Aaron Wan-Bissaka

That sauntering around he does, he will never lose that. It is his nature or a trait and he has been doing it since he got here, just awful.

We are having a go at AWB. But did anyone consider or think about why he makes those mistakes?
When players make mistakes they look at the coach for help. The coaching staff needs to rectify those mistakes. These are not one off mistakes. He makes these regularly. His is not lack of trying.

His jogging back is definitely massive issue. No impetus to ever get back from counters. Pogba gets pelters for it but Wan Bissaka is just as bad at it

I wouldn't worry too much about his defensive performance against Leipzig. His positioning can be improved upon and Tuesdays issues were mainly due to most of the backline not knowing how to play a 3-5-2 etc.

What I'm worried about is his attacking abilities. He offers us nothing going forward on that flank and that is a big issue.

Silverman said:

I wouldn't worry too much about his defensive performance against Leipzig. His positioning can be improved upon and Tuesdays issues were mainly due to most of the backline not knowing how to play a 3-5-2 etc.

What I'm worried about is his attacking abilities. He offers us nothing going forward on that flank and that is a big issue.

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Bigger question is how he's going to improve this - by watching videos of peak Maldini and Baresi on YouTube? As we can't trust our coaching team to do anything to fix this.

Silverman said:

I wouldn't worry too much about his defensive performance against Leipzig. His positioning can be improved upon and Tuesdays issues were mainly due to most of the backline not knowing how to play a 3-5-2 etc.

What I'm worried about is his attacking abilities. He offers us nothing going forward on that flank and that is a big issue.

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The biggest problem with AWB is that he's not good enough defensively against the big teams because of his shit positioning and he's not good enough in attacking when it comes to the games against the smaller teams.

chiz2kul said:

so because he said he hated defending when he was younger, thats it?

He will never be world class, but with excellent coaching (which is all he needs imo), it will be impenetrable. Minimal on offense but can be solid on D. But as with cafe, make one mistake and you're slated to no end

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Where's the excellent coaching going to come from because it's clearly not with us.

Our entire coaching setup needs a boot and be replaced by compentant people instead of overpaid interns.

elmo said:

The biggest problem with AWB is that he's not good enough defensively against the big teams because of his shit positioning and he's not good enough in attacking when it comes to the games against the smaller teams.

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He's normally fine defensively against the top teams because we play defensive and he sits around the position he should be. It's generally when he roams around a bit and goes forward that he then gets caught out of position quite regularly (and consistently is lazy about getting back when it happens).

elmo said:

The biggest problem with AWB is that he's not good enough defensively against the big teams because of his shit positioning and he's not good enough in attacking when it comes to the games against the smaller teams.

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He's no worse positionally than Valencia or Young were, or whoever your favourite better attacking rightback is. Lamptey, Alexander-Arnold etc.

It can certainly be improved and it isnt his strength, but hes average for his position at it

Watch him keep Sterling in his pocket tomorrow

Hopefully repeat his last year performance against city

Ekeke said:

He's no worse positionally than Valencia or Young were, or whoever your favourite better attacking rightback is. Lamptey, Alexander-Arnold etc.

It can certainly be improved and it isnt his strength, but hes average for his position at it

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Valencia and Young weren't even fullbacks to begin with and AWB isn't anywhere close in terms of attacking abilities compared to the people you've named.

Apart from his slide tackling, he's just a very good athlete, far from a good footballer.

He is good when the opposition is attacking down his flank with a dribbler or passes down the flank.

If the ball is coming from the opposite side either through a cross or a switch play he is lost at sea with his positioning.

DWelbz19 said:

His jogging back is definitely massive issue. No impetus to ever get back from counters. Pogba gets pelters for it but Wan Bissaka is just as bad at it

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AWB makes more recovery tackles than anyone else in our team. He has a lot he needs to work on, but highlighting one issue from an isolated game, and saying it's a massive problem is an overreaction.

Going to defend AWB here a little. We bought a specialist RB, one who is defensively brilliant, and is clearly more comfortable in a supporting role on that right flank.

Playing him at RWB is just tactical suicide for the right flank, we're relying on him being an attacking outlet, basically banking on the worst parts of his game, while nullifying all of his strengths. It clearly doesn't work.

AWB's best performances have been, in my opinion, when he has had someone like Mata in front of him, when playing in a back 4. Mata gives him that defensive support, he doesn't get overloaded constantly, and only has to provide a supporting outlet on the RW, and not be the primary threat.

Whether he's good enough or not is another thing up for debate, it's possible that he's not the long term solution. But surely Ole must look at him and realise that playing him as a RWB is just pointless?

elmo said:

Valencia and Young weren't even fullbacks to begin with and AWB isn't anywhere close in terms of attacking abilities compared to the people you've named.

Apart from his slide tackling, he's just a very good athlete, far from a good footballer.

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Yeah they were all better in attack.

The point is that his positioning isnt bad, its average for a rightback in football. His tackling is exceptional and thats the only part that is. He can improve his attacking a lot but at his best he's shown he can beat a man and put in a good cross which is the main attacking on the ball skills you'd want from a rightback when they are your width. In other periods his crossing hasnt been that good. He can most improve his passing out of his attacking skills, he rarely looks for a pass that hurts the opponents so he's best off having someone out on the right wing to pass to and let them try to create something

Deery said:

Watch him keep Sterling in his pocket tomorrow

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He’s exceptionally good at stopping dangerous players who hold a certain position on the pitch. It’s all the other stuff he struggles with, shame he’s not a cheap addition to the squad, he could be used in some games and replaced with a more attacking player in others.

Just by buying AWB for 50 Mill should get Ole the Sack. Joke of a footballer.

eire-red said:

Going to defend AWB here a little. We bought a specialist RB, one who is defensively brilliant, and is clearly more comfortable in a supporting role on that right flank.

Playing him at RWB is just tactical suicide for the right flank, we're relying on him being an attacking outlet, basically banking on the worst parts of his game, while nullifying all of his strengths. It clearly doesn't work.

AWB's best performances have been, in my opinion, when he has had someone like Mata in front of him, when playing in a back 4. Mata gives him that defensive support, he doesn't get overloaded constantly, and only has to provide a supporting outlet on the RW, and not be the primary threat.

Whether he's good enough or not is another thing up for debate, it's possible that he's not the long term solution. But surely Ole must look at him and realise that playing him as a RWB is just pointless?

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You mean tackling specialist? Because he’s not a defensive specialist. Just being good at tackling and 1v1 defending doesn’t make you a great defender. He’s defensive positioning is abysmal and that is probably the most important thing to be good at for a defender.

Freeney said:

You mean tackling specialist? Because he’s not a defensive specialist. Just being good at tackling and 1v1 defending doesn’t make you a great defender. He’s defensive positioning is abysmal and that is probably the most important thing to be good at for a defender.

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And yet none of the popular and highly rated rightbacks have particularly good defensive positioning. Which tells me you're completely wrong. They attack better and tackle worse than AWB, their positioning is no better than his. AWB just gets called out because people are watching him in focus every week while everyone from Lamptey and Alexander Arnold to Cancelo and Walker are often out of position and a teammate covers for them, or nobody does and their team pays for it. AWB is playing next to a worse CB and behind worse (defensive covering) DMs than our rivals.

So we need to find a better balance for him to exel. A DM or CB who is good at covering so our fullbacks can get forward and our defense doesnt fall to pieces without them. This is essentially what Spurs did in the summer getting in Hojbjerg and why Mourinho was so happy to get him. He hasnt been pulling up trees on the ball but he does what the team needs and so does Sissoko next to him. Thats why they start so many matches while the more talented and attack minded N'Dombele and Lo Celso play less often than they do in the DM/CM roles. N'Dombele finds himself behind the striker and Lo Celso is mainly a sub.

Ekeke said:

And yet none of the popular and highly rated rightbacks have particularly good defensive positioning. Which tells me you're completely wrong. They attack better and tackle worse than AWB, their positioning is no better than his. AWB just gets called out because people are watching him in focus every week while everyone from Lamptey and Alexander Arnold to Cancelo and Walker are often out of position and a teammate covers for them, or nobody does and their team pays for it. AWB is playing next to a worse CB and behind worse (defensive covering) DMs than our rivals.

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This is a very good post.

Freeney said:

Just by buying AWB for 50 Mill should get Ole the Sack. Joke of a footballer.

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He has been one of our best players for the last 2 years...

Ekeke said:

And yet none of the popular and highly rated rightbacks have particularly good defensive positioning. Which tells me you're completely wrong. They attack better and tackle worse than AWB, their positioning is no better than his. AWB just gets called out because people are watching him in focus every week while everyone from Lamptey and Alexander Arnold to Cancelo and Walker are often out of position and a teammate covers for them, or nobody does and their team pays for it. AWB is playing next to a worse CB and behind worse (defensive covering) DMs than our rivals.

So we need to find a better balance for him to exel. A DM or CB who is good at covering so our fullbacks can get forward and our defense doesnt fall to pieces without them. This is essentially what Spurs did in the summer getting in Hojbjerg and why Mourinho was so happy to get him. He hasnt been pulling up trees on the ball but he does what the team needs and so does Sissoko next to him. Thats why they start so many matches while the more talented and attack minded N'Dombele and Lo Celso play less often than they do in the DM/CM roles. N'Dombele finds himself behind the striker and Lo Celso is mainly a sub.

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Surely when you were listing those three names alarm bells should have been ringing?

No one is going to argue that those three are particularly exceptional defensively, but the trade off their teams have decided upon is that they offer enough going forward for that to be a worthwhile trade off.

Wan Bissaka is at least as bad as them defensively (with the notable exception of when a winger plays up against him) and offers virtually nothing on the ball.

We're getting the worst of both worlds at the minute. I suspect it'll be easier for Wan Bissaka to learn how to defend rather than learn how to attack, but it's definitely dissapointing to have spent £50m on a full back and be talking about him having this many glaring problems in his game.

NinjaFletch said:

Surely when you were listing those three names alarm bells should have been ringing?

No one is going to argue that those three are particularly exceptional defensively, but the trade off their teams have decided upon is that they offer enough going forward for that to be a worthwhile trade off.

Wan Bissaka is at least as bad as them defensively (with the notable exception of when a winger plays up against him) and offers virtually nothing on the ball.

We're getting the worst of both worlds at the minute. I suspect it'll be easier for Wan Bissaka to learn how to defend rather than learn how to attack, but it's definitely dissapointing to have spent £50m on a full back and be talking about him having this many glaring problems in his game.

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No he's much better than them defensively, despite not being better positionally because he's a much better 1 vs 1 defender and much better at supporting his CBs. The area therefore that AWB should look to improve is on the ball and in attack. If he improves his positioning it wont change much.

Ekeke said:

No he's much better than them defensively, despite not being better positionally because he's a much better 1 vs 1 defender and much better at supporting his CBs. The area therefore that AWB should look to improve is on the ball and in attack. If he improves his positioning it wont change much.

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Sure, that would be better. I just think it's a forlorn hope to suggest that Wan Bissaka has it in him to do that. I don't see any evidence to believe that he has the talent to significantly improve that area of his game, and think that largely we're seeing as good as it can get from him. At any rate, I don't see it becoming an asset.

I do think, however, you could drill him into improving the areas where be lacks defensive awareness which could at least see him become a significant asset - even if it means looking to other options when we are expecting to have a lot of the ball.

eire-red said:

AWB makes more recovery tackles than anyone else in our team. He has a lot he needs to work on, but highlighting one issue from an isolated game, and saying it's a massive problem is an overreaction.

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It's hardly one issue in an isolated game. It's a fairly consistent thing that if the opposition get the ball in behind him he only jogs back and ball-watches instead of getting back properly. It likely won't happen against City since we're playing a top side and he'll sit back more, but it's happening a fair amount against other teams.

The_Midfielder said:

He has been one of our best players for the last 2 years...

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Before lockdown maybe. His form has noticeably dropped off ever since then. He still has the occasional match where he's utterly impossible to get past, but the opposition are now getting in behind him easier and he's not blocking as many crosses as he originally was (he's still very good at that to be fair, but before lockdown it was pretty much impossible to get a cross passed him).

MadDogg said:

He's normally fine defensively against the top teams because we play defensive and he sits around the position he should be. It's generally when he roams around a bit and goes forward that he then gets caught out of position quite regularly (and consistently is lazy about getting back when it happens).

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Of course it's hard to completely judge from a screen, but I find laziness unforgivable, unless you're a Messi-level talent.

jem said:

Of course it's hard to completely judge from a screen, but I find laziness unforgivable, unless you're a Messi-level talent.

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Why is Greenwood never pointed at for never ever dropping down and helping AWB out? AWB is literally doing the the right flank defensive work by himself all game? Even if he jogs back sometimes when he could be running, it's not like Wan Bissaka jogs back every single time either.

NinjaFletch said:

Sure, that would be better. I just think it's a forlorn hope to suggest that Wan Bissaka has it in him to do that. I don't see any evidence to believe that he has the talent to significantly improve that area of his game, and think that largely we're seeing as good as it can get from him. At any rate, I don't see it becoming an asset.

I do think, however, you could drill him into improving the areas where be lacks defensive awareness which could at least see him become a significant asset - even if it means looking to other options when we are expecting to have a lot of the ball.

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Well he's done better already, so its just about consistency. He had a good period last season where he was beating his man on the outside with a dribble and got some good crosses and some assists. Its not that complicated, I'm not expecting him to dribble past 2 players and smash it top corner. Less talented players than AWB can run the ball on the outside and put a decent cross in. So yes he has it in him

I dont believe that if he improved his positioning so that he was the best positioned RB in the world, it would stop us needing a new CB and it would stop people from wanting a more attacking rightback. The people who dont like him dont like him because hes a defensive rightback, so being a bit better in another area of defending isnt going to change it.

Bebestation said:

Why is Greenwood never pointed at for never ever dropping down and helping AWB out? AWB is literally doing the the right flank defensive work by himself all game? Even if he jogs back sometimes when he could be running, it's not like Wan Bissaka jogs back every single time either.

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Its the DMs before the wingers. Thats why they're the 2 in the 4-2-3-1. If it was just a 4-5-1 then everyone would be expected to track all the way back and cover. For us we have 2 DMs, so they are the ones who should be filling the holes and letting the attacking players be in position to counter

With players like AWB I always think of that Maldini quote “If I have to make a tackle I’ve already made a mistake”

Freeney said:

You mean tackling specialist? Because he’s not a defensive specialist. Just being good at tackling and 1v1 defending doesn’t make you a great defender. He’s defensive positioning is abysmal and that is probably the most important thing to be good at for a defender.

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I'm trying to think of one player in our team that has more tackles, blocks, interceptions, clearances and cut out crosses, and to be honest I can't. Ok so he's not the complete package, nobody can argue that. As you said, he can be caught out positionally at the back post and under the hight ball.

Nobody here is claiming that he's the full package, far from it. He has so much to work on, but to say that he's not a good defender.... Go and watch some of the horror shows Mendy has had for City, and he also cost 50m. Sterling is about to be rampaging up and down the left flank at OT in about 30 minutes, name on full back in world football that you'd rather be marking him.

MadDogg said:

It's hardly one issue in an isolated game. It's a fairly consistent thing that if the opposition get the ball in behind him he only jogs back and ball-watches instead of getting back properly. It likely won't happen against City since we're playing a top side and he'll sit back more, but it's happening a fair amount against other teams.

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Well then surely we should buy a competent right winger then so that AWB can sit back more, provide a supporting role and focus more on his defensive abilities.

Ole asking a player that is clearly uncomfortable further up the pitch to be the only attacking outlet in key games. It's beyond ridiculous. I'm not trying to argue that AWB is one of our best players, he's not. But surely we knew what his strengths were before we bought him. If we wanted an attacking full back who's equally comfortable at RB and RWB, why did we buy him? TAA is terrible defensively, but you put up with that because his attacking contribution is phenomenal. AWB is terrible going forward, but he's defensively one of the best full backs in the world, when he's playing a way that suits his strengths.

So slating him when Ole continually demands from him qualities in his game that aren't there is just pointless in my opinion. It's not the first time we're watching this happen either. When we set up in a way that suits his game, he's often one of our better performers. You can argue that isn't good enough to be a progressive top club, and that we need more tactically astute footballers who can play more complex systems, and be flexible and operate in multiple formations, while not getting caught out as you said. If AWB is not that player, why the hell is he here?

Bebestation said:

Why is Greenwood never pointed at for never ever dropping down and helping AWB out? AWB is literally doing the the right flank defensive work by himself all game? Even if he jogs back sometimes when he could be running, it's not like Wan Bissaka jogs back every single time either.

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Because this is a thread about AWB. Whether or not Greenwood helps out (and it's not like Greenwood has been starting every game) is immaterial when discussing AWB's lack of effort (which, as I acknowledged, may just be a perceived issue.)

He was impeccable in defence. Very solid.

Offers us nothing in terms to build up play and in attack. Not so costly in games like this where we are more cautious. Sheff Utd will be more of a worry as we will have a lot more of the ball.

Aside from one comical, Wiley Coyote moment when he went sliding off the pitch, I thought he did very well today.

Beat their press well and solid in defender as should be expected

Gets way too much criticism because he's not Dani Alves. Consistently one of our best players.

Awful start to the game, beaten by Sterling too easily, fortunately Maguire blocked the shot. Again at fault, along with De Gea, for Gabriel Jesus' chance. Improved as the match went on, though put in a poor cross in the first half.

Passing was better than usual. Involved in one super move from the back that Fernandes wasted with a terrible pass. Kept Sterling quiet in the 2nd half. 4 tackles and 2 interceptions. Managed to block a cross in the 2nd half.