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Eric Bailly Ivory Coast flag

2020-21 Performances


View full 2020-21 profile

6.0 Season Average Rating
Appearances
21
Clean sheets
9
Goals
0
Assists
1
Yellow cards
4
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It’s personal preference though I guess, both are far from perfect but I just feel we’re a better balanced and more aggressive side with the nutter in there.

100%, and I feel it suits us better in controlling games to have a CB that's aggressive in winning the ball back quickly and moving the ball with purpose
 
Thankfully Maguire bailed Bailly out tonight. Imagine if Lindelof made those same errors.
He does every week, Bailly just makes different style of errors.

still though I’d take a Bailly brain fart that he recovers from than a Lindelof one that costs a goal.

another clean sheet for the beast :drool:
 
Clean sheet. Posters that are partial to Lindelof seem to be in disarray
 
Hes an aggressive defender instead of a reactive one like Lindelof (and Maguire). Hes more prone to mistakes, but hes also more likely to snuff out attacks well before the other two.

Bailly + Maguire/Lindelof is a better pairing than Maguire+Lindelof
So you’re happy for a player to make more mistakes than another if he’s more aggressive. You would rather more mistakes from your CB than less?

Bailly is fine for Europa league/ cup games. But I cannot trust him in a big game against the best if he’s got to have a brain fart every match to get started.
 
Bit of a surprise when him and Maguire had a foot race with the Swedish lad and it was Harry that made the tackle.
Maguire is actually pretty fast once he gets running, he just turns slowly.

Bailly got back then pressured him into taking a bad touch which allowed maguire to nick it, a good partnership forming there!
 
He showed Maguire and Lindelof how to cock up without conceding at the start.

Good performance after at.
 
Bailly's problem is not his ability. It is him switching off sometime. Even if Maguire did not get to that ball, Bailly was already up on him. That overhead kick and a couple of blocks too. He does not duck out of a situation. I think Lindelof is a good defender but the CB pairing has to complement each other and maybe it is time to try this pairing for sometime.
 
Bailly's problem is not his ability. It is him switching off sometime. Even if Maguire did not get to that ball, Bailly was already up on him. That overhead kick and a couple of blocks too. He does not duck out of a situation. I think Lindelof is a good defender but the CB pairing has to complement each other and maybe it is time to try this pairing for sometime.

Which realistically means, until Bailly next gets injured i.e. about a fortnight
 
Prefer Bailly/Maguire over Lindelof/Maguire. Bailly brings much more to the game and his top-level is clearly higher than Lindelof’s.
 
So you’re happy for a player to make more mistakes than another if he’s more aggressive. You would rather more mistakes from your CB than less?

Bailly is fine for Europa league/ cup games. But I cannot trust him in a big game against the best if he’s got to have a brain fart every match to get started.

Yes.

He makes more obvious mistakes than Lindelof, but also makes more defensive actions and is twice as athletic so if he can cut out the calamaties hes a much better CB.

Rather have a CB that looks like a total clown once every 3rd game than one who struggles in duels every game
 
Prefer Bailly/Maguire over Lindelof/Maguire. Bailly brings much more to the game and his top-level is clearly higher than Lindelof’s.
It really depends on what you mean with high level. Lindelof is often very good against the best teams If we look at PL this season Lindelof was good to great in all matches against City, Liverpool, 2xArsenal, Chelsea and we only conceded 1 goal in those 5 matches. It’s in similar big games Bailly often struggle, especially if they run in behind him or have good movements in the box (this season: Spurs and Leicester).
 
Yes.

He makes more obvious mistakes than Lindelof, but also makes more defensive actions and is twice as athletic so if he can cut out the calamaties hes a much better CB.

Rather have a CB that looks like a total clown once every 3rd game than one who struggles in duels every game
Ok you’re beyond help.

Id rather consistency from a CB.

Bailly is great for the small games where you maybe want to push up a bit and can afford to make a high profile error like tonight but make that against the best and you get punished. Great squad option but not first choice for me.
 
Yes.

He makes more obvious mistakes than Lindelof, but also makes more defensive actions and is twice as athletic so if he can cut out the calamaties hes a much better CB.

Rather have a CB that looks like a total clown once every 3rd game than one who struggles in duels every game

Not sure what you mean with defensive actions, but they have very similar stats this season. More or less exactly the same amount of tackles, clearances, interceptions.
What differs is that Bailly has more blocks per game (1.3 vs 0.6) and Lindelof has more won aerial duels (2.6 vs 1.7).

Ok you’re beyond help.

Id rather consistency from a CB.

Bailly is great for the small games where you maybe want to push up a bit and can afford to make a high profile error like tonight but make that against the best and you get punished. Great squad option but not first choice for me.

As many have written, Bailly’s speed can make up for other shortcomings. This works well in some matches but not against the best teams.Big matches also demand more team work, concentration, focus, ability to follow a strategy and plan and discipline. These are maybe not Baillys best abilities.
 
Regardless of comparing the mistakes that either Lindelof or Bailly make, I just feel much more confident with Bailly alongside Maguire.
We can discuss, until hell freezes over, about the merits of either player, and compare mistakes, pace, heading ability, positioning, awareness and all other aspects of their games, and to be honest, both players, and Maguire come to that, make mistakes during a game, but I feel much more confident of United winning a game with Bailly in the team. You can call it a gut feeling if you like, but that's just my take on the endless posts having s dig at one or the other.
Come the new season we may have a new CB anyway, and who knows, Tuanzebe, Mengi, and perhaps Bernard, may suddenly get an opportunity, and grab that opportunity with both hands.
As long as United keep winning, I'm a happy bunny.
 
Ok you’re beyond help.

Id rather consistency from a CB.

Bailly is great for the small games where you maybe want to push up a bit and can afford to make a high profile error like tonight but make that against the best and you get punished. Great squad option but not first choice for me.
Would you say Real Sociedad is a worse team than WBA?
 
Lindelöf is consistently passive and weak so you’re good there.
He’s also consistently in the right position to prevent a counter etc.

Passive or containing of threats is a really useful skill to have as a defender it doesn’t have to always be 100mph and suits big games far more particularly when playing a higher line as it allows us to get our shape.

I think the best way to describe them is Lindelof is a safe and risk averse defender. He takes the less risky choice most of the time and is very much a % defender. He’ll go for what he can win or if he has to go for something.

Bailly is very much risk positive. He will throw himself into a lower % duel and has the pace to recover from those mistakes. I like both of them a lot but really I worry so much more with Bailly but I also completely agree that Lindelof could take a leaf out of Bailly’s aggressive book.

I guess I just trust Lindelof more in big games.
 
Regardless of comparing the mistakes that either Lindelof or Bailly make, I just feel much more confident with Bailly alongside Maguire.
We can discuss, until hell freezes over, about the merits of either player, and compare mistakes, pace, heading ability, positioning, awareness and all other aspects of their games, and to be honest, both players, and Maguire come to that, make mistakes during a game, but I feel much more confident of United winning a game with Bailly in the team. You can call it a gut feeling if you like, but that's just my take on the endless posts having s dig at one or the other.
Come the new season we may have a new CB anyway, and who knows, Tuanzebe, Mengi, and perhaps Bernard, may suddenly get an opportunity, and grab that opportunity with both hands.
As long as United keep winning, I'm a happy bunny.
I pretty much agree with all of that.
 
Lindelöf is consistently passive and weak so you’re good there.

He’s not though. Lindelof gets far too much shit on here. He does lose some physical battles and he’s had some poor games (like everyone in the squad). But when he’s on his game he’s a fine defender. Smart and composed. The grief he gets is way over the top.
 
He’s also consistently in the right position to prevent a counter etc.

Passive or containing of threats is a really useful skill to have as a defender it doesn’t have to always be 100mph and suits big games far more particularly when playing a higher line as it allows us to get our shape.

I think the best way to describe them is Lindelof is a safe and risk averse defender. He takes the less risky choice most of the time and is very much a % defender. He’ll go for what he can win or if he has to go for something.

Bailly is very much risk positive. He will throw himself into a lower % duel and has the pace to recover from those mistakes. I like both of them a lot but really I worry so much more with Bailly but I also completely agree that Lindelof could take a leaf out of Bailly’s aggressive book.

I guess I just trust Lindelof more in big games.
Stops counter attacks? He’s too busy running back towards his own goal.

I think you worry more about Bailly because he’s involved a lot more, Lindelof does a great job of hiding and doing nothing until the ball falls into his lap - easy to look less of a worry when you aren’t doing much.
 
Would you say Real Sociedad is a worse team than WBA?
I’d say Europa is less important than PL so while Sociedad are better this game wasn’t as important and our team selection reflected that. We played our rotation side

He is trusted more often in the important games than Bailly and usually starts against the better sides. This is not coincidence.
 
The constant comparison of Victor and Bailly as individual players misses the point. As has ever been the way, it's about partnerships at centre back and Bailly and Maguire just works better, for each other, the defence in general, the team.
 
Stops counter attacks? He’s too busy running back towards his own goal.

I think you worry more about Bailly because he’s involved a lot more, Lindelof does a great job of hiding and doing nothing until the ball falls into his lap - easy to look less of a worry when you aren’t doing much.
There’s no way for me to say it without sounding patronising but you do know the importance of containing in defending right?

And Lindelof busy running back towards his own goal :lol: hello? Did you see Isak vs Bailly? That doesn’t happen with Lindelof.

You do know you don’t always engage players for 90 mins and to say Lindelof does nothing is just so lazy. He doesn’t hide he contains and plays the % game. Which when you’re throwing 8 players forward is absolutely a good choice.
 
I’d say Europa is less important than PL so while Sociedad are better this game wasn’t as important and our team selection reflected that. We played our rotation side

He is trusted more often in the important games than Bailly and usually starts against the better sides. This is not coincidence.

I‘d say it’s more to do with him being available for selection, as Eric tends to break after a few games in a row.
 
I‘d say it’s more to do with him being available for selection, as Eric tends to break after a few games in a row.
Either way it points towards a CB we cannot build a defence around. If you’re not available 80% of the time you have to be a squad option not first choice.
 
There’s no way for me to say it without sounding patronising but you do know the importance of containing in defending right?

And Lindelof busy running back towards his own goal :lol: hello? Did you see Isak vs Bailly? That doesn’t happen with Lindelof.

You do know you don’t always engage players for 90 mins and to say Lindelof does nothing is just so lazy. He doesn’t hide he contains and plays the % game. Which when you’re throwing 8 players forward is absolutely a good choice.
Nope I have no idea about any of that. :lol:

you’re talking about very basic defending, but the fact is Lindelof cannot do anything more than that. We play a much better pressing game with Bailly in the team and keep the pressure up more regularly winning the ball in higher areas.You can’t just retreat back to your box and hope for the best every time a team counters.

Bailly was pretty poor the first few minutes but shook it off quickly and then we didn’t see Isak again.
 
The constant comparison of Victor and Bailly as individual players misses the point. As has ever been the way, it's about partnerships at centre back and Bailly and Maguire just works better, for each other, the defence in general, the team.
Maguire and Bailly as partnership looks like two individuals. That’s why it works vs smaller teams but fails vs bigger teams.
 
Either way it points towards a CB we cannot build a defence around. If you’re not available 80% of the time you have to be a squad option not first choice.

As opposed to a defender who isn’t a good partner for the club captain and has a few vulnerabilities that are exploited on a pretty regular basis?
It‘s a shame Axel and Eric can’t manage to stay fit as both would be variable options and give Ole numerous options for different opposition.
 
Maguire and Bailly as partnership looks like two individuals. That’s why it works vs smaller teams but fails vs bigger teams.

Yeah mate, building a pairing in central defence doesn’t happen over night, they’d need regular games together. Plus there’s the whole how players build match fitness, Eric does extremely well to slot right in and would improve further if he can overcome his injury issues.
 
Yeah mate, building a pairing in central defence doesn’t happen over night, they’d need regular games together. Plus there’s the whole how players build match fitness, Eric does extremely well to slot right in and would improve further if he can overcome his injury issues.
Absolutely and as you say one big issue is his injuries. That’s why he’s better used as a back up and for rotation, trying building something with him would obviously be a huge risk.
 
Ok you’re beyond help.

Id rather consistency from a CB.

Bailly is great for the small games where you maybe want to push up a bit and can afford to make a high profile error like tonight but make that against the best and you get punished. Great squad option but not first choice for me.
I don't think either are long term first choices, but don't be fooled by todays scoreline, we didn't exactly play a Sunday League team tonight, They're a dangerous team when space is afforded to them (we had our couple of scares early on) Ole got it spot on after that, with his selection (Isak could have isolated Lindelof every time AWB took a step forward)
 
He’s not though. Lindelof gets far too much shit on here. He does lose some physical battles and he’s had some poor games (like everyone in the squad). But when he’s on his game he’s a fine defender. Smart and composed. The grief he gets is way over the top.

He gets over the top criticism from some because he keeps their boy Eric out of the team.
 
His recovery pace is very important. If Maguire cocks up or is skinned for pace, Bailly can possibly bail him out because he's rapid. We saw that tonight. Lindelof doesn't have that.
 
He does every week, Bailly just makes different style of errors.

still though I’d take a Bailly brain fart that he recovers from than a Lindelof one that costs a goal.

another clean sheet for the beast :drool:
He never caught the opponent the 'slow' Maguire did which makes me question Bailly's speed.
 
Although Bailly compliments Maguire better, it doesn't mean Lindelof is worse than Bailly. It's more about partnership, which still can't be captured by all those individual stats.

Anyway, I don't have much hope on Bailly's fitness. So we still need to get a new CB. But we have a CB profile template (in Bailly) to look for already. Hopefully this makes it easier when hunting.
 
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