THIS Is Why Lisandro Martinez CAN Play Left Back For Manchester United!

[@DannyChean]

Licha at LB but stays closer to our two CBs and form a 3 at the back while RB moves up to support attack. With two central midfielders shielding our defense it might work to our strength because either Dalot or Mazroui is great as RWB. De Ligt or Yoro in future would be quick enough to provide cover for RB. Annnnd when we have a RWB committing to attack, our RW, either being Rashford or Amad, could sit narrower to be more threatening to opposition goal.

[@JustMyOpinion007]

Great analysis again. I didnt realise how much martinez playing there makes us so much less predictable

[@jiggersotoole7823]

Great stuff. Also, I like Rashford coming in off the right.

[@DS4Life]

Gabriel Heinze😎😎😎

[@EmmanuelOnyono]

I would say that what City does daily four CB. So Ten Hag should use them.

[@iddyyo8074]

Similar to arse with Caliafiori/White

[@danielca3]

With shaw and yoro the build up play could be special 🙇🏾‍♂️

[@mattk120]

Shaw will retire soon

[@danielca3]

@mattk120 it's a tough one. i actually think he's well enough to play right now, but we're getting him to the best level we possibly can physically. The talent is unquestionable

[@afro.thunder]

@@danielca3 shaw in 2024? he needs to be sold

[@ABESW0RLD]

​@@danielca3its not tough at all. He needs to be sold. A player that can't stay fit is useless

[@danielca3]

@ABESW0RLD you can't sell a player there's not a market for nobody would invest in him at this point in time. This is business not fifa

[@Redvil01]

It works better than Dalot at LB for sure. Mazroui being good at defending, can rotate with Dalot, depending on what we need.

[@DuskPatrol]

Body of evidence is small, but based on the evidence we do have, it works. Well-reasoned extrapolations per usual. Cheers

[@keweputsuhah6167]

Definately yes at the moment and in future too when Lenny becomes fit and even as DM when needed, we need a player like Licha who bleeds for Man U

[@illiasunabbi1999]

His passing 😊 He does not lose ball easily too So CDM too will work.

[@saddammall3337]

Arsenal and city...both use 3 CBs in a back 4...moved away from 2 wingbacks overlapping....just keep wingers wide and release the two 10s into the channels....cause the extra CB provide enough cover with the CDM...

[@paulstockton7121]

This is worth a try. A forward W shape of Garnacho, Bruno, Rasmus, Zirkzee and Amad. Defensive 3 of Masroui, De Lijt, Martinez with Ugarte and Manoo shielding and linking play.

[@flmworks]

the problem was left footed LB and CB thanks to Johny Evans, to allow Martinez become LB

[@lukakujundzic8750]

Considering that in possession we were in a back 3 does that imply a possible back 3 either for ETH now or for a new manager.

[@cormaclovett1685]

The role suits him and I think we'll see quite a lot of him there this season. Obviously Evans will need his gametime managed but so will Shaw/ Malacia (if they ever return to their previous levels). I can see Martinez starting virtually every game this season, either at LB when Evans starts or at CB when Shaw/ Malacia start. Good to have that flexibility but United to need to sign a left footed CB next season... How's Hato been progressing?

[@cybermanne]

I've not been a huge fan of having Martinez playing LB, but the last few games, and your breakdown of it have pretty much convinced me it's a valid option for us. I still think Luke Shaw is going to be an upgrade since he is a bit more versataile in that position. Like Dalot and Mazraoui on the RB he can both go forward on the overlap and play a more inverted role like the one Martinez is now playing. I think Martinez is probably better in that inverted role than Shaw, but Shaw is much better than Martinez on the overlap. So if he's fit I think he's still the number one option. But he doesn't seem to be able to get fit at all. So I hope we sell him asap and get a young reliable LB instead to hold us over until Amass is old enough to step into that position for the long term.

[@Pippi-6]

With Yoro coming back, I don't mind ETH trying him at LB and Dalot will help in the middle.

[@shriduttbhatt3977]

I'm still unsure. He did struggle earlier this season at LB. The last game was good but he'll need to do that more consistently for us to say he can play there.

[@Em0_GG]

This is why I'd prefer a 5 down the back formation once Leny Yoro comes back from injury since our defense especially when it comes the set pieces gets too shallow, like realistically only like 2-3 of the starting players would be able to win an aerial duel and that's definitely not good enough when your Goalkeeper doesn't like to come off their line to claim crosses anyway. 5-2-3 would be the starting shape then defense would be a 5-4-1 then in possession 3-4-3 utilizing both fullback in the midfield without leaving the defense line helpless. Licha would definently help out who ever is on the left side till shaw comes back till man Utd get a left back while De ligt can man mark the danger man / striker leaving leny to be that sweeper since onana hasn't proven to anyone that he can leave his 5 yrd box anyway

[@davidublin]

Id play martinez in the carrick role , technically our best player that understands the cover our defenders need

[@Redvil01]

We bought Ugarte for that. He needs a chance to get into the team.

[@davidublin]

@@Redvil01 so martinez and ugarte couldn't play together in midfield

[@GoSamOGo]

Even try him at cdm that would be cold

[@munyaradzimushato9102]

D-link for Licha for me. He can be like the great argentine of old in that left D-link position , Fernado Redondo.

[@shemoywilliams1666]

System work with a natural left footed player.

[@flmworks]

My worry is Malacia is not on the same level as Martinez in term of ball playing, vision and Long range passing, and even though Martinez has better attacking trait, he is weaker on defending at LB position especially against top winger like Salah i guess thats the trade off that Ten Hag will made, different story with Shaw, he has both

[@immamdobilubackup2274]

imagine Jared branthwaite & the development Erik will do to him as a complete upgrade to lisandro out of possession, & just a top CB at a very young age, not for getting his versatility across the whole back 4 honestly

[@xg_zack]

Works against the small teams We'd lose a lot in physicality ball playing and attacking output in the top half table games.

[@kalebdemedeiros5692]

I’d like to see this with Yoro in evans position

[@notharryhindsight7746]

Works better than having Dalot there which is good enough.

[@sagivr]

I honestly have no idea what stopped ten Hag from doing this much earlier

[@joni.sirvio8867]

can we finally and officially say we are 3 def team now.. not 4-2-3-1 as usually everyone draws

[@benedictjajo]

Formation is only useful when defending (coherence). When attacking, it's all about the role given to the particular player.

[@imo098765]

@@benedictjajo Even then defending isnt always that. Its it a 4-5-1 a 4-4-2 or a 5-4-1 It really just two layers of defenders across the field following runners and blocking angles into the box

[@fynmerkyYTL8134L]

I get the basis of the video, great video by the way but despite Licha's performance he's arguably better in his natural CB position. I feel it's too risky to move players around too much especially if they've already settled in so well like Lisandro, not to mention Malacia is on his way back soon to occupy his position, until then for me personally Dalot should continue in the LB

[@reeveswongpiano]

Malacia….. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

[@johnifeoluwa7189]

Dalot should continue left back even if it doesn't give us the best as a team ?

[@SDY43251]

On the dribbled past stat you shared, are you not comparing lichas stats at cb to players who traditionally play at lb and are dribbled at more than players who play at cb. Think it’s a bit of a misleading comparison as a result

[@AJAnalysis]

Typically I would agree But due to the nature of Martinez's cb role I think it evens things out a little It's also why I chose to look at percentage as opposed to volume as well

[@SDY43251]

@@AJAnalysis that’s fair. Assuming his dribblers faced is still considerably lower though you’d expect his percentage to get worse if he’s put in those positions more. That is part conjecture though. Interesting video either way 👊🏾

[@AJAnalysis]

@@SDY43251 Yeah that's certainly possible!

[@bumache]

He should play defensive midfield. His range of passing tackling skills and team leadership skills would galvinise the whole team.

[@captainchevrolet1694]

I think Lisandro at Lb poses far too many complications than it does fixes... get a better Lb in january would be my opinion, but for now i guess he works till then... but longterm, both rashford and garnacho suffer with him there.

[@benedictjajo]

Yes, he'll be the perfect Inverted full back for United because he also used to play at DM. But As a traditional left back? No. He doesn't have the pace and crossing ability.

[@tersooachiatar5499]

Martinez will get exposed. Full backs always need help defending but the counter will be dangerous against him. The idea of pressing high exposes defenders and moves them from their comfort positions. If Martinez must play at LB then the LCB must have extra pace to compliment Him to a degree. I think we still need Branthwaite and a LB. The tactics we have used lately have really exposed Martinez. When the full backs have to press very high Martinez has shown he will have that problem defending the space behind he has been caught out repeatedly this season although he was high up when he was playing the LB role in some instances. It should be a temporal measure as more technical teams will certainly expose him

[@kingflockthewarrior202]

he will be found out. its a high risk hig reward play. what do you expect

[@leifarild7798]

From left: Front 3: Rashford, Amad, Hojlund. Midfield: Garnacho, Casemiro, Eriksen, Dalot. Back 3: Martinez, Evans, De Ligt. 3-4-1-2 or 5-2-1-2 if you want. I think Amad is an excellent distributor of the ball, and Garnacho could be the partner Rashford needs on the left. I think Garnacho has enough qualities defensively, but offensively the left side will be formidable. Yes, as you probably understand, it is Garnacho and Dalot that keep the width in this set-up.

[@Redvil01]

Sounds really interesting but Bruno is too big of a player to drop, being captain and very creative. I'd play him instead of Eriksen since he can play as an 8 with his stamina and workrate. I think he will take less risks in that role.

[@ABESW0RLD]

He's a utility player, reminiscent of Daley Blind but he's not best at LB. He cant cross or has the pace to play LB full time. I still think hes better if he developed as a CDM.

[@Doctor_Kroom]

At Ajax, theY came to the conclusion that he doesn't have enough stamina to play as a CDM. So they benched him and transitioned him from CDM to CB. Ten hag did an interview on this issue at Ajax. The premier league requires more stamina than Eredivisie.

[@Mopark25]

Why? He's a CB.

[@LeslieMathula]

He's okay at LB, buh he can be even good as a DM just like how he plays at LCB.

[@habiladam6363]

ETH (and Licha as well) said already that Licha doesn't have the qualities of a CDM, and that he'd struggle in the CDM role

[@Doctor_Kroom]

He was CDM at Ajax till they discovered he has no stamina for that role.

[@nt4409]

Aggressive, Demanding, Good Passing, and Compose in Possession. Poor in Tracking Back, Positioning, Aerial Defending, and Man Marking.

[@ALong-fo5so]

With Licha on the left we don’t need Shaw anymore

[@craigskeffers5982]

I worry about him defending wide areas 1 on 1

[@biswapratimmili1070]

at this moment, yeah....

[@amittomar3403]

Man utd should play 3-5-2 onana Yoro De ligt Martinez Kobbie Casemiro Maz Bruno Zirkzee Dalot Hojlund

[@twistedron]

Bro you make a lot of videos

[@twistedron]

Keep it up

[@NwabuikemWilliam-tc2pz]

Maz/Dalot Leny De ligt Martinez

[@valzor2562]

The major issue becomes the lack of attacking support on the left handside, meaning the width needs to be held by a winger, of which we have no really particularly good wide winger, so ideally you want a fullback to overlap and provide the width. This is somewhat dealable with bruno/eriksen playing lcm, moving out in to wide areas and helping hold the width, but its still not completely sorted since you want eriksen and bruno to have options to move back inside. Truthfully, I think Martinez is just someone we will need to move away from eventually, as sad as that is. But for now, especially if he can add to his game the ability to hold and create from the width, it might be an option to keep him in the game, and solve a lot of the physcality issues he brings.

[@Mopark25]

What do you mean move away from? He's our best CB. LB is a temporary solution.

[@valzor2562]

@@Mopark25 Hes an OOP liabiliy. Nearly every top team has gone for the exact same same idea for center backs, physically dominant monsters who dominate air and ground duels, as well cover wide and big areas, to be transition dominant, to keep the rest defence as effective as possible when your squeezing the play. They don't have expert ball players in the team, just decent ones, we don't need someone as good as licha on the ball, its surplus to requirement. We need more effective centerbacks in the press and transition, and lichas not that.

[@asrarshafi9054]

He can't defend 1v1 . He would have to invert

[@raypinmyners1881]

Could u analyse, how manu are 12th in the table? Ash Howe here 😉

[@AJAnalysis]

😯

[@ChadYu]

Ash Howe here

[@ayushmaurya8527]

+ve martinez is great at attacking play. -ve he is not a good crosser of ball. remember that.

[@FirstBorn__]

We herr

[@HenryMphunga-mr6ns]

convert him to that position I he can play better

[@davidpeters8821]

Better at cdm tbh

[@finkomsky]

He doesn’t have the athleticism to play left back He looks overweight this season

[@orizongaming707]

First

[@mustntgrumble1]

No he can’t.

[@msh9488]

I think i still thought that licha is the answer to dmf 🤷

[@scottsinner7530]

I don’t think he can cover enough ground to be a DM in this league.