Note below a list of all Premier League players to have played at full back this season and who average fewer dribbles past per 90 than Aaron Wan Bissaka.
Séamus Coleman
Matt Doherty
Martin Kelly
Emerson
Kevin Danso
Angeliño
Phil Bardsley
Steven Alzate
Ben Davies
Ben Chilwell
Séamus Coleman
Matt Doherty
Martin Kelly
Emerson
Kevin Danso
Angeliño
Phil Bardsley
Steven Alzate
Ben Davies
Ben Chilwell
Max Aarons
Javier Manquillo
George Baldock
Arthur Masuaku
Kyle Walker
Yan Valery
Calum Chambers
Matthew Lowton
Christian Fuchs
Nacho Monreal
Jan Vertonghen
Jamal Lewis
Charlie Daniels
Joel Ward
César Azpilicueta
Jack Stacey
Neil Taylor
Jetro Willems
Solly March
Adama Traoré
Javier Manquillo
George Baldock
Arthur Masuaku
Kyle Walker
Yan Valery
Calum Chambers
Matthew Lowton
Christian Fuchs
Nacho Monreal
Jan Vertonghen
Jamal Lewis
Charlie Daniels
Joel Ward
César Azpilicueta
Jack Stacey
Neil Taylor
Jetro Willems
Solly March
Adama Traoré
Andrew Robertson
Lucas Digne
Sead Kolasinac
Danny Rose
Diego Rico
Patrick van Aanholt
DeAndre Yedlin
Axel Tuanzebe
Joe Gomez
Paul Dummett
Stuart Armstrong
That is 41 full backs in total.
*Data from whoscored, filtered by position played to only include time played at full back
Lucas Digne
Sead Kolasinac
Danny Rose
Diego Rico
Patrick van Aanholt
DeAndre Yedlin
Axel Tuanzebe
Joe Gomez
Paul Dummett
Stuart Armstrong
That is 41 full backs in total.
*Data from whoscored, filtered by position played to only include time played at full back
Now the temptation here will be to say that he defends more than those players - or makes more tackles. But that is counter intuitive. You aren't meant to dive in as a defender and risk taking yourself out of the game. Similar players who showed as high volume tackles in the past
were criticised for is - most notably Jon Flanagan who many Liverpool fans got excited about because of his huge volumes of defensive actions. What they failed to realise was that almost every attack of the opposition was coming down his side of the pitch because he gave them
space and opportunities.
When you look at United's matches you see the same patterns. Huge defensive numbers from AWB but also goals coming down his side. When you look at attack patterns in their games you see almost every side attacks predominantly down his side.
When you look at United's matches you see the same patterns. Huge defensive numbers from AWB but also goals coming down his side. When you look at attack patterns in their games you see almost every side attacks predominantly down his side.
As a logic exercise, ask yourself why teams would attack down the side of the pitch where the best 1v1 defender in the world plays.
The only two games in the last 6 where they haven't attacked predominantly down Utd's right is versus Spurs (even split) and vs Brighton which
The only two games in the last 6 where they haven't attacked predominantly down Utd's right is versus Spurs (even split) and vs Brighton which
who favoured attacking United's rookie left back, Williams, making his full EPL debut by just 1%.
In the other two matches Williams started against Sheffield United and Villa, the preferred side for the opponent to attack was the right - again, why?
In the other two matches Williams started against Sheffield United and Villa, the preferred side for the opponent to attack was the right - again, why?
Bournemouth absolutely ran riot down that side of the pitch.
Chelsea (x2), Norwich, Partizan (a), Rochdale, West Ham, Leicester
Chelsea (x2), Norwich, Partizan (a), Rochdale, West Ham, Leicester
Soton, Palace - they all went down United's left to progress the ball and achieve penetration. Why?
The only two matches this season where sides have predominantly attacked United's left were Wolves (by 4%) and the aforementioned match vs Brighton (by 1%). Why?
The only two matches this season where sides have predominantly attacked United's left were Wolves (by 4%) and the aforementioned match vs Brighton (by 1%). Why?
Human beings are wired to take the path of least resistance. A defender who will give you space or dive into tackles taking himself out of the game is more appealing to an attacking team than one who takes up ideal positions and uses the principles of
delay, depth, balance, concentration and patience to prevent progression and penetration.
Here is a video from Lee Dixon analysing this very thing.
Here is a video from Lee Dixon analysing this very thing.
*United right (or the opponents left)
Typo
Typo
Some people are pointing out that the names on that list have played less at full back than AWB.
I have used per 90 metrics to equalise for minutes played to remove this as an issue.
I have used per 90 metrics to equalise for minutes played to remove this as an issue.
