This guy has absolutely no awareness for off the ball runs.
The concern with this is he is rapidly overwhelmed once the game opens up and swift, decisive actions are placed firmly upon his shoulders. The faster the play becomes, the more pensive and hesitant he is, and those moments, those stutter steps are the difference between playing a man onside or through an inside channel or not.
He was far from the worst of our players on Sunday, but his errors are so critical that so much good or decent work can be negated in a play or two.
But, it was a poor decision to put him next to a new CB partner in a competitive game straight out the gate. No problem if we're controlling the game and giving the pairing little to do, but predictably problematic if under the cosh defensively. We'll see opposing sides working to split he and Martinez time and again and I think with the decision making and inability to read play, they'll get plenty of change out of this avenue.
His physical attributes get called out frequently, but the steps he loses in his head because he cannot keep up, or be ahead, of play are the bigger concern by some distance. Smart, mobile players must relish playing against us - we're a veritable candy shop for them.