Combined XI Thread

[Cruyff14]

Plus young Zouma coming through.

Nah, he's at a relegation battler, won't get a look in

 

[Bojan KantKick]

Can we wait a bit before we start comparing Sakho with Kos, VK and Mike.....Jesus.

 

[jod23]

Can we wait a bit before we start comparing Sakho with Kos, VK and Mike.....Jesus.

Why are we waiting. And Mike is not on in the conversation. Lol.

 

[Bojan KantKick]

Why are we waiting. And Mike is not on in the conversation. Lol.

Mike is ahead of Sakho who has played well for 5 minutes.

 

[Cruyff14]

Is Varane the best of three?

They're all fairly athletic, surely Kos is the best reader though due to his age.

 

[Bojan KantKick]

Is Varane the best of three?

They're all fairly athletic, surely Kos is the best reader though due to his age.

Varane is the best all round player of the 3 but has the Rio Ferdinand lazy trait where he slacks off defensively because he knows he can make up for his mistakes because he's faster than everyone. Kos reads the play better than the others

 

[chef]

Nah, he's at a relegation battler, won't get a look in

And yet Ar5ena1 couldn't beat us

 

[Cruyff14]

And yet Ar5ena1 couldn't beat us

It was a fake result.

 

[jod23]

Mike is ahead of Sakho who has played well for 5 minutes.

Lol.

 

[jod23]

Is Varane the best of three?

They're all fairly athletic, surely Kos is the best reader though due to his age.

You'd think so, probably more pure talent but then he is much younger so the experience of the other two certainly helps. Sakho is the best passer of the football. Kos probably the best reader of the play. Varane the quickest.

 

[Bojan KantKick]

ffs Varane is the best passer of all three.

 

[kangaspurs]

I'm not sure how to just post the image, but the comparison between Dier and Coquelin is an interesting one for the purposes of creating a joint North London team and for discussion over who should be in that holding midfield role in BKK's team of the season. They're probably the two best holding mids in the league so far this season and it couldn't really get any closer between the two.

http://www.squawka.com/comparison-m...uels_won_%/interceptions/blocks/clearances#90

 

[Magma]

Varane is the best all round player of the 3 but has the Rio Ferdinand lazy trait where he slacks off defensively because he knows he can make up for his mistakes because he's faster than everyone. Kos reads the play better than the others

glad others have seen that with varane. does it pretty regularly too. would think someone would coach it out of him

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

How would have thought that sub for the third reich 11 would get so much talk.

 

[Buckleys Jocks]

Lol.

Mike has been in "beast mode" for United for 12 months now, during which time we've had the tightest defensive record in the league and Smalling has well and truly established himself as one of the consistently best performing CB's in the league. By your own admission Sakho has been up and down with Rodgers and is only just now starting to excel. Never change Jod.

Sakho is very talented but five minutes of form doesn't put him ahead of others like Kos, Mike etc who have been doing it at that level for much longer.

On a side note though, **** me France have some serious talent at CB: Kos, Varane, Sakho, Managla, Zouma, Laporte, Umtiti etc

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

On a side note though, **** me France have some serious talent at CB: Kos, Varane, Sakho, Managla, Zouma, Laporte, Umtiti etc

France right now have talent all over the park.

We just need to see how they will **** it up.

 

[Buckleys Jocks]

France right now have talent all over the park.

We just need to see how they will **** it up.

Absolutely. I was talking about this with a mate yesterday, if it were any other nation you'd just about be penciling them in for silverware in the next few years.

 

[Latro]

Liverpool fans would rather have Sakho than Baresi, Maldini or any of the other great defenders.

 

[jod23]

Mike has been in "beast mode" for United for 12 months now, during which time we've had the tightest defensive record in the league and Smalling has well and truly established himself as one of the consistently best performing CB's in the league. By your own admission Sakho has been up and down with Rodgers and is only just now starting to excel. Never change Jod.

Sakho is very talented but five minutes of form doesn't put him ahead of others like Kos, Mike etc who have been doing it at that level for much longer.

On a side note though, **** me France have some serious talent at CB: Kos, Varane, Sakho, Managla, Zouma, Laporte, Umtiti etc

But Sakho was a top CB at PSG too before Liverpool. Mike Smalling has only just started to excel. He's ok but as usual Man United fan's will claim him to already be amongst the best CB's in world football just like how Martial is already one of the best strikers in the world too.

It wasnt Sakho's fault to be up and down. Rodgers sometimes played him, then froze him out for no reason at times. All whilst playing a horrible system that gave the back four no shield and goals were conceded by the bucket full. You put Klopp in charge and Sakho insta returns to being ridiculously good.

As you said, look at that depth for France at CB. Yet it's Sakho/Varane who are the go to pairing.

 

[Jatz]

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.

Not definitely the better passer at all.



Try again Jodly.

 

[Buckleys Jocks]

But Sakho was a top CB at PSG too before Liverpool. Mike Smalling has only just started to excel. He's ok but as usual Man United fan's will claim him to already be amongst the best CB's in world football just like how Martial is already one of the best strikers in the world too.

I'm well aware of Sakho's quality pre Liverpool, he was always one of my first signings in FM saves in years gone by, I rate him highly. I'm just saying that others in the league have been performing at the top level for much longer than he has during his stint at Liverpool, so to say Sakho is already up there after his recent turnaround in form is very premature for me, that's all.

Ever since Mike got sent off in last years derby he hasn't put a foot wrong and has gradually established himself as one of the best CB's in the league and our most consistent outfield player. This is not a claim. This is something that is now starting to be recognized by most commentators and regular viewers, he has undoubtedly been one of the best this season.

Martial is a 19 y.o leading the line well for a top four EPL side, he's an exciting talent to watch and in a stale attacking system he provides so much for the team. If he'd been doing this for Liverpool your reaction would not be any different to what you're seeing from United fans right now, you've fired off the goo for much less than that in the past.

 

[elhadjihenry]

But Sakho was a top CB at PSG too before Liverpool. Mike Smalling has only just started to excel. He's ok but as usual Man United fan's will claim him to already be amongst the best CB's in world football just like how Martial is already one of the best strikers in the world too.

It wasnt Sakho's fault to be up and down. Rodgers sometimes played him, then froze him out for no reason at times. All whilst playing a horrible system that gave the back four no shield and goals were conceded by the bucket full. You put Klopp in charge and Sakho insta returns to being ridiculously good.

As you said, look at that depth for France at CB. Yet it's Sakho/Varane who are the go to pairing.

This is certainly debatable. Frances CB starting pairings since from the 2014 WC to now:

Int. Friendlies:
Varane + Mangala
Varane + Sakho
Varane + Mangala
Varane + Koscielny
Varane + Sakho
Varane + Koscielny
Varane + Koscielny
Varane + Sakho
Varane + Mangala
Varane + Yanga-Mbiwa
Varane + Mathieu
Varane + Mangala
Varane + Mathieu
Varane + Sakho

WC 2014
Varane + Sakho
Varane + Koscielny
Sakho + Koscielny
Varane + Sakho
Varane + Sakho

Note that Sakho was also subbed off in 3 out of his 4 starts in WC 2014 games (subbing a CB off is not a usual thing to do) where he was replaced by Koscielny on 2 of those occasions. The only consistent starter is Varane, his no 1 partner is a toss up between Kos, Sakho and Mangala.

 

[Cruyff14]

Not definitely the better passer at all.

View attachment 191475

Try again Jodly.

Stupid to praise defenders/DMs for their passing unless you look at their long ball completion.

Doesn't count for much when you're knocking it five yards either side of you.

 

[jod23]

Stupid to praise defenders/DMs for their passing unless you look at their long ball completion.

Doesn't count for much when you're knocking it five yards either side of you.

But that's my point. Just watch Liverpool. He starts a lot of our attacks with excellent forward passes into dangerous areas.

 

[jod23]

This is certainly debatable. Frances CB starting pairings since from the 2014 WC to now:

Int. Friendlies:
Varane + Mangala
Varane + Sakho
Varane + Mangala
Varane + Koscielny
Varane + Sakho
Varane + Koscielny
Varane + Koscielny
Varane + Sakho
Varane + Mangala
Varane + Yanga-Mbiwa
Varane + Mathieu
Varane + Mangala
Varane + Mathieu
Varane + Sakho

WC 2014
Varane + Sakho
Varane + Koscielny
Sakho + Koscielny
Varane + Sakho
Varane + Sakho

Note that Sakho was also subbed off in 3 out of his 4 starts in WC 2014 games (subbing a CB off is not a usual thing to do) where he was replaced by Koscielny on 2 of those occasions. The only consistent starter is Varane, his no 1 partner is a toss up between Kos, Sakho and Mangala.

Since WC 2014 though he joined Liverpool and Rodgers being an idiot didnt rate him so he lost his France place through injury and not playing. He's back now, even though he just got injured. I think he will start next to Varane come the Euro's.

Klopp just said this about him too.

"We have to wait for a scan," Klopp added. "I don't want to speculate now. I would prefer to lose 4-1 and keep him."

Klopp is a very good manager, he rates him.