04 Feb 2015 10:55:30
Something that I think I've noticed over the last couple of games is how the defence has looked more stable and solid when playing McNair at RB.
Really this shouldn't come as a surprise, playing a defender in a defensive position instead of an attack minded player makes the team better defensively shock horror.
But maybe this is the way forward, although the competition was hardly top class, McNair has looked very assured at RB, He is a very good passer of the ball, and strong defensively it is these attributes that have had many believe his long term future is as a defensive midfielder. But in the short term maybe a spell as a RB might give him some game time in the first team while also allowing him to play to his strengths.
Personally I think we should play with a back four as playing with a back 3/5 is limiting our chances further forward by being over committed to defending. For me three of the four positions should be McNair/Rafael at RB, Shaw at LB and Rojo at CB, leaving one player to cement a position at CB alongside Rojo.
How we line up further forward will depend on who is available and who the opposition is. But a defence needs to be settled, and having the same guys play each week is the best way to achieve this, no more playing wingers in defence let's play defenders in defence and then release our more forward thinking players to attack.
Rojo was great yesterday.
Agree Shappy. McNair looked good yesterday but he was up against Chadwick, be interesting to see him against better standard, he also gives away a lot of needless fouls, which is something to consider.
04 Feb 2015 11:49:24
Beast, he's 19yo in his first season in the first team. He is bound to be a bit rough around the edges, but for me if the only criticism you can level at a 19yo is he is a bit over exuberant then that is a very good sign.
He's far from reckless with his tackling he is just jumping in when standing your ground is the better option. This happens with all youngster who are trying to impress and feel they have to win every ball. For me the thing he lacks to be a long term full back is searing pace, he isn't slow but he isn't lighting and in the modern game at the highest level your wide players need pace. But while he learns his trade the RB position is best for him imo. It allows him to commit the odd foul without it being in too dangerous a position and allows him to learn and grow into the player he could be. Maybe in a 2/3 years time he will be ready to move in field as a CB or DM on a more perminant basis. I could see him following a similar career path as Daley Blind.
Wasn't he initially a midfielder before being "converted" into a defender?
Definitely agree Shappy. The point about needless fouls will easily be remedied but it is a point to consider - Jones still does it now and we have been punished several times for it. I remember Stoke last season sticking out - Astronaut!
He looked good and with a pacey attacking player ahead of him he will provide the cover so that we don't need to stifle our attackers too much with the need to defend.
We do need to see more of him though, but it was good to see him do so well yesterday. Another thing that stood out was his delivery. Rojo chipped two over the bar within seconds, then McNair clipped a decent ball in straight after for RVP. These little things are all important for confidence.
Mbd, he has played as a midfielder, full back and central defender during his time at youth level.
It's quite common to move youngster around during youth football to help round their game.
From what i've heard and read most who have seen him at close quarters feel midfield is his long term position
Beast, it's his range and quality of passing that have most thinking midfield is his long term position, if we are going to continue with possession football then we need very good passers, and he is by far the beat option at full back when it comes to passing ability.
04 Feb 2015 12:25:12
Shappy,
I agree 100% with that post, I was hoping there would be a discussion on here about Paddy today, I thought he was brilliant last night, from about 10 minutes in I had said 'Well played Paddy' about 5 times and it got better and better for me.
If I was writing a full post about him it would be exactly the same as the one Shappy just wrote, so I won't repeat it, I will just agree wholeheartedly.
04 Feb 2015 13:34:47
Who is the phantom disagreer to all of my posts? Very humorous and mature :)
I looked the other day and I had 10 disagrees on one of my posts, later it had JUST 5. I think some people just keep clicking it - angry fest!
Just pay attention to the comments GDS2 is my advice mate.
04 Feb 2015 13:47:11
GDS, I was SO tempted to hit disagree on that last post :) Like you said, Snappy has said everything I wanted to say about Paddy. Glad to see another local lad doing well at Utd.
Agree with Shappy on all the above, he was a breath of fresh air
McNairs overlapping play in the first half was excellent with some nice runs into the box. His passing centrally from wide positions is something we have lacked going forward. I think when/if Herrera plays on the right of the Diamond it will help as Herrera is always looking for the ball and looking to move forward with it. Herrera and McNair could compliment each other really well on the right my opinion
Shappy,
Thanks for the info mate. As usual, your comments are always a delight to read. Please keep them coming.
I don't see McNair as a RB at all. Too slow, looks nervous on the ball. I'd be surprised if he ever made it as a RB. He would get smashed against decent opposition.
04 Feb 2015 18:37:15
Syd,
Looks nervous on the ball? Are we talking about the same player?
Syd, I'm guessing you haven't watched the last couple of games?
He is very composed, he occasionally jumps in and can be rash but so are most defenders at 19yo. He isn't greased lightening but he isn't slow.
I don't think his long term future is at RB, but he is potentially our best RB in a possession based team. Certainly on the form of the players who have played at RB this season he has been right up there and probably played the best of the lot.
We should still look to bring in someone like Clyne in the summer but until then McNair may be the best deputy we have.
04 Feb 2015 20:43:17
The three players that impressed me the most or at all while the rest could have played better were Blind (again), Rojo and McNair.
Blind, apart from the pass at the beginning which wasn't helped by ADM's poor pass didn't put a foot wrong and does a very good job at keeping the ball moving in the middle. He's not the fastest as we know but he just reads the game so well, his reaction time and thinking is one step ahead of most people's. He's always winning the 50/50s and loose balls. Starting to really like him.