Who will fill in for Ash at left back for the rest of the season?

[blizeH]

Just wondering, who do you guys think our best option will be for the remainder of the season?

Yuri or Paulo playing slightly out of position but also having a bit of experience at left back?

Bosingwa (ala against Barcelona, and the 'best player in the world'), Ivanovic or Belletti playing on the other side to what they're used to?

Recall either Bertrand or van Aanholt who are both doing very well at their respective Championship clubs?

Edited February 12, 2010 by blizeH

[Andreas]

Zhirkov no question about it.

[blizeH]

I'd have thought the same at the start of the season, should something like this happen, but now I'm not entirely sure he's the best option.

[The Machine]

It will be likely that Zhirkov will fill in the role at left-back. If it is then I hope that he can up his game and prove that he is worth the £18 million pound that the club has payed for.

[bjd]

Zhirkov, no poll needed.

[ethicalstrategy]

Bizarre

[blizeH]

I don't think it's that bizarre a question to be honest. People are assuming it'll be Zhirkov but he's done very little (particularly recently) to say that he'd be a clear first choice above some of the others.

[Cam]

He's sure as hell better than Ferreira who has looked lacklustre in the minimal games he's played.

We can't expect Bosingwa to come in, have no match fitness but slot into an unfavoured position.

Zhirkov is the only current logical choice.

[The Brit]

has to be zhirkov...paulo has looked awful whenever he's played this season and i'm not in favour of moving ivanovic over either...van aanholt and bertrand are too young and better off where they are

[dkw]

i dont think we should bother with a replacement, just play with 10 men. as according to some on here were screwed anyway and definately wont win anything now we only have international left back Yuri Zherkov to replace him, i mean he only made it into the euor 2008 team of the tournament as a left back so he must be rubbish.

[ethicalstrategy]

I don't think it's that bizarre a question to be honest. People are assuming it'll be Zhirkov but he's done very little (particularly recently) to say that he'd be a clear first choice above some of the others.

Ashley is clearly first choice left back and rightly so. Zirkhov was specifically brought in to provide cover in that position, as well as other left sided positions in midfield and further forward. He has played there regularly for the Russian national team.

Whenever Ashley has been unavailable and Zirkhov has been fit then he has played in that position. None of the others that you think might be ahead of him have done anything to suggest that they should be. Bosingwa has been out injured for a long time, as has Ferriera. The others are youngsters who have been on loan or playing in the reserves.

The only other player who would potentially be suited to the position, apart from young, untried and untested youngsters, is Ferriera. He at least has some experience playing there for Portugal.

If Zirkhov was required to play a more advanced role then it could make some sense to look at those alternatives. Currently though I don't think that is the case.

Unless he does something to monumentally blow it or we have a major left sided injury crisis the left back role is his to lose.

I can't really understand why anyone would think differently.

[ethicalstrategy]

i dont think we should bother with a replacement, just play with 10 men. as according to some on here were screwed anyway and definately wont win anything now we only have international left back Yuri Zherkov to replace him, i mean he only made it into the euor 2008 team of the tournament as a left back so he must be rubbish.

Don't start talking common sense, that'll cause chaos!

[german-blue]

zhirkov....there is no doubt about it

[yorkleyblue]

Why are we even talking about this? Daft sods!

[chelseabootboy]

no questions about it Zhirkov no need for this poll really...........

[coco]

A better question would be to ask who should stand in for Zhirkov if he gets injured ?

[blizeH]

In my defence, it seems over a quarter of the users here share the same reservations about Zhirkov that I have

Bran on the right, Bosingwa on the left would probably be my preference if they're both on form and fit. But I'd absolutely love for Yuri to prove me wrong and hope he does, he's shown a lot of quality at times.

[bluevale2]

Yuri no doubt about it. I think he will grow into it better with an uninterrupted run of games.

[Chippy]

I've had my reservations about Zhirkov defensively and have said before that I would be worried about him against a decent right Winger but I would still think it obvious that it is his spot to lose now Ash is sidelined.

He may well come on in leaps and bounds knowing he has little competition in the LB role and it will be a good thing if he does that sooner rather than later.

I think the only hard decision is if to play him against Cardiff to ease him into the role or not to risk him as an injury to him now would be a disaster.

I always thought Ferreira could do a decent LB job but with the amount of game time he has had I think he will struggle and would give him a short spell against Cardiff if we are looking comfortable in case he is needed later, I think he needs games or at least some game time in case he is needed.

[Spiller86]

It has to be Zhirkov to start. However, I still think that Paulo is good enough if the management team show faith in him (which the various makeups haven't since Jose left) and give him a solid run of games.

The guy is all about confidence, and he can be effective if given a shot, part. given that he has played in the left back spot for Portugal for almost his whole career.

That said we paid 18 mil for Zhirkov, he has been getting a bit of a run recently and now it's time for him to step up. Plus he's a natural left footer which is obviously an advantage.

This is really going to be a place where teams are going to have a crack at us whoever plays there. I can just see Jose over there plotting a 4-3-3 with a winger and Maicon battering us down that side.

Edited February 12, 2010 by Spiller86

[jcm28]

Zhirkov. I'm starting to believe that he will get better and better after each match plating LB. Plus, he also has offensive skills so he might go forward every once in a while, just like Ashley does.

[Barry Bridges]

Yuri has been getting better and better every gaem, aside from those where he was played completely out of position.

My main fair is will he adapt well enough intime for Inter? Aside from that I think he will be just fine for us at LB, but obviously a step down from ACole

[Maksimov]

Zhirkov, without a doubt. First of all, he's easily good enough, he just needs to play more to gain confidence and get used to playing with his team mates. When we've got a left sided player like Zhirkov available, I don't see a point in playing a right sided player there. He's good defensively and Carlo seems to want his fullbacks to attack. He can take on and beat players one on one and his passing is good. I think we have really seen what he can do at Chelsea. I think he can offer much more.

But...who should be Zhirkov's back up, that's the question.

[The Blue Train]

Zhirkov obviously, but I would like to see Van Aanholt to be recalled, if we're up 3-0 why not let the boy get a few minutes? It's all down to how much he would improve here compared to how much he would improve out on loan. Sam Hutchinson would probably be a fair shout too.

[Alakuu]

Has to be Zhirkov. I'm glad he's going to be getting more games now.