The right back market

[sherrinford]

While Frimpong seems a lock to play at RWB, it should be said that his play style is more of a winger than an actual wing back. If you see his heat map since Alonso took over you'd think he was an old school right winger.

Leverkusen have the right partnership in midfield to deal with Frimpong staying so far forward, with two energetic midfielders in Xhaka and Palacios/Andrich able to cover lots of ground. Usually Palacios/Andrich are the more defensive midfielder with Xhaka and cover the right side of the pitch. Ofcourse this is also combined with Leverkusen's generally high pressing style, which would enable them to win the ball quickly before the opposition can try to hit back.

It's a very structured system so while Frimpong is a very good player himself, you need to have the right balance elsewhere. Ugarte would be a really good complement to Frimpong as a DM since you can ask him to cover the right side when Frimpong is forward. The right side CB, usually Tapsoba right now for Leverkusen, would also have to aggressive in pushing forward.

If anything, I would say his form dipped once Alonso started tweaking the shape and often using him starting from an attacking position rather than from a bit deeper.

He is definitely more wing back than winger.

 

[MadDogg]

Mazaroui would be top 5 in the league easily if we still
Played a back 4 . Sadly he is probably only going to be a utility player at present. I like him at RCB . But Yoro is the future

Our strongest line-up at the moment probably has both Mazroui and Yoro playing, one on either side of De Ligt. Heaven has had a strong start, but he's so inexperienced he'll probably be quite inconsistent. Perhaps Maguire might come back in if we feel we are struggling aerially again like we were a few months ago, but we seem to have mostly sorted that out even without him.

 

[hasanejaz88]

If anything, I would say his form dipped once Alonso started tweaking the shape and often using him starting from an attacking position rather than from a bit deeper.

He is definitely more wing back than winger.

Alonso has sometimes used him in a more attacking position, usually as one of the two AMs behind a striker, in matches where they play a more defensive setup, like against Bayern, and Frimpong hasn't been great. But those are few and majority of the time he starts as a RWB.

My point regarding his heat map though is eventhough his position on the team sheet says he's a RWB, the areas he has the ball are more similar to a RW.

 

[DJ_21]

Why do we need a #10? We have lot of options there.

Its not a priority.

After striker i would say midfield and right wingback is on par in priority terms.

We have wingers we don’t have 10s. Garnacho is playing in a 10 but as a winger. Amad suits that position. Bruno plays deeper and plays better there. Mounts never available and zirkzee is hit and miss.

 

[SparkedIntoLife]

@MaMa given red shared this guy's views on Ekitike in his transfer thread. I looked a little further down his feed and found this thread on the right back market. Obviously our right wing back role is probably quite different and will include more players who are classically wingers, but it's interesting to read this and see the replies. I wonder whether Wesley might be a good candidate. Kumbedi is apparently more defensive.

 

[userman]

Interesting shout.

Low risk at least. Personally I would love for us to go for some of these types of transfers more often.

 

[golden_blunder]

Low risk at least. Personally I would love for us to go for some of these types of transfers more often.

No argument from me, I was and still am a fan of Dan James

 

[Ekeke]

We have a good rightback. Unfortunately he doesnt make a very good wingback. Maybe if he could rediscover some of his Ajax form where he was an offensive threat.

Dalot on the otherhand has some potential if he can use his pace effectively. Unfortunately he hasnt done it enough so its understandable to want someone new.

Meanwhile right wingbacks there are plenty of decent options depending on how much we're willing to spend and if they're interested in coming here and not elsewhere.

Munoz, Luis Enrique and Vanderson are some good options that would hopefully be more affordable. Lamptey is probably in the middle, still expensive if we want him but Brighton might not win anything and he isnt a guaranteed starter. And then you have the big money players from sides already doing great like Frimpong and Dumfries. They arent going to let them go and have good incentives to keep them at the club, unless a big bid comes in because they can already offer success and silverware.

 

[Dominos]

We're in a bit of an awkward spot when it comes to squad balance at wing back.

Mazraoui is best being re-branded as RCB, but I'm sure he's going to be rotating a lot with Yoro and sometimes De Ligt for that position. So if we sign a new RWB we're going to be very heavy on right footed wing backs in new signing + Dalot + Mazraoui, plus Amad able to cover that position when we want to go very attacking. And we'll be very short on left footed wing backs given it's essentially just Dorgu who is fit and of any use there.

And then there's the issue that neither Dalot or Mazraoui actually look like wing backs and have very limited attacking threat so raises the question if one of them should be sold.

 

[caid]

We're in a bit of an awkward spot when it comes to squad balance at wing back.

Mazraoui is best being re-branded as RCB, but I'm sure he's going to be rotating a lot with Yoro and sometimes De Ligt for that position. So if we sign a new RWB we're going to be very heavy on right footed wing backs in new signing + Dalot + Mazraoui, plus Amad able to cover that position when we want to go very attacking. And we'll be very short on left footed wing backs given it's essentially just Dorgu who is fit and of any use there.

And then there's the issue that neither Dalot or Mazraoui actually look like wing backs and have very limited attacking threat so raises the question if one of them should be sold.

I'm leaning the same way in terms of LWB vs RWB. Particularly without European football potentially.
I'm fine with Dalot starting most weeks next season. I dont think there'll be that many games where we dominate and can pick a more attack minded option. Moving Amad across seems like a pretty good solution when needed.
I'm less convinced by Mazraoui too but as a 3rd option we could do much worse. He lacks a bit of cutting edge or a final ball maybe but in most other regards its hard to find much fault. He's been here a short enough time that i wouldn't write him off just yet.
I think our defence is lacking left footers in general. I think the full wing looks a bit lacking with Rashford, Shaw and Martinez mia.

 

[golden_blunder]

We have a good rightback. Unfortunately he doesnt make a very good wingback. Maybe if he could rediscover some of his Ajax form where he was an offensive threat.

Dalot on the otherhand has some potential if he can use his pace effectively. Unfortunately he hasnt done it enough so its understandable to want someone new.

Meanwhile right wingbacks there are plenty of decent options depending on how much we're willing to spend and if they're interested in coming here and not elsewhere.

Munoz, Luis Enrique and Vanderson are some good options that would hopefully be more affordable. Lamptey is probably in the middle, still expensive if we want him but Brighton might not win anything and he isnt a guaranteed starter. And then you have the big money players from sides already doing great like Frimpong and Dumfries. They arent going to let them go and have good incentives to keep them at the club, unless a big bid comes in because they can already offer success and silverware.

Isn’t lamptey out of contract in the summer? But, he’s as injury prone as Luke shaw

 

[CM]

Why do we need a #10? We have lot of options there.

Its not a priority.

After striker i would say midfield and right wingback is on par in priority terms.

None of the 10 options we have are very good and the lack of speed and creativity in those positions is really obvious. We should sign one for each side if Amad ends up playing the majority of his minutes from RWB. Cherki feels like a tap in if the club are proactive enough with it. It might actually help if he plays well against us in the Europa tie.

Dorgu has looked reasonable since he came in so between him, Amad and Dalot we should have 3 of our 4 wing back options for next season. One more would be good but it doesn't feel as desperate as the situation with the 10s.

 

[CasaStreets]

Why do we need a #10? We have lot of options there.

Its not a priority.

After striker i would say midfield and right wingback is on par in priority terms.

That really depends.

If Amorim thinks Amad will mostly play RWB then #10 is the higher priority. If he thinks Amad will mostly play #10 then RWB is a higher priority.

Either way, midfield is definitely higher than #10 or RWB for me. Bruno + Ugarte is a passable duo but if Casemiro leaves we have zero decent depth for either position. It’s a much too precarious position.

 

[caid]

That really depends.

If Amorim thinks Amad will mostly play RWB then #10 is the higher priority. If he thinks Amad will mostly play #10 then RWB is a higher priority.

Either way, midfield is definitely higher than #10 or RWB for me. Bruno + Ugarte is a passable duo but if Casemiro leaves we have zero decent depth for either position. It’s a much too precarious position.

Casemiro wont leave though. And Collyer has looked quite good when called upon. And Mainoo can play there.

 

[Rozay]

Will say again, but if we are insistent upon this wing back thing then I’d be looking to take Elanga back from Forest and have him at RWB.

 

[caid]

Will say again, but if we are insistent upon this wing back thing then I’d be looking to take Elanga back from Forest and have him at RWB.

Dalot as cover on either side?

 

[CasaStreets]

Casemiro wont leave though. And Collyer has looked quite good when called upon. And Mainoo can play there.

Don’t think Collyer is the caliber we’re in need of. Amorim doesn’t think of Mainoo as a CM and I agree - not the right fit at CM in this system as he stands today. He would need to develop some additional capabilities - esp longer passing, so he can stay deeper to compensate for his physical shortcomings.

Even if Case stays, Eriksen is leaving and we’re still way too thin there both in numbers and quality.

So that’s why I think CM higher priority than RWB and #10

 

[caid]

Don’t think Collyer is the caliber we’re in need of. Amorim doesn’t think of Mainoo as a CM and I agree - not the right fit at CM in this system.

Even if Case stays, Eriksen is leaving and we’re still way too thin there both in numbers and quality.

So that’s why I think CM higher priority than RWB and #10

Looking past striker, which i think everyone agree's should be our first priority in the summer, I think whatever the position its a question of quality. We dont need more numbers, we need a higher caliber of player. Players that could be hard to attract or will cost a lot of money and be a bit of a gamble in that regard.
I'm growing more inclined to a #10 . I dont really see the quality of striker we need and i see too many teams looking for one. I think a goalscoring 10 to take some of the burden off the 2 other forwards will help more. But then you can say thats Bruno with a better midfielder behind him.
If I'm leaving bruno in midfield then a bit of extra defensive security from dalot helps and I dont particularly care about the right wing. If were picking up ... neves or someone then we probably need a bit more going forward and dalot and the right wing is the obvious place to look because you want to keep amad and bruno up front presumably.
Theres a lot of good 10's floating about at the moment. I dont see the same quality available in midfield (or up front). Theres a couple of players who could improve our right wing but i dont think they're a clear and immediate upgrade. I'm not a football scout though so what would i know.

 

[Craig Ward]

Don’t think Collyer is the caliber we’re in need of. Amorim doesn’t think of Mainoo as a CM and I agree - not the right fit at CM in this system as he stands today. He would need to develop some additional capabilities - esp longer passing, so he can stay deeper to compensate for his physical shortcomings.

Even if Case stays, Eriksen is leaving and we’re still way too thin there both in numbers and quality.

So that’s why I think CM higher priority than RWB and #10

I don't think Casemiro is the calibre we need either.

The fact is > we are low on quality in multiple positions.

We are playing a new formation and currently trying to make the most of playing players out of position to some degree. Some with success, some without.

We are desperate for a CM, absolutely desperate for a No.10, crying out for an experienced ST and low on quality on both flanks for wingbacks.

We wont function until we have the necessary quality across all positions. We could have the best ST in the world but with no quality on the wings or 10 - what's the point? It's a team game

 

[DavidDeSchmikes]

We have a good rightback. Unfortunately he doesnt make a very good wingback. Maybe if he could rediscover some of his Ajax form where he was an offensive threat.

Dalot on the otherhand has some potential if he can use his pace effectively. Unfortunately he hasnt done it enough so its understandable to want someone new.

Meanwhile right wingbacks there are plenty of decent options depending on how much we're willing to spend and if they're interested in coming here and not elsewhere.

Munoz, Luis Enrique and Vanderson are some good options that would hopefully be more affordable. Lamptey is probably in the middle, still expensive if we want him but Brighton might not win anything and he isnt a guaranteed starter. And then you have the big money players from sides already doing great like Frimpong and Dumfries. They arent going to let them go and have good incentives to keep them at the club, unless a big bid comes in because they can already offer success and silverware.

If you mean Munoz of Crystal Palace, apparently his release clause is £25m

 

[FlawlessVictory88]

Vanderson would be the most expensive option, Wesley from Flamengo would cost between 30-40m but is well worth that. After that you have Roger Fernandes and Luis Henrique but both of these players are similar to Amad in that they're primarily wide forwards converted into wing backs.

Another player I'd highlight is Vinicius Tobias. Represented Brazil at every youth level and currently playing RB for Shakhtar. Superb athlete and technically excellent too.

 

[Macedonian Red]

Ola Aina for free.