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You could argue that the two most important players in our team are the full backs.


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jod sent us the following:

You could argue that the two most important players in our team are the full backs.

Regardless of whether we play two at the back or three the full backs are expected to provide the width and generate many of our attacks while still doing their work in defence.

Last season the only players regularly rotated for mid-week matches were the full backs - Pochettino explaining that this was due to the huge amount of work they had to do in his system. This season though we have seen the problem with not having like for like replacements for Rose and Walker. It’s not that Davies and Trippier are bad players, far from it, it’s just that it can be extremely difficult for a full back in our system if he doesn't have genuine pace.

It’s not just getting up the field to start attacks, it’s getting back quickly enough when an attack breaks down. Trippier has been the more convincing of the two this season but we saw the problem against Fulham. Early on there was no real threat down our right and Trippier was getting forward at will and looking really dangerous. Then Fulham brought on Sessegnon (luckily not until the game was won) who attacked at pace down their left wing and suddenly Trippier was struggling to get forward. Ideally we need back up full backs who can play the same way as our first choices.

We may have that soon on the right where Kyle Walker-Peters seems to be heading towards the first team squad and does have the kind of pace we need.

On the left it’s not clear we have a backup for Rose coming through. Which brings me on to the rumours about Luke Shaw. It’s a strange one, Shaw was the golden boy United paid £27m for once Poch had brought him through at Southampton. Then came the injuries and the changes of manager and now he can't get in the side, not a great situation if you are an ambitious 21 year old. Mourinho won't play him but insists he's not for sale. Which would make more sense if his contract didn't run out at the end of next season meaning he could then leave on a Bosman.

There's so many imponderables in this but you could see why Poch might be interested. Some players never really recover from bad injuries but if Pochettino could get Shaw back to anywhere near where he was before he left Southampton Rose would have real competition on his hands. Would United sell at a realistic price? Would Shaw be interested and prepared to take a wage cut (there's no way we would be prepared to pay him £70k a week to start)? Could we wait until the end of next season and get him on a Bosman?

I've no idea but I'll be watching how this develops with interest.
 
I still like the idea of buying the Sessegnon twins, Ryan and Steven, from Fulham. Both 16 years old and Ryan already in and around the first team. Who's to say that Ryan might get all of the attention now and Steven might surpass him in a year or two? Let's buy both and take the risk.....no risk, no reward !!!
 
Walker and Rose are wing backs not full backs. Trippier and Davies are full backs not wing backs.

KWP is getting pushed behind the scenes, so reckon he will be Walker's understudy next season.

We will need a LWB understudy brought in the summer.

Having 4 out and out wing backs next season must be a high priority. As we have seen when one of Walker and Rose are out, we struggle to keep our shape and balance.
 
Real Deal - 3/3/2017 19:43

Walker and Rose are wing backs not full backs. Trippier and Davies are full backs not wing backs.

KWP is getting pushed behind the scenes, so reckon he will be Walker's understudy next season.

We will need a LWB understudy brought in the summer.

Having 4 out and out wing backs next season must be a high priority. As we have seen when one of Walker and Rose are out, we struggle to keep our shape and balance.
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This 100%.
We perform better with 3 at the back with 2 wing backs.
Rose's injury hampered this preferred style of play as Davies is not a wing back.
I would far rather see us get rid of Davies and sign a genuine back up to Rose.
On the right, I think Trip and Walker are interchangeable but Davies and Rose, not so much.
 
I rate Trippier highly, and think he is a better RB than Walker. He also has a superior cross on him. He just doesn't have the athleticism, pace, stamina and strength Walker does. Which are the vital ingredients for a wing back.
 
There is no way Tripper is better than Walker at RB. People seem to not rate Walker because of a few errors a few years ago, I honestly can't remember the last bad error he done and I always can't name too many better RB's or RWB's than him. Massively underrated.
 
Trippier is better at RB not wing back as he is a more natural defender and is far superior at crossing. Walker is a better wing back because of his strength, fitness, speed and athleticism.
 
Walker often negates his pace by pondering on the ball when he comes to cross it. Trippier crosses more diagonally and releases the ball earlier. Far too often Walker ends up hitting the defender with the ball and getting a throw in. The deeper diagonal ball is harder to defend and can catch teams out of position. I am disappointed Trippier has not rotated with Walker this season. If he wanted to leave I wouldn't blame him. He is too good to warm the bench every game.
 
Davies has been found wanting. He would be a fit for most teams but the way we play our full backs just doesn't play to his strengths. Trippier is a decent swap for Walker, but come a crunch game, for me it's Walker starting. The Sessignon twins could be a good bet. I remember the Walker/Naughton deal a few years back. Everyone thought at the time Naughton was the one who would come through.
 
pokerfaced - 4/3/2017 20:44

Davies has been found wanting. He would be a fit for most teams but the way we play our full backs just doesn't play to his strengths. Trippier is a decent swap for Walker, but come a crunch game, for me it's Walker starting. The Sessignon twins could be a good bet. I remember the Walker/Naughton deal a few years back. Everyone thought at the time Naughton was the one who would come through.
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What are Davies's strengths?
 
I think our 'backs' are great. Even Davies today was edging towards the Danny spot. He mad a great couple of crosses and passes. I always felt he was missing at times but in fairness, I was really surprised today. Maybe he needed matchtime. Dier is not so dire either, I think Pocchettino is a good influence on him.

Walker is amazing, Danny, when he's fit, is terrific, Alderweireld is great and I think Vertongen has reached a new level. Verts runs and shots are getting better, he's displaying real pace. There are few areas of the pitch where we are lacking now. Great win today, marred only by a couple of late loose goals which was unfortunate for Verts.

What I like about Pochettino is that he keeps working at the weak areas and mostly, gets them sorted (I think he's given up on Jandado).

 
Davies made the supposed best RB in the PL look very ordinary, he snuffed him out when he came forward and pushed him back on his heels at every opportunity. Y

Yesterday was a sea change difference in his play for us - it was very impressive.
 
Agreed with most of that Ex but still think Rose worst performance of the season would have been more useful to the team. The gap between them is great but I was pleased to see Davies close it a touch - maybe the run of a few more games he's going to get will bring out a better player in him, it's hard to improve on the bench.
 
freundorfoe - 6/3/2017 10:40

Agreed with most of that Ex but still think Rose worst performance of the season would have been more useful to the team. The gap between them is great but I was pleased to see Davies close it a touch - maybe the run of a few more games he's going to get will bring out a better player in him, it's hard to improve on the bench.
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Completely agree with that too, how Poch will have to juggle to keep him with us isn't going to be easy, that said, I genuinely do think keeping hold of Rose is going to be a massive struggle after next season - unless we win everything :-)
 
Davies is a good player. He has and will have good games for us. He can pass, defend, he can cross and he can read the game. But he isn't a wing back, lets not pretend he is. Teams who play at pace and aggression always target him as they know he doesn't have the pace, stamina athleticism to do what Rose does. Which is not his fault. We shouldn't be playing him that way against good or very good teams.

If Poch needs to play Davies play Davies at LB and play N'Koudou in front of him, a natural winger who has pace and dribbling ability.
 
Real Deal - 6/3/2017 20:28

Davies is a good player. He has and will have good games for us. He can pass, defend, he can cross and he can read the game. But he isn't a wing back, lets not pretend he is. Teams who play at pace and aggression always target him as they know he doesn't have the pace, stamina athleticism to do what Rose does. Which is not his fault. We shouldn't be playing him that way against good or very good teams.

If Poch needs to play Davies play Davies at LB and play N'Koudou in front of him, a natural winger who has pace and dribbling ability.
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Hmm, sorry I can’t agree with that assessment of Davies, his passing, reading of the game and crossing is suspect at best. One decent performance cannot suddenly overshadow what has prevailed before.
 
I followed him when he was at Swansea. My opinion is based on at least 4 years of watching Davies.
 
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