Coates

[Maldini]

Thought he played pretty well tonight apart from that dodgy pass and a couple of impetuous overcommitments. He looks really good in one-on-one situations, seems to have the timing down pretty well and doesn't leave his feet too often. He'll make a few mistakes but that's something you have to accept with young players. I would be a bit worried about him and Carra as a partnership though, neither are blessed with great pace.

[CarraLegend]

Yeah he done alright, I love the way he comes forward and tries to win the ball high up the pitch. A few mistakes but he's a 20 year old who doesnt speak the language, it'd be pretty weird if there werent.

 

I'd keep him in on saturday.

[Maldini]

If Agger's out I'd definitely keep him in

[Rimbeux]

I think he learnt tonight that you have to go in full and hard in every challenge, not just make your intentions known and think the forward will pull up, it's not capoeira (I know where he's from)

[Clay Davis]

Think he was OK. Did some things well and made some mistakes, but as has been said - totally to be expected. I'd definitely keep him in. Looked nervous, but did quite well overall - not a barnstorming debut by any means but a steady one. That'll do for now.

[Dan]

I was impressed, particularly second half whern I thought he was our best defender. There was a spell when we were under the kosh a bit where he seemed to win everything staying on his feet. He looks composed and didn't let that dodgy pass faze him. Encouraging start.

[Falconhoof]

keep him in for saturday.

[Stanley Leisure]

Defo.

 

Thought he looked a bit bewildered at first and that'll continue for a while until he learns the systems/language but some of his one on one defending was superb, i thought.

[Chili Palmer]

he runs like Sami. Good enough for me.

[David Hodgson]

He did well, and we have to keep remembering he's just 20 and actually 6 months younger than Martin Kelly. If he'd just come in from our reserves to play like that we'd be very excited.

 

keep him in for saturday.

 

Genuine dilemma that one. In some respects you have to bring Skrtel back in ahead of a 20 year old, but then again if there's ever a game to give a kid premiership experience its a home game like this Saturday's.

[Woodsyla]

He did well, and we have to keep remembering he's just 20 and actually 6 months younger than Martin Kelly. If he'd just come in from our reserves to play like that we'd be very excited.

Exactly if this was some home grown lad with an English sounding name like Sebastian Coates this place would be going mental. This foreign lad Kwatez nees to step up though and not make sloppy passes.

[Rimbeux]

He did well, and we have to keep remembering he's just 20 and actually 6 months younger than Martin Kelly. If he'd just come in from our reserves to play like that we'd be very excited.

 

 

 

Genuine dilemma that one. In some respects you have to bring Skrtel back in ahead of a 20 year old, but then again if there's ever a game to give a kid premiership experience its a home game like this Saturday's.

 

 

Not a dilemma for me personally. Surely the management have taken a view on Skrtel by buying Coates, and as with the other signings he will be given a chance?

 

Also is it my imagination or did he seem to be having a comfortable two way conversation with Kenny when he was stripping off at Spurs?

[Falconhoof]

Genuine dilemma that one. In some respects you have to bring Skrtel back in ahead of a 20 year old, but then again if there's ever a game to give a kid premiership experience its a home game like this Saturday's.

 

Kenny has been quite loyal to Skrtel I suppose so yeah he probably will come back in.

[The Hitman]

Would definitely keep him in for Wolves.

[Stevie H]

he's potentially better than skrtel and needs games to settle in. if we're going to go omitting him for games like wolves at home he's going to struggle to do that. think we've definitely got to leave him in for the weekend.

[Raj]

Also is it my imagination or did he seem to be having a comfortable two way conversation with Kenny when he was stripping off at Spurs?

 

Kenny does speak Spanish though

[Swipe]

Kenny does speak Spanish though

 

Does he?

[Gomez]

Not a dilemma for me personally. Surely the management have taken a view on Skrtel by buying Coates, and as with the other signings he will be given a chance?

 

Surely just as, if not more, likely that they've taken a view on Carra's age and/or Agger's fitness by buying Coates.

 

Having said that, we've spent enough money on him to indicate we are not speculating on a youngster making it in a few years. He is here to be first choice sooner rather than later, and therefore, given the problems we have and it seems will continue to have, he needs to be eased in as soon as possible.

Edited September 22, 2011 by Gomez

[Raj]

Does he?

 

Apparently so

[Swipe]

Apparently so

 

Didn't know that.

[Stevie H]

Kenny does speak Spanish though

years of practice on mediterranean golf courses.

[Rimbeux]

Surely just as, if not more, likely that they've taken a view on Carra's age and/or Agger's fitness by buying Coates.

 

Having said that, we've spent enough money on him to indicate we are not speculating on a youngster making it in a few years. He is here to be first choice sooner rather than later, and therefore, given the problems we have and it seems will continue to have, he needs to be eased in as soon as possible.

 

I hear you, but if Skrtel was going to be more than a sub, he'd have been starting by now on merit, he's been at the club long enough to establish himself.

[D.Boon]

Exactly if this was some home grown lad with an English sounding name like Sebastian Coates this place would be going mental. This foreign lad Kwatez nees to step up though and not make sloppy passes.

 

What a ridiculous point.

 

Back on topic. Centre half in my opinion is the hardest position to get up to speed in because any little bit of rustiness is potentially dangerous. Did OK, doesnt look too quick and could do with staying on his feet a bit more. Reminds me a little bit of Sami and Tony Adams in style, which is no bad thing at all.

[Farmer's Tan]

He did well, and we have to keep remembering he's just 20 and actually 6 months younger than Martin Kelly. If he'd just come in from our reserves to play like that we'd be very excited.

 

 

 

Genuine dilemma that one. In some respects you have to bring Skrtel back in ahead of a 20 year old, but then again if there's ever a game to give a kid premiership experience its a home game like this Saturday's.

 

thats a great point,although obviously he has been playing international football for awhile now so the step up isn't as great as the one from our reserves, he is very solid and really wayward pass aside hasn't really done much wrong.

 

he's potentially better than skrtel and needs games to settle in. if we're going to go omitting him for games like wolves at home he's going to struggle to do that. think we've definitely got to leave him in for the weekend.

 

he's come in and taken his chance,looked unfazed and very solid, can't think of any reason why he should be dropped.If he can handle the likes of spurs who are very fast paced team which would seem to be a much more difficult challenge for a man of his size i don't think are are too many teams in the league he can't handle,i'm really looking forwad to him battling it out in the air and watching him dominate.

[Gomez]

I hear you, but if Skrtel was going to be more than a sub, he'd have been starting by now on merit, he's been at the club long enough to establish himself.

 

I don't think he is going to be more than a sub. I think his role is to be an occasional CB, to fill in when we have injuries or when Coates has b*ggered off to play for Uruguay midweek. I see the future of our defence as:

 

First choice Coates : Agger

Backup: Skrtel, A N Other.

 

And Carra retired after taking the backup role for a bit. Maybe A N Other could be Wilson if he improves or one of the kids if they progress, I personally think Agger could do with replacing as first choice because the backup, with Carra there or otherwise are not good enough to be first choice for a team pushing for the title. If Agger is to be first choice, his backup needs to be good enough to play as first choice as well, because he'll probably play more than Agger, in which case he may as well just be first choice and be done with it.