This must be a tough call for the manager at the minute. I'm not seeing anything in particular that sets either of them apart really, but I would still have Lowts starting atm, with his experience.
I think left back is a more straight forward decision, we really mis Taylor.

thoughts?

Think it was harsh on Lowton to initially lose his place, was one of our better performers

Lowton for me

Roberts has more energy and links better with midfield rather than hitting the channel ball like Lowton. Still getting used to our system but he’s worth sticking with for now. Will be great when Taylor is back to provide the same energy down the left, something both Cornet and McNeil will benefit from.

On last night, definitely Lowton. Not sure what Roberts main attributes are on early viewing.

Lowton for me based on the evidence so far, though there isn't much between them. The thing with Lowton is that he is capable of having really excellent games, where he keeps it tight at the back and also gets forward, but he can also throw the odd one in. Overall though I think it was harsh to drop him (maybe on the strength of Huddersfield's winner, but when he was having to play LB) and I haven't seen anything from Roberts yet to say he's better.
Having said that it's not the main issue facing the team I don't think.

Roberts, young energetic and what we need more of.

Roberts

burnley007 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 09, 2022 10:46 am

This must be a tough call for the manager at the minute. I'm not seeing anything in particular that sets either of them apart really, but I would still have Lowts starting atm, with his experience.
I think left back is a more straight forward decision, we really mis Taylor.

thoughts?

Full backs aren't as much of an issue as our centre-mids, although Roberts was arguably at fault for their goal last night, Dwight misses Charlie on the left as they link up effectively down that side, but Pieters hasn't done a lot wrong when called upon TBH. That said I've no doubt when Taylor is fit he'll be straight back in.

I honestly don't know what to think about Roberts. It's really strange, but I don't seem
to notice him that much - whether that's good or bad I don't know but I find it difficult
to offer an opinion on him.

Weird really, not experienced it before in my 69 years.

Roberts

forgot about Bardsley too!
never let us down.

Roberts

Lowton has been a brilliant servant for us, but Roberts looks a real player

He'll get better and better the more he gets used to how we play

Thought Roberts had a good game against Watford but was totally torn a new one last night in the first half - he looked way out of his depth. Tough one to call but maybe Roberts is worth persevering with.

Rileybobs wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 09, 2022 10:58 am

Thought Roberts had a good game against Watford but was totally torn a new one last night in the first half - he looked way out of his depth. Tough one to call but maybe Roberts is worth persevering with.

To be fair 1. He wasn’t that bad 2. He was up against £80m Sancho who was United’s best player on the night

Roberts
I like both and Roberts had a tough night, against a very good team, who knows if Lowts would have done any better.
Roberts is the future, and he needs the game time at this level before making calls like drop him.

My preference for today is Lowts, but in the same way as I've just posted regarding Jimmy Anderson, if there's not much to choose, we should always go with the younger option. I think Roberts is good and would hate to see him go the same way as Gibson.

I like them both but we have to get younger blood into the squad and more pace so it’s Robert’s for me. If we can bring in a new quicker, younger midfield I think we’ll see Robert’s at his best

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 09, 2022 10:59 am

To be fair 1. He wasn’t that bad 2. He was up against £80m Sancho who was United’s best player on the night

He was hopelessly exposed against Sancho, make no mistake. Sancho has the potential to be a top player but he hasn't shown that yet at Man Utd., and I wouldn't put too much emphasis on his price tag when you consider what they paid for Maguire. Noticeable that Man Utd. relentlessly targeted our right side last night which is quite rare as most teams seem to do this to our left side. Although I wonder if this was in part due to McNeill playing on the right who offered very little defensive support to Roberts in the first half.

I think Roberts has had, at best, two indifferent games this week. Had a poor first half last night. He should easily have cut out the cross for their first goal and I imagine that is one of the first things a modern day full back should be concentrating on.

I’d bring Lowton back. Seen nothing from Roberts to suggest he’s ready for the role. Even his long throws haven’t proved to be a decent weapon

Lets face it. Roberts 3rd PL game and against their best attacker. He did ok. But Lowton would have done ok as well. Roberts is the future.

He's come into a side lacking confidence who shy away from wanting the ball to get a clean sheet at Arsenal away, a clean sheet against Watford and only one against Utd. Not the best time to slag the defence off.

Sancho was on top form last night, made a fool of Lennon, Tarky and Roberts going past all 3 in one move.

He could have done better for the goal, he simply chose to stop him shooting (the immediate danger) rather than cutting back to an unmarked team mate. Nobody is blaming the midfielder who left Pogba free.

Hopefully as confidence grows and we pass it to each other more he will come in to his own.

Roberts offers much more going forward.

He's very attacking minded and that's something we need.

Rowls wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 09, 2022 11:38 am

Roberts offers much more going forward.

He's very attacking minded and that's something we need.

Yeah but his crossing has been awful so far. Thought Roberts had a poor first half but an excellent second half last night, but you could say that about a lot of the team. Was impressed with his fitness in the last 15 minutes when Utd were bombing forward.

I feel Roberts is definitely up for the challenge and brings some energy to the team. That said he was at fault for United's goal and should have prevented Shaw's pull back. I also feel for Lowts. Don't think he's done a great deal wrong and he can count himself unlucky to be dropped.

I thought Roberts offered little if anything going forward against Watford and was poor last night in all areas of his game, especially in the 1st half

1 goal conceded in the last 3 games, including playing against two top teams. I'd keep him in

I think you need to take a look at the United goal again, Roberts is not to blame, the ball is played out to Rashford who Roberts goes to close down. Sancho overlaps and whilst Dwight initially tracks Sancho he then stops, drawn to the player with the ball. As much as I appreciate Dwight, his tracking back all night was yet again poor. This is part of his game he must improve on to be an outstanding player, which he is capable of being.

Roberts is showing his inexperience at this level but he'll get better. 3 difficult games and he's done OK in all of them. Not sure why Lowton was dropped but for the sake of change. I'd probably still have him in the team on balance.

Lancasterclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 09, 2022 10:58 am

Roberts

Lowton has been a brilliant servant for us, but Roberts looks a real player

He'll get better and better the more he gets used to how we play

I’ve not seen anything so far to suggest he looks a real player.

So far (and it’s very early days) I’ve been underwhelmed by him. I’m certainly not suggesting that he won’t be a decent player for us, just that at this stage, I think it’s been difficult to offer him such plaudits.

Roberts for me. At fault for the goal yesterday but think he’ll improve with an extended run in the team. As above part of a defence that’s conceded once in last 3 games.

As someone said above, we really miss Taylor. I think Taylor coming back will really improve the balance of the side and then with him and Roberts playing in the same team, I think we will really start to see the best of Roberts. The two of them in tandem will improve us going forward massively.

Rileybobs wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 09, 2022 10:58 am

Thought Roberts had a good game against Watford but was totally torn a new one last night in the first half - he looked way out of his depth. Tough one to call but maybe Roberts is worth persevering with.

I though McNeil was at fault twice for not tracking his man , Roberts was trying to cover two Utd players at once because McNeil didn’t do what he was supposed to do. IMHO.

Lowton is a decent crosser of a ball, and for me is far more of an attacking threat in general. I think Weghorst and Rodriguez would get more out of Lowton’s delivery than Roberts.

Defensively, Lowton is (at the very least) just as strong.

Roberts time will come (in the Championship probably) but I think we’d be stronger with Lowton in the side. Personally.

welsbyswife wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 09, 2022 12:14 pm

As someone said above, we really miss Taylor. I think Taylor coming back will really improve the balance of the side and then with him and Roberts playing in the same team, I think we will really start to see the best of Roberts. The two of them in tandem will improve us going forward massively.

How will Taylor with 1 assist every 40 games going to improve us going forward.

Similarly with Roberts, he’s looked ok but that is about it so far.

Last night he really struggled and I’ve yet to see him do anything going forward.

Still early days but comments about him being a real player just seem Naive to say the least

Roberts at the moment but ask again in a couple of games time.

He deserves to have a decent run in the side and things needed changing.

Newcastleclaret93 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 09, 2022 12:20 pm

How will Taylor with 1 assist every 40 games going to improve us going forward.

Similarly with Roberts, he’s looked ok but that is about it so far.

Last night he really struggled and I’ve yet to see him do anything going forward.

Still early days but comments about him being a real player just seem Naive to say the least

Taylor far better going forward than Pieters. Provides drive, energy, overlaps, draws free kicks and gets balls into the box. McNeil without a doubt prefers playing with him and I’m sure cornet would see the benefit too. That being said Pieters was solid enough last night, wasted a few good opportunities to slide players through on goal though with a poor final ball.

Have said this many times, but dropping Lowts was very harsh. He was in great form. Roberts looked like a rabbit in the headlights in the first half but tbh this was a point where United were playing very well and I’m not certain Lawton could have stopped their overloads either.

A good learning experience for Roberts.

I don’t really see why it has to be either/or though. Particularly against top six I’d play both, Roberts RW & get them doubling up. We can then benefit from Roberts pace/engine/shooting/throws, whilst he gets to learn our system in a less demanding position.

NewClaret wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 09, 2022 12:23 pm

Have said this many times, but dropping Lowts was very harsh. He was in great form. Roberts looked like a rabbit in the headlights in the first half but tbh this was a point where United were playing very well and I’m not certain Lawton could have stopped their overloads either.

A good learning experience for Roberts.

I don’t really see why it has to be either/or though. Particularly against top six I’d play both, Roberts RW & get them doubling up. We can then benefit from Roberts pace/engine/shooting/throws, whilst he gets to learn our system in a less demanding position.

Such is the lack of anything from our right hand side, whoever we play there, that I would happily give this a go for sure.

Newcastleclaret93 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 09, 2022 12:20 pm

How will Taylor with 1 assist every 40 games going to improve us going forward.

Similarly with Roberts, he’s looked ok but that is about it so far.

Last night he really struggled and I’ve yet to see him do anything going forward.

Still early days but comments about him being a real player just seem Naive to say the least

If you need to ask the question, you can't have seen much of us in the last 18 months. You think Pieters is a better attacking option than Taylor? Don't rely purely on stats. It's not just about direct assists.

Roberts.

Taylors a top performer now, but his first few games had the usual suspects bellowing for his head on a platter.

Tough call to drop Lowton but I think the right one.

Something had to be done to get Roberts into the team.

Despite the microscopic views of some I will stick with my opinion that he has shown more versatility and energy in the few games he has played than we have seen all season. Long may it continue if we are to avoid relegation.

welsbyswife wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 09, 2022 12:29 pm

If you need to ask the question, you can't have seen much of us in the last 18 months. You think Pieters is a better attacking option than Taylor? Don't rely purely on stats. It's not just about direct assists.

Yes I do think Pieters is better at attacking and actually better on the ball. He is much more composed and can pass a ball.

Taylor’s go to is either Hoof it long or run the ball down the touch line and inevitably gets tackled or it goes out for a goal kick.

I think Taylor is better all round but I think as a team we are better with Pieters.

Both - with Lowton at RB with Roberts in front

Lowbankclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 09, 2022 12:17 pm

I though McNeil was at fault twice for not tracking his man , Roberts was trying to cover two Utd players at once because McNeil didn’t do what he was supposed to do. IMHO.

Agreed. McNeil left Roberts horribly exposed at times in the first half and got a bollocking off Tarkowski at one point. Roberts was very poor for their goal though.

SalisburyClaret wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 09, 2022 12:33 pm

Both - with Lowton at RB with Roberts in front

It has been suggested but I would like to see that option delayed until Cornet and McNeil are given the chance to operate with Jay and WW.
As last night showed , this will take a little time but there were signs that encouraged.

I think it's definitely the main position that is difficult to make the easy choice, only need to read this page to see it's fairly equal and I'm not sure which I'd chose. I think Lowts better defending, Roberts more energy and a few nice touches plus just perhaps that long throw will come off, especially with WW. Maybe one of those he can look at the opposition and decide on tactics which plays, he definitely struggled the first half but like all the team was suddenly so much better when the second half starts???

Why can't SD give them the half time talk before the match starts, something I've always wondered about.

blake's wand wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 09, 2022 10:47 am

Think it was harsh on Lowton to initially lose his place, was one of our better performers

It was the same when we took Hart out and put Heaton back in, sometimes you just have to change things and see if it works, you could argue it is working slightly better

Lowton and Roberts
Roberts wide right midfield