Our full backs today.

[Rich]

Thought Aurelio looked good apart from his crappy freekicks!

It would be nice to see him complete a season without a serious/semi-serious injury too.

[Exiled_red]

Thought Aurelio looked good apart from his crappy freekicks!

It would be nice to see him complete a season without a serious/semi-serious injury too.

I agree his free kicks were poor, but I thought he put a couple of decent corners in

[Charly]

Thought Aurelio looked good apart from his crappy freekicks!

It would be nice to see him complete a season without a serious/semi-serious injury too.

Aurelio is one of those players....he reminds me of this guy I played with at school, who thought he was really really good, so much so that everyone else around him thought he must be so, although he never actually played well, couldnt really pass, shoot or tackle, but still got picked each week.

Its like when he takes free kicks. I have never seen him take a decent one, yet he seems to line up to take them all the time. Rafa even said he was a better passer of the ball than Alonso....???

He just seems to be a very average player, in the same way Finnan was a very above average player. He doesnt really have the physique to be a defender, imho. A decent squad player though. Good movement to support Albert today. Looks far better than Dossena so far.

I am not really worried about left nack, as if we attack like that, the other teams wont get a chance to break forward.

[Woobus]

Yes, it was nice to see the overlapping between Aurellio and Riera, early second half.

As an aside what exactly is Aurellio's strength. His left peg seems ordinary. His tackling is ordinary. His attacking play is ordinary. I don't wanna be overly negative on such agreat day, but what does he bring to the 'pool party?

I think someone else said Dossena played 2 internationals during the week for Italy. For the lesser teams a fella like Dossema, Gerrard and Torres all running at them as well should be fun.
Another 3 really attackers coming in, addded Deggen and we could become such a good force going forward. Geting very drunk, so will eave it at this

[Marky]

Where the **** is Degan?

[Harv]

Still think Arby is our weak point. He is solid, but not quite good enough to get us over the line i reckon.

Dossena and Riera should be a very solid combo too, Doss looks to attack all the time, he just never had anyone to link up with before Riera's signing

[SB]

I quite like Aurelio.

But I have to admit I find it bizarre that Rafa would splash out eight million on a left back, Dossena, and then decide not to play him.

Dossena played the full 90 mins for Italy mid week and Aurelio was fresh. Not that hard a desicion really

[Parm]

Where the **** is Degan?

apparently he played in the ressies last run out (or so my mate tells me!)

[Mike]

apparently he played in the ressies last run out (or so my mate tells me!)

Correct

[JPK]

Arbeloa had his best game for some time and hopefully now he can keep that level up.
Aurelio started very nervous but got better as the game went on. When he gets a run of games he is very consistent and dependable. He is not flash and just gets his job done without much fuss. Dossena when he settles will push him and it will be an interesting tussle for the left back spot.

Whats the deal with Insua? Surely a loan would be a good option for him now?

[rudedog]

Played high up the pitch.

It made such a difference to us offensively. Very simple really.

It did make a difference but I don't think its quite as simple as your making out.

Man United's chronic lack of width both allowed and encouraged our full backs to get forward.

Against other teams with more natural width, I think we would be more cautious so as not to be too exposed on the counter.

[Mike]

Arbeloa had his best game for some time and hopefully now he can keep that level up.
Aurelio started very nervous but got better as the game went on. When he gets a run of games he is very consistent and dependable. He is not flash and just gets his job done without much fuss. Dossena when he settles will push him and it will be an interesting tussle for the left back spot.

Whats the deal with Insua? Surely a loan would be a good option for him now?

I was just thinking the same thing.

Would like to see him get a loan deal and see how he copes. People were saying how promising he is but the does not seem to be in contention for a first team squad place.

[Craig_H]

Yes, it was nice to see the overlapping between Aurellio and Riera, early second half.

As an aside what exactly is Aurellio's strength. His left peg seems ordinary. His tackling is ordinary. His attacking play is ordinary. I don't wanna be overly negative on such agreat day, but what does he bring to the 'pool party?

He's solid enough, technically decent and puts real quality deliveries into the box. I like him. He's not a world superstar, but he does the job and he was free.

[Craig_H]

It did make a difference but I don't think its quite as simple as your making out.

Man United's chronic lack of width both allowed and encouraged our full backs to get forward.

Against other teams with more natural width, I think we would be more cautious so as not to be too exposed on the counter.

Whether he's a wide player or not, Rooney is a top class attacking player. So his presence would still have given Aurelio something to think about.

However, our fullbacks took the initiative and got forward. Not only did this help in an attacking sense, it also pushed back Brown and Evra which negated the threat they usually have going forward.

All in all, it was a very beneficial asset to have fullbacks who regularly got high up the park.

[El Jefecito]

Whether he's a wide player or not, Rooney is a top class attacking player. So his presence would still have given Aurelio something to think about.

However, our fullbacks took the initiative and got forward. Not only did this help in an attacking sense, it also pushed back Brown and Evra which negated the threat they usually have going forward.

All in all, it was a very beneficial asset to have fullbacks who regularly got high up the park.

Spot on.

The irony is that we made them look like we often do, the width-less wonders