Best signing since Vidic.
That could be true. Maybe it will be better with Pogba as well. But I more thinking how Ole could take benefit from the speed and defensive skills of AWB in those situations. I don’t see it myself, but there must be a way.I think that has more to do with James playing on the right. Ideally we'd want a player like Ødegaard/Sancho out there against teams that allow no space for James to run in. We get congested out there often with a lack of penetration, even though they generally keep the ball in the team effectively out there.
He's a far better defender than Valencia. Worse offensively, though.Valencia reincarnated without the occasional good attacking play every 10 games.
Winter is coming?Yeah, really useless in attack. For all the talk of him having more freedom there and being an ex-winter.
Do you mean like set a higher defensive line and have him higher up the field in a starting position to press and use his tackling to win the ball in dangerous positions? In that case, I don't think we'll get to see that until we have a CB partnership that isn't so soft and slow that they need cover.That could be true. Maybe it will be better with Pogba as well. But I more thinking how Ole could take benefit from the speed and defensive skills of AWB in those situations. I don’t see it myself, but there must be a way.
Agree with this. Had him as MOTM as well.We shouldn't be relying on our RB as an attacking outlet just because Liverpool do with TAA, he's there to create overloads and overlapping runs not put in Beckham like delivery. He's also the type that prefers to play 1-2's in that area of the pitch and more often than not he was out there on his own
My MOTM based on his defensive contribution tbh
Valencia was great defending one-on-one. His positioning wasn't great, but neither is AWB.He's a far better defender than Valencia. Worse offensively, though.
To be fair, attacking ability is part of the job for a modern full back... So we shouldn't be relying on others to cover for it.Best signing in years.
Can't blame his poorish attacking ability, because those who's jobs it actually is are no better, let alone good enough to cover for it
Except when the ball is in the air, which kinda sucks when you also account for his non existent offensive abilityHe's a far better defender than Valencia. Worse offensively, though.
I thought he was decent today to be honest. Absolute rock in defence, but also offered support going forward. I can’t help but feel he’s going to give away a penalty sooner or later with some of the challenges he’s putting in though, as excellent as they have been so far.Maybe I’m seeing something different but apart from the cross in the second half when he was absolutely free, I thought his crossing was ok. He offered runs which makes space but our forwards were a bit too static today
Defensively he was a wall today against richarlison
Greatest tackler.Unsure whether he’s the greatest tackler whose ever lived, or just so bad positionally that he’s always having to make endless heartstopping slide tackles in the box every game.
Fun though. Can’t cross.
Valencia was much better getting forward than AWB. On the rare occasion AWB does get forward his final ball is better though.Valencia reincarnated without the occasional good attacking play every 10 games.
A lot of our fanbase still live in the 80s.Do you think attacking is not the job of United fullbacks?
Yeh. It's one thing praising his defending. But saying that there's nothing wrong with his play or he had a good game, doesn't fly with me.90% of the games we'll play in a season, he won't be adding much value. Good defender.
A lot of our fanbase still live in the 80s.
Get out, that's what he's good at, not sure I've seen him mistime one yet, he did three tackles inside the box today in a short space of time that most defenders would have got wrong and given away a penalty, but he got each one spot on, there's no way you'd want to take that away from his game, he revels in it.Makes too many of those slide tackles IMO. He goes in a bit awkwardly too. I don't think it'll be long before it costs a penalty, but more so I'm concerned he'll end up with a knee injury.
He's been excellent lately though, despite his offensive shortcomings.
I don't even think they need to be assist machines, but you definitely need a threat from your fullbacks. The likes of TAA/Robertson free up Mane and Salah, by making opposition defenders commit. If your fullbacks don't offer a threat, they can play off them and and stay compact.Yeh. It's one thing praising his defending. But saying that there's nothing wrong with his play or he had a good game, doesn't fly with me.
Part of why we've been no joy facing smaller teams is our fullbacks have zero attacking input. Just like today.
He really wasn't. Turn back Tony...he attempted less take ons than AWB and if he did get space he drilled it into the shins of the fullback. Valencia as a fullback was mediocre.Valencia was much better getting forward than AWB. On the rare occasion AWB does get forward his final ball is better though.