Massively over-rated in this department mate, don't see him blocking crosses on a regular basis. In fact he prefers to let others do that job for him. He also doesn't perform well in the air, when did you last see Clyne win a header? When did you see him tackle rather than just press the ball off an opponent? Now I'm sure there are a lot of stats that says he wins x amount of tackles and wins x amount of headers but I mean actual tackles where he isn't favourite for the ball and in terms of headers not ones in midfield where the competition isn't just his opposing winger / full back.
See Clyne's assests are hugely over stated and have been for a long time. He gets up and down that wing like nobody else, he's got stamina to burn but what he does when he gets to either last or first 3rd isn't good enough in my book, not even close.
When you say about being productive that is a slight on Jimmy not a + on Clyne, go back and see how many or even what % of our attacks stop or fail when our full-backs become involved. It would be eyewatering and a painful exercise, neither has the ability to beat a man in any shape that could be deemed consistent. Both can't shoot from their positions, neither has an insightful pass and neither is producing crosses of any consistent threat. Sure both will chip in occasionally with assist because we give them the opportunity so damn much and they are largely ignored by our opponents as 'threats' so that's where we become easier to play against.
I'm not asking Clyne to become Robben, I'm asking him to complement the players around him, to offer something rather than nothing and stop just launching the ball into the box so god damn aimlessly when he runs out of ideas. The amount of energy we put in to get him in the open, or Jimmy for that matter and the amount of movement it takes to grant them the opportunity to produce anything of note it is embarrassing how low they are in terms of productivity.
For me, aside from an absolute Mascherano type in DM, these are our weakest areas of the pitch by a considerable distance and it's astonishing to me how little they get in terms of stick or criticism. We're conceding at 1.3 a game, something so many are critical of and these 2 are 50% of our defensive line, you're telling me they're up to task here? I'd prefer to start with TAA any day of the week.
As for Lallana/Mane they would be given much more space if the full-back on this side could provide any type of threat, same with Coutinho on the other. It's extremely easy to mark players when you can surrender the width to players who wont hurt you.
I will give you aerial duels he is actually awful, I have mentioned it myself but on the other scores nah dirty he scores as highly as any of the top right backs in the country for tackles won, pass completion, key passes, chances created. Not his fault against Leicester when he cut in a great cross to Firmino that he had the touch of a rapist in the box.
Question would be which full backs in the league provide better stats going forward and defensively?
Clyne is a great defensive fullback, doesn't get roasted for pace or positional play like Jimmy.
If we want an attacking full back then Clyne is not for us but bearing in mind how poor we are defensively that would be a huge mistake until Jürgen brings in bettervdefensive midfielders to cover for two attacking full backs and we move to a 4231.
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