[amolbhatia50k]

He's like a left back playmaker.

 

[Will Singh]

Attacking and linking up was brilliant, got caught out a few times at the back, apart from that it was a 7/10 performance for me!!

 

[Baxter]

One of the best signings in the league. Absolute bargain. Struggled for the first 15 minutes or so but got the pace of the game and was brilliant from then on. He is so good on the ball and his passing is outstanding. Guaranteed at least a 7/10 every week. Wasn't sure when we signed him but he's been a fantastic acquisition.

 

[Manny]

I love how he get in a tangle with the opposition but against the odds, comes out the other side with the ball.

 

[thelemon]

What a player. Struggled a bit with Navas and Zabaleta pace wise but was still solid, making up for it with intelligence. Great performance considering he's primarily a DM.

 

[roykeane19]

So far I have been extremely underwhelmed with Shaw tbh, I still think we were ripped of by alot for 30mill

I dont see in current form, how Shaw will get his place back from Blind

 

[thejtrain]

I like how emotional he is like the most of our players. I'd like to think of this as a closely knit group where each individual complements each other well and by the looks of it, it is! Blind and Young constantly talk to each other on the wings and those two make a great pair on the left. The cohesion in this team is extremely high at this moment and LvG deserves massive credit for that.

 

[11101]

Extremely impressed with how he learned quickly he hadnt got the pace for Navas and adapted his game accordingly. Yes it should have cost us a goal, but most other defenders would have continued getting caught out all game.

 

[Dante]

Not the best positionally, today. You can tell he's still learning how to play an offside trap properly. But I think you can forgive him that given that left back isn't his regular position.

 

[HabeasC]

So far I have been extremely underwhelmed with Shaw tbh, I still think we were ripped of by alot for 30mill

I dont see in current form, how Shaw will get his place back from Blind

He's still very very young and, defensively, there are few better LBs out there. He'll come good, though at the minute Blind should be first choice.

 

[Nighteyes]

Don't think he was very good actually. Got caught out of position more than a few times and wasn't his usual self going forward.

I'd like to see him cross the ball a lot more though. Probably the best in the league at it.

 

[berbatrick]

I didn't see the 1st 30 mins, but he was absolutely excellent from what I did see. Didn't put a foot wrong. His penetrative passing from LB is like having another mini-Carrick to break up the opposition's defensive lines. And he stays in position to defend also, unlike his counterpart on the opposite wing.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I didn't see the 1st 30 mins, but he was absolutely excellent from what I did see. Didn't put a foot wrong. His penetrative passing from LB is like having another mini-Carrick to break up the opposition's defensive lines. And he stays in position to defend also, unlike his counterpart on the opposite wing.

You need to watch the whole game before you make a comment like that.

 

[Litch]

Great signing. Shaw still the long term option but on this form, he may have to wait.....I must say though, the lack of Blinds pace does find him out at times

 

[gooDevil]

Great signing. Shaw still the long term option but on this form, he may have to wait.....I must say though, the lack of Blinds pace does find him out at times

Long term I think he's going to be a midfielder, but it's great he's such quality cover at LB.

 

[berbatrick]

You need to watch the whole game before you make a comment like that.

From what I've read both Blind and Valencia were poor in the 1st 30 mins, with Valencia caught out by good movement for the goal. After that I saw Valencia commit more positional errors (Milner's chance; twice he slid on Silva in their half, got nothing, and exposed his flank; debatable positioning for the Aguero chance from where he recovered beautifully; counter at the end of the 1st half; when Herrera lost the ball in the 2nd half Valencia wasn't in the box when the shot was blocked even though Herrera was...)
But I thought Blind was flawless.

 

[golden_blunder]

Love the guy, future captain

 

[Pogue Mahone]

From what I've read both Blind and Valencia were poor in the 1st 30 mins, with Valencia caught out by good movement for the goal. After that I saw Valencia commit more positional errors (Milner's chance; twice he slid on Silva in their half, got nothing, and exposed his flank; debatable positioning for the Aguero chance from where he recovered beautifully; counter at the end of the 1st half; when Herrera lost the ball in the 2nd half Valencia wasn't in the box when the shot was blocked even though Herrera was...)
But I thought Blind was flawless.

That's a ridiculously biased post. Should I remind you that City's second goal came from getting to the byline down our left flank? No doubt, you'd have a long list of reasons why Valencia was to blame if it had been Clichy, instead of Zabaleta, who assisted that goal.

Makes me think that even watching the first 30 minutes wouldn't have changed your opinion...

 

[Massive Spanner]

That's a ridiculously biased post. Makes me think that even watching the first 30 minutes wouldn't have changed your opinion...

Valencia was caught out of position a few times, though, you can't deny that, can you? I did think that overall he had a good game though. I mean he's not a right back so I wouldn't exactly expect his positional sense to be flawless anyway. His recovery to get at Aguero was also brilliant.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Valencia was caught out of position a few times, though, you can't deny that, can you? I did think that overall he had a good game though. I mean he's not a right back so I wouldn't exactly expect his positional sense to be flawless anyway. His recovery to get at Aguero was also brilliant.

Fullbacks are always going to get caught out of position, from time to time. That's the nature of their role and one of the main reason teams play with holding midfielders. To plug those inevitable gaps.

I don't think Valencia was exposed more frequently or more dramatically than any other fullback on the pitch yesterday. It just seems to be the latest stick to beat him with, now he's doing all the more obvious stuff so well.

This is the Blind thread, though. I thought he was very good fwiw. Even though he did get, shock horror, occasionally caught out of position.

 

[Insanity]

Thought he was tentative after the play where Navas flew past him early in the game. You could see that it had affected him when some of the one-two's with Young weren't going right, it was playing on his mind. His lack of pace as LB is a concern against opponents who play with width and have pacey players operating there.

 

[IwatUwat]

Another phenomenal performance from him. My man of the match, amongst a few options. The amount of headers he won was ridiculous. He sets up attacks supports positionally is so sound. Its just great to watch him. He makes Young and Fellaini look good (both playing v. well too) but he compliments them, as I believe he would with any player as he is so tactically aware.

Offers a great option going forward too. Top player, another great performance.

 

[berbatrick]

That's a ridiculously biased post. Should I remind you that City's second goal came from getting to the byline down our left flank? No doubt, you'd have a long list of reasons why Valencia was to blame if it had been Clichy, instead of Zabaleta, who assisted that goal.

Makes me think that even watching the first 30 minutes wouldn't have changed your opinion...

I think van Gaal himself talked about the confusion that happened when Carrick came off and no adjustments were made. Still, yes, Blind could've done better. And, yes, Valencia wouldve been to blame, but equally slightly, if that had happened on his side. I also don't see how the post is biased.

 

[milemuncher777]

Valencia had a stormer of a game. Was very solid defensively. He's keeping Rafael out of the team on merit.

 

[Walrus]

I was concerned coming into this season with a lack of cover for Shaw, but Blind has proven himself to be highly competent at LB. I dont think it is or will be his primary position (he will start taking over from Carrick I imagine, and Shaw will start taking over at LB).

I do think the caf is as usual exaggerating things, people calling him our outfield player of the season so far is just ridiculous, but he is an excellent player to have in the squad.

 

[bishblaize]

I do think the caf is as usual exaggerating things, people calling him our outfield player of the season so far is just ridiculous, but he is an excellent player to have in the squad.

I honestly think that's to do with going so fecking long without a proper midfield, anyone who comes in and does well is gonna be an instant hero. I do think Carrick has shown who's the boss, for the time being anyway.

 

[mazhar13]

Blind, during our tough time in the first half, struggled a bit with his aggressive approach causing him to get out of position too often and breaking down our defensive shape. However, once he controlled his aggression, he became much better and tougher to beat, defensively. Still, he needs to control that tendency to charge into players too soon as he doesn't really have the pace to recover his position in time. Once he did that against Navas, Navas was almost ineffective, and our left side became stronger.

 

[Paolo Di Canio]

I was concerned coming into this season with a lack of cover for Shaw, but Blind has proven himself to be highly competent at LB. I dont think it is or will be his primary position (he will start taking over from Carrick I imagine, and Shaw will start taking over at LB).

I do think the caf is as usual exaggerating things, people calling him our outfield player of the season so far is just ridiculous, but he is an excellent player to have in the squad.

I wouldnt be too sure about shaw coming back in to the team, he has alot of work to do before hes a regular here

 

[Kag]

I do think the caf is as usual exaggerating things, people calling him our outfield player of the season so far is just ridiculous, but he is an excellent player to have in the squad.

It isn't a stretch to argue that he's been our most consistent. He's started every single league game when fit and has delivered consistent 7/10 performances, even when we have struggled throughout matches and other players have struggled for form. He's also scored two hugely important last minute equalisers.

I'm struggling to pick an outfield player of the season, primarily because so few of the team has played week in, week out. Herrera and Carrick have been excellent, for me, but the former was out of the picture for a few months and the latter has struggled for fitness. I'd probably give the nod to Rooney but Blind isn't far behind at all.

 

[Walrus]

I wouldnt be too sure about shaw coming back in to the team, he has alot of work to do before hes a regular here

He is still young. I for one didnt expect him to be an automatic first choice this season - too many folk have just looked at the price tag and assumed he will be starting every week and playing flawlessly.

Shaw is still the long term option there - but LVG has been smart enough to not just throw him in at the deep end, but rather let him develop. Having adequate cover is very important to be able to do this.

 

[Walrus]

It isn't a stretch to argue that he's been our most consistent. He's started every single league game when fit and has delivered consistent 7/10 performances, even when we have struggled throughout matches and other players have struggled for form. He's also scored two hugely important last minute equalisers.

I'm struggling to pick an outfield player of the season, primarily because so few of the team has played week in, week out. Herrera and Carrick have been excellent, for me, but the former was out of the picture for a few months and the latter has struggled for fitness. I'd probably give the nod to Rooney but Blind isn't far behind at all.

You are right that Blind has been pretty consistent. However he has had bad patches, and has looked uncomfortable at times both in CM and at LB.
This isnt to say he hasnt done well for his debut season with us, but I think any of these players would be ahead of him as my player of the season;
Rooney
Fellaini
Smalling
Young
Herrera


I do agree that there isnt really a single standout candidate who is head and shoulders above the others. Personally I think Smalling and Fellaini have been probably the two I would pick out of the above.

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

He's like a left back playmaker.

yeah, him and Mata coming infield is a major part of us creating overloads and dominating the middle. Who'd have thought we'd be dominating midfield battles in the big games this season with essentially the same squad Moyes left + Blind?

 

[Welbeckham]

yeah, him and Mata coming infield is a major part of us creating overloads and dominating the middle. Who'd have thought we'd be dominating midfield battles in the big games this season with essentially the same squad Moyes left + Blind?

I think you just somehow managed to forgot Ander Herrera.

 

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

How come his average rating on here is 6.5? Feels like he has been better than that over the course of the season.

 

[Crumpsall Red]

You are right that Blind has been pretty consistent. However he has had bad patches, and has looked uncomfortable at times both in CM and at LB.
This isnt to say he hasnt done well for his debut season with us, but I think any of these players would be ahead of him as my player of the season;
Rooney
Fellaini
Smalling
Young
Herrera


I do agree that there isnt really a single standout candidate who is head and shoulders above the others. Personally I think Smalling and Fellaini have been probably the two I would pick out of the above.

For me De Gea is player of the season again.

 

[Ish]

You are right that Blind has been pretty consistent. However he has had bad patches, and has looked uncomfortable at times both in CM and at LB.
This isnt to say he hasnt done well for his debut season with us, but I think any of these players would be ahead of him as my player of the season;
Rooney
Fellaini
Smalling
Young
Herrera


I do agree that there isnt really a single standout candidate who is head and shoulders above the others. Personally I think Smalling and Fellaini have been probably the two I would pick out of the above.

Something like this for me, in order:
DDG. (over the course of the season it must be him)
Herrera.
Carrick.
Fellaini.
Young.
Blind.
Smalling.
Rooney.
the rest either had bad patches or suffered injuries.

 

[Classical Mechanic]

How come his average rating on here is 6.5? Feels like he has been better than that over the course of the season.

He played a lot of games in midfield when we were getting over run and he looked out of his depth defensively when the opposition were on the break. The fact of the matter is that our upturn in fortunes has coincided with him not playing in midfield anymore.

 

[ivaldo]

Our back line has sorted itself out now and we are playing far more compressed than when Blind was in midfield. With the lack of space now afforded to the opppsition in central areas I can't see his lack of pace being as much of a concern when he eventually returns to DM.

 

[RedorDead21]

He played a lot of games in midfield when we were getting over run and he looked out of his depth defensively when the opposition were on the break. The fact of the matter is that our upturn in fortunes has coincided with him not playing in midfield anymore.

And he passed sideways so much neville dedicated MNF to him as the reason we were so slow and pedestrian. No way will will beat Chelsea away with him repeating that.

 

[Sarni]

He's like a maximum luxury version of O'Shea with his versatility. Excellent player.