Fred at left back?

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

Got a decent delivery on him, isn’t slow, can tackle, puts a shift in and is naturally left sided. Could it work for a game against Leicester if Shaw isn’t fit?

I’d be worried about him positionally, but Brandon worries me positionally anyway, and its not like Brandon & TFM are natural left backs either. At least with Fred he’ll not have to cut inside to put crosses in. He’s not the strongest, but neither is Brandon & it’s not like Perez & Gray are known for being physical players.

Before you all jump on me, I’m not saying we should do it, just asking the question. Williams & TFM terrify me I’m not gonna lie. Clearly Ole doesn’t fancy Dalot, who again isn’t a natural left back.

 

[Samid]

Fred at LB. Lindelöf at RB. TFM at DM. Dalot at RW. That's our summer window sorted.

 

[ThinkTank@Cafe]

Ole should consider him. Williams is a liability

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

Got a decent delivery on him, isn’t slow, can tackle, puts a shift in and is naturally left sided. Could it work for a game against Leicester if Shaw isn’t fit?

I’d be worried about him positionally, but Brandon worries me positionally anyway, and its not like Brandon & TFM are natural left backs either. At least with Fred he’ll not have to cut inside to put crosses in. He’s not the strongest, but neither is Brandon & it’s not like Perez & Gray are known for being physical players.

Before you all jump on me, I’m not saying we should do it, just asking the question. Williams & TFM terrify me I’m not gonna lie. Clearly Ole doesn’t fancy Dalot, who again isn’t a natural left back.

You don’t rate him as DM but you think he can do the job as a left back. Terrible idea. Williams is still a better option.

 

[Njord]

I think it's something that can be tried, but I don't think the Leicester game is the time to try it.

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

You don’t rate him as DM but you think he can do the job as a left back. Terrible idea. Williams is still a better option.

I don’t rate him at DM in a 1 with 2 CMs roaming in front of him. I rate him at DM/CM in a 2. I’m not saying we should do it, and certainly not long term. Just merely asking the question for this one game.

I think it's something that can be tried, but I don't think the Leicester game is the time to try it.

Fair.

God I hope Shaw is fit because I don’t think my heart can take Williams against Perez or Gray.

 

[Himannv]

I think it's something that can be tried, but I don't think the Leicester game is the time to try it.

Agree with this. We've had a couple of opportunities to try this out and haven't done it. The Leicester game is just too big now to try anything unusual. The time for resting players, trying things out, and fecking up in any way is over.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

I don’t rate him at DM in a 1 with 2 CMs roaming in front of him. I rate him at DM/CM in a 2. I’m not saying we should do it, and certainly not long term. Just merely asking the question for this one game.

I believe Fred can still play DM even in a 1 with 2 CMs (though most of the time we played 4231 not 433). Everytime I had discussion about it, people has the same reason about him not being good in one on one situation.

Well, as a full back you need to be good in one on one situation more than as a DM. Williams is still better in this type of situation, better play Williams in there than Fred. Williams has more experienced in the role and we’ll be fine or at least much better with him as a left back than Fred.

 

[TwoSheds]

fecking hell you lot are pansies. Williams will do fine and Leicester's wingers are shite. The question will be whether the senior players turn up not whether our LB does. Shaw will probably be fit though anyway.

 

[Danish Wizard]

Some fans really need to grow up. Earlier this season they praised Williams, and he did an outstandig job vs Traore against Wolves. And actually did very well. Now all of a sudden he is being critized all the time. Come on, nothing is just black/white or world-class/shit.. Williams is young, this is his first season at first team level, and he has done very well. Still learning, and will still make mistakes yes. But he is great young player.

 

[The Original]

Some fans really need to grow up. Earlier this season they praised Williams, and he did an outstandig job vs Traore against Wolves. And actually did very well. Now all of a sudden he is being critized all the time. Come on, nothing is just black/white or world-class/shit.. Williams is young, this is his first season at first team level, and he has done very well. Still learning, and will still make mistakes yes. But he is great young player.

The thread doesn't say Williams is not going to make it. It asks whether he needs to be replaced for one game.

 

[Danish Wizard]

The thread doesn't say Williams is not going to make it. It asks whether he needs to be replaced for one game.

True.
But also talk about playing Fred in that position, a position he hasn't played before. How anyone would feel more relaxed having Fred playing there than Williams, is beyond me..
Having said that, hopefully Shaw is fit and ready. He has done really well after the re-start.

 

[Minkaro]

I tried turning Fred into an lb on Football Manager once.

So if I’m stupid enough to try it, it’s definitely not a good idea.

 

[Eli Zee]

I tried turning Fred into an lb on Football Manager once.

So if I’m stupid enough to try it, it’s definitely not a good idea.

Fred could be better than Marcelo at LB. well never know unless we try

 

[Rozay]

fecking hell you lot are pansies. Williams will do fine and Leicester's wingers are shite. The question will be whether the senior players turn up not whether our LB does. Shaw will probably be fit though anyway.

God help us if Harvey Barnes goes near him. I wouldn’t risk him for this game at all, given the stakes. Fosu-Mensah at LB for me.

 

[prateik]

Its Anderson at LB all over again.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I miss the way Fergie used to try players out of their usual position. It kept life interesting. The recent bunch in charge have all been way too rigid about this.

 

[TwoSheds]

God help us if Harvey Barnes goes near him. I wouldn’t risk him for this game at all, given the stakes. Fosu-Mensah at LB for me.

Have you ever watched Harvey Barnes? Even in good form he's bang average and he's absolutely fecking dogshit right now.

 

[El Jefe]

He'd be awful there. Way too slow and will be a liability at the back post.

He has decent pace in closing down spaces but running after wingers in the open field he gets burnt every time.

 

[Roux]

Now is not the time to start experimenting!

 

[Sandikan]

You don't mess about with crazy stuff in vital games

 

[Class of 63]

Fred at left-back!?

Behave yourself.

 

[Andersons Dietician]

Got a decent delivery on him, isn’t slow, can tackle, puts a shift in and is naturally left sided. Could it work for a game against Leicester if Shaw isn’t fit?

I’d be worried about him positionally, but Brandon worries me positionally anyway, and its not like Brandon & TFM are natural left backs either. At least with Fred he’ll not have to cut inside to put crosses in. He’s not the strongest, but neither is Brandon & it’s not like Perez & Gray are known for being physical players.

Before you all jump on me, I’m not saying we should do it, just asking the question. Williams & TFM terrify me I’m not gonna lie. Clearly Ole doesn’t fancy Dalot, who again isn’t a natural left back.

I’d probably rather TFM if I’m honest but it is weird that Dalot’s name was pretty much built on his performances at LB for Porto and he can’t even get a look in.

Fred at LB I can sort of see merit where he comes in to midfield like Delph Zynchenko did and now Shaw does. But big big gamble and although great energy, great at getting at people, great tackler I’m not sure why we would take the risk.

But yeah it has to be TFM if Shaw isn’t fit.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

Only as emergency left-back.

Like the last-most recent time we used him.

 

[Okey]

I thought there was an argument earlier this season about Williams being better than Shaw? And with a lot of takers too! Fred is not a LB. End of. Williams will be fine if Shaw isn't fit. It's Leicester we're about to play. Not peak Barcelona. If we don't get a desired result, it won't be because we played Williams at LB instead of Fred. Too much panic and knee jerk reactions going on. There's a reason we've gained 15 points on Leicester in 3 months. Yes we may be flagging but they also haven't become peak Citeh. We should be just fine. Otherwise we don't deserve to be in UCL anyway.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

Fred at LB. Lindelöf at RB. TFM at DM. Dalot at RW. That's our summer window sorted.

Don't forget McT at CB. Done.

 

[Mcking]

He doesn't play like someone that would make a good full back. I'd go with Fosu-Mensah at Leicester.

 

[sewey89]

The red? I don't think he has the pace

 

[okLaptop1]

So if I’m stupid enough to try it, it’s definitely not a good idea.

 

[Freak]

Ffs.

 

[Superunknown]

I'm long past the days where we put square pegs in round holes.

Specialised players in their natural and best positions, please.

I don't want us going back to the days of Young and Valencia as fullbacks, as much as they tried and despite them having good careers with us.

 

[Untd55]

I thought there was an argument earlier this season about Williams being better than Shaw? And with a lot of takers too! Fred is not a LB. End of. Williams will be fine if Shaw isn't fit. It's Leicester we're about to play. Not peak Barcelona. If we don't get a desired result, it won't be because we played Williams at LB instead of Fred. Too much panic and knee jerk reactions going on. There's a reason we've gained 15 points on Leicester in 3 months. Yes we may be flagging but they also haven't become peak Citeh. We should be just fine. Otherwise we don't deserve to be in UCL anyway.

Not sure it is a kneejerk reaction. Williams was utterly dominated by Bowen. He is actually building a bit of a history of being completely destroyed by wingers, who aren't even all that great. Baldock, Bowen, Traore etc.

I can see why people are massively concerned about him. Leicester may not have the best wingers in the world, but they are probably better than Bowen and Baldock. If he struggled badly against them, it stands to reason that he could struggle badly against Perez.

Also, that stuff about Williams being better than Shaw was complete nonsense. It really should not be taken seriously. I swear it was made after about two games, which was then immediately followed by a poor performance.

 

[R.N7]

Kieron Richardson is ready to dismantle Ryan Giggs.

 

[Lay]

James at left back

 

[Robbie Boy]

God help us if Harvey Barnes goes near him. I wouldn’t risk him for this game at all, given the stakes. Fosu-Mensah at LB for me.

Harvey Barnes is fairly wank.

 

[SalfordRed18]

I actually think he'd make a solid left back when thinking about it.

 

[Hoof the ball]

It's not as absurd as it sounds. He has the attributes to perform that position. full-backs have gone on to become good central midfielders, so there's no reason why the reverse wouldn't be possible, especially if the individual has the necessary attributes.

 

[Red00012]

Some fans really need to grow up. Earlier this season they praised Williams, and he did an outstandig job vs Traore against Wolves. And actually did very well. Now all of a sudden he is being critized all the time. Come on, nothing is just black/white or world-class/shit.. Williams is young, this is his first season at first team level, and he has done very well. Still learning, and will still make mistakes yes. But he is great young player.

Knee Jerk

Fred at LB wtf

 

[Red00012]

Fred is left footed so automatically he should be left back .

if he was right footed would he be suggested as a right back ?

I say no chance

 

[LoneStar]

Williams has been in pretty bad form recently. I am just hoping Shaw can make it. The difference is night and day.

Having said that, I’d still start with Williams. Like someone mentioned, this is the last game where we should be trying new roles or formations. Play the strongest starting 11 and the standard formation.