I´ve been comparing all the left backs in the league. So far he is coming out as someone above average in the categories I have looked at and has no perceived weakness yet. Still looking though. Below is where I am at so far. Check the thread for an explanation of how the conclusions are arrived at.
I´ve really liked the look of him from what I have seen so far. Think he will help us stretch play horizontally against sides who play a low block with balance on the left and those who seen him more than me in attacking sides have commented how much of a positive impact he can have on sides going forward.
Not a big name or a big price so he isn´t a great signing for people who want good transfers to help their FIFA teams against their mates online, but seems an astute signing to solve a problem we had in the squad at low cost. Well in.
Welcome to the club Andy Robertson. YNWA!
Latest update on my ongoing comparison of all Premier League Left Backs
At the moment I have only looked at 1-v-1 and blocking situations. I´ll look at pressing/second balls next. Still not looking at any defensive metrics but here is where we are at so far.
Blocks vs 1-v-1s
Blocks Broken Down
1-V-1 Ability broken down
Green
This grouping would be what I would consider the best grouping of left backs in 1-v-1 situations in the Premier League at the moment. I would say for that grouping Davies & van Aanholt look the best, although van Aanholt will be 27 when the season starts. We seem to target players a few years younger than that so we have a core squad coming into their peak 2 or 3 years from now. With this in mind, and Davies likely unavailable (or over priced for what we want to spend) as he is at Spurs, Robertson then looks the best option available to us.
Light Green
Bertrand, Cresswell & Olsson may also be very good options although the very low number of tackles they are making is a concern. Are they simply not being tested much in 1-v-1 situations? Are they world class at staying on their feet and jockeying people away from danger without making a challenge? Or are they too passive and simply back off ensuring they are rarely beaten, foul or make a challenge but cause a lot of problems for their sides?
Yellow
This would be the league average group. Alonso was the surprising name in there for me. Although maybe this explains why Chelsea want a 60m left back this summer?
Orange
This would be the group that seem weak in 1-v-1 situations. They are all fouling & being dribbled past more than twice as often as Nathaniel Clyne. Interesting names in group are Chilwell (bullet dodged or still learning?), Milner (sorry James, but I figured this would be his weakest category given he is not a defender and at 31 will be losing some of that explosiveness) Monreal (explains Arsenals need for a new leftback too) and Danny Rose (always thought he was a liability in defence, his improved attacking game and better center backs mopping up behind him maybe is seeing his weaknesses exposed less?)
Outliers
Gibbs & Moreno are both way out on their own, and not in a good way for either. Moreno looks like he could be a good fullback. Hell, maybe even a world class one. However, again, his decision making comes into play. He dives into every challenge. He attempts 4,3 tackles per 90 compared to the second highest in the league 2,99. The league average is 2,1. If he stayed on his feet half the time you expect he would simultaneously reduce his fouling and dribble past numbers too. You 1/2 all his numbers and he would be the best full back in the league in this category by some distance. But that has always been the problem with Alberto, if. He has everything a full back could need to be the Naby Keita of full backs except the brain of one.