Football has seen some talented full-backs over the years,
full-backs on either wing, left and right. Traditionally and tactically, the right
back should be a right footer and left back a left footer, so that they become
more compatible when on an attacking run or go to cross the ball via their stronger
foot. But, in the modern era there is a good demand for orthodox full backs. Making
the team versatile and unpredictable. Right from the yesterday’s greats like
Maldini, Zanetti, Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Lahm, Cole and Neville to today’s
legends, Marcelo, Dani Alves, Evra and Alaba. All energetic, fast and attacking
minded full-backs, who have supplied great legendary attackers like Ronaldinho,
Ronaldo, Drogba, Muller, Messi, Rooney and many others. Striking a partnership and
a bond so deep, that both, the attacker and full-back were telepathic, knowing what
the latter was going to do.
Manchester United also had and have a fair share of great
full-backs, who won many accolades with the club. Them being, Gary Neville,
Patrice Evra, Denis Irwin. Neville and Evra were as good as telepaths along
with their strike counterparts David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo.
Speaking of strike partnerships imagine the chemistry between Marcelo and
Ronaldo but, just switch them with Neville and Beckham 20 years back.
Currently, United have 5 full-backs, them being Valencia,
Darmian, Young, Shaw and Blind. Adding to that, they also have Rojo and Lindelof,
who can play on the wings of defense and Fosu-Mensah and Tuanzebe out on loan,
totaling to 9 players compatible to be deployed as a right back or left back. Valencia and Young being the first choice full-backs.
The peculiar and most amazing thing is that both these players were former attacking
wingers converted into full-backs by an accident that was more of a blessing as
both of them have found great success in their newly found position despite
being over 30 years of age. But, the topic of discussion is, what will the future
of the full-back roles at United as Young and Valencia won’t be here for long
due to age. Let’s analyse each position by it’s current and future options.
Right Back.
The right back role is more sorted and easily analysable
than the problematic left back role. Antonio Valencia (32) has been one of the
stand-out players with his energetic runs in the attacking runs, immense strength
and intelligent defending. All the qualities in a traditional and athletic
South American attacker, well now a defender after an amazing transition. Valencia
has been the controller general of the right back position for a while, making it
an untouchable position due to his stand-out performances. Valencia has made 27
appearances in the Premier League, 4 in the Champions League and 1 in the FA
Cup totalling to 32 appearances this season, starting all. He is also the ‘Captain’
on the pitch. Although Michael Carrick is the club’s official captain, his
deputy Valencia usually leads the side out during games, due to the latter’s
age and future stint as coach. Thus, making him the ‘unofficial official’ captain.
The player is an absolute machine despite being 32 years old and being the
captain. He has an 85% pass accuracy this season and has made a total of 67 crosses
this season. Valencia, has won 2 league titles, 1 FA cup, 2 EFL Cups and 1
Europa League with the club, followed by an inclusion in the PFA Team of the
Year 2009-10, Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year 2011-12, 2016-17 Europa League Team
of the Season, 2 Players Player of the Year awards and is in contention with
Manchester City’s Kyle Walker for a spot in the 2017/18 PFA Team of the Year. It
is sure that Valencia will be the controller of the right back role for a
couple of years. As back-up, United have Matteo Darmian (28), a player not that
famous with the fans and a player who hasn’t played a lot this season, making
only 11 appearances this season and nearly disappearing from the line-up,
further fueling the rumors of him being sold in the summer. United also have
Young and Lindelof who can play as a right back if needed. Young has been the club’s
first choice left-back but is can also play as a right back due to his
versatility and winger roots, whereas Lindelof plays as a right back for Sweden.
.
Future of the Position
It is clear that Mourinho will be looking to keep Valencia
as his first choice right back and will not be looking into acquiring a new signing
and it is advisable to let Valencia do what he does best until time tells.
However, Jose could recall Fosu-Mensah from Crystal Palace and give him a shot
with deserved chances. Fosu-Mensah has been loaned out to Crystal Palace for
the whole season and has been the stand-out performer, out-shining great
right-backs with his slender age, maturity and physical power and putting
world-class attackers to the ground. Ashley Young could be transferred to the
right back role to provide competition to Valencia. The club are looking in
bringing a specialist left-back due to many problems, as a result, Young could
be transferred to the right. Lindelof may be compatible to the right back role,
but, it doesn’t look that it could be permanent as he has just found his groove
as a centre back.
Left Back
The left back position has been the problematic position this
season and subject to the most controversies. Ashley Young (32) has been the
stand-out performer and the first choice for the job. Like his right back counterpart
Valencia, Young was also a former winger turned full-back with high attacking capabilities.
He has made 24 appearances in the Premier League, 4 in the Champions League and
2 in the League Cup, totalling to 30 total appearances this season. His role
may not be an untouchable as he too has made many mistakes this season, mainly
defensive for obvious reasons, being an attacker, it will take time to completely
transit into a full-back which he is doing a good job. But, he is a human and
will make mistakes on a position which he is not completely familiar with. However,
being a left back has had a positive impact on the Englishman as he has been
recalled to the England national squad after 4 years and has already made his
mark, making himself first choice there too. Unofficially cementing his name in
the World Cup squad going to Russia in June. The main problem in the left back
role has been the back-ups. United have sufficient back-ups in the form of Luke
Shaw, Matteo Darmian, Daley Blind and Marcos Rojo. Daley Blind has been injured
for the majority of the season and hasn’t made an impact this season. He has
got limited game time and has just recovered from a fresh injury. He looks the
first to be offloaded in the summer to fund a move for a better player and in
all fairness the player should leave United to savage something from the
remaining years in his career. Marcos Rojo has just signed a new deal with the
club, which means that he will be a key player next season. Although he can
play left back, he has got the pace and attacking qualities required for one
and his frequent injury record. He is better off a centre back and should remain
there. As mentioned above, Darmian looks set to leave as he can’t cope with Valencia
at right back and cannot do the same at left-back. He may have started in the
Europa League Final as a left back which is still a mystery on how he was
selected, he is definitely a liability as he can’t cross the ball and possesses
high levels of clumsiness. Lastly, Luke Shaw the most controversial and talked
about player on our list. Shaw’s future looks rather uncertain after the recent
criticism and hatred towards him. Shaw is a fantastic player and being included
in the PFA Team of the Year at the age of 19 is no joke. It shows his quality. However,
the player has been plagued with numerous injuries after his double leg break
against PSV three years back. But, it looks that Shaw has started to maintain his
fitness levels after all and slowly is trying to get into the good books of
Jose who publicly criticized him and subbed him off at half time. Jose stated
that Shaw is always an option for him and there is no rift with the player. But,
the press keeps on unsettling the youngster who is trying his best and shows
courage and commitment to the United badge. He is behind Young for the starting
spot, although he is better and is suffering with lack of game time.
Future of the Position.
It will be wise that United get a specialist in the left
back position as soon as possible as we can’t afford anymore inconsistent
performances. Young may be the stand-out player but we still require a
specialist as he isn’t accustomed to the role completely and with Darmian, Blind
and Shaw’s situation uncertain, all the more reason to get a quality left back.
United have reportedly shortlisted Alex Sandro and Faouzi Ghoulam. Sandro has a
64 million release clause in his contract and doesn’t mind leaving the old lady
in the summer and Ghoulam, the latest player to be linked with a move to United
has a 26 million asking price placed by Napoli. Sandro looks the better and younger
option being 24 and Ghoulam being 27. 64 million in this inflated market is
nothing and United should definitely sign him.
To conclude, United require a new left back and Sandro looks
the preferred option. Darmain and Blind should be offloaded. Mourinho still
believes in Shaw and wants to keep him. Should he stay, Valencia, Young and
Fosu-Mensah should be the right back option next season and Sandro, Shaw and
Rojo should be the left back options. In this way the squad will have enough
dept, quality and healthy competition among the players.
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