You named players who were good on the ball and surrounded by quality in a possession orientated set up rather than a transitional direct one - bar Matip, who was not slow so it's weird you threw him in.
These players also had consistency in partnerships and in left back throughout the season.
Tell me how many games Varane and Martinez played together with a left back this season.
You just listed on the ball traits for an off the ball discussion?
Being good on the ball and surrounded by quality possession based players does not = being effective
off the ball in rest defence squeezing up the pitch in unison. You don’t need to be Micky Van de Ven for it to work. It’s just nonsense.
Martinez and Varane played alongside Luke Shaw in the games vs Wolves and Newport County.
Both games showed that his first choice back line and his front 6 were following Erik Ten Hag’s instructions to the letter. Leaving those huge gaps in midfield that we saw throughout the whole season, regardless of personnel.
Yes, Laurie Whitwell is a tier 1, reputable journalist. But that part of the club briefing in The Athletic article smelt like making up excuses for the dismal tactical set up seen all season, by throwing professional players under the bus.
Evans and Maguire have followed instructions their whole career but all of a sudden they have no ears and brains? How did they make it out of their academies!
Anyway, we will not agree on this. I’m very interested to see if Branthwaite or Yoro or De Ligt will suddenly lose the ability to follow instructions for a whole league season.