Many West Brom fans have vocalised their opinion on social media that Darnell Furlong should be starting at right-back ahead of Dara O’Shea.
Furlong joined West Brom in the last summer transfer window from Queens Park Rangers on a four-year deal. The 24-year-old has been the Baggies first-choice at right-back for the majority of the 2019/20 season. Furlong has started 19 of West Brom’s 33 Championship games thus far, featuring in another seven from the bench.
However, the full-back has featured less significantly in recent weeks, being replaced in West Brom’s starting 11 by 20-year-old Dara O’Shea. The Republic of Ireland youth player has started in the right-back position in each of West Brom’s last six competitive games, playing a full 90 minutes in each game.
Meanwhile, Furlong has featured in just two of the Baggies’ last six competitive games, accumulating a combined total of just 25 minutes on the pitch, according to Whoscored.com. Despite seemingly falling out of favour in recent weeks, Furlong has retained the backing of many West Brom supporters, who feel he should be starting.
Should Darnell Furlong start ahead of Dara O'Shea?YES, FURLONG IS THE BETTER RIGHT-BACK
NO O'SHEA HAS BEEN TOO GOOD TO DROP LATELY
|
Read the messages from some West Brom fans who claim Furlong should still be starting at right-back for the Baggies in the tweets below.
When everyone's fit would you say this is our best team? #WBA pic.twitter.com/TUvYsPI0dC
— Ben Hadlington (@Benhadlington1) February 17, 2020
Furlong for O’Shea
— Paul Chappell (@WanchopePaulo) February 17, 2020
Nah I’d go with Furlong over O’Shea
— Luke Millichamp (@luke_millichamp) February 17, 2020
https://twitter.com/tumpa4tom/status/1229539064090591233
Furlong for Dara
Sawyers and Livermore in the middle.— D (@dHHj168p) February 17, 2020
I’d have sawyers in place of krovinovic and furlong in place of O’Shea. Nobody mentioning Ferguson I notice. We got over him quickly
— David (@davideaststand) February 17, 2020
https://twitter.com/george_downes17/status/1229388385913131010
What do we think?
It may be fair to say that, despite sitting out games in recent weeks, Furlong hasn’t been particularly bad this season. In his 26 Championship appearances this term, Furlong has managed to earn an average Whoscored.com rating of 6.84.
However, it may be fair to say that O’Shea has been consistent enough over the past six West Brom games to hold on to his place in the side. O’Shea’s Whoscored.com rating has been higher than Furlong’s average of 6.84 in each of his last five Championship appearances, all of which have come at right-back.
Furthermore, O’Shea has been named Whoscored.com’s Man of the Match in two of West Brom’s last six competitive games. If O’Shea continues to deliver performances like the ones he has been delivering in recent weeks, it will be difficult for Slaven Bilic to leave him out of the team.