[gaffs]

Clear example of a good player being exposed by his managers tactics.

How do you explain that? He was in a full back position for the first goal and second. He got skinned for the first and lost his man / the battle for the second.

Please explain how this is down to tactics?

 

[gaffs]

His worst game to date. He seems much more effective as a RCB as opposed to a right wing back. It’ll be interesting to see what Amorim’s long term plan is. I’m sure he’ll want a better attacking option at RWB, but we have so many glaring needs I’m not sure the budget will allow for that any time soon. Maybe he needs a rest, but he seems to lose focus defensively quite regularly.

Maybe surplus to requirements, even though having his versatility helps.

 

[pocco]

How do you explain that? He was in a full back position for the first goal and second. He got skinned for the first and lost his man / the battle for the second.

Please explain how this is down to tactics?

A bit like people saying Garnacho is playing badly because of his position in the system, even though he’s operating in the same LW areas he always has. Don’t think people actually watch the game and focus on what’s happening right in front of them.

 

[RRCE]

Maybe surplus to requirements, even though having his versatility helps.

I don’t think he’s surplus to requirements by any means. Definitely versatile. Amorim has spoken fondly of him. He’s a good player to have in the squad, but he’s certainly not ideal as a wing back in Amorim’s system.

 

[gaffs]

I don’t think he’s surplus to requirements by any means. Definitely versatile. Amorim has spoken fondly of him. He’s a good player to have in the squad, but he’s certainly not ideal as a wing back in Amorim’s system.

Agree. I don't think he is good enough in either position, so in the future i see him just being a squad player.

 

[JezChan]

What's going on with Mazraoui? He's not on the bench against Rangers.

 

[SER19]

What's going on with Mazraoui? He's not on the bench against Rangers.

a knock

 

[DON’T PANIC ™]

Right Centre back should be his position, he was lauded as our best player until Amorim shifted him because other players returned to fitness

 

[chris123]

He's starting to put in fairly poor performances now. He's not suited to the wing back role at all, and inverting him on the left to help out Garnacho is definitely not helping.

He's probably going to be a very useful squad player for us that fills in at RCB or right wing back if we need him there, and nothing more.

 

[thisisnottaken1]

He's starting to put in fairly poor performances now. He's not suited to the wing back role at all, and inverting him on the left to help out Garnacho is definitely not helping.

He's probably going to be a very useful squad player for us that fills in at RCB or right wing back if we need him there, and nothing more.

Yup. He’s experiencing what every other United signing has experienced. I just wish that we could finally sign somebody who will well and truly break this vicious cycle.

 

[NoPace]

He's starting to put in fairly poor performances now. He's not suited to the wing back role at all, and inverting him on the left to help out Garnacho is definitely not helping.

He's probably going to be a very useful squad player for us that fills in at RCB or right wing back if we need him there, and nothing more.

He was pretty good at RCB. Arguably our best back 3 defender so far under Amorim.

This system doesn't seem to be conceding a ton of crosses, more so space down the middle, so maybe Yoro shifts central next year and they both start along with Lisandro.

 

[LDUred]

He'll do a decent enough job there defensively but he's just not a wing back. If you look at the best wing backs, they're much more dynamic sprinters who recover fast and are pacier. Mazraoui just doesn't have the tank to push forward that much and when he does, he doesn't have natural crossing ability. He's happier to sit and be more selective about when he sallies forward, which is why he can be brilliant at RCB in an attacking sense.

I don't like to criticize him but yes we need to only be using him there as an emergency and buy someone who can run up and down that side.

 

[Squeaky_Bum_Time]

I’ve criticized him more than anyone whenever he’s been at wingback. Just doesn’t make any useful runs, doesn’t maintain width, gets in the way of the #10, and doesn’t have the pace and stamina to cover the wing defensively.

But I thought today was actually one of his better games. His tendency to come central worked relatively okay with Garnacho wanting to be wide. There was some decent play between the two especially in the first half. Defensively, he did a better job as well especially for the fact that he had to go wide immediately when Fulham took back possession and sprint back.

Really it was 5/10 performance, but to me that’s better than most of his recent performances at wingback.

He’s proven he’ll be a good player to have in the squad, but I wouldn’t say he’s nailed on as a starter for any particular position right now.

 

[Escobar]

He is a RCB. Whenever he played as a WB, he's been rather poor. Also his energy level seems to be rather low, he's making more mistakes than usual

 

[Insanity]

I hope from next season he is used in a rotation for the RCB slot with de Ligt. He doesn't have the energy levels to play as a WB. Given his previous injury record it's a minor miracle that he has stayed fit for this long. We don't need to kill him by overplaying him.

 

[AjaxCunian]

I hope from next season he is used in a rotation for the RCB slot with de Ligt. He doesn't have the energy levels to play as a WB. Given his previous injury record it's a minor miracle that he has stayed fit for this long. We don't need to kill him by overplaying him.

Yep, the role doesn't seem to suit him at all. He was doing well at RB/LB earlier in the season, but this just doesn't work.

 

[mctrials23]

Hes not a WB. hes a quality RCB though.

 

[Red00012]

I must be the only one that thought he was decent last night, much better than his last few games

 

[tomaldinho1]

I must be the only one that thought he was decent last night, much better than his last few games

He was ok - the obvious switch of him being LWB and Dalot RWB should have been done a while ago and he's solid if unspectacular. He was cheap, is technically good and covers a lot of positions, I thought he did fine and won that good freekick.

 

[groovyalbert]

Seems like he was much more effective under ETH, which is strange given how on paper he should be well suited to Amorim.

 

[MadDogg]

I’ve criticized him more than anyone whenever he’s been at wingback. Just doesn’t make any useful runs, doesn’t maintain width, gets in the way of the #10, and doesn’t have the pace and stamina to cover the wing defensively.

But I thought today was actually one of his better games. His tendency to come central worked relatively okay with Garnacho wanting to be wide. There was some decent play between the two especially in the first half. Defensively, he did a better job as well especially for the fact that he had to go wide immediately when Fulham took back possession and sprint back.

Really it was 5/10 performance, but to me that’s better than most of his recent performances at wingback.

He’s proven he’ll be a good player to have in the squad, but I wouldn’t say he’s nailed on as a starter for any particular position right now.

I'd agree with this. It was arguably his best performance since being moved to wingback, but obviously it's still not what we need from that position.

 

[chris123]

He was pretty good at RCB. Arguably our best back 3 defender so far under Amorim.

This system doesn't seem to be conceding a ton of crosses, more so space down the middle, so maybe Yoro shifts central next year and they both start along with Lisandro

I don't know why Amorim went away from it either. He was the one RCB that actually STEPPED UP and won the ball in the oppositions half which is exactly what Amorim is looking for and is crucial to the system. De ligt and yoro both aren't as comfortable doing that.

I guess it's ultimately just a total lack of wing back options

 

[Remember the geese]

Seems like he was much more effective under ETH, which is strange given how on paper he should be well suited to Amorim.

How is he suited to Amorim? The guy is a fullback in a team who doesn't play with fullbacks. He can do a half decent job as a right sided centre back in a three, but he's never going to thrive in this system.

 

[Glorio]

I like him as a RCB. He's definitely more comfortable than any of the other options with the ball at his feet and finding passes up field.

 

[groovyalbert]

How is he suited to Amorim? The guy is a fullback in a team who doesn't play with fullbacks. He can do a half decent job as a right sided centre back in a three, but he's never going to thrive in this system.

I mean, he was playing as a 10 not that long ago and is technically good enough to pose a threat in the opposition's box. I think he has the guile to hold down a side in this system, although maybe not the physicality.

It's clear Yoro is being primed for the RCB, Martinez on the left and then presumably one of Maguire or De Ligt in the middle. I wonder if Maz is phased out/used more in rotation going forward.

 

[CG1010]

Healthy fish starting to get ill in the aquarium that is our club. Just changing his position wouldn’t help (though it will help a bit).

 

[youngrell]

Feel like he should mostly be rotating with Yoro at RCB going forward, and maybe cover for Martinez at LCB when he needs a rest. Maguire and De Ligt can rotate in the centre.

Not sure we can field a 3 without Maguire or De Ligt, though. Their aerial ability is pretty crucial in the middle.

 

[Remember the geese]

I mean, he was playing as a 10 not that long ago and is technically good enough to pose a threat in the opposition's box. I think he has the guile to hold down a side in this system, although maybe not the physicality.

It's clear Yoro is being primed for the RCB, Martinez on the left and then presumably one of Maguire or De Ligt in the middle. I wonder if Maz is phased out/used more in rotation going forward.

It's definitely the physicality. Technically, there are no issues. I don't see Mazraoui as a starter here long term. He'll be a useful deputy as a right centre back and a conservative/underwhelming option at wing-back, depending on the occasion.

 

[Hughes35]

I think he's a decent player who can go a good job in multiple positions. I really don't think he is top top class though.

A brilliant player to have as part of the squad.

 

[MadDogg]

I don't know why Amorim went away from it either. He was the one RCB that actually STEPPED UP and won the ball in the oppositions half which is exactly what Amorim is looking for and is crucial to the system. De ligt and yoro both aren't as comfortable doing that.

I guess it's ultimately just a total lack of wing back options

My guess is it's also due to how many goals we were conceding from set pieces and other aerial balls. For a while there almost all the goals we were conceding were coming from situations like that.

Playing both De Ligt and Maguire gives us a bit more protection, as does Yoro to a lesser extent. In pretty much every other aspect, Mazraoui was our best RCB.

 

[Erics_Collar]

Back in his best position at RCB today. Watch him put in a MOTM performance, and then get shunted back out to RWB to be a liability at the weekend.

 

[Solius]

He’s so much better at RCB.

 

[Remember the geese]

Yeah, this is his position under Amorim.

 

[youngrell]

Yeah, I like the 3 Ajax boys at the back.

Today’s team was much better balanced with Maz, Dalot and Mainoo all playing in more natural positions. All seemed more comfortable and performed well.

 

[Ollie Derbyshire]

So, when/if Maz, Martinez, Maguire, De Ligt and Yoro are all fully fit (discounting Shaw and Lindelof) who takes the 3 slots?

Maz DeLigt Martinez would be my first choice for the rest of the season with Yoro building minutes and experience.

 

[Brightonian]

Yeah, I like the 3 Ajax boys at the back.

Who knew there was nothing wrong with ETH signing all his old players, we just needed someone else to actually manage them.

 

[Irwin99]

While De Ligt is obviously a more natural defender I just prefer Maz on that right side in the three. He’s really comfortable with the ball and can progress it forward whereas on the wing he doesn’t seem to affect the game as much.

 

[BorisManUtd]

Was so happy seeing him start at RCB and he definitely did well.

 

[arthurka]

He wins very few headers isn't that a problem for a CB?

 

[harms]

So, when/if Maz, Martinez, Maguire, De Ligt and Yoro are all fully fit (discounting Shaw and Lindelof) who takes the 3 slots?

Maz DeLigt Martinez would be my first choice for the rest of the season with Yoro building minutes and experience.

If we don't need someone (well, Mazraoui, and hopefully not) to cover for one of the wingback positions, you'd think that our main back three would be the same as it was tonight... with Yoro gradually replacing Mazraoui as the time goes (or De Ligt but more likely Mazraoui, at least at first). Yoro - Maguire - Shaw (again, IF fit) would be the go-to replacement for RCB - CCB - LCB respectively.