2025/26 Vitalii Mykolenko

An assist for him tonight for Ukraine.

IMG_4331.webp
 

Those figures don't match with what I looked at but even so, your last sentence is kind of what was getting at. 'He kept him relatively quiet' isn't all that relevant if in the bit that they weren't relatively quiet they came up with a match defining moment. That's part of the issue with Mykolenko, he's pretty decent as a one on defender when the team is set up in a low block, but if we move away from that or the game just opens up for a bit his deficiencies become far more obvious. He's not the worst player in the world by any means but this constant thing of 'he's actually the greatest defender in the world he just isn't great going forward' isn't actually true. The same applies to other players, it's not just a criticism of him, players can be quite good when used in a specific way but also be very limited and and limiting to the way we play. See also Tarkowski, James.

Fullback who doesn’t get forward is always described as great defensively.

Fullback who can’t defend is always described as great going forward.

We’ve applied the former to mykolenko and the latter to Patterson.

Truth is they’re just both really poor full backs for this level.

Mykolenko is vastly overrated for his defensive work. It’s average at best and he struggles a lot of the time.
 

Fullback who doesn’t get forward is always described as great defensively.

Fullback who can’t defend is always described as great going forward.

We’ve applied the former to mykolenko and the latter to Patterson.

Truth is they’re just both really poor full backs for this level.

Mykolenko is vastly overrated for his defensive work. It’s average at best and he struggles a lot of the time.
I wonder how you would have done against Salah last season?
 

He's a solid full back, and it's noticeable that most teams target our right flank as the weakness which is understandable when we play without a recognised right back. Certainly not the first name on the team sheet to be replaced, we have bigger problems.
 
Fullback who doesn’t get forward is always described as great defensively.

Fullback who can’t defend is always described as great going forward.

We’ve applied the former to mykolenko and the latter to Patterson.

Truth is they’re just both really poor full backs for this level.

Mykolenko is vastly overrated for his defensive work. It’s average at best and he struggles a lot of the time.

Except Mykolenko plays week in week out for Everton under numerous different managers and plays for Ukraine whilst Patterson is barely selected.

The hate on here for Myko is so weird. When he’s fit he locks down the position defensively no problem. He’s getting back to full fitness now. Fortunately Moyes sees his value.
 
Fullback who doesn’t get forward is always described as great defensively.

Fullback who can’t defend is always described as great going forward.

We’ve applied the former to mykolenko and the latter to Patterson.

Truth is they’re just both really poor full backs for this level.

Mykolenko is vastly overrated for his defensive work. It’s average at best and he struggles a lot of the time.

I don't really have a point to make, other than relating those two and their situations is kinda bonkers.
 

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