The full-back you cannot see

Watch the first few minutes without following the ball. Pick one full-back and note where he stands when his team has possession. If he is high and wide, watch what happens when the pass goes sideways.

The space behind him is not a risk. It is an invitation. The opposition winger will stand on that line, waiting for the ball over the top. When that pass arrives, the full-back cannot recover. He is facing the wrong way and too far up the pitch.

That is a structural problem, not a moment of poor defending. It repeats until the coach adjusts or the full-back tires. You can see it inside ten minutes.

A selection based on that repeating space is more useful than a price based on reputation.

Question: Which full-back position catches your attention before the first goal is scored?