Milner vs Downing at LB

I prefer being on the field but I'm useless there.

 

Let's try Benteke there....

 

You've just contradicted yourself there. Nowadays with teams playing wingers on wrong side, it's perfect time to be playing full backs on wrong side so when they try cut in, the defender is also on their stronger foot.

Arbeloa did it brilliantly against Messi back in 07 (or then abouts) when we played Barca. Azpilicueta does it well for Chelsea as well.

You lose a bit going forward in that instance as the full back will naturally want to stop and turn back onto stronger foot thougj

 

Bollocks, I've only every played Sunday League football yet if someone passes the ball to me I can control it perfectly fine with my right foot (I'm left footed). In fact I've even played RB a few times and it's sometimes easier playing on wrong side because as I said when winger cuts in you can tackle no your stronger foot.

 

I see what you are saying but dobt really agree.

First the most dangerous area a full bavk needs to cover is not when a guy cuts in. Most of the time a cut in is funnelled into cms that block that off.

A full back cannot let a guy get outside him and cross or worse past him and into the box so they must be able to tackle and not miss the tackle cos their strong foot is not the one they need to make the challenge out wide with.

Ive also said about controlling the ball and opening up you body out wide and how weve seen flanagan and gomez simply not do that and just pass back

 

I know I did, I think one has lead to the other

 

So what if i make you run 10km and put a guy who can run 100m in 11seconds up against tou to press you the moment the ball comes to you.

Think you can control it then?

Cos if you can lfc should sack flanagan and gomez and sign you up.

Also. If youve gotta make that tackle your cms and winger have left you isolated

 

First rule of defending is you show the attacking down the line, further away from goal. Unless you want to funnel them inside to the CM's but I don't think our CM are good enough defensively for that to be a tactic.

Especially with wingers playing on opposite sides, if I've got Beckham playing LW, I'd much rather show him down the line away from goal on his weaker foot, even if that also means I'm on mine.

 

Coutino & Hendo....

 

I reckon I could give it a go, and if I was being paid 10k a week and been practising every day for the last 10 years then I'd make sure I could do a basic of controlling a football with either foot to a level that the ball wouldn't go 10 yards away from me.

 

Couts just hacks at lads granted but he does try get back.. look at his "great" work in the europa final.

 

Everyone says that though.... then you see actual pros (which btw nobody has denied) lime flanagan and gomez cobtrol it on right foot and end up facing their own goal and bavk pass constantly.

 

Surely that depends who you're playing.

Against Brod's Liverpool I'd have let them go down the line rather than cut inside. We weren't going to do any damage with crosses!

 

Because they're English and when young were shoved in a RB position and never actually forced to train with their weaker foot.

Look at some of the good technical players from Spain... anyone tell me what foot Cazorla is? Or Iniesta? Our coaching at youth level is pants and fully focussed on physicality and putting people into a position based on that.

Players shouldn't have a natural position until they hit teen years I don't think. Stick a RB at LB and CB, give them some ideas of the whole defence and positioning etc.

 

I remember there being a big debate as to what foot Nani was lol

 

Cazorla takes free kicks/corners with both feet depending which side of the field he is on, naturally 2 footed.

Now not expecting every player to be like that, but to control a ball with weaker foot, that's just a standard bit of football like making a 10 yard pass.

 

If the argument is to take our best, international class full-back and put him at Lrft back to accommodate Milner, then I say no. I cited the example of playing Rob Jones at left back/wing-back to accommodate McAteer further up the thread, and that was for a player in McAteer who was a full/wing back, as opposed to Milner who's just filling in. As said, Clynne is class at right back - let's not **** it up - buy a left back, even an old one from the continent, and even if it's just for one season.

 

Nobody is a two-footed defender. I played full back (ok, schooboy and pub team level) and a decent winger doesn't take long to twig on that you're out of your comfort zone.

 

I am the most one footed player ever, I can't use my left for passing, shooting or tackling, it's literally there for standing on. However, I often control the ball with my left still, provides a better starting point for the next action.

 

It's funny. I'm woefully one footed (or was before I knackered my knees playing on astroturf) but when situations forfed me to use my left foot I always surprised myself. I think the lack of confidence forces me not to "autopilot" on my much weaker foot so I do better.

In practice my left foot is awful but in heat of the moment it always seemed to work for me.