Not good enough to play inverted full back role I’m afraid

We need 2 quality full backs. I’d rather sign these over a striker.

Completely lost in the first half but weirdly much better in the second half when he switched to left back.

I thought the switch at half time that allowed him to play that role properly like last season (whist releasing Berge to play further forward) changed the game and we looked so much more balanced.

Put Maatsen and Beyer in today instead of Decroix and Al-Dakhil and let Roberts and Berge play like they did the second half we'd look a different team

Ilkley claret wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 27, 2023 5:10 pm

Not good enough to play inverted full back role I’m afraid

Based on today’s game or his performances for us since VK came in? What exactly do you think he didn’t do well enough today?

If VK wanted to play 3 at that back, it’s surprising the lack of transfer activity around decent full backs/wing backs.

any full back would have suffered first half, Benson offered ZERO protection

Roberts is expected to be our most creative full back when last season it was Maatsen

Vegas Claret wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 27, 2023 7:07 pm

any full back would have suffered first half, Benson offered ZERO protection

He's miles better coming on as a sub against a tiring defense.....he's not a tackler.

Thought Roberts was ok FWIW.

Thought he was one of our better players today. Don't envy him having Benson doing naff all ahead of him.

Total shite first half drifted out of position constantly

I sit in the Longside Lower, and I'm used to having Roberts right in front of me.

I don't know what his instructions were, but he was completely AWOL for the whole of the first half.

Surely he only inverts when we go forward- he just wasn't there whilst Digne was being given the freedom of Burnley, he was nearer the centre spot.

Difficult task for Benson to literally start back always behind their players to cover.

Just one of many baffling tactical points today.

Woodleyclaret wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 27, 2023 7:49 pm

Total shite first half drifted out of position constantly

I couldn't work out what position he was to be honest, and neither could he, that was the problem, he was left with far too much to do, and villa exploited it, there was gaping holes in both full back area's.

dougcollins wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 27, 2023 8:31 pm

I sit in the Longside Lower, and I'm used to having Roberts right in front of me.

I don't know what his instructions were, but he was completely AWOL for the whole of the first half.

Surely he only inverts when we go forward- he just wasn't there whilst Digne was being given the freedom of Burnley, he was nearer the centre spot.

Difficult task for Benson to literally start back always behind their players to cover.

Just one of many baffling tactical points today.

That would be his job though, Roberts should pull across with the team whilst the winger tracks his full back, it was only Digne out on that wing. Even Foster came across to him once and hassled him off the ball. Never saw Benson once track back when Digne made that forward move.

I too thought Roberts was one of our better players. Was very unlucky not to score the header near the end when Jayrod just got a touch on it, if Robbo gives a big enough shout there and Jay leaves it, he scores, almost certainly.