Blind & Ander were two of my favourite signings post Sir Alex and unfortunately it seems like they'll go down as 2 players we didnt show enough faith and give enough responsibility to.
I also like both players but I disagree about lack of faith. Both got plenty of matches. My only complaint is we kept changing their position. Blind was mostly a DM in the first season, though also LB at times. Then CB the 2nd season. Mostly LB under Mourinho, though sometimes CB. A major criticism of mine is that we rarely seem to give players the time to learn a role. That certainly applies to both Blind and Herrera. We're so busy changing the team that we don't make it easy for players to establish partnerships, deep understanding between players on the pitch.
Blind was a better DM than Fred has been so far (not difficult). Blind was also a better CB than Lindelof has been so far (again not difficult) but hopefully Victor will improve, some encouraging signs this season. The scouts clearly misjudged Lindelof's ability to cope with the physical side of the PL. Indeed you could go through the various CBs and DMs that we have used in recent years and while they have different strengths and weaknesses, their overall performance level is very similar. Even at left-back, Luke Shaw has finally got his act together but still his contribution in the final third isn't that amazing and he still switches off too often in our defensive third, costing us goals. So despite Shaw being a contender for our best performer this season, the difference between him and Blind as a LB isn't that great.
Blind's first season 25 PL starts - 14 wins 5 draws 6 defeats. As a DM 8 wins 5 draws 4 defeats. Results marginally better with him in the team because he arrived too late for the opening 3 fixtures.
Blind's 2nd season 35 PL starts. 17 wins 8 draws 10 defeats. In the 3 games he missed we won 2 drew 1, didn't concede a goal.
Blind's 3rd season 20 PL starts - 9 wins 8 draws 3 defeats.
Blind's 4th season 4 PL starts - 4 wins. Didn't concede a goal. (Now that's weird. I wonder why he got dropped ? Ashley Young instead of Blind looks like a poor decision. Both are capable of providing the occasional high quality cross. Whatever you gain in the attacking third from selecting Young, you lose in our defensive third and in him giving away possession cheaply)
Daley left because he wanted to start regularly. He didn't want to be a squad player. Even in his last season, he had 1231 mins playing time in all competitions, a figure McTominay will struggle to reach this season, while Pereira won't get anywhere near. Bailly is currently about 1050, Rojo, Darmian and Valencia have no chance of 1000+ mins. In his three earlier seasons, Blind had 2700 mins, 5000 mins and 3200+ mins.
He had moments when he was very good as a CB for us, but that was also playing with two defensive midfielders.
