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Reading the Grimsby thread and the comments on Horton it made me think, like much else in football, the role of full back has changed , hence them often being called wing backs, as they are expected to provide a more attacking threat. Consequently it seems that many of them these days are better going forward than they are defending. Trent Alexander Arnold. generally considered one of the best wing backs around, has often been criticised for his defending.
There have always been attacking full backs, notably the great Terry Cooper at Leeds who really was like a winger, although Jairzinho made mincemeat of him in the 1970 World Cup and I can?t really remember his defensive qualities.
It must be very difficult to find a fullback with both qualities. I suppose
Albert Holmes did have both which is what made him the best full back I have seen for us. II remember him going forward, whilst his perfectly timed slide tackles to fairly dispossess an opponent were beautiful to watch.

We had three players playing today who had been recalled from loans. Thought Akinola was decent in the few minutes he was on, which is more then can be said for the other two.
It got me thinking has there ever been a player who has made a consistent impact after being recalled from loan? I can't think of one, they usually end up being transferred and drop down the hierachy.

We have seen the sudden and unexpected decline of Man City owing to age compounded by injury, are we in the same boat? I know we have a healthy number of younger players and the likes of Dobra, Mandy, Oldaker, Berry, Sheckelford, Gordon, Horton and perhaps Colclough still (although his best years are probably behind him) are around their peak ages, however two of our main men, Grigg and Naylor are well over thirty, added to these are two more ageing important players in Banks and Grimes, whilst Madden (although hardly key on his contribution since signing) is also well over thirty, furthermore Williams and Dunkley aren't young, nor is Palmer (should we see him again). And then there is Fleck.
I know experience is important and it's always good to have the likes of one or two, such as Mike Jones who did a good job, as did Richie Humphries in Cook's first spell, but when you have four or more main men, including both your strikers the wrong side of thirty, especially when injuries mean they take longer to recover, it's a real worry.
The problem is we aren't likley to secure players of the quality of Grigg and Naylor whilst they are still at their peaks. Jack Lester was a real one off, and perhaps people suspected he was past it when we got him. Of course Jack went on to have six more seasons, three or four of them in steller form, and apart from a few occasions mainly injury free. But class 30+ year olds who retain their form and remain injury free for 2/3 more seasons are as rare as hen's teeth. You are much more likely to be landed with a dud on big money as we have seen in the past and thus far currently with Madden and Fleck, and maybe even Dunkley.

Never been a fan so quite content to see their present struggles. It shows constantly chopping and changing managers more often than not doesn?t work. Reminds me of 74 when they were relegated although not for a minute do I think they will be relegated as there are plenty of worse teams.
In 74 their demise was due to an ageing side (rather like City today) and the end of the ?holy trinity?, now it just seems to be down to having a load of obscure crap players. I never liked the club or Ferguson but you had to admire the fabulous sides he built and the truly great players in those sides. You look at the stellar names on those team sheets and contrast it with the obscure nonentities today and the reasons for the decline are obvious. They are simply not players you associate with Man Utd. Liverpool went through a similar period for many years.
The problem is that there are probably not that many truly great players in the world at present and to get a couple of them into one team, let alone half a dozen, is virtually impossible.

Well at the half way stage of the season - Thompson and the excellent Markanday apart - most have been disappointing. Gordon has been decent but now injured. Dunkley good although his passing could be better now been injured far longer than he has played. Arujo ok but in and out with injuries. Tanton okay but another injured far more than he has played. Vonte Campbell injured and underwhelming when he has played. Metcalf long term injured but hasn?t really pulled any trees up when played. Madden in and out with injuries, scored a few but ultimately very disappointing. Fleck a total waste.
The club wasn?t to know about these injuries but ultimately decidedly underwhelming signings.