Wing-back prospects

The White Pele

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Ok, so if and when Amorim comes in he is known to favour the 3-4-3 system, a system that is unfamiliar to United. The success or failure of that system at United could depend on having the right players in the wing-back positions and our current crop of full-back options may be better suited to playing in a back 4 (?).

So who are the best viable options that either excel in these positions today, are top wing-backs of the near future or possibly natural wide players that could be converted?
 
Alphonso Davies. Of course likely to go to Madrid, but it's at least encouraging that we're looking to sign him.
 
Get Alvaro back from Benfica, he's ideal for a wingback role as he's basically a midfielder.

Plus it'd allow Amorim to get on waver on Sportings rival straight away.
 
Sporting fans in the Amorim thread seem to suggest he usually plays wingers in those roles rather than full backs converted to wing backs.

It's hard to judge just who fits into that niche position though. There aren't many Valencia and Moses etc nowadays.
 
Left: Alphonso Davies, Leif Davies, Ait-Nouri, Theo Hernandez, Grimaldo

Right: Frimpong, Hakimi, Kimmich, Dumfries
 
P-Nut said:
Sporting fans in the Amorim thread seem to suggest he usually plays wingers in those roles rather than full backs converted to wing backs.

It's hard to judge just who fits into that niche position though. There aren't many Valencia and Moses etc nowadays.
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Garnacho could do it but Amad and Rashford less so.
 
Hard to say until we see his system in action. There's a lot of assumptions floating around that he'll play two full backs in those positions, but from what I gather he plays true wingers there at Sporting. He also seems to play one winger higher than another, based on heatmaps I've seen, so he might play a FB on one side and a winger on another. Im sure he'll start out with fullbacks there, simply based on our squad composition, but in terms of who he brings in, I think we'll be looking at wingers more than attacking full backs.
 
Unless we moved Dalot or Mazraoui on, I think we are covered at RWB.

LWB - I would seriously hope we don't rely on Shaw or Malacia to fill this. I'd be looking for 2 options here.
 
Bowlcut11 said:
Agree with all except Kimmich. Totally unsuited to play as a wing back
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Not the ideal candidate for it, but he has played almost a third of his career as a right back and close to 130 games in that position. He'd have no problems tucking into midfield in that 3-5-2 formation, and he has very good crossing ability. Not sure how he is totally unsuited to it.
 
Have to say — in an era where teams are moving more toward fullbacks playing as “false backs” — glorified CBs/defensive midfielders in the buildup phase, I quite the idea of us having some proper up and down wingbacks out there. Just more fun.
 
Frimpong would be perfect if that is the system we are moving to
 
Ait Nouri, Frimpong both jump to mind here. That would be set and forget with me when you have Dalot and Maz on top.
 
JJ12 said:
Frimpong would be perfect if that is the system we are moving to
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Yes he would.

He would also count as a home grown player too as he came through the youth team of Man City.

The biggest difficulty will be convincing him to come here when he's likely to have lots of offers.
 
Grand Vizier said:
Left: Alphonso Davies, Leif Davies, Ait-Nouri, Theo Hernandez, Grimaldo

Right: Frimpong, Hakimi, Kimmich, Dumfries
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Most of those will be considered too old, or on too high wages.

The only realistic ones are Leif Davies, Ait-Nouri for the left hand side and Frimpong for the right.
 
Bwuk said:
LWB - I would seriously hope we don't rely on Shaw or Malacia to fill this. I'd be looking for 2 options here.
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Not resolving the LB problem over the Summer was a glaring omission, but.....I am now wondering if that was a deliberate long term plan to not bring in an LB that would suit ETH back 4, but not suit Amorim's Wing Back system..?
Then again, we sold Fernandez, when he should have either been promoted or loaned.
 
P-Nut said:
Sporting fans in the Amorim thread seem to suggest he usually plays wingers in those roles rather than full backs converted to wing backs.

It's hard to judge just who fits into that niche position though. There aren't many Valencia and Moses etc nowadays.
Click to expand...

Think he'll like Garnacho's work ethic on the left. Cant see it with Rashford, Amad will probably rotate for the two AMs behind the striker

Antony might impress him as he does some work defensively. But I'd hope he signs at least 1 starter for the wingback roles if thats going to be our main formation
 
Ekeke said:
Think he'll like Garnacho's work ethic on the left. Cant see it with Rashford, Amad will probably rotate for the two AMs behind the striker

Antony might impress him as he does some work defensively. But I'd hope he signs at least 1 starter for the wingback roles if thats going to be our main formation
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In alot of games where we are favourites, at home, I can see Garnacho playing LWB because his wing backs at times are in the same line as the forward line. This will create so much space centrally for the 10's, be it Mount, Garnacho, Amad.. and then they can feast on the half spaces, with teams scared of leaving Garnacho unmarked.

In games away from home we can play a Dalot or Mazroui in that position.

Like you say, Antony may impress as he doesn't need to have pace to go down the line, he is inverted, the one thing Antony is good at is keeping the ball, which is crucial for Amorim's 10's
 
IrishRedDevil said:
Are we watching the same Garnacho? He doesn't track back or defend well.
Amad is actually better at that.
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You're right that Amad does it, but just this week Garnacho lost the ball down the left and chased back 20-30 yards to win the ball back still in West Ham's half so I'm sorry that you missed it

I think Amad will impress him more as an AM role though which is why I didnt list him as an option. Think he's our best bet narrow from the right
 
P-Nut said:
Sporting fans in the Amorim thread seem to suggest he usually plays wingers in those roles rather than full backs converted to wing backs.

It's hard to judge just who fits into that niche position though. There aren't many Valencia and Moses etc nowadays.
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I saw that match last night. Their 17 year old right winger was right wing-back. He's excellent going forward but was turned inside out by the opponents. I don't think he can setup with Amad and Garnacho (and much less Rashford) as wing backs in the Premier League. He'll need actual wing-backs.
 
MaMa given red said:
Most of those will be considered too old, or on too high wages.

The only realistic ones are Leif Davies, Ait-Nouri for the left hand side and Frimpong for the right.
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I would be completely fine with those, especially Frimpong. Aren't we rumoured to be after Alphonso Davies, though? Top earner, obviously, but you have to pay for the best players. I think Ineos are trying to reduce salaries' for average or old players, not young, proven top class players.
 
Ekeke said:
You're right that Amad does it, but just this week Garnacho lost the ball down the left and chased back 20-30 yards to win the ball back still in West Ham's half so I'm sorry that you missed it

I think Amad will impress him more as an AM role though which is why I didnt list him as an option. Think he's our best bet narrow from the right
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Garnacho can do it, he just needs to do it more.
I would like to see Amad in that central role though.
 
And we aren't getting anyone for right. Dalot and Maz is just good enough for now.
 
To be clear, Ruben Amorin doesn’t look for a conventional Wing back, he doesn’t play a 5 at the back, he wants his wide players to be more than just high energy up and down wing backs he wants them to be more like a wide playmaking Wing back where they join the front three when his team is in position to create a system more like 335 his GK goes in between the two wide CB’s, the CB goes into midfield to try and box the opposition into their own half.

Players we have that could fit his style are Diego Dalot, N Mazraoui and a Fit Luke Shaw(Which is never going to happen) even if he gets fitness his body can’t handle the requirements to play this role regularly but he might become a decent LCB in a 3 if he can stay fit?

Players we are linked with that would suit his style are J Frimpong, A Davies, A Nouri, L Davies, R Henry, A Robinson. However we have no idea what sort of cash is available for transfers as yet especially with £30m cost of Removing ETH and bringing in Amorin to now go into this years accounts.

I worked out that we maybe could have spent another £100m in the summer or winter mainly because of selling multiple academy players for over £60m net profit, however I’m not sure how much cash would be available after at least £15m would have now been agreed to pay Sporting for Amorim and his Staff. Plus we will have to pay off RVN and Rene although they will be paid monthly and not in a one off payment.

We know that we were completely skint last December 2023 and only the $300m promised by SJR in two instalments, one for $200m(£154m) in the summer which we used most of that for summer signings and Agent Fees and a further $100m(£77m) in December 24, with some of that money being used to refurbish the stadium and training complex there might be £50m left and £15m now set aside from that number.

Roger Bell is our new CFO and most of the cost cutting measures at the club are being overseen by him, he will have a team of accountants and number crunchers to try and find every penny they can, however the club must sell a couple of players in January if they are to give Ruben Amorin, a very low winter budget, my guess is even if he sells Lindelof or Maguire and Antony, he may have no more than £45-60m to get players he needs?
 
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