Carrick returned when most of the team returned. What a surprise that we win more often
17
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 29
- Clean sheets
- 9
- Goals
- 2
- Assists
- 3
- Yellow cards
- 4
Carrick returned when most of the team returned. What a surprise that we win more often
I like him, very intelligent player. Yes he has struggled several times this season just like the team in general. It's still his first season and hopefully he'll improve even more. After Herrera, our best summer signing for me.
I also think he's had a pretty decent first season overall - the criticism of Blind after one bad game seems to have gone a bit OTT really.
He's already proven to be a vital squad player and done well in several positions, whether he can push on to be a regular first XI pick remains to be seen but he has had several decent performances for us this season, including at DM.
That's the most measured conclusion I've seen in this thread so far. I'd go a bit further and say he's had several excellent performances. Hasn't cemented himself as a definite in the starting XI, but he's offered plenty of room for optimism that he's capable of doing so. First season in a much tougher league, in a transitioning team, and he's been one of our more consistent performers. Very well-rounded technically and tactically very good as well. I rate him very highly.
He's been very good - a few bad games and he's still lacking physically and pace-wise but for his first season he's done very, very well, especially for someone that nobody expected us to get before the world cup.
One of our best players this year. Any criticism wont be tolerated by me, unless you're interested in a barage of personal and OTT insults.
I think he's average. Come at me.
He's better than Arteta or Wilshere as DM......come at me.
People are definitely going over the top with criticism for him. He is just back from injury and he definitely looked like that, not that he was just poor, but he was very unlike himself too. Even when he is poor he shows quality pieces of play, and against Everton he showed nothing. And it's not like he never did good in Carrick's abscence, in one of his first games for us, against Chelsea at Old Trafford, he was probably one of our best players, if not the best, playing that same position.
Those saying we can't win anything with players like him are overreacting, our team would be great if Blind was our biggest problem. Carrick is better player but people are making it out like he rarely has a bad game, and that's far from truth, he was very inconsistent this season for his standards too.
Those saying we can't win anything with players like him are overreacting, our team would be great if Blind was our biggest problem. Carrick is better player but people are making it out like he rarely has a bad game, and that's far from truth, he was very inconsistent this season for his standards too.
I don't see Blind future in our team as DM for me he is a much better LB. Along with Shaw I think we have 2 very good options in this position. One has good pace and the other reads the game exceptionally well and delivers 9 times out of 10 in the final 3rd.
More useful as LB, not good enough as DM for many reasons
He can play as DM only in a dutch league
He can play as DM only in a dutch league
Fabulous footballer, andheld the team together in the early part of the season, but has come in for some maybe harsh criticism given his overall contribution to the team. Technically one of the best in the team but his lack of pace and power count against him for him to be nailed on first choice in any position ( atm) He may become the ultimate squad player. Invaluable asset for sure.
he needs to work on his power and pace over the summer and he would make it as a box to box midfielder for us or as backup left back, because he has a good football brain and can pass, and puts in a tackle. I just don't see him as the dm with a midfield of Herrera, Mata, Fellaini and Young. The position requires allot more than Blind has.
Most unfair criticism I've seen this season, the agenda's really are clear to be seen. I dont know why people forget that it's his first season generally has been good, is 25 and still has enough room to improve. When you play that stupid 4141, your DM will get caught out at times, another very naive line up imo. Everton's first goal, that was just very poor defending from the others too, dont know why he gets picked out. Has been fine all season during Carrick's absence, one bad game and he isnt good enough. If that's the way we judge players, only Carrick is good enough, as he is the only one who hasnt really had a bad game.
Still think he's a DM long term. He's had a couple of poor games but equally had long periods of looking brilliant. I really like him.
Blind played as DM in his youth before he broke trough as a leftback (and a very short spell at rightback). He's versatile in that he can cover for 4 positions: leftback (or wingback), DM, BTB and even CB - he's not the best at the latter 2 though because of his lack of physical traits. I believe he was vital for this season because he already knew van Gaal's style while the rest of the team was still learning, he was always available for a safe pass.
He's not as good as Carrick at dictating the play yet, but he's got all the traits to become as good. I think it's premature to write him off for DM, he's done pretty well considering it's only his first season. He's got a great long pass, although he doesn't use it as often yet. He's smart enough to read the game and position himself defensively - this way he makes up for his physicality. He's great for a possesion based team and he can put pressure on the opponent high up the pitch.
I think he will rotate with Carrick next season mostly, van Gaal said he bought him for midfield and that he's a fixed starter. I think it's better to buy a backup to Herrera who could play CDM when both Blind and Carrick are unavailable than buying a 3rd CDM. He can still be used elsewhere if it's needed.
He's not as good as Carrick at dictating the play yet, but he's got all the traits to become as good. I think it's premature to write him off for DM, he's done pretty well considering it's only his first season. He's got a great long pass, although he doesn't use it as often yet. He's smart enough to read the game and position himself defensively - this way he makes up for his physicality. He's great for a possesion based team and he can put pressure on the opponent high up the pitch.
I think he will rotate with Carrick next season mostly, van Gaal said he bought him for midfield and that he's a fixed starter. I think it's better to buy a backup to Herrera who could play CDM when both Blind and Carrick are unavailable than buying a 3rd CDM. He can still be used elsewhere if it's needed.
What do you think of the Gundogan rumours Max? If we get him do you reckon that;ll be that, or do you think LVG will buy Gundogan + another defensive minded midfielder, for the 'balance'.
But he was doing it very well earlier in the season, and that was in a midfield with Di Maria, who does little to no defending. He's had one poor game as a DM, and the whole team was pretty shit against Everton to be fair to Blind, bar Smalling.
Having a quick scan at the threadmarks for games before Christmas, and he was being called "our best new signing" whilst playing at the base of the diamond and got a good run of games there. I have plenty of faith he has enough about him to make it there. He's most definitely had more good performances than bad, IMO.
I find it quite funny how he started off the season well and large amounts of people were saying he was better than Carrick and he can't play LB because he is too slow and weak. Plays a few good matches at LB and a couple poor ones in midfield and now he is a great LB and isn't good enough to even be Carrick's backup because he is too slow and weak. Some people just completely change opinions on players based on one game.
Gundogan is a typical van Gaal player, I wouldn't be surprised at all if he gets him. I don't know that much about him but he would probably be backup to Herrera at 8 (we've got none bar Rooney) - maybe he's suited for 6 or 10 but I wouldn't know, from what I've seen he's not a 6. I also think Herrera now is deemed good enough as defensive player.
For his defensive balance, it will depend on lots of things: does he want Mata in midfield? Does he fancy a CDM youngster? Are Carrick and Blind, with the occasional Herrera (Gundogan?) good enough for him at 6? What will happen to Januzaj/Pereira (midfield or wing)? Does he want Rooney at 10?
If Gundogan can indeed play at 6 for van Gaal and bring balance, he'd be a perfect buy in my eyes and probably the only one. If not, and he doesn't fancy a youngster/Rooney in midfield either, or wants Mata in there he'd probably bring in another one. He likes smaller squads though, and with Gundogan we'd have 5 midfielders + Mata, Rooney, Pereira and maybe even Januzaj already.
I think van Gaal currently sees Blind as succesor to Carrick, so buying a big name replacement for Carrick whilst Blind has done relatively well and is still here probably isn't going to happen. He's currently a fixed starter so to relegate him to 3rd- CDM / 2nd- LB / 6th- CB / 3rd choice BTB player after a season he's done well in seems unlogical to me. It makes more sense in my eyes to buy a 2nd BTB who's 3rd choice CDM, if this is Gundogan then why not?
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yeah funny isn't it?
I don't personally rate him highly since day one, I actually rate him higher then before he came here as I'd seen him on numerous occasion for national team and I thought he's completely average but now I believe he can be decent back-up option in the future for us judging by his performances in his first season. He had a BIG advantage by knowing manager and his philosophy so it will be interesting to see if he can push on and get better..
I hope he can somehow emulate Carrick in the future, at the same time I think we should definitely buy a player of higher calibre to the team covering no6 and no8 position being a starter ahead of him or at least making a good competiton with him and ageing carrick..
And I am definitely for him to start next game as CDM, I think he will do better as the whole team which under performed, it was coming anyway and Carrick wouldn't probably do much better IMHO.
I like him, I think he uses the ball intelligently and reads the game well. He has a great range of passing too. But I definitely feel his best position is left back or on the left of a midfield 3. I don't have any faith in him starting at the base of midfield. One of his best assets is his diagonal ball, and crosses.
I'm surprised at the criticism of Blind. He's clearly good enough for us but has a few issues. Physically he isn't strong enough for the PL. Too often he loses a 50/50 or gets pushed around. When he is at left back you can see his intelligence & clever play but he isn't strong enough to have the same impact in midfield yet with only Herrera supporting him.
I don't think Fellaini helps him either. Fellaini has been good as a long ball option but he doesn't contribute all that much with possession in midfield. Next season he'll be stronger & hopefully will have Gündoğan & Herrera beside him which should help him. Plus he is an excellent player to have as backup to Shaw. He was a very good signing imo.
I don't think Fellaini helps him either. Fellaini has been good as a long ball option but he doesn't contribute all that much with possession in midfield. Next season he'll be stronger & hopefully will have Gündoğan & Herrera beside him which should help him. Plus he is an excellent player to have as backup to Shaw. He was a very good signing imo.
If I'm honest, if we go into next season with a midfield of Carrick/Blind/Herrera/Gundogan as our core midfielders (obviously with the option of playing Rooney/Fellaini/Mata etc there too) we will still have a problem. Carrick has become rather injury prone as he gets older, Gundagon is just not a CDM, especially since the injury, and neither is Herrera, while Blind looks incredibly light weight in the tough PL away games. While I don't want to see any of Rooney/Mata/Fellaini in a traditional midfield role anytime soon. For me, we need a proper 'hardman' in midfield. Someone who can get their foot in. I'd go for Carrick/Blind/Herrera/Gundagon + 1 more....Rooney to only play upfront, Mata only to play in an attacking role, and Fellaini to be used as he has this season, but never as a deeper, more traditional, midfielder.
Without sounding too OTT, I think we are at risk of turning into Arsenal. All a bit to tippy tappy. Play great possession football, but have no 'steal' in the team.
I agree to an extent but it's not necessarily a hard man we lack in my mind, it's an athletic ball winner, the type that can drive us out of midfield when we are pressed, a player like Matuidi or Vidal at his best.
Yeah, that'd do it. 'Hard man' is probably the wrong phrase to use. A Vidal/Strootman kind of player is exactly what we need.
That bloody injury to Strootman
I fully agree with you and @Devil may care, van Gaal has already said he underestimated the physicality of the PL. The only 'hard' midfielders we have are Rooney (I'd keep him as striker every match, but I don't think van Gaal will) and Fellaini, and those 2 are best at 10. That's why I personally think he wants a stronger alternative to Herrera, and not a like-for-like replacement in Gundogan. I just wrote how Gundogan could potentially work - there's too many things I don't know though and he might bring in a 2nd midfielder with him (or we won't get Gundogan?).
I still think Strootman would've solved all our midfield issues if he was fit (as PSV fan I've followed him for years) - primarily an 8, but can play at 6. Alternatives to him are rare: Verrati & Koke aren't leaving, Matuidi is the only French player at PSG, Vidal isn't getting younger, Pogba isn't ideal. After that the quality drops off a bit: Xhaka, Schneiderlin, Kondogbia, Nainggolan?
It's a tough discussion because it isn't just about the midfield but also the attack: we won't know what he's going to do with Rooney, Mata and the younger players like Januzaj and Pereira.
I completely agree on Strootman. I think he was as dead certain a transfer as you could imagine, before his injury. He would have been perfect for us. I wonder if LVG might still see him as a target for next Summer as a 'Carrick replacement'? Gives him a year to see if he can get back to fitness, and LVG will just hold off on buying a midfielder for that role until then. Would be a right risk strategy, mind.
Personally, I'd go all out for Schniderlin, but we don't appear to have any interest at all.
Man Utd 0:1 West Brom
Maybe he's not fully fit because he looked labored today.
He's a bit too rash in defence for me. Including today, he's committed to a few unnecessary challenges on the edge of the box and not got the ball, when it would have been better to hold back.
Had another bad game today, needs another dressing down from van Gaal.
Crystal Palace 1:2 Man Utd
Hope LVG rips into him over the freekick.
I just think he'd end up being a utility player here, I hope. Not good enough to be a starter.
I just think he'd end up being a utility player here, I hope. Not good enough to be a starter.
He was abysmal today
Tidy in possession, but has the heart of a mouse.
Pure cowardice in the wall today.
Pure cowardice in the wall today.
I'd give him a -10 for that. He did nothing right all game long. I don't think he's a midfielder.
Struggles against pace and physicality. Hope he improves.
He was under par again, lack of aggression today and his passing was average. His midfield partners didnt play well either same as last time
#NotaDM.
How's Schneiderlin been doing lately?