[Isotope]

Said it before, like Jones, he might be better to play as a DM. At least for this moment. I think he was played there for few minutes, and looked pretty good.

 

[Loublaze]

Said it before, like Jones, he might be better to play as a DM. At least for this moment. I think he was played there for few minutes, and looked pretty good.

Jones wasn't even a good DM. He played a specific role there when needed but he's a CB first and foremost and so is Bailly. We need to get away from converting players to different positions in this manner

 

[Isotope]

Jones wasn't even a good DM. He played a specific role there when needed but he's a CB first and foremost and so is Bailly. We need to get away from converting players to different positions in this manner

Bailly is still young. And many great players in the past were alternating in between positions, or young players became better at their newer positions.

Also, it's not like asking him of totally different role, i.e. gk, winger, or striker. DM is still within a periscope of defending.

 

[Loublaze]

Bailly is still young. And many great players in the past were alternating in between positions, or young players became better at their newer positions.

Also, it's not like asking him of totally different role, i.e. gk, winger, or striker. DM is still within a periscope of defending.

I hear what you're saying but Bailly isn't an academy player or young enough to be still looking to find his best position (like Fosu-Mensah) he's a fully fledged CB who will be turning 24 in exactly four days. The window for him being experimented as a DM has passed. With all the money the club has at its disposal United should be going for specialists in all positions. The whole switching roles of players that we saw under Fergie was a result of the constraints he (Fergie) he faced in purchasing players. When was the last time you saw Jones play in midfield?

 

[LoneStar]

He needs to consistently play to get back to form. Injuries haven't helped him one bit this season. He hasn't been great recently, but all our CBs seem to play best with him.

 

[Pexbo]

Jones wasn't even a good DM. He played a specific role there when needed but he's a CB first and foremost and so is Bailly. We need to get away from converting players to different positions in this manner

As you say it was a specific role. Jones never really played as a DM, he played as a third centreback with a man marking job. That job required him to follow the player he’s marking whenever he’s in his own half. It’s not a DM role, he never had any responsibility in terms of intelligent positioning or expected to impact our play with the ball.

 

[Ekeke]

As you say it was a specific role. Jones never really played as a DM, he played as a third centreback with a man marking job. That job required him to follow the player he’s marking whenever he’s in his own half. It’s not a DM role, he never had any responsibility in terms of intelligent positioning or expected to impact our play with the ball.

Actually he was. He got forward plenty.

3rd CB is how he played the role at Blackburn. At United he didnt sit back, he helped attack which was a bit weird

 

[Alabaster Codify7]

What Bailly needs, is a world-class Rio Ferdinand type leader next to him full-time every game, week in week out (injuries permitting of course).

A cool, composed and intelligent CB next to him would be a big help, it would cover for his weaknesses (being too wild and reactive, questionable positioning) and those creases would then get ironed out of his ame with time. The problem is we don't have any CB that can be the 'beauty' to his 'beast', if you will. All of our CB's are nervy, error-prone and not exactly leaders either.

 

[AP88]

Have said it all season, he’s a fullback for me, at least until he matures. Awful defensive awareness and reading of the game, weak aeriall, and shouldn’t be depended upon.

Mourinho’s historically loved a right-footed leftback (Zanetti, Gallas, Azpilicueta, Santon, Darmian and now Young at United) and Bailly has all of the attributes to excel there, without his kamikaze positioning being as costly. He should try him in both of fullback roles until the end of the season, because both require an upgrade.

 

[A-man]

What Bailly needs, is a world-class Rio Ferdinand type leader next to him full-time every game, week in week out

Isn’t that what every CB needs?

 

[11101]

He's been a bit sloppy since his return but its partly understandable, and he's still by far the best of our CB options. He got caught out a couple of times yesterday but recovered and it didnt cost us. He's the only one you're confident is good enough to still be starting for us next season.

 

[A-man]

Have said it all season, he’s a fullback for me, at least until he matures. Awful defensive awareness and reading of the game, weak aeriall, and shouldn’t be depended upon.

Mourinho’s historically loved a right-footed leftback (Zanetti, Gallas, Azpilicueta, Santon, Darmian and now Young at United) and Bailly has all of the attributes to excel there, without his kamikaze positioning being as costly. He should try him in both of fullback roles until the end of the season, because both require an upgrade.

What attritubutes do you see? I’m curious, because I myself don’t see fullback qualities with him.

Personally I want him and Lindelöf in a 3-at the back formation together with someone who is strong in the air. Smalling would work. That would give him and Lindelöf some more freedom and to make up for their poor aerial abilities. And if the midfielders could move up a little a leave some room for Lindelöf and Bailly, I think that could work.

 

[Dante]

I'm rewatching the match as I type this.

Positionally speaking, Bailly was horrible in the first half.

 

[2cents]

He's not a DM or a FB, and why would we bother 'retraining' him in those positions instead of just playing actual DMs and FBs there? Right now he's a young(ish) CB who still looks extremely raw and needs to start showing a lot more in terms of his positioning before we see him as a first-choice. In the meantime, we need to get someone else in there who doesn't have the same learning curve still ahead of them. Bailly has it all to prove.

 

[TheFlagStaysDown]

He's been a bit sloppy since his return but its partly understandable, and he's still by far the best of our CB options. He got caught out a couple of times yesterday but recovered and it didnt cost us. He's the only one you're confident is good enough to still be starting for us next season.

Why this by far bullshit, he's nto even best defender, that's Smalling. Bailly is all over the place too often, weak in the air. He's got great potential and was injured a lot this year but he's certainly not our best defender. We should play Smalling and Bailly together as much as possible now and see how it goes but there's not too much between all of our CBs, apart Lindelof who is clearly a tier below.

 

[Andersons Dietician]

He was really bad yesterday, there was a Sterling chance and commentators said it where is Bailly and honestly he wasn’t anywhere near where he should be. He has weaknesses that need to be ironed out for sure. He looks talented but he’s so rash. There was a pass he tried to play out the back as well and I’ve no idea who it was to as it went straight to a city player than they turned and went at us with numbers.

Obviously Peps tactics caused issues pulling the fullbacks so wide and a CB having to go with to back up just opened that space in the middle for Sterling to waltz through but there were honestly times when he just went wondering, he does this a lot.

 

[villain]

He’s not been playing professional football for a long time, so his positional sense is definitely weak.
I think it will improve with experience.

But there’s no point dwelling on negatives after a game like that

 

[11101]

Why this by far bullshit, he's nto even best defender, that's Smalling. Bailly is all over the place too often, weak in the air. He's got great potential and was injured a lot this year but he's certainly not our best defender. We should play Smalling and Bailly together as much as possible now and see how it goes but there's not too much between all of our CBs, apart Lindelof who is clearly a tier below.

His ability is by far the best. That doesn't mean he always plays to that level, especially when hes been out injured a lot this season.

 

[TheFlagStaysDown]

His ability is by far the best. That doesn't mean he always plays to that level, especially when hes been out injured a lot this season.

His ability but which ability? he's got some great abilities like aggression, strenght, pace, ability on the ball but he lacks quite some in the air, positioning, concentration. That's very important for a defender and that's why his "ability" is definitely by far not the best, not even better than someone like Smalling who is overall better player NOW even if people like you don't like to admit it

 

[Rajma]

Don’t want to be overly critical after the game like this but it simply was one of the worst displays I’ve seen this season from any of United CBs. Hopefully just confidence issue and time spent without competitive football, shouldn’t be starting such game in place of Victor who was in fine form.

 

[Amar__]

I think him and Smalling are completely fine two first choice CBs to have, especially with Smalling covering his aerial issues and Bailly being better with the ball at his feet. However, he hasn't showed anything special in his career here yet, and for some reason many people laud him as our clearly best CB, which simply is nowhere near proven. Pretty sure Smalling's two of last 3 seasons were better than Bailly's any season yet for us, and yet Smalling is the one who is garbage and should be sold while Baily is our saviour.

Anyway, I believe and hope he can stay injury free and develop good partnership with Smalling, it's not like world is full of great CBs anyway. IMO, we should get rid of one of Rojo or Jones because they are crooked all the time hence very unreliable to go into another season with.

 

[limerickcitykid]

He's massively overrated by so many on here.

 

[Alabaster Codify7]

Isn’t that what every CB needs?

No. World-class, Rio-type CB's don't need that. In fact, they quite often need a nutter like Bailly to do the dirty work.

 

[Loublaze]

As you say it was a specific role. Jones never really played as a DM, he played as a third centreback with a man marking job. That job required him to follow the player he’s marking whenever he’s in his own half. It’s not a DM role, he never had any responsibility in terms of intelligent positioning or expected to impact our play with the ball.

Too right!

 

[A-man]

No. World-class, Rio-type CB's don't need that. In fact, they quite often need a nutter like Bailly to do the dirty work.

I don't agree. I think every CB in the world would be better with a world class CB next to him. Its a no brainer, who wouldn't prefer two worldclass CB instead of one? Its not like a star can't do the dirty work. Look at Ramos, even when he had bad boy Pepe as partner he would do really dirty work. But to get mot out of a certain CB, the other needs to have special qualitities, like Bailly needs someone who can dominate in the air.

 

[AP88]

He's massively overrated by so many on here.

Crazy isn’t it? His choas costs United goals regularly, yet he’s deemed the saviour and only defender worth keeping.

In reality, hes singularly dependent on physicality to disguise his lack of football intellect, and it’s being exposed on a weekly basis now.

 

[Loublaze]

Crazy isn’t it? His choas costs United goals regularly, yet he’s deemed the saviour and only defender worth keeping.

In reality, hes singularly dependent on physicality to disguise his lack of football intellect, and it’s being exposed on a weekly basis now.

That's a black player stereotype. Bailly is our best ball playing CB and the most technically astute one as well, you can tell he was groomed in Spain in his youth. He simply needs more polishing. I believe this is only his third season as a first team player in his career thus far.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

In reality, hes singularly dependent on physicality to disguise his lack of football intellect, and it’s being exposed on a weekly basis now.

Absolute bollocks, he’s a top top class footballer but right now still struggles with just being a center half and doing his job in certain high stakes games.

Wil be a United legend in a few years, no doubt.

 

[VeevaVee]

That's a black player stereotype..

More of a strong powerful player stereotype

 

[Loublaze]

More of a strong powerful player stereotype

It really is a black player stereotype even in cases where those attributes don't apply, there's no point playing it down it i've heard it all my life

 

[The Mitcher]

That's a black player stereotype. Bailly is our best ball playing CB and the most technically astute one as well, you can tell he was groomed in Spain in his youth. He simply needs more polishing. I believe this is only his third season as a first team player in his career thus far.

He never mentioned his race, how is that relevant? Jones has been accused of such things as well, and he's white. Chris Smalling too, a mixed race man.

 

[Loublaze]

He never mentioned his race, how is that relevant? Jones has been accused of such things as well, and he's white. Chris Smalling too, a mixed race man.

Its a black player stereotype and it doesn't even apply to Bailly as he doesn't exclusively lean on his physicality. Do you believe that? Do you also believe Bailly lacks football intellect? You can't tell me you're not aware of this stereotype in sports in general. When it comes to Jones he's also been praised as a CB supposedly great with the ball at his feet and moving the ball forward. Jones has been given every kind of praise under the sun when he was considered the next coming of Duncan Edwards. That's a poor example.

 

[P-Nut]

He’s definitely looking overrated at the moment. It’s down to the little things he does in games where he shows massive composure though and fans like to see that. Spinning past opponents with the ball like he did against Liverpool/Spurs (can’t remember) shows there is a confidence and composure there which isn’t present with our other cbs.

He’s obviously very weak in the air and at the moment his reading of the game isn’t great, but you’d hope with an experienced partner he’d be able to work on his reading of the game and be the ball playing defender of the 2.

At the moment he’s lucky our other options are all so poor, and he’ll get the time needed to develop.

 

[Norris]

He always has a mistake in him, but it never gets properly highlighted because people always heavily criticize the other CB next to him, be it Smalling or Jones. He needs to sort it out.

 

[Red_toad]

It really is a black player stereotype even in cases where those attributes don't apply, there's no point playing it down it i've heard it all my life

Heard it all your life? Your parents must have had random baby chat!

 

[A-man]

Absolute bollocks, he’s a top top class footballer but right now still struggles with just being a center half and doing his job in certain high stakes games.

Wil be a United legend in a few years, no doubt.

I remember a discussion just before the Sevilla match, where he was compared to the best CBs in the world. My point at that time, was that you cannot be considered among the best if you do not perform when everything is at stake. Many fantastic players don't get the chance to play the finals of WC, Euro, or CL and we will never know if they can perform at this level. Ramos, as an example, has played all kinds of top matches and performed very well in most of them, while for example Thiago Silva is a bit famous for being the best CB in the world when nothing is at stake. We will see about Bailly. It could be like you wrote; that he has returned from a long injury and then Mou alternates between him and Lindelöf in a way where Bailly gets to play the best opponents despite the fact he is not up for it, yet. Or he is the type that doesn't perform against high class teams.

 

[el3mel]

One or 2 poor games won't change the fact that he's our best CB with the most potential for the future.

 

[A-man]

One or 2 poor games won't change the fact that he's our best CB with the most potential for the future.

I have considered him the best CB in Manchester United, and I think I still do. He was really poor against Sevilla and maybe in a few more matches. Anybody can have some poor matches, especially after a long injury, but I think those matches have exposed his weaknesses, which at least I hadn't seen before. Especially Sevilla were very good at taking advantage of those weaknesses.

 

[The Mitcher]

Its a black player stereotype and it doesn't even apply to Bailly as he doesn't exclusively lean on his physicality. Do you believe that? Do you also believe Bailly lacks football intellect? You can't tell me you're not aware of this stereotype in sports in general. When it comes to Jones he's also been praised as a CB supposedly great with the ball at his feet and moving the ball forward. Jones has been given every kind of praise under the sun when he was considered the next coming of Duncan Edwards. That's a poor example.

No I don't believe he has a low IQ, but he's rash and can make poor decisions because he is young. Again the the original poster didn't even mention race nor is there any indication or implication. It all comes down to you asserting this to defend one of your favourite players. At least be honest and rational when you try to, accusing people of racism when there is none to be seen is low.

 

[Loublaze]

No I don't believe he has a low IQ, but he's rash and can make poor decisions because he is young. Again the the original poster didn't even mention race nor is there any indication or implication. It all comes down to you asserting this to defend one of your favourite players. At least be honest and rational when you try to, accusing people of racism when there is none to be seen is low.

I didn't accuse him of racism but is there anything wrong with me pointing out something the way I see it? If the poster really believes Bailly exclusively depends on his physical attributes to 'cover up' for his 'lack' of football intellect then he needs his eyes examined. He should have at least offered more context to back his opinion and not just stop after stating a well known stereotype. Bailly doesn't have to be one of my favorite players for me to point this out. He's actually not one of the players I often single out for praise.