O’Neill wasn’t the only guilty manager in recent decades to devalue the position, after all, Ron Atkinson converted Earl Barrett, an outstanding centre-back during his time at Oldham, to play as right-back for Villa.
Getting forward is vital in the right-back position and it’s something that Bacuna and Lowton both feel natural doing, but which of the two is the most effective?
Matty Lowton loves to venture down the right and often links up with forwards who have floated over into wide areas, Weimann or Gabby usually. His passion to attack can be seen by the diagram below, which shows his average positions on the field of open play in the games against Newcastle.
Lowton is the focal point of a lot of our attacks. The chances he creates are creative and effective. He is an excellent crosser of the ball, swinging the ball in from deep areas at times, often onto the six-yard box line, which puts the opposition under immense pressure. Last season Lowton scored two sublime goals, which were of a high importance and made three assists, in 37 games, not a bad return for a right back.
Bacuna also loves to get forward, mainly because his natural position is out on the wing.
Bacuna has played in 10 games, so far this season, created several chances and scored two goals, both game-changing wonder free kicks. Those free kick may give Bacuna an edge in the right-back battle on-top of the basic attributes, as with his dead ball prowess, he can win a game in an instant. Bacuna’s average positions on the field of play are slightly behind Lowton’s.
MOMS the original Villa source My Old Man Said
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