Did he just sacrificed his grunge band career for United ? Though not looking even remotely stoned as Shaw.
17
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 29
- Clean sheets
- 9
- Goals
- 2
- Assists
- 3
- Yellow cards
- 4
Decent enough video and music that isn't head-wrecking.
Was impressed with him. But it was against QPR at home so I am not getting too excited. Will wait for a few more matches and tougher tests before we see how good he really is.
Never going to get a more comfortable debut than that. But having said that, he played like he's been in the team forever. Kept the game ticking over very nicely.
It'll be interesting to see how he'll do against better opposition who'll press a bit harder.
It'll be interesting to see how he'll do against better opposition who'll press a bit harder.
I like him already. you can tell he's very intelligent both on and off the pitch.
In big game, I'd love to see:
Pace, skill, and power there.
Striker...........
..................diMaria
Mata
Blind.............Herrera
Carrick
..................diMaria
Mata
Blind.............Herrera
Carrick
Pace, skill, and power there.
Really impressed by his debut performance today. Made the right decisions, kept the ball moving, and read the game well. His presence gave Di Maria and Herrera the license to go forward all game.
He'll be an important player for us going forward.
He'll be an important player for us going forward.
Definite similarities with Carrick, although Blind appears to be more mobile. It's no coincidence that his presence coincided with a better performance in terms of possession and ball retention. Most noticeable aspect of his performance was that he's always available to receive the ball - he's an unfussy player when it comes to passing the ball, but he takes the pressure off his team mates by providing an easy short option and he's economical, moving it on quickly to keep the tempo up. Also noticeable how Evans and Blackett went long a lot less than against Burnley - that's because Blind took up intelligent positions to take the ball from them.
A couple of journos have referred to him as a continuity player in the papers, I'd say that's the perfect description of him. Going to be a very important, under the radar player for us.
A couple of journos have referred to him as a continuity player in the papers, I'd say that's the perfect description of him. Going to be a very important, under the radar player for us.
Don't think he has the passing range or 2 footedness of Carrick but seems more nimble footed on the ball.
Not so many long balls by the centre backs. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but it probably helps when you've got somebody at the base of midfield giving you options to pass to.
Based on yesterdays game I thought he was uncomplicated and did the simple thing very well. In fact he played so well, he would have been my MoM had it not been for Di Maria's superb performance. On first impression he seems a very good reader of the game, and as we don't really have a ball playing centre-back he is ideally suited to take the pressure of the defence. Bought back much needed serenity in the final third. We finally have someone who can compete with Carrick or take up a similar role.
I'd like to wait until he plays with teams and forwards who will pressure a lot more to really start raving on the back of this performance.
I'd like to wait until he plays with teams and forwards who will pressure a lot more to really start raving on the back of this performance.
How was he deployed at Ajax? Did he play with a pure defensive midfielder or he was the main one? Carrick's been a defensive rock for us for so many years, I hope Blind can replicate that contribution.
He did play very well especially as it was his debut. The thing that stood out for me was he seemed to instantly know what was expected of him in that role probably because he's an intelligent footballer but also understands Van Gaals philosophy. Whilst others are still in the process of learning it you can tell Blind was just very comfortable in moving into the team. He is a very mature player for his age as well
Blind is going to be LvG's Roy Keane. Not so much in terms of quality (although DB is already an important part of the team setup), but in terms of being the manager's representative on the pitch.
Keano chimed with SAF's philosophy just like Blind will chime with van Gaal's. I can really see him leading by example on the pitch.
Keano chimed with SAF's philosophy just like Blind will chime with van Gaal's. I can really see him leading by example on the pitch.
Good on the ball but I'm intrigued to see how good he is defensively against much better opposition.
He's great on the ball, but he'll have to bulk up a bit in that role where he's going to need to be a ball winner as well as a ball playing midfielder.
thought he was brilliant, you could see him right from the first minute pointing, shouting, directing traffic. for a new signing this shows his bravery and his dedication
his head must be on a gyro as its constantly spinning checking every inch of the pitch.
probably not the most talented player but very intelligent, runs all day and makes the right choice 90% of the time. but for ADM he was MotM for me
we've got midfielders this year lads
i cant believe it, actual midfielders!
his head must be on a gyro as its constantly spinning checking every inch of the pitch.
probably not the most talented player but very intelligent, runs all day and makes the right choice 90% of the time. but for ADM he was MotM for me
we've got midfielders this year lads
i cant believe it, actual midfielders!He's nimble and mobile on the ball, something I've been crying out for in years. Can he cover ground defensively though and win balls in the air in that middle of the park etc.. we shall see.
He is one of those players who do a lot of work that goes unnoticed. His reading of the game, closing down runners, tracking back and giving our own players options is maybe not always clear to see but helps immensely.
He was great at cutting QPR's passing paths and closing down the play. Good at interceptions, good at tackling, obviously it's just QPR but he's basically our Carrick type of a player, he's played 112 passes, 107 successful, half of them forward. Pleased with him.
LVG said himself that Blind has terrific ability to read a game and that's exactly what we all witnessed yesterday, vs QPR or not. He could prove one of our most important summer signings.
he showed he is an intelligent footballer and did the perfect job. Considering it was only QPR I am looking forward to see him in bigger games. He and Carrick could be a solid partnership for 4-2-3-1 away from home in big games.
Great we played with 4 central midfielders who could all have argued to be man of the match. Who would have thought?!
You could be right here. Of course Falcao and ADM will grab the headlines but in order for our attacking players to flourish you need exactly a calm tidy "non-flashy" player like Blind. Plus, thanks to his awareness, reading of the game and tactical understanding / intelligence, he could become a big game player over time
Cleverley would have had a whale of a time playing with him.
This. We had someone who wanted to take responsibility and take the ball off the defenders, unlike Cleverly and Fletcher who were constantly hiding from the ball. This has a knock on effect on our defence which looked al ot better.
More mobile than Carrick but I would worry when he was defending vs the likes of Costa, Lukaku, Adebayor against whom Caarrick can at least compete. Will be interesting to see who is 1st choice once Carrick is back. I would go with Carrick for extra solidity and IMO , a little better technical quality, and occasionally penetrating passing. Blind vs teams that we are dominating should be the 1st choice DM he is perfect for the rest of the midfield.
Better than most Scousers speak English, too.
Embarassing from me, but I didn't know that.
Great performance from him, kept it simple and ticking. Not going to be a hard hitting tackler but read the game excellently, in a similar mould to Carrick but maybe a little more dynamic at times. (Not saying he's better or worse than Carrick by that comment). Overall a brilliant performance, however playing against a QPR midfield which basically never put him under pressure once. We're kidding ourselves if we think it'll be like that more than 5 times this season. He had time and space whenever he got the ball (hopefully due to his movement).
Think him and Herrera suit each other. Nice contrasting styles but both dynamic with and without the ball. Hope he continues to develop as he has over the last 12 months.
Think him and Herrera suit each other. Nice contrasting styles but both dynamic with and without the ball. Hope he continues to develop as he has over the last 12 months.
Everyone seems to agree ⠠⠙⠁⠇⠑⠽⠀⠠⠃⠇⠊⠝⠙ was brail-iant!
I think Blind might just take Carricks place in the team.
It was obvious yesterday how much more and how quick we press the opposition. Carrick (for as good as he is) is not suited to this style of play, much to our detriment.
It was obvious yesterday how much more and how quick we press the opposition. Carrick (for as good as he is) is not suited to this style of play, much to our detriment.
I liked the pace with which he hit his passes. Never too slow like Fellani's usually are. Blind's were mice and crisp.
I've always been impressed with him, yesterday doesn't change that impression. Good signing...
Played it simple but tried to get the ball forward, something we have missed.
He was the only defensive midfielder. Ajax played a 3 midfield with 1 DM and 2 attacking midfielders. And they played possession football, Blind was pivotal as far as ball circulation goes. If their central defenders were under pressure and struggling with build up play then they'd push out wide to the flanks and Blind would drop deep inbetween them to become the first station to improve build up and ball circulation from there.
His father used to be hard as nails as a player. I haven't seen much of that from Daley at Ajax, but I wouldn't be surprised if English football brings that out of him. I also think he played it more safe yesterday than he used to at Ajax. He's capable of good through passes, or a good long pass. Might see more of that against opponents that don't sit back. But with growing confidence, and as he improves, he should become a more dominant player.
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