07 Apr 2015 10:59:46
Watching Blind at left back recently with both United and the Dutch national team and I have to say the lad has been impressive. He did give a decent account of himself in the middle of the pitch for us but with players getting fit and impending arrivals this summer I can't see Blind playing in the midfield.
As much as I like Luke Shaw and want him to succeed, Blinds performances at LB against some decent teams have most definitely outshone that of Shaw. I personally think LVG will persevere with Blind at full back but where does that leave our £30million teenager?
Will Shaw become a backup player or just used sparingly next season? I am a firm believer that young players must play to fulfil their potential. This belief that limiting their opportunities to prevent burnout etc is lost on me. If you are good enough you have to play to develop.
Look at all the top players in the world, be that defenders or strikers they play regularly at a young age and with Blind at the perfect age of 25 where does that leave Shaw? Can anyone see him getting the nod ahead of Daley anytime soon? I can't.
07 Apr 2015 11:07:03
I don't see him starting ahead of Blind.
The only option I see for him is getting loaned to a mid table PL club and trying to impress LvG or the next manager. Needless to say we will have to pay majority of Shaw's wages when he is on loan.
07 Apr 2015 11:10:44
Hopefully Shaw has the intelligence to make this improve him as a player and take him to the next level. Competition at rb could have made or make rafael an even better player too.
Blind has been very impressive this season. His attitude and determination have been excellent. He does seem at home at the lb spot. While he lacks abit of pace his footballing brain more than makes up for that. In today's prices in football £16 million could turn out to be a very shrewd signing
07 Apr 2015 11:59:46
JMB,
The top teams challenging on all fronts have 2 players capable of playing in every position, having 2 top left backs is definitely not a problem. We will have plenty of games next season where Shaw will play, and when he does he needs to grab the opportunity with both hands and prove his worth.
As you said Shaw is only a teenager and will get plenty of opportunities, I see it as a good thing rather than a bad thing, but maybe that is my positive outlook on life again.
07 Apr 2015 12:47:13
GDS I don't think having two top left backs is a problem. My worry is that Shaw has gone from playing week in week out at premier league level to being used sporadically and maybe even more so next season.
I am a firm believer young players with huge potential should play at the highest level possible as much as they can and if Blind is first choice left back then it will limit Shaw to cup ties and the odd PL game.
07 Apr 2015 13:14:51
Who says blind won't play in midfield, Carrick will need to be slowly phased out. And the type off midfielder we will be looking at won't affect blind/ Carrick.
As for the burn out issue two words, Michael Owen.
07 Apr 2015 13:25:06
Sentiment should not bias the managers decision. He should play whoever is best for the team. If that means playing Blind at the expense of Shaw , so ne it. It is then up to Shaw to improve and get back in the team.
07 Apr 2015 13:50:40
I Still see Blind as a long term replacement for Carrick. And Shaw will be our LB for long time if he really turns out to be the player we expect himto be.
But as of now Blind is doing an exceptional job as a fullback but with a lack of pace I seriously doubt how he will come out against a better opponent.
Really looking frwd to see how Di maria blind and shaw will be played together and on expense of whom :)
07 Apr 2015 14:50:40
Blind is versatile, willing, and very professional. He says he prefers midfield, but he has looked better at left back thus far. Overall, a fine season for him, he did well at def mid, and even better at left back of late.
07 Apr 2015 15:04:39
May be he could do a Bale and be converted into LW . You never know
07 Apr 2015 16:34:35
It's not really as simple as that, you have to manage young players carefully no matter how well they're playing. Two examples being Sterling this season has been no where near as good as he was last season due to being played at the highest level week in week out followed by a WC, he's completely burnt out, maybe some of it's to do with this contract stand off but it's not wise to slack off if you want a bigger contract or a move elsewhere. Then there's Januzaj who was used an awful lot last season under Moyes as he was probably the only player who felt like needing to prove something, along with the fact he was always getting fouled he should have been rested more. He hasn't been the same this season.
Blind has been playing well but who is to say he'll keep that form up and keep Shaw out the team? Or who is to say he won't get injured, or someone else in midfield for that matter thus needing Blind to fill in there instead? Shaw will get a lot of opportunities as Blind was not bought to play LB, all the while he's playing well there fair enough but I could bet my house on it not being long term. Shaw will just need a year to settle and let everything sink in. He has the skill and hopefully the right attitude he's still a teenager so he has plenty of time. Who's to say he has to reach his potential or anywhere near it within the next couple of years otherwise he won't at all anyway?
07 Apr 2015 16:53:29
Dont forget that Rojo also plays LB
07 Apr 2015 17:26:31
And Ashley young does a job there too.
We have our full backs if Rafael is given a proper chance.
The injuries have reduced massively under the new physio and that is the case with Rafael too.
Smalling and Jones have been largely fit for a long time now, maybe Rafael would do the same.
07 Apr 2015 19:01:09
Yeah, what a waste of money Shaw was. How about we give the kid a break. He has huge potential and this time last year everyone was drooling over him. I like Blind a lot but he is not a left back. I think Shaw will settle in and nail l that place down for years to come.
08 Apr 2015 09:52:54
AJH who has said he was a waste of money?
08 Apr 2015 11:28:24
I think Shaw will have to take the jump and move to centre back, he's probably a bit big to be playing left back which will result in lots of injuries. and he is the worst crosser of the ball I've seen in a United shirt, which I think suggests he isn't really in the right position.
I'm not saying that Blind is the solution, because as he matures I think he is an ideal replacement for Carrick, but Shaw doesn't solve any problem for us for the moment- that being said, that doesn't mean he isn't a good player, just that he isn't required by us at this point.
I can't help but feel that a contributing factor to our improved play is that we now have an outlet down the left that can whip a ball in. If we got one from the right too then we'd probably do even better. The very thought of having to watch Shaw and Valencia spending 90 minutes to put in a single cross between them again is making me feel ill.
08 Apr 2015 12:03:12
jackb,
Worst crosser of the ball you have seen in a United shirt?
Are you sure mate, Shaw's crossing is one of his strong points, he always seems to pick out a man in the box and is about 10 levels above Valencia in his crossing.
08 Apr 2015 13:07:54
JackB I think you have to look at how Shaw played at the saints last year to understand he is a perfect full back if fit but I agree with you Blind looks better at LB at the minute.
GDS Shaw hasn't been half the flying fullback he was for the Saints last year but I agree he can put in a good ball but they have been few and far between this season. Also it's strange that Valencia has had such a poor season of crossing into the box, a few years back he would always put the ball straight onto an incoming forward.
08 Apr 2015 13:52:43
JMB,
I agree he hasn't been great for us but to say his crossing is the worst he has seen in a united shirt is ridiculous!
Valencia hasn't been able to cross for about 3 years now, but before that he was great at it, I must admit I think his crossing has improved recently, he is looking for Fellaini at the back post rather than just blasting it every time, but he is still not brilliant.
08 Apr 2015 16:36:52
Haha never watched Bebe try cross a ball for United then? There are videos on the web specifically to show you just how atrocious he was.
My guess with Shaw is that he's suffering from a change in style of football with LVG's idea of playing a very possession based game, moving forward only when there is an opening. Whereas Shaw is much more used to getting the ball forward one way or another he's probably struggling to get to grips with it. Same with Januzaj.
It's fair to say players with a bit more experience are finding it easier to adapt to LVGs philosophy. Give Shaw more time it's silly to say where does that leave him just because Blind is playing well now.