Is There A Case For Kolo?

[Red Astaire]

I really like the guy. Based on nothing really but he seems sound and a team player. Happy to do a job and committed to the cause. Doesn't complain and understands his place. Give him another year? Hell Yeah. In my opinion. 🙂

Thoughts?

 

[Red Astaire]

Liverpool defender Kolo Toure out to prove doubters wrong and earn new contract: 'It doesn't matter what other people say' ​

• Kolo Toure is nearing the end of his contract at Liverpool
• The veteran Ivorian centre back will turn 35 in March
• He is determined to play his way to an extension on his deal
• Liverpool are in the Capital One Cup final on February 28
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Liverpool defender Kolo Toure is determined to fight for a new contract as his current deal enters its final weeks.

As it stands the former Ivory Coast international, who turns 35 in March, has three months left at Anfield as no new offer has been made by the club.
Toure signed a one-year extension last May but the pending summer arrival of Schalke centre back Joel Matip on a free transfer would appear to suggest the former Arsenal and Manchester City man is on his way out.

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Liverpool's veteran centre back Kolo Toure (left) is nearing the end of his current contract at the club

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The 34-year-old Ivorian is determined to play his way to an extension on his current Reds deal
However, he is refusing to accept this is the end and has been encouraged by a recent run in the side which, due to injuries, has seen him start the last two matches.
'I've not been told anything. I am just enjoying every second of being at Liverpool Football Club,' said Toure, who has made 16 appearances so far this season.
'I am a fighter. The future is not the most important thing for me. What's important is what's happening for me right now.
'I'm in the team at the moment and I am showing every game that I'm still here.
'It doesn't matter what other people say, I'm very happy and I always give 100 per cent for this club.
'Sometimes you can make people change their minds by performing well and that's my challenge right now.
'I can show people by my games that I'm still a top player. That's all I can do and I will fight until the end.
'I've not had any offers for next season yet but if I keep playing like I am at the moment then I'm sure doors will open.'

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Toure joined Liverpool in May 2013 from Premier League rivals Manchester City on a free transfer

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Toure has impressed with his performances this season and looks set to start the Capital One Cup final
Despite being Jurgen Klopp's fourth-choice centre back Toure's performances have belied that with him putting in a man-of-the-match display in the goalless Europa League draw against Augsburg.
He is likely to start again in the second leg at Anfield this Thursday as he looks to secure his place in Sunday's team for the Capital One Cup final against former side City.
'We can't think about Wembley because the next game is the most important one,' he added. 'If you don't perform on Thursday, you won't play on Sunday.
'It's up to the manager to decide what players play. We have a big squad. Whatever players play we need to qualify and then go to Wembley and try to win the final.
'When you win, you don't feel the tiredness. It's really important we win this second leg.' ​

 

[Dreambeliever]

I love Toure and I think people quickly forget how good he was in his first season before he got injured,

He didn't have the best of finishes to that season but he was superb and instrumental in us picking up the 1-0 wins we did without Suarez.

He's obviously a great influence in the dressing room and can still put in a shift as he's shown on more than one occasion this year.

I'd be surprised if he got another season considering we have strengthened in the area and he is a year older but I wouldn't be disappointed.

Kolo Kolo Kolo Kolo Kolo Kolo Kolo Toure!!

 

[RedStar]

Its hard not to like the guy but with Matip already signed and Gomez back in the summer we have too many CBs in the first team squad. We probably need to shed 1 or 2 more even if we lose Toure. Id be surprised if hes still with usb in August

 

[JohnnyRocket]

Klopp will have Matip, Skrtel, Lovren and Sakho to fight it out for two spots I reckon.

Gomez to fill in where needed across the back.

Kolo will definitely be going.

Still not convinced with Sakho. He's just too shaky to be a solid defensive rock - especially when we're holding a lead. I'd be tempted to sell him, and look to bring in an experienced 31/32 year old leader who can organise better than any of our current lot - who can then hand over to Gomez in a couple of years.

 

[gkmacca]

I'd give him another one year contract and also try him out in a coaching capacity with the kids. With his experience and enthusiasm he'd probably be a great influence on them, and he'd still be around as a player if we have another injury crisis like we did this year.

 

[Red Astaire]

I'd give him another one year contract and also try him out in a coaching capacity with the kids. With his experience and enthusiasm he'd probably be a great influence on them, and he'd still be around as a player if we have another injury crisis like we did this year.

Very much this ^^^^^^

 

[Ryan]

If we want to continue this loveable trend of sitting in 10th place, then yes - we should definitely aim to keep fucking cloggers like Kolo Toure in the squad.

 

[Oncy]

Im afraid im on that page too.

 

[Red Astaire]

If we want to continue this loveable trend of sitting in 10th place, then yes - we should definitely aim to keep fucking cloggers like Kolo Toure in the squad.

I'm taking it you don't rate him then Ryan? Why exactly? I'm not for a second saying he should start but as a back up and working in some sort of coaching role. What's there to lose? He has the experience right?

 

[Red Astaire]

Im afraid im on that page too.

Yeah I thought you would be.

 

[Athens]

One of the problems with Kolo is that if he's not playing his weight seems to increase exponentially. Even when he is playing he always carries a few extra kilos. I can just imagine him trying to shift his immense bulk around the pitch after a few months of not playing.

 

[Red Astaire]

One of the problems with Kolo is that if he's not playing his weight seems to increase exponentially. Even when he is playing he always carries a few extra kilos. I can just imagine him trying to shift his immense bulk around the pitch after a few months of not playing.

Ah yeah - I forgot about the weight thing. He can turn into a fatty that's true. I still like the loveable dude though and believe he can contribute for one more year.

 

[gkmacca]

Like it or not, but having a well-known black coach would, at the very least, not only be popular with the black clique in the squad but would help with the recruitment of talented local black kids (whom, at present, we signally fail to attract). I've already said that I think the standard of coaches that Rodgers brought in has not been good enough - too many yes men rather than people who can inspire the young players - so why not try him out? (I'd also make him the over-age captain of the ressies, giving that bunch of pampered drifters a bit of direction, whilst keeping him fit in case of emergency.) Getting someone in there who's actually won things, who can help instil a more competitive spirit, would only be good.

 

[mark1975]

If we want to continue this loveable trend of sitting in 10th place, then yes - we should definitely aim to keep fucking cloggers like Kolo Toure in the squad.

There are bigger "cloggers" than Kolo in the squad. I agree that we need to do better, but when his job is as last choice centre back there for emergencies, he's been arguably our best centre back this season. So he's done his job, it's the other two or three that are in front of him that need to be looked at first. Bring in a couple of first choice defenders, fuck off a few of the players who've failed to live up to their transfer fees and reward those that play well.

The lad has been a pillar of professionalism and has performed well too, he also looks like he genuinely gives a shit about the club and it's results.

It's not "cloggers" like Kolo that are symptomatic of our position, it's ever-presents who can't string more than a couple of good performances together.

 

[redhorizon2]

 

[Arn]

We need Captains and players with good game intelligence in the sqaud so we should keep him. Sell players like Skrtel and Lovren instead.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

We need Captains and players with good game intelligence in the sqaud so we should keep him. Sell players like Skrtel and Lovren instead.

How dare you suggest selling Skrtel, he loves the club and always gives 100%!!

 

[Modo]

I'd rather keep Kolo than Sakho

 

[davud graham]

I wouldn't offer him another contract as he isn't good enough, which should be the main criteria as far as I'm concerned.
As far as a coaching role I haven't got a problem with that if he's got any talent for coaching. If he hasn't then we shouldn't use him as one regardless of him being black.
I'm sure there are plenty of good black coaches out there who warrant selection above Toure who has little coaching experience to speak of. I know he's been taking his coaching badges but I doubt he's had much time to put them into practice whilst he's still playing.
I'd always prefer a coach that has a track record of developing players that taking a punt on someone who may or may not be good enough.

 

[Ryan]

There are bigger "cloggers" than Kolo in the squad. I agree that we need to do better, but when his job is as last choice centre back there for emergencies, he's been arguably our best centre back this season. So he's done his job, it's the other two or three that are in front of him that need to be looked at first. Bring in a couple of first choice defenders, fuck off a few of the players who've failed to live up to their transfer fees and reward those that play well.

The lad has been a pillar of professionalism and has performed well too, he also looks like he genuinely gives a shit about the club and it's results.

It's not "cloggers" like Kolo that are symptomatic of our position, it's ever-presents who can't string more than a couple of good performances together.

The question is whether we should keep Toure though mark, not where he ranks in the pecking order of shite within our squad.

We shouldn't keep him on. He's not good enough.

 

[gkmacca]

I wouldn't offer him another contract as he isn't good enough, which should be the main criteria as far as I'm concerned.
As far as a coaching role I haven't got a problem with that if he's got any talent for coaching. If he hasn't then we shouldn't use him as one regardless of him being black.
I'm sure there are plenty of good black coaches out there who warrant selection above Toure who has little coaching experience to speak of. I know he's been taking his coaching badges but I doubt he's had much time to put them into practice whilst he's still playing.
I'd always prefer a coach that has a track record of developing players that taking a punt on someone who may or may not be good enough.

I don't think there ARE many good black coaches around. Plenty who'd like to be coaches but can't get a job. I'm not sure what the negatives are of just trying Kolo out. He's here, let's try him and see what he can do. If McManaman is around doing some sessions then it's hardly outrageous to have Toure doing some whilst playing with the ressies.

He needs to play regularly, so using him in every game with the reserves, as captain, would bring some leadership to those kids. And if he woorks out as coach, great - we've continued/revived the LFC tradition of promoting from within. And if he's not worth keeping, no harm done.

 

[SummerOnions]

He's a smart player but as he gets older and slower he will be less useful. As someone who's won more than anyone in the squad though, maybe he can help by being there for the younger ones

Fuck, though, has anyone apart from our Kolo even won a major trophy? Not counting the league cup

 

[Athens]

He's a smart player but as he gets older and slower he will be less useful. As someone who's won more than anyone in the squad though, maybe he can help by being there for the younger ones

Fuck, though, has anyone apart from our Kolo even won a major trophy? Not counting the league cup

Milner.

Although if you're talking about Liverpool players who have won something with Liverpool, I can't think of any at the moment.

 

[Modo]

He's a smart player but as he gets older and slower he will be less useful. As someone who's won more than anyone in the squad though, maybe he can help by being there for the younger ones

Fuck, though, has anyone apart from our Kolo even won a major trophy? Not counting the league cup

Millner? Sturridge?

 

[gkmacca]

Millner? Sturridge?

Doesn't Sturridge, somewhat fortuitously, have a Champions League winner's medal?

 

[Arn]

The last "big" thing we won was the 05/06 FA Cup so no one of our current players have won the league/FA Cup/EL/CL with Liverpool. Will soon be a decade without a single big trophy.

 

[manwithnoname]

There's often a few extraneous reasons beyond mere footballing ability that can affect a player's value to the squad; how popular they are, closeness to the manager, experience of winning trophies, leadership, even language and culture (cf Lucas's value for Brazilian and Spanish-speaking players).

But as a footballer, while he can still "do a job" in defence on occasion, he isn't good enough to play in a team that has aspirations of winning titles. Of course, that goes just as much for the likes of Sakho, Mignolet, Lucas, Lovren, and arguably Moreno, Benteke, Can and Ibe too, but this thread is about Toure.

We're 8th in the league for a reason. Not every reason is Kolo Toure, but he's one of them.

 

[Arn]

I doubt that you will find any better central defender in the world that probably is happy being fourth choice. He will be happy if he get 10 games a season, he won't moan about it. We can sign a better central defender but he will probably not be happy being fourth choice.

 

[davud graham]

I don't think there ARE many good black coaches around. Plenty who'd like to be coaches but can't get a job. I'm not sure what the negatives are of just trying Kolo out. He's here, let's try him and see what he can do. If McManaman is around doing some sessions then it's hardly outrageous to have Toure doing some whilst playing with the ressies.

He needs to play regularly, so using him in every game with the reserves, as captain, would bring some leadership to those kids. And if he woorks out as coach, great - we've continued/revived the LFC tradition of promoting from within. And if he's not worth keeping, no harm done.

Just because there may be a shortage of renowned black coaches in this country that doesn't mean there aren't any throughout europe that could do a good job. I know that Dortmund have a black youth coach that has worked wonders for them in regards to developing players and he's english. That doesn't mean we could tempt him away from Dortmund but it may be worth a try , especially with Klopp here who no doubt has worked closely with him.
I'm well aware that there are very few black managers in the british game but I've no idea if that is the same in coaching , especially youth coaching.
Everton have Dennis Lawrence as their first team development coach but are they attracting young local black players to their setup because of him or because they have for years been better than us at promoting young players into their squad.
The thread asked should we keep him as a player and i don't think we should regardless of whether we retain him as a coach.