Leeds United Chat • Re: The next generation
If Jamie Carragher says it then fair enough can't really argue. He is without doubt the best footballing expert the world has ever seen."As a full back, you are either a failed centre back or a failed winger".
Jamie Carragher to Gary Neville.
Neville was a failed cb.
Almost every full back was only a full back because they weren't good enough in another role.
It's actually true, even someone like Roberto Carlos was originally a winger/forward.
Trent Alexander Arnold? Played midfield, right winger and central defence.
Ayling is a failed cb, he himself has admitted as much in an interview he did with Bartley when they were both here.
Should be remembered Bielsa doesn't play players in roles because they are good at traditional things associated with that role.
He doesn't play James as a striker because James is a good finisher.
He doesn't play Dallas in midfield because he is creative.
He doesn't play Ayling at cb because he is a good defender and a good traditional cb.
He plays him there because he feels that full backs are more confident on the ball. Same reason he played Phillips at cb, same reason he played Javi Martinez at cb.
Ayling isn't a good cb defensively, he would probably tell you as much, he is as Jamie Carragher said a failed centre back.
But Bielsa plays Ayling there for different reasons (I am not a fan) but that's it imo.
Full backs and centrebacks have different attributes (and that is traditionally not just for Bielsa). Full backs, especially now, need to be good at carrying the ball forward. Nowadays I think most wingbacks will be wingers that have been converted there because they are seen as attacking players rather than defenders. Dallas and Alioski for us as prime examples.
The days where the fullback was the position given to the worst player your side had at school have long gone. A lot of the time too players from a young age decide for themselves what position they want to play or have a schoolteacher decide for them. As they progress they then at some point hopefully have someone who is a bit more astute decide what position best suits their attributes. That is the same at Leeds where KP always thought of himself as a box to box midfielder or even a striker.
Bielsa knows what he needs in every position in his team. He needs a ball playing centreback which is why he rated Cooper, White, Berardi ahead of Pontus Jannsen. He needs attacking fullbacks which is why he converted Alioski and Dallas rather than playing the likes of Coyle or Davis there. He needs a striker who can play his sytem which is why he preferred a goal shy Bamford to a one trick goalscorer in Nketiah.