[Albion] Solly March is not a defender; discuss.

Doc Lynam · Dec 9, 2020

Quality in the ball, has a descent engine and most crucially a left foot but, he’s not a defender. That position takes years to learn and fine tune. He’s getting better but at this level you need to be complete. That was a wingers challenge on the Southampton player late in the game, didn’t need to do it just force him down the line. Same mistake at Villa, didn’t need to challenge and empower the ref to make a 50/50 call. Left wing backs aren’t easy to come by but it’s not Bernardo or Solly for me its A. Nother.

Realise this might not be popular but just wondered what others thought in the cold light of day?

UTA

blue-shifted · Dec 9, 2020

Shocking decision by Solly to make both of those challenges.

His positional sense, tracking back and covering is exemplary. Tackling less so. Personally I think he'll improve his game here as he has with other areas.

He's been one of our best players this season playing wing back, so I don't think I could agree that he isn't a wing back

Farehamseagull · Dec 9, 2020

Good spot, he's a wing back. And a recently converted one at that.

And for the most part he has been bloody brilliant in that position this season. But it is his first season playing in that position so there will be the odd mistake but overall he's contributed more than most players for us this season. He's a very good wing back and will only get better the more he plays in that position. An England call up is definitely out of the question despite some of the more OTT responses to that suggestion on here Monday night.

albionalex · Dec 9, 2020

I don't think this is debatable?

Doc Lynam · Dec 9, 2020

blue-shifted said:
Shocking decision by Solly to make both of those challenges.

His positional sense, tracking back and covering is exemplary. Tackling less so. Personally I think he'll improve his game here as he has with other areas.

He's been one of our best players this season playing wing back, so I don't think I could agree that he isn't a wing back

Can’t agree with you there, see MU equaliser i think it was, from a free kick; nowhere near the man outside the back post, controlling the angle from the left.

The Wizard · Dec 9, 2020

One of our best players this season, he’s not the best defender but when you play wing backs they often get caught out of position, particularly late on in games. Why aren’t people saying the same about Lamptey? His defensive positioning at times against Southampton in the second half was absolutely awful.

*Just to clarify I’m not critiquing Lamptey, he’s a fantastic player but he does get found wanting positionally at times.

Badger Boy · Dec 9, 2020

If he was right footed, he'd have disappeared from the game years ago.

beorhthelm · Dec 9, 2020

wing back is a compromise position anyway, so often not an outright defender there.

Stat Brother · Dec 9, 2020

I take it we lost the last game.

zefarelly · Dec 9, 2020

The Wizard said:
One of our best players this season, he’s not the best defender but when you play wing backs they often get caught out of position, particularly late on in games. Why aren’t people saying the same about Lamptey? His defensive positioning at times against Southampton in the second half was absolutely awful.

*Just to clarify I’m not critiquing Lamptey, he’s a fantastic player but he does get found wanting positionally at times.

What like chasing and tackling Ratfink in the left back position?

I don't disagree, he is being played as a winger predominantly

twickers · Dec 9, 2020

Doc Lynam said:
Quality in the ball, has a descent engine and most crucially a left foot but, he’s not a defender. That position takes years to learn and fine tune. He’s getting better but at this level you need to be complete. That was a wingers challenge on the Southampton player late in the game, didn’t need to do it just force him down the line. Same mistake at Villa, didn’t need to challenge and empower the ref to make a 50/50 call. Left wing backs aren’t easy to come by but it’s not Bernardo or Solly for me its A. Nother.

Realise this might not be popular but just wondered what others thought in the cold light of day?

UTA

I think your point bears repeating. He is a winger, but to cover the back part of the role as wing back is asking him to perform with about £50m worth of PL level judgement. We'd have to buy that, the management know the trade off...the fans are less forgiving. Similarly going forward, the fans expect £50m end product. It is perhaps this area he is more likely to develop, how fast and how much...well last season and this season are meant to be the pivotal seasons in his career. We'll see.

Acker79 · Dec 9, 2020

Doc Lynam said:
has a descent engine

Good for going down the wing.

Doc Lynam · Dec 9, 2020

The Wizard said:
One of our best players this season, he’s not the best defender but when you play wing backs they often get caught out of position, particularly late on in games. Why aren’t people saying the same about Lamptey? His defensive positioning at times against Southampton in the second half was absolutely awful.

*Just to clarify I’m not critiquing Lamptey, he’s a fantastic player but he does get found wanting positionally at times.

But you may have noticed he positions himself 50/50 because of his speed, he can cover 2 options for the attacker, I can see what he’s doing and to be fair Solly does this to an extent. Wingback isn’t a compromise in my mind but a truly specialised position, arguably wingbacks are our most critical position in our team or any team playing this system. Lamptey looks the part and can smell out danger but might get caught out going forward. Solly plays the position solidly, but isn’t a defender in a role that asks for a split personality and ability.

Doc Lynam · Dec 9, 2020

twickers said:
I think your point bears repeating. He is a winger, but to cover the back part of the role as wing back is asking him to perform with about £50m worth of PL level judgement. We'd have to buy that, the management know the trade off...the fans are less forgiving. Similarly going forward, the fans expect £50m end product. It is perhaps this area he is more likely to develop, how fast and how much...well last season and this season are meant to be the pivotal seasons in his career. We'll see.

Agree, on a side note only highlights what an absolute steal Lamptey was!

Kalimantan Gull · Dec 9, 2020

Correct. However the wing backs in our system aren't really defenders anyway, and when defenders have played there - Veltman, Burn - they have looked really limited offensively. We've got four goals this season from those positions if I'm not wrong.

darkwolf666 · Dec 9, 2020

Well that's the first one ticked off my list for next scapegoat after Ryan.

Gross up next?

blockhseagull · Dec 9, 2020

Doing a decent job and certainly isn’t out of his depth at PL level, been both surprised and delighted how he has added some consistency to his game this season.

He is however one of a few that need ‘upgrading’ if we have genuine ambitions of being mid table and above.

Tom Hark Preston Park · Dec 9, 2020

Doc Lynam said:
Quality in the ball, has a descent engine and most crucially a left foot but, he’s not a defender. That position takes years to learn and fine tune. He’s getting better but at this level you need to be complete. That was a wingers challenge on the Southampton player late in the game, didn’t need to do it just force him down the line. Same mistake at Villa, didn’t need to challenge and empower the ref to make a 50/50 call. Left wing backs aren’t easy to come by but it’s not Bernardo or Solly for me its A. Nother.

Realise this might not be popular but just wondered what others thought in the cold light of day?

UTA

Always so easy to discuss with the benefit of hindsight when you've seen the thing a dozen times from a dozen different angles on the telly

Doc Lynam · Dec 9, 2020

Kalimantan Gull said:
Correct. However the wing backs in our system aren't really defenders anyway, and when defenders have played there - Veltman, Burn - they have looked really limited offensively. We've got four goals this season from those positions if I'm not wrong.

They are absolutely defenders on a opposition counter the 3 at the back close in and the wingback now are fullbacks running for position, this is where my issue with Solly start. Don’t get me wrong it’s not easy to flip a switch and do two jobs in one player but we’re playing at the top level now and any weakness just gets found out. But as has been said real quality in that position and your looking north of 25m in my mind. Not taking into account wages etc.

Doc Lynam · Dec 9, 2020

Tom Hark said:
Always so easy to discuss with the benefit of hindsight when you've seen the thing a dozen times from a dozen different angles on the telly

I see it live I used to play the position only at county level but I was a fullback converted to wingback.

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