Laird, hurry the feck up please.
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Season Average Rating
- Appearances
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- Clean sheets
- 18
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
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£50m for someone who can't do the basics. Solid defender but painfully average on the ball. Which top team would have paid that for him bar us?
Sorry boys I'm not a fan. I can appreciate his strengths of a defender but when you play for a top team or one aspiring to be a top team again you have to be better than he is. Laird is a much better footballer from what I have seen of him. Its whether he can make the step up to the PL from the youth set up.
Sorry boys I'm not a fan. I can appreciate his strengths of a defender but when you play for a top team or one aspiring to be a top team again you have to be better than he is. Laird is a much better footballer from what I have seen of him. Its whether he can make the step up to the PL from the youth set up.
AWB is an outstanding right back who has had a couple of bad games recently. He's hardly alone in that though
Yeah, of course. I said it before he signed, so it's no surprise to me, but I've seen a number of posts in response to any criticism simply state that "he'll improve". Wishful thinking. If it was so easy, he'd have done that before he was advised to convert from a winger.
Definitely not a fan. Probably should have went for that kid in Norwich. Maybe we should go for him now that theyre relegated. The alternatice is Williams. Either way AWB shouldnt be the long term option. Doubt he improves much. Dont get me wrong rooting for him bht he is just a really really bad football player.
The lack of football awareness on here astounds me. Outstanding? He'd have struggled to get on our bench 15 years ago mate.
He's a good defender but Palace didn't even put a man on him tonight. That's how little they think of his attacking game. He's nowhere near outstanding. It's so ridiculous to think he is. Trent is outstanding. This lad isn't.
In a few years he might not even get in the team. Laird is a tremendous prospect. That lad can trap a ball and is comfortable in possession.
Now i am worried. Last two games he was not good even in defence. Maybe resting will help.
Exactly. That is i keep saying about him and some other players. You can't improve skill. You can a little but that is it. Skill you either have or not
That was his worst game for us I believe. Zaha toyed with several times too.
Brought his ropey Soton form into the first half but improved a lot after half time. The offside goal was a blot on his copy book but Zaha can rinse anyone on his day.
Great to see a few “go go gadget leg” tackles again. Feels like they’ve gone missing in recent weeks.
Great to see a few “go go gadget leg” tackles again. Feels like they’ve gone missing in recent weeks.
I’ve seen it all now ....
Hope Laird is as good as he’s hyped up to be on here.
I’m not sure why/ what’s happened but he seems to be charging out of defence to press the left back when they have the ball? I don’t really understand this as it leaves a big hole behind and their left winger ends up getting marked by Lindelöf.
it seems to be a new thing since the break but it’s made him look a lot worse as he’s not there for his usual tackles, he’s ending up having to scramble back and looks confused.
In the 2nd half he seemed to be playing more reserved again and looked better for it. He’s clearly tired too, which isn’t helping.
it seems to be a new thing since the break but it’s made him look a lot worse as he’s not there for his usual tackles, he’s ending up having to scramble back and looks confused.
In the 2nd half he seemed to be playing more reserved again and looked better for it. He’s clearly tired too, which isn’t helping.
Thought he was awful. Opposition teams seem to have decided he's not worth marking. He stands in acres all game but seems like even our own players are hesitant to give it to him. With the spaces he's finding himself in due to defences being shit scared of greenwood shooting I wish we had a right back that knew how to exploit it
Hopeless, we need a new right back. He's only good at defending 1 v 1's and that's it, nothing else. His positioning is all over the place and his ability with the ball is non existent. He can barely run in a straight line, at pace with the ball under control. Ripped off once again.
I found it funny that the opposition just don't bother marking him when he's on the ball 
He's a better footballer by far. Classy on the ball. It's whether he can make the step up to PL from ressies.
Wan Bissaka isn't a fullback Liverpool or City would look at in a million years. He's not good enough on the ball to play for either.
Solid defender but for £50m I'm incredibly underwhelmed.
Well Zaha never goes back and their leftback was being drawn inside by Greenwood.
His game going forward us come on loads this season. Defensively post-lockdown he has looked ropey. Players have dips in form.
His game going forward us come on loads this season. Defensively post-lockdown he has looked ropey. Players have dips in form.
Yeah, won't be surprised to see him replaced in a few years if we keep up this upwards trajectory. His glaring weakness was clear from day 1, so it's annoying we decided to spunk 50m, especially considering Shaw on the other side isn't exactly Roberto Carlos going forward.
TBF for a first season in a big club he has done pretty well. Far more than what was expected. It seems the lack of rotation in his position has hurt him badly so. He has no competition and he has played every minute in most of the games.
Really needs to improve his attacking game badly. Yesterday he was hindrance to the attacking play. You can see what Palace thought about his attacking play, just give him the right wing and he did nothing with it.
Shaw is far better footballer than he is given credit for he may not have the assists but he is good in possession with assured touch and doesn't shit bed when pressed . He is important part of our build up play if we have to upgrade on one of them then Wan Bissaka should be upgraded first.
He's probably just tired and needs a rest. I've seen plenty this season to suggest that he is simply the best defensive RB in the PL, but his attacking game is also improving with time and patience.
If a player is tired, then most likely it will impact his attacking game first. Though, I'm hardly surprised that the 'not good enough' brigade is out in force.
If a player is tired, then most likely it will impact his attacking game first. Though, I'm hardly surprised that the 'not good enough' brigade is out in force.
He has no composure nor the technique to make up for it.
He is likely in dire need of a rest.
Been terrible since the restart. He's just so clumsy on the ball, and opponents can force him back every time just by applying a bit of pressure.
His defensive play has been quite a bit off ever since lockdown ended, but we were so dominant in the other games that it wasn't too noticeable. These last two games have been much more even so it's been easier to see. He just hasn't been able to block crosses and passes anywhere near as well as he was early in the season, and the opposition are actually getting past him now.
AWB has a decent final ball into the box when he gets into the right position, but it's everything else during the build-up play where he struggles. Shaw is somewhat the opposite, he has much better build-up play and helps us control the match but his final ball into the box is poor. And neither of them actually get into the right attacking positions enough (although Shaw in particular seems to have improved that significantly since the lockdown ended).
If we have serious aspirations of winning the big things then he can’t be our right back. Just not good enough.
But as we spent 50m we’ll persevere for a few seasons before moving him on
But as we spent 50m we’ll persevere for a few seasons before moving him on
Sadly, I agree with what you said. I really wanted him to succeed here, he's an awesome defender! But we need more! I look at Trent and I'm blown away by his attacking play. The bar is high....I'm not so sure AWB can his that! I do hope that I'm proven wrong of course!
His first touch and ball control isn't good enough IMO.
Tired?
Coming out if 3 months break ...
The entire team is tired because of the strenuous schedule, playing matches every 3-4 days. Also, 3 months of break doesn't really help because for the most part of it they weren't training at full pace. So yes, after a 3 months break it's difficult to immediately go back to playing matches every 3-4 days.
Aren't you more tired after a jog, if you haven't jogged for 3 months? Of course you are. These players have had the longest break from football probably since their time as youth players. And in addition to that, they are playing more frequently than they normally would in preseason. Most of our starting eleven yesterday has played close to all minutes after the break. It is obvious that some of them are knackered, which must be one of the reasons for our dip in performance on the pitch.
He needs a rest. Badly. Weve seen how fatigue can be a problem to players form especially one that seems to play every minute.
I mean right now its not just coming out of a 3 month break. Its on the back of 8 games in less than 30 days.
He was never good with the ball, and now he is struggling to defend properly too.
We both know Shaw isn't durable at all.
Absolute bollocks, "struggled to get on our bench 15 years ago". We won the CL with Wes Brown playing at RB, get e fecking grip. "Palace didn't even put a man on him" only their two most threatening players constantly played on his side and their only attacking fullback playing on his side. In addition AWB plays with 18 year old striker/winger in front of him and Lindelof besides, who also didn't have the best of games last night.
AWB is quality young RB, and he will only improve.
Does anyone else find it curious that he's completely stopped doing his spider attack slide tackles when defending since the league restarted?
I'm assuming this is an instruction from the coaching team. I can sort of see why as while it's impressive, it didn't help us control games very much (ie. it would just go back to the opponent, or out for a throw-in/corner)
BTW his attacking game is massively underrated and has come along hugely since he signed for us, he's young and if he continues that trajectory he will be a key part of our attack.
I'm assuming this is an instruction from the coaching team. I can sort of see why as while it's impressive, it didn't help us control games very much (ie. it would just go back to the opponent, or out for a throw-in/corner)
BTW his attacking game is massively underrated and has come along hugely since he signed for us, he's young and if he continues that trajectory he will be a key part of our attack.
Sorry I don't see it. And plenty others don't either. He's not the type of player who is going to help win us titles. Be good in games when we are under siege but apart from them he just flatters to deceive. His general play on the ball is woeful for £50m.
Don't agree? That's fine. But eventually his place will come under threat due to this fact.
Improved in the second half but a below par performance overall.
I hope AWB can improve offensively but to be honest I'm concerned by his base level of technical ability. These technical limitations mean that, although I'm sure he'll improve offensively, I can't see him improving enough to get to a sufficient level for a top team. The fact that his former team were willing to leave him free the whole game says a lot.
Hope I'm wrong but at the moment he feels like the Chris Smalling of right backs . Might end up having to be replaced, despite his strengths, for a more rounded footballer.
I hope AWB can improve offensively but to be honest I'm concerned by his base level of technical ability. These technical limitations mean that, although I'm sure he'll improve offensively, I can't see him improving enough to get to a sufficient level for a top team. The fact that his former team were willing to leave him free the whole game says a lot.
Hope I'm wrong but at the moment he feels like the Chris Smalling of right backs . Might end up having to be replaced, despite his strengths, for a more rounded footballer.
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