City centre-back pairings rated

February 03, 2010

SOLID PERFORMER: Vincent Kompany

M.E.N. Sport rates the Manchester City team after every game, and we totted up the marks to work out which had been the most successful of the Blues' nine different centre-back pairings to date.

Top marks went to the duo who turned out in City's 2-0 win over Portsmouth on Sunday, and who have yet to concede a goal in their three games together.

1. Toure and Kompany

Games: 3. Rated together: 7.33 (Toure 7, Kompany 7.66)

Unless Lescott does something spectacular in training over the coming weeks, this is starting to look like Mancini's first-choice pairing. The Italian chose them alongside each other for his first two games in charge before Toure had to leave for the African Nations Cup. Ironically, Kompany still sees himself as a midfielder, but when he and the skipper have played together, the result has been three clean sheets

2. Kompany and Boyata

Games: 3. Rated together: 7.33 (Kompany 7.33, Boyata 7.33)

These two stood tall in the Carling Cup Manchester derbies and the FA Cup tie at Scunthorpe, a mixture of experience and youthful fearlessness. Their efforts in those games marked this out as a potential future partnership, as Boyata is 19 and Kompany still only 23.

3. Richards and Boyata

Games: 1. Rated together: 7 (Richards 6, Boyata 8)

A few eyebrows were raised at Middlesbrough when Boyata was handed his debut, with the relatively inexperienced Richards alongside him. Richards was forced off injured at half-time but had helped to guide the impressive young Belgian to a man-of-the-match display.

4. Kompany and Richards

Games: 2. Rated together: 6.75 (Kompany 7, Richards 6.5)

Came together when Mancini decided he needed more experience for the games against Blackburn and Everton. Kompany had established himself by that point, and he was the senior partner in both games, with mixed outcomes.

5. Toure and Dunne

Games: 2. Rated together: 6.75 (Toure 6.5, Dunne 7)

Plenty of City fans still rue the departure of former four-time Player of the Year Dunne, and he was the main man in the first two games before being sold to Aston Villa. Toure was still finding his feet at the time, but these two clocked up consecutive clean sheets.

6. Toure and Lescott

Games: 14. Rated together: 6.71 (Toure 6.92, Lescott 6.5)

Touted as Mark Hughes' first-choice pairing after he had splashed out a combined £38m to secure their services in the summer. Toure's bustling style was suited to life at Eastlands, and he was made skipper, but Lescott took a while to look at ease with his £24m price tag. Had just started to look the part when injury struck.

7. Kompany and Lescott

Games: 2. Rated together: 6.5 (Kompany 6.5, Lescott 6.5)

Kompany made his first start of the season at centre-back in the Carling Cup win over Scunthorpe, and did enough to remain in the side at Birmingham at the next game. It was a partnership that didn't get a chance, as Toure returned from injury for the next game and Vincent was forced to wait his turn again.

8. Richards and Lescott

Games: 1 Rated together: 6.5 (Richards 6, Lescott 7)

Injury to Toure forced Richards, who began the season at right-back, to pair up with the new boy at Wigan. It didn't work out as Micah's hesitancy gifted Wigan the opening goal, although he played his part in a stiff ten-man resistance after Zabaleta had been sent off.

9. Toure and Onuoha

Games: 2. Rated together: 5 (Toure 4.5, Onuoha 5.5)

Onuoha, troubled by injury all season, was given his chance after Lescott was injured in December. Unluckily for him, City leaked goals, losing 3-0 at Spurs and then squeaking through 4-3 against Sunderland, Mark Hughes's last game. He now seems to have dropped down the order behind Boyata.

Individual average marks: Boyata 7.5; Kompany 7.2; Dunne 7.0; Toure 6.6; Lescott 6.5; Richards 6.2; Onuoha 5.5

Which do you think is the strongest pairing? Have your say.

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Free Ian Brown, Denton (03/02/2010 at 13:42)

Would like to see Lescott paired with Vinny when both are fully fit, as Lescott will benefit from having the calm & dominant Kompany next to him (as opposed to the flappy Toure).

dandas, malta (03/02/2010 at 13:49)

toure kompany

kez's blue moon, blackpool (03/02/2010 at 13:55)

Back 4 when all fit :- Richards Toure Kompany Lescott CTID

Eric, Dutch (03/02/2010 at 13:56)

This is all about how many goals they leaked. Don't understand naming Dunne with the pairings. He's gone.

It's not all about defending a blank sheet. Defending starts upfront is a cliché, yet very true. Anyway, best duo in all degrees Kompany and Boyata. So far ...

When you are allowed to name players that are no longer at the club, I would go for Watson/Doyle. Hey, better question to everybody:

BEST EVER CENTRAL DEFENCE AT CITY? Answers on a postcard.

Ali Benarbia (03/02/2010 at 13:57)

Kompany and Lescott way to go. Fans are so quick to criticise Lescott. Actually he was superb in a number of games (Fulham home springs to mind) before his injury.

timmy, manchester (03/02/2010 at 13:59)

Toure and Kompany for sure. Richards / Onohua Right back, Lescott Left back. Things could change though.

Blue Moon..., Manchester (03/02/2010 at 14:05)

TOURE AND KOMPANY DEFO BEST PAIRING, SHIFT LESCOTT TO LEFT BACK AND MEEKS AT RIGHT BACK

SOLID BACK FOUR!!!!!

CTID

I am not a number (03/02/2010 at 14:14)

In a recent interview with local BBC Manchester Tommy Booth stated that when fit, Onuoha is the best defender at the club in his opinion & he must know a thing or two about defending. I know he has been plagued by injuries which is very unfortunate, but his apparent recent slide down the pecking order is a source of concern given our long standing record of allowing promising young defenders to flower at other clubs rather than our own. Anyone notice it was he who cleared off the line when he came on late in the 1st derby semi & his fine contribution on Sunday?

catterickblue, Catterick (03/02/2010 at 14:15)

Richards Toure Kompany Lescott.

Feel sorry for Lescott as he was just getting his head straight and into some good form before his injury. Hopefully the ridiculous money tag round his neck has gone and on his return we get to see how good the lad really is.
Just wish Toure could jump !!

Jesper, Copenhagen (03/02/2010 at 14:15)

Toure-Kompany for now. Kompany is great as a central defender, ineffective as a central midfielder

Cat Stabber, Strangeways (03/02/2010 at 14:19)

I miss Dunnie, he was a good lad and didn't deserve the treatment he got off of us.

At Maine Rd on 16th Jan 1965.I really was there when we were s**t ! (03/02/2010 at 14:19)

Toure Kompany .................agreed.

simon23 (03/02/2010 at 14:22)

Lescott and Kompany for me....could play Toure at right back.

The eternal optimist, Dreamland (03/02/2010 at 14:47)

kez's blue moon, blackpool
3/02/2010 at 13:55

I agree with your choice entirely there. That combination is the best out of who we currently have on the books. With Boyata and Ohuoha ready to step in, this still highlights the need for a top quality (rather than able stand-in i.e Zabaleta) right back. The jury is still out, for me, on whether Bridge is the man for the left back slot. There are definitely better out there and one thing is blatantly obvious, neither Garrido or Sylvinho are the answer to the problem. In fact, can we avoid anyone else whose name ends with 'O' as Robinho, Garrido, Sylvinho and Jo have all flattered to deceive (probably just as well we didn't get Gago!). Any other vowel as a final letter is fine but let's go to school on what we have observed recently and a very good way to avoid the above is to avoid Brazilians! Give me a combatative Argie any day in the Premier League.

proudtobeblue (03/02/2010 at 15:04)

Agree with a few on here....Lescott and Kompany for me,both better in the air at defending set-pieces, and more likely to be a threat at attacking set-pieces. If Johnson gets the nod at left-wing then I would suggest we may see an improvement in the form of Wayne Bridge, with Johnson far more willing to track back and help out defensively than Shirkinho or Petrifiedov giving us more solidity down that flank and less chance of teams trying to exploit us down that side.

Andrew Shaw (03/02/2010 at 15:32)

In terms of who we have bought and who we have got, on paper, you would have thought Toure and Kompany or Toure and Lescott. In practice, and we haven't used all the possible combinations yet, so far, it's Kompany and Boyata for me although I don't think, at such a young age, Boyata should be a permanent fixture. He was thrown in at the deep end, acquitted himself extremely well and is clearly an excellent future prospect. He should be given more opportunities this season as a sub and the odd start in less pressurised games and unless Lescott is recovered, Toure and Kompany.

CTID!!!!, Glossop (03/02/2010 at 15:42)

It's hard to really say what is our best defence as it has changed so much, but we do have good defenders at the club, and with no more injuries on this scale could have a quality defence with the same back 4 on a regular basis. Richards has improved on recent performances, but still is very much a weak link for me.

Zabaleta has all the attributes to be a quality RB, just his pace lets him down, and that one thing (may seeem harsh) means he is a weak link at times. Onuoha is a very good defender imo, and hopefully can stop getting injured. Boyata has started very well, and looks promising, if he keeps his feet on the ground (unlike Richards) could become a quality CB for us. Toure was terrible all season before the Stoke game on boxing day, but since a new manager has come in, seems to be enjoying it with 3 very good performances under Mancini. Lescott is a very good defender for me, and we were seeing that for 4 games or so before he got injured. Kompany, DEFINATELY are best defender so far this season. Bridge, was doing fine before he got injured, but needs to improve on the tactical and mental side of his game, gets to many rushes of blood to go forward at times. All them defenders are worth keeping at the club, but Richards has to show much better signs in the year and a half.

From them players, the back 4 i think would prove to be the best playing together for the rest of the season would be: Onuoha, Kompany, Lescott, Bridge. Zabaleta being cover for Onuoha, Boyata and Toure being main cover for Kompany and Lescott, and though Lescott would not be ideal at LB, he would provide the best cover for Bridge out of the squad. Anyone agree?!

CTID.

Gaz M (03/02/2010 at 15:46)

Ali B - agree with you 100%. Lescott was in good form before getting injured.

I think that we're blessed with a number of good central defenders at the club. It's just the goalie who flattens to deceive time and time again. Too often rooted to his line, too often getting hyperbolic praise for making routine saves, and sometimes not getting to saveable shots.

Let's face it, the best save over both legs in the derby was made by a 39 year old in the top corner. Quick reflex saves are bread and butter for any goalkeeper at the top level (or even at amateur level, really) - the best sides never fancy someone who is flatfooted on his line half the time.

The crafty goat, Manchester (03/02/2010 at 15:52)

It is OK to try to rate these pairings, but we lack a true centre back that has good positional play and most important of all can attack the ball and lead the back four.

All these pairings have three things in common - no leader, poor positional play and tendancy to go into panic stations under pressure (as exploited by rags recently). Any high balls swung in create a nightmare.

Most league winning teams in the past (including City!) have had a strong spine down the middle of the park (that's why rags won it last year). We need a centre back who can get his head consistantly onto every ball (ala Dunnie) and also with the speed of turn to force opposing forwards wide (sadly not like Dunnie).

Most important of all a leader in the centre of defence who can give confidence to all around him and marshall the defence. I am sick of watching this defence not push up and force the opposition back into it's own half and thus boss the game.

To get a title winning team the Cheque book is needed here and left back, and while it's out buy a strong and creative midfielder to link midfield and attack.

Blue Exile, Dubai (03/02/2010 at 16:47)

Personally I always thought Tommy Booth was much underrated. Booth and Watson for me but then I didn't see Doyle play much as was too young. Would like to see all 3 playing right now with Doyle just in front. Tbh I think all 3 would hold their own today as would most of our team from the 70's, which really says something given the pace today. Could certainly add Corrigan,Tueart, Owen, Hartford, Power, Barnes, Kiddo and Royle and none would be out of place today. Hard to believe we only won the League Cup with those players as a team even if we did finish 2nd in '77. Ahh nostalgia, never better than when looking back! Makes one misty eyed when thinking of some of the rubbish that followed (Kinky, Uwe, Quinny, Ali B, The Goat and Dickov, for that goal, excepted of course). I know that there are others too, but am departing from the CB partnerships too much now.

timmyboy, North India (03/02/2010 at 16:49)

Kompany and Lescott or Lescott and Toure. Kompany is a good allround CB and comfortable bringing the ball out. Lescott is quick and reads the arial ball really well. Toure is great at defending when the ball is on the deck, but a tad weak in the air, but again he's good at bringing the ball out.

Fred Eyre's Stationer, Leeds (03/02/2010 at 17:07)

Kompany and Lescott with Toure moving to RB.

shortagain, cheshire (03/02/2010 at 17:17)

How about (when all fit) Toure RB Boyata RCB Kompany LCB & Lescott LB. We then have height, pace & experience

Blue Jazzman, Marple (03/02/2010 at 17:17)

best ever city pairing;

playing two central defenders only became popular in the seventies

I seem to remember Dave Watson and Mike Doyle being there in the early days
They were so good together that they played for England as a pair

We have had no better pairing since

Pivo, Manchester (03/02/2010 at 17:38)

I think Lescott was just starting to show when he had his unfortunate knee injury so I think he'll eventually come good when he's fit. If Toure played like he did against Portsmouth every week, then I'd have him in the team otherwise it would have to be Ned. A lot of fans prefer Kompany at CB but I like him in midfield where he uses his great energy to good effect. He's an intelligent player and would have no problem playing further up the field if necessary, unlike de Jong who is an out and out defensive midfielder.

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