Mathieu Debuchy

[Ronaldo]

His leap and heading is so good

 

It is and makes you wonder why he isn't in the box more often for corners etc etc.... could be a real danger from set pieces.

 

He's winning headers by the touchline against wingers. Williamson could do that all day long, but he's no real use in the opposition's box when he'll be marked and the timing and direction will need to be better.

 

That aside, I've been really impressed with Debuchy in the last months and he deserves a lot of credit. Not the best defender but goes onto the pitch every game wanting to win and being prepared to do whatever it takes to win, whether that includes upsetting people or not. Same goes for Williamson. Shame that only goes for 2 defenders out of the 4.

 

I get what your saying but at the same time he's still one of our best in the air and its madness to have him on the half way line on corners and such like IMO.

 

Oh, absolutely. Tiote and Santon should be there and nobody else.

[LRD]

His leap and heading is so good

 

It is and makes you wonder why he isn't in the box more often for corners etc etc.... could be a real danger from set pieces.

 

He's winning headers by the touchline against wingers. Williamson could do that all day long, but he's no real use in the opposition's box when he'll be marked and the timing and direction will need to be better.

 

That aside, I've been really impressed with Debuchy in the last months and he deserves a lot of credit. Not the best defender but goes onto the pitch every game wanting to win and being prepared to do whatever it takes to win, whether that includes upsetting people or not. Same goes for Williamson. Shame that only goes for 2 defenders out of the 4.

 

I get what your saying but at the same time he's still one of our best in the air and its madness to have him on the half way line on corners and such like IMO.

 

You usually pull your FBs back during corners to defend against any counter-attacking breaks as they are normally the ones with pace alongside their defensive abilities. Sure you can switch someone else in to do the job but I don't see who the alternatives are without compromising on needed pace and offensive ability on the corner.

[LRD]

Oh, absolutely. Tiote and Santon should be there and nobody else.

 

Hadn't thought of him. Might be an option considering he won't be able to try his famous long-range shots at the same time.

 

Any idea which two Man Utd pull back on corners as Evra seems to attack them often, Rafael presumably being one of them.

[Kanj]

Debuchy should probably be the main guy on the edge of box trying to get any scraps for the volley.

 

I was absolutely over the moon we signed him and then began to question if he was really all-that, esp after City this season but he's proven his true quality each week. He's fantastic and I really enjoy and appreciate his desire and nastiness to his game. He's a fighter and shown a hell of a lot of pride since then.

[Teasy]

Ridiculous that some people basically gave up on him earlier this season, people need to be reminded time and time again that players often need to adapt.

[Ronaldo]

All I will say is, I wish we could've brought in someone more solid defensively who could cope with Hatem in front of him. I know we've done well recently but we'll lose a lot points this season if Hatem's sitting on the bench when we need him out there getting us out of trouble.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

All I will say is, I wish we could've brought in someone more solid defensively who could cope with Hatem in front of him. I know we've done well recently but we'll lose a lot points this season if Hatem's sitting on the bench when we need him out there getting us out of trouble.

 

There's something in this, but I don't think it's literally just a case of protecting Debuchy. It's just that in principle Pardew prefers the players that suit the more organised/hard working system.

 

 

[The College Dropout]

I don't think that's really possible.

 

IMO the more effective route is to have a super attacking tandom down a flank that forces the opposition to think defensively about their opposing wide men. Think Baines/Pienaar or Cronaldo/Marcelo. I remember Vertoghnen a fantastic defender getting torn to shreds a couple times last season when AVB had Bale in the Cronaldo freedom. After a few weeks Bale went into superman mode but I don't think HBA has that ability.

 

Otherwise the FB is going to need a decent level of protection in the modern game. One of the reasons SAF liked Young and Valencia is that they are legitimately hard working.

[LRD]

SAF likes workhorses regardless of their position. Not the best example to single out Young and Valencia for this quality in helping out the FBs.

 

Protection can be afforded in other manners. Barca had a defensive FB the opposite of Dani Alves so there's always 3 defenders in a counter-attack. Busquets also drops back to help out too.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Also, we only really notice our own fullbacks in terms of getting exposed a couple of times a game and "needing protection". Unless you follow one of those other teams very closely I don't think you'll notice that sort of thing.

[The College Dropout]

SAF likes workhorses regardless of their position. Not the best example to single out Young and Valencia for this quality in helping out the FBs.

 

Protection can be afforded in other manners. Barca had a defensive FB the opposite of Dani Alves so there's always 3 defenders in a counter-attack. Busquets also drops back to help out too.

 

They also have 70% possession. Most teams are so inferior they just want a respectable scoreline. We aren't in that position. Regardless Santon's not a stay at home FB anyway so that comparison doesn't work.

 

Also, we only really notice our own fullbacks in terms of getting exposed a couple of times a game and "needing protection". Unless you follow one of those other teams very closely I don't think you'll notice that sort of thing.

 

That's not true. A good number of goals are conceded from crosses by wingers and fullbacks.

[LRD]

SAF likes workhorses regardless of their position. Not the best example to single out Young and Valencia for this quality in helping out the FBs.

 

Protection can be afforded in other manners. Barca had a defensive FB the opposite of Dani Alves so there's always 3 defenders in a counter-attack. Busquets also drops back to help out too.

 

They also have 70% possession. Most teams are so inferior they just want a respectable scoreline. We aren't in that position. Regardless Santon's not a stay at home FB anyway so that comparison doesn't work.

 

Man Utd does not have Barca-esque possession either and they still play with 2 attacking FBs. All you need is to have one of the FB staying back when the other is attacking. Or do you think only with hardworking wingers will any system work?

[The College Dropout]

SAF likes workhorses regardless of their position. Not the best example to single out Young and Valencia for this quality in helping out the FBs.

 

Protection can be afforded in other manners. Barca had a defensive FB the opposite of Dani Alves so there's always 3 defenders in a counter-attack. Busquets also drops back to help out too.

 

They also have 70% possession. Most teams are so inferior they just want a respectable scoreline. We aren't in that position. Regardless Santon's not a stay at home FB anyway so that comparison doesn't work.

 

Man Utd does not have Barca-esque possession either and they still play with 2 attacking FBs. All you need is to have one of the FB staying back when the other is attacking. Or do you think only with hardworking wingers will any system work?

 

They often play with 2 hard working wingers like i've already said. In his pomp Evra was a fantastic defender and Rafael is pretty solid. For a couple seasons Rafael was a legitimate liability however. AND they play CB's at FB on a pretty regular basis.

[LRD]

So playing with hardworking wingers is the ONLY option for us?

[The College Dropout]

Pretty certain I already mentioned the two sitting midfielders. Could play 3 at the back. Could change manager and bring in one with a different philosophy.

 

I don't understand why hard-working wingers is such a dirty word. It's been part of the DNA have the most successful PL team.

[LRD]

Whoever mentioned that hardworking wingers is a dirty word? It's one of the options but not the only one. The thing is that you go about that as the only option for Debuchy/NUFC and disregarded when other possible solutions are given. As for being part of the most successful PL manager, I wouldn't take into isolation the high workrate SAF requires of ALL his players.

[The College Dropout]

Whoever mentioned that hardworking wingers is a dirty word? It's one of the options but not the only one. The thing is that you go about that as the only option for Debuchy/NUFC and disregarded when other possible solutions are given. As for being part of the most successful PL manager, I wouldn't take into isolation the high workrate SAF requires of ALL his players.

 

What other possibilities? This awesome FB that doesn't need any protection? The rampaging FB? A whole new manager with a different philosophy.

 

 

We have Debuchy and Pardew.

[LRD]

You must not have read my earlier posts regarding the alternatives before jumping into the debate then.

 

Using Pardew as a get-out card now.

[The College Dropout]

All I will say is, I wish we could've brought in someone more solid defensively who could cope with Hatem in front of him. I know we've done well recently but we'll lose a lot points this season if Hatem's sitting on the bench when we need him out there getting us out of trouble.

 

That's the only alternative i've seen. A player we don't have on our books, which I don't think would work anyway.

[LRD]

Tiote or Anita could drop back to cover as an auxiliary defender when Debuchy goes on the attack. Especially Anita who has had experience playing that role to great effect at Ajax.

 

One of the FBs could be asked to stay back when other attacks. Man Utd and Arsenal are two of those teams that play with 2 attacking FBs. We could do the same with some adjustments, not that I am comparing us at the same level here.

 

All these require a change in teamplay so you won't need to bring in someone not in our books.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

I don't think Debuchy is any weaker defensively than the vast majority of FBs anyway really. He is getting better at timing his forward runs.

[The College Dropout]

Tiote or Anita could drop back to cover as an auxiliary defender when Debuchy goes on the attack. Especially Anita who has had experience playing that role to great effect at Ajax.

 

One of the FBs could be asked to stay back when other attacks. Man Utd and Arsenal are two of those teams that play with 2 attacking FBs. We could do the same with some adjustments, not that I am comparing us at the same level here.

 

All these require a change in teamplay so you won't need to bring in someone not in our books.

 

That's not really true though is it. Man Utd. tend to play with hard working wide men anyway. They also often play a natural CB at FB. And they often just leave the 2 CB's at the back by themselves.

 

Arsenal do it but they pretty much always play a midfield 3. They also dominate possession mostly.

[KDT]

When Rafael is fit he's first choice, they could do with buying an improvement on him as neither Jones or Smalling are convincing replacements.

[LRD]

Man Utd season 12/13 - Evra 34 league apps, Rafael 28. Their options when Rafael is unavailable is either your CBs (Smalling or Jones) or Valencia as they do not have a 2nd specialist RB.

 

Spurs, Everton play with 2 attacking FBs. They don't dominate possession.

 

Guess you have no issue about Tiote/Anita dropping back to be an auxiliary defender then.

[The College Dropout]

Man Utd season 12/13 - Evra 34 league apps, Rafael 28. Their options when Rafael is unavailable is either your CBs (Smalling or Jones) or Valencia as they do not have a 2nd specialist RB.

 

Spurs, Everton play with 2 attacking FBs. They don't dominate possession.

 

Guess you have no issue about Tiote/Anita dropping back to be an auxiliary defender then.

 

Evra's has been a fine defender, Rafel's a good one. In a team of the season I read they had Valencia/Welbeck in the wide spots. Two very hardworking players. This only further demonstrates my point.

 

Everton have the other example I used - have wide players so good going forward they force their opponents back. I suggested that as a possibility but as we've seen this season, that won't work. Everton dominate possession this season.

 

Spurs do dominate possession and have the most athletic right side in the league.

 

 

I don't know what youre trying to say. We play a 4-4-2. We don't have a spare man to drop in defence.