Combined XI Thread

[jod23]

I'd have Ramos and Varane ahead of him. He's not far behind though.

Ive never been quite convinced with Ramos. Id have Sakho in front of Kos. Varane is outstanding. Still so young too. Sakho is a beast though, the form he is in right now is amazing.

 

[Jatz]

I'd have Kos ahead of Sakho but there's not a huge gap there.

 

[Zidane98]

I'd have Kos ahead of Sakho but there's not a huge gap there.

Sakho has performed far better for the French NT then Koscielny.

 

[elhadjihenry]

Kos is a better defender than Sakho imo, but Sakho and Varane make a better pairing for France than Varane and Kos who are quite similar players.

 

[Jatz]

Sakho has performed far better for the French NT then Koscielny.

Yeah maybe. If I had to have one in my side though, I'd go Kos.

 

[jod23]

Kos is too... nice. Sakho has beast mode.

 

[Benno_900]

Kos is too... nice. Sakho has beast mode.

You don't watch much of Arsenal, do you?

 

[jod23]

You don't watch much of Arsenal, do you?

I watch a bit of Arsenal. Sakho has more beast and mongrel in him than Kos.

 

[Benno_900]

That's not an indicator of being a better defender

 

[jod23]

That's not an indicator of being a better defender

No but it helps.

 

[Jatz]

Kos is too... nice. Sakho has beast mode.

Playing for Liverpool isn't 'beast mode'

 

[elhadjihenry]

Kos is as tough a defender as they come, having a mohawk and a face that looks like you are a cannibal doesn't make you a better player.

 

[jod23]

Playing for Liverpool isn't 'beast mode'

France, PSG, Liverpool. Beast mode is the same.

 

[jod23]

Kos is as tough a defender as they come, having a mohawk and a face that looks like you are a cannibal doesn't make you a better player.

No his superiority in the air, better passing range and excellent reading of the game does id assume.

 

[elhadjihenry]

No his superiority in the air, better passing range and excellent reading of the game does id assume.

He may be better in the air but I'd say Kos is a stronger passer and reader of the game, and he's quicker and a better tackler.

 

[elhadjihenry]

Kos vs Sakho this season (average stats per game), unfortunately for Sakho "beast mode" doesn't seem to do much:

 

[jod23]

He may be better in the air but I'd say Kos is a stronger passer and reader of the game, and he's quicker and a better tackler.

Sakho definitely the better passer. An excellent tackler too, he's very long and athletic. Kos is a very good reader of the game though. Both pretty quick.

 

[Cruyff14]

Sakho is good, but I think Kos is better.

You'd be happy with either at the end of the day.

 

[jod23]

Sakho has suffered too working under Rodgers and the leaky defense. Under Klopp he is already excelling but he will only get better and better.

Kos is very good though also.

Sakho/Varane is the partnership for France though isnt it?

 

[elhadjihenry]

Sakho has suffered too working under Rodgers and the leaky defense. Under Klopp he is already excelling but he will only get better and better.

Kos is very good though also.

Sakho/Varane is the partnership for France though isnt it?

Yep and like I said earlier, its because as a partnership they complement each other better. Varane and Kos are very similar players, with a CB pairing ideally you want two players with complementary strengths, which those 2 have.

Head to head having to pick one I'd take Kos every time.

 

[elhadjihenry]

Anyway looking at France's last 4 internationals, Kos has started 1, Sakho 1 and Mangala 2 (alongside Varane all 4 times), so that's debatable anyway.

 

[Cruyff14]

France have great depth at CB.

Mangala is no chump either.

 

[Zidane98]

Anyway looking at France's last 4 internationals, Kos has started 1, Sakho 1 and Mangala 2 (alongside Varane all 4 times), so that's debatable anyway.

They haven't played competitively for awhile.
It was the Sakho/Varane pairing at Brazil 2014 and Kosc nearly cost them qualification away to Ukraine in the playoffs.

 

[chef]

France have great depth at CB.

Mangala is no chump either.

Plus young Zouma coming through.

 

[elhadjihenry]

They haven't played competitively for awhile.
It was the Sakho/Varane pairing at Brazil 2014 and Kosc nearly cost them qualification away to Ukraine in the playoffs.

Which was over 16 months ago, hardly a guide to who is a better defender currently.