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Gazza_AZ 5:47 Sat Feb 23
Demise of Pablo Zabaleta

His lack of pace and ability to cover has been really evident in his last few games. Teams are rampant against us on the left wing. Playing him against Sessengon last night, seemed doomed from the start. The two early chances both came down the left, and although commentators berated Cresswell for not covering the run - my it was easy to get down the wing and cross the ball.
Ryan Fredericks is not that great - but he gets my vote to start - and although I respect Pablo Zabaletas work ethic and I'm sure he's a great example in training - his career is effectively over.
Anyone else agree?

Bernie 2:01 Wed Feb 27
Re: Demise of Pablo Zabaleta

The reason why we are often weak down the left hand side is because Anderson is either told, or lacks desire to offer cover.

gph 1:45 Wed Feb 27
Re: Demise of Pablo Zabaleta

I understand Alex's point perfectly.

He's saying that the need to protect our right side has left our left side exposed, and made it look weak.

Perfectly understandable.

Doesn't stop it from being untrue except inside Alex's head.

normannomates 2:12 Wed Feb 27
Re: Demise of Pablo Zabaleta

Nope.
Soppy cunt

HammerTime78 10:47 Tue Feb 26
Re: Demise of Pablo Zabaleta

Zab will still do a job for us next season. I'm far more concerned about Fredericks as I don't think he's up to it.

However, the middle of the park is STILL our major weak area. Think we should go all out for Loftus-Cheek in the summer. Him and Rice together with Lanzini in front would be perfect.

Takashi Miike 10:40 Tue Feb 26
Re: Demise of Pablo Zabaleta

*masuaku plays*

Takashi Miike 10:40 Tue Feb 26
Re: Demise of Pablo Zabaleta

what point was you trying to make? we've been weakest down our left hand side this season, especially when masuaku, even worse next to ogbonna. what was your point?

zebthecat 10:39 Tue Feb 26
Re: Demise of Pablo Zabaleta

Alex V 4:09 Tue Feb 26

Wha?!

He's been one of the strong links in our defence.
The failings have been elsewhere and earlier this season once him, The General and Diop got used to each other we barely conceded anything which was most unusual for us.

Admiral Lard 10:32 Tue Feb 26
Re: Demise of Pablo Zabaleta

Looks like MP wants to offer Zab a contract extension

Alex V 10:23 Tue Feb 26
Re: Demise of Pablo Zabaleta

Not remotely what I said, is it? Try to understand a point before you criticise it.

Takashi Miike 7:23 Tue Feb 26
Re: Demise of Pablo Zabaleta

opposing teams intentionally targeting our supposedly weak RIGHT SIDE has exposed our genuinely shit, until Cresswell returned, LEFT FLANK


you are a tucking mental cunt 😂😂😂

Far Cough 4:12 Tue Feb 26
Re: Demise of Pablo Zabaleta

Not worried about Zabaleta, I'm more worried about Masuaku

Alex V 4:09 Tue Feb 26
Re: Demise of Pablo Zabaleta

If he hadn't slowed up considerably he'd still be at Man City.

I'd be more sympathetic if our defensive record had been half-decent since he joined. But it hasn't.

It's pretty obvious we're using extra measures to protect him on the pitch. It potentially unbalances the side and exposes the left flank more. Just another reason why I think it's time to stop.

Russ of the BML 3:39 Tue Feb 26
Re: Demise of Pablo Zabaleta

Are we talking about the pace that Zabaleta has never had?

Takashi Miike 3:26 Tue Feb 26
Re: Demise of Pablo Zabaleta

alex, have you 'woken up' to masuaku's limitations?

Darby_ 3:17 Tue Feb 26
Re: Demise of Pablo Zabaleta

Good old Alex “wrong about literally everything” V. Alex wasn’t wrong about Zabaleta. It was every other club and manager that didn’t realise for two years that he was lacking in pace.

Kaiser Zoso 3:15 Tue Feb 26
Re: Demise of Pablo Zabaleta

Great player, but we’re on borrowed time with him.

We need to let him go and sign a replacement, unless Fredericks shapes up a bit more.

That’s if we are thinking as a big club.

Block 3:11 Tue Feb 26
Re: Demise of Pablo Zabaleta

He's had 2 bad games.

He's an excellent footballer and still has a lot to give.

zebthecat 3:10 Tue Feb 26
Re: Demise of Pablo Zabaleta

Is there another Yedlin I don't know about?
You can't possibly mean the one who plays for Newcastle. You know, the guy who was utterly dismantled by Felipe Anderson.

Alex V 3:04 Tue Feb 26
Re: Demise of Pablo Zabaleta

It might be that teams are simply waking up to Zabaleta's limitations. I think he was struggling massively for pace when he joined us - it's taken 18 months for opponents to work it out, so maybe we should be thankful for that at least.

Vexed 10:44 Mon Feb 25
Re: Demise of Pablo Zabaleta

Yedlin. Ha ha

Russ of the BML 10:40 Mon Feb 25
Re: Demise of Pablo Zabaleta

The demise? Have some bloody respect for the bloke.

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