Centre backs

[Sooper Steve's shin]

Question: we have a decent centre back pairing, arguably one of the best in the league this season. But why do we play the left-footed one on the right and the right-footed one on the left? There were a couple of occasions in the Watford game where each of them had a slightly awkward moment when receiving/releasing the ball that made me question why we do this. Is it Rodgers’ preference or the players? Does it help or hinder them to be on the “opposite” side? I know it’s become quite normal to have inverted wingers that cut inside, are we trying to do the same with the big guys at the back?

[Fox92]

I don't think anybody on here will be able to answer that.

 

It happens though. I'm pretty sure John Terry was right footed but played on the left?

[Countryfox]

18 minutes ago, Sooper Steve's shin said:

Question: we have a decent centre back pairing, arguably one of the best in the league this season. But why do we play the left-footed one on the right and the right-footed one on the left? 
 

Cus Brendan Rodgers is a fookin rubbish football manager and the sooner the owners realise that and sling him out on his backside the better !!   

[davieG]

3 minutes ago, Countryfox said:

Cus Brendan Rodgers is a fookin rubbish football manager and the sooner the owners realise that and sling him out on his backside the better !!   

Agree

This guy's had bags of experience

 

1986–1990	Dartford (player-manager)
1990–1991	Enfield
1993–1995	Southend United
1995–1996	Dover Athletic
1996–1999	England U21
1999–2000	Gillingham
2000–2001	Leicester City
2000	England (caretaker)
2001–2002	Brighton & Hove Albion
2002–2006	Hull City
2004–2007	England U21
2006–2007	Crystal Palace
2007–2008	Stevenage Borough
2008–2009	Wycombe Wanderers
2010–2011	Bradford City
2011–2012	Bahrain
2013	England U20
2013–2014	Gillingham
2015	Kerala Blasters
2016–2017	New Zealand (assistant)
2017	Gillingham (caretaker)
2018–2019	Dagenham & Redbridge

[Alf Bentley]

1 minute ago, davieG said:

Agree

This guy's had bags of experience

 

1986–1990	Dartford (player-manager)
1990–1991	Enfield
1993–1995	Southend United
1995–1996	Dover Athletic
1996–1999	England U21
1999–2000	Gillingham
2000–2001	Leicester City
2000	England (caretaker)
2001–2002	Brighton & Hove Albion
2002–2006	Hull City
2004–2007	England U21
2006–2007	Crystal Palace
2007–2008	Stevenage Borough
2008–2009	Wycombe Wanderers
2010–2011	Bradford City
2011–2012	Bahrain
2013	England U20
2013–2014	Gillingham
2015	Kerala Blasters
2016–2017	New Zealand (assistant)
2017	Gillingham (caretaker)
2018–2019	Dagenham & Redbridge

 

Peter Taylor.

 

I'm giving up on Dingbats, @Countryfox. The davieG quiz is much easier. 

[Guest Chocolate Teapot]

29 minutes ago, Sooper Steve's shin said:

Question: we have a decent centre back pairing, arguably one of the best in the league this season. But why do we play the left-footed one on the right and the right-footed one on the left? There were a couple of occasions in the Watford game where each of them had a slightly awkward moment when receiving/releasing the ball that made me question why we do this. Is it Rodgers’ preference or the players? Does it help or hinder them to be on the “opposite” side? I know it’s become quite normal to have inverted wingers that cut inside, are we trying to do the same with the big guys at the back?

Theyre both right footed?

[StriderHiryu]

30 minutes ago, Sooper Steve's shin said:

Question: we have a decent centre back pairing, arguably one of the best in the league this season. But why do we play the left-footed one on the right and the right-footed one on the left? There were a couple of occasions in the Watford game where each of them had a slightly awkward moment when receiving/releasing the ball that made me question why we do this. Is it Rodgers’ preference or the players? Does it help or hinder them to be on the “opposite” side? I know it’s become quite normal to have inverted wingers that cut inside, are we trying to do the same with the big guys at the back?

Rodgers has changed them over several times across the season. I'm not 100% sure on this, but I believe he does it based on the opposition attacking setup and their primary striker's preferred foot. E.g. Watford's focal point is Deeney and of our two CBs, Evans is better suited to deal with him, so try to line him up to not only mark him but also stand around the sort of spaces Deeney operates in when he receives the ball. If the opposition instead has a pacy forward we have Soyuncu closer, e.g. think about that amazing back track and challenge he made on Mo Salah at Anfield earlier in the season.

 

It's just a guess though. As you say he might also do it because it forces the CBs to open out and play the ball wide to full backs or it could even be s subtle way to improve both over time. What's the best way to get better with your weaker foot? Be put into situations where you need to use it!

 

 

[davieG]

Just now, Alf Bentley said:

 

Peter Taylor.

 

I'm giving up on Dingbats, @Countryfox. The davieG quiz is much easier. 

I only set quizzes I know the answers too. That's why I don't set many/any.

[Countryfox]

1 minute ago, StriderHiryu said:

Rodgers has change them over several times across the season. I'm not 100% sure on this, but I believe he does it based on the opposition attacking setup and their primary striker's preferred foot. E.g. Watford's focal point is Deeney and of our two CBs, Evans is better suited to deal with him, so try to line him up to not only mark him but also stand around the sort of spaces Deeney operates in when he receives the ball. If the opposition instead has a pacy forward we have Soyuncu closer, e.g. think about that amazing back track and challenge he made on Mo Salah at Anfield earlier in the season.

 

IT’S JUST A GUESS THOUGH . As you say he might also do it because it forces the CBs to open out and play the ball wide to full backs or it could even be s subtle way to improve both over time. What's the best way to get better with your weaker foot? Be put into situations where you need to use it!

Same as my answer !!!   

[Collymore]

Soyuncu is much quicker and 

4 minutes ago, StriderHiryu said:

Rodgers has changed them over several times across the season. I'm not 100% sure on this, but I believe he does it based on the opposition attacking setup and their primary striker's preferred foot. E.g. Watford's focal point is Deeney and of our two CBs, Evans is better suited to deal with him, so try to line him up to not only mark him but also stand around the sort of spaces Deeney operates in when he receives the ball. If the opposition instead has a pacy forward we have Soyuncu closer, e.g. think about that amazing back track and challenge he made on Mo Salah at Anfield earlier in the season.

 

It's just a guess though. As you say he might also do it because it forces the CBs to open out and play the ball wide to full backs or it could even be s subtle way to improve both over time. What's the best way to get better with your weaker foot? Be put into situations where you need to use it!

 

 

Was going to say Soyuncu normally marks the quicker attacker and Evans is just far too complex to even start to guess how in-depth his tactics work.

 

Probably some trigonometry and Pythag in there...

 

 

[StriderHiryu]

2 minutes ago, Collymore said:

Soyuncu is much quicker and 

Was going to say Soyuncu normally marks the quicker attacker and Evans is just far too complex to even start to guess how in-depth his tactics work.

 

 

If you look at yesterday, it meant Soyuncu was closer to Sarr who IMO was their most dangerous player. Sarr is still really raw and doesn't get his head up as much as he should, but you can tell there is the potential to be one hell of player there. Cags got over a few times to deal with him, whereas if he was playing on the other side of the two CBs he wouldn't be able to get back. So sometimes it's not just a case of the one up top, but the supporting cast too.

[TJB-fox]

13 minutes ago, Abrasive fox said:

Theyre both right footed?

Evans is left footed 

[Guest Chocolate Teapot]

49 minutes ago, TJB-fox said:

Evans is left footed 

https://www.fifaindex.com/player/169588/jonny-evans/fifa20/

 

I know its only fifa but probably the best source I can get short of asking him in person but no he's not. He's comfortable on both feet but dominant on his right, hence why when he takes a free kick in our own half its on his right.

 

Further to this, here's an interview with him that explains this.

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2136195/Jonny-Evans-feels-happier-playing-right-Manchester-Uniteds-defence.html

[TJB-fox]

7 minutes ago, Abrasive fox said:

https://www.fifaindex.com/player/169588/jonny-evans/fifa20/

 

I know its only fifa but probably the best source I can get short of asking him in person but no he's not. He's comfortable on both feet but dominant on his right, hence why when he takes a free kick in our own half its on his right.

 

Further to this, here's an interview with him that explains this.

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2136195/Jonny-Evans-feels-happier-playing-right-Manchester-Uniteds-defence.html

Lol fair enough. Can tell you’ve been absolutely itching to prove someone wrong on this topic

[PhillippaT]

Just now, TJB-fox said:

Lol fair enough. Can tell you’ve been absolutely itching to prove someone wrong on this topic

obligatory xkcd:

 

[Fox92]

1 hour ago, Abrasive fox said:

Theyre both right footed?

I thought this initially. Evans is good with either foot though, I don't know his natural foot is.

[Hanan96]

Evans is naturally right footed. It's only past few years that he develop his left foot good enough, of course that didn't made him left footed tough 

 

 

[jeffschlupp]

We swapped them in the 2-1 home defeat to Southampton in January and got torn apart because neither were used to it.

[Guest Chocolate Teapot]

4 hours ago, TJB-fox said:

Lol fair enough. Can tell you’ve been absolutely itching to prove someone wrong on this topic

Not really, just thought the basic premise of the whole topic was based on something which wasn't true rendering the whole point of the discussion completely pointless.

 

Soyuncu was tried on the right and it didn't work - we've got the third best defence in the country. In terms of problems we've got i wouldnt really say this is a key problem.

 

🤣🤣🤣

[volpeazzurro]

3 hours ago, jeffschlupp said:

We swapped them in the 2-1 home defeat to Southampton in January and got torn apart because neither were used to it.

I totally agree, it was a bizarre decision by Rodgers. This was a team we'd not long thrashed, it was for them to worry about us, not visa versa.

[spacemunky]

Wrong thread 

[Sooper Steve's shin]

16 hours ago, Abrasive fox said:

https://www.fifaindex.com/player/169588/jonny-evans/fifa20/

 

I know its only fifa but probably the best source I can get short of asking him in person but no he's not. He's comfortable on both feet but dominant on his right, hence why when he takes a free kick in our own half its on his right.

 

Further to this, here's an interview with him that explains this.

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2136195/Jonny-Evans-feels-happier-playing-right-Manchester-Uniteds-defence.html

The article seems to contradict itself, saying at the start that he’s moved to the left and is more comfortable there. 
 

I’d just assumed he was left footed as he was predominantly using that when I watched him pass it out yesterday. I also think he’s played left back before. But Transfermarkt lists him as “both” in terms of feet. 
 

Oh well, interesting discussion - I’m actually glad I asked!