Earl Barrett's and Steve Staunton are the best full back's I've seen in my time. Both cracking defenders but were both very capable of getting forwards. Staunton had one of the best left foots I've seen at the Villa. Absolutely cracking player.
Part of the modern game now though isn't it? Full backs end up being where the space is and coaches now value them as an attacking / creative threat far more than they used to.I rather like the KIND of full back Lambert wants. Extremely athletic, main focus is starting attacks. It is just that is a very very hard role to recruit.
Quote from: ciggiesnbeer on July 28, 2014, 05:44:19 PMPart of the modern game now though isn't it? Full backs end up being where the space is and coaches now value them as an attacking / creative threat far more than they used to.I rather like the KIND of full back Lambert wants. Extremely athletic, main focus is starting attacks. It is just that is a very very hard role to recruit.Well, no. it's been part of the game for as long as I can remember following football and Villa. From the last 70's on the most of the best full-backs have always been those that have been able to attack. Look at Viv Anderson in the late 70s onwards. One of the best English full-backs and he was very good going forward. Like a wicketkeeper now having to be able to also, full-backs are expected to be able to attack. It's one of the universally accepted musts within the game tactically.
I liked someone like Staunton who was good on the ball, and offered something going forward, while still being in place to furfil his defensive duties. He really was a well rounded full-back, same with Alan Wright. He created a number of chances going forward, but also was excellent in the tackle and had great pace from back to front.I get that it is part of the modern game now, but to me a defender to should be good at defending first off all, and then anything else is a bonus.
Not sure if he's already been mentioned on this thread, but in recent times Wilfred Bouma was a player I wish we'd have seen more of in a Villa shirt. Not particularly great going forward, but top drawer defensively and had the makings of being a bit of a cult hero.
Quote from: RussellC on July 29, 2014, 09:38:08 AMNot sure if he's already been mentioned on this thread, but in recent times Wilfred Bouma was a player I wish we'd have seen more of in a Villa shirt. Not particularly great going forward, but top drawer defensively and had the makings of being a bit of a cult hero.Yeah I was sad to see his Villa career cut short thought he was class, with a good work rate.
It's crazy to think, that somebody like Steve Stuanton would cost you around £35m in the current market.
Quote from: Gregorys Boy on July 29, 2014, 11:16:32 AMQuote from: RussellC on July 29, 2014, 09:38:08 AMNot sure if he's already been mentioned on this thread, but in recent times Wilfred Bouma was a player I wish we'd have seen more of in a Villa shirt. Not particularly great going forward, but top drawer defensively and had the makings of being a bit of a cult hero.Yeah I was sad to see his Villa career cut short thought he was class, with a good work rate.After being released by us, Bouma went back to PSV and played another 70 odd games in three seasons. While we were left to be frustrated over in-ability of Stephen Warnock. Nce one Martin.
Quote from: Gregorys Boy on July 29, 2014, 01:25:41 AMI liked someone like Staunton who was good on the ball, and offered something going forward, while still being in place to furfil his defensive duties. He really was a well rounded full-back, same with Alan Wright. He created a number of chances going forward, but also was excellent in the tackle and had great pace from back to front.I get that it is part of the modern game now, but to me a defender to should be good at defending first off all, and then anything else is a bonus.I think the emphasis has changed because tackling is now seen as a last resort due to the shift in the way games are refereed. In the past an attacking full back was really just there to overlap and try to get a cross in, now they are expected to be comfortable on the ball and pass it rather than cross it. Also, because they don't tend to get marked they are the out ball when teams look to switch play so they become almost a supplementary midfield player, the regular use of 3-5-2 is an obvious result of that.