He played against Newcastle, and we created twice as much.
Brandon Williams is better than Luke Shaw
- Thread starter Bastian
- Start date
Agreed. Shaw is a much better player than much of the fanbase gives him credit for. He was our (well deserved) player of the year last year and has come on leaps and bounds since his return from injury. With Shaw first choice and Williams second choice (still has a lot to learn), LB still isn't necessarily our strongest position but it isn't something we need to worry about too much.
Best LB prospect I’ve ever personally seen at 19 years old. Bale wasn’t that polished and mature, neither was Ashley Cole.
I’m actually more excited about him than Mason Greenwood.
I’m actually more excited about him than Mason Greenwood.
I rate Ethan Laird more. Neither are ready for playing week in week out. Young going at the end of the season will offer both more playing time.
Disagree with this. He’s had one poor performance in 12 appearances. He’s been consistently better than Shaw this season. He’s got a nasty streak. His positioning is consistently good and he absolutely is a thief. Calm on the ball.
Shaw has been good the last two seasons. His injury record is appalling though. Maybe that’s why the Caf hates him.
Williams is inconsistent, as players his age usually are. You can get the 9/10 performance from him on some days, but you're just as likely to witness hot headed brainfarts or silly errors giving away goals in a 3/10 display.
With Shaw you know what you get. Little going forward, decent defending at the back and in possession. He is not very athletic and runs out of steam easily, and gets injured often. And he's consistently a 7/10 with blips either way. He's more predictable, which at this stage is a very valuable trait when you want to affect the game in certain ways.
Williams has a far higher ceiling going forward, and he can develop into a dependable option over time if managed well.
With Shaw you know what you get. Little going forward, decent defending at the back and in possession. He is not very athletic and runs out of steam easily, and gets injured often. And he's consistently a 7/10 with blips either way. He's more predictable, which at this stage is a very valuable trait when you want to affect the game in certain ways.
Williams has a far higher ceiling going forward, and he can develop into a dependable option over time if managed well.
Its better to wait and see how he plays regularly. I'm a fan of Williams and his overlapping runs and composure adds so much to our attack but as with any young player he will be inconsistent.
Potentially better. Probably already superior going forward. Very early days though.
There was a couple of comments in the match day thread before kick off criticising him, it’s amazing how quickly opinion can change.
I think one comment I read was about anticipating a “disaster-class” from him before the game.
I think one comment I read was about anticipating a “disaster-class” from him before the game.
No idea if he's better or not but at the moment Shaw is quite frankly nothing but a disappointment and I wouldn't mind giving Williams gametime ahead of Shaw.
What games was he absolute shite in?
He’s one player who would really benefit from a loan imo. Playing week in, week out would allow him to develop his obvious talent and find consistency.
I do think people are very harsh on Shaw these days, he could be improved upon but he’s still one of the better fullbacks in the league. He brings an air of composure to the left flank and defensively, he’s pretty solid. He would do well to be more ambitious going forward but o don’t think he’s been anyway near as bad as the criticism suggests.
I do think people are very harsh on Shaw these days, he could be improved upon but he’s still one of the better fullbacks in the league. He brings an air of composure to the left flank and defensively, he’s pretty solid. He would do well to be more ambitious going forward but o don’t think he’s been anyway near as bad as the criticism suggests.
Better not to get too excited after one game as he's also had some very poor ones recently. The bar of 'being better than Shaw' at the moment is low though.
He had 1 good game against Chelsea and yesterday he was really good. The others he was poor and got absolutely schooled in and in one of them he was a liability falling over the ball and so on.
People saying this kid has a higher ceiling... it’s almost like you forgot Luke Shaw at 19 made the PFA team of the year and was competing with Hazard for young player of the year.
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He’s definitely better than Shaw in the attacking phase, but Shaw is still the better defender imo.
Still, I would prefer Williams on the pitch any day.
Still, I would prefer Williams on the pitch any day.
I saw him out at Rosso a few weeks back after the City game.
I didn’t like what I saw. It looked like the fame has already got to his head. Then again, he didn’t do anything outrageous. Not sure if he was drinking (possibly was?).
Saying that, on the pitch he has looked remarkable. I just worry for him. I hope Ole and Carrick take him under their wing and he doesn’t go astray.
I didn’t like what I saw. It looked like the fame has already got to his head. Then again, he didn’t do anything outrageous. Not sure if he was drinking (possibly was?).
Saying that, on the pitch he has looked remarkable. I just worry for him. I hope Ole and Carrick take him under their wing and he doesn’t go astray.
He is fantastic. Finally a full-back that adds a ton to the attack. We need that!
Obviously he is very inexperienced at this level and young, and will make mistakes, especially in defense. But I would rather see a youngster make mistakes and learn from them than watch underwhelming displays from Luke Shaw and Ashley Young. At least the former gives some hope for the future and is exciting. I really hope Ole starts Williams more often.
Obviously he is very inexperienced at this level and young, and will make mistakes, especially in defense. But I would rather see a youngster make mistakes and learn from them than watch underwhelming displays from Luke Shaw and Ashley Young. At least the former gives some hope for the future and is exciting. I really hope Ole starts Williams more often.
Currently yes definitely. Looks a top prospect
I'm impressed by Williams' passing and vision. Can take a player on too. Has the potential to be a winger. He's a really exciting player to keep an eye. Like his tenacity as well, but needs some meat on him to develop. Two to three years = top player.
Good potential. Ole is using him right. Needs to bulk up for next season.
Young lad in town with his mates, pretty standard to be fair.
Young lad out drinking, he’s a teenager playing well for Man Utd, don’t blame him. And it’s Christmas time! If he keeps improving on the pitch, who cares?Just need to cut out the diving 
So what was it he was doing that you didn't like? You don't know if he was drinking and he didn't do anything outrageous.
Did he order a steak well done?
Ordered the 44 rather than the 47?
This is how I see it. LB will be one of our strongest positions with the two of these lads competing for it.
I think the yellow card / dive was really uncalled. He got sandwhiched and jumped over their legs to avoid getting hit. At no moment he complained whatsoever.Just need to cut out the diving
You should get punished for trying to escape a hard tackle when the other option is obviously to get hit
Sorry - I was being sarcastic
Yes. If only because Shaw is a real lazy fecker. Williams has had some dodgy moments in defence (so has Luke Shaw) but what i love about him is his drive. He offerers a much better attacking option and i think he's just as good defensively. He also has a bite to him, which you always like to see.
Just to highlight Shaws laziness in comparison to Williams, there was a point yesterday when Shaw came on and he had the ball out wide in a decent attacking position. He proceeded to lose the ball, and then started to jog back after the Burnley player. He just came on the pitch, and he was jogging back after losing possession. My patience with Shaw has ran out.
I'd start William every time.
Just to highlight Shaws laziness in comparison to Williams, there was a point yesterday when Shaw came on and he had the ball out wide in a decent attacking position. He proceeded to lose the ball, and then started to jog back after the Burnley player. He just came on the pitch, and he was jogging back after losing possession. My patience with Shaw has ran out.
I'd start William every time.
Shaw doesn’t close down anywhere near fast enough and wingers have a free reign at crossing from the left hand side, can’t remember the last time I saw him block a cross. Not really sure what Shaw offers at the moment except depth and an opportunity to break Williams in slowly.
No. He has potential and can make a very good game but Shaw is much more solid. Along with Lindelof, one of our most under rated players.
I think his ceiling is higher than Shaw, he seems to have a great footballing brain and wants to get forward like a modern fullback.
Great mentality and has taken his chance perfectly. Credit to Ole again with the youth, he’s done an outstanding job in that regard.
Great mentality and has taken his chance perfectly. Credit to Ole again with the youth, he’s done an outstanding job in that regard.
I want to see him getting more and more game time. It's best to wait before getting too excited but he looks good, although has also looked very exposed at times, as expected with a youngster. Hopefully this time next year he'll have a lot more experience.
Brandon looks a very good prospect. He had a good game yesterday but he was given loads of space down his flank to attack in the first half. To say he is suddenly better than shaw is typically jumping the gun. Shaw was an immense talent at Brandons age and was recognised as such hence why we bought him from southampton. He is still a very good player. he can defend and equally he can attack. Some people have very short term memories.
Brandon has much to learn but he is a great prospect and should be bedded in gradually. He is far from the finished article as a defender but can be relied upon as Shaws understudy and if given time and space is an attacking force. He looks to have a very bright future..
Brandon has much to learn but he is a great prospect and should be bedded in gradually. He is far from the finished article as a defender but can be relied upon as Shaws understudy and if given time and space is an attacking force. He looks to have a very bright future..
Shaw hasn't been good this season so Williams is better yes certainly.
No.
He's a very promising young player and goid enough that I don't think we need to sign a left sided fullback now. Shouldn't be getting picked ahead of Shaw though.
Yesterday he was fantastic. There's a bit of lunatic in him and I like that. After Evra and the twins it kind of feels like that's our thing.
He's a very promising young player and goid enough that I don't think we need to sign a left sided fullback now. Shouldn't be getting picked ahead of Shaw though.
Yesterday he was fantastic. There's a bit of lunatic in him and I like that. After Evra and the twins it kind of feels like that's our thing.
This is sure
Different circumstances against a different team. Do you think Shaw would have made those attacking runs yesterday? I don’t think he would. It adds another attacking dimension against packed defences .
I think we need to be patient with Williams , he is far from the finished article and will have his fair share of games where he will be under pressure but potential wise
I am quite excited about him and I think he will became a better player than Shaw and an important player for us going forward.
I am quite excited about him and I think he will became a better player than Shaw and an important player for us going forward.
Looks our best LB to me. That said, he had a few shaky games a bit back, albeit looked down to nerves. Probably wise for Ole to rotate him in and out with Shaw. Using him in games where teams will sit deep against us and Shaw in the games against the better teams is probably the right thing to do at the moment.
Why not? He makes forward runs every game.