Aaron Wan-Bissaka has seemingly been the name on every football fan’s lips after joining us in the summer transfer window. We all knew that signing Wan-Bissaka was a brilliant move but what are the thoughts of Crystal Palace and Manchester United fans?
I was lucky enough to speak with Crystal Palace fan George Burns and Manchester United supporter Mark Hayman about this move.
The most obvious to start was to ask George about Aaron’s time at Palace.
‘Aaron was thrown into the mix of our squad in the 17/18 season due to an injury crisis ongoing at Palace where we had no one else to start so he made his debut against Tottenham which isn’t ever an easy game against them,’ George explains. ‘Next up were United and Chelsea so these were a tough few games for him to be starting in. Unfortunately we lost these games but Wan-Bissaka was a breath of fresh air despite having to face Kane, Lukaku, Sanchez and Hazard.
‘It was no surprise that he soon became Roy Hodgson’s first choice right-back where he showed us what he could do on the opening day of the season assisting Zaha and winning 2-0 against Fulham. Aaron was named as the club’s player of the month in August, September, October and March. In April he was named Crystal Palace’s Player of the year. Then before you knew it, our time was over with Aaron and he signed for United in the 2019 summer transfer window.’
So what were Wan-Bissaka’s best moments in a Palace shirt?
‘His tackles without a doubt,’ George continued. ‘He is so reliable with making a perfectly-timed goal-stopping opportunity tackle. Normally you get players that foul nowadays and just take a yellow card but with him, you know he is going to make a tackle and not be carded for it just because it’s such a clean tackle. He’s never lost that gift, he’s done it at United and he will do it for West Ham. He is so good at them.’
But what are his weaknesses?
George explains: ‘Despite being on the tall side for a right back, one of his weaknesses is he often mistimes his jumps and can be easily nudged out the way when going up to head the ball. If the forward for the opposition decides to pull out wide, Aaron will most likely lose out in the air.’
But what were your thoughts on Wan-Bissaka moving to United?
‘At the time you’re absolutely gutted that he is leaving but at the same time you can’t be too mad as he is an incredible player who did deserve to be playing in top level competitions,’ George continued. ‘It was more of the rumours you hear flying around how it’s been his dream to play for Manchester United whilst still contracted with us. It’s upsetting but at the end of the day players come and go and that’s part of football.’
And moving onto Mark, I wondered what his first impressions were of Wan-Bissaka at United?
‘I thought he was a brilliant signing because he was bought to play Solskjaer’s counter attacking football,’ Mark says. ‘He was great at that, but we’ve gone down a different route and he’s not really equipped to be a high-pressing wingback. He makes these unbelievable tackles that are quite honestly world class tackles but he started to fall out of that last season and only made a few game-changing tackles throughout last season when we needed them more less every game last season.’
So what were his best times in a United shirt?
‘Probably the 22/23 season, what a season he had,’ Mark continued. ‘Aaron’s ability to nullify even the most threatening of opponents was evident in the second part of that season, as he largely managed to shut down the likes of Newcastle United’s Allan Saint-Maximin, Brighton & Hove Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma and, most recently, Jack Grealish, of Manchester City, in his three outings at Wembley. He is a dribbler’s worst nightmare. The way he wraps his long legs into a position to win the ball cleanly is outstanding.’
But do both Mark and George think he will be a success in East London?
‘I don’t see why he wouldn’t be a success for you,’ George explains. ‘He is a brilliant footballer and if you get behind him, he will give you 100%. If you don’t like him we will take him back’
Mark agrees. ‘You’ve had a right bargain getting him for only £15 million. He wins the ball so much and will definitely fit your style of play more than he does with us. Good luck to him. He was a very good professional. We won’t forget his performances, in particular in the Carabao Cup final and the FA Cup win against City.’
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