Fabricio Coloccini

[zanela]

I thought Steven Taylor was your best defender. Resolute and showed great awareness. He even covered for your captain, who committed a bit early few times i thought. The other taylor, however, cost you the match.
But you guys kept on going even after you went 2 goals down. And had Ba and Ben Arfa got their efforts on target, who knows how it would 've ended. Ben Arfa was your creative spark, and did really well for someone returning from a long injury layoff. It would've been a case of poetic justice had his effort gone in. Hopefully..next time.
Guthrie looked lively too.

 

[Hatem Ben Arfa]

Coloccini was excellent I thought. He didn't put a foot wrong for me. S.Taylor puts his body in the way of everything, and I can't fault him either, he's had a good season and surprised because I don't rate him very highly.

Ryan Taylor has had a fantastic season so far but he clearly cost Newcastle 2 goals in the space of 2 minutes.

As for Ben Arfa, he has a touch of Messi about him. He was so unlucky to hit the post, it would have been poetic justice had the ball gone in. He is only going to get better, as that was his 1st start in 1 year after a broken leg. he was surprisingly chummy with De Jong in the tunnel before the game, I know I wouldn't be though.

as for Guthrie, I don't rate him very highly after a few abysmal past performances that I have been unable to shake form my mind. But yes, these last 2 games, he's looked very good. He should have passed instead of shooting from the angle he was at.

I found this really interesting video that gives you an insight into what goes on in the tunnel. [video]http://www.mcfc.co.uk/Video/Features/Manchester-City-v-Newcastle-United-tunnel-cam-20-Nov[/video]

 

[AnfieldEd]

Tim Vickery said this about him and remember Vickery is an expert of south american football and has lived there for well over 10 years:-

In response to this question "Hi Tim, as you mentioned Argentina's defence in your article, I am wondering if you can let me know why Fabricio Coloccini is constantly overlooked to represent his country. I am an NUFC fan and think his performances over the past two years have been nothing short of fantastic and have even improved since becoming our Cpt, surely he would bring Argentina some much needed stability, class and composure. Any ideas??"

His reply:-

"Coloccini has played 34 times for Argentina - last time as a sub v Ireland in August last year - never looked entirely comfortable at the level - slow and lured into giving away fouls.
I suppose his recent form could get him back in - but more based on the paucity of options than anything else."

 

[RedMadridista]

Is Tim Vickery that clown who said Coates is much better than Jones? I can't remember who said that.



Oh, and I don't rate FC. He's a good defender for Newcastle but I just can't see him at a big club... decent at best.

 

[Aryagorn]

he can't be a clown for telling an obvious truth!!

 

[Chainsaw]

I suppose his recent form could get him back in - but more based on the paucity of options than anything else."

This!

 

[RedMadridista]

he can't be a clown for telling an obvious truth!!

lol

 

[Sewelly]

Tim Vickery said this about him and remember Vickery is an expert of south american football and has lived there for well over 10 years:-

In response to this question "Hi Tim, as you mentioned Argentina's defence in your article, I am wondering if you can let me know why Fabricio Coloccini is constantly overlooked to represent his country. I am an NUFC fan and think his performances over the past two years have been nothing short of fantastic and have even improved since becoming our Cpt, surely he would bring Argentina some much needed stability, class and composure. Any ideas??"

His reply:-

"Coloccini has played 34 times for Argentina - last time as a sub v Ireland in August last year - never looked entirely comfortable at the level - slow and lured into giving away fouls.
I suppose his recent form could get him back in - but more based on the paucity of options than anything else."

3 years ago I'd have definitely agreed with him because Vickery's description sounds accurate of him then. However the Premier League is a higher level than a large majority of international games and he's more than comfortable at that level now. I don't accept for one second that he's worse than jokers like Demichelis and Burdisso.

 

[Hatem Ben Arfa]

Tim Vickery said this about him and remember Vickery is an expert of south american football and has lived there for well over 10 years:-

In response to this question "Hi Tim, as you mentioned Argentina's defence in your article, I am wondering if you can let me know why Fabricio Coloccini is constantly overlooked to represent his country. I am an NUFC fan and think his performances over the past two years have been nothing short of fantastic and have even improved since becoming our Cpt, surely he would bring Argentina some much needed stability, class and composure. Any ideas??"

His reply:-

"Coloccini has played 34 times for Argentina - last time as a sub v Ireland in August last year - never looked entirely comfortable at the level - slow and lured into giving away fouls.
I suppose his recent form could get him back in - but more based on the paucity of options than anything else."

Vickery clearly hasn't watched Coloccini for Newcastle these last two years. I bet you he's basing those asumptions on Coloccini's last appearance for argentina, and it was a SUBSTITUTE appearance for the LAST 6 MINUTES OF MATCH is what he seems to be basing it on. He also forgets to mention that whenever Coloccini does play for Argentina they play him at full back instead of Center Back which is his best position. That is BIG factor he needs to take into consideration. His other appearance before that Ireland game was in the 2-1 loss to Spain before the world cup, where AGAIN he was played out of position at right back; in this game he did not do himself justice at all because he was having a great season for Newcastle, but he chose to do a Van Bommel and just kick Iniesta for 90 minutes. He has hardly been given a fair chance. 2 appearances in 3 years, the most recent one being 6mins against Ireland. Coloccini is so much better than anyone Argentina has at center back right now.

Vickery needs to start watching Newcastle more often. Coloccini has been amazing for the last 2 seasons and this one especially.

He can't call himself south american expert while having outdated views on players.

 

[AnfieldEd]

He says his recent form could get him back in, which suggests he does watch him.

 

[Hatem Ben Arfa]

He says his recent form could get him back in, which suggests he does watch him.

The question the fan asks says he's been fantastic. I'm sure thats what his recent form statment is based on, because his assessment suggests he's hardly watched him for the last 2 and half years, and is using only his last 2 argentina apperances as his guide.

 

[Sewelly]

He says his recent form could get him back in, which suggests he does watch him.

Vickery doesn't even get to watch his team's (Spurs) games, never mind Newcastle's. He said the only English games he got to see last season were the FA Cup final he covered for Brazilian TV and Arsenal in the CL when he raved about Wilshere who he'd never seen play before.

He's a very good pundit and journalist but he almost exclusively watches South American club and international football as that is his target market.

 

[AnfieldEd]

I would say he deserves another chance in the national team, I mean the argies are already at the bottom in that department so it can't be any worse for them.

 

[Sewelly]

He's a late bloomer which seemingly works against him. He got 30 odd Argie caps when he was being shipped around Spain on loan but now he's settled, in the form of career and captaining a team who's perform very well (particularly defensively) in arguably the best league in the world he can't even get a look in. The thing is even Gutierrez is getting the odd callup so they're obviously not completely oblivious to NUFC.

 

[AnfieldEd]

I still don't abide by HBA's claim that he is world class or even top class.

He is to you what Skrtel is for us i.e. solid, reliable, prone to mistakes and poor decision making at times. But nevertheless solid enough and will do a job for you defensively.

Skrtel plays MUCH better without Carra than with him don't know why however one presumes its because Carra barks orders and takes charge whereas Agger and Skrtel communicate more and have a better rapport.

But certainly Coloccini has been among the best centre halfs in the league this season, but as I told HBA he'll never be world class.