Unpopular (AKA fickle) opinion time on AWB.....
- Thread starter Nou_Camp99
- Start date
Him and Maguire have been monumental waste of money spent by ole, I don't he gets enough flack for these two signings, if they were both foreign I'm sure the media would highlight it more.
Agree.
He is brilliant at tackling, the core part of his job, but mediocre at all other parts.
Can't help but think there are better right-backs available atm. Let's hope he kicks on.
this signing looks like me first time playing football manager. I searched pace and acceleration over 15 and tackling over 15 too, sorted by tackling and surprised this good player is so cheap. Later realised there is needed positioning, anticipation, concentration, off the ball movement and adequate technical level. I know football is much more complex, but take it as metaphor to incompetence or inexperience.
How is this a defence of him?
Transfers are difficult.
If you buy a young player for a significant fee, like Shaw, or in this case Wan-Bissaka, to be a starter, you have to hope he can improve weaknesses in his game within a relatively short space of time.
It is frustrating that Wan-Bissaka keeps making the same mistakes over and over again.
His positional play is horrendous. Far too often he is asleep when crosses come in from the other side. He is poor aerially and not comfortable in possession. His offside trap tends to play opponents onside.
Since we lack a serious alternative at the moment, just got to hope he learns from his errors.
We spent £45m on a player that is incredible at tackling and below average at everything else. It doesn't reflect well on AWB or the coaching staff, that almost 18 months after joining, he's still such a flawed player.
If you buy a young player for a significant fee, like Shaw, or in this case Wan-Bissaka, to be a starter, you have to hope he can improve weaknesses in his game within a relatively short space of time.
It is frustrating that Wan-Bissaka keeps making the same mistakes over and over again.
His positional play is horrendous. Far too often he is asleep when crosses come in from the other side. He is poor aerially and not comfortable in possession. His offside trap tends to play opponents onside.
Since we lack a serious alternative at the moment, just got to hope he learns from his errors.
We spent £45m on a player that is incredible at tackling and below average at everything else. It doesn't reflect well on AWB or the coaching staff, that almost 18 months after joining, he's still such a flawed player.
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They were usually worse defensively than that performance but better on the ball. Smalling would cover them all the time on the right
But if you remember the first PSG game, he was a beast defensively. He was also excellent defensively against RBL the first game we played them. I agree there is a lacking of understanding of position, and perhaps he is also unable to sense danger in certain fluid situations when we are not just sitting back defending.
He needs better coaching if he is to improve.
Don't get me wrong, I think he's excellent defensively! But I think that much of that excellence stems from his ability to recover via pace and defend 1v1. My point is that were he a bit savvier in terms of his positioning, many of the last-ditch challenges he is forced into could be avoided entirely. He definitely ball-watches quite a bit but 8-9 times out of 10 is able to recover - all I'm saying is that if he could cut the ball-watching out and position himself more intelligently, the team would do better and he'd be more likely to have a sustainable career at the top level.
Many knew his issues going forward. What we didn't however is how bad he has become at defending either.
His positioning is awful, it was never this bad last season but he's regressed badly in that
He’s great when the player is in front of him. He’s had some of the worlds top forwards in his pocket.
Wank when he has to play 15 yards further forward and has to cover with runners in behind.
Atrocious positioning.
Mourinho dream.
Wank when he has to play 15 yards further forward and has to cover with runners in behind.
Atrocious positioning.
Mourinho dream.
This is actually a brilliant point and something that hadn't occurred to me - is it clear that AWB was bought for Solksjaer, or was he someone that Mourinho had scouted and pushed to purchase? Not trying to troll, I'm just genuinely curious if anyone has any insignt on the timeline.
Opposition teams seem to know that they can get joy pressing him when he has the ball. His passing ability is poor, especially when under pressure.
I hope tonight's poor display was just a one off!
I hope tonight's poor display was just a one off!
We’ve got the Mourinho requested backline of Shaw Maguire Lindof AWB and we’re still shit so what do I know haha.
He’s deffo the right “profile” for Ed though.
Kid can recover and tackle. Not much else to see is there.
Yeah and even so on paper he's not an unreasonable purchase IMO - you'd hope that he could improve some of the deficiencies in his game with good coaching but if anything it looks like he's regressing. I do think you're spot on to point out that Mourinho would be making him into a formidable player with his tactics.
Unfortunately I have to agree with you. 1st goal was a clear ball watching. If a normal CB asked to play as wingback, then I can understand why he tends to tug inside, but AWB has been a fullback all the time, so was he marking an invisible opponent?
One of the best in the league defensively, absolutely hopeless going forward.
Maybe its time to give Williams a pop on the right more often or even get Dalot back in Jan and make both compete.
Either way, something has to happen because we lose so much attacking ability on the right because of AWB.
Maybe its time to give Williams a pop on the right more often or even get Dalot back in Jan and make both compete.
Either way, something has to happen because we lose so much attacking ability on the right because of AWB.
Incredible athlete, clueless footballer.
It was mad hearing the audio of RB Leipzig's team shout 'ANGELINO!!' any time they got on the ball in the first half. He's not only seriously hampering any sort of threat down the right wing, but he is now being actively targeted as a major weak point defensively too. And it works a fecking treat for the opposition when executed properly. His sixth sense for danger is basically non existent. Looking like yet another expensive mistake.
EDIT: What are the chances of Ethan Laird getting any game time? I don't see the point in giving minutes to TFM who is almost as bad as Wan-Bissaka on the ball but nowhere near as good at tackling. TFM's career at United is dead in the water isn't it?!
EDIT: What are the chances of Ethan Laird getting any game time? I don't see the point in giving minutes to TFM who is almost as bad as Wan-Bissaka on the ball but nowhere near as good at tackling. TFM's career at United is dead in the water isn't it?!
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Exactly. He has zero awareness. He’s completely reactionary.
Frustrating we have no other RB.
I just edited my post but, what's the situation with Ethan Laird? I appreciate he's still only 19 but he was supposed to be one of the most promising prospects from the academy. He couldn't have done much worse than whatever the feck that was from Wan-Bissaka last night.
He used to be a winger.
What I find shocking is that his deficiencies were very apparent while he was at Palace then we spent 50m on him.
You have to ask yourself who makes these decisions? There is a reason why Southgate didn't give him time of day and he opted for Congo.
He is one outstanding quality, he is incredible while defending one on one. As part of a unit, he's tactically wanting and don't even get me started with the ball at his feet in the opponent's half. It is far far from being enough.
What I find shocking is that his deficiencies were very apparent while he was at Palace then we spent 50m on him.
You have to ask yourself who makes these decisions? There is a reason why Southgate didn't give him time of day and he opted for Congo.
He is one outstanding quality, he is incredible while defending one on one. As part of a unit, he's tactically wanting and don't even get me started with the ball at his feet in the opponent's half. It is far far from being enough.
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Fantastic one on one defender but is that seriously enough when the rest of his game is below average.
The amount of times he gets sucked in and leaves players free at the back post is annoying. We had 5 at the back ffs.
The amount of times he gets sucked in and leaves players free at the back post is annoying. We had 5 at the back ffs.
Which is a trait shared with Maguire. Funnily enough McTominay and Pogba have that issue too and that's why I get nervous whenever we try to play anything else than a low and compact block. If you want to be really upset next time focus on these players when the opposition is on the ball, AWB, Maguire, Pogba and McTominay will ball watch and not care one bit about what is happening in their areas.
He was awful last night, at fault for all three goals in my opinion. Had and absolute nightmare of a game where all the bad aspects of his play were shown up in one game.
Overall. He seems to have no football brain, he cannot dribble, he cannot pass, he cannot cross and his first touch is awful. Probably why he was dropped back from being a winger. Defensive positioning and awareness are completely non existent, yeah he can defend well one on one (to me thats a prerequisite for a defender, if you can't do it your not one). He can recover and slide tackle, but he wouldn't have to if he would position himself better.
Overall. He seems to have no football brain, he cannot dribble, he cannot pass, he cannot cross and his first touch is awful. Probably why he was dropped back from being a winger. Defensive positioning and awareness are completely non existent, yeah he can defend well one on one (to me thats a prerequisite for a defender, if you can't do it your not one). He can recover and slide tackle, but he wouldn't have to if he would position himself better.
We should buy Max Aarons as competition/cover.
Antonio Valencia was much better all round
I'd try him in a deep defensive midfield role. Roaming around tackling and breaking things up. Might suit him.
He isn't as useless as people on here are making him out to be. The guy is fantastic at defending 1v1 and has nullified players like Mbappé, Sterling and more.
However, I agree that his awareness and attacking play are lacklustre. I don't think he has good enough dribbling/crossing to offer much going forwards. But, I do think the awareness/football knowledge side of his game can be coached into him, remember, he's only 23. Perhaps in 2/3 years when he starts to hit his prime he may be a fantastic full back.
Questions to be asked, but we shouldn't be demanding his head right now, there are larger holes in our team that need patching. i.e. the centre backs.
However, I agree that his awareness and attacking play are lacklustre. I don't think he has good enough dribbling/crossing to offer much going forwards. But, I do think the awareness/football knowledge side of his game can be coached into him, remember, he's only 23. Perhaps in 2/3 years when he starts to hit his prime he may be a fantastic full back.
Questions to be asked, but we shouldn't be demanding his head right now, there are larger holes in our team that need patching. i.e. the centre backs.
Nah, you can't be serious about putting him in as a DM. Yeah he can tackle, but DMs need to be comfortable with the ball as well (and who would you have him over in a midfield three?). Furthermore, you're rarely marking a specific player as a DM but are marking areas and channels instead. His positioning simply isn't good enough for that.
And in a roaming role you are exposing his main flaw which makes the suggestion baffling. When a player has poor awareness you don't give him more ground to cover and random players to mark.
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He has a habit of turning back again once he cuts inside and opens up his body. He is shockingly unsure of his weaker foot. A pass to Maguire or McT were the obvious choices there.
Exactly. AWB struggles to look over his shoulder when he's occasionally having to defend a cross. Throwing him in the middle of the pitch where you need to be constantly aware of everyone around you sounds suicidal
AWB is a pony who can do one trick which means that the opponents sooner or later make him useless as a wingback.
They went on to score from the resulting corner but it was just offside. That performance was as bad as it gets.
Five times in fairly short succession Angelino got in huge amounts of space down that side. I will be fair and say that on the 4th and 5th time it wasn't actually AWB's fault - both times Leipzig had three players get past our midfield and create a direct 3 vs 2 against Maguire and Lindelof, so AWB had to choose between either a player running through directly at goal through the centre or a player in a dangerous but wide position. He made the right decision to come in both times IMO as the central player was the more dangerous one. However the first three times it happened he came in for no real reason, and two of those led to their first two goals.
Bar the odd good game here and there, he's largely struggled ever since the lockdown. Even his amazing 1v1 defensive game has been a bit inconsistent since then and he's been allowing crosses to get in past him which he wasn't in the earlier part of last season.
Bar the odd good game here and there, he's largely struggled ever since the lockdown. Even his amazing 1v1 defensive game has been a bit inconsistent since then and he's been allowing crosses to get in past him which he wasn't in the earlier part of last season.
Initially I thought this was a crazy thing to say. But actually I agree.
Valencia offerend next to nothing going forward with his infinite shin crosses (if he ever passed forward), similar to AWB's net offensive contributions. Whilst AWB is excellent 1v1 I can't remember Valencia being out of position quite so often (could be my ropey old man memory).
AWB needs some serious training on awareness and staying in his lane. It looks to me like several teams that have played us have noticed this and have been exploiting it. Leipzig last night kept switching to his side quickly and catching him out of position (their first goal the best example of this). You can be as good as you want 1v1 and general tackling, but if you're leaving forwards with 5 yards of space in the penalty area constantly its totally meaningless.
It's a shame as I like AWB, he just needs to be coached more on his positioning and be more confident getting forward.
One of the most worrying aspects about him being in our side is that we clearly have no confidence in giving him the ball. He'll take up good positions but the ball won't go to him as we know he probably won't add anything. Further to that, opposition teams would rather have an extra man inside than picking him up as they know a) either we won't pass to him or b) if we do pass to him the chances are he's going to do feck all.