Who can we buy to light a fire under Wan-Bissaka's ass?

[Tom Cato]

As a defender, you won't really do better than AWB. Going forward. I don't know, TAA?

Or we can.. develop AWB, he's still a prospect. Brandon Williams is a likely candidate to challenge for a RB slot. He's naturally right footed.

I dont know if we should actually buy anynoe, especially with other slots being a higher priority and the club bleeding money.

It's a valid question to ask though.

 

[Bebestation]

People are going to pretend they always saw Luke Shaw developed like the way now- but the guy was virtually non existent as an attacking fullback for literally all of his career (5 years?) until this season.

Players take long to develop and I'm sure we will see Wan Bissaka develop even further.

In the last 7 games he has been important aspect of our team for atleast 4 games.

Why people think this guy is useless is beyond me.

 

[Matthew84!]

He probably could do with some competition but anyone who can't see an improvement on his attacking play since he joined obviously aren't watching the games, he went past Robertson with ease on Sunday, of course he will need a rest at some point

 

[Mike Phelan's Former Tash]

I think once Diallo gets into the team there'll be less pressure on AWB going forward, although he is improving.

Good solid RB, I don't get the thought process (besides being able to rest him) that he needs replacing.

 

[Bebestation]

Do you think Bissaka cannot learn anything from Telles due to him playing on another flank? It’s a bit strange if true...

Well I think he will learn more from trippier and how he plays with Greenwood- a player who never tracks back and on top of that is a centre forward playing out wide.

Our left hand side of our team has been developing for ages (shaw, Martial, Rashford, Pogba) - adding telles to that added some depth but also a difference in how we might play with a striker like Cavani for example.

Wan Bissaka has learnt from that but he is a player who has only 3 years experience as a fullback compared to shaw. Playing and training with a player like trippier who identifies his positioning both attacking and defensively, how to go on a marauding run and cross and be able to drop back in to defence etc. Just the ability to rest Wan Bissaka once in a whilst like we do with Shaw because of Telles will also benefit his progress even more.

I've seen Wan Bissaka go on a nice run and make a super cross, yet I also see him go on a run just to almost think too much half way through and pass it back. That's what I feel trippier could help him with whilst helping us as a team.

That's the kind of stuff that's missing from Shaw's game now, the guy used to dribble and do absolutely crap all - now he almost puts in a wicked cross soon as its capable and that's how I'd describe Telles as a player too.

 

[simplyared]

He doesn't need a fire. He plays to the best of his ability every game. Gives 100% no doubt about that. Whether he's good enough is another question.

 

[SalfordRed18]

Since Telles came in we've seen a marked improvement from Luke Shaw, even though Telles has hardly been stellar, Shaw has got his butt into gear and put in some impressive performances.


Now, how do we do the same for AWB?

This is bullshit. Shaw's been in this form since the restart and nobody noticed. When he got injured that's when performances started to slack, and that's not coincidence.

 

[Giggsy13]

Bring rafael back

I actually would not mind this. I thought Van Gaal was too eager to get rid of players like him, Nani and Hernandez because they didn’t fit into his insane philosophy. Rafael would be decent cover for AWB, which is really all we need at this point.

 

[Zlatattack]

I think Trippier is an excellent option. He's not a bad defender, decent going forwards, has PL experience, and he's a mature player. He's no Dani Alves but he could provide competition and cover for AWB, perhaps help him improve his attacking game and in a few seasons time be replaced by Laird hopefully in a seemingless transition.

AWB is not TAA, he's not going to be that sort of RB, he's defensively excellent and average at best in attack. A part of that is our tactics, we overload on the left where we are very strong, a part of that is his skill set, and some of it the fact we don't have a natural RW. Once AWB is paired with a natural attack RW his lack of attacking ability won't be highlighted so much. Having said that, if someone like Trippier is available we should take the option to help improve our overall squads capabilities.

 

[bsCallout]

AWB has stepped up massively in our recent game with his attacking contribution.

 

[djembatheking]

Norman Price is always starting fires.

 

[Jericho]

Since Telles came in we've seen a marked improvement from Luke Shaw, even though Telles has hardly been stellar, Shaw has got his butt into gear and put in some impressive performances.


Now, how do we do the same for AWB?

The impact of Telles on Shaw has been overstated, Shaw has nearly always been good on the pitch. I also agree with whoever defended AWB here. A decent backup makes sense, but he doesn't need a fire lit under his ass IMO.

 

[kafta]

We could use a backup right back. I actually thought Trippier would make sense. But i don't think AWB needs the competition to get better, he seems to be a very strong character and he's doing very well.

The only thing that worries me is he is such a great athlete and tackler, that he is often out of position. I always think he's playing too narrow, and i haven't seen much progress in that regard. Hopefully the coaches can fix that over time, and by the time he is 24-25, he will be a pretty complete RB.

 

[RUCK4444]

AWB isn’t anywhere near as bad as some make out.

You won’t find a better tackler at RB in Europe and I think his attacking is slowly progressing.

He won’t ever be an out and out attacking fullback but I don’t believe that fad will last particularly long anyway.

If he can progress into a good link-up player similar to how Shaw links on the left that would be a great balance and I would take that over defenders like TAA who just abandon their position the entire game.

 

[Stacks]

Shaw is 25

AWB won’t peak for another few years either way. I think he’s doing quite well overall. Usually it’s the other way around. Player comes in and needs to feel it out for a season and does better in the second but second season syndrome is also pretty common with players who come in and hit the ground running and then they drop off and start the build into form all over again. I think he’ll become more complete and confident over the next season or so, especially if he gets a regular partnership going on the right. hes still got a lot of potential and he’s very rarely injured. A Good signing so far. He was class last year. How quick people are to forget.

At 17 Shaw showed more bravery and technique than AWB. the issue is that some of the basic football ability simply isn't there. You generally don't improve massively in every attribute which is why natural talent counts. everything to do with "on the ball" fairly sucks for Wan and it may be too much to work on and master. He was picked up by Palace as a winger so I don't get why he is so scared on the ball. He should be the best attacking!

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

Why do people want Trippier when he was largely awful for Spurs. Has he been good for Athletico. Personally if we want a defender who can't defend we would be better giving Dalot another go as he does have potential in attack. Trippier puts in a decent cross but aside from that he's poor.

 

[el3mel]

He doesn't need a fire. He plays to the best of his ability every game. Gives 100% no doubt about that. Whether he's good enough is another question.

He was much better than this last season. Yes had obvious flaws but was better overall. This season he has been terrible in the majority of the games he has been played. This isn't his best at all.

 

[eire-red]

Since Telles came in we've seen a marked improvement from Luke Shaw, even though Telles has hardly been stellar, Shaw has got his butt into gear and put in some impressive performances.


Now, how do we do the same for AWB?

Shaw has been playing well for a long time now, before Telles' arrival. Ole's words were interesting, in the sense that Shaw doesn't feel the added pressure of being the only capable LB, and can now play at full tilt knowing he has Telles to cover. Maybe we are reading into the whole "Telles lit a fire in Shaw" a bit too much.

AWB doesn't need competition to push him. He's 22/23, I don't think he's doing that badly? I can't think of many other RB's his age playing to this level? We might need a different alternative for different tactical approaches, yes. But to motivate AWB? I've not seen any evidence that's needed.

 

[2 man midfield]

Max Aarons? A young, hungry RB who excels in attacking might be just the competition AWB needs.

This. Seems Laird might be a bit injury prone.

 

[MadDogg]

People are going to pretend they always saw Luke Shaw developed like the way now- but the guy was virtually non existent as an attacking fullback for literally all of his career (5 years?) until this season.

Shaw's end product wasn't good enough but he always played a huge part in our build-up and linked well with others. His inconsistency has always been getting forward enough - he's had periods where he's done it but other periods where he doesn't. Overall he's not doing anything different now (other than the set pieces which is completely new) that he hasn't numerous times in the past, the only thing that will be different is if he maintains it for the rest of the season. Normally he does it for a couple of months and then gets injured and has to start all over again. Most obviously last season after the lockdown and also back when he got the leg break.

 

[Stacks]

He was much better than this last season. Yes had obvious flaws but was better overall. This season he has been terrible in the majority of the games he has been played. This isn't his best at all.

I think it was more that he was fresh and new so we ignored his weaknesses and got overhyped when he put in the odd slide tackle. Once the "new man" euphoria wore off, people started to notice once lockdown was over and the league resumed. It started in the final straight of last season. He was never good on the ball and relied on slide tackles to get the crowd going. maybe its because there is no crowd to celebrate his tackles that people aren't as enthused by the rest of the game. a loud cheer from the crowd can influence you to think something is better than it is.

 

[Borys]

He doesn't need a fire. He plays to the best of his ability every game. Gives 100% no doubt about that. Whether he's good enough is another question.

Bingo. The question is whether we're happy with what he is as a first-choice right back. Personally I don't even think he's very good at defending, he's excellent at tackling but he is useless with the ball in the air, so I'd say pretty good defensively overall at best.
Attacking wise I would be truly shocked if he ever improved to be up to the standards we require. Overall a decent to good fullback and that's it.

I don't rate AWB highly because you can't just judge him on one extraordinary attribute, and looking at him as a whole package he's not good enough and I doubt it'd be too difficult to upgrade on him. He could be the player we want to use in 10% of all games, against the likes of Mbappe, Mane and Hazards of football world, but overall he's overkill defensively considering how little he offers attacking wise.

 

[MadDogg]

I think it was more that he was fresh and new so we ignored his weaknesses and got overhyped when he put in the odd slide tackle. Once the "new man" euphoria wore off, people started to notice once lockdown was over and the league resumed. It started in the final straight of last season. He was never good on the ball and relied on slide tackles to get the crowd going. maybe its because there is no crowd to celebrate his tackles that people aren't as enthused by the rest of the game. a loud cheer from the crowd can influence you to think something is better than it is.

I feel that even defensively he hasn't been as good as he was before lockdown. Most notably a lot more crosses seem to get past him now; he still blocks a good amount but originally he blocked a ridiculous amount of them. Perhaps that's not on him though, it's possible opposition have adjusted to him and now attempt the crosses from further away. I'm not sure. His also seems to win slightly less of his slide tackles than he used to.

 

[Ludens the Red]

AWB has stepped up massively in our recent game with his attacking contribution.

Yeah, maybe the pennies finally dropped. He’s been attacking space like a Boss (pun intended) in recent games. Though he is still handicapped a little by no right winger.

 

[Lassitude42]

He was much better than this last season. Yes had obvious flaws but was better overall. This season he has been terrible in the majority of the games he has been played. This isn't his best at all.

How is a player who has apparently "been terrible" higher rated than Caf darling Luke Shaw on Whoscored in the PL this season? He's also our third highest rated player overall

https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/32/Show/England-Manchester-United

 

[Bebestation]

Shaw's end product wasn't good enough but he always played a huge part in our build-up and linked well with others. His inconsistency has always been getting forward enough - he's had periods where he's done it but other periods where he doesn't. Overall he's not doing anything different now (other than the set pieces which is completely new) that he hasn't numerous times in the past, the only thing that will be different is if he maintains it for the rest of the season. Normally he does it for a couple of months and then gets injured and has to start all over again. Most obviously last season after the lockdown and also back when he got the leg break.

That's fair and I see Wan Bissaka arguably link decent enough with one of the weakest sides of our attack.

People were happy with Wan Bissaka last year when Greenwood was popping off (even James at the start). This season Greenwood can barely get a run in to any scary territory for most of the season and people have seemed to have given up on Wan Bissaka.

I'm not pointing it at Greenwood, but our RW is weak for near a decade in comparison to our LW. Shaw was able to pass the ball with some through passes and runs but not much else (I see Wan Bissaka make some straight and accurate through balls too but it's his confidence to run and make a cross with positioning that I find a bit weak at the moment).

Let's see if Wan Bissaka can perform like how he does when Rashford plays on the right but with Greenwood as they both progress from second season syndrome. Hopefully Amad can help with building our right side too.

I feel like Trippier is the perfect balance of giving us an attacking RB (for a striker that can use consistent aerial crossing a bit like Telles and Cavani) whilst also being good enough defensively too. He should be able to give Wan Bissaka; a full back with three year old experience that ability to play it with a more well rounded, confident and understanding manner.

 

[Solius]

How is a player who has apparently "been terrible" higher rated than Caf darling Luke Shaw on Whoscored in the PL this season? He's also our third highest rated player overall

https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/32/Show/England-Manchester-United

Why do you keep calling Luke Shaw a Caf darling? Are you annoyed that he's been playing well? Imagine being wound up by that as a Utd fan.

Also Luke Shaw is the highest rated player on BOFA this season so it's irrelevant what Whoscored says.

 

[Lassitude42]

Why do you keep calling Luke Shaw a Caf darling? Are you annoyed that he's been playing well? Imagine being wound up by that as a Utd fan.

I'm very happy that Shaw is playing well.

My point is that if we all agree that Shaw is playing very well, how come Wan Bissaka has "played terribly in most of his games this season" whilst performing as well or better than Shaw according to an impartial source?

I'm here to defend Wan Bissaka not hate on Shaw - I agree that Shaw's been great of late.

 

[Bilbo]

Yeah, maybe the pennies finally dropped. He’s been attacking space like a Boss (pun intended) in recent games. Though he is still handicapped a little by no right winger.

This part is under-appreciated I feel. Shaw is in outstanding form and I don't want this to read as any slight whatsoever against a player that I like a lot, but it is easier to play LB in this team than it is RB. A lot easier.

Not only does he usually have fewer passing options available to him, but Aaron also hasn't really had the opportunity to build any kind of a regular relationship with anybody on this side of the pitch. Greenwood is the only player even close to being a regular there and he is also still developing as a player. I think its only fair to truly judge how effective he can be as our RB when we have settled on who is going to play in front of him.

 

[Borys]

How is a player who has apparently "been terrible" higher rated than Caf darling Luke Shaw on Whoscored in the PL this season? He's also our third highest rated player overall

https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/32/Show/England-Manchester-United

Don't take those rankings seriuosly because nobody will take you seriously quoting them. Fred is on the same level as Martial. Even Telles is higher than Shaw... BS.

 

[elmo]

How is a player who has apparently "been terrible" higher rated than Caf darling Luke Shaw on Whoscored in the PL this season? He's also our third highest rated player overall

https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/32/Show/England-Manchester-United

That just means whoscored has a shit rating system

 

[Icemav]

he doesn't need a fire lit so much as needs resting occasionally and would prefer it to be a specialist rather than a young CB. Proper competition also helps of course.

 

[elmo]

Best RB we've had since Gary Neville, TBH. Don't think there's an issue with him per se, he's just played c. 100 games in a relatively short period of time at a young age so his form is bound to dip slightly, especially when he's indispensable because we have no adequate cover.

Like someone above said, would be happy if we signed somebody like Tripper as a rotation option who we can play against the weaker teams with his superior delivery.

Apart from him and Rafael, almost every other player we had at right back since Neville were all playing out of position.

 

[Solius]

I'm very happy that Shaw is playing well.

My point is that if we all agree that Shaw is playing very well, how come Wan Bissaka has "played terribly in most of his games this season" whilst performing as well or better than Shaw according to an impartial source?

I'm here to defend Wan Bissaka not hate on Shaw - I agree that Shaw's been great of late.

AWB has been hit and miss. He's had good games and really bad games, which is to be expected from a player his age. Shaw has been really consistent this year and our team struggles for balance when he doesn't play. Shaw has been way better than Wan-Bissaka this season, it's just fact and no real fault of AWBs. He will get there in time. Also Whoscored's rating system is crap.

 

[UmbroDays]

Max Aarons? A young, hungry RB who excels in attacking might be just the competition AWB needs.

Nonsense. Dude is in Championship and we have no idea how he will be against higher quality opps consistently, and I don't even just mean British teams. He hasn't proven his worth consistently at a high level with much more pressure on his shoulders like AWB has done:

Max Arrons 19/20

Defence:

Clean sheets 5
Goals Conceded 71
Tackles 48
Tackle success % 63%
Last man tackles 0
Blocked shots 6
Interceptions 37
Clearances 73
Headed Clearance 28
Clearances off line 2
Recoveries 178
Duels won 167
Duels lost 175
Successful 50/50s 48
Aerial battles won 22
Aerial battles lost 50
Own goals 0
Errors leading to goal 0

Team Play

Assists 1
Passes 1,339
Passes per match 37.19
Big Chances Created 7
Crosses 73
Cross accuracy % 22%
Through balls 0
Accurate long balls 38

AWB 19/20

Defence
Clean sheets 11
Goals Conceded 33
Tackles 129
Tackle success % 62%
Last man tackles 0
Blocked shots 2
Interceptions 66
Clearances 58
Headed Clearance 26
Clearances off line 0
Recoveries 179
Duels won 226
Duels lost 148
Successful 50/50s 54
Aerial battles won 24
Aerial battles lost 35
Own goals 0
Errors leading to goal 0

Team Play

Assists 4
Passes 1,651
Passes per match 47.17
Big Chances Created 4
Crosses 103
Cross accuracy % 14%
Through balls 2
Accurate long balls

https://www.premierleague.com/players/14164/Aaron-Wan-Bissaka/stats
https://www.premierleague.com/players/19970/Max-Aarons/stats

These stats show there's barely anything between these two and AWB has strong defensive stats and exceeds Arrons in some offensive stats.

Again, AWB is doing just fine. He can improve in attack, but we have no RW who tracks back, stays on the wing to support AWB's over lapping runs or drives at the left back.

So many times AWB runs on the right, passes it to McT, Pogba, Bruno, then they just move the ball into the middle of the park. We have no right-winder who supports the right side of the attack.

Can anyone find stats on crosses/runs on our right vs left? I think we'll hugely benefit from Amad sticking to the right wing and looking to beat his man, rather than Martial say who tends to drift too centrally

 

[VivaObertan]

Apart from him and Rafael, almost every other player we had at right back since Neville were all playing out of position.

Point still stands that he's the best RB we've had in the past 2 decades. Anyway Valencia (who I absolutely loved) wasn't playing out position, IMO. That's like saying Giggs/Scholes were out of position in CM, Azpilicueta as a CB or Ronaldo as a CF, it's just an evolution of the player meaning he's better suited to a different position.

 

[Brightonian]

I'm a huge fan of his. He's horribly under appreciated by some on here. But I was a huge fan of Shaw's too and the competition with Williams last season and Telles this has only made him better.

We definitely ought to get someone to push him for his spot, but I wouldn't like to spend a lot of money when I expect AWB to keep improving and keep his place. I'd prefer either someone at the latter end of their career like Trippier, or a youngster like Laird.

 

[stepic]

Aarons would be great. Can bring him in against smaller teams where we don’t need that added defensive protection AWB provides.

 

[UmbroDays]

Aarons would be great. Can bring him in against smaller teams where we don’t need that added defensive protection AWB provides.

Look at my post above, and tell me what Arrons brings that is going to be drastically better than AWB.

 

[Shimo]

Certainly would help to have an option, not so much as to light a fire under his ass but, at least have another quality player in that position. You look through the squad now and every spot has good quality alternate except right back I feel.

As far as AWB goes, one on one defensively he is great and while he is young and there are a few things he can get better at, what gets me is sometimes he seems completely switched off. Sometimes the easiest of 5 yard passes he gets completely or getting closed off when he can see it coming and then loses the ball. Do think he has done better on the attacking side recently, or at least trying a bit more to get by his man, just needs to be a bit more confident with his pace and strength. Seems like often he has that chance to just go at the defender but, he stops and looks for the easy option. Maybe that will come with another year or two.

Come this summer, think he should forgo a abroad holiday and get a coach that will work on his crossing, especially from deep - that's such a weapon these days for fullbacks that I don't see him use at all.