- Joined
- Apr 21, 2013
- Messages
- 650
That sauntering around he does, he will never lose that. It is his nature or a trait and he has been doing it since he got here, just awful.
I wouldn't worry too much about his defensive performance against Leipzig. His positioning can be improved upon and Tuesdays issues were mainly due to most of the backline not knowing how to play a 3-5-2 etc.
What I'm worried about is his attacking abilities. He offers us nothing going forward on that flank and that is a big issue.
The biggest problem with AWB is that he's not good enough defensively against the big teams because of his shit positioning and he's not good enough in attacking when it comes to the games against the smaller teams.I wouldn't worry too much about his defensive performance against Leipzig. His positioning can be improved upon and Tuesdays issues were mainly due to most of the backline not knowing how to play a 3-5-2 etc.
What I'm worried about is his attacking abilities. He offers us nothing going forward on that flank and that is a big issue.
Where's the excellent coaching going to come from because it's clearly not with us.so because he said he hated defending when he was younger, thats it?
He will never be world class, but with excellent coaching (which is all he needs imo), it will be impenetrable. Minimal on offense but can be solid on D. But as with cafe, make one mistake and you're slated to no end
He's normally fine defensively against the top teams because we play defensive and he sits around the position he should be. It's generally when he roams around a bit and goes forward that he then gets caught out of position quite regularly (and consistently is lazy about getting back when it happens).The biggest problem with AWB is that he's not good enough defensively against the big teams because of his shit positioning and he's not good enough in attacking when it comes to the games against the smaller teams.
The biggest problem with AWB is that he's not good enough defensively against the big teams because of his shit positioning and he's not good enough in attacking when it comes to the games against the smaller teams.
Valencia and Young weren't even fullbacks to begin with and AWB isn't anywhere close in terms of attacking abilities compared to the people you've named.He's no worse positionally than Valencia or Young were, or whoever your favourite better attacking rightback is. Lamptey, Alexander-Arnold etc.
It can certainly be improved and it isnt his strength, but hes average for his position at it
AWB makes more recovery tackles than anyone else in our team. He has a lot he needs to work on, but highlighting one issue from an isolated game, and saying it's a massive problem is an overreaction.His jogging back is definitely massive issue. No impetus to ever get back from counters. Pogba gets pelters for it but Wan Bissaka is just as bad at it
Valencia and Young weren't even fullbacks to begin with and AWB isn't anywhere close in terms of attacking abilities compared to the people you've named.
Apart from his slide tackling, he's just a very good athlete, far from a good footballer.
Watch him keep Sterling in his pocket tomorrow
You mean tackling specialist? Because he’s not a defensive specialist. Just being good at tackling and 1v1 defending doesn’t make you a great defender. He’s defensive positioning is abysmal and that is probably the most important thing to be good at for a defender.Going to defend AWB here a little. We bought a specialist RB, one who is defensively brilliant, and is clearly more comfortable in a supporting role on that right flank.
Playing him at RWB is just tactical suicide for the right flank, we're relying on him being an attacking outlet, basically banking on the worst parts of his game, while nullifying all of his strengths. It clearly doesn't work.
AWB's best performances have been, in my opinion, when he has had someone like Mata in front of him, when playing in a back 4. Mata gives him that defensive support, he doesn't get overloaded constantly, and only has to provide a supporting outlet on the RW, and not be the primary threat.
Whether he's good enough or not is another thing up for debate, it's possible that he's not the long term solution. But surely Ole must look at him and realise that playing him as a RWB is just pointless?
You mean tackling specialist? Because he’s not a defensive specialist. Just being good at tackling and 1v1 defending doesn’t make you a great defender. He’s defensive positioning is abysmal and that is probably the most important thing to be good at for a defender.
And yet none of the popular and highly rated rightbacks have particularly good defensive positioning. Which tells me you're completely wrong. They attack better and tackle worse than AWB, their positioning is no better than his. AWB just gets called out because people are watching him in focus every week while everyone from Lamptey and Alexander Arnold to Cancelo and Walker are often out of position and a teammate covers for them, or nobody does and their team pays for it. AWB is playing next to a worse CB and behind worse (defensive covering) DMs than our rivals.
He has been one of our best players for the last 2 years...Just by buying AWB for 50 Mill should get Ole the Sack. Joke of a footballer.
And yet none of the popular and highly rated rightbacks have particularly good defensive positioning. Which tells me you're completely wrong. They attack better and tackle worse than AWB, their positioning is no better than his. AWB just gets called out because people are watching him in focus every week while everyone from Lamptey and Alexander Arnold to Cancelo and Walker are often out of position and a teammate covers for them, or nobody does and their team pays for it. AWB is playing next to a worse CB and behind worse (defensive covering) DMs than our rivals.
So we need to find a better balance for him to exel. A DM or CB who is good at covering so our fullbacks can get forward and our defense doesnt fall to pieces without them. This is essentially what Spurs did in the summer getting in Hojbjerg and why Mourinho was so happy to get him. He hasnt been pulling up trees on the ball but he does what the team needs and so does Sissoko next to him. Thats why they start so many matches while the more talented and attack minded N'Dombele and Lo Celso play less often than they do in the DM/CM roles. N'Dombele finds himself behind the striker and Lo Celso is mainly a sub.
Surely when you were listing those three names alarm bells should have been ringing?
No one is going to argue that those three are particularly exceptional defensively, but the trade off their teams have decided upon is that they offer enough going forward for that to be a worthwhile trade off.
Wan Bissaka is at least as bad as them defensively (with the notable exception of when a winger plays up against him) and offers virtually nothing on the ball.
We're getting the worst of both worlds at the minute. I suspect it'll be easier for Wan Bissaka to learn how to defend rather than learn how to attack, but it's definitely dissapointing to have spent £50m on a full back and be talking about him having this many glaring problems in his game.
No he's much better than them defensively, despite not being better positionally because he's a much better 1 vs 1 defender and much better at supporting his CBs. The area therefore that AWB should look to improve is on the ball and in attack. If he improves his positioning it wont change much.
It's hardly one issue in an isolated game. It's a fairly consistent thing that if the opposition get the ball in behind him he only jogs back and ball-watches instead of getting back properly. It likely won't happen against City since we're playing a top side and he'll sit back more, but it's happening a fair amount against other teams.AWB makes more recovery tackles than anyone else in our team. He has a lot he needs to work on, but highlighting one issue from an isolated game, and saying it's a massive problem is an overreaction.
Before lockdown maybe. His form has noticeably dropped off ever since then. He still has the occasional match where he's utterly impossible to get past, but the opposition are now getting in behind him easier and he's not blocking as many crosses as he originally was (he's still very good at that to be fair, but before lockdown it was pretty much impossible to get a cross passed him).He has been one of our best players for the last 2 years...
Of course it's hard to completely judge from a screen, but I find laziness unforgivable, unless you're a Messi-level talent.He's normally fine defensively against the top teams because we play defensive and he sits around the position he should be. It's generally when he roams around a bit and goes forward that he then gets caught out of position quite regularly (and consistently is lazy about getting back when it happens).
Of course it's hard to completely judge from a screen, but I find laziness unforgivable, unless you're a Messi-level talent.
Sure, that would be better. I just think it's a forlorn hope to suggest that Wan Bissaka has it in him to do that. I don't see any evidence to believe that he has the talent to significantly improve that area of his game, and think that largely we're seeing as good as it can get from him. At any rate, I don't see it becoming an asset.
I do think, however, you could drill him into improving the areas where be lacks defensive awareness which could at least see him become a significant asset - even if it means looking to other options when we are expecting to have a lot of the ball.
Its the DMs before the wingers. Thats why they're the 2 in the 4-2-3-1. If it was just a 4-5-1 then everyone would be expected to track all the way back and cover. For us we have 2 DMs, so they are the ones who should be filling the holes and letting the attacking players be in position to counterWhy is Greenwood never pointed at for never ever dropping down and helping AWB out? AWB is literally doing the the right flank defensive work by himself all game? Even if he jogs back sometimes when he could be running, it's not like Wan Bissaka jogs back every single time either.
I'm trying to think of one player in our team that has more tackles, blocks, interceptions, clearances and cut out crosses, and to be honest I can't. Ok so he's not the complete package, nobody can argue that. As you said, he can be caught out positionally at the back post and under the hight ball.You mean tackling specialist? Because he’s not a defensive specialist. Just being good at tackling and 1v1 defending doesn’t make you a great defender. He’s defensive positioning is abysmal and that is probably the most important thing to be good at for a defender.
Well then surely we should buy a competent right winger then so that AWB can sit back more, provide a supporting role and focus more on his defensive abilities.It's hardly one issue in an isolated game. It's a fairly consistent thing that if the opposition get the ball in behind him he only jogs back and ball-watches instead of getting back properly. It likely won't happen against City since we're playing a top side and he'll sit back more, but it's happening a fair amount against other teams.
Because this is a thread about AWB. Whether or not Greenwood helps out (and it's not like Greenwood has been starting every game) is immaterial when discussing AWB's lack of effort (which, as I acknowledged, may just be a perceived issue.)Why is Greenwood never pointed at for never ever dropping down and helping AWB out? AWB is literally doing the the right flank defensive work by himself all game? Even if he jogs back sometimes when he could be running, it's not like Wan Bissaka jogs back every single time either.