19 Sep 2020 08:29:07
A new left back seems a strange choice given other positions need strengthening. However, I wonder if it signals a change of shape.

Ideally we want to have Bruno, Donny, and Pogba all paying but that would leave us either short in the middle or if we play Matic, short of width.

But if we play 3 at the back, with 2 FBs bombing up and down we can play all 3 and still have width. That would mean Shaw moving in, possibly AWB moving in, with Brandon moving to the right and a new LB being signed.

That’s a good option when we want to dominate and get on the front foot. For other games, Matic comes in, we play a flat back four and the midfield has to rotate.

Of course we could be chasing a LB because we think that’s the priority.

1.) 19 Sep 2020
19 Sep 2020 08:46:19
Or maybe Ole or someone at the club finally realises that we can't rely on Luke Shaw's fitness.

Or maybe they have finally given up on Luke Shaw coming good which is Unlikely.


Or in Telles they saw a good deal to be had, maybe.

2.) 19 Sep 2020
19 Sep 2020 09:12:41
4-4-2 diamond could also allow pogba bruno and van de beek to play at the same time.

3.) 19 Sep 2020
19 Sep 2020 09:19:39
Tells is 27, so if he plays it takes pressure off Williams when Shaw is rules out for a couple of months.

{Ed047's Note - surely you’ll play him instead of Shaw

4.) 19 Sep 2020
19 Sep 2020 09:32:00
I assume people don’t realise how good Telles is, he’s a big upgrade on Shaw.

5.) 19 Sep 2020
19 Sep 2020 09:34:29
Left back is a huge priority I’m surprised no one sees it? Shaw can’t stay for half a season and fans seem to hype him so much when he does a few overlapping runs. We need more attacking fullbacks and Telles gives that. It puts pressure of Rashford on the left and gives defenders more to deal with. The lack of width makes us so readable downstairs the flanks were easy to deal with. Will hopefully give shaw a push in the right direction aswell. Shaw is a good player, but not good enough if we want to move forward. Backup lb or first choice cb in a back 3 for me.

6.) 19 Sep 2020
19 Sep 2020 09:35:06
I think LB is a bigger issue than we realise. The drop off when Shaw doesn't play LB is telling. As we play with right footed LW's they tend to cut in, add to that we have no width on the right either from our forward players (who are either strikers or No.10's playing wide so all of them have a tendency to come in field) while AWB isn't great as an overlapping full back. This makes us very narrow without a left back who can overlap and stay wide.

While Shaw's injury record is poor, and clearly Ole doesn't really trust TFM or Dalot to cover at RB. Williams can cover both full back positions. While a new LB would give us competition/ cover for Shaw.

Alternatively we could see a change in shape and play three at the back. That would fit with Ole apparently saying to Ake we need a left footed CB. While a three at the back system might get the best out of the 8 centre backs we currently have on the books.

Either way a left footed LB would provide more balance to the squad.

7.) 19 Sep 2020
19 Sep 2020 09:45:31
A couple of things AJH.

Shaw is too often injured, Williams comes in but has not enough left foot and doesn’t look like an Irwin at left back. I like Williams but think it will depend on who the left back is up against as well. If it is a left footed winger, playing on the right, a right footed full back can be useful if they cut inside all the time. However, if we want our full backs on the front foot, we need a left footed left back, one who doesn’t play 5 out of 10 games due to injury.

Telles is 27, Reguilon was I think 23. We have just bought a young 17 year old 6 foot left back from Madrid, who, in two to three years, if he is good enough, will be pushing for a place. A younger left back would block him and he would question why we bothered. Therefore Telles at 27 makes sense, if we buy him. I think the position needs to be looked at.

Telles may be first choice and that sends a clear message to Shaw. Williams will be able to cover both full back positions, especially if Dalot goes, because whilst I think Dalot is a good player Ole doesn’t. How will Williams feel about not being a first choice player? Well, down to earth lad, it didn’t do OShea any harm, but depends on his ambition. He is talented but not sure left back is right for him.

This is left field but is it worth looking at Williams in a defensive midfield role for the future?

8.) 19 Sep 2020
19 Sep 2020 10:41:32
GDS,
Or people don't realise or accept how poor Shaw is when all things are taken into consideration.

IMO, not only is Shaw not up to to the standards we aspire to, but also he is unreliable fitness wise.

9.) 19 Sep 2020
19 Sep 2020 10:55:46
Deependra,

Fully agree, he has improved but he’s still not good enough for the level we want to be at.

10.) 19 Sep 2020
19 Sep 2020 11:07:14
I think LB is an issue for us.

Luke Shaw is usually available for about half of the season and even when he plays offers little going forward. He’s not a modern full back.

Then we have a young RB as an alternative.

Telles would improve us.

11.) 19 Sep 2020
19 Sep 2020 11:21:25
An attacking left back would compliment the defensive full back in AWB.

Also, when we play a back 3, we can use AWB as RCB and Brandon as Right Wing back.

In Alex Telles we will have a good player who can provide quality crosses and who can take good corner kicks.
He has recorded 8 assists this season and 11 goals.

12.) 19 Sep 2020
19 Sep 2020 11:32:56
TRD we lack goals from defenders don’t we, if we sign him and see those returns that would see us better off in terms of points. Shaw offers absolutely nothing going forward, he’s too lazy in attack and poor position ally in defence. I do rate him on the left of a back 3 but he’s not got the engine to be a starting LB in a team wanting to challenge for a title.

13.) 19 Sep 2020
19 Sep 2020 11:43:07
ED047, I meant with Shaw being injury prone, signing Telles means that Williams would be our only LB available. Given that he is so young, he would need to rested a d rotated.
Ideally Shaw would be sold if Telles was signed.

{Ed047's Note - yes that was my opinion, Telles should be your No1 with Williams filling in when needed and just offload Shaw.

14.) 19 Sep 2020
19 Sep 2020 11:51:02
Yeah Wazza, keep in mind that he takes Porto's penalties.
We will be getting a LB at his peak if we manage to get him.

15.) 19 Sep 2020
19 Sep 2020 12:29:00
Or alternatively Shaw moves to CB/ LCB.

The best Shaw played last season as was a LCB of a back three. While playing in that position he covers well for Maguire and his lack of attacking threat isn't an issue.

Ole wanted a left footed CB, maybe rather than trying to find a top class CB we could sign a great offensive LB in Alex Telles and move Shaw into a back three.

Playing a back three would also lessen the need for an out and out CDM like Matic. Which means we could see DvdB play with a flexible midfield three with Bruno and Pogba.

With a front 2 rather than 3, meaning if we don't sign a top class RW it wouldn't be the end of the world.

16.) 19 Sep 2020
19 Sep 2020 12:40:19
Its amazing how any player we are linked with becomes world class while our own are branded average or poor .
Shaw issue is staying fit, played well last season there was a drop off in the team performance once he done his ankle . Was player of the year the previous season .
Telles done ok in Turkey struglled in Italy, but has played well for Porto although its not the strongest league . didn't get a call up for Italy decided on Brazil, but only has 1 cap . Looks decent although its not always easy to judge waching a player in a less competive league . He is 27 now not really set the world alight if we are honest . Maybe now is the time tho 😬.

17.) 19 Sep 2020
19 Sep 2020 15:28:04
You brought a smile to my face jred. Thanks! The last player we brought in from the "less competitive league" didn't do badly for us. May be it slipped of your mind, remember Bruno? As for Shaw, he is incapable of staying fit and only Jones stays more time in the hospital than Shaw. The reason there was drop of form when Shaw injured himself was because you had to rely on a kid who wasnt ready and still isnt.

18.) 19 Sep 2020
19 Sep 2020 16:13:49
Ed0047 Nobody would touch Shaw because of his astronomical wages. We never learn, a player has a good 45 minutes and wooden top is there with an improved contract. Pathetic.

{Ed047's Note - ahh didn’t realise he was on such huge wages BR, between us we seem to have a fair few players no one wants! 🤦‍♂️