None of the back four could pass it forward today, and that was a major problem. With Blind the midfield can play higher up.
17
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None of the back four could pass it forward today, and that was a major problem. With Blind the midfield can play higher up.
Play Blind as the anchor in MF. Herrera and Pogba pushing forward.
I don't like him at CB, but his passing essential to our team. Bring him into CM with Pogba and another.
Really hope he can adapt to a holding midfield position in the premier league. Hes class at the back for us but I just worry with the pace of the game he'll be crowded out a bit and we wont see that passing as much as we do now. Ability wise he is the closest thing we have to Carrick and a proper holding mid though. Would actually love to see him behind Pogba and Mkhitaryan in a midfield 3, but we'll see if Mourinho tries it.
We missed him today.
I've never rated Smalling. Ever. And it's clear that a Smalling/Bailly partnership won't work. They're too alike in terms of play style. The best partnerships have opposite styles like Vidic/Rio, Luiz/Silva, Ramos/Pepe, etc.
I've never rated Smalling. Ever. And it's clear that a Smalling/Bailly partnership won't work. They're too alike in terms of play style. The best partnerships have opposite styles like Vidic/Rio, Luiz/Silva, Ramos/Pepe, etc.
We need him or Carrick in the team to have a passer capable of dictating play. We create overload on one flank and it takes us 3 passes to switch to the other flank and the defense can adjust itself before then. Either him or Carrick can switch the play in one pass.
This. I like Blind as a midfielder. I think he could do the job Carrick has done for us throughout the years.
So just to clarify, they were both continually beaten in the air and a peice of shit positioning allowed their player acres of space to finish. All against far inferior player than City's.
Starting to warm to the idea of playing him in midfield again. I think he's a decent CB, but if he could become a good DM then it'd solve a lot of our issues I think.
Stop lying. That only happens when blind plays.
That game showed why Blind is underrated, I wouldn't be worried to say the reason we looked so out of place was we didn't have his incisive passing from defence.
Neither Bailly or Smalling really wanted the ball, and every pass was sideways to Rojo or Darmian who got closed down quite quickly, and wilted under the pressure.
The fact it was so slow and sideways from defence put everybody under pressure.
Neither Bailly or Smalling really wanted the ball, and every pass was sideways to Rojo or Darmian who got closed down quite quickly, and wilted under the pressure.
The fact it was so slow and sideways from defence put everybody under pressure.
Yesterday just showed that we need to have Blind playing all the time this season.
Agree with those who want him in MF.
To me, he's always been the natural succesor to Carrick - can defend, can pass, even score the odd goal.
Seems like a no-brainer, with Fosu-Mensah at the back with Bailly until Smalling gets back to his form of early last season.
To me, he's always been the natural succesor to Carrick - can defend, can pass, even score the odd goal.
Seems like a no-brainer, with Fosu-Mensah at the back with Bailly until Smalling gets back to his form of early last season.
Clearly, we missed him yesterday. He's far from faultless, but he seems to be our only player (bar Carrick) who can make penetrative passes.
Smaling and Bailly are better defenders, no doubt there, but we play better when Blind plays. If not in defense, then we should try him in midfield, because clearly Schneiderlin and Fellaini cannot dictate the game, and neither can make passes that start good attacks.
Smaling and Bailly are better defenders, no doubt there, but we play better when Blind plays. If not in defense, then we should try him in midfield, because clearly Schneiderlin and Fellaini cannot dictate the game, and neither can make passes that start good attacks.
Yesterday would have been a great chance to try him at holding midfield. Schneiderlins biggest strength is intercepting and breaking up the play but Blind is fantastic at reading the game and nipping in from defence so I think he can offer this and so much more with his passing.
If he has done so well at CB, think how good he would be holding the midfield. He is more athletic than Verrati!
This, he's not the best defender that's clear to see, but often his strengths outlay his weakness in this position when I see him on the teamsheet before a game even though he's playing centre back im actually more confident because ridiculously he can't create situations from his passing no one in our team can do regularly apart from Carrick so far.
I warm to your comment on playing him in midfield maybe as a anchor but my memory fails me as to why he wasn't played thier much. His debut v QPR is the only time I remember his performance thier
We all dream of a team of 11 Daley Blind's,
11 Daley Blind's,
11 Daley Blind's.
11 Daley Blind's,
11 Daley Blind's.
Ooo so close.We all dream of a team of 11 Daley Blind's,
11 Daley Blind's,
11 Daley Blind's.
I'm not sure why we refuse to play Blind as our deepest midfielder. He has a good range of passing, reads the game well and his tackling has improved.
Something like this;
---------------de Gea--------------
Val-----Bailly---Small-----Shaw
----------------Blind----------------
--------Rooney---Pogba-------
Mkhitaryan -----------Martial
-----------------Zlatan-------------
I've included Rooney as we know he will play although ideally you could have Hererra or even Fellaini in next to Pogba.
You have plenty of options with that base of Smalling, Bailly and Blind.
Something like this;
---------------de Gea--------------
Val-----Bailly---Small-----Shaw
----------------Blind----------------
--------Rooney---Pogba-------
Mkhitaryan -----------Martial
-----------------Zlatan-------------
I've included Rooney as we know he will play although ideally you could have Hererra or even Fellaini in next to Pogba.
You have plenty of options with that base of Smalling, Bailly and Blind.
It is unusual... thought he was great there for us when he started, and he seems to be the closest thing we have in the squad to another Carrick.
This is how I feel regarding Blind as well.. Seriously needs to be considered being the anchor. Has a great range of passing, intelligent, composure. I think he would be a good platform in the middle to construct plays from defence to attack for sure.
Hope when Smalling is fully fit we give Blind a chance in front of Bailly/Smalling.
Not only is he decent in the CDM position, it's probably the one position on the pitch which would most mask his only real deficiency - his speed.
Exactly mate! most of these anchors are never blessed with pace.. the role in the modern game requires energy with intelligence and ball playing ability and I don't see anyone better than Blind for that role based on those attributes to be honest.
Blind's thread would've been going apeshit if it were him to feck up like Smalling just did.
Correct Ivaldo.
Smalling is big and strong though. His actual defensive performance is secondary.
It reads and sounds ridiculous, but you're right.
Bailey, Smalling and Fellaini in the build up. This is ging to be funny.
Why are you so sure that was Smalling's fault? If de Gea didn't yell that's his mistake.
Pretty evident from both their reactions that DDG called mate
Nah but even so, Smalling should have known to move/anticipate. /s
^ Same Caf logic applied from Blind's first mistake from the City game.
I didn't notice it, sorry. Might have to rewatch the situation.
Honeymoon period over for Bailly. These last two matches have highlighted the assets of Blind at the back. He was at fault against City but he should be coming back in the team. We've looked really devoid of game management without him.
@Footyislife you're right, that Smalling / Bailly partnership is much, much better. Sharp eye you've got there.
It is not all about putting similar players together in a team though. You need balance. Not just in the back, mid, wings, up front etc.
The team since city has been lacking the balance. You can't put all physical players together to play like a top team. let alone to win all the time.
His past teams were physical yes but not as extreme as ours now.
The team since city has been lacking the balance. You can't put all physical players together to play like a top team. let alone to win all the time.
His past teams were physical yes but not as extreme as ours now.
Let's not forget that mistake came from Bailly missing a header he should have won.
Needs to start. If not in defence then in midfield. Especially if Basti is still exiled. Christmas may come early if Daley becomes the Rooney killer in this team and sits beside Fellaini to release Pogba at captain fantastic's expense.
Jesus Christ quick get him back in.
My pick over Smalling every day of the week (except Thursday's if he needs a rest). You can't underestimate the passes he makes out of defence, and his calmness under pressure. Smalling is happy pass it to a throw in under the slightest sense of pressure but Blind will in most cases do something proactive. He made a shocking attempt to defend that De Bruyne goal, but he's mostly been error free and for me one of the first names on the team sheet.
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