We don't need AWB to be as good as Liverpool's fullbacks who have usurped playmaking duties from the midfield. We just need secondary options in attack, and that kind of stuff can be coached. Yung n learnin and all that.
Unpopular (AKA fickle) opinion time on AWB.....
- Thread starter Nou_Camp99
- Start date
We don't need AWB to be as good as Liverpool's fullbacks who have usurped playmaking duties from the midfield. We just need secondary options in attack, and that kind of stuff can be coached. Yung n learnin and all that.
Been pleasantly surprised at how good he's been on the ball so far, but then i'm not constantly looking for any parts of his game that don't match the expected norm for a United player/fullback, now 2 years down the line....
For what it's worth i think he is very good at not giving the ball away and retaining it. In that he is very similar to valencia in that he rarely gave the ball away with a bad pass or a bad touch in dangerous positions. He will never be Rafael level good in the final third but he can at least become Azpilicueta/ Neville level while going forward by focusing on crossing the ball accurately and making the right kind of runs. He doesn't have the skill or flair that a proper out and out attacking rb might have to be anything else.
Clueless as always in possession.
Don't think he'll ever offer any consistent attacking output. Just looks completely useless with the ball. You either have it or you don't. Can see him being moved to centre back.
I miss Valencia
Amazing how Wolves were just happy to let him have it, and the amount of times we gave it to him. Really really needs some intense coaching on what to do with the ball in an attacking sense.
I don't think that his attacking game can be fixed. With Ole or Poch or Guardiola. He just doesn't have skill for it
He is terrible going forward.
He was fine tonight. The problem in previous games is his reluctance to make the runs or get in positions to be in behind. Tonight he did it every time he had the chance and caused Wolves quite a lot of problems. Main issue was Wolves had so many people back he was having to beat one player just to have a chance at hitting a hopeful ball into the box...there are no fullbacks who are good at this and a majority of wingers aren't great at it either against a side like Wolves.
Or is it trendy to moan about him now?
Or is it trendy to moan about him now?
He's a young player full of promise. He is already an excellent defender, hopefully the attacking side of his game will improve or else we will improve so that it matters not that he's a poor attacker.
Bit like Paul Parker.
Bit like Paul Parker.
Agree. Think he's got a lot of potential. Been impressed with him every time I've seen him. Along with James hes one of the plus points this year.
Was said before he was signed so can't be bothered to complain.
If we had a right sided attacker of any quality, his forward play wouldn’t matter.
Ultimately though he’s a great defender and I think his attacking woes are overplayed somewhat. Played a couple of decent balls in I thought and got past his man more than James did!
Ultimately though he’s a great defender and I think his attacking woes are overplayed somewhat. Played a couple of decent balls in I thought and got past his man more than James did!
There's literally nothing to complain about. He's barely an adult and yet even on a bad day is a massive improvement on what we had last season.
Biggest problem we have with attacking on the right side is that literally none of our attacking players like to play there. Nothing to do with our fullbacks.
I agree. What a top coach may do is set us up in a way where his deficiencies aren't exposed so obviously, by have him tucking inside and the LB bombing on or have him occupy space to draw opposition players out so the RW or RCM can do something.
Problem, with the players we have at RW and at LB it's not easy to mask.
Yep, expected praise when I saw the thread bumped but of course not. He has issues attacking but I wouldn’t say I saw that tonight more than in previous games. Weirdos.
Yeah and all he mostly would need to do is overlap which would create more space. He's done a great job on the defensive side. The way we play, I reckon an attacking right side player would give us balance especially if we then have Williams on the other side
Love the relentless focussing on the negative that we do round here. Can’t we just appreciate that the right side is almost impregnable since he came in. His ability to tackle and tackle hard without giving away free kicks is phenomenal.
Somebody above with an extremely short memory said they miss Valencia, clearly forgetting his unerring ability to hit the shins of the first defender every single time, whilst also not offering defensive solidity.
Somebody above with an extremely short memory said they miss Valencia, clearly forgetting his unerring ability to hit the shins of the first defender every single time, whilst also not offering defensive solidity.
I think so. He isn't as bad going forward as people say and only a half season into his first of many seasons and we've seen improvement on that front.
And just to cap it off in case others get tired of mentioning it; a defensive sensation. Nothing short of incredible.
Look it is not just "issue". It is the same how Maguire's pace is not "issue" or MCT's lack of technique is not an "issue". It is a reality. We have full back whos attacking game is shit.
Now, stating the obvious flaw doesn't mean that he is shit or hated or something negative. Of course not. He is excellent defensive full back and i don't mind having him on that flank next 10 years. He is very good full back overall.
But we just need now to compensate him in attack. And that is on manager to fix it.
Sure. My point is tonight his attacking wasn’t even as bad as previous games, so the bump is weird.
Thought he was decent tonight tbh, need to mix his crosses up however and be a little cuter.
Opinion not changed. Fine defender. Horrendous footballer. Can't do the basics in possession. Brandon Williams is a better player for me and is right footed. Absolute waste of £50m. Never play for England if you can't play football.
Far, far, far, far, far, far, far worse players than AWB have and will play for England and Manchester United.
He's an excellent player. One of the best defenders in the league and if you offered other managers their pick of any Man United defender on a free transfer, he'd be the one most would pick.
Absolute bollocks. Brandon Williams already shown far more. The lad can defend and go forwards and is playing on the left despite being right footed.
AWB can't pass mate. Can't cross. Can't do anything in possession. He's a poor footballer.
Excellent defensively but is that enough for a team aspiring to be back at the top? Suited to a team like Palace who defend for 75 mins every week.
Watching him try to attack today was comical. He's appalling on the ball.
Horrible game today but he actually created our best chance.
I thought thst he will be better and better in attack but i have a feeking that he is in decline. Awful in possession. Can't pass or cross. Our coaching stuff must do something regarding that. Asap
He even overhit that though. Trent gets that chance to cross and it's a goal for them. Periera had to stretch and even then it was too far.
Or you can question Pereira’s anticipation. It was so close I think it’s fair to say AWB fulfilled his part of the bargain by putting it into a dangerous a area as possible.
Still young, will improve, absolute solid one on one defender but there are a few worrying signs. Positionally looks all over the place at times, created our best chance but his crosses are generally pretty eratic, not sold on his skills in possession either. Our full backs are still a problem IMO (they have been for years now) and it doesn't help our centre backs who get most of the flack.
Absolutely with people when they say he can defend. He definitely can.
A fullback for a top 4 (and more) aspiring club needs to be able to do more than tackle though. He looks very poor on the ball. A total waste of £50m for me. A defensive right back shouldn't be costing that much. Williams would do better in that role. That lad can do both.
A fullback for a top 4 (and more) aspiring club needs to be able to do more than tackle though. He looks very poor on the ball. A total waste of £50m for me. A defensive right back shouldn't be costing that much. Williams would do better in that role. That lad can do both.
I almost dread when he gets the ball. Hopefully he can improve that side of his game a lot in the coming years.
Glad its not just me then. A real weaklink in our offensive game. You don't have to mark him.
Should have had an assist against the best team in the league, and dribbled past the right back a few times. It is just the start of some classic scapegoating once you start to see people label him and pick on him after a standard PL-fullback performance. Not sure TAA even had a go at Williams the whole game. He must be shit too 
He had acres of space.. nobody passed to him.. we need a midfielder that can switch play.. like how TAA does from one flank to another
They don't pass to him because he's shite mate.
Great tackler. Should stay back as that's all he can do.
Needs massive improvement going forwards. Needs to learn how to cross and come forward with the ball to be a complete right back. 1 v 1 defending he is world class though.
Maybe a weird suggestion but I'd almost like to try AWB as a anchorman in front of Lindelof and Maguire. Encourage Dalot and Williams to really push on and use AWB to cover the wings.
He's so good at the recovery tackle that he could allow us to be more adventurous. Then when he wins the ball he just has to find a short pass rather than putting in crosses.
He's so good at the recovery tackle that he could allow us to be more adventurous. Then when he wins the ball he just has to find a short pass rather than putting in crosses.
Yeah he has one strength, tackling, and lacks every other thing you need to play in the midfield.
His positional awareness, first touch and passing is shocking. He would be a disaster twice the size of Jones in the centre.
You really think that a player who lacks the technique and overall technical ability to play in defence will do a better job in a more technically, positionally demanding role?
Weird to say the least, I agree.