[Albion] Solly March is not a defender; discuss.

[Super Steve Earle]

Well that's the first one ticked off my list for next scapegoat after Ryan.

Gross up next?

Webster next and deservedly so!

 

[Swansman]

If he was right footed, he'd have disappeared from the game years ago.

Thank you for your input, Bernardo.

 

[Doc Lynam]

Well that's the first one ticked off my list for next scapegoat after Ryan.

Gross up next?

It’s a shame you can’t tell the difference between a constructive discussion and putting the boot in.

 

[darkwolf666]

It’s a shame you can’t tell the difference between a constructive discussion and putting the boot in.

You are so wrong. I can, unfortunately you only have to look at this thread already to see the direction it is already going

I appreciate it is really difficult to start a constructive discussion on a football forum, but as I said, there are half a dozen players who could/will be trotted out in rotation for this sort of thing.

It was Bong, Duffy (before he became player of the season and now since going to Celtic), Bernardo, March, Gross, Maupay, Trossard - and the list goes on in rotation...

Oh and seeing a couple of posts above mine - Webster!

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Haven’t read the whole thread but presumably someone has pointed that indeed he is not a defender, he is a wing back. Different skills but he can defend. It does seem not quite right though that he has been so exposed in the closing stages of both Villa and Southampton. Maybe a whole defence lack of concentration.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Quality in the ball, has a descent engine and most crucially a left foot but, he’s not a defender. That position takes years to learn and fine tune. He’s getting better but at this level you need to be complete. That was a wingers challenge on the Southampton player late in the game, didn’t need to do it just force him down the line. Same mistake at Villa, didn’t need to challenge and empower the ref to make a 50/50 call. Left wing backs aren’t easy to come by but it’s not Bernardo or Solly for me its A. Nother.

Realise this might not be popular but just wondered what others thought in the cold light of day?

UTA

Should never have got to the Southampton player, Webster in my opinion should have been more decisive and gone out to win the header, he sort of goes, then hesitates, that puts him out of position, and completely throws March.

To be fair to March, he might be in that spot at certain times of the game whether a winger or a wing back. Same as the Villa pen. It's not like he wouldn't be expected to be there when we're under pressure. Think he was unlucky on both pens as the ball only gets through to him as others have failed to deal with it.

 

[withdeanwombat]

I still tend to think in terms of full backs, half backs, centre halves, wingers, inside forwards and centre forwards. So wing back sounds like a bastardised position to me, and probably a ******* to play. With which of the old positions does it most relate?

Forgive me for asking, for I am old, but at least high on the list for a Covid jab.

 

[LamieRobertson]

Well that's the first one ticked off my list for next scapegoat after Ryan.

Gross up next?

Awful penalty

 

[Dolph Ins]

According to whoscored Solly is our best player.

 

[Icy Gull]

I would point the finger at quite a few players before March as players who are not performing to their ability. I say that as someone who has been quite critical of Solly over the years

 

[Weststander]

Doing a decent job and certainly isn’t out of his depth at PL level, been both surprised and delighted how he has added some consistency to his game this season.

He is however one of a few that need ‘upgrading’ if we have genuine ambitions of being mid table and above.

If we’re saying that about March who’s been excellent this season, then that “few” would include:

Maupay
Ryan
Webster
Burn
Jahanbakhsh
Trossard
Bernardo
Propper
Even Dunk has been way below his best.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

They are absolutely defenders on a opposition counter the 3 at the back close in and the wingback now are fullbacks running for position, this is where my issue with Solly start. Don’t get me wrong it’s not easy to flip a switch and do two jobs in one player but we’re playing at the top level now and any weakness just gets found out. But as has been said real quality in that position and your looking north of 25m in my mind. Not taking into account wages etc.

Only really defenders in the sense that Bissouma is a defender, yes defensive work to be done but the mistakes made are minor relative to the attacking benefits we're getting from playing him and Lamptey ahead of Burn and Veltman. Their goals and assists versus goals conceded from their defensive errors? No contest.

Also why single March out after a foul on the edge if the box led to a goal on Monday? Two games earlier Lampteys foul on the edge of the box led to Villa's penalty, thankfully overturned.

Keep his form up and March's market value must be skyrocketing now.

 

[Javeaseagull]

Not getting into a discussion about whether he is a defender or not. What I do know is he is one of the best tacklers at the club. He often nips in, steals the ball and the oppo doesn’t know he’s been there. He’s a pickpocket I tell ya!

 

[Wrong-Direction]

Nowhere near consistant enough at this level, although that goes for most of the team.

Sent from my SM-A600FN using Tapatalk

 

[midnight_rendezvous]

I think he’s been excellent so far this season

 

[HAILSHAM SEAGULL]

Quality in the ball, has a descent engine and most crucially a left foot but, he’s not a defender. That position takes years to learn and fine tune. He’s getting better but at this level you need to be complete. That was a wingers challenge on the Southampton player late in the game, didn’t need to do it just force him down the line. Same mistake at Villa, didn’t need to challenge and empower the ref to make a 50/50 call. Left wing backs aren’t easy to come by but it’s not Bernardo or Solly for me its A. Nother.

Realise this might not be popular but just wondered what others thought in the cold light of day?

UTA

Bit hard to force him down the line, Solly was chasing the Saints player because he was tracking back, as was said, Webster should of been covering the full back position if the wing back is upfield.
A lot of wingbacks are better going forward than defenders, for example, Kyle Walker at City, Trent A Arnold at Liverpool, Reece James at Chelsea, even Lamptey to a degree. Not many that excel at both aspects the position.

 

[The Wizard]

Has anyone noticed how strong he’s become as well? I really noticed this at the game, down the left a couple of times in the first half he absolutely bodied a player off the ball, considering he used to be a bit lightweight that did impress me.

I think March is more than good enough, in fact I think defensively we are fairly good as a whole, we just don’t create enough and when we do we miss crucial chances. We should have had the game sown up with our play against Southampton in the first 35 minutes. We need more cutting edge up front.

 

[Bold Seagull]

I still tend to think in terms of full backs, half backs, centre halves, wingers, inside forwards and centre forwards. So wing back sounds like a bastardised position to me, and probably a ******* to play. With which of the old positions does it most relate?

Forgive me for asking, for I am old, but at least high on the list for a Covid jab.

I think it’s an old left or right half, or left or right half backs.

 

[Lethargic]

Bit hard to force him down the line, Solly was chasing the Saints player because he was tracking back, as was said, Webster should of been covering the full back position if the wing back is upfield.
A lot of wingbacks are better going forward than defenders, for example, Kyle Walker at City, Trent A Arnold at Liverpool, Reece James at Chelsea, even Lamptey to a degree. Not many that excel at both aspects the position.

This, very few wing backs are good defenders they are attackers that can defend no more and Solly is good enough in that role. I think it also needs to be considered that Webster is not as strong on the left which can leave Solly exposed at times.
He could be better with is final ball but he is not our weakest link.

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

 

[HastingsSeagull]

He's a wing back or a wide midfielder. He's not good enough at defending to be a left back at top level, or good enough in the final third to be an attacking winger/left forward in a front 3 or even a 4 where one central player drops.

He's quality at the role he suits but at this level is not a utility player. At a lower level he could fill in all over the place and do a passable job because of the role he suits, not because he's a utility player. See also Bruno at cb or rm.