Poor Blind
21
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 31
- Goals
- 8
- Assists
- 5
- Yellow cards
- 6
- Status
Recovering?
He'll have recovered from that injury weeks ago. Hence he's been on the bench for the last few games, unlike any of the other players you mention.
Watching that West Ham comp above just reinforces for me the absurdity of the idea that Van Gaal has given up on Herrera. Like a half of football with a rib injury is going to undermine the good performances that preceded it. Clearly among our best midfielders and will be back in the team sooner rather than later.
He is a fine player and so is Kagawa. Undoubtedly Carrick has been our best midfielder in the last 5-6 seasons and since Scholes and Giggs became too old to be able to play week in and week out and since Fletcher's illness, Hargreaves' injuries, Anderson's laziness and Cleverley's inability to make an impact in the first team, there has always been a question about who should play next to Carrick.
Some would say that we need a player like Vidal, a ball winning midfielder with high energy levels and incredible stamina but that discussion doesn't belong here. Ferguson's choices indicate that he wanted a player who could operate as a play maker in deeper positions and do his share of defending but most importantly with the ability to carry the ball through the midfield and provide key passes, through balls and goals in more advanced positions. Someone like Modric or Schweinsteiger.
It's amazing that since the Anderson fiasco we haven't bought a single ready made player who can come here and do the job from day one. Instead of that we kept signing #10s (Kagawa, Mata and now Herrera) and tried to turn them into CMs. We were also linked with several other players these past few seasons, like Kroos and Sneijder, who are also better when playing in more advanced positions.
From what we've seen so far Herrera seems to be adopting to the role better than all the others. The game against WHU, where he played as a right box-to-box midfielder was his best with us. He was very good for 60 minutes against Leicester too until his energy levels dropped dramatically. He has also been decent in the 3-5-2 but his communication with Rooney and (especially) Mata wasn't good. But he still needs time to learn the position.
So, when you're thinking that LvG wants Strootman, or a similar player, you're absolutely right. Our slow build up play cries out for a player like him. He has the physicality to help us win the midfield battles (we use Fellaini to do that right now) but he is also good on the ball. If we finally do sign a player like him, it doesn't mean that Herrera will be benched, he will be able to play as the box to box midfielder with more attacking duties, a role he understands better and needs less time to learn.
How's about we list those players I was reserved about because everyone else liked them?
Anderson, Nani, Hernandez, Kagawa are the first that spring to mind. Do you see a theme there?
To be fair, Rafael is on the list too and he's proved me wrong. So far. DDG as well. Although I've always said they could both go on to become great players. Which looks like happening.
To me it seems pretty clear. Given how long he's been on the bench for, it's pretty unlikely he's still recovering from injury. If he's injured enough not to get a minute of playing time, but not injured enough to be left out of the squad altogether, then you'd have to ask exactly what have they been doing since he got injured? Why the lack of progress? If he is fit and hasn't gotten minutes then that's not a great sign, is it?
I imagine it's down to Fellaini doing well and LVG deciding he prefers what he offers. Fletch coming on instead of him suggests that LVg wanted more of a physical presence and conservative approach with the ball than he would have offered. Doesn't bode very well for him, IMO.
Fwiw if I had to guess I'd say we'll be minus 3 Spaniards this time next season.
I imagine it's down to Fellaini doing well and LVG deciding he prefers what he offers. Fletch coming on instead of him suggests that LVg wanted more of a physical presence and conservative approach with the ball than he would have offered. Doesn't bode very well for him, IMO.
Fwiw if I had to guess I'd say we'll be minus 3 Spaniards this time next season.
If he comes in against Hull and rediscovers his pre-injury form then it might be someone elses turn to have their backside superglued to the subs bench.
Comparing him to Kagawa? 
I saw very little of Herrera before he came to United and had my reservations about his signing but he's already done more in his 5 games for us than Kagawa did in his entire United career. He's actually fitted into our team and there's not really a valid excuse why he isn't playing. With Kagawa, there were plenty but people didn't want to accept it.
I saw very little of Herrera before he came to United and had my reservations about his signing but he's already done more in his 5 games for us than Kagawa did in his entire United career. He's actually fitted into our team and there's not really a valid excuse why he isn't playing. With Kagawa, there were plenty but people didn't want to accept it.
The recovering period also includes match fitness. Which is why Herrera isn't playing, and there is no one else to put on the bench, should an injury happen to one of the starting midfielders. Combined with the fact that Fellaini is playing well for the very first time in his United career, it would have been nonsensical to drop Afro.
Herrera was injured before the WBA game, and yet started the WBA game and performed poorly. At the most, LvG is taking his time with injured players instead of just rushing them back as quickly as possible, which imo is the right thing to do.
That would be a great shame as they bring so much to the team as people. If that is the case, I would be worried if I were a player who was here pre LvG reign as it looks like he is bringing all his boys in and they will be untouchable. Any bad performances will not be blamed on them. Just look at how RvP has played, he knows he will never be dropped. I would rather have the 3 amigos in the squad than Fellaini tbh.
Yep, they all came from abroad.
Mata is a 100% goner IMO, Herrera is 50/50 but I don't think we will let De Gea go (although I find it more likely now than I did a few weeks ago) and even if we do we'll replace him with Valdes so there'll still be a Spaniard in goal.
Valencia didn't come from abroad, he was a PL player.
Was there anyone in history of the world who liked United and didn't like Evra?
My list of flops which i knew would turn flops includes: Foster, Berbatov, Hargo, Fellaini, Anderson, Blanc, Barthez, Obertan, Chadwick..,blah
Your point is??
Match fitness? Come off it. He injured his ribs ffs. He'll be almost exactly as fit now as he was walking off the pitch against West Ham.
Re the last para, how does that fit with playing Ashley Young when he was so lacking in fitness that he had to sub him off after subbing him on?
You're not seriously saying Evra didn't get much stick on here? Cause that would be absurd.
Again, just look at the timelines. He was poor and looked unfit against West Brom. Since then we've had big, tough games, in which Fellaini has justified his place game after game. Surely you're not advocating he should have been thrown in, in one of these big games? I hardly see a reason to be worried based on the games gone by. However, if he's still stuck on the bench over the oncoming busy period, then it would make sense to be worried.
Yes agreed with this, and literally every other games he's had (mainly pre-season admittedly) he looked like a very good central midfielder. Hard working, mobile, creative, not afraid of a tackle, good passing range and willing to get forward. Technically I think he looked more proficient than Blind and Carrick. I will admit a small sample size I am judging him on. Really bizarre if he is not "rated". I've put it down to injury but can't understand Van Gaal not playing.
Don't understand the rationale of putting him on the bench and then not using him if injury has been the case. Really think he should be given a chance to prove himself and hope that's soon. Looked really good early on.
He can't be match fit, how can he. He won't have trained properly for a time and then hasn't played. He will need to be brought in a bit at a time to make sure he doesn't pick up some damn muscle injury from trying too hard too soon. I am sure he would have had some minutes, but the circumstances haven't arisen to allow it, i.e being far enough in a game that it wouldn't be a risk with the state of our defence to bring him on. Unfortunately him being missing is why we are never in that position. Hull would be the perfect game and they will have to rotate over Christmas or we will risk players who are not used to playing over Christmas getting worn down and other getting even more injuries. I am so angry with our brittle defenders getting injured, i.e. Evans, Jones and Rafael ( Rojo was a freak) as I think if we were at full strength he would be playing. I do think he need a protector in there with him, say Carrick, who has more defensive nous. Fellaini for all the praise is clueless defensively.
There is discomfort with broken ribs. Infact, discomfort is probably an understatement. Also walking != playing football.
Who else would you play at LB if not Young? We still have Rooney-Fellaini-Carrick to play in the midfield with Blind's/Herrera's injury. At LB, we have absolutely no one to cover. (No for Blackett, because he wouldn't have stood a chance against Chamberlain).
Would it be fair to say you are more a fan of grafters than of the lighter weight flair players?
With Van Gaal it's all about composure and retention of posession. Hererra's occasionally wayward passing and the panicky hoofing in the last half hour of the Leicester game will be two big black marks against him.
Still loads of time to turn things round though. He seems like a real student of the game who will work his socks off on any weaknesses in his game. Hopefully Van Gaal is open-minded about his potential to iron out those flaws.
Yes, that's definitely fair.
Do you feel Herrera falls more into the latter category? I mean he's lighter but I wouldn't say he lacks graft.
No. One thing I really like about him is the effort he puts in. Definitely not someone I would consider as lacking in graft. He loves a tackle.
You're just jealous of their smooth ebony skins.
Maybe Rooney thought the team was getting too good looking and wants some ugly blokes bringing in to make him feel better.
Yeah, a bit too much at times you could argue. I am a bit of a fence sitter on what is going on with Herrera in truth, I just think LvG is prioritizing physicality in midfield due to our backline, it's not about what he sees long term or how he wants to play, it's about the need for 3 points over all else and to get that we need to protect our biggest weakness with a bit of brute force. I mean I think Rooney is wasted man marking people in midfield, he's a top forward, but right now it's needs must and Rooney's physicality is needed to compete in the midfield in LvG's eyes I think.
Contrary to popular opinion, Herrera has an excellent passing range. Not much of a difference between him and Carrick or Blind (two of our best passers) when it comes down to it even if one includes the solitary botched performance vs West Brom where he was obviously far from 100 % match fitness.
It would be even higher if he wasn't so adventurous and converted to the sedate, risk averse style adopted by some other United midfielders. The last central midfielder to score 10 goals for United in a season was a decade ago (Scholes). The club finally buys one after all these years, yet we're still unsure of his quality.
It would be even higher if he wasn't so adventurous and converted to the sedate, risk averse style adopted by some other United midfielders. The last central midfielder to score 10 goals for United in a season was a decade ago (Scholes). The club finally buys one after all these years, yet we're still unsure of his quality.
I'm not suggesting anything, other than the fact that it's obvious he's been completely left out. I don't necessarily disagree with Fellaini playing. Whether that's down to Herrera's fitness, which I don't believe for a second, simply not being able to get his shirt back from the man in form, which I don't really believe as he hasn't had a single minute which you'd think he'd get just to keep him ticking over, or just being utterly frozen out is up for debate.
Maybe it's just that some fans need to adjust, we have had some bloody awful midfielders. Quinton Fortune is a bloody legend to some.Contrary to popular opinion, Herrera has an excellent passing range. Not much of a difference between him and Carrick or Blind (two of our best passers) when it comes down to it even if one includes the solitary botched performance vs West Brom where he was obviously far from 100 % match fitness.
It would be even higher if he wasn't so adventurous and converted to the sedate, risk averse style adopted by some other United midfielders. The last central midfielder to score 10 goals for United in a season was a decade ago (Scholes). The club finally buys one after all these years, yet we're still unsure of his quality.
It is a bit curiously bipolar indeed. On one hand we decry the lack of penetration in our passing game with the "mere possession in itself counts for nothing" lament. Yet when a player wants to be proactive and make something happen, he's slammed for being a wayward passer.
That's a concern alright. Although none of the recent fixtures have panned out in a way which would allow Van Gaal the luxury of handing out minutes just to keep someone ticking over.
Next couple of games will be very interesting. If he remains as marginalised as he has been in recent weeks then his days are numbered, that's for damn sure.
I'm not sure that holds up when his replacement is Fellaini, who may be more conservative, but also lacks the touch and composure to be a calming presence when things get really tight.
As for the latter, I suspect it'll be a case of him going to bring in a player he does want, Strootman being the most obvious suggestion.
Yeah fair enough. I don't think he's being frozen out, its just a combination of several factors and circumstances, some of which you've listed.
Anyways, this is why not being in Europe and crashing out of the league cup is a bastard. He'd be nailed on to start this midweek, for example.
For me the weirdest thing is that, if i'm not mistaken he played Fletcher 2 or 3 times when Herrera was on the bench and Fletcher is woeful.
It's like our midfield has been so bloody boring for the last years, since Ronaldo went, that we don't want to be taken out of our comfort zone. Flair, baaah humbug.
Before his injury, he was doing brilliantly. I don't get the fact people are suggesting he will be sold after this season, based on almost nothing?
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