Easy one for me but very alarming how much natural cover we fail to have for the RB position. Got to keep him, I guess Dallas is his cover. Some might argue Shackleton could possibly cover but not an ideal situation. Should we sign another RB? Thoughts?....
Keep for his team work ethic and he was one who stood up to be counted. Yes we need another right back but i know nothing of the u23 lads.
With a couple of games to go and promotion secured I think those fringe players Bielsa gave time to like Struijk and Shackleton are the only ones in the immediate frame.
Ayling get it, he gets the club, the shirt and the fans and for me thats like having a top player because you know he will give it all. Hes a decent RB but we will need better but all in good time as you have to give players who got you promoted a chance. in the Academy one of the best ballers at the club is a RB. He has had a couple of injuries that have stopped him breaking through, but he could scare the crap out of the prem if his progress is not stopped. Bryce Hosannah is very very fast, skilfull and can play box to box wing back as well as a stopper
Big fan of Ayling. I agree with Doc on him. He plays the way Bielsa wants his players to play. Doesn't always take the easy option but is brave enough to play the risky pass in order to get us on the front foot. Understands the system, can play in a back three too. I credit Ayling as the player who grabbed this team during the bad run after Christmas and turned them around. He deserves his chance and is good enough to step up. Very important player for us. Vastly underrated, not necessarily talent wise but the way he leads people. Replacements would be Dallas, Shackleton, Gotts and Hosannah. If I remember correctly Hosannah played well in the pre season trip to Oz last summer. I think we are ok at RB despite losing Berardi as cover.
I loved Ayling’s play in the Championship. I would like to be proved wrong but I think he will struggle for pace in the Prem. the players there are frighteningly quick. id jeep him as he deserves his chance And he’s got the right attitude but I’d expect there to be other options made available.
Don’t think you’re allowed Jeeps on the pitch, would certainly increase his speed though, what’s 0-60 like?
Thank heavens you got there first. Ell was about to explain 'jeeping' someone was a southern activity usually carried out after a late night encounter in a gents urinal.
Ayling's been great. Some criticise him for being too far up the pitch, but he's just following orders. Is he the world's most gifted right back? no, is he likely to get burned one-on-one more frequently in the prem? yes. But he absolutley embraces bielsaball and what it's about, he's always available as an outlet and ready to bomb forward drawing cover whether he receives the ball or not. He's brave enough to keep trying. Might we need better for a successful champion's league campaign? Sure, but replacing him is well down the list of priorities... which in my view are Striker, 10, 2 cb's, left back, keeper, DM cover. I think we'll sign a left back, giving us dallas as fullback cover either side.
