[MyOnlySolskjaer]

Full Name: Ethan Benjamin Laird
Date of birth: Aug 5, 2001 (19)
Nationality: England

Height: 177cm
Position: Defender - Right-Back
Foot: Right
Player agent: Stellar Football Ltd
Squad Number: #41
Joined: Jul 1, 2017
Contract expires: 30.06.2023
Contract option: Option for a further year
Date of last contract extension: Feb 25, 2020​

 

[RedSky]

Hyped about this lad, think he'll be a relevation for us.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Hyped about this lad, think he'll be a relevation for us.

If he can get over the injuries, then yes, very exciting prospect

 

[Nou_Camp99]

Get him involved and give him a chance. What we got to lose?

If we are playing a team sitting deep at OT next season then this lad can be the answer for us. Goes past fullbacks for fun in the academy.

AWB is useful when we are getting pushed back. When we have the ball he's a huge weakness in our team though. Wouldn't mind seeing them rotated depending on the type of game.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Get him involved and give him a chance. What we got to lose?

If we are playing a team sitting deep at OT next season then this lad can be the answer for us. Goes past fullbacks for fun in the academy.

AWB is useful when we are getting pushed back. When we have the ball he's a huge weakness in our team.

world of difference between the Academy and PL

 

[mattsville]

Excellent player, absolute unit of a fella and an athlete, brilliant going forward and very good in defence, if he can make the breakthrough he is a proper United full back.

 

[Nou_Camp99]

world of difference between the Academy and PL

Yeah Mason is really finding life hard.

Rashford didn't either. He came in and scored goals straight away.

If you're good enough you're old enough. Let's see if he's good enough.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Yeah Mason is really finding life hard.

Rashford didn't either. He came in and scored goals straight away.

If you're good enough you're old enough. Let's see if he's good enough.

They are two totally different animals. Mason has been scoring for fun since he was a junior and Laird plays in position where there is no hiding place. If he makes a mistake he'll be slaughtered on here.

Don't know why you choose to compare defenders with strikers anyway? It's a bit childish

 

[Nou_Camp99]

They are two totally different animals. Mason has been scoring for fun since he was a junior and Laird plays in position where there is no hiding place. If he makes a mistake he'll be slaughtered on here.

Don't know why you choose to compare defenders with strikers anyway? It's a bit childish

I'm not asking for him to be thrown in versus City or Liverpool mate. If you had actually read what I put instead of mouthing off.

If we play a team camped in their half all game then we should give the lad a go.

I'm not a huge fan of AWB as you had probably guessed but he'd still be my first choice. But Laird needs a chance where we can. He's 19 not 16.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

They are two totally different animals. Mason has been scoring for fun since he was a junior and Laird plays in position where there is no hiding place. If he makes a mistake he'll be slaughtered on here.

Don't know why you choose to compare defenders with strikers anyway? It's a bit childish

I believe the point he's making is that while the step up is difficult to make the very best talents do it. It's not as if it doesn't happen.

 

[Rozay]

I’m still very annoyed that he didn’t feature against LASK. Very excited by him. Along with Greenwood, comfortably our best talent of that group.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

I'm not asking for him to be thrown in versus City or Liverpool mate. If you had actually read what I put instead of mouthing off.

If we play a team camped in their half all game then we should give the lad a go.

I'm not a huge fan of AWB as you had probably guessed but he'd still be my first choice. But Laird needs a chance where we can. He's 19 not 16.

If the coaches think he's good enough and we're 3-0 up then yes why not. If we play a team camped in their own half and it's 2-1 or 0-0 I wouldn't risk him. What we have to lose is a match!
EFL Cup against a low league side, I'd be up for him playing.
Moreover, I'm more inclined to see how good a defender he is first before he starts to go past PL defenders 'for fun.'

Plus My concern is still his injuries

 

[Inigo Montoya]

I’m still very annoyed that he didn’t feature against LASK. Very excited by him. Along with Greenwood, comfortably our best talent of that group.

I don't think he was in the nominated squad. Mengi was

 

[Cassidy]

I don't think he was in the nominated squad. Mengi was

Im annoyed about his lack of minutes. Hopefully he stays injury free this season

 

[roonster09]

 

[ArjenIsM3]

Needs to stay fit this season. If AWB does miss (part of) pre-season because of his trip to Dubai it could be a chance for Laird to show his worth.

 

[dev1l]

 

[Berbasbullet]

AWB would be awful at centre back in my opinion.

 

[ArjenIsM3]

AWB would be awful at centre back in my opinion.

Agreed.

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

Hopefully he’s in the squad next season because AWB needs competition

 

[lysglimt]

Ethan Laird is very good going forward, but defensively he hasn't been good enough. So he has a lot to learn - but if he can improve defensively he can be a real asset.

 

[Rozay]

He’s top top drawer. He and Mason are in a class of their own in their group. He’s no future squad player- you’d be disappointed in his development if he ended up as a back up in the long term.

 

[macheda14]

AWB would be awful at centre back in my opinion.

He could play the Kyle Walker role in a back three a la England in the 2018 World Cup with Laird as a wing back perhaps?

 

[GenZRed]

If he is as good as some say on here why not allow him to be our backup right back rather than spending £40 million plus on a ne wplayer.

If Laird doesn't show pormise in that role then perhaps sign another right back.

 

[macheda14]

If he is as good as some say on here why not allow him to be our backup right back rather than spending £40 million plus on a ne wplayer.

If Laird doesn't show pormise in that role then perhaps sign another right back.

Who are we spending 40million on at right back?

 

[AltiUn]

Ethan Laird is very good going forward, but defensively he hasn't been good enough. So he has a lot to learn - but if he can improve defensively he can be a real asset.

I've seen this criticism levelled at Laird a few times and I couldn't disagree more. He's no Wan-Bissaka but he's very solid defensively, this isn't to put Williams down but you could always see Williams would likely struggle defensively in the first team, I don't see Laird having that issue at all. His attacking game is what initially catches the eye but his defensive ability coupled with his attacking side is what made him stand out to me.

If it weren't for injuries I think he'd already be providing very healthy competition to Wan-Bissaka. He's in the Greenwood category of "there's no way he doesn't make it" for me.

 

[Chairman Steve]

Isnt Laird capable of playing LB too? Hed be worth of a goldmine if he ends up fulfilling his potential and he can be a Denis Irwin regen in that aspect.

 

[romufc]

How likely that he will break through this season? Is it worth sending him on loan to a prem club? No way he gets ahead of AWB.

I would like to see him get game time not just U23 so a loan whilst having TFM as backup RB for us this season.

 

[AltiUn]

Isnt Laird capable of playing LB too? Hed be worth of a goldmine if he ends up fulfilling his potential and he can be a Denis Irwin regen in that aspect.

Supposedly. If he can he's not played there consistenly since before the U18s. There's not a chance he ends up as a left back though, I'd wager my house on it.

 

[roonster09]

How likely that he will break through this season? Is it worth sending him on loan to a prem club? No way he gets ahead of AWB.

I would like to see him get game time not just U23 so a loan whilst having TFM as backup RB for us this season.

You never know, one injury to AWB and we might have Rashford/Greenwood moment where Laird becomes undroppable player.

Wouldn't send him on loan, rumors that we are selling Dalot so Laird should be promoted to first team.

 

[ArjenIsM3]

Isnt Laird capable of playing LB too? Hed be worth of a goldmine if he ends up fulfilling his potential and he can be a Denis Irwin regen in that aspect.

We already have a right footed LB in Williams and not a game goes by where I don't think he'd be better as a RB. Laird being a right-footed RB should stick to playing RB.

 

[romufc]

You never know, one injury to AWB and we might have Rashford/Greenwood moment where Laird becomes undroppable player.

Wouldn't send him on loan, rumors that we are selling Dalot so Laird should be promoted to first team.

I see where you are coming from, I am really excited to see him play. I just want him to get chances to play. Playing 2nd fiddle all season and getting 5/6 games wouldn't do him any good.

Hence a loan would be good to see how well he can play in the PL.

I doubt AWB will be able to play CL and PL games, but will Ole trust Laird in PL or CL games?

 

[AltiUn]

How likely that he will break through this season? Is it worth sending him on loan to a prem club? No way he gets ahead of AWB.

I would like to see him get game time not just U23 so a loan whilst having TFM as backup RB for us this season.

I wouldn't loan him, considering our complete dearth of full back options we should be keeping him at the club.

Injuries and poor form have frittered away TFM's chances with us, if not for a complete injury crisis he likely would never have played another game for us. He's far too limited to be a RB, we should sell him in all honesty.

 

[NYAS]

Can I have an honest opinion here. Is he the type that has had only one big injury and is coming back from it or is he actually injury prone? Is he a Sane or a Tuanzebe?

 

[macheda14]

We already have a right footed LB in Williams and not a game goes by where I don't think he'd be better as a RB. Laird being a right-footed RB should stick to playing RB.

Does playing a few games as LB for the first team hamper your development as a RB? It’s not like when we shunted Phil Jones out to RB.

 

[GenZRed]

Who are we spending 40million on at right back?

I was talking theoretically spending 40million plus on a right back, since that is roughly how much it will cost, I think,

 

[ArjenIsM3]

Does playing a few games as LB for the first team hamper your development as a RB? It’s not like when we shunted Phil Jones out to RB.

A few games? No, as long as the plan is still for him to become a RB. But why would we? We've got Shaw and Williams for that position. At RB we have AWB and Dalot. I'd say he's got a better shot at getting game time at RB with Dalot falling down the pecking order.

 

[JJ12]

A few games? No, as long as the plan is still for him to become a RB. But why would we? We've got Shaw and Williams for that position. At RB we have AWB and Dalot. I'd say he's got a better shot at getting game time at RB with Dalot falling down the pecking order.

He should overtake Dalot this season - He’s clearly not fancied and may even be sold

 

[Beachryan]

Most modern teams require so much effort from the fullbacks that they're very frequently substituted. He could realistically expect to get 15-20 mins every other match, as well as starts in certain matches.

Plus he'll be training with the first team for the first full season.

If he's as good as the hype, we have to keep him. He'll get game time.

 

[romufc]

Most modern teams require so much effort from the fullbacks that they're very frequently substituted. He could realistically expect to get 15-20 mins every other match, as well as starts in certain matches.

Plus he'll be training with the first team for the first full season.

If he's as good as the hype, we have to keep him. He'll get game time.

How often do you see full backs often substituted?

I cannot think of any.