Unfortunately though, as part of a back five, I see that as a huge problem. A full back, as part of a back four, can make up for a lack of pace (although it's still not ideal). Granted it probably limits them offensively - crossing aside - but if there's a decent winger ahead of them, that's not necessarily a bad thing (eg a FB who stays back probably means that the opposition winger, if there is one, doesn't feel the need to defend, thereby allowing your winger to directly attack, with space, their full back one-on-one). But a wing back, as part of back five, has to be able to run. The two of them, one of each side, are arguably the most important players in that system - because they have a huge job at both ends of the pitch. They need to get up and down the wing, time and time again.
Agree with this, Bertie is a far more effective WB than Matty, who is much more at home as a conventional LB. The former's strengths are his speed and energy, the latter's is his crossing ability.
Do you not think that it might not be the crowd having a go at him and confidence and just that he isn’t quick enough to take on a full back? Take yesterday as an example, there was no chance he could’ve tried to run Antonio. He would’ve lost out both in pace and strength. This means, as you say, he resorts to crossing from deeper and becomes predictable. I can think of one time early on when he got in behind and that was from Antonio being out of position and a clever ball inside from Armstrong I think but that was it. In this system where full backs seem very important for creating stuff that simply isn’t enough
Yeah in terms of just taking players on, I don't think Targett is necessarily having much potential hampered. From a standing or near-standing start I'm not sure there's a full back in the league that Matty could take on and go past. He certainly could pick up some wily tricks to find bits of room as his experience grows, but he has minimal burst. I do think the crowd on his back has certainly created and sustained the vicious cycle of him hesitating on the ball and going backwards though, but he's starting to get a little bit more confidence in that regard, now that his crossing is earning him a bit of positive response. His close passing being untidy I don't think can be put down to the crowd too much either.
Targett strikes me as the epitome of the solid (career) Championship player. Has a top-level skill that fits in well at that level, but to be a good PL fullback, one needs to either be very fleet of foot or quick of thought (ideally both), and he's unfortunately neither.
He suits a Burnley or a Stoke, Very good in a organised team, With someone infront of him where he can benefit from crossing early.
I saw signs of Armstrong and Targett working well together as I have for the last couple of games. I think its not just about the individual player as Targett had a cracking season last time out with fulham where he worked very well with sessegnon. The fulham fans were very complimentary. All the players need a chance to work with the new manager before being written off. Again. Like they have been for the last 2 years.
I am biased when it comes to these conversations as I watch full backs play far more intensely (if that's the right word) than most people do. It is why, when we were actually good, I said Clyne was our best player and we would miss him massively, it's why I love Shaw and think he still could be up there with one of the best around. It is also almost certainly why I hate Danny Fox and think he is tragic at everything bar set pieces. Targett has strengths, notably his delivery and he is actually a good defender when in position and can dictate a winger, unfortunately for him and us that doesn't happen often enough as he simply isn't quick enough to be able to utilise both those things.
As far as I'm aware, he played at LB for Fulham (and in the Championship). I haven't really seen much criticism of Targett as a LB. The criticism aimed at him has, by and large, been as a LWB - and that's important, because whilst we continue to play with three CBs, it's a LWB we'll be playing rather than a LB. How good Targett is (or isn't) as part of a back four is irrelevant if we're not going to play a back four.
