[MadDogg]

Only a guess not saying I’m correct. I was just watching old clips of him playing under Ole and it was completely different, more like an old fashioned RB and he did run to get back in. That’s why I think it’s a tactical instruction.

regardless of all that, I thought he was very solid today

Obviously it's not 100% of the time, but he's always had a bad tendency for just jogging back when the opposition get in behind him. It was always one of the things that frustrated me about him, in the same way as it's always frustrated me about McTominay. Pogba used to get pelters for it, but AWB and Scott are in the team primarily for the defensive abilities yet regularly just jog back instead of actually busting a gut.

 

[Based Adnan]

Hopefully his performance added a few million to his transfer fee

 

[Yakuza_devils]

They are different players. It’s like me saying to you look at TAA passing compared to Robertson.
take your blinkers off, he is actually good on the ball and very good at dribbling his way out of a spot. His actual weaknesses are the ones I’ve mentioned

We have to agree to disagree. Maybe he is good but we need to aim higher. Having said that I have no problem for him staying as I think he is a very decent RB. If we want to compete with City we may need to upgrade. I supposed step by step.

 

[bosnian_red]

Don't get people who want him gone, we have 2 very good right backs who are both on good wages and happy with their play time and you want to get rid of one, ignoring all the other shit we need in our squad, because of vibes or something? You don't change the 1 and only position on the pitch that we have the right quality and right quantity and right age of players in.

Wan Bissaka should go nowhere and it would be very dumb to sell him.

 

[Rojofiam]

He's useful in match ups like the Doku one at the weekend. However, those situations are few and far between. City only brought Doku on at half time. We're aiming to dominate the majority of teams and for that, Dalot is the man. If we wanted to keep Wan-Bissaka purely for his 1v1 defending, perhaps we should sign a more suitable deputy for Dalot and keep Wan-Bissaka in reserve (technically as 3rd choice). He'd be trotted out purely for those few games a season where his one World Class attribute would be needed. I very much doubt he'd be happy with this though.

Not only that but he's apparently still not settled in Manchester and would like to return to London. I have no issues with selling with him but he could be a useful 3rd choice like you said. If he goes, I hope we can get around 20-22m pounds for him or potentially include him a deal for a Palace player like Olise, Wharton, or Guéhi.

 

[Remember the geese]

Not only that but he's apparently still not settled in Manchester and would like to return to London. I have no issues with selling with him but he could be a useful 3rd choice like you said. If he goes, I hope we can get around 20-22m pounds for him or potentially include him a deal for a Palace player like Olise, Wharton, or Guéhi.

It does make a lot of sense to sell him. He's only got a year left on his deal, but it doesn't strike you as a position where the club are desperately scouring the world for a replacement. So you let him leave on a free next season or offer him a new long term contract. The latter doesn't seem very appetising.

 

[Rojofiam]

It does make a lot of sense to sell him. He's only got a year left on his deal, but it doesn't strike you as a position where the club are desperately scouring the world for a replacement. So you let him leave on a free next season or offer him a new long term contract. The latter doesn't seem very appetising.

I agree that it doesn't seem like we're in for a new right back, but I think we should be. Maybe an RCB/RB type of hybrid so that we have something different to Dalot. Arsenal have been very successful in experimenting with White in that role. If we could sign Tapsoba or Todibo, I feel like they could play that role besides CB as both of them are good ball progressors.

 

[Remember the geese]

I agree that it doesn't seem like we're in for a new right back, but I think we should be. Maybe an RCB/RB type of hybrid so that we have something different to Dalot. Arsenal have been very successful in experimenting with White in that role. If we could sign Tapsoba or Todibo, I feel like they could play that role besides CB as both of them are good ball progressors.

I would agree. A new right back would be ideal. Just depends if they can get round to it. Though like you say, perhaps we could cheat a bit with one of our centre back purchases.

 

[Foolsgold21]

Great performance from him on Saturday but definitely time for him to move on.

Hopefully we can get £10m-£15m for him

 

[NicolaSacco]

Great performance from him on Saturday but definitely time for him to move on.

Hopefully we can get £10m-£15m for him

What wages is he on do you reckon?

 

[Rojofiam]

Don't get people who want him gone, we have 2 very good right backs who are both on good wages and happy with their play time and you want to get rid of one, ignoring all the other shit we need in our squad, because of vibes or something? You don't change the 1 and only position on the pitch that we have the right quality and right quantity and right age of players in.

Wan Bissaka should go nowhere and it would be very dumb to sell him.

If you look at my posts today in this thread, it's actually full of praise for Wan-Bissaka, however, you need to consider a few things.

We've triggered the +1 year on his contract in January. He probably wants to go back to Palace or another London side. Whilst he's probably the best 1v1 defensive right back around, I don't think he's good enough to start for a possession-based, progressive style team. If he's happy being 3rd choice right back with limited minutes and staying in Manchester, I'd definitely keep him. However, I don't think that's realistic and somewhere around 20 million would be a good fee for him IMO that's also realistic.

 

[Rojofiam]

What wages is he on do you reckon?

Apparently 90k/week, and Dalot is on 85k/week (surprised he re-signed until 2028 on 85k/week just last year tbh, feels like he should be in that 120-150k category based on his age and ability now)

 

[Remember the geese]

Don't get people who want him gone, we have 2 very good right backs who are both on good wages and happy with their play time and you want to get rid of one, ignoring all the other shit we need in our squad, because of vibes or something? You don't change the 1 and only position on the pitch that we have the right quality and right quantity and right age of players in.

Wan Bissaka should go nowhere and it would be very dumb to sell him.

You're perfectly happy to offer him a new 4 or 5 year contract then? That's the only other option.

 

[led_scholes]

I know it’s crazy. We are gonna be busy getting 5-6 players in never mind selling the squad

I don't think we should sell. However, AWB will enter his last year of contract, which we should not renew. So, in theory if we receive a good transfer offer north of 15 millions for a player that we should not renew and in his last year, it will be hard to refuse the offer.

 

[poleglass red]

I'm in the minority here but the space he give Doku was too much. He stood too far of him with the last gasp tackle his only option. That's fine fancying yourself in the one on one but he was laying off dangerous passes in our box.

 

[bosnian_red]

If you look at my posts today in this thread, it's actually full of praise for Wan-Bissaka, however, you need to consider a few things.

We've triggered the +1 year on his contract in January. He probably wants to go back to Palace or another London side. Whilst he's probably the best 1v1 defensive right back around, I don't think he's good enough to start for a possession-based, progressive style team. If he's happy being 3rd choice right back with limited minutes and staying in Manchester, I'd definitely keep him. However, I don't think that's realistic and somewhere around 20 million would be a good fee for him IMO that's also realistic.

There is a middle ground between starting and being 3rd choice, which is the role he is and the role we need exactly somebody like him in though. You aren't replacing him with a better player for the money we would get for him, not even close. He's perfect for a 2nd choice right back. Why change the one area that works.

 

[bosnian_red]

You're perfectly happy to offer him a new 4 or 5 year contract then? That's the only other option.

Yup. Dalot is our starter and is an excellent right back. Wan Bissaka the backup but a very high level himself. Both shown they can cover left back in times of need, Dalot more natural but AWB in a pinch. Both good fitness records. Both have their specialties where Wan Bissaka can lock down a dangerous winger if we need it. Both mid 20s with plenty of years in them. It's a perfect right back situation.

 

[Based Adnan]

A back up that has a completely different profile to the player he's backing up isn't a good back up. You want minimal disruptions to the team when the back up comes in.

 

[NicolaSacco]

Apparently 90k/week, and Dalot is on 85k/week (surprised he re-signed until 2028 on 85k/week just last year tbh, feels like he should be in that 120-150k category based on his age and ability now)

Too much for Ipswich then, although I'd have been delighted to have him. I'm very surprised Dalot is on less, he's twice the player, and a Portuguese international too.

 

[Grande]

I'm in the minority here but the space he give Doku was too much. He stood too far of him with the last gasp tackle his only option. That's fine fancying yourself in the one on one but he was laying off dangerous passes in our box.

I agree. He was backing off more than he ideally should, and more than he used to do. It’s forgiveable to a degree, because Doku is one of the best at exactly that gambit. But I don’t think it was Wan Bissaka at his best. It was the structure that did most of the job on the day.

 

[MadDogg]

Yup. Dalot is our starter and is an excellent right back. Wan Bissaka the backup but a very high level himself. Both shown they can cover left back in times of need, Dalot more natural but AWB in a pinch. Both good fitness records. Both have their specialties where Wan Bissaka can lock down a dangerous winger if we need it. Both mid 20s with plenty of years in them. It's a perfect right back situation.

It's not a perfect situation as if Dalot gets injured or is rested, AWB coming in changes the dynamics of our build-up significantly. It has a knock-on effect on other players having to change what they were doing to compensate for AWB's inability to contribute like Dalot does.

In theory it'd be great to have the option of Wan Bissaka when we're facing an Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, etc. But in the vast majority of games we would be better off if our backup can come in and largely continue the role the starter was doing.

 

[Remember the geese]

Yup. Dalot is our starter and is an excellent right back. Wan Bissaka the backup but a very high level himself. Both shown they can cover left back in times of need, Dalot more natural but AWB in a pinch. Both good fitness records. Both have their specialties where Wan Bissaka can lock down a dangerous winger if we need it. Both mid 20s with plenty of years in them. It's a perfect right back situation.

I don't think Wan-Bissaka is good enough and I wouldn't feel comfortable in handing him a new long term contract. If we were absolutely dead-set on him staying, then it would be absolutely imperative that we sign a reliable left back who can stay fit. That isn't Luke Shaw. This would mean that Dalot wouldn't need to be shifted over to the left and it would severely limit Wan-Bissaka's minutes in the process.

 

[DontBeMeanToBeRuud]

How does Walker offer the same thing as TAA and Trippier?

Except that Walker is literally used in the same role against the likes of Mbappé, Vinicius and other high-profile left wingers with whom he can often deal with due to his insane athleticism. Why would you need another specialist on nullifying a high-profile left winger when you already have a better one?

Walker and Reece James are more similar to me.

Walker is good defensively in a City team that arguably use 3 CB's including one at LB.

AWB is better at shutting down a LW than any of those.

I've seen it against Mbappe, Salah (whilst playing LB), Son, Mitoma, Diaz, Richarlison, Zaha, Saint Maximin, Gordon, Werner, Doku, Neto etc

He is the best 1v1 defender in the world.

Just because Walker is good defensively in a very possesion heavy team alongside playing with 3 other CB's and arguably the best CDM in the world doesn't change what AWB is.

He is a specialist and something I'd have in my locker if i was an England manager that I'd only pick when a whole teams attacking output is primarily coming through one player on the LW:

Mbappe at PSG & for France
Son at Tottenham
Ronaldo at United & Portugal
Neymar for Brazil

Just for examples.

I'd personally

1) sell Malacia
2) Keep Dalot, AWB + look for a young RB aka not frimpong.
3) Buy a new WC/near WC Left Back.
4) Bring Amass in to the first team
5) Shaw as back up LB & LCB

3 RB's + 3 LB - 2 older (awb &shaw), 2 younger(Amass + young RB) & Class players (Dalot + WC LB)
Dalot is brilliantly ambidextrous aswell to cover for Shaw's injury prone record.

I'd honestly ask him to stop chewing gum and even get his hair cut to improve his stamina (ie his jog backs). Chewing gum is an exercise just as much as playing football on a pitch.

 

[bosnian_red]

It's not a perfect situation as if Dalot gets injured or is rested, AWB coming in changes the dynamics of our build-up significantly. It has a knock-on effect on other players having to change what they were doing to compensate for AWB's inability to contribute like Dalot does.

In theory it'd be great to have the option of Wan Bissaka when we're facing an Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, etc. But in the vast majority of games we would be better off if our backup can come in and largely continue the role the starter was doing.

That always happens. Whenever an injury happens you have to change things a bit. Wan Bissaka links up quite well and has improved a ton with his movement, while he is generally a pretty press resistant guy. He isn't an inverted full back like dalot, but is more than good enough to be the backup where we just adapt to him and change things around a bit. That's what coaching is. Adapting to what you have to get the system playing the same. Nobody is a like for like replacement every position of the pitch.

 

[bosnian_red]

I don't think Wan-Bissaka is good enough and I wouldn't feel comfortable in handing him a new long term contract. If we were absolutely dead-set on him staying, then it would be absolutely imperative that we sign a reliable left back who can stay fit. That isn't Luke Shaw. This would mean that Dalot wouldn't need to be shifted over to the left and it would severely limit Wan-Bissaka's minutes in the process.

Of course we need a left back. Dalot is starting right back and wan Bissaka is the rotation guy. Having to move them to the left is an emergency move when we have 2 left backs out all season. That shouldn't happen and is a problem that left back needs to sort out. If Malacia can't be relied upon as cover, we need to get rid of him and replace him with a rotation left back who can start or rotate with Shaw. Shaw is a top player but he's aging and the injuries are there. So gotta limit his time.

Don't change right back on the basis of left back being a problem.

 

[Beachryan]

He did a great, specific job over the weekend, but I still don't think you can do much with him as a regular, certainly not in the league. Too many limitations to work around.

We should let him leave this summer and wish him well.

I do agree he's super-suited to a tournament for shackling an individual though.

 

[criticalanalysis]

As mentioned already, he's 'fine' as a squad player if you want to look at it in a vacuum but there's two big issues there:

1) He's in the last year of his contract, which means unless we let him leave for free next year (and then we'll need to sign someone else next summer), we will have to offer him a 4/5 year contract i.e his transfer value to us is at his highest right now.

2) He doesn't fit the mould and profile of what our first or second choice right back should be if we want to be more progressive and possession based with intelligent decision making etc.

What's making things to difficult to decide on AWB is the fact we have quite a few players already in this situation. Lindelof, McTominay, Maguire - last year contract, not worthy of our team and/or at their best transfer value to us now. That's not to mention the other elephants in the room like Sancho/Greenwood, the left back situation, Casemiro/DM/CM etc.

It's unrealistic to expect so many in and outs, so I won't mind AWB staying as long as we get it right in the other departments but the objection of keeping him on is mostly right.

 

[ReparableTrack0]

While the deficiencies are clear there is something about him that pulls me back in. He is the safest bet when trying to contain an explosive winger. Imagine Dalot being left 1 on 1 with Doku so many times; it’s only going to end one way.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

Don't get people who want him gone, we have 2 very good right backs who are both on good wages and happy with their play time and you want to get rid of one, ignoring all the other shit we need in our squad, because of vibes or something? You don't change the 1 and only position on the pitch that we have the right quality and right quantity and right age of players in.

Wan Bissaka should go nowhere and it would be very dumb to sell him.

For one he isn't "very good", he's a specialist that thrives in exactly one area of the game while struggling mostly in others. When building a squad you should look to have similar profiles of players at each position. It does no good to create a tactical game plan with a role for Dalot based on what he does well, and then if he's injured you have to completely alter said gameplan because AWB isn't close to that level on the ball.

It's the same reason it's dumb to have Maguire as a backup CB if your priority is to play an uber high line and press high up the pitch. Sure he's a solid defender in what he does well, but he's going to struggle to replace the same attributes as the starter ahead of him. We need to stop with this frankenstein of a squad built from numerous different managers/styles/tactics if we are ever to be a top side again.

 

[Andycoleno9]

I still have flashes of that tackle in 95th minute against Doku. It was great tackle at the end but......bloody hell.

 

[NotChatGPT]

He's not a very good fullback.

He's an average at best fullback that struggles badly with his positioning, overall awareness and he's just about useless going forward. If you stick him in a team that sits deep, where he can focus on 1 vs 1 situations out wide he'll be solid.

 

[stevoc]

If you look at my posts today in this thread, it's actually full of praise for Wan-Bissaka, however, you need to consider a few things.

We've triggered the +1 year on his contract in January. He probably wants to go back to Palace or another London side. Whilst he's probably the best 1v1 defensive right back around, I don't think he's good enough to start for a possession-based, progressive style team. If he's happy being 3rd choice right back with limited minutes and staying in Manchester, I'd definitely keep him. However, I don't think that's realistic and somewhere around 20 million would be a good fee for him IMO that's also realistic.

Just was well he doesn't play for a team like that then.

 

[Cecc]

He is good squad option, and has very useful skills. I think left back is bigger priority.

 

[Devil81]

He's low on the list of priority departures but he's certainly not the standard required.

 

[cpresc]

Awful touch, lack of football intelligence, lacks composure, clumsy, poor at passing.

Get rid.

This is Utd and we need higher standards.

 

[TwoSheds]

Awful touch, lack of football intelligence, lacks composure, clumsy, poor at passing.

Get rid.

This is Utd and we need higher standards.

We only have 2 RBs though, not even really someone who can fill in there. Not many great RBs around to replace him with and we don't have any young players ready to step up there yet either. If we were to sign a reliably fit CB who is very capable there then I wouldn't necessarily be against him going, but as of the end of our season he was one of only 2 fit full backs in our whole squad. I'd just let him see out his contract and hope there's a young player who proves themselves capable of playing for us there over the next season.

 

[Rojofiam]

Just was well he doesn't play for a team like that then.

That's what we'll aiming to become, though.

 

[stevoc]

That's what we'll aiming to become, though.

Have Ineos said that though?

Because over the 2 seasons Ten Hag's been here he's given no indications that his goal is to turn United into a possession based side.

 

[Lentwood]

I'd keep him. He's severely flawed in many aspects of his game but he's arguably the best in the world one vs one.

When you have someone who excels at something quite useful, it seems daft to sell for £15/20m

Folk might say "it's only useful against certain teams" but that's fine. If he only starts against City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea...maybe one or two others...he's worth keeping in my book.

 

[utdalltheway]

He’s not at the standard that we aspire to return to. It’s that feckin simple.
He’s an ok footballer but that’s not what we need. We need the best in that position.