Some observations

[dww]

After the United match yesterday I got to thinking about how useful their fringe and squad players are as they are able to use their skills in different positions. We seem to have too many specialist players at the minute. For example in the last year or so our one truly versatile player Carragher has apparently refused to play right back, Skrtel proved to be terrible there and Mascherano wasn't great either. In the United team players like Fletcher, Brown and O'Shea have regularly played in positions that they would not be naturals at and done pretty well. Is it just a matter of mentality or is there some difference in the way United players are developed that helps them be so adaptable?

An equally random observation: How much have players like Gibson and Fletcher been helped by the fact that they get international football in key positions in the park. United rarely risked either in CM in PL matches but both kicked on with a combination of cup appearances and being played in other roles with the ability to play CM refined to a great degree in the international arena. Maybe having fringe players from (comparatively) weak nations at international level is a good idea.

I have no idea where this post is going but there you are.

[Exiled_red]

I agree about the versitility, it's certainly something we lack. Last season we also has Arbeloa who like Carragher could play anywhere across the backline, aside from that we're restricted to a could of players like Dossena and Aurelio who could play Left back or left wing. I guess Babel also could play in a number of positions, but just hasn't been effective in most of them.

I wonder how much for the Man Utd players its a case of mentaility, with all due respect to the players in question, the ones who are versitile have to be because they aren't good enough to hold down a regular place (Brown & O'Shea) so by offering cover for a number of positions the get games. Also they are playing in a squad that hsa been regularly winning trophies, they may want more games but winning trophies regularly probably means they will stay around longer. I'm not sure how much of it has to do with international football, although the experience will help somewhat, I would say it's more to do with the confidence and belief in the squad. But our new players often go onto the pitch with a look of fear and seem somewhat overwhelmed IMO. Although I've no idea how you address this.

[Joe King]

Fantastic points, dww.

[Darkon]

It's a good point, but we have more versatile players than you mention though - but they are not fringe players. I mean Gerrard is by far our most versatile player and can cover more or less any position in a team.

Agger is quite versatile as well but is killed by injuries so far, but he can cover DM, LB position and I wouldn't be surprised to see him do well in CM.

Benny can cover any AM position can't he? As well as Babel could cover them if he weren't so damm poor everytime he plays.

Aurelio have played the CM as well but with less good results.

[dww]

It's a good point, but we have more versatile players than you mention though - but they are not fringe players. I mean Gerrard is by far our most versatile player and can cover more or less any position in a team.

Agger is quite versatile as well but is killed by injuries so far, but he can cover DM, LB position and I wouldn't be surprised to see him do well in CM.

Benny can cover any AM position can't he? As well as Babel could cover them if he weren't so damm poor everytime he plays.

Aurelio have played the CM as well but with less good results.

I take those points but the versatility is less useful in key players - ideally you would always like to be able to play them in their most effective position. Really only Benayoun can claim to not have a very well defined 'best position' from those you mention.

[red g]

It's a good point, but we have more versatile players than you mention though - but they are not fringe players. I mean Gerrard is by far our most versatile player and can cover more or less any position in a team.

Agger is quite versatile as well but is killed by injuries so far, but he can cover DM, LB position and I wouldn't be surprised to see him do well in CM.

Benny can cover any AM position can't he? As well as Babel could cover them if he weren't so damm poor everytime he plays.

Aurelio have played the CM as well but with less good results.

Yes Vrononin, Babel and Dossena are useless in several positions

[red g]

do remember that Fletcher made his machester united debut 8 seasons ago and its taken him this long to make a starting place.

[dww]

do remember that Fletcher made his machester united debut 8 seasons ago and its taken him this long to make a starting place.

That is a totally fair point. One I have touched on before. There is a huge advantage in having had a stable managerial/coaching regime at a club for a long period of time as players understand a lot more about the way the team plays. That was part of what I was talking about when I was refering to player development.

That said though Carrick is not a United alumi nor as far as I'm aware has he ever played CB before. Obviously the came situation would have helped but you do wonder whether players from our squad would have been up for it.

[red g]

That is a totally fair point. One I have touched on before. There is a huge advantage in having had a stable managerial/coaching regime at a club for a long period of time as players understand a lot more about the way the team plays. That was part of what I was talking about when I was refering to player development.

That said though Carrick is not a United alumi nor as far as I'm aware has he ever played CB before. Obviously the came situation would have helped but you do wonder whether players from our squad would have been up for it.

its easier to be up for it in a winning team though

[dww]

its easier to be up for it in a winning team though

True.

Although I do sometimes wonder if it is easier to be a winning team if you are willing to do things for the greater good. The current United squad is the weakest for a good while in my view but they work hard, believe in one another and many of them will do just about anything for the team. Part of that I don't doubt is bought about by being in a squad that wins things long term (for example Fletcher must know that he would never be as successful or half the player he is now if he had come through in almost any other team). Potentially I guess it is a bit of a chicken and egg scenario.

[Darkon]

I take those points but the versatility is less useful in key players - ideally you would always like to be able to play them in their most effective position. Really only Benayoun can claim to not have a very well defined 'best position' from those you mention.

I agree with that and ideally you can have a few strong backups that can cover many positions, but you should also be able to make room for less versatile players by pushing the versatile first team players around. I mean you more or less see any top player playing a few different positions during a season.

The other thing for me is that with 7 subs available on the bench, the versatile players that are not particular good in any position is less useful than the days with only 5 subs. Having a strong enough squad we would only have use for the type of player you describe when our two strongest for each position are out of the game.