Mitchel has been off it for ages, way below the standard required in the Premier League. Responsible for so many goals conceded last season and offering very little going forward. We desperately need both full back positions upgrading.

I agree with you & DANGERCLOSE he really needs competition. As for Phil's Barber, that is your opinion & you're entitled to it, i disagree with you. As Lanzo has said, 'Its All About Opinions'

I'm a blind man, i'm a blind man, now my room is cold,
When a blind man cries, Lord, he feels it from his soul.
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Thought Mitchell looked distinctly ordinary last night, got caught out more than once, looked more like a 5th leaguer than EPL standard, notwithstanding it is week 1 back in the frame. Having said that Wardy was no better and also looking very average

If you have come back to work after 4 weeks off you are not going to back to your best - especially if you have been on a jolly boys outing for the 4 weeks (not that i've got any idea what any of the players have been up to on their break ) Mitchell has strengths in that he is quick, has a decent left foot, & is rarely beaten on his outside. Equally he has weaknesses in that his ball use is limited and he can lose players when crosses come in from the left side. Remember we got 50 million for AWB who is not dissimilar.
Having said this we have not had like for like cover at this position for a couple of years and competition should help improve his weaker areas.

Look at any team in the world of football and it will be the full back positions that are exposed by the opposition . That doesn't mean we have bad full backs but more like bad defensive organisation . We defend quite narrow which often leaves the full backs exposed to balls to the back post . Its the penalty we pay for keeping it tight through the middle and signing Roberto Carlos wont change that .(Though going forward would be an upgrade lol)

And we still need a striker

It's ridiculous to judge anyone after the first pre season game but if you are judging over the last year then he's far from a good prem left back. I feel that Mitchell and the strikers are all that's holding us back from being a very good team. I would include right back in that but thought Ward was excellent for the last half of the season and if he carries on like he left off then it wouldn't bother me if we didn't add a right back at the moment, Maybe in January depending on how he's getting on.