[Lewnited]

But Wan Bissaka was playing every game when we were playing well too. So what happened there?

I mean it's pretty simple, his performance levels have tanked - his offensive positioning was never great but it looks like it's been compounded by fatigue. Add that to Williams offering little on the other side and we're blunt in attack.
The 'downside' of having two inside forwards attacking centrally is that if the fullbacks don't create space, absolutely nothing is provided down either flank.

 

[acnumber9]

I mean it's pretty simple, his performance levels have tanked - his offensive positioning was never great but it looks like it's been compounded by fatigue. Add that to Williams offering little on the other side and we're blunt in attack.
The 'downside' of having two inside forwards attacking centrally is that if the fullbacks don't create space, absolutely nothing is provided down either flank.

Us being blunt in attack is at the feet of attackers. Not defenders.

 

[Lewnited]

Us being blunt in attack is at the feet of attackers. Not defenders.

Solely? No, it isn't. In the system that we play, fullbacks creating space for our inside forwards is probably the most crucial aspect of our buildup. Look at Sancho + Hakimi or TAA + Salah, the fullback and the winger have to work in tandem otherwise the whole side becomes near enough ineffective.
The link up between Shaw and Rashford was one of the biggest features of the first few games post-restart, with Shaw's inside runs creating space for Rashford to operate in - they worked brilliantly together. So it's no surprise he's dropped off in Shaw's absence.
Of course the forwards need to do better, but the drop off in our build up play has a lot to do with the current form of our fullbacks.

 

[acnumber9]

Solely? No, it isn't. In the system that we play, fullbacks creating space for our inside forwards is probably the most crucial aspect of our buildup. Look at Sancho + Hakimi or TAA + Salah, the fullback and the winger have to work in tandem otherwise the whole side becomes near enough ineffective.
The link up between Shaw and Rashford was one of the biggest features of the first few games post-restart, with Shaw's inside runs creating space for Rashford to operate in - they worked brilliantly together. So it's no surprise he's dropped off in Shaw's absence.
Of course the forwards need to do better, but the drop off in our build up play has a lot to do with the current form of our fullbacks.

Not solely. Just mainly. I agree we need more from the full backs but I’m not prepared to write off Wan Bissaka, who for me, has shown more than enough this season.

 

[Lewnited]

Not solely. Just mainly. I agree we need more from the full backs but I’m not prepared to write off Wan Bissaka, who for me, has shown more than enough this season.

Oh agreed, same here mate - not writing him off at all. He's actually improved throughout the season, just think he's dropped off in the last couple weeks... Next season is a big season for him.

 

[Santoryo]

Something wrong with our recruitment. We got rid of Smalling because he wasn't good enough on the ball and it's important for the way we play to have players comfortable on the ball at the back so we can build from there.

Then Ole goes and buy another player who is poor on the ball to play as his RB thus bringing back the same issue we had with Smalling. Basically undoing what we're trying to achieve.

This is why we've spent a fortune and yet keep finding ourselves needing to spend more not to strengthen but replace. We've spent so much but are still in need to spend more to rectify mistakes over and over.

How could Ole and his coaching team look at AWB and think he'd suit the way they were trying to play given his limitations on the ball.

 

[Nou_Camp99]

I don't think anyone is under any illusion our recruitment is beyond a joke.

When we're playing counter attack football and sitting in deep then I think AWB becomes more of an asset to us. Since January we've started to play more football with addition of Bruno and now AWB has a different role. He gets more of the ball and lots of space and he's looked incredibly poor in my opinion.

Good tackler it can't be denied but I feel like we've been mugged for £50m.

 

[Adam-Utd]

AWB should be taking up more positions inside like the City fullbacks do, and we should be asking our RW to be more patient and keep the width until they receive the ball, then they can cut inside.

All this talk about the forwards should always be tucked inside closer together, that's great but we have no threat out wide either when this happens, and it's easy for them to crowd the box.

I actually think Greenwood has been better when sticking outside longer, then coming inside and playing a 1-2 at speed. Think this would help AWB time his overlapping runs more too.

 

[Bojan11]

His positioning for crosses is shocking.

 

[ivaldo]

At fault for both goals. Really, really poor games.

 

[Alexit]

Probably knackered but awful going forward. Oh the UCL is going to be a wake up call for him.

 

[Andycoleno9]

21y old and being that casual in defence. Instead eating grass there he joggs around.

 

[MDFC Manager]

He's just an above average defender, and absolutely nothing more. We're going to be looking for a replacement for him in a year.

 

[Based Adnan]

No longer convinced he's the one long term. Too limited.

 

[bond19821982]

Best defensive full back - my foot. We were robbed for a player who can only tackle.

 

[HowYouDoin]

Our worst player time after time after time. Just not good enough.

 

[#07]

He can defend one Vs one but when the ball is in the air he's a liability. If he had an ounce of awareness the second goal doesn't go in.

 

[Skills]

As good as he is 1v1 he's equally poor defending the back post.

 

[Bwuk]

He’s miles away from a 50m player.

 

[mattunited1978]

Not good enough...World class 1 on 1 defender...Below average to shite at everything else

 

[MikeUpNorth]

Sad to say he was awful today. Diving in recklessly all over the place, and badly caught out for their first goal. He's played a lot of minutes, so needs a good break, and then we'll see if he can take the step up.

 

[mu4c_20le]

For the second goal he has a little bit of responsibility, maybe 30% of the blame at most. The cross came in front of the Sevilla player, what was he supposed to do besides push him over? Lindelof has to deal with that.

 

[Shinjch]

He is a footballer that can only do one aspect of football well, one on one defending. He is so poor in most other areas of the game.

 

[DRM]

He's just not good enough

 

[ReallyUSA]

Kid had a bad game, bad five games, but he still is class. He will learn from this.

 

[Skills]

He’s miles away from a 50m player.

We're going to be crippled for the next 5 years unless the academy can produce a gem. Don't think the club will sanction another RB signing after getting hoodwinked into this one.

 

[spiriticon]

I think we can remove Wall from his name now.

As solid as a wet tissue today. Crap.

 

[Godfather]

Can't pass and can't cross and his timing for runs is bad. That's problematic as a fullback

 

[Harry190]

He can defend one Vs one but when the ball is in the air he's a liability. If he had an ounce of awareness the second goal doesn't go in.

Explain. Explain how he is at fault for the second goal. In the mood to hear stupid stuff.

 

[SilentWitness]

I thought that at 22 he had been playing for Palace for a few seasons before his excellent one last year but this is only his 2nd full season as a professional player, it's no wonder that he is still incredibly naive at times. He also looks a bit nackered, he plays a fairly high intensity defensive game which probably takes a lot out of you.

 

[Bwuk]

We're going to be crippled for the next 5 years unless the academy can produce a gem. Don't think the club will sanction another RB signing after getting hoodwinked into this one.

Agreed. Mental that we’ve spent 70m on Dalot and AWB and neither are good enough.

Let’s pray Laird becomes a top player.

 

[Utdstar01]

We're going to be crippled for the next 5 years unless the academy can produce a gem. Don't think the club will sanction another RB signing after getting hoodwinked into this one.

Laird.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

He's such a bad communicator. In that scenario 100% you should expect your big center half to pick up the big striker for you... But I wouldn't be surprised if AWB didn't say feck all to Lindelöf (who by the way I would expect to take manners into his own hands and pick him up)

 

[Utdstar01]

It's almost like we have Antonio Valencia at RB all over again.

 

[Dinghy]

There's more to defending than tackling. No point mentioning how crap he is going forward anymore, it's too obvious.

 

[Bwuk]

Explain. Explain how he is at fault for the second goal. In the mood to hear stupid stuff.

Not solely at fault but he just watches the striker. He’s right next to him.

AWB can’t read the game at all. He’s a very good athlete, but his tackling is completely reactionary. He isn’t proactive whatsoever.

 

[limerickcitykid]

Take him out of a 1v1 and he’s terrible. Was pathetic tonight and where is any team going trying to play it out the back with someone as limited as him.

 

[#07]

Explain. Explain how he is at fault for the second goal. In the mood to hear stupid stuff.

He's shoulder to shoulder with De Jong and let's him run off him. Same mistake Williams made for the first goal: zero awareness of the position of the runner. Just needs to stay ahead of De Jong and beat him to the ball.

 

[pratyush_utd]

Need a new Rb. His attacking play is just atrocious. Since re-start his defending has also been poor. Out of position, jogging back to his position, not stopping crosses .. he has been woeful since the restart

 

[bosnian_red]

That was awful. Its a long season and im willing to give him some slack... but like.. very strong resemblances to Darmian. He slide tackles well (really well) and when tasked with just shutting down a left winger, hes really good. But outside of that... so much to be desired. Needs to really improve next season, otherwise its looking just like City's 50m fullbacks (all a waste)