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Daley Blind Netherlands flag

2014-15 Performances

View full 2014-15 profile

6.2 Season Average Rating
Appearances
29
Clean sheets
9
Goals
2
Assists
3
Yellow cards
4
What a hit! Deflected or otherwise, he gets some power behind that.
 
I remember saying when we signed him that he might end up being out cheapest but most important signing. Still early days of course, but a few months in and I'm still leaning towards that view. He's not flashy or spectacular but he's become a very important cog in our team and one of the first names on the teamsheet.

On Sunday him and Carrick complimented each other perfectly. They were constantly swapping positions and Blind obviously felt more comfortable surging forwards knowing that Carrick was comfortable enough to fill in for him in defence and he didn't have to bust a gut to get back immediately, he could stay in midfield for a bit.

He's been consistently good given all the chopping and changing going on every game.
 
LR7 said:
I remember saying when we signed him that he might end up being out cheapest but most important signing. Still early days of course, but a few months in and I'm still leaning towards that view. He's not flashy or spectacular but he's become a very important cog in our team and one of the first names on the teamsheet.

On Sunday him and Carrick complimented each other perfectly. They were constantly swapping positions and Blind obviously felt more comfortable surging forwards knowing that Carrick was comfortable enough to fill in for him in defence and he didn't have to bust a gut to get back immediately, he could stay in midfield for a bit.

He's been consistently good given all the chopping and changing going on every game.
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Noticed it too and was very positive. Previously when Blind has pulled away his marker, who then becomes almost a second striker - the only option we have had - has been a forward pass which was only available when the AM also pulled his marker wide at the same time - so RVP could drop down in to free space and receive a pass.

When the AM and Blind didn't perfectly synchronize, we've instead resorted to just restarting the entire operation which has lead to a lot of static and pointless possession for our defenders - just rolling it back and forth until that option opens up. With Carrick or Blind as a centre back, it opens up another option which is brilliant as well.

Take the Chelsea game, Blind pulls Oscar to be a second striker - in which case the DM area is completely free and we have the option to just drive in to that area and instantly having done a good deal of penetration. With Carrick and Blind interchanging, or even Jones when he has the opportunities as his drive is an incredible tool to use - we'd just have a different level of build up.

Instead of just passing it side ways until we can find that really long pass up field centrally. I also think that as RVP's/the lone strikers tactical job is to drop in these occasions we need Januzaj and Di Maria or the CM's to make the run forward.

Too often RVP makes a run to receive the ball, and when he does we have a line of Di Maria-CM--RVP-CM-Januzaj which leads to nothing. Di Maria and Herrera when played in the diamond did that so brilliantly - they made the run forward when someone made a run deep so they were already at pace when RVP received it.



The times we did do it correctly, Blind and our defensive line were way too far from the midfield and offense in general so we had huge gaps which the opponents could use. If there is another player stepping up in to that space as soon as the the DM pulls away their marker - we'd look more tighter together with less space for the opponents to use if they win the ball back fast. One of the CB's should be recreating the triangle by pushing forward in to the space.

 
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Hopefully it is just a knock and nothing more.
 
That makes 5 out of 6 of our signings that have been injured and it's already November. You're next Di Maria!

You just have to laugh. Laugh and angrily smash everything in a 2 metre radius.
 
So with Carrick and presumably Blind injured, we're left with no fit holding midfielders. Excellent news.
 
If this was football manager or Fifa you'd have switched the computer off and started again. The size of the injury list is just obscene.
 
Fletcher holding against Arsenal? Let's hope Blind's injury isn't serious.
 
Sied said:
That shouldn't have been so easy to call :(

Am I right in saying every single player we have who can play defensively has now been injured at one point this season?
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No Blackett is fine.
 
Just when you think our injury situation can't possibly get any more ridiculous.
 
Its a sad day when Flamini will be the best holding midfielder on the pitch.
 
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