Thread by @EverydayUnited2

RCB Tactical Analysis⭐️⏳

Manchester United need to look out for a young Right Sided Centre back

A detailed deep dive on the some of the best options for Erik Ten Hags Manchester United Rebuild

Key talking points to the thread

1️⃣Why do we need a RCB
2️⃣The Best Options
3️⃣Who would I choose

1️⃣Why do we Need a RCB?

Lisandro Martinez has come into the club in the summer of 2022 and completely changed the CB role. Progressive on the ball, aggressive off it, he has nailed down the Left side

Meaning between Varane/Lindelof/Maguire they are competing for the right side

- Varane has excelled at CB this year. Agility, Speed & Leadership. He’s coming 30 & and with injuries he is unreliable

- Maguire, 29, has had an error prone 12 months. Some argue he doesn’t suit the Ten Hag way, currently his form isn’t good enough to play long term

- I think the perfect Ten Hag RCB is someone with the Agility/Mobility of Varane but the physical prowess/Aerial ability of Maguire

- they also must be excellent on the ball, with the ability to progress play, breaking the lines and participating in first phase build up

2️⃣Option 1- Antonio Silva

19 year old Benfica CB Antonio Silva has taken Europe by storm this season. Playing 13 games in Liga Nos/UCL, he has excelled & has looked like a top class experienced CB

The 6ft 2 Portuguese is valued at £13.5m, but it will take a lot more to get him

Strengths/Weaknesses

✅Passing
✅Tackling
✅Defensive timing
✅Positioning
✅Speed
✅Aerial Duels
✅Progressive Passes
✅Lack of Errors
✅Ball Recoveries

❌No outstanding weaknesses

📸1- incredible, elite on the ball already. Excels at every pass, accuracy is perfect. Ranks 88th percentile for prog. Passes, it isn’t just simple passes

95th percentile for passes into final 3rd. A progressive force from deep. He is already key to Benfica’s attacking build up

Absolutely superb pass, the vision to spot it with excellent execution. The pass over the top is a lovely way to evade a high press

He ranks in the 95th percentile for Switches. Erik mentions the importance of switches to create space/break presses. Silva will be vital to this

He is superb defensively. 95th %tile for tackles won. Interesting mid 3rd tackles, shows how high he plays & a willingness to step into midfield

The dribblers tackled stats are freakish. He uses his speed/strength/timing to maintain positioning with STs before stealing the ball

🎥1- superb. Speed to get back into position, strength to hold off the attacker before superb timing & tackle. He’s Great at defending counter attacks

🎥2- Simple but effective. Playing very high, keeps his eye on the ball before a perfect tackle. His timing is really impressive twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Progression machine. He has a 78.5% accuracy with progressive passes. A Silva Martinez pairing is elite in build up

I like how much duels he wins on the right side. With Dalot going forward, we need someone to be comfortable in wide areas. Silva proving so far he can do it

Option 2- Armel Bella-Kotchap

20 year old German Bella- Kotchap signed for Southampton this summer for £9m from Bochum

6,3 he is a physical monster with immense strength and good agility/speed for his size. Valued at £14.4m, his value will only increase due to his performances

Strengths/Weaknesses

✅Tackles
✅Interceptions
✅Long range passing
✅Strength
✅Mobility
✅Speed
✅Aerial Duels

❌Short passing (I think this is due to the system he plays in)
❌Discipline

🎥1- Excellent. Very Aggressive, gets tight to his man before using his strength to brush him off before a well timed challenge

🎥2- tries to step up, it doesn’t work out. His decision making could improve. But recovers well, quick to adjust and intercepts the ball. Good play twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

🎥1- Exactly what Erik wants! Nice switch of play to completely by pass the opponents press

🎥2- Incredible pass. Gives you a complete different option when your CB can pass like this. Teams will drop back to stop this pass. Allows greater control to push them back twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

- Great stats! Sitting in a low block for his side, he’s very good at all defensive actions.

- The passes stats aren’t good, I think it’s due to the system. He doesn’t complete many passes due to his team not having much possession. He is better on the ball than the stats show

- I think he compliments Martinez. His speed/strength will be very useful to cover Licha when he steps into midfield

- He ranks in the 81st percentile for aerial duels won. At 6,3 he provides extra aerial security in both boxes

- his 1v1 ability allows us to build in a 235

Concerns about Silva

- My only concerns about Silva is Can he adapt to the premier league (which I think he can) and that he will be under huge pressure due to his ability

- He’s very calm/composed for his age. He hasn’t made an error leading to a goal in his senior career

Concerns about Bella-Kotchap

- He hasn’t been required to defend in a high line for his club

- it’s a big change to move from a deep block to a possession team. But Van Dijk made the same move

- Can he provide the progression from deep/passing from the back needed for Ten Hag

Other options?

I had originally wanted to include 3 CBs, Giorgio Scalvini being the 3rd. I didn’t have enough tweets

Joachim Anderson is a nice option. I like Maxence Lacroix from Wolfsburg. Very quick and a good ball carrier. Nathan Collins from Wolves should be on the list

My choice💭

Antonio Silva

What a player already. He’s just turned 19 but plays like he is 29. His composure on the ball is frightening for someone so young.

Very calm and assured. He never panics in defence and has great decision making/timing. Knowing when to make a move

He is truly elite on the ball. I think he will add a lot to our team in terms of build up

He can pull wide, receive the ball before playing neat short passes to play out, a progressive pass into midfield or a long switch to the winger. He has every type of pass and will improve

I mentioned before we need someone who’s a mix of Varane/Maguire

Silva has the Mobility/Agility of Varane plus the leadership qualities. He knows when to step in and can lead a defensive line

He’s got the aerial/physicality of Maguire plus greater progression. He’s a star⭐️

End of thread

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Thanks to Wyscout/FBRef for the data, excellent tools. I hope you enjoyed the thread!

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