Comparing
Comparing Spence and Porro offensive numbers is a bit of a disingenuous take. You do know Spence has played the majority of his games on the wrong side and not his primary position? Why would he have good numbers when he's doing a job and filling in for us.
Let Spence play on the right and then you can compare (I would expect Porro to still have the higher numbers, but the eye test might show a much closer gap).
I'd also argue no manager has played Spence over Porro consistently because they have needed Spence for the left hand side.
You are also not addressing Porro's defensive weaknesses that cost us as many of bot more goals than he helps create. I want a quality RB who is good both in the offensive but importantly defensive phase. Porro has proven not to be that guy, I'd like to see if Spence can be and if he also isn't let's get someone who is.
I didn't pick this season, I did multiple, I did per 90 views, I could go back to other clubs as well, country, Spence's numbers aren't close mate, and as I said, I don't see how at 26 he's suddenly going to become a way better player.
If you want a player better at both sides of the game, it's not Spence, and it would be a very expensive proposition (neither Spence nor Porro were cheap), and my main point, with all the brick in this squad, replacing either of them is simply not a priority.
The answer (or my answer) for Porro's defensive side is as with any attacking FB, be it Porro, TAA, Marcelo, whoever you think of, the system has to cover for what is often a positioning problem, this is done one of two ways, both of which I think RDZ will do
- Make that side so threatening the opposition on that side sits back, Porro/Kudus as example would limit how much the opposition is willing to risk committing forward
- What he has already done, which is have an aware midfield (Palhinha) come across to cover (or drop back into CB ala Dier under Poch) and allow the wider CB to come across and cover, or just play wonky and have the full back line shift across when one FB is high.
Re the back post free brick, honestly don't know, as I said, we do it as a tactic, other teams do it, I really don't know what the tactical theory is behind it and what the trade off is, I don't like it.