Colo is not going to be around for ever as much as i love the bloke and considering the amount of quick and tall b******s we have been linked with i kinda think Pardew see's Mapou as Colo's long term replacement and the task will be looking for someone who compliments him as much as possible.

 

 

 

This.