No, it's modern football. Everything is so much more complicated and analysed even though football is a simple sport so it can be easily explained like Van Gaal did.
17
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 29
- Clean sheets
- 9
- Goals
- 2
- Assists
- 3
- Yellow cards
- 4
No, it's modern football. Everything is so much more complicated and analysed even though football is a simple sport so it can be easily explained like Van Gaal did.
With all the Philip Lahm comparisons you'd have to think so...
Van Gaal only gave an appreciation, he didn't explained anything. The explanation of each process is way more complicated and can't be explained in one sentence.
Blind not only has great vision, he seems genuinely pleased to play as part of a team and not to show off or do things he either shouldn't (like Fellaini throwing elbows like a whore tosses condoms) or can't (like Ando trying to dribble past three opponents).
The point about Carrick, though, is well taken. Before Moyes brought his wrecking ball and almost destroyed players like Carrick, Michael was a very effective midfielder for us, probably our most consistently solid player in the years after Ronaldo left us. He was dreadful last season, but we should write him off just yet. We'll see between Blind and Carrick who steals the cookie jar and gets to play against the top clubs.
The point about Carrick, though, is well taken. Before Moyes brought his wrecking ball and almost destroyed players like Carrick, Michael was a very effective midfielder for us, probably our most consistently solid player in the years after Ronaldo left us. He was dreadful last season, but we should write him off just yet. We'll see between Blind and Carrick who steals the cookie jar and gets to play against the top clubs.
I actually think it'll be the both of them in a double-pivot, with either Mata or one of the strikers making way in the big games. They will afford the requisite protection for the defence and both have the ability to be more expansive when need be... Just hope Carrick is fit and ready in time for the Chelsea match.
This, and we could play Herrera instead of Mata, in order to have a more solid midfield, if we use the 4-2-3-1 formation.
Blind is tactically intellgent and composed, both qualities that we sorely missed last season. With that quality he makes the players around him play better as well. (To make up an example, Blackett tried a lot less hoofed balls against QPR compared to against Burnley becuase Blind was often at the right space to receive the ball)
I think the LCM in the diamond is a perfect solution for Di Maria.
As we saw in the last game, the position gives him more freedom to dictate our play as a CM, but also allows him lots of space to run on the left. With 2 strikers and 1 AM, he actually has more support around him then playing as a pure winger.
He played the "shuttler" role in Benfica too.
Like I said on the 442 diamond thread, we were playing 352 system, transforming into a 442 diamond when ever we went forward. Why could it work? rafeal rojo blind and di maria allowed this to work. Remember with 352 it is designed for the third CB to come forward to help the CM 2, he protects those 2 so the team can outnumber teams, blind was doing that for herrera and di maria, so we were always ontop.
This is what makes blind special
the 352 vs QPR
________DDG______
_____evans blackett
________blind______
rafeal___________rojo
____herrera di maria
the 442 diamond vs QPR
_______DDG________
___evans blackett____
rafeal__________rojo
_______blind_______
____herrera di maria_
So has we all see, there is great tactical flexibility, has 352 kept changing to 442 diamond. Blind could possibly be the most important signing VG has ever made making this system work, has like many have said, one of the smartest tactical players any team could have. Blind's ability to play the CB/DM role is unmatched, he was the third CB always coming forward out of the 3 at the back, and making it 4 at the back, and outnumbering teams in midfield. Blind is doing what the third CB against swansea burnley and sunderland failed to do, outnumber teams in midfield, and creating balance to the 3 at the back. So when ever people question the system, it is a 352 and 442 diamond at the same time
Good post.
I think one of the concerns on this formation is about protecting the flanks, especially on the right side.
From the last game, we can see that we did pretty well protecting the left side - Rojo is aggressive and strong, and he didn't have toomuch attacking duty since he had Di Maria in front of him. In addition to that, Blind helped couple of times and he was apparently very comfortable defending that zone.
Not so much on the right side though - we don't have an out and out wide player on the right side, so Rafael needed to attack very deep every time. Also you can clearly see Herrera struggled a bit protecting the right side, especially when a fresh Traore came on.
Teams will start to realize this, and we need to figure out a way to deal with this.
I saw our game again and his forward passes were very nice and crisp. Let's see how he does against liecster because he will have nowhere near as much room to operate.
I do not see it being a huge problem, has its the job of guys like blind, di maria and herrera is their ability to dominate games, if the system works. The only time QPR looked confident was when DDG made a huge mistake which almost let QPR in, apart from that we were always on top. I think di maria will give us the speed we need to rip sides apart, the only time we could have problems is when we do not have a di maria in our lineup, can janazaj offer the same impact in terms of the acceleration di maria offers united? I very much doubt it
This guy was criminally underrated before the WC and even at times during the WC. But, truth is, he is quite a revelation. Hopefully he carries the team tomorrow as well!
Leicester 5:3 Man Utd
They're man marking him, clearly affecting the fluidity of our game.. Needs to find some space for himself and get back into the game
This lad has a wonder goal in him. I expect him to get grab 5/6 through the season from arriving late at the edge of the box.
A sex god. Also a good footballer.
looking pristine atm, great stuff
He's very good in the air for being relatively short.
To think a lot of people didnt want him. Too many people are swayed by fancy names and southern european players and their tricks and flicks.
This guy has been sensational.
This guy has been sensational.
Yep and he is easily our sexiest looking player.
He's not having a great game, he's basically doing neither of the two things that made him so good against QPR (breaking up attacks and contolling our posession). His touch has also let him down countless times.
Bit worried.
Bit worried.
Perfect positioning is all I can say about him
Tidy.
Are we watching different games?
Settle.
He was given all the time in the worst against QPR whereas Leicester are man marking him. He's doing well considering IMO.
Blessed with supreme technique. So compact and efficient.
Not dictating the play so much today but he's not afforded the same time so thats natural. His defensive side has been top draw though.
Not dictating the play so much today but he's not afforded the same time so thats natural. His defensive side has been top draw though.
He's not getting much space to be honest, and we're being a bit cavalier at times, committing too many bodies forward and getting caught on the counter by Leicester. Giving him way too much to do, and plus all the long balls over the top have been targeting Rojo, not much Blind can do to be honest.
Good game, again.
He's having a good game, but he probably wouldn't have been man-marked like this before. He'll adapt to it and continue to develop as a player.
He's been very good, not sure what you're watching.
Extra! Extra! In today's edtion of The Daily Blind: he's still dreamy!
just as I suspected...he's average at best defensively
He'll benefit once Carrick is back hopefully.
We definitely need a solid pair in front of our laughable defence.
We definitely need a solid pair in front of our laughable defence.
welcome to engurland. He will learn and improve. He is smart enough.
Where was the shielding? They just ran through us on counter attacks. Nothing new to us of course.
Poor game defensively from him. He's a clever player, so he'll learn from it.
He had a real shocker. His passing is nice and tidy, but did he win a single ball during the whole match? It was like a child playing against men. He couldnt get near anyone and they just walked passed him.
Defensively, Still a long way to fill Carrick's boot.