[Nick7]

Very good today. Man of the match for me. Solid and calm. Great influence on the pitch.

 

[Bwuk]

It has to be him and Bailly together. They are a great partnership who compliment each other.

He's not a midfielder anymore.

 

[LARulz]

Excellent today, completely calm and in control of everything. I still would like him in the base of a 4-3-3 as his reading of the game and passing is very good still

 

[ha_rooney]

Been terrific, credit to him as he's not the quickest or strongest but does a very good job.

 

[FC Ronaldo]

Daley

 

[BennyBlanco]

How fecking good was Blind today boys.

 

[Tiber]

My man of the match today - and I have always been a critic of blind at cb

 

[Yagami]

Brilliant. Again.

 

[Scarecrow]

Absolute bargain.

 

[red_devil83]

His distribution was great. Threaded a lot of balls out from the back

 

[Devil may care]

Got caught a bit flat footed for their goal but overall was my MOTM, I love how he nips in ahead of the striker and steals the ball before he can get a first touch.

 

[Cooksen]

Had a ripper of a game and worked very well with Bailly

 

[Litch]

Again a 7/8 out of 10 performance. This lad will be at the club for a long time. Very important player

 

[Globule]

Apart from the goal, which I mainly blame on a mix-up between Martial and Shaw, Blind did very well today. A few times he managed to stop dangerous attacks with well timed tackles, and he showed his usual quality with the distribution.

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

I kind of like his sure footedness and maturity along either Smalling or Bailly who can both be quite rash sometimes.

 

[R'hllor]

Brain

 

[Di Maria's angel]

Keeps defying his critics. This guy is brilliant.

 

[Tiber]

Does Smalling walk back into the team next week then? Or would you keep Blind?

 

[Scholesy]

Love some his passing from the back, not sure Smalling will get his place back

 

[Nytram Shakes]

Does Smalling walk back into the team next week then? Or would you keep Blind?

keep blind, i just don't get how you can justify dropping him...... the defensive part of his game has looked quality since january and is improving all the time, and can anyone name a better ball playing defender in the world?

 

[Minimalist]

Neat, tidy and does his job without much flash.

 

[Cheesy]

Does Smalling walk back into the team next week then? Or would you keep Blind?

I'd stick with our current duo. Blind was very good today...looked so much more composed and like a defender than he did last season. Some lovely tackles too.

 

[JinnerJamie]

His intelligence is greatest attribute.

 

[bosnian_red]

Even if he isn't Mourinho's standard type of player, quality always shines through. He's just too good and intelligent a player to get rid of. Smalling will do really well to get back in the team ahead of these 2, we look so composed with them at the back.

 

[m1y2]

He's becoming one of my favourite player even though I didn't like him much in the beginning... Some of his defending was excellent today. Hopefully he can carry on and perhaps develop into a really good centerback. He looks intelligent enough to learn and that's why he adapted so quickly to a new-ish role for him.. was my MOTM today

 

[m1y2]

Does Smalling walk back into the team next week then? Or would you keep Blind?

I am a big Smalling fan but I'd keep playing these two guys if they play like this, I'd probably rather rotate Smalling with Bailly than Blind..

Think there is very little chance Smalling get to start next week, as we have quite an easy home fixture and both players are better going forward...

 

[SoCross]

Outstanding again. Been our best CB in 2016.

 

[Freak]

Is there a more intelligent footballer in the football world currently? This guy just continues to impress.

 

[Cerpin]

He's fantastic. Very surprised to see him get the captain's armband today though. I suppose that means, for sure, that he is here to stay.

 

[Brightonian]

Is there another footballer in the PL who uses his strengths to nullify his weaknesses so cleverly? He really shouldn't be able to play as a CB, but again and again he kills it.

 

[Welbeckham]

My favourite player in the world.

 

[Fingeredmouse]

Don't see how Smalling gets back in the 11 here. Blind and Bailly look very assured and I'd let the partnership develop.

 

[Scholesy]

If he was more athletically gifted, like Smalling, he would be incredible

 

[We need an rvn]

I grew in Holland in the 80s and we were regularly told by our coach to watch the Dutch equivalent of motd and look at Danny Blind as was very similar to baresi in that they used their intelligence / football brain to read the play better than the rest.

Starting to wonder if we do have our own version here???

 

[GledTheRed]

Awesome player, swear blind

 

[Spotkick]

Brain

together with Bailly trying to take over the world as ' The Pinky and the Brain '

 

[TheRedDevil'sAdvocate]

I grew in Holland in the 80s and we were regularly told by our coach to watch the Dutch equivalent of motd and look at Danny Blind as was very similar to baresi in that they used their intelligence / football brain to read the play better than the rest.

Starting to wonder if we do have our own version here???

Well, he had to use his brain right from the start in order to make up for his lack of pace and physicality in the LB position at Ajax. He also had to use his brain when he was moved from the LB to the DM role midway through his last season at Ajax and he was pivotal in turning what seemed to be at the time a bad season into a title winning one.

Fair play to the lad, i didn't think Mourinho would fancy a player with his skill set but he and Mata have shown great attitude. Their determination to fight for their places in the team is exactly what any fan likes to see from the players of the teams he supports on the pitch. I don't know if Blind's gonna be a regular starter once Smalling regains full fitness but i'm sure that he will get playing time. I also believe that Rooney giving him the armband when DDG, Valencia or even Zlatan were on the pitch is an indication that he is well respected in the dressing room.

As for his father, he was a very intelligent footballer indeed, not on Baresi's level but that's hardly a bad thing to say for any defender. He and Rijkaard were the leaders in the great side Ajax had in the mid 90's but on the pitch Blind was certainly the one who immediately caught your eye. The 35 year old captain and the not so pacey or athletic player in a team full of youth, speed and physicality. Great side that one...

 

[The red panther]

Not put under any sort of pressure and looks half the player that Bailly is at centreback. How people have him as their MOM is beyond me.

First game where he gets put under pressure and has to win some aerial duels versus a strong tall striker, the tenure in this thread will be totally different.

I hope Jose signs another CB like Fonte and Blind and Smalling both end up on the bench.

 

[Brightonian]

Not put under any sort of pressure and looks half the player that Bailly is at centreback. How people have him as their MOM is beyond me.

First game where he gets put under pressure and has to win some aerial duels versus a strong tall striker, the tenure in this thread will be totally different.

I hope Jose signs another CB like Fonte and Blind and Smalling both end up on the bench.

This is all fairly mental.

 

[PeteReDevil]

I "go in to every match" almost expecting for him to be found too small as a CB, but hats off for him for making it look so easy