Cost us two goals. I think he will be dropped for Smalling.
17
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 39
- Clean sheets
- 19
- Goals
- 1
- Assists
- 2
- Yellow cards
- 4
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He should place his body in such a way that KDB cannot run, and if that failed, he should pull his shirt or chop him down. A yellow card is better than a goal. Blind was too slow to react.
He would have been the last man
I think that's fair, except I wouldn't rate Blind as a great CB, he was all over the best prem 11 teams and I think there's at least a handful of premiership CB's who are superior to him. I think he's a good CB and is an intelligent player, but that's about as far as it goes imo.
It does not matter. Losing challenge is the same as not being able to challenge. Iheanacho could have made the same flick even if he was under pressure.
The main thing is not the flick, Ibra made a dozen flicks like that, Fellaini as well. But City always managed to get the ball out. That's the main thing. Remember the last minutes, cross to the box, Ibra virtually under no pressure heads it across the goal to Rooney, but the defender interferes and get the ball away for a corner. Exactly the same type of situation. But City had actual center defenders playing there, that knew how to play in this position and were combative, were ready to get the ball out, were focused on that. Blind is a makeshift defender, so his awareness, positioning, even his desire to go all out is the sort you expect from a defensive midfielder. And actually he is not even a strictly defensive player like Kante or Makelele, he is more of a cross between them and Pirlo. A deep lying playmaker but with a more defensive diligence.
Bailly did not play well, but he was not awful, he was at fault for losing a challenge, but Blind was responsible for letting the opponent go 1-on-1. Have you watched the second goal btw? Or your telly/tablet is out?
I am not sure about that. Looking at the video again, it seems that both Blind and Shaw are reasonably close. Also, I think that the formal rule says "reasonable chance to score", my feeling is that KDB was too far out, so it wouldn't be a red card. Anyway, Blind seemed half-asleep, he did not react at all.
In the second goal he was terrible too. He runs around like a headless chicken and gets behind their attacker, breaking the off side. Terrible.
And in a 50/50 heading challenge, Blind should anticipate that it's quite possible the opposition player may get his head on the ball and that it may fall for KDB, an extremely dangerous player. He should absolutely be anticipating it.
Meh, he's never been good enough for us as a first choice central defender. He looked alright in the first three games of the season when we were playing teams that didn't actually attack us properly and only tried to snatch goals on the counter-attack, because then he can do his trademark intercepting of the ball as they try to play it in behind, but unsurprisingly the first time he comes up against an actual attacking team that will run at him and play around him with real talent he flops hard. Thank Christ they didn't have Aguero fit today - he'd have destroyed Blind.
Funny because he did just fine against Aguero last season.
The whole City team was shit last year tbf.
Aguero was arguably the best striker in the EPL last season. Blind and Smalling did a great job against him.
Smalling basically sat on Aguero last year. Every time Kun got the ball, it was Smalling who was there to stop him. He couldn't use his pace because Smalling was right there and is just as quick. In fact, the few times Aguero looked dangerous in that match were the exact times he was able to isolate Blind.
Still doesnt change the fact that the team wasnt really good, at least on the pitch. Aguero isolated isnt as good as Aguero with the team buzzing around him. We were also very conservative last season, Aguero today would have more space and more room to go at our defense.
Yeah no. Blind was also putting in great tackles and intercepting balls going his way aswell. He was one of the best players on the pitch that day.
You mean to tell me we didn't play conservative today?
I wouldn't really put him at fault for the first goal, I'd question why no one contested Ihenacho for the header - but the second was lazy positioning from him.
It's a shame. Great first 3 games, but will probably be dropped now after today.
It'll be interesting to see Smalling-Bailly anyway.
It's a shame. Great first 3 games, but will probably be dropped now after today.
It'll be interesting to see Smalling-Bailly anyway.
Blind has done pretty well this season bar this match....how come Smalling is not getting any playing time? I think him and Bai can be a great duo.
No, we were open through the middle. Van Gaal would at least play his boring possession football and keep the ball in orderto not concede and bore us. We never really would have opened up so early under him. But we today just gave it to City or hoofed it, to get carved open time and time again. In the second half we were chasing one counter after another (after opening up though).
I think the second goal was his fault moreso than the first. First KDB reached and took it just ahead of him, and then Blind has to let him go pretty much esp that early in the game.
Second unfortunately he played their striker onside and he needs to take blame for that.
Second unfortunately he played their striker onside and he needs to take blame for that.
Are people thick? The first goal was defending 101.
Okay fair enough hes slow anticipating the ball (still a pretty shit bit of defending), but if he thinks he cant get the ball why the feck doesn't he just move back towards the goal rather than ending up in no-man's-land? He just let De Bruyne clean through, if he just dropped back he might have forced him to do something other than slot it straight past our keeper.
Okay fair enough hes slow anticipating the ball (still a pretty shit bit of defending), but if he thinks he cant get the ball why the feck doesn't he just move back towards the goal rather than ending up in no-man's-land? He just let De Bruyne clean through, if he just dropped back he might have forced him to do something other than slot it straight past our keeper.
World-class CB's don't make a mistake like that (De Bruyne goal).
We tried buying one, no? We were linked with Varane.
Vastly superior CB? I never even said that
Seems to be hard to talk about Blind in the Daley Blind thread. How dare anyone think he had a poor game?!
You claimed Smalling would have stopped KdB today. That must mean you think he is superior.
Then why is it that the manager doesn't feel so?
At Chelsea the team vs smaller teams used to be
Matic-Cesc
Willian-Oscar-Hazard
Costa
Vs the bigger teams it used to be
Matic-Ramires
Oscar-cesc-Hazard
Costa
For no fault of Willian
Smalling was given man of the match on that day. And it's an official match man of the match.
He should have been on the move the monument Bailly went up for the aerial challenge and lost it. He waited for the ball to meet him that is why KDB beat him to it. It was both slow reaction and poor timing from him.
No fault of his. He started the season injured and Mourinho always keeps those who are performing in the shirt..
People are that desperate for Blind to be the one dropped that they fail to mention Bailly was equally shocking in both of their goals.
We were poor yesterday and Jose got his tactics wrong as he should have had a third midfielder from the start but what he could not legislate for was individual errors. Blind is a good player but no way a centre half. He was at fault mostly for both City goals. We seen it last season in games also with him. For me he deserved to start yesterday due to his start to the season but now hopefully Smalling comes in alongside Bailly.
Mascherano was poor for both alaves goals yday too. Is he world class enough?
Had a very poor game yesterday but I hope he does not get dropped. One poor game does'nt make him a bad player.
Little do you know world class defenders like Mascherano don't make mistakes
I agree. Just a little correction: Blind was doing okay with his defending posture (shoulder side body toward the ball that allows him to back off or change to running had the attacker decided to dribble) For some reason, he decided to change his defending posture which led to being flat footed when KDB dribbled.
The defending posture I am talking about was Rio vs Kalou in first few seconds of this video. This is one of fundamental of defending with space in behind vs fast attacker.
I suspect Blind was aware of his lack of pace and decided to gamble and loos big time this time. If anyone had discussion with me in this thread, they should be aware of this gambling Remark. I made about Blind since his lack of physicality tool. When being in the stalemate that negates his intelligence, Blind due to lack of confidence in his physicality often gambles (talking about his past season under LVG here). I was skeptical about Blind as CB in game we're on the back foot due to this weakness and this fear really haunt us this game.
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Does anyone know why he's never utilised in midfield?
Why can't he play next to Pogba, or move Pogba up to 10 and play him next to Fellini.
he's really intelligent at reading the game and his positioning is usually spot on. I think he'd make a very good DM.
Why can't he play next to Pogba, or move Pogba up to 10 and play him next to Fellini.
he's really intelligent at reading the game and his positioning is usually spot on. I think he'd make a very good DM.
For an 'intelligent' player his decision making off the ball is pretty horrific to be honest. We saw that during his season in midfield as well.
When he actually has a decision to make, he gets it wrong far too often. He does well when he doesn't have to think for himself, and the games ticking along pretty well.
Hes like a lab technician who can follow a procedure and do it pretty well when everything is functioning. A lab technician is still a lab technician at the end of the day, and you don't put them in charge of your process.
I think it is sensible. Good scenario to have as well.
Agree and your analogy does fit. Blind would look intelligent and all when playing the way favor him. But in game where his intelligence can only help as much and physicality is also demanded, his weakness show. These games require scientist like Rio who is intelligent as well as physical competent at the same time.
Exceptionally bad yesterday.
Jesus christ, bring Smalling back.
Jesus christ, bring Smalling back.
Really poor yesterday, has played well in many games and reads the game well most of the time but always looks as if could make an error at any time and is too slow.
Hopefully Smalling and Bailly will be our first choice partnership for future games
Hopefully Smalling and Bailly will be our first choice partnership for future games
If we played a 4-3-3 you could maybe move Blind into the defensive MF role. I think Smalling has to return though. In a game wherein we dominate and pressurize the opponent, Blind is a delight to have because he can see a pass. But in a tight game like yesterday i would have preferred Smalling to partner Bailly. Blind is a better attacking defender than Smalling, but Smalling is a better defender, for me anyhow.
Agree but only problem I see is we have better midfielders than Blind!
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