Willy Kambwala | 2023/24 Performances

AjaxCunian · Apr 15, 2024

Our club is really toxic, including the fans.

He had quite a horror match, he was heavily to be blamed for both goals and could have cost another one. But there are also so many other very huge positives to see to his game. Which is very impressive at his age, lack of experience. He is dominant in the air, very quick, strong in duels, and quite composed on the ball, able to dribble with it. So far he's hardly made mistakes, although Saturday was very bad.

justsomebloke · Apr 15, 2024

Pogue Mahone said:
The team can't afford them but that's for sure. In terms of his own future they mean very little. He's a kid promoted far too soon because of an insane injury crisis. If anything, going through this baptism of fire will be good for him in the long run.

True. This is exactly the sort of mistakes you have to expect from a young unexperienced player, and they don't really detract from his projection. Technically and physically he looks up to it, and he's showing quite a lot of confidence and mental strength too. He doesn't go hiding.

Pogue Mahone · Apr 15, 2024

Also, to put these mistakes in context, they happened the same day that a player who has been hailed as one of the best CB’s in the league this season (Van Der Ven) got sat on his arse twice by opposition strikers when Spurs played Newcastle.

Cassidy · Apr 15, 2024

AjaxCunian said:
Our club is really toxic, including the fans.

He had quite a horror match, he was heavily to be blamed for both goals and could have cost another one. But there are also so many other very huge positives to see to his game. Which is very impressive at his age, lack of experience. He is dominant in the air, very quick, strong in duels, and quite composed on the ball, able to dribble with it. So far he's hardly made mistakes, although Saturday was very bad.

Agree.
Not to mention the midfield and rest of defence is hardly stable, he is in a difficult environment and still displaying some potential

AjaxCunian · Apr 15, 2024

Cassidy said:
Agree.
Not to mention the midfield and rest of defence is hardly stable, he is in a difficult environment and still displaying some potential

Agreed, I would happily see him as a 5th choice defender for next season.

Pericles · Apr 15, 2024

AjaxCunian said:
Agreed, I would happily see him as a 5th choice defender for next season.

He is going to be 20 in August. What he needs the most for his own development is a loan, not playing as a 5th choice CB. The errors he needs to eliminate in his game will only be addressed with game experience.

AjaxCunian · Apr 15, 2024

Pericles said:
He is going to be 20 in August. What he needs the most for his own development is a loan, not playing as a 5th choice CB. The errors he needs to eliminate in his game will only be addressed with game experience.

Our 5th choice CB's play more game than other 3rd choice CB's I'd imagine. They are constantly injured, and if we have any season like last season, they play more than enough matches. With the conference league, he will also have his fair share of games.

londonredmaniac · Apr 15, 2024

He's a kid playing in an absolute mess of a team.

He's absolutely fine

Pericles · Apr 15, 2024

AjaxCunian said:
Our 5th choice CB's play more game than other 3rd choice CB's I'd imagine. They are constantly injured, and if we have any season like last season, they play more than enough matches. With the conference league, he will also have his fair share of games.

We can't be planning for the future with the belief that we will keep having incredibly bad injury crisis in defense. These past 12-18 months are the outlier. A club's 5th choice defender typically does not get significant minutes. Keeping him on the bench awaiting a CB crisis, when he should be playing weekly, is more likely to cause long-term problems.

Also, if for some reason the injuries continue to pile up next season, he is not ready to be a Man Utd CB with all the scrutiny. He needs to go iron out his mistakes in a lower profile club, where the fans won't wreck his confidence after every mistake. Something similar to what Arsenal did with Saliba.

MrBrightside1989 · Apr 15, 2024

Sign Todibo and put Willy to Nice to sweeten the deal. Get a years experience and some more minutes and come back ready to challenge

humdinger · Apr 15, 2024

Poor lad. Unsurprising he made mistakes, he’s really inexperienced and this team is a shit show. Hoping he responds well as we need him for the rest of this season.

AjaxCunian · Apr 17, 2024

Pericles said:
We can't be planning for the future with the belief that we will keep having incredibly bad injury crisis in defense. These past 12-18 months are the outlier. A club's 5th choice defender typically does not get significant minutes. Keeping him on the bench awaiting a CB crisis, when he should be playing weekly, is more likely to cause long-term problems.

Also, if for some reason the injuries continue to pile up next season, he is not ready to be a Man Utd CB with all the scrutiny. He needs to go iron out his mistakes in a lower profile club, where the fans won't wreck his confidence after every mistake. Something similar to what Arsenal did with Saliba.

Seems like you have been a Manchester United supporter for a very short time. We have been having injury crises in central defence for the last 11 years, steadily.

TwoSheds · Apr 17, 2024

AjaxCunian said:
Seems like you have been a Manchester United supporter for a very short time. We have been having injury crises in central defence for the last 11 years, steadily.

Also, pretty much every team other than Arsenal have had one at some point this year too. Too much football played.

Pogue Mahone · Apr 17, 2024

AjaxCunian said:
Seems like you have been a Manchester United supporter for a very short time. We have been having injury crises in central defence for the last 11 years, steadily.

A lot more than 11 years. Michael Carrick has played in central defence for us, put it that way.

TwoSheds · Apr 17, 2024

Pogue Mahone said:
A lot more than 11 years. Michael Carrick has played in central defence for us, put it that way.

And Fletcher

Berbasbullet · Apr 17, 2024

TwoSheds said:
And Fletcher

Was it Wolfsburg away? We still got the win. :lol:

Pogue Mahone · Apr 17, 2024

TwoSheds said:
And Fletcher

Can we even call this season a crisis if Casemiro hasn’t played there?!

aeh1991 · Apr 17, 2024

Pericles said:
We can't be planning for the future with the belief that we will keep having incredibly bad injury crisis in defense. These past 12-18 months are the outlier. A club's 5th choice defender typically does not get significant minutes. Keeping him on the bench awaiting a CB crisis, when he should be playing weekly, is more likely to cause long-term problems.

Also, if for some reason the injuries continue to pile up next season, he is not ready to be a Man Utd CB with all the scrutiny. He needs to go iron out his mistakes in a lower profile club, where the fans won't wreck his confidence after every mistake. Something similar to what Arsenal did with Saliba.

We either sign two CBs who have absolutely zero injury record or we plan with the idea of preparing for another injury crisis. I prefer the latter.

Fallon d'Floor · Apr 17, 2024

I don't think he'll make it at United. Like Blackett and Mengi, he'll have a decent to good career in the game.

He's got the physical attributes to be an asset for some club, but is very raw and needs regular football to develop.

MadDogg · Apr 17, 2024

Pogue Mahone said:
A lot more than 11 years. Michael Carrick has played in central defence for us, put it that way.

It's since at least 06/07. In the 18 years since then, I think there's only been 3 seasons that we haven't had our annual central defensive crisis. 15/16 with Smalling and Blind, and 19/20 and 20/21 with Maguire and Lindelof (and even then Lindelof played pretty much the entire latter season with a bad back). Every other season since then we've had at least a few weeks where we've been down to the absolute bare bones.

In saying that, I do think a young player who is too good for the youth team (which I presume Kambwala is if we're talking about him playing for the first team) is a bad choice to be an emergency backup. Young players of that level need game-time to progress to the next level, so unless we think we're going to have continuous injury issues all season again then we're better of having somebody like Evans fill that role.

Pericles · Apr 17, 2024

AjaxCunian said:
Seems like you have been a Manchester United supporter for a very short time. We have been having injury crises in central defence for the last 11 years, steadily.

I have been a United fan for over 30 years. So because we have had injury crises for the past few years, we should bank on more injuries in the future for the minutes a young CB needs to develop. In what world do you bank on injuries in order to give a 5th choice CB crucial development minutes? What a ridiculous way to think. It seems like you have been a football fan for a very short time. The boy has missed about 2 years of development through injury, what he does not need is another season entering his 20s sitting on the bench hoping the 4 CBs ahead of him pick up injuries.

LawCharltonBest · Apr 17, 2024

Pericles said:
I have been a United fan for over 30 years. So because we have had injury crises for the past few years, we should bank on more injuries in the future for the minutes a young CB needs to develop. In what world do you bank on injuries in order to give a 5th choice CB crucial developmental minutes? What a ridiculous way to think. It seems you have been a football fan for a very short time.

Well said!

Take that @AjaxCunian and @AjaxNL

Escobar · Apr 17, 2024

If a young player makes mistakes and is having a poor game, I can accept it. Part of the learning curve. It boils my blood to see seniors being idiots on the pitch though

AjaxCunian · Apr 17, 2024

Pericles said:
I have been a United fan for over 30 years. So because we have had injury crises for the past few years, we should bank on more injuries in the future for the minutes a young CB needs to develop. In what world do you bank on injuries in order to give a 5th choice CB crucial development minutes? What a ridiculous way to think. It seems like you have been a football fan for a very short time. The boy has missed about 2 years of development through injury, what he does not need is another season entering his 20s sitting on the bench hoping the 4 CBs ahead of him pick up injuries.

11 years is not the past few years, in whatever way you like to put it. With the amount of matches being played, the length of the matches, this is the reality. You can pretend to be blind to it, doesn't change anything. He would have plenty of minutes as 5th choice CB, especially if he can play both RCB and LCB.

Varana, Martinez, Lindelof are injured for huge parts every season, we play a lot of matches, he will have his game time. Varane/Lindelof/Maguire will neither be here for the coming years, he can move his way up the ranks if he impresses.

FootballAI · Apr 17, 2024

We won't have a lot of CBs left after Varane, Evan and likely Lindelof leaving. Chance is we would only have money to buy 1 good mid-age CB and a short term old timer so there should be room for Willy to stay and fight for playing.

Teja · Apr 17, 2024

AjaxCunian said:
dominant in the air, very quick, strong in duels

I didn't see any of that on the weekend. Basically got out muscled and out ran in most duels.

JJ12 · Apr 17, 2024

This is why you should never 'just throw the kids in' as some people clamour for.

ETH had little choice but to play him recently though.

He has huge potential but isn't ready for starting for the first team.

Pericles · Apr 17, 2024

AjaxCunian said:
11 years is not the past few years, in whatever way you like to put it. With the amount of matches being played, the length of the matches, this is the reality. You can pretend to be blind to it, doesn't change anything. He would have plenty of minutes as 5th choice CB, especially if he can play both RCB and LCB.

Varana, Martinez, Lindelof are injured for huge parts every season, we play a lot of matches, he will have his game time. Varane/Lindelof/Maguire will neither be here for the coming years, he can move his way up the ranks if he impresses.

You are living in an imaginary world and blind to the facts. He missed 2 years of game time in his late teens, which is why even though he is physically okay his decision-making needs work.
We can't offer him enough minutes as 5th choice CB to aid his development at this stage. He has missed so much time already that he needs to be playing regularly now.

Even with all the injuries we have had in the last few years or several years, or whatever way you wanna put it, our 5th choice CBs have not gotten consistently significant minutes. Keeping him as 5th choice when he should be out gaining lower league experience would only create a Tuanzebe situation.

Lash · Apr 19, 2024

JJ12 said:
This is why you should never 'just throw the kids in' as some people clamour for.

ETH had little choice but to play him recently though.

He has huge potential but isn't ready for starting for the first team.

What I would say though, is he didn't fall to pieces despite the mistakes and still showed why he was ready to get a chance. There was the big mistake and uncertainty on what he should be doing for Kluiverts goal, but his aggressive defending started of the move for the equalizer and won nearly everything in the air. For a 19 year old thrown into a wide open team, I think he actually showed he'll have a future here, sooner than we think.

Red_toad · Apr 19, 2024

Pericles said:
You are living in an imaginary world and blind to the facts. He missed 2 years of game time in his late teens, which is why even though he is physically okay his decision-making needs work.
We can't offer him enough minutes as 5th choice CB to aid his development at this stage. He has missed so much time already that he needs to be playing regularly now.

Even with all the injuries we have had in the last few years or several years, or whatever way you wanna put it, our 5th choice CBs have not gotten consistently significant minutes. Keeping him as 5th choice when he should be out gaining lower league experience would only create a Tuanzebe situation.

Axel did go out on loan and got progressively worse and more injury prone. So not a great example to use. Harry was our 5th choice at the start of the season, he seems to have played a lot as well.

Walrus · Apr 19, 2024

Lash said:
What I would say though, is he didn't fall to pieces despite the mistakes and still showed why he was ready to get a chance. There was the big mistake and uncertainty on what he should be doing for Kluiverts goal, but his aggressive defending started of the move for the equalizer and won nearly everything in the air. For a 19 year old thrown into a wide open team, I think he actually showed he'll have a future here, sooner than we think.

Agreed. He had a poor game (though not solely to blame in my view), BUT:

The mistakes often seemed more to do with communication and organisation, which would naturally be fixed as he grows in experience and understanding with his teammates.
His response was positive, he kept his head and recovered.
Dominant aerially, good aggressive defending, looks like a leader on the pitch too.

Basically I don’t think any of what happened that game shows “he isn’t ready” etc. He needs better understanding of the system (don’t we all?) and his teammates positions - that will come with time and experience. Let’s not forget he played a fantastic game against Liverpool. Some folks are far too quick to write a good prospect off over a couple of unfortunate mistakes which don’t say anything about his ability as a defender.

Lash · Apr 19, 2024

Walrus said:
Agreed. He had a poor game (though not solely to blame in my view), BUT:

The mistakes often seemed more to do with communication and organisation, which would naturally be fixed as he grows in experience and understanding with his teammates.

His response was positive, he kept his head and recovered.

Dominant aerially, good aggressive defending, looks like a leader on the pitch too.

Basically I don’t think any of what happened that game shows “he isn’t ready” etc. He needs better understanding of the system (don’t we all?) and his teammates positions - that will come with time and experience. Let’s not forget he played a fantastic game against Liverpool. Some folks are far too quick to write a good prospect off over a couple of unfortunate mistakes which don’t say anything about his ability as a defender.

Exactly and West Ham which people seemed to just completely forget for some reason. I think they clearly targeted his side, which what manager worth his salt wouldn't and he'll learn a lot from it. Next time he plays he likely will be targeted again and we'll see how he adapts.

AjaxCunian · Apr 19, 2024

Pericles said:
You are living in an imaginary world and blind to the facts. He missed 2 years of game time in his late teens, which is why even though he is physically okay his decision-making needs work.
We can't offer him enough minutes as 5th choice CB to aid his development at this stage. He has missed so much time already that he needs to be playing regularly now.

Even with all the injuries we have had in the last few years or several years, or whatever way you wanna put it, our 5th choice CBs have not gotten consistently significant minutes. Keeping him as 5th choice when he should be out gaining lower league experience would only create a Tuanzebe situation.

Talking out of your behind at this point. Great example using Tuanzebe. Luckily the other poster already replied to you.

Red Regista · Apr 19, 2024

I'd say keep him, develop him and give him a chance.
I see potential in there.

Better to keep him for a small amount of money than to spend that absurd amount on Varane and Lindelof who are clearly past it or were never good enough in Lindelof's case.

I think the fact that we need a new top class CB in the summer is quite obvious to everyone.

Licha, Maguire and then nothing.
Lindelof is terrible and has to go, Varane is completely past it, Evans is on the edge of falling of a cliff age wise and Shaw is not the solution at CB, he should stay at LB (when healthy), so yeah WIlly is a serious option as a rotational player next season imo.

Licha, new CB, Maguire, Willy should be our CBs next season.

lex talionis · Apr 19, 2024

Yes, he slipped and yes he could have done much better on the second goal but overall Willy was outstanding...for a 19 year old. Not only should we keep him on the first team and not loan him out, we need to give him quality minutes through the end of the season to prep him for heavy rotation in the new season.

Remember the geese · Apr 19, 2024

lex talionis said:
but overall Willy was outstanding...for a 19 year old.

Come on now.

jem · Apr 20, 2024

Apparently injured.

The Law of Denis · Apr 20, 2024

He is our seventh choice centre back (Lisandro, Varane, Maguire, Lindelof, Evans, Shaw) and barely has any first team experience.

He has a lot of potential but it is difficult for anyone to play well in this team. It must be gutting for him to not have a chance to bounce back and play a cup semi-final. He needs our support and not judgement.

Pericles · Apr 21, 2024

AjaxCunian said:
Talking out of your behind at this point. Great example using Tuanzebe. Luckily the other poster already replied to you.

You, your mother and father are all talking out of your patulous asses.

You are too empty-headed to realize you can’t bank on a 5th choice CB getting adequate game time to develop.

P.S Before Tuanzebe went on his 2nd failed loan he had spent 2 years on the bench here wasting away.

Pericles · Apr 21, 2024

Red_toad said:
Axel did go out on loan and got progressively worse and more injury prone. So not a great example to use. Harry was our 5th choice at the start of the season, he seems to have played a lot as well.

Tuanzebe had an initial loan which was vey good and then was brought back between age 21 to 23 to rot on the bench here. Many people then wanted us to extend his loan and give him game time in Villa’s first season back in the EPL, but we recalled him and kept him on the bench or in sick bay for 2 seasons.

By the time he went on the next loan at age 23 he had lost loads of development time sitting on our bench for 2 seasons. The best way for a CB to learn is to play regularly in a less scrutinized situation, so that he can make mistakes under the radar and learn from them, rather than making high-profile mistakes that will send half of the United fanbase after him.

Willy Kambwala | 2023/24 Performances

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