Lets chat about Kolo

[Mystic]

Now I know this is not saying much, but he's been our best defender the last two months hasn't he? I'd argue that he's actually been pretty damn good by premier league standards. I'd almost be tempted to give him another year and perhaps try and steer him towards become a coach, because he's a solid backup option, as he's happily proven this year, and he's a character I don't really want the club to lose.

 

[Modo]

He's very underrated. People tend to forget that he was a top class defender once.

 

[Markeh]

We had the same thread a week ago and my feelings haven't changed. If he played like he did on Wednesday or when he first came to the club every time he put on the shirt it'd be a different story.

 

[manwithnoname]

He's very underrated. People tend to forget that he was a top class defender once.

No they don't.

 

[willby]

No they don't.

^^ This!

 

[tombrown]

I rate him, and think he is good to have around as a backup option and maybe even as a coach in the future.

How good he was earlier in his career is of zero relevance to that discussion though, whether or not we remember it .

 

[refugee]

No they don't.

Some people do

http://www.sixcrazyminutes.com/index.php?threads/the-hunt-for-a-defender.31443/page-6#post-929056

Kolo Toure is fucking garbage.

http://www.sixcrazyminutes.com/inde...rt-that-doesnt-smell.28724/page-2#post-888770

Toure is balls. Just cos Citeh paid 15M for him doesn't make him any good. His positional sense is dreadful.

Same thread, in reference to Wenger

In his entire time at Arsenal he's never bought one good defender. He inherited the best back 4/5 in British history, got Sol Campbell on a free, and has bought a succession of mongs ever since.

Not one good defender in 15 odd years, and it's cost him.

 

[Woland]

If you're only as good as your last game then I'd be surprised if Barca aren't tapping him up.

 

[leftpeg]

People tend to forget that he was a top class defender once.

So was Alan Hansen.

 

[mark1975]

Yeah, "he's a fucking plodder" blah blah. He's been a very good signing. If people think our 4th choice centre back is the problem, then they can't see the wood for the fucking trees.

 

[Judge Jules]

Agree with everybody above. I'd probably be thinking of getting him started on the coaching route now, but I'd deffo retain his registration as a player too. He's exactly the kind of individual we need to keep around the club.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

Next season, we've got Matip, Gomez and perhaps two of Ilori, Skrtel, Lovren and Sakho in the squad (depending on who we want to or can move). Maybe a new regular starting CB even (if I can telepath my idea to Klopp). Where are we going to fit Toure in there?

We also have Wisdom returning from loan and Jordan Williams returning from loan as well as injury (he's able to play CB). And we don't know still what Lloyd Jones might offer us (just returned to Blackpool on loan after returning from injury). Sure, these three youngsters and Ilori aren't well-tested, but as a 4th or 5th CB, just the best one of them would probably do - they won't play that much anyway, unless we have another injury shit storm like this season.

Instead of spending additional veterans' wages for another season, I'd rather we gave a chance to our best youngster who is already on contract for that 4th or 5th CB spot. Unless that veteran happens to be (almost) indispensable, which Toure isn't. On the whole, he's given us mixed performances over these couple of seasons - some good games, some okay/meh ones, some bad ones. I think cold, hard thinking should come in here so we aren't swayed by his recent good form.

 

[Modo]

Yeah, "he's a fucking plodder" blah blah. He's been a very good signing. If people think our 4th choice centre back is the problem, then they can't see the wood for the fucking trees.

In reality he shouldn't be our fourth choice based on his performances.
I'd have him in the team ahead of both Lovren and Sakho.

 

[Judge Jules]

Pigeon: it's a respectable case you make, and if we'd been talking about longer than a one-year extension I'd agree. However, as things stand I don't agree - too many ifs and buts there for my liking. Will Gomez be ready to play in the middle? Will Ilori make it? Will the doubts about our other options be resolved? What can we expect from largely unknown quantities returning from loan spells elsewhere? Kolo for another year makes sound sense to me.

 

[manwithnoname]

Yeah, "he's a fucking plodder" blah blah. He's been a very good signing. If people think our 4th choice centre back is the problem, then they can't see the wood for the fucking trees.

I think the problem is that such is the level of distrust in our CB options, that some people wouldn't view Toure as "fourth choice centre-back", because he's arguably been more reliable than Sakho and/or Lovren.

 

[Mors]

We've had Skrtel, Lovren, Sakho, Kolo - all claimed to be our best CB at points this season, usually after a run of about 2 decent games back to back, as that's unheard of for our CB's. I like Kolo, he's a good laugh and all that, and he played very well in the last game, but he's gotta go in the summer, him and one of the other 3, then bring in Matip and one other.
Kolo can't play physically for any significant number of games in a row, and his concentration goes to shit quite often aswell, not what we need from CB's. In an ideal world we need a quality back 4 and goalkeeper and for them to play pretty much every game all season so they've got a solid understanding.

 

[manwithnoname]

We've had Skrtel, Lovren, Sakho, Kolo - all claimed to be our best CB at points this season, usually after a run of about 2 decent games back to back, as that's unheard of for our CB's. I like Kolo, he's a good laugh and all that, and he played very well in the last game, but he's gotta go in the summer, him and one of the other 3, then bring in Matip and one other.
Kolo can't play physically for any significant number of games in a row, and his concentration goes to shit quite often aswell, not what we need from CB's. In an ideal world we need a quality back 4 and goalkeeper and for them to play pretty much every game all season so they've got a solid understanding.

Yeah, the simple conclusion you make when 35 year old Kolo Toure can even be discussed as one of your best CBs is that you need to buy two new CBs immediately.

He wasn't even a great CB 5 years ago.

Hyypia, Carragher, Henchoz, Hansen, Lawrenson, Wright, Hysen (for two seasons anyway), Agger, Skrtel.....these are what good CBs look like.

 

[tombrown]

Next season, we've got Matip, Gomez and perhaps two of Ilori, Skrtel, Lovren and Sakho in the squad (depending on who we want to or can move). Maybe a new regular starting CB even (if I can telepath my idea to Klopp). Where are we going to fit Toure in there?

You missed out Lucas

 

[mark1975]

I think the problem is that such is the level of distrust in our CB options, that some people wouldn't view Toure as "fourth choice centre-back", because he's arguably been more reliable than Sakho and/or Lovren.

Well this is my point. You'd be hard pushed to find a better fall back option - experience, still relatively fit, not the slowest player in the World, etc. It's more the fact that the players infront of him have failed badly. If we had three really good options and then Kolo, it'd be ok, right?