Pleasantly surprised. I basically thought he'd be decent in a John O'Shea kinda way, his ability on the ball is a fair bit better than I thought.
17
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 29
- Clean sheets
- 9
- Goals
- 2
- Assists
- 3
- Yellow cards
- 4
If he keeps playing well, you won't be the only one pleasantly surprised.
I don't think it is wise to use someone who has not played a single game for months against one of the best teams in the world. Not to mention that our defending is lacking and a poor DM performance could spell disaster for the team. Blind should retain his defensive midfield position.
I really enjoy 'looking' for Blind. He is one of those players that ghosts around and sorts shit out but nobody notices it. Kind of like Makelele (but obviously not on that level... yet). Seems dependable and will grow into the team and become a key clog over the course of the season I'm sure.
He is a very good player. That said, I do wish he were a bit more physically imposing. In our current system, I must admit that if given the choice I would have prefered Nigel De Jong to him in the summer.
You can be physically imposing without cracking through people every second tackle.
Blinds really surprising me at how he shadows intercepts and drives a ball forward usually forward.
He and Carrick covering and supplying a front four i cant wait to see,even ander in a three on paper looks a really solid trio.
I was for deJong in the summer at a desperate moment and im much happier with what we have got instead.
Well basically I want a midfielder who does 'crack through people every second tackle'.
Intercepting and stuff isn't physically imposing. It is useful of course. But we are still a little soft I think. NDJ is quick across the ground and is a warrior. If we are to play with a sitter, I'd like someone like him, or Mascherano perhaps.
We certainly are missing that smasher type,even just to come on and sure things up.
We always have Fellaini
My man of the match against Everton. Thought he held up the midfield really well despite us missing Ander. Kept things ticking and always moving around to offer himself. Has superb pitch awareness like Carrick too; picks out team mates really well and calms the game.
He was excellent yesterday.
Was that deliberate? If so - well done to you sir
He was good, but man of the match? That's insane.
Faded badly in the 2nd half, allowed runners to drive through midfield and should have put one attempt on target with the time and space he was afforded, even form that range. Good performance but there were atleast 4 or 5 better players on the pitch. (De Gea > Di Maria > Rafael > Falcao).
Yeah we now have the potential to field a solid midfield three for the tough games.
------Carrick---Blind--------
------------Herrera---------
---Rooney--Falcao--ADM--
with Rooney and Di Maria as inside forwards flanking and moving about Falcao with freedom,Rafael and Shaw providing the width.
It says a lot about the weakness of our midfield prior to this season that three of our summer midfield signings have become integral within a month.
Still makes too many elementary mistakes, but I'm happy to put that down to nerves and the process of settling into the side. I've not seen anything to be overly concerned about, at any rate.
I actually think he can easily make the DM position his own for years to come. I don't understand the people who claim he'll end up a squad player in the long run. Seems good enough to be a starter, for me. Probably only lacks a big passing range, but that's less important when we play as narrow as we have been doing.
I actually think he can easily make the DM position his own for years to come. I don't understand the people who claim he'll end up a squad player in the long run. Seems good enough to be a starter, for me. Probably only lacks a big passing range, but that's less important when we play as narrow as we have been doing.
This will be a problem with him i feel, his lack of athleticism and physicality is telling. it affects us in transition hence why we are still so vulnerable on the counter, when he pushes up I know if he doesn't get the ball then we are in trouble. We need a system which affords him protection form his midfield partners, Herrera and Di Maria have to help him out in that regard. On the ball and tactically he is very good. He distributes well and is alway saveable to receive the ball, this league my be too physical for him, time will tell.
Carrick and Blind together in midfield seems a bit too lacking in the physical and combative. Play one of them plus two all-round midfielders. We need another guy like Herrera.
Don't know! Just my opinion
guess I appreciated what he did the most though I'm probably overreaching hereIndeed. I think a Blind/Carrick combo would struggle against players like Toure.
We still need a Strootman.
The fact he hasn't been used as a utility player is helping him too, given the defensive absentees if would have been easy to shift him around. But giving him a run of games and the chance to cement a position in the team is something i wish SAF would have done with Jones.
I hope Blind gets some extra help for the games against Chelsea, City and Arsenal because he will need it! but so far i have been very impressed with him.
I hope Blind gets some extra help for the games against Chelsea, City and Arsenal because he will need it! but so far i have been very impressed with him.
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I didn't think anyone would notice
I'm just happy that we have a decent, solid midfield now and Blind plays an integral part in that. It will take a few more outings, especially against tough opponents, before I can call him my new favorite dude. But very very promising indeed.
He is playing well enough for me. I don't see what some of you guys above me have against him. Once the whole team is better drilled, no one will speak a bad word about him.
People over rate the whole physical thing. Last season a declining Xavi and his midget Barcelona lads went to the Etihad and passed City off the park. Yet every week we kept hearing how powerful Toure and Fernandinho were. In fact, a lot people do Toure an huge disservice, he is an excellent footballer and would be one weather he was big or not.
People over rate the whole physical thing. Last season a declining Xavi and his midget Barcelona lads went to the Etihad and passed City off the park. Yet every week we kept hearing how powerful Toure and Fernandinho were. In fact, a lot people do Toure an huge disservice, he is an excellent footballer and would be one weather he was big or not.
I actually don't think he's been as impressive as some on here are stating. Sure he's been decent, with a good game against QPR, but he still makes errors that could cost us goals.
Easy to forget that he's still only 24. There's still loads he can improve on. Wouldn't be surprised if he even managed to add some physicality to his game. He has sufficient tenacity already.
If we can bulk him up properly he'll be even more stellar. I don't buy this bulking up costs agility crap. Some f the most agile players are bulk eg Ronaldo, Zlatan, Aguero..if we can add 5 kilos int eh right area by next season Blind will be even better. He's great now but can be outmuscled at times.
We have a very young group, and people forget this things.
You don't get very far in the Ajax academy if you've got the ability of John O'Shea on the ball.
He's wonderfully composed with it, plays the right pass practically always, taught from very young.
I'm sure he will adapt to the physical aspect with time. He comes from a league where it doesn't matter as much, it's not like he's slight of frame and can never develop physically. Its also an overrated part of the English game - if he/we can keep the ball moving well enough it won't matter. Some people who clamour for another Keane-like enforcer forget just how good he was on the ball too. The uncoachable aspects like intelligence on the ball Blind has in spades.
He is quickly becoming my favourite player.
He is basically doing what I thought Gareth Barry could have done for us if we'd signed him. The bonus is, he's a long term signing rather than a stop gap. Doing well for us at the moment.
Blind's a very good player in the making. In the build up to the Di Maria goal against Everton, he played an important yet understated role. Held on to the ball a split second longer than others might have and effectively forced Rafael to make the right run - once he had, the ball was beautifully weighted into his path, Rafael put a great ball in that Baines struggled to clear, Mata with a lovely assist to Di Maria, followed up by a great finish.
Very good goal, underpinned by Blind's patience and intelligence. I can't wait to see a trio of Blind, Carrick and Hererra in a big game.
Very good goal, underpinned by Blind's patience and intelligence. I can't wait to see a trio of Blind, Carrick and Hererra in a big game.
He is left too exposed by his midfield partners currently as Mata doesn't have the workrate required for this formation when the other two midfielders are as attack minded as Herrera and di Maria. I am actually excited by the idea of signing someone like Strootman and playing a midfield of Blind - Strootman - Herrera and pushing di Maria on to the wings in a traditional 4-3-3.
"Left exposed", like for Carrick for the majority of his United career!
Hopefully, the two of them in tandem will give us a really solid platform.
Yea I could notice that he was demanding Rafa to bomb forward multiple times in the game.
I have my reservations about a potential Blind-Carrick partnership. Can definitely see it being deployed at City or even against Chelsea if Carrick is fully fit by then and we'll get to see how that goes.
Given the weaknesses in the back line, I'd say having the extra midfield insurance is a necessity.
I'd love to see the following against Chelsea (won't happen, mind):
Carrick--Blind
----Hererra
Januzaj--ADM
-----Falcao
If we play Rooney, Di Maria and Herrera infront of Carrick and Blind it probably makes up for their lack of dynamism. Carrick can be the one who sits while Blind is given the freedom to go forward.
I agree. It's the English way of thinking as long as you're a strong lad, you're fine. But the football skills are way more important and there are smaller players who can be physical if needed as well. As you said, Toure is primarely a very very good footballer