Mr Anon
3:43 Mon Jul 4
Re: Antonio at Right Back.
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Whever he ends up, it's brilliant to have a player that can play at the back or the wing, gives us loads of options to change things round midgame.
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gph
3:44 Mon Jul 4
Re: Antonio at Right Back.
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I think Bilic loves attacking fullbacks.
When Tomkins plays there, we don't have an attacking fullback on that side.
Hopefully Byram's ready now.
Alternatively, if Antonio has to stay at fullback, can we have a decent winger in front of him?
(I looking forward to news of Moses' new loan deal, so I can be sure we're not having him back - unless...)
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chim chim cha boo
3:53 Mon Jul 4
Re: Antonio at Right Back.
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I'm surprised so many people have said he did an okay job at right-back. I think he was fucking terrible and got skinned again and again.
I thought it was a sin to use an absolutely fantastic player in a position that makes him look stupid. Bilic was such a cultured defender that maybe he thinks defending is the easiest job in the world when it clearly isn't.
Antonio has an ultra-attacking mindset and is simply not cut out to defend. I love the fact that Bilic has an ultra-attacking mindset too but just like Allardyce (did I just compare super Slav with Allardyce- fucking hell!) with James Tomkins' ill-fated stint as a defensive midfielder, it's a blind spot for the manager.
I agree with the 'like putting Noble in goal' analogy.
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Fivetide
3:59 Mon Jul 4
Re: Antonio at Right Back.
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He can 'do a job' at right-back, and always is fully committed to it, even if he doesn't have the experience to do it other than in a pinch.
But more importantly, he is a superb winger, and as much as he tries, he can't do both at the same time.
Also, which one of Bilic's relations is Byram hitting on if he doesn't get a look in this Summer?
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threesixty
4:07 Mon Jul 4
Re: Antonio at Right Back.
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I'm not sure if it's good for Antonio's career to be pushed into the right back position. If anything he could easily be a top striker / forward. He'd be worth more and get paid more if he developed in that way.
It's all a bit weird. I think he should play in Moses position right now and we should buy a dedicated right back to share the role with Byram. Byram could potentially be as good as Creswell for us so prehaps we shouldnt buy a senior level right back.
If I was antonio's agent I would be worried.
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Fivetide
4:08 Mon Jul 4
Re: Antonio at Right Back.
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If I were Antonio's agent I'd be on my yacht.
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CryBabies
4:46 Mon Jul 4
Re: Antonio at Right Back.
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Goalscoring wingers are not easy to come by, especially ones who have so much energy they pop up in the box and score a fair few headers. Bilic obviously rates Antonio; however, I hope he isn't expecting him to fly down the wing from defence to attack for 90 mins and still score a few goals. This experiment could fail spectacularly due to way too much emphasis on attack. If Antonio is up to the challenge though he could become the new Cafu. We shall see.
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colinos
5:01 Mon Jul 4
Re: Antonio at Right Back.
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Anyone who witnessed Swansea tear us apart in May would agree we need a proper right back.
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the exile
5:10 Mon Jul 4
Re: Antonio at Right Back.
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It's great that Antonio is so versatile but I would rather see him used as a striker than rb. Possibly the best finisher at the club, could easily get 12+ goals if he plays on wing, if played as a striker he could be the solution to our search for a 20 goals a season player, but we've discussed that before, haven't we, vexed.
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busheyhammer85
5:39 Mon Jul 4
Re: Antonio at Right Back.
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The jury is still out on Antonio for me.
Certainly at Right back.
I'm not entirely convinced by him... Looks too awkward and has the touch of a rapist sometimes.
Very effective last season in the final third... Lets hope it continues.
To have him as first choice Right Back though would concern me.
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riosleftsock
5:44 Mon Jul 4
Re: Antonio at Right Back.
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OP - Great username, shouldn't you be joining H&P and threesixty and co on the EU thread?
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Grumpster
8:19 Mon Jul 4
Re: Antonio at Right Back.
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I'm happy he's signed a new contract, great player to have around and though he can do a job at the back, it's silly taking his superb attacking and vital goals away from the team at the back.
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Texas Iron
5:52 Tue Jul 5
Re: Antonio at Right Back.
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Bilic is a cunt if he persists in playing Antonio at RB...unless we have no alternative through injury or suspension...but only Temporarily..
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Darby_
7:58 Tue Jul 5
Re: Antonio at Right Back.
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It makes me nervous when managers play midfielders at right back. I thought that letting Lucas Neill go and replacing him with Faubert was one of the reasons our defence fell apart early in that season. Even if Neill was on his last legs, Zola should have brought in a proper right back to replace him.
Anyway, I hope Bilic and Antionio prove me wrong.
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Crassus
8:17 Tue Jul 5
Re: Antonio at Right Back.
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Antonio as a RB and Pedro Obiang
The two things of Slav's reign I am puzzled by - would love to know what his thinking is
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Swiss.
11:47 Tue Jul 5
Re: Antonio at Right Back.
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wasn't he playing more like a wing back sometimes with a back 3,
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franksfat&slow&wank
12:18 Tue Jul 5
Re: Antonio at Right Back.
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I think we should relax until the end of August and see what happens, loads of time to nail a right back if they decide that route
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Russ of the BML
12:26 Tue Jul 5
Re: Antonio at Right Back.
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I don't see anything wrong with trying to develop a player into another position.
As a defender Antonio is very difficult to play against simply down to his pace and strength. There is not a winger in the world that will beat him for either of those attributes. Obviously my main concern would be his defensive positional sense which if Slav is the coach I think he is then this attribute will be what he and Antonio will be working on.
Going forward Antonio has the lot apart from he is still a little raw. Has shown some sublime touches and scored very naturally skilful goals but he needs to add some culture and finesse to his attacking skills.
So the way I see it is that if he can become positionally sound at the back and be a bit tidier and amart going forward we will have one hell of a player on our hands.
Could be the next Cafu!!
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Russ of the BML
12:26 Tue Jul 5
Re: Antonio at Right Back.
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*smarter going forward
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franksfat&slow&wank
12:31 Tue Jul 5
Re: Antonio at Right Back.
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Russ and the lad shows good signs of wanting to learn and listen and puts the extra shifts in training according to him and Slav
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Russ of the BML
12:34 Tue Jul 5
Re: Antonio at Right Back.
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franksfat&slow&wank 12:31 Tue Jul 5
Yes, good signs. I always played left back and I know the importance of having someone in front of you that can do their bit to help you out.
I would've loved to have had Antonio playing in front of me. Would've been a dream. Got the engine to track back and never ever gets beat for pace or strength.
Slav probably seen this and thought "Hold on, we've potentially got a great attacking full back on our hands".
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