I think Nate-Dogg is being picked on for his early season appearances last season, when despite the 'gaffer' telling him to play tight to Tarks, he kept drifting wide to mark his man (Yes, he got skinned what... twice?) but he certainly stopped a lot of cross attempts and actually did what a defender is meant to do, and when he got in trouble, it was because Tarks was hugging his position (correctly mind) which made Nate look like a bad 'defender' which he isn't.
The other thing that probably gave the 'Gaffer' the bum-rush, was Nate's ability to actually get past the halfway line, and actually beat a player and cross the ball! This obviously showed up an obviously unfit Jackie H, who was in my very irrational opinion, never fully recovered from his injury, was told not to play his natural game, and stuck on the wrong wing. Notice how few (nearly never) times him and Dwight switch wings.... BUT Harrison is a Gaffer fave and you can't do that! Personally, I think Patterson and Harrison together would work for this season.
C'mon Nate-Dogg get fit, and shove your obvious potential up the 'Gaffer's' nose...
If Patterson is the answer then we're really asking the wrong question.
Lacks just about every attribute you need in a PL full back: positional sense, urgency, focus, stamina to get up and down the pitch.
Only saving grace is that he can swing a cross into the box with accuracy ......one time in every 4 games or so.
He's what we've got and I'd trust him more than Roman just now.
He has urgency, focus. stamina and the ability to 'Cafu' his wing; I do agree though, he does need to work on his positional sense... However, to do that he needs a run of games. Christ on a bike, he has had Cole to help him, and Seamus with Young now. He's young, underplayed and needs games or a good loan in the Championship at Christmas if we can still rely on Statler and Waldorf till the EoS.