Full backs are the only position where we allow the focus to be on ball skills and ignore the physicality and let them play the ball..
just a theory...
When everyone is fit for Scotland I think Clarke does favour wingbacks BUT its more around fitting in key players rather than a real tactical belief.
He usually has to find a way to fit in both Tierney and Robertson on the left, who are generally similar players for the same position and in all honesty if Aaron Hickey was fit and playing he would be ahead of Patterson on the right side.
Agreed on the going back and sideways, as I said at the game it was obvious McGinn who was essentially playing RW offered nothing as an out ball and at times actually occupied the space that Patterson should be driving into. So made a bad performance worse.
...he usually stinks in a back four. At least he'd get forward and swing a few crosses in first half. But he was so conservative - checking back or going sideways. Same with Robertson on the other side, tbf. They both stunk.
I'm not even sure it's confidence with Patterson though. I just don't rate the kid based on all the performances I've seen so far. He just isn't a PL defender IMO. He's better off going into the Championship and reinventing himself as a wide right player. I think that might be his level and position. He's certainly not a defender.
Was at the game, was a truly terrible performance from Patterson. Defensively all over the place, directly to blame for the goal trying to take on 2 men on the bye line, instead of just rattling it of their legs he tries to waltz between them in the box...caught on the ball many times as it was all so static up front with no options to pass.
I've defended him in the past as he has had great performances for Scotland usually in an attacking sense and with NI sitting in with 10 defenders should have been ideal for him, but going forward he was dreadful as well. Twice his crosses just went out over the bar and another attack was ruined.
In balance the whole team were poor last night and Paterson's job was made harder by McGinn having an rare stinker. He genuinely must be injured as he never moved all night, So on the rare occasions NI went up the park he never protected Patterson and when Patterson had the ball ready to maraud forward McGinn actively stood in the way or took up the space he could have bombed forward in..so poor but not helped at all last night.
Think I heard the radio say he's played 6 minutes all year before last night, it showed. Needs games wont get it at Everton, but we are too short to loan him out.
Another howler there in Scotland's game v N.I.
Loses the ball, then wins it back then gifts the ball back to Bradley of Liverpool who scores.
Fuck me he's a woeful defender.
In better news 'Andrew' Robertson looks crocked with an ankle injury.
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