Lingard at RB?

[tomaldinho1]

Don't shoot me down immediately but I genuinely think Lingard's future here will be as an RB or, more likely, an RWB.

It's no secret he is liked by Mourinho but his general level is a rung or two below our other players who play in his position. He seems a cert to be on the bench again this weekend and I think we will be very active in Jan/next summer getting in another marquee attacking player making his chances at establishing himself tougher.

Tony V has the RB slot nailed down but he is 32 and, as phenomenally in shape as he is, he should be rested for big games if we get the chance. Sad though it is, it's likely we will need to find another RB in the next few years.

Dare I say it but Lingard is a better technical footballer than Valencia, he just isn't as powerful and aggressive. I think he has the raw attributes to develop nicely there and would be a genuine threat going forward plus he has a great engine and is homegrown (comes with added benefit of hopefully wanting to stay at the club for life).





Apologies if there is a thread for this already - I couldn't see one.

 

[Rood]

IIRC LVG played him there for a couple of games - although I think it was with a 3man defence

 

[Lennon7]

Nah, I'm not sure he's anywhere near good enough defensively. Tony V excelled there because he's so strong and quick, and can put in a good tackle. What would Lingard offer there?

 

[Andeva]

LvG tried this pre-season before Lingaard had his nasty injury. I think he looked very good actually, but then again, it was pre-season.

 

[FC Ronaldo]

Wing back could well be an option for him again given the following:
A) our centre backs have familiarity covering the right back role (Jones, Lindelof, Bailly in particular) and can do so from a back 3
B) he has the energy to provide all round support
C) defensive responsibility to track runners

However, he lacks the size and physicality for a typical outright full back so I am yet to be convinced that he could be anything more than a stop gap there. Wing back is a viable option though.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

I don't think so. His game is more about off the ball movement, he's not so good with the ball at his feet and he's not physical enough.

 

[Bwuk]

His future is at West Ham or a club of that level.

 

[Shady]

He is nowhere near good enough offensively to play as a winger for a top club. Maybe he can be of some use as RB. But i highly doubt it. Just an extremely limited player. Kieran Richardon level.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Nah, I'm not sure he's anywhere near good enough defensively. Tony V excelled there because he's so strong and quick, and can put in a good tackle. What would Lingard offer there?

How would you know until he gets a run of games there?

I mean, at the moment, we can only base his defensive work and positioning as a winger, and Lingard is possibly our best 'defensive' winger. This is not to say he would be good at right back, but we've got nothing else to base it off at the moment to say he's nowhere near good enough defensively.

 

[klayton88]

His future is at West Ham or a club of that level.

I agree. He's not United calibre, local lad or not.

 

[Pace Abuser]

Or... leave him on the bench where he belongs? He can "do a job" from there. As "doing a job" is the benchmark for a lot of United fans and nobody "does a job" like Lingard. Which is ok as long as that job is being done from the bench.

 

[Oneunited26]

Valencia is a different kettle of fish, he was always a up and down winger, great at tracking back, and has good delivery and is very direct, so his transition to a RB was always there, lingard does not have the set of skills of valencia to even be used in this kind of position, he can just about play well on the wings, let alone fullback

 

[Stringer]

Lingard's defensive capabilities are overrated massively. He's nothing special in that regard albeit slightly better than our other options. Valencia was always strong defensively as a winger so switching to a full back was always possible for him.

 

[ReallyUSA]

Given he's an academy kid, I wouldn't mind giving him a shot at somewhere else.

 

[el3mel]

Here's a much better idea : Go and buy a proper RB instead.

 

[Adam-Utd]

No chance will Mourinho try this with him.

The guy is piss weak, he can't head a ball. Going forward he doesn't take on his man and his crossing is hardly anything special.

stop fecking around and buy a proper RWB if you want to go that route.

 

[MadMike]

He is way way too weak (and short) to be a defender.

 

[Paul the Wolf]

Next we'll have Lingard for centre back and then Lingard for goalkeeper - after all he must be good at something, mustn't he? Maybe not.

 

[Lennon7]

How would you know until he gets a run of games there?

I mean, at the moment, we can only base his defensive work and positioning as a winger, and Lingard is possibly our best 'defensive' winger. This is not to say he would be good at right back, but we've got nothing else to base it off at the moment to say he's nowhere near good enough defensively.

How would we know if anyone would be good at right back until they get a run of games there? This thread seems to have been made to just try and find a way to fit Lingard in for the long-term, and just because Tony V has done so well moving from being a winger to a right back doesn't mean Lingard will.

He hasn't showcased his ability to defend at all, and his best abilities to me are dribbling and finishing. I can't see him being converted to be a proper right back. At a push, perhaps a right wing back should we play with 3 at the back, but even then he's no Moses or Alonso when it comes to defensive awareness, or even hard work.

 

[Tarrou]

Iirc he started the first game of one of the LVG seasons at wing-back, and came off injured.

I think he could do well there but can't see much chance of it happening until Tony V slows down.

 

[AndyJ1985]

He's not good defensively, just as he isn't good offensively. He's best when he doesn't have the ball at his feet. Perhaps he should take up volleyball.

 

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

I'd prefer to see him left back...in the dressing room

 

[King.of.Red]

nah, better if we can buy RB. or next season hopefully TFM can be better RB.

 

[andersj]

I think he is at his best through the middle. But of course, he will not play there for Man Utd.

 

[I Believe]

It's no secret he is liked by Mourinho

It's Lingard's 'will-o-the wisp' quality that appeals to Mourhino.
Lingard's best value is without the ball (he's arguably our best player without the ball) he distracts and can often disorientate defences, his many and varied runs, diagonally across the pitch, in and out between the two lines of four in opposition defences, sometimes coming in from the wing to distract, in order for Pogba/Myki to go on a run (with the ball), from mid-field, he is almost 'Mr perpetual-motion'.

He also has a knack of popping up and scoring important goals/assists, but he is not a full back, or even a wing-back. Whilst Jesse will chase back to defend, it's to join others in smothering the opposition on the edge of our box, its not his own 'defensive intellect' cutting in, its part of a general falling back to form a new line of defence.

Lingard has a unique role in Mourhino's tactics, but its likely with the impact of Matic and if Shaw returns, the usefulness will diminish, he may find another role, but I doubt it would be at full back, but then again who'd have thought Ashley Young would finish up as a full back?

 

[Silas]

Him running around a lot doesn't make him a good defender.

 

[Paul_Scholes18]

As a wingback he can do well. In a 4 man defense I am not sure. Although it would make us very attacking and with Matic in midfield he could shield our defense as well.

 

[Carl]

He could absolutely forge a career for himself at wing back. Looked good in that position in our first game of this pre season.

 

[red4ever 79]

RB in the changing rooms

 

[Lennon7]

Him running around a lot doesn't make him a good defender.

Aye, this. I could've just said this earlier

 

[AndyJ1985]

Even though he can't dribble, cross. or defend, he could definitely be a useful wing back.

I reckon we should also make Blind a left winger, and give Ashley Young a go as a centre back when he's back from injury.

Moving Rooney around willy nilly in the hope he suddenly became a good player worked wonders, after all.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

How would we know if anyone would be good at right back until they get a run of games there? This thread seems to have been made to just try and find a way to fit Lingard in for the long-term, and just because Tony V has done so well moving from being a winger to a right back doesn't mean Lingard will.

He hasn't showcased his ability to defend at all, and his best abilities to me are dribbling and finishing. I can't see him being converted to be a proper right back. At a push, perhaps a right wing back should we play with 3 at the back, but even then he's no Moses or Alonso when it comes to defensive awareness, or even hard work.

Valencia, whilst very good as a winger, always showed a great defensive responsibility. Lingard, whilst not as good as Valencia was going forward, shows the same defensive awareness. That's why I can imagine the thread was made. Like I said, it might not work, but it's not the worst shout.

No one would have had Moses to play RWB for Chelsea ahead of last season. Moses as a winger never really shown any form of great defensive work to me. Actually, he seemed pretty lazy. He has now been converted into a very sound wing back for a title winning Chelsea.

I also look at Dimitri Mitchell, who I'm pretty sure started as a winger. He now plays full back and was very good on his debut against Palace last season.

 

[tomaldinho1]

Even though he can't dribble, cross. or defend, he could definitely be a useful wing back.

I reckon we should also make Blind a left winger, and give Ashley Young a go as a centre back when he's back from injury.

Moving Rooney around willy nilly in the hope he suddenly became a good player worked wonders, after all.

I feel a slight exaggeration has taken place here...

I actually rate him as a defensive winger, you rarely see him beaten in one on ones and supports the RB loads. Issue is he isn't good enough going forwards.

 

[stevoc]

Probably too short and not good enough in the air. Definitely not strong enough, nor a good enough tackler. Not a great at going past people doesn't cross that much when he plays on the wing don't see that improving from fullback. Apart from all that yeah he could be decent there.

Seriously though as a wing-back maybe but i don't see him ever being a full back.

 

[Robbie Boy]

As a wing back against some dross, yeah maybe. As a RB? feck no.

There seems to be a new phenomena whereby people think players that have good workrate would make useful full / wing backs. It's kinda mental. Like I think Moses is atrocious for Chelsea as a wing back and Conte is surely going to get Candreva or someone else to replace him. Lingard would be adequate as a wing back in some games but no more than that.

 

[DJ Jeff]

Attacking player + decent workrate + too shit at attacking to be an attacker = wing back

Or so it seems.

 

[Morganus]

I don't see this happening personally, he hasn't got the strength or mentality to play at RB. Not in a back 4 anyway.

We have other better options.

 

[harms]

I'd prefer to see him left back...in the dressing room

Nice one

 

[harms]

Considering that his best attribute is his attacking off-the ball movement... don't think that it would work.

 

[dannyrhinos89]

The only correct position for lingard is sat at home watching united games from the settee.