[Oranges038]

People criticising him for the first goal either didn’t watch the game or are new to the sport. Explain to me how he would track his man - which he does - whilst also tracking what is Bruno’s man?

Both him and McT track the same player into the same space and get dragged under the ball. One of them, the furthest to the right (AWB) should drop out to the player on the back post. Bruno is picking up the player on the edge of the box. McT takes the runner into the 6.

Full back on that side should always be aware of whats behind him on the back post. It's no coincidence that Utd concede 3 goals like this in one game when the other team has clearly targeted that back post area as a weakness on crosses.

 

[RedSky]

Thought he looked tired in the second half, not surprising given he's coming back from injury.

 

[tomaldinho1]

Both him and McT track the same player into the same space and get dragged under the ball. One of them, the furthest to the right (AWB) should drop out to the player on the back post. Bruno is picking up the player on the edge of the box. McT takes the runner into the 6.

Full back on that side should always be aware of whats behind him on the back post. It's no coincidence that Utd concede 3 goals like this in one game when the other team has clearly targeted that back post area as a weakness on crosses.

This is completely incorrect. 2.52 is where the frame starts.

2.52 - The defensive shape is good, McT has not tracked the same man as AWB - he's nowhere near him - the midfield is actually doing fine, McT and Eriksen are both close enough to their runner, AWB has his runner, the issue is that Bruno does not follow the runner he sees ahead of him. I can't be too critical of Bruno because we are down to 10 and he's not a winger but the freeze frame makes this situation very clear.

2.53 - cross comes in. McT is nowhere near AWB again (I'm wondering now if you even watched this back or just expected no one to check?), McT has come too deep arguably as his runner is now on the edge of the box but every player is goal side apart from Bruno here. In this image the only player you might pass on from a defensive standpoint is Eriksen to Maguire but that's not what we're discussing.

2.55 - ball arrives at back post, now McT and AWB are near each other but it's not from tracking the same player, it's because AWB was tracking the player and he ran towards the centre of the goal. You see Bruno start to react but it's obviously too late. Varane also has to be tighter on his man there, in the 6 yard box you can't be letting a striker drop off that easily.

If you want to criticise AWB, the back pass was pretty crap but he is no way at fault for this goal. McT doesn't need to drop into the CB line, it's Bruno's man who assists (albeit we have 10 men so it's a bit harsh), it's Varane's man who scores and, really, we should have been much closer to the original cross.

If you mean it's no coincidence that a team paying against 10 does what every team playing against 10 does, no it's not a coincidence. You target the areas of the pitch which are stretched and hardest for your opponent to cover, which are the flanks.

 

[Oranges038]

This is completely incorrect. 2.52 is where the frame starts.

2.52 - The defensive shape is good, McT has not tracked the same man as AWB - he's nowhere near him - the midfield is actually doing fine, McT and Eriksen are both close enough to their runner, AWB has his runner, the issue is that Bruno does not follow the runner he sees ahead of him. I can't be too critical of Bruno because we are down to 10 and he's not a winger but the freeze frame makes this situation very clear.

2.53 - cross comes in. McT is nowhere near AWB again (I'm wondering now if you even watched this back or just expected no one to check?), McT has come too deep arguably as his runner is now on the edge of the box but every player is goal side apart from Bruno here. In this image the only player you might pass on from a defensive standpoint is Eriksen to Maguire but that's not what we're discussing.

2.55 - ball arrives at back post, now McT and AWB are near each other but it's not from tracking the same player, it's because AWB was tracking the player and he ran towards the centre of the goal. You see Bruno start to react but it's obviously too late. Varane also has to be tighter on his man there, in the 6 yard box you can't be letting a striker drop off that easily.

If you want to criticise AWB, the back pass was pretty crap but he is no way at fault for this goal. McT doesn't need to drop into the CB line, it's Bruno's man who assists (albeit we have 10 men so it's a bit harsh), it's Varane's man who scores and, really, we should have been much closer to the original cross.

If you mean it's no coincidence that a team paying against 10 does what every team playing against 10 does, no it's not a coincidence. You target the areas of the pitch which are stretched and hardest for your opponent to cover, which are the flanks.

I've watched it back. And I've watched enough if these players to know that they get targeted on the back post even when there's 11 on the pitch.

You can make a case for either. None of them are aware of the runner. He doesn't even look at what's around him, he's ball watching and gets sucked in under the ball same as McT. They both end up defending the same space and the same man, leaving 1 totally free at the back post.

All he has to do is open his body more and he can be in a position to see runner coming off the middle turn and make the 4 or 5 steps to close it down. That area is his to defend when the cross comes over like that.

 

[tomaldinho1]

I've watched it back. And I've watched enough if these players to know that they get targeted on the back post even when there's 11 on the pitch.

You can make a case for either. None of them are aware of the runner. He doesn't even look at what's around him, he's ball watching and gets sucked in under the ball same as McT. They both end up defending the same space and the same man, leaving 1 totally free at the back post.

All he has to do is open his body more and he can be in a position to see runner coming off the middle turn and make the 4 or 5 steps to close it down. That area is his to defend when the cross comes over like that.

Ok so doubling down...cool
You are very obviously wrong, just watch the clip

 

[Oranges038]

Ok so doubling down...cool
You are very obviously wrong, just watch the clip

I will double down all day. That back post ball is his to defend. He should not be getting sucked right into the 6 yard box like that.

 

[tomaldinho1]

I will double down all day. That back post ball in his to defend. He should not be getting sucked right into the 6 yard box like that.

So if you were playing RB you would just let your man have a completely free central run at goal to go mark Bruno’s man in the hope the back stick cross comes in. Makes perfect sense.

 

[Oranges038]

So if you were playing RB you would just let your man have a completely free central run at goal to go mark Bruno’s man in the hope the back stick cross comes in. Makes perfect sense.

Nope, you see McT coming. Pass your man on and drop to the backpost. You don't both go and defend the same space.

 

[tomaldinho1]

Nope, you see McT coming. Pass your man on and drop to the backpost.

Honestly mate, go play some football and try to do what you're saying. Unless you can teleport it's impossible. I get you think what you wrote is correct but the replay destroys your argument, as in it's completely toast and tripling down just looks bad.

Being a RB doesn't just mean you automatically mark whoever is most 'right' on the pitch for goodness sakes. This is basic, basic knowledge.

 

[Oranges038]

Honestly mate, go play some football and try to do what you're saying. Unless you can teleport it's impossible. I get you think what you wrote is correct but the replay destroys your argument, as in it's completely toast and tripling down just looks bad.

Being a RB doesn't just mean you automatically mark whoever is most 'right' on the pitch for goodness sakes. This is basic, basic knowledge.

It's not about who is most right to defend, it's about making the right choice and being aware of what's around you. Passing off a runner and moving to pick up another player in the box is pretty basic defending in that situation.

 

[GazTheLegend]

Great first half, nervy second and directly responsible for their equaliser with that awful backpass. Needed to keep his composure.

Think he's a fair weather player - looks great when we are playing well but really not mentally strong. Not the only player we can level that accusation at to be fair. Still far, far superior to Dalot for me.

 

[tomaldinho1]

It's not about who is most right to defend, it's about making the right choice and being aware of what's around you. Passing off a runner and moving to pick up another player in the box is pretty basic defending in that situation.

Quadrupling down, nice

 

[MadDogg]

Both him and McT track the same player into the same space and get dragged under the ball. One of them, the furthest to the right (AWB) should drop out to the player on the back post. Bruno is picking up the player on the edge of the box. McT takes the runner into the 6.

Full back on that side should always be aware of whats behind him on the back post. It's no coincidence that Utd concede 3 goals like this in one game when the other team has clearly targeted that back post area as a weakness on crosses.

Nah, I regularly criticise AWB for his inability to defend the back post in these kinds of situations, but this wasn't one of them. His runner was by far the most dangerous man, and Scott wasn't close enough to deal with him until the ball is almost over his head. Any earlier than that and Scott was the one closest to dealing with the guy on the edge of the box who was looking for any cut-back, which is how we've conceded a ridiculous amount of our goals against this season. It wasn't until the cross was being hit that Scott started moving back with more pace.

Basically Copenhagen had five players attacking the box and only four of our players trying to cover those five (Eriksen was only a few metres behind one of them but ultimately that was enough to take him out of it). There was invariably going to be an overlap and unfortunately that cost us. The player who ultimately got on the end of the cross was Bruno's man to cover, not AWB's.

 

[MadDogg]

One thing I will note is that Dalot is getting massive criticism for how he's let his man get in behind him to score twice in the last few games, but it's going massively under the radar that AWB has done the same thing multiple times. Happened once in this game, and about five times against Fulham. He's just been lucky enough that none of them directly cost us a goal so it's not getting picked out and focused on.

 

[Kaizane]

I've been one of his harshest critics at times but feck me, he's looked levels above most since he's come back.

 

[Oranges038]

Nah, I regularly criticise AWB for his inability to defend the back post in these kinds of situations, but this wasn't one of them. His runner was by far the most dangerous man, and Scott wasn't close enough to deal with him until the ball is almost over his head. Any earlier than that and Scott was the one closest to dealing with the guy on the edge of the box who was looking for any cut-back, which is how we've conceded a ridiculous amount of our goals against this season. It wasn't until the cross was being hit that Scott started moving back with more pace.

Basically Copenhagen had five players attacking the box and only four of our players trying to cover those five (Eriksen was only a few metres behind one of them but ultimately that was enough to take him out of it). There was invariably going to be an overlap and unfortunately that cost us. The player who ultimately got on the end of the cross was Bruno's man to cover, not AWB's.

I think if he's more aware, he can adjust and do better.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

One thing I will note is that Dalot is getting massive criticism for how he's let his man get in behind him to score twice in the last few games, but it's going massively under the radar that AWB has done the same thing multiple times. Happened once in this game, and about five times against Fulham. He's just been lucky enough that none of them directly cost us a goal so it's not getting picked out and focused on.

It happens almost every game he starts if I'm honest, just depends on if it gets punished or not. AWB has made great strides from being hopeless in possession to almost being a net positive in the final third, but he's an absolutely horrid defender off the ball and it's cost us time and again in situations since he's arrived. Frustrating really.

 

[Santos J]

Potentially off to AFCON

https://theathletic.com/5085377/2023/11/23/wan-bissaka-congo-afcon-man-utd/

 

[ArjenIsM3]

Potentially off to AFCON

https://theathletic.com/5085377/2023/11/23/wan-bissaka-congo-afcon-man-utd/

Weird that England never called him up.

 

[LawCharltonBest]

Just what United need. More players missing for an extended period

Considering how his season has gone so far, I think it should be quite an easy refusal. Offer will still be there next season

 

[Santos J]

Weird that England never called him up.

Don't think it's that strange considering there's Walker, James, Trent and Trippier always in and around

 

[golden_blunder]

Don't think it's that strange considering there's Walker, James, Trent and Trippier always in and around

2 who will retire / not be at the same level within the next couple of seasons and 1 perennial sick note + a rb who doesn’t play rb because he can’t defend

 

[Alemar]

Good assist today: but was shaky defensively

 

[Lash]

Can't trust him in game like this to remain concentrated, which is frustrating, as he has all the tools to be a good full back. Was good on the ball tonight I thought.

 

[golden_blunder]

Thought he was fantastic on the ball and a good assist

 

[Rossa]

Thought he was fantastic on the ball and a good assist

Agreed. However, is his fitness an issue? He looks knackered after 60-70 minutes of every match. He doesn't track back well, and dare I say he looks a tad slower?

It's interesting that Zaha only started going past his defender the second AWB went off the pitch though...

 

[Based Adnan]

Cannot be trusted to defend the back post

 

[Irwin99]

Feel like I’ve seen that goal conceded quite a lot in his United Career.

 

[Oranges038]

Another back post goal where he falls asleep.

He just ain't good enough.

 

[Zed is not dead]

Abysmal tonight

 

[V.O.]

As usual, just a walking slide tackle.

I'd rather have a full back who didn't know what a fecking slide tackle was, but actually had some awareness of what was around him and some kind of clue about where he should position himself.

 

[sullydnl]

Back post defending still a problem.

 

[Idxomer]

One and a half year on his contract, he needs to be sold.

 

[#07]

Once again we were reminded of Wan-Bissaka's serious limitations: Cannot play out under any kind of pressure, routinely falls asleep when the ball is on the opposite flank.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

Defending his back post has always been his weakness

 

[E-mal]

A very low IQ footballer if you need one

 

[Harry190]

Was bad, but he was also playing on his own for 60 mins.

 

[jem]

Felt like the 2021-22 version of AWB

 

[Ole'sgunnarwin]

Great at defending players 1 vs 1, nobody better, pure class

But he's fecking useless. Going forward, dreadful, not an ounce of composure and I've not seen any full back ever getting caught out on so many crosses at the back post. He even did it 5 at the back away to Leipzig.

 

[girish]

Cannot be trusted to defend the back post

He's lost his man on a few occasions and conceded goals just like that.