It's Dalot's to lose at the moment. But he was once written off as trash similar to how many are doing to AWB now. It's hard not to think that with similar coaching AWB could improve significantly as well. He's basically been out due to injury since ETH has been here, I'd be interested to see if there's any improvement with him under ETHs management and coaching.
Can you see Diogo Dalot stating a serious claim for the RB-position?
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His potential was huge when we signed him. If Ten Hag can help develop him then who knows.
He's playing great defensively but we need a bit more going forward from him.
He's playing great defensively but we need a bit more going forward from him.
There is a big difference. Dalot was rated highly, he always had the ball playing ability, he was just very weak defensively. He barely got a run of games because our manager didn't want attack minded full backs.
AWB does not have the qualities to play at United, I am sorry.
Says more about the posters writing him off than Dalot. The evidence was there for all to see that Dalot is technically far better than AWB, whether he’s good enough long term is still up for debate, but AWB was a massive reason why we struggled so much to dominate games.
Hmm that sweet sweet humble pie...
I wasn't at all convinced he'd ever mature and thought his defensive game would always be sorely lacking. A swallow doesn't make a summer but he's been seriously impressive this season; props to Dalot himself, the coaches and his fellow players who have helped make it happen.
If he plays like he did vs West Ham every game he'd be the best right back in the league.
He just needs to clean up the sloppy bits to his game and needs a slight improvement to his decision making going forward.
Other than that, he has all the physical attributes, and he's really come along mentally in the past few months. There's a real bond with Martinez in that back 4. Those back post headers against West Ham were a masterclass in back post defending for a full back. Iron out a few crinkles from his game and he can be a real important player for us and means we can really focus on one or two areas next summer.
Other than that, he has all the physical attributes, and he's really come along mentally in the past few months. There's a real bond with Martinez in that back 4. Those back post headers against West Ham were a masterclass in back post defending for a full back. Iron out a few crinkles from his game and he can be a real important player for us and means we can really focus on one or two areas next summer.
Amazed how good Dalot has looked lately. Didn’t see it coming. Am I certain he’ll be number one in that position for years? No, but I’m enjoying his recent development.
The thing is, he’s very versatile with both feet kind of like.. yes I fear to say it, but.. Cancelo. I actually think he has the same potential if he keeps going. Very technically gifted and now also sound defensively, but needs to develop in end product of course.
The first page of this thread is a big yikes. He’s got scary room to improve still too.
I was really worried about the exact opposite a year ago....
He just keeps doing he thing and getting better and better, because it's all natural to him. When you have it and you want to use it, this is how you do it. Work hard. Hope at the end of season he stamps it.
I don’t really get laughing at people who doubted him, he looked bang average for years. Of course you could point at the slop he had managing/coaching him, and now he’s working with decent people the quality many of us thought he had when he arrived is starting to show.
I would have accepted any kind of bid for him 12-18 months ago - just didn't think he was anywhere near good enough. His improvement has been incredible really.
The value of a good coach eh?
The value of a good coach eh?
It was his pace and acceleration that worried me the most but he looks extremely fast these days. Never wrote him off like some others though.
I'm not sure why so many caftards were so down on Dalot. Yes of course he wasn't putting in world class performances under Ole but he did have something about him. He just needed a solid run of 20 matches to find his game. He doesn't dazzle, but he's very solid defending and attacking. Long may his service as our first choice RB live.
When he first started playing under Jose I thought he was going to be a superstar and going into this season was dreading him being our right back. Gone full circle a couple of times with Dalot but delighted with his form. Would love another rb added to increase the pressure on him further.
Must say I had wrote him off this summer.
Must say I had wrote him off this summer.
He's improved in so many areas. The biggest three for me is driving with the ball in space, keeping the ball in tight situations and defensive positioning. He made at least 3 or 4 driving runs in the last few matches while shaking off defenders. That shows his confidence is up and he wants to take on more responsibility. His one glaring weakness now is crossing and I'm sure he is working on it.
I think that's too simple. Firstly, he didn't have the quality when he arrived. He's developed it over the intervening years. And that is hardly a matter of stagnating through being coached by slops only to brilliantly and immediately blossom under magic Erik. He's worked at it, and has improved gradually. You're going to have a hard time finding people who argued he should start over AWB in 19/20, then had a decent season at AC Milan on loan and then played his way into the team last season, especially under Rangnick, but he just had a really low bottom level which he showed too often. The football we play now obviously suits him and has probably helped him develop further. But it's not like that's just the manager. There were a few players who grew and played the best football of their careers under OGS too. Rashford, Martial, Shaw, Fernandes, Greenwood. It's not so one-sided.
I'm gonna have to massively disagree
I'll be extremely flabbergasted if AWB shows any sort of competency in a Ten Hag system. Even when he was in good form he's never had a high level of ball control, technical ability, good positioning, aerial defending or crossing. Dalot had most of those attributes with the bigger weakness being defending which as has been shown is easier to improve with coaching than basic technical ability especially for a player that's 25. Outside tackling and 1v1 defending which are overrated attributes in this era AWB doesn't possess any high quality attribute to cement himself at a top club
There's a reason Dalot was/is wanted by Barcelona, Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, was wanted by Ancelotti at Everton etc whereas the best teams AWB has attracted is West Ham and Palace
I finally don’t fear players coming in on the back post on that side and scoring with easy chances. It was a huge Achilles heel for us with AWB and Dalot the last couple of seasons. He’s developed so much and is now, imo, one of the better right backs in the league. He’s still got a fair amount of developing to do which is exciting to think about
I really dont see how AWB is being written off here, he was tidy in possesion, good defensivley and was starting to improve under Solskjaer going forward. He carried the ball well I thought.
We now have a functioning right wing, I think some maybe suprised if he’s given the chance.
We now have a functioning right wing, I think some maybe suprised if he’s given the chance.
All three of the things you mention there are just wrong. He was always out of position defensively, and usually not paying attention as balls were floated over his head. He’d also give the ball away as soon as he was under any pressure.
At a stretch you could say that yes, he carried the ball forwards, however in the context teams used us getting the ball to him as an opportunity to regain their shape due to his poor use of the ball so allowed him to carry it a few yards.
He is a terribly average passer. He’s also terrible defensively. Awful positioning, never where he should be and simply only has his trusty slide tackle in his Arsenal.
The playing time he had on the pitch in pre-season was really bad,he panicked everytime he got the ball and was under pressure so clearly obvious that he is beeing written of by Ten Hag that likes his full backs to have calmness on the ball and technical ability since they are a HUGE part of his tactics when it comes to fill in in midfield when we are attacking or overlap the winger.
He CLEARLY lacks alot for a modern full back. His only good ability is tackling to be honest.
Dalot didn’t have glaring weaknesses — he was mediocre at everything. It’s not that surprising to see a player like that getting significantly better with good coaching, although it’s still impressive just how far forward did he step up this season.
Wan-Bisakka, just like Maguire, is a player with glaring weaknesses that are hard/next to impossible to coach and those weaknesses are also not being covered for by a proactive defensive system that we now have in place — if anything, they are brutally exposed. Wan-Bissaka is exceptional at getting the ball from the opposition when he finds himself isolated on the wing. Maguire feels very comfortable when a team he’s playing for sits back and defends against aerial balls. They both are quite bad positionally and Wan-Bissaka has a habit of switching off after misjudging the original positioning and hey also quite sure on the ball — not just technically but he also doesn’t seem to be able to think fast enough, which is why he often runs into closed channels only to get an out/corner or to pass back.
Seriously? I always back ManUtd players, but the two in recent years from day 1 I have said were awful signings were AWB and Maguire. Maguire is also way better than AWB but still really bad.
AWB isn’t a footballer. He’s a tackler, that is literally it. At least Harry can pick a pass when given time and space.
Glad he's turned it around. Saves us having to spend money on another priority position right now. We need a backup though. Hopefully we can recoup some cash for AWB.
Still not convinced by him. He's not reliable at all in possession and his decision making is, well, that of a maniac.
Do love how much he's bought into the defensive side of his game though and his general attitude/passion on the pitch, and he's definitely improving. Thought he was motm on Sunday along with De Gea.
Think we need a RB either way but he's given himself a chance of competing for the first choice spot at the very least.
Do love how much he's bought into the defensive side of his game though and his general attitude/passion on the pitch, and he's definitely improving. Thought he was motm on Sunday along with De Gea.
Think we need a RB either way but he's given himself a chance of competing for the first choice spot at the very least.
People were down on Dalot because he was playing badly. He wasn't merely not putting in world class performances, he wasn't putting in stolidly dependable appearances either. Even when he was playing regularly under Rangnick, it was one game offensively good/defensively passable and then another that was offensively invisible/defensively abysmal.
He's hugely improved this season though. As you say, long may it last.
I’m very impressed with how much he’s improved. We might just have to sign a back up to him at this rate. His awareness to clear at the back post is second to none. He’s certainly one of the front runners to win player of the season at the club so far…
He was always better than AWB (except for his the few months of AwB, where he really was playing well enough), potential wise anyway. Dalot has been better since coming from the Milan loan and under Rangnick anyway. AwB IMO has no future here.
People have short memories. Dalot was most definitely not better than AWB in 19/20 or 20/21. He is now though.
He was better last season, that is not in doubt at all. AwB was absolutely horrific. He never recovered. Dalot was not great, however, you could see the potential. AwB was worse for me.
yes, but that's 21/22. Not "always".
i thought we were in 21/22. Time flies
know the feeling.i thought we were in 21/22. Time flies
Called it
Being playing really quite well Dalot, I’m pleased with him and have maybe been a bit hasty with the criticism of him in the past.
The best compliment I can give him is I don’t notice any. problem with the defence when he’s playing.
The best compliment I can give him is I don’t notice any. problem with the defence when he’s playing.