Who should be starting LB/RB?

DandyRoyal · by **DandyRoyal** » 29 Nov 2025 15:07

Thought - if we are going to keep playing 3 in the middle (in whatever combination), and then 2 wingers and a CF - which 2 players are our best options at LB/RB?

I haven't looked at the stats, but on gut feeling this is our most contestable position - we've got so many options, It's the least "locked down" position, and most of the options can play other roles as well. I personally don't like Garcia in this role for instance, he shines more further up the pitch.

For me it's Yiadom/Ahmed v Dorsett/Abrefa - don't rate Jacob at all. I do rate Ryan, but only if Dorsett/Abrefa are forced into covering CB/RB due to injuries, etc.

Orion1871 · by **Orion1871** » 29 Nov 2025 15:31

Abrefa/Dorsett

Yiadom as back up this season at RB with Ahmed probably sent out on loan with a view to next season.

I'd prefer Garcia to play further up the pitch. Dorsett best option at LB. Jacob fired into the sun, or maybe just sent back to Hull, either works for me as long as he isn't seen in a Reading shirt ever again.

From Despair To Where? · by **From Despair To Where?** » 29 Nov 2025 16:17

Is Randall Williams showing enough to have his contract extended?

Hound · by **Hound** » 29 Nov 2025 16:30

From Despair To Where? Is Randall Williams showing enough to have his contract extended?

Yeah just about I’d say

And Abrefa/Dorsett is the obvious answer to the first q, with Yiadom coming on at some point

Snowflake Royal · by **Snowflake Royal** » 29 Nov 2025 19:35

DandyRoyal Thought - if we are going to keep playing 3 in the middle (in whatever combination), and then 2 wingers and a CF - which 2 players are our best options at LB/RB?

I haven't looked at the stats, but on gut feeling this is our most contestable position - we've got so many options, It's the least "locked down" position, and most of the options can play other roles as well. I personally don't like Garcia in this role for instance, he shines more further up the pitch.

For me it's Yiadom/Ahmed v Dorsett/Abrefa - don't rate Jacob at all. I do rate Ryan, but only if Dorsett/Abrefa are forced into covering CB/RB due to injuries, etc.

Ahmed's not ready. Huge potential, but he loses the ball far too much and gets caught out too often.

Of the rest, the starters are Abrefa and either Dorsett or Jacob, with Dorsett edging it unless he's needed to cover for injuries or suspensions to either O'Connor or Williams.

Ryan hasn't really shown enough.

Yiadom makes an excellent sub and cover. But his career is closing, so he shouldn’t be starting when we can be building up the others for the future.

Crowbar6753 · by **Crowbar6753** » 29 Nov 2025 20:57

Abrefa is at the right age where he should and will only get better so would be my first choice. Yids is at the opposite end of his career and coming on as a sub and using his experience to see out games is key, however, age is tough on the body and he will now be in a slow decline towards the end of his career. Ahmed is younger and not yet ready for first team football and needs to be loaned out to either League 2 or the National league for experience.

Jacob has the edge for me as he has the experience and is in his prime, my only downside to Jacob is that he is a loanee and i would much prefer to see our own players playing regularly. Dorsett for me has done a good job which i commend he is a CB and should be behind Williams and O'Connor. I would like to see Ryan as our back up LB as it's his natural position and he clearly has talent in the position and now needs playing time to see what he can do. Finally Garcia, i truly believe LB is not his position! maybe LWB however we do not currently play with WB's. Garcia is a bit like Kelvin.E as no one really knows his right position. In the last two games he has come on as a late sub and made a few marauding runs through the middle of the pitch!! This guy clearly has talent and could become a great player, he just needs to find that position that suits him.

Clyde1998 · by **Clyde1998** » 29 Nov 2025 21:24

I'd keep Abrefa and Dorsett at full-back at the moment. Dorsett is better than Jacob defensively and does provide some support going forward, but is more of a left centre-back; Abrefa more offensive and has improved a lot defensively with his exposure to regular first team football. Both are young enough to continue to develop as footballers.

Yiadom's good to have as a back up now; Ahmed needs a loan (as I've been suggesting for a while).

linkenholtroyal · by **linkenholtroyal** » 29 Nov 2025 22:10

Crowbar6753 Abrefa is at the right age where he should and will only get better so would be my first choice. Yids is at the opposite end of his career and coming on as a sub and using his experience to see out games is key, however, age is tough on the body and he will now be in a slow decline towards the end of his career. Ahmed is younger and not yet ready for first team football and needs to be loaned out to either League 2 or the National league for experience.

Jacob has the edge for me as he has the experience and is in his prime, my only downside to Jacob is that he is a loanee and i would much prefer to see our own players playing regularly. Dorsett for me has done a good job which i commend he is a CB and should be behind Williams and O'Connor. I would like to see Ryan as our back up LB as it's his natural position and he clearly has talent in the position and now needs playing time to see what he can do. Finally Garcia, i truly believe LB is not his position! maybe LWB however we do not currently play with WB's. Garcia is a bit like Kelvin.E as no one really knows his right position. In the last two games he has come on as a late sub and made a few marauding runs through the middle of the pitch!! This guy clearly has talent and could become a great player, he just needs to find that position that suits him.

It’s not really something I have ever noticed but is Garcia distribution very good? It’s not something I have really noticed. But if it was and with his attributes CAM would work for him.

Snowflake Royal · by **Snowflake Royal** » 29 Nov 2025 23:20

Crowbar6753 Abrefa is at the right age where he should and will only get better so would be my first choice. Yids is at the opposite end of his career and coming on as a sub and using his experience to see out games is key, however, age is tough on the body and he will now be in a slow decline towards the end of his career. Ahmed is younger and not yet ready for first team football and needs to be loaned out to either League 2 or the National league for experience.

Jacob has the edge for me as he has the experience and is in his prime, my only downside to Jacob is that he is a loanee and i would much prefer to see our own players playing regularly. Dorsett for me has done a good job which i commend he is a CB and should be behind Williams and O'Connor. I would like to see Ryan as our back up LB as it's his natural position and he clearly has talent in the position and now needs playing time to see what he can do. Finally Garcia, i truly believe LB is not his position! maybe LWB however we do not currently play with WB's. Garcia is a bit like Kelvin.E as no one really knows his right position. In the last two games he has come on as a late sub and made a few marauding runs through the middle of the pitch!! This guy clearly has talent and could become a great player, he just needs to find that position that suits him.

Think Garcia is showing promise as a winger. Could see him as an AM too. Wing back maybe.

WestYorksRoyal · by **WestYorksRoyal** » 29 Nov 2025 23:26

Current full backs are fine. Abrefa offers more going forward than Dorsett, but I think that's partially by design. You see Dorsett stay back with Williams and O'Connor in possession so we essentially become a back 3. Savage backs up Kyerewaa on the left, and Abrefa has licence to get forward on the right. Think it's a clever use of respective strengths. I rate them both defensively at this level, which is ultimately what matters most at this level. I don't remember either of them getting beaten by their winger today.

Loans for Ahmed and Ryan could be sensible. I think Ahmed probably has the highest ceiling along with Garcia. And I think we'd be fine for depth; remember Rinomhota, Ritchie and Rushesha can do a job too.

Snowflake Royal · by **Snowflake Royal** » 30 Nov 2025 13:25

WestYorksRoyal Current full backs are fine. Abrefa offers more going forward than Dorsett, but I think that's partially by design. You see Dorsett stay back with Williams and O'Connor in possession so we essentially become a back 3. Savage backs up Kyerewaa on the left, and Abrefa has licence to get forward on the right. Think it's a clever use of respective strengths. I rate them both defensively at this level, which is ultimately what matters most at this level. I don't remember either of them getting beaten by their winger today.

Loans for Ahmed and Ryan could be sensible. I think Ahmed probably has the highest ceiling along with Garcia. And I think we'd be fine for depth; remember Rinomhota, Ritchie and Rushesha can do a job too.

and R Williams.

From Despair To Where? · by **From Despair To Where?** » 30 Nov 2025 14:14

I'm happy that Dorsett is beginning to show some form. I'm not entirely convinced by him as a CB but I do think playing as a hybrid LB/LCB in a back 3 plays to his strengths because he's strong and has more than adequate pace and touch.

He's had 2 or 3 poor years with injury and playing in a shockingly poor Kilmarnock defence which must have felt like a kick in the nuts after a decent loan at Rochdale. I hope he does enough to warrant more than just 1 year contract at the end of the season.