The most absurd thing you've ever read?
I'd suggest you might want to broaden your reading.
It's all about the Fullbacks
- Thread starter Desert Eagle
- Start date
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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.
I'd suggest you might want to broaden your reading.
Few rumours on Twitter that we've offered a contract to Vrjsalko who's out of contract in the summer.
Vrsaljko seems a solid enough pro for the position assuming we're saving the big money for the spine of the team, but isn't he a massive sicknote?
From what I can see he had a knee injury 2/3 years ago but has played 30 games this season.
What is it that Hickey is good at? I've heard of him but only because he's a young Scot playing in Italy but looking at fbref, I can't see anything coming through in the numbers where you'd be thinking he's a United full back. He has good pass completion but doesn't make many passes. His progressive passing is literally in the bottom 1% and his carrying is not great either. He's scored five goals which is very good for a full back but his goals are way over his xG so you wouldn't imagine that scoring rate is sustainable over time.
I read plenty. That take was really, really bad. Not a shot at you personally at all but I suggest you learn more about the sport if you truly believe what you said.
I'm actually surprised city have not gone for him yet... probably available... upgrade on zinchenko and not in prison which automatically makes him a mends upgrade
Would improve them massively
Will never forget the first time I saw both Theo Hernandez and Achraf Hakimi play. Was in pre-season for Real Madrid against us in 2015. They brought on their kids at half-time and their babies totally played us off the park. I spent the next two years advocating for us signing Hakimi in particular who was an irrelevance at Real, but he then went to Dortmund and became well, Achraf Hakimi.
I think we will try to get away without signing any fullbacks this summer but come January Ten Hag will be begging for some after spending 5 months with Wan Bissaka, Dalot and Telles.
The idea is nothing new, we've bemoaned the quality of the fullback play for a long time now. The issue is we spent a heap of cash on AWB for him not to be the answer. That has meant that he's a hard sale for us and also that we've felt inclined to stick it out and hope he improves. Then we have Shaw on the other side that we perennially hope will find consistency but never does.
I don't think Telles was ever intended to be a starting left back, and Dalot was only ever a hopeful Mourinho punt. So I would say that we've not really gone properly into the market for starting quality right back since AWB and we can see the result of that now. We've not looked for a starting quality left back in a long, long time.
It all calls into question the wisdom of the Telles signing. A total waste of time to sign that kind of depth. You have to sign people for a reason. Either they're young and the next big thing or they're intended to be quality. We've got a collection of nearly men at full back because of our haphazard approach and poor scouting.
I don't think Telles was ever intended to be a starting left back, and Dalot was only ever a hopeful Mourinho punt. So I would say that we've not really gone properly into the market for starting quality right back since AWB and we can see the result of that now. We've not looked for a starting quality left back in a long, long time.
It all calls into question the wisdom of the Telles signing. A total waste of time to sign that kind of depth. You have to sign people for a reason. Either they're young and the next big thing or they're intended to be quality. We've got a collection of nearly men at full back because of our haphazard approach and poor scouting.
What is it you think I said?
The PL teams you’ve mentioned do have excellent fullbacks but they also have exceptional CM’s, I agree we need to replace the likes of Shaw and AWB who are nowhere near good enough but I hope we concentrate on the midfield as a priority as that’s been neglected for years!
Good question.
For someone who is so young, he's incredibly elegant on the ball. He just strikes you as one of those players who are unruffled by anything.
I remember Kieran Tierney when he was the same age. They're very similar.
What is he good at? I'd say that he's good at pretty much everything. I've watched him all season and every single time I come away being impressed. Does he excel at anything? No. Not yet. But the more experienced he is, everything will improve.
His intelligence, both on and off the ball is off the charts.
Bologna are a strange team. They play with wingbacks, but it strikes me that they aren't encouraged to cross the ball into the ball. His crossing is still up for debate, as I've barely seen it.
Last season was blighted by injury, so he missed a lot of matches. But this season he's played more minutes than any other teenager in the top 4 leagues.
Last I heard Arsenal were looking at him. Might sound strange, with them having Tierney, but I could see Hickey developing into a really amazing anchorman.
i am glad to see the importance of fullbacks in modern football being emphasized.Imagine how many goals C rolando would score with head if he had proper delivery.
I strongly disagree. What happened to Pool and City last two seasons. And Bayern in europe this year is proof. Only the teams with the strongest or stablest spine come to the top. Those sides I mentioned are godly at fullback abd wide areas. But once their spine was faulty they suddenly weren't as strong. Yet in Pool nd City cases in particular, once the issue was resolved normal service was resumed.
You could cry comparing the quality of Chelsea and Liverpool's full backs compared to ours 
Really needs an upgrade.
Really needs an upgrade.