Leandro Bacuna - Sold

[Risso]

manu qualified for CL last with two of those "utility" players in Young and Valencia. Our problem is not Leandro.

He's very much part of the problem, and comparing him to the Man United players you mentioned is utterly baffling.  He isn't good enough as either a right back or a right midfielder, both of those players would walk into just about any team in the country.

[usav]

manu qualified for CL last with two of those "utility" players in Young and Valencia. Our problem is not Leandro.

No, but it's part of it.  We have a better right-back on the bench.

I've noticed in the last two games that when the ball is played out from the back, he does not know what to do.  He either hoofs it long, runs it out of play or gives it away.  No left foot, no skills to get out of a tight situation - just not good enough.

[adrenachrome]

Hope this isn't the curse of the new contract.

No it's not because he was shit to begin with.

Oh pipe down. Lots of assists and a few goals last few seasons and only 23.

I agree he's not a right back but he's being asked to play there and a useful squad player

Pardew didn't respond effectively to our early superiority until half time, but one thing he did fairly early on was get Saha to switch over to the right side. It reminded me of when teams would transfer both wingers to one side to attack Lowton or Bennett and you could put your in-play bet on there and then.   

This is a sure sign of things to come, and I hope TS addresses the issue. If the opposition have a wide threat, then Bacuna needs substantial cover from the midfield or our right sided front player.

Back in the days of MoN, who seemed to think for a while you could play central defenders at full back, we had a heated debate about whether specialist full backs were even necessary any more, and it was even mooted that there were no longer any wingers in the PL.

There may not be wingers in the old style, but there are tricky speed merchants who like to play wide, and managers who can spot a weakness. Hutton can nullify such a threat, but is not very effective going forward. It's tough for Tim, unless he buys the complete solution.     

[usav]

There may not be wingers in the old style, but there are tricky speed merchants who like to play wide, and managers who can spot a weakness. Hutton can nullify such a threat, but is not very effective going forward. It's tough for Tim, unless he buys the complete solution.   

The best compromise to that would be Hutton / Traore combo.

[oswald funkletrumpet]

Hope this isn't the curse of the new contract.

No it's not because he was shit to begin with.

Oh pipe down. Lots of assists and a few goals last few seasons and only 23.

I agree he's not a right back but he's being asked to play there and a useful squad player

another case of he is only (insert age here) good squad player, does his best etc etc, this time next year we will be millionaires.

players of bacunas standard is the reason why we are in the shit

[Stirchley Villain]

He's being asked to play out of position. Not because he's particularly good in that role but because the alternative is a clod hopper. We need a specialist right back. Hutton can cover him and Bacuna can be freed up to do what he does best in midfield.

[oswald funkletrumpet]

this is where ts worries me.

play a midfielder at right back when there is a right back on the bench

[villan from luton]

I am more than satisfied with 8 positions, goalie with Guzans distribution worries me, Gabbyshould not be near the team with the talent we have and Bacuna. I like him, he is a trier, but he is not a fecking right back. He worries me all the time.

[UK Redsox]

With options like Adama, SirClive, Grealish and Gil going forward, there's no real need to compromise at right back. Just play the best defender and let the others (and Amavi) do the attacking.

[Dante Lavelli]

I didn't think he was that bad today, and the people around me did not seem to be moaning about him either.  What mistakes did I miss?

With Adama seemingly reluctant to track back too much it might be that Hutton is a better bet anyway.  Adama seemed to want to hug the touch line - at least that was his starting position - so an attacking RB may not be so vital.

[spangley1812]

With options like Adama, SirClive, Grealish and Gil going forward, there's no real need to compromise at right back. Just play the best defender and let the others (and Amavi) do the attacking.

This...........

[oswald funkletrumpet]

With options like Adama, SirClive, Grealish and Gil going forward, there's no real need to compromise at right back. Just play the best defender and let the others (and Amavi) do the attacking.

This...........

this

call me old fashioned but i like a full back who can tackle and defend and not go over the halfway line

[Dave]

With options like Adama, SirClive, Grealish and Gil going forward, there's no real need to compromise at right back. Just play the best defender and let the others (and Amavi) do the attacking.

This...........

this

call me old fashioned but i like a full back who can tackle and defend and not go over the halfway line

Cissokho spent half a season doing just that and it was decided that he was shit because his crossing and forward passing was rubbish.

[Risso]

With options like Adama, SirClive, Grealish and Gil going forward, there's no real need to compromise at right back. Just play the best defender and let the others (and Amavi) do the attacking.

This...........

this

call me old fashioned but i like a full back who can tackle and defend and not go over the halfway line

Cissokho spent half a season doing just that and it was decided that he was shit because his crossing and forward passing was rubbish.

Not sure that Cissokho was any good at tackling or defending either to be honest.

[villan from luton]

As a full back at a very decent sunday morning standard (bollox), Bacuna worries me every match. Teams will know to target him and he sure has a lot to learn