We play deeper under JM so shouldn't be as exposed for pace, plus with Shaw that side he has great cover too.
17
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 39
- Clean sheets
- 19
- Goals
- 1
- Assists
- 2
- Yellow cards
- 4
- Status
We play deeper under JM so shouldn't be as exposed for pace, plus with Shaw that side he has great cover too.
I think he's a fantastic utility player. However, we have better players than him at left back, central defence and midfield. He deserves his starting place in defence judging from his performances so far. I hope Smalling is learning to pass the ball whilst watching Bailly and Blind.
I'd say it was just paper talk.
They written off Blind, Fellaini and Mata. Now they're all starting. Shows how much they just made up things as they go.
Right now he is comfortably our best centreback, he's also comfortably our best passer so against opposition that will ist incredibly deep he could make a difference in midfield.
Also if Rojo moves on he's our only senior LB (though an outside chance Mourinho will like Fosu-Mensah there) apart from Shaw. Even if he got dropped for Smalling he would still be worth getting 30 starts at LB, LCB and DM.
He's our best CB at the moment. Superb, my MOTM.
I'm wondering how many seasons he has to play successfully at CB for people to realise he can actually play there. He doesn't need to be built like Vidic to be a great defender.
Top player. He has the right attitude; works hard, intelligent, calm, gets the job done without fuss.
Superb performance again from him. It's so weird that he started as a left back, moved to midfield and won player of the year in that position, and now as a CB for us is arguably one of the best defenders in the league. Almost feels like a cliche at this point but he's just such a smart footballer, and an absolute steal at £14m. On another note, Bailly for £30m also seems like an amazing deal when you look at how much City have spent on centrebacks and how much trouble Arsenal are having to get a decent one.
Great performance. He and Bailly as a pair are perfect for this type of match. Defensively able to snuff out attacks and good enough passers to avoid passing the ball endlessly along the back line and allowing the opposition to rest while we are in possession.
All I seem to post in this thread is how brilliant he is and yesterday wasn't any different. Whether it be in defence or midfield, I don't mind; he just has to play. Though, I'm hoping he gets a shot as a midfielder under José alongside Pogba and Mkhi. Easily one of our best and most important players.
People have been going on about how they don't think he's a centre back for about a season now, yet everytime he plays there he's impressed. Seriously what does he have to do to prove that he's one? He's brilliant and should keep his place.
It is funny though. After the last season, idk how people can still argue that he is not a CB. Let alone a good one.
Same shit with oh wait this team and that team will show him. This striker and that striker will screw him up badly. We have gone thru a whole season of that shit last season. He came out on top of all overall. Guess what same thing is still happening this season.
Very intelligent ,and a great reader of the game.Now that he has understood defending in the PL he is bossing the games .
He doesnt loose many Physical battles either which is very interesting
He doesnt loose many Physical battles either which is very interesting
You can't teach Blind's passing range.
Not a chance Smalling can match that.
He doesn't have his calmness either.
We need him signed up on a new contract as soon as possible!
Makes it look easy.
Positionally he isn't excellent ivaldo I watched him last year. He is a quality player though and if he continues in this vein of form then I have no problems with him. I just would prefer Smalling although like Blind has his issues.
Don't be fooled by the aggressive pressing from last year, that was instruction from LVG, it's why we are seeing an entirely more disciplined Blind this year.
A star on and off the pitch
Played brilliant yesterday, his positional sense is great. A very clever player.
Ivaldo we are going around in circles my friend I respect your opinion but when I watched United last year (most home games live) all away on TV and in my opinion he got caught out of position to much. The Spurs game was a good example. As I said Smalling has his issues as well it's a pity we couldn't merge them and have a Japp Stam.
LVG has done a lot of things wrong in his time at United but he needs to be credited for having faith in Blind to play the CB role. Guardiola might be the only other manager who would have thought of playing him in that role. I wouldn't be surprised if Blind stays first choice even under Jose.
There is middle ground between @Lawman and @ivaldo views on Blind's CB display. Yes, Blind was instructed to press aggressively due to Carrick & Bastian lack of aggressiveness plying there. Fellaini's impressive as DM under Mourinho helps a lot solving this for the time being. That doesn't mean Blind doesn't have this problem, which IMO mainly due to his lack of physical attributes (compared to the common PL CBs). Why is the lack of physical tributes the cause? I believe due to lack of pace & strength, Blind had to gamble more with his position and at times got caught out.
One thing for certain for now, playing a high line with an aggressive DM as well as a capable ball playing CB partner, Blind is capable enough as CB himself for even Mourinho's team. The issue only comes for game like vs Southampton where Blind was tested by more traditionally CB role in more typical PL game where teams putting more crosses into the box and having physical imposing forwards. Imagine what you feel if Blind was on the other side vs Zlatan Pogba Rashford or even Fellaini occasional run into the box.
One thing for certain for now, playing a high line with an aggressive DM as well as a capable ball playing CB partner, Blind is capable enough as CB himself for even Mourinho's team. The issue only comes for game like vs Southampton where Blind was tested by more traditionally CB role in more typical PL game where teams putting more crosses into the box and having physical imposing forwards. Imagine what you feel if Blind was on the other side vs Zlatan Pogba Rashford or even Fellaini occasional run into the box.
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Fair enough bud.
Blind played CB and LB in the Ajax Academy by the way.
My thoughts exactly, would much prefer Daley in at CDM - not convinced that Pogba & Felli are the right partnership, esp against a more talented midfield than the ones we have come up against so far. Derby will be the indicator of where we are at. My choice v City would be
DDG
TONY V
MIKE
ERIC
LUKE
DALEY
POGBACK
MIKI
ROONEY
RASH
ZLATAN
Fast becoming my favourite player, I love an unsung hero and he certainly is one.
My MOTM for yesterday.
My MOTM for yesterday.
He's an excellent player. Because we look better as a team, I'm sensing an implication that he became good a few weeks ago.
Bailly and Blind are doing the same stuff Smalling and Blind were doing last season. Bailly has done well so far, but if we're going to replace Smalling and Blind with Bailly and Blind, I'm not convinced we needed a change at all, especially not for a younger and less experienced version of Smalling. I believe Smalling is the better of the two, although, Bailly is a better passer to be fair to him.
Blind is pure class, and has been one of my favourites since he moved back to centre half.
Bailly and Blind are doing the same stuff Smalling and Blind were doing last season. Bailly has done well so far, but if we're going to replace Smalling and Blind with Bailly and Blind, I'm not convinced we needed a change at all, especially not for a younger and less experienced version of Smalling. I believe Smalling is the better of the two, although, Bailly is a better passer to be fair to him.
Blind is pure class, and has been one of my favourites since he moved back to centre half.
Feck, it's international break already?
Makes it look easy.
Just brilliant, such intelligence and reading of what the ST wanted to do.
Pressing isn't? You don't have to look far to find successful teams pressing teams into submission. Does that automatically mean we were doing it right last year? Big difference mate.Last season you were telling us that was 'modern football'.
If he keeps us this level, Barca will offer £50M in the summer
When can we start discussing him as one of the best centre-backs in the league?
The best signing we've made in recent years considering the price. Just have to look at how much Stones, Mustafi, Mangala have cost our rivals.
Just a top top drawer player, fair play to LVG on this one, and Mourinho's system will make him a even better defender. We struck gold with Blind.
Now, because he most definitely is.
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