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

[Steve Bruce]

AWB is doing fine. He's young and developing, he will improve & if he had a legitimate RM/RW in front of him & a regular starting Bailey/pacey CB he would excel.

But at the moment he's getting doubled up on the flank because our RWs do nothing to protect him & he's tucking in to bail our CBs out because of their lack of pace.

RB is probably the hardest position in our team because your exposed with little to no help around you. That is what I think is hampering him anyway.

 

[Ekeke]

tis why he decided to forego competing for the England RB slot. As one of United's best players he knew he was too good for England

What did England win again? We're top of the league and our RB is looking better than England's first choice RB right now while he looks poor

 

[Ekeke]

15-17 Valencia was better for me.

Better going forward yes, AWB is twice as good defending

 

[buckooo1978]

Tuanzebe was really good versus Everton I thought in the cup. I think he should get a start tonight.

Trippier would be great but that story seems to have lost its legs.

Players shouldn't be worried about competition. Luke Shaw's attitude has been incredible - welcoming Telles and he's reponded fantastically.

How good has DDG been this year too. He's be very good and in his best form since 2018. How much does Henderson have to do with that?

Ole is fantastic at maintaining squad harmony too - there seems to be a great spirit around the time in stark contrast to the toxic atmosphere Jose fostered.

 

[bsCallout]

He's improving and certainly doesn't need replacing. Laird should definitely be looking to make the step up to challenge him.

 

[MikeeMike]

Is it me or is he actually playing well? The man should have got an assist at Anfield after all

Me too. I always see good performances. Also worth noting that opponents always double up down his wing when he attacks and we are not playing with players attacking the box if he gets to the line and crosses.
Perhaps not tight enough marking on set plays but great player for me.

 

[Seven Seas Sardines]

AWB as a modern day FB is a liability. He can only defend and is completely incapable of providing any attacking threat. Coupled with our RW problems, it's a huge issue.

Great 1v1 defender, but probably needs to be a CB in a back 3 to consistently to get the best out of him.

If the best means most penalties conceded then you're right.

 

[MikeeMike]

If the best means most penalties conceded then you're right.

Most penalties ? Source ?

 

[davidmichael]

I’m hoping that Laird shows his ability during his loan to be able to come back and be AWB’s back up/competition as Laird from what I’ve ever seen of him has the ability to be better than Aarons, Trippier and all the other suggestions I’ve seen in here.

AWB is finding form again so I don’t think we need to spend big and it’s more about competition for places and knowing there’s someone who can come in to replace them then needing to sign someone who will become unhappy if they’re not playing every week.

 

[Shimo]

I'd be happy at this point if he can just stop misplacing simple 5 yard passes and silly give aways at the touchline.

He is slowly starting to show a bit more adventure going past a defender and if this summer he can focus on crossing the ball quickly, after creating half a yard and from a bit deeper, something we sorely lack, then it he'll be on his way to being a top fullback.

 

[Stacks]

What did England win again? We're top of the league and our RB is looking better than England's first choice RB right now while he looks poor

Who is we?

 

[SadlerMUFC]

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?

First of all, this whole "Telles came and has sparked Shaw" argument is a bunch of BS. Other than injuries and a short stint being picked on by Mourinho, Shaw has been the most consistant player in our squad for a very long time. He isn't playing any different now than he was pre-Telles. What the Telles signing has done is given is quality depth in that position because Williams just doesn't cut it as a LB...

Now for AWB. To say "who can we buy to light a fire under his ass" suggests that AWB isn't trying. Give your head a shake. The guy works his butt off and is improving all the time. He has to work on his positioning when marking players who don't have the ball, and work on his offensive output, but other than that, he's a young and improving player who doesn't need "motivation" to try and improve. Does that mean that we don't need another RB? Not at all. We do need a RB. Just not for the reasons that you mentioned. I personally thought that Trippier would be the perfect player for AWB to grow under and thought it would be even better to get him now even with his suspension. First off, the suspension will probably drop his price a bit. Secondly, he would still be available for plenty of games this year. Why wait until the summer? I'd rather have him available for some games this year than none at all...

 

[HTG]

Jim Morrison might be a good idea.

 

[croadyman]

First of all, this whole "Telles came and has sparked Shaw" argument is a bunch of BS. Other than injuries and a short stint being picked on by Mourinho, Shaw has been the most consistant player in our squad for a very long time. He isn't playing any different now than he was pre-Telles. What the Telles signing has done is given is quality depth in that position because Williams just doesn't cut it as a LB...

Now for AWB. To say "who can we buy to light a fire under his ass" suggests that AWB isn't trying. Give your head a shake. The guy works his butt off and is improving all the time. He has to work on his positioning when marking players who don't have the ball, and work on his offensive output, but other than that, he's a young and improving player who doesn't need "motivation" to try and improve. Does that mean that we don't need another RB? Not at all. We do need a RB. Just not for the reasons that you mentioned. I personally thought that Trippier would be the perfect player for AWB to grow under and thought it would be even better to get him now even with his suspension. First off, the suspension will probably drop his price a bit. Secondly, he would still be available for plenty of games this year. Why wait until the summer? I'd rather have him available for some games this year than none at all...

I still would have brought him in now as well but obviously the club are worried about the image of the club portrayed by going after someone who is currently suspended and under investigation, looks like the plan will for Axel to play there when it is felt that AWB is in need of a rest unless of course Brandon does stay.

 

[harms]

I think Telles taught Shaw rather than just be a competition that lit something under the belly. We have had competition before but not something Shaw could learn anything from as a LB (or he had learnt from.already, ie Blind & Young).

Wan Bissaka needs to learn about attacking and defensive positioning and how to initiate an attack.

Some competition will light a fire for sure, but I dont think Laird is going to teach Wan Bissaka anything and vice versa.

Surely you have coaching stuff for that? Or do we need to sign a bunch of older specialists to ensure Diallo's steady development in all areas? Quaresma can help him with the outside of the boot control, for example.

 

[Buster15]

AWB is doing fine. He's young and developing, he will improve & if he had a legitimate RM/RW in front of him & a regular starting Bailey/pacey CB he would excel.

But at the moment he's getting doubled up on the flank because our RWs do nothing to protect him & he's tucking in to bail our CBs out because of their lack of pace.

RB is probably the hardest position in our team because your exposed with little to no help around you. That is what I think is hampering him anyway.

Very good point.
I watch him play and sometimes read the match day comments.
It is easy to comment on him in isolation. But as you rightly say, he is regularly on his own on the right with very little in the way of cover.
United like to keep their full backs tight to the central defenders.
But no one tracks back. So he is forced to use his speed to close down the attacks.
Give the young man some help.

 

[Bebestation]

Surely you have coaching stuff for that? Or do we need to sign a bunch of older specialists to ensure Diallo's steady development in all areas? Quaresma can help him with the outside of the boot control, for example.

Well I think he is progressing with coaching etc but it lacks a bit of finesse that can arise from actually learning whilst directly competing from a player more in their prime and refined in their position compared to learning for Max Aaron's or Lamptey for example.

It's not something that's really directed to Wan Bissaka or particularly new - how many players within a squad have United had that are either in their prime or directly an experienced player post SAF?

Off the top of my head we bought and had teams built around Rashford, Shaw, Martial, Januzaj, Depay, lingard, Lindelof, Bailly, players like Valencia and Young who were semi-fullbacks, pogba etc - all players under 25 when we bought them or players that are not particularly special at their role (for example Fellaini as our CM).

*Mourinho focused too much on this and added players in their prime or experience that he prefers managing but didnt care as much about the youngsters or the rest (Sanchez, Mkhitaryan, Zlatan, wanting perisic, Matic whilst pushing away Rashford, Martial, Shaw even Pogba)

I only bring this up because you look at Liverpool's title winning team or City's- their age of their first 11 was high or if not more equally spread to involve players in their prime, relatively experienced or approaching it (Salah, Mane, Firmino, Henderson, Winaldjum, Van Dijk, Allison, Matip, Lovren etc).

I feel that Ole is balancing the squad now with experienced players like Cavani, Telles, Mata, Ighalo & Matic, players in their prime like Bruno, Fred, Pogba, Maguire, Lindelof, etc to make sure we are not a team solely made of a heart full of youngsters that are easy to be pushed over.

That's why Ole will probably target Trippier, because he is an experienced player in his position, capable of being a very good player for us almost instantly whilst also having the ability to play directly differently to Wan Bissaka's style (which can help his progress). Having that player that plays in a different way to the one you already have whilst both being useful is a great piece of business.

 

[Silverman]

But Ole isn’t actually known for comparing his players with shit in public domain. So it’s very Ole-ish to encourage his player this way - it doesn’t mean he won’t bench him later in case of underperformances

True.
Unless he starts to improve going forward soon. I'd definitely be looking for an upgrade.

 

[Beans]

Bring in a back up who is good in the air, competition has helped Shaw on the other flank.

 

[lex talionis]

Assuming we don't have an unlimited transfer/wages budget, I wouldn't buy someone just to light a rocket up AWB. Tuanzebe can manage the job just fine. The higher priorities are RW and CDM, and for many, a CB.

 

[Wheato]

In october I would have agreed, as he wouldn't cross the half way line without getting a nosebleed, but they must've worked on it, as he is playing much further forward now and has started getting into the opposition box and whipping crosses in. He needs to do this much more, but he has improved a lot and his defending is other worldly. He is still young and his positioning will improve with experience. A decent right winger will make a world of difference to AWB, because he will get more space.

 

[DSG]

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?

Diogo Dalot

 

[SplitzMagic]

Thoughts on Tavernier as a different option?

 

[Harold_Giles]

Pereira from Leicester comes to mind.

They might be willing to do business, as Castagne and James Justin did very well while he's been injured.

 

[Isotope]

A 15m signing like Telles is a good idea. Experienced, pretty adequate as squad player, and can offer something different.

 

[Seven Seas Sardines]

AWB read this thread before Arsenal and said "feck that!"

 

[Polar]

He managed to light the fire himself. Now he is doing fine.

 

[lysglimt]

That tackle in the 2nd half - was one of the highlights of the game. That was simply insane!