kneejerk corluka thread

[sloth]

I can't say I agree with that at all. It is much more important to have a football brain, especially as a defender. Something Richards simply doesn't have and may never have.

That's true, but i also maintain that at FB a severe lack of pace such as Corluka suffers from can be a big handicap, especially when up against the top, tactically astute teams.

I would take Harry's opinion over anyone on here. The fact he has kept him in the team speaks volumes.

If we're talking the whole package then obviously I would too, but that doesn't mean that he isn't also wrong on a lot of individual stuff.

 

[Kendall]

Don't like Kaboul at RB, but he is developing into a very competent CB.

Should've kept Kyle.

 

[Stoof]

I vote either hysterically overhyped untried reserve or player who excels in defence but would be massively out of position.

Does that sum up the thread?

 

[Kendall]

You're such a tart sometimes.

 

[WhiteStripe]

Or Jenas, or palacios or bentley or possibly Pav.

 

[Stoof]

You're such a tart sometimes.

Woah woah woah. Sometimes?

 

[yidiyido]

If Bale had been playing for Bremen last night he would have had a field day against Corluka and we would have lost by a hat full.

Agree :clap:

 

[spursgirls]

If Bale had been playing for Bremen last night he would have had a field day against Corluka and we would have lost by a hat full.

Unfortunately, I must agree with you. Unfortunately, because I think until this season, Charlie has been a great RB. At his best, he has always been cool, calm and collected, snuffing out danger, and passing out of defence to a white shirt. I always felt happy and confident in our defence if he was playing, but this season he's been off the boil, as has Lennon. it's always hard to know what's best though......drop the player and bring in someone who has been regarded as second best, or carry on with the player and hope they regain their form? I trust in Harry to make the right decision.

Plus.......when a player IS off form, the good parts of his game seem to get ignored. Yes, Charlie was below par yesterday, but he did make some good interceptions and clearances too, don't forget that.

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

Interceptions and clearances are a bare minimum for a defender, let's be honest

 

[RobinLeonard]

The one thing that bothers me is how sloppy Corluka's passing has been as of late.

It's unfortunate that both our first choice right sided players are completely out of form.

 

[brett.spurs]

Oh God, we're not still entertaining the (rubbish)idea of signing Micah Richards are we :duh:

 

[ShelfSide18]

It's unfortunate that both our first choice right sided players are completely out of form.

I think that has exacerbated the problem, with both players out of form and often reliant on each other as a unit they have been almost contributing to there own downfall.

I'm not unduly concerned, they'll find their way again, but probably when Bale and Ekotto's form nosedives!

 

[SpurSince57]

If Bale had been playing for Bremen last night he would have had a field day against Corluka and we would have lost by a hat full.

Bale had a field day against Fritz, and we didn't win by a hatful.

Oh God, we're not still entertaining the (rubbish)idea of signing Micah Richards are we :duh:

Only those who haven't understood that City would as soon sell their souls to Satan as do business with us. (Actually, some might say they have sold their souls to Satan.)

 

[Krafty]

Corluka was poor last night. Fair enough he doesnt want to get beaten by pace, but to constantly show a player onto his stronger foot shows a distinct lack of either preparation, intelligence or basic defensive know-how.

That being said, I dont think Lennon particularly helped him out, especially not in that second half when keane had come on and the wingers needed to show more defensive discipline.

 

[jamesc0le]

.

i would give j j a game at RB over corluka.

that's no slur though, jenas has all the attributes to be a very good attacking and defensive right back.

given his inconsistencies in cm , as a manger, i would have tried to switch his position and used him in training as a rb a long time ago

 

[leffe186]

As a man who tends to look on the bright side of life (and someone who's currently watching the game) I'd say that criticism of Lennon has been harsh. Bale and BAE always had more options on the left because there always seemed to be one less Bremen player there. In addition, VDV tended to pick the ball up on that side, gravitating to the left to give them an extra option. His passes to Lennon tended to be great sweeping ones from the left, and Corluka never seemed to anticipate them enough to overlap. We may have to accept that one side or another will be stronger at times.

(shit, BAE had been brilliant up to the 42nd minute - what a bloody giveaway that second goal was)

In the time before Bale the left-hand side (e.g. Leapy and Malbranque) had the brief to keep it tight and keep the oppo occupied while Lennon had more freedom. Now it's the other way around. Lennon simply has far fewer options when he gets the ball. The problem is, that is where Corluka is supposed to come in - and he just doesn't cover enough ground. When we're defending on the right, Lennon works very hard but Corluka is getting caught out from time to time. When we're attacking, Lennon only rarely has a good option from Corluka either overlapping or cutting inside. The ball goes back to Corluka and he can only play it sideways to the CB or back to the keeper.

Ultimately, when we are successful on the left we end up drawing the oppo to that side, whereupon the RW and RB should be able to exploit the space. I think the reason this is not happening largely lies with Corluka.

 

[NEVILLEB]

Problem we've got is there is no outstanding alternative

Kaboul is unsuited and Hutton has lost the plot

 

[Bill_Oddie]

People who haven't been here as long as us veterans might remember a wonderful thread (SS57 definitely will, he nearly had a spasm). It was glorious, well reasoned, articulate and summed up everything you are all trying to say.

The day was a sunny Saturday afternoon. Tottenham had played wonderfully against Manchester United at White Hart Lane but Lee Young-Pyo had made an error, conceded possession, United scored and they won the game (as they always, always do).

The thread was in huge detail about how Lee Young-Pyo should be dropped as he was "shit", "useless", "always been crap", "can't tackle", "is always out of position" and so on and so on. The nub being: Get him the fuck out of the team now and bring in... Yuri Berchiche.

Most posters agreed this was absolutely the best thing as it was absolutely definite that Berchiche was on the verge of becoming the left back equivalent of Pele, Jairzinho and David Ginola rolled into one.

I meantion this because, well, it's pretty fucking obvious, isn't it?



Also, the Kyle Walker brigade would do well to watch his positioning for the Under 21s recently. It was a good performance by Kyle but if he was as slapdash with his discipline and positioning in the Premier League, the word "Rapefest" comes to mind.

If indeed that is a word.

Bale had a field day against Fritz, and we didn't win by a hatful.

I genuinely thought you were being racist there until I remembered that's the name of Bremen's RB (I was watching with no sound). :lol:

 

[leffe186]

So Bill_Oddie, do you think we should be looking for another RB in January or do you think Corluka is fine?

I completely get the point about Walker or Naughton not being the answer - not yet anyway - but even though I have always rated Corluka I have been worried by him this season. I don't care about players making the odd mistake if their general play is good (I think BAE is terrific) and get annoyed when people give players a 4 based on a couple of misplaced passes....but Corluka has been unsure of himself defensively, limited going forward and generally more ponderous than usual. Maybe it's just a lack of confidence.

 

[Bill_Oddie]

That's exactly what I think it is. The player has been superb for us in a position that never gets any credit (usually the opposite) and we'd do well to support him.

Oddly, I agree with those that wouldn't have sent Walker on loan but only as I'd have put him against Arsenal in the cup (and give Charlie a week of hard, hard training). I'm not sure I'd go beyond that yet. Hutton is actually a good player but without games has turned into some kind of pariah. Kaboul would be fine but we NEED him at CB, so why not stick with Charlie? In many regards, his biggest problem is that he is so laconic. A poor performance like Tuesday may very well be the wake-up call he needs. I see no reason for his class to have permanently deserted him.

As for January, I'll let someone, anyone, answer the earlier question about who exactly else we could get. The lack of sensible answers is so far speaking volumes.