Think they both made good points, the best thing about Carra-Neville is they actually debate, it's football not maths, a lot of the time there isn't a perfect answer.

I kind of sort of agree with both lol

I disagree a bit with both!

I do like watching them, I'm in a minority that I'm not a massive fan of their punditry though, it's more that they just make an amusing double act.

I remember watching this live and still agree with Neville on this. The fact is they're not many full-backs that can genuinely play as a wing-back. The physical demand it has on your body will be so taxing. One of the biggest factors, why it's not such a popular position to invest in as a footballer.

As a wing back, you'll need to be great at tackling, being able to run past people, put in brilliant crosses, very comfortable on the ball, ridiculous stamina to get up and down the pitch.

There's really not many footballers that can do that.

I think they're opinions differ because of the playing careers, Neville was always a more defensive fullback that didn't bomb forward all the time, whereas Carra often played next to fullbacks like Johnson, who went forward too much and left the defence exposed.

It is a specialist position in that there is no one else to help you on the wings, which is where the difference to the fullback is. The skillset is very similar to the fullbacks at top clubs nowadays though. Kolorov and Zabaleta certainly play like wingbacks and could fulfil the role.

I agree with both to an extent. What Neville is saying about being a more rounded player is obviously true as its a necessity. While what Carra says about the work rate not being all that much more than the top full backs do nowadays is also true.

Both have valid points. As others have stated they work well because they are there to debate and are happy to have different opinions because they respect each other. At the same time they provide entertainment because of the Liverpool/United rivalry and the fact they are happy to argue while also usually giving detailed reasoning.

Melton

I agree the modern day full back has to offer a lot more. Still never convinced with Kolorov though personally, always looks way too slow tracking back.

He's better than he was manutd but I get the point. It was more the role they are both currently fulfilling for us rather than their own individual qualities I was talking about - their heat maps are very similar to that of wingbacks, which is why they had the highest assists of any fullback pair in Europe last year.

I can imagine his were similar. Do you find he offers enough defensive support, always been something I've been sceptical of him.

Regarding United I think Rafael can do the wingback role well because he loves to bomb forward. I'm slightly more skeptical with Shaw purely because his main attribute is his defensive game and while his offensive game is good but not something you would want from a wingback. In general I'm not particularly a fan of us wanting to operate 352, 433 with actual pace on the wings would be so much more balanced for us.

Italian teams have been playing with wing-backs for years, the national team have done it on occasions as well.

They seem to be comfortable with it, maybe Serie A is more defence based so the wing-backs don't have to bomb up and down for 90 minutes, or is that just a lazy stereotype of Italian football?

I think Carragher is right in saying that it isn't a specialist position, the modern full-back does just as much running in a 4 man defence as they would do a 3,both require a lot of fitness and energy, it's just the role that differs slightly.

As for MNF, I love it! It's the only show on TV or radio where i actually tune in specifically to hear the tactical analysis of the weekends football, all other programmes I try and avoid the analysis like the plague.

But as Melton said it is more specialised because the wingback not operating with wide forwards (the way Barca do it) and how we aren't don't have the players ahead that can move opposing players out of position to give them the space to attack which is what you see so often with more conventional fullbacks who have wingers ahead of them to do that.

comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 20 minutes ago
I can imagine his were similar. Do you find he offers enough defensive support, always been something I've been sceptical of him.

Regarding United I think Rafael can do the wingback role well because he loves to bomb forward. I'm slightly more skeptical with Shaw purely because his main attribute is his defensive game and while his offensive game is good but not something you would want from a wingback. In general I'm not particularly a fan of us wanting to operate 352, 433 with actual pace on the wings would be so much more balanced for us.
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Agreed, don't think shaw offers much going forward, whereas rafael, while defensively weaker is a better attacker. I don't think WB role will suit shaw, he doesn't have a particularly good skill set for offensive play.

The wing-backs become the winger when going forward. So when one of the centre backs or one of the central midfielders is on the ball it's the wing-back making the space further up the pitch.

Their natural starting position when play is building up isn't as deep as it would if they played in a 4 man defence, it'd be 10-15 metres higher.

You want your wide CBs bombing forward to put in crosses???

It's more the cover they have behind them - fullbacks playing with wingers, then the winger will stay deep. With inside forwards, they are essentially wingbacks.

Manutd, Rafael would be good I agree. I prefer wingbacks that are converted fullbacks more than I do converted wingers.

The other thing i would add is the role of the wingback in a 352 differs not just due to the normal transitions in game but also as a whole. Some are used to make up for flaws defensively and so play out as a 532 whereas others are all about controlling midfield.

Your 352, the issue at the moment is it isn't balanced for me and your central defenders aren't good enough given the people you are utilising as wingbacks. I thought it suited your squad brilliantly last year. Not right now though.

Yeah I always thought Evra would suit the wingback role the older he got and the less interested he seemed to be in defending.

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I can imagine it's an incredibly demanding role which is why I agree with Neville in saying it's a specialised role. I'm sure a player who has played over 400 games in the wide defensive role can understand the differences better than any of us, experience in anything gives you a far better understanding.

Carra's wearing the better suit so he wins