So Darmian is doing all the right things according to Mourinho, and Shaw needs to perform like him. That IS troubling.
23
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 19
- Clean sheets
- 8
- Goals
- 0
- Assists
- 1
- Yellow cards
- 1
- Status
Having Darmian in the team helps improve Martial's tracking back I suppose.
As of now Luke is our 4th LB. It is really strange that he is the last resort amoung the mighty LBs in Darmian, Rojo and Blind. Weird.
Last edited by a moderator:
He is clearly worse than Blind imo, would have him as 2nd, mind.
Well Mourinho's probably thinking of the defensive aspects of being a FB, especially the workrate (which Darmian has). And Italian's aren't exactly strangers to being good when it comes to the tactical side as well.
I wonder how "far behind" Shaw is? Isn't he good enough to do what Mourinho needs his FB's to do? Anyway, a strange situation...
Not too worried about it. After the Mkhitaryan and Martial situations, there's proof that Jose isn't a petty grudge-holding child and isn't stupid enough to not see the potential of good players. Ffs, he actually wanted him at Chelsea. He's doing this because he has high standards.
Either Shaw is up to it or he's not. It's that simple. No-one said that going back to our high standards was going to be easy.
Either Shaw is up to it or he's not. It's that simple. No-one said that going back to our high standards was going to be easy.
Weird to see him behind Darmian, who has been very average, but Rojo and Blind currently are playing better than him.
Luke needs to get back to the form of last season if he wants to be a regular. He has the talent to do so and hopefully in the next season he's going to own the left back position, but there is no way that Mourinho is going to change his defense at this stage of the season, especially considering that the defense is quite strong.
Luke needs to get back to the form of last season if he wants to be a regular. He has the talent to do so and hopefully in the next season he's going to own the left back position, but there is no way that Mourinho is going to change his defense at this stage of the season, especially considering that the defense is quite strong.
Does darmian have work rate? He hardly moves, is slow as feck, soft and weak in the challenge. What about him is good work rate? What does his nationality have to do with it? Just because there are football greats from Italy doesn't make darmian one.
There is nothing to like about the way darmian and rojo play lb
There is nothing to like about the way darmian and rojo play lb
Not sure what people expect him to say?
"Let's be honest, Darmian's a bit cack but Shaw's not been good enough to take his place"
I mean, that's more or less the truth but wouldn't go down as one of the great motivational speeches of our time, would it? In fact it would be the perfect way to wreck the confidence of both players.
"Let's be honest, Darmian's a bit cack but Shaw's not been good enough to take his place"
I mean, that's more or less the truth but wouldn't go down as one of the great motivational speeches of our time, would it? In fact it would be the perfect way to wreck the confidence of both players.
It would be if there wasn't such an obvious reason for his decline. We just have to hope it isn't permanent. He wouldn't be the first player to never be the same after a serious injury. Too early to write him off yet, though.
Mourinho knows that Darmian isn't a long term solution for the club and don't have the abilities to become a better player than Shaw, so therefore he gives Shaw the same treatment as Mkhitaryan and Martial recieved. He want his prospects to work theirselves into becoming first options in their position and by improving their work-ethic there is a highher possibility that the players fulfill their potential.
They have to learn that becoming a world class player isn't walk in the park and is something that has to be earned. You can't rely upon only your natural abilities during your entire career.
I think it might be Valencia keeping Luke Shaw out the side.
I think Mourinho is looking for balance between the full back positions, so one offensive fullback and a more reserved full back on the other side. It might also explain why Shaw wasn't overlapping the winger in his last appearance.
Personally, I'd be disappointed if this is the case. Would love to see us play with two attacking fullbacks.
I think Mourinho is looking for balance between the full back positions, so one offensive fullback and a more reserved full back on the other side. It might also explain why Shaw wasn't overlapping the winger in his last appearance.
Personally, I'd be disappointed if this is the case. Would love to see us play with two attacking fullbacks.
Shaw isn't an attacking fullback though. His defending is much better than his attacking. On his game his 1v1 defending is almost unbeatable.
That's one way to spin it
His 1v1 defending has been really poor this season.
Hence I said on his game. He hasn't looked the same player this season. Doesn't make him an attacking fullback though.
If we're talking about on his game then he brings a lot in an attacking sense. His final ball needs works but in that run before his injury (8 games?) almost all our attacking threat was down the left. Mainly thanks to his barnstorming overlapping runs.
Before he hit that run of form he was a bit ropey, defensively, IMO. Decent in 1v1's but poor in terms of his positioning and marking. When it all came together he was a superbly well-rounded (insert fat joke here) fullback.
I'd say the opposite. He's more an attacking fullback then he his a defensive one.
He's the second most attacking fullback at the club whilst being way down the list defensively behind Darmian, Rojo, Blind and maybe even Valencia.
His best performances have come of the back of his work in the middle and final third.
Feels like it is goodbye to Shaw for the rest of this season unless there is a sudden injury crisis with Blind, Darmian and Rojo. Hope he can get properly prepared for the next one.
That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard on here. Shaw's best asset is his attacking runs ffs!!
I just can't understand what the hell is wrong with him? Before the injury he was a locomotive who could transport the ball with light speed and power. Today he's a fat ass sitting at home playing video games or WHAT??!?!?!?!?!?!?! Just WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH HIM??
Just WHAT are people within this club doing to a 30 bloody million pound investment - are you mad???? Have you gone totally fecking MAD? The guy is not grown up or mentally prepared to take care of himself and need some kind of warrant officer to take control over his life. You just can't go on a diet like that when you play for a professional club like Manchester UNITED!!!!!!
and you freaking morons just stand around letting it all happen! And people complain about LVG - at least he managed to PLAY one of Englands brightest prospects in modern history and making it work. Mourinho is happy having a mega baby making his own rules with freaking chips&pizza diets all week - have you ever heard of a food program??????? YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DEAL WITH THESE SORT OF THINGS!!! All of this wouldn't even be half the problem if we had full backs who could actually offer decent cover, but NO, we're relying on Matteo "SLOWASS" Darmian to get things sorted. Do I need to go on? Blind - just what the F!? The guy has no qualities that you would identify with a full back. I think DDG would be scouted ahead of him in that position. Really disappointed with how things have developed with Shaw. Somebody fecking do something - TODAY!!!Shaw is comfortably better defensively. Few teenagers in recent years have been as polished as Shaw was when breaking through at Southampton. Defensively, he's one of the best defenders at the club and this will be proven in time. Going forward, he leaves a fair bit to be desired.
This has been true of Shaw ever since he was 17, something Southampton supporters will attest to.
I think there needs to be a bit of balance here. On the one hand, Shaw is being kept out of the team by Darmian - who I'm convinced has yet to complete 2 crosses in his United career, and Blind, who I like but can be outrun by most centre backs, much less wingers. It's not like Shaw has been displaced by amazing performances.
On the other hand, he's extremely young, and coming back from his first major injury. Jose and United have the privilege of holding him back if it's going to help his long term future. It certainly doesn't seem beyond imagination that Shaw isn't performing great in training - it's human nature - relative to his top level.
It's fine, Jose has literally just said he's going nowhere, if he spends this season largely getting back into the right head space and physical shape, that's really not the end of the world given his age.
On the other hand, he's extremely young, and coming back from his first major injury. Jose and United have the privilege of holding him back if it's going to help his long term future. It certainly doesn't seem beyond imagination that Shaw isn't performing great in training - it's human nature - relative to his top level.
It's fine, Jose has literally just said he's going nowhere, if he spends this season largely getting back into the right head space and physical shape, that's really not the end of the world given his age.
This season, he's been shite at both ends of the pitch but I feel like Shaw's attacking output under LvG is being hugely underrated on here and his defensive game being overrated. Some of his link up play, his drives into the box and his crossing was superb under LvG.
I'm one of those that lets the defensive criticism slide somewhat because of what he can offer going forward. For me, he's an attacking fullback. I wouldn't be looking to him for a defensive job.
In this case I really hope Mourinho is talking out of his arse because I don't want to think we have a manager who thinks Darmian is better than Shaw. Actually, I am worried if he thinks Darmian is anywhere near good enough to start even meaningless games for us. Bebe was far better player for us.
True. It also makes him work on his dribbling more because Darmian is mostly nowhere near him available to pass to.
True. It also makes him work on his dribbling more because Darmian is mostly nowhere near him available to pass to.
Jose finally confirms what most of us had thought. He is our last choice LB. Jose rates his potential but not his current level. And we got a hint as to why, namely the way of playing that Jose likes as well as workrate in training. Many have noted that Jose seems to like to have one attacking full and one more defensive that acts almost like an extra CB when the RB marauds forward. Yet this kind of role goes against the grain a bit for Shaw as he likes to maraud forward too. Maybe Jose is waiting to see if Shaw can become more tactically disciplined. We know Jose called him out before publically for not pressing sufficiently and being wrongly positioned. These kind of aspects are things which experienced defenders have but its not unusual for young defenders to be weak with. Blind knows where he should be even if he's not always fast enough to get there. And Darmian is very restrained (I'm being polite here). I guess we all have to forget ideas of two attacking full backs. And thereby also forget the idea of Martial having full license and support to attack. Or is it that the LB has to stay back just in case Martial loses the ball in a risky dribble?
Regardless the future doesn't look bright for Shaw, at least this season. And I'm not convinced he has the mentality to fight his way back in like Mhki. More likely to do a Memphis imo.
Regardless the future doesn't look bright for Shaw, at least this season. And I'm not convinced he has the mentality to fight his way back in like Mhki. More likely to do a Memphis imo.
I'd be gutted if we were to lose Shaw, especially given the way Jose wants to play, i.e. roaming wingers, through the middle, etc.
"He has to work and wait". Yea, to turn 26. Guess someone else at Chelsea also had to work and wait,while Ivanovic being destroyed left,right and center.
He must be training poorly or something if he can't in ahead of Darmian. I think Shaw is a fine player but his confidence is fecked. I was on his flank at the Burnley game and he never helped the attacker, he was so apprehensive. It was like he was afraid to have a go, more sad than anything. I hope he does a miki and proves to Jose he has the strength. A half fit Shaw is better than Darmian, he offers nothing.
Mourinho has said several times he fully expects Shaw to be here next season.
I'm sure the player will listen to him and his team. He is clearly a gifted player.
I'm sure the player will listen to him and his team. He is clearly a gifted player.
Agree with you. Though i think it would be valuable to have him be that marauding FB once Valencia starts getting older. Would be awesome tactically if Shaw could improve his positioning and intelligence to the point where Jose could deploy both Valencia and Shaw and have the opponents guessing which way our formation is changing as 1 FB stays back and the other goes forward. Right now with Blind, Rojo, and Darmian its pretty obvious which makes it harder on our LW.
Is there a 20 person limit for a traveling squad? If there isn't then don't get why he at least can't travel with the team. He isn't injured and working his way back to fitness like Rooney and he isn't being tapped for U-23 games to get him match fit. And I just can't see how he can show on the pitch like Mourinho said he needs to if he isn't even getting on the pitch because the Blackburn game would have been ideal or the one tomorrow at some point even if he didn't start.
I think when one becomes a regular first team, he 's pretty much locked into Mourinho's first team training regime. Even if they ain't involved in matchday, they're crucial in training as Mourinho need them for tactical work.
Bailly played for the U23 after CoAN as I theorized, was due to he missed out training on matchday, then the day after weekend was our first team weekly day off (?). So Bailly was forced to play with the U23 as "training", or he missed like 2 training days.
While I think you're not wrong, you're overplaying the point Mourinho made in postmatch vs L'pool when he was questioned about Darmian...
There are games especially when we go with Blind that our LB position is very attacking. For example the first leg of this EL tie. I think Mourinho adapts tactics to opponent, so I don't believe in our left back position is always safety first regardless of opponent. What wrong with Shaw maybe something else when Mourinho mentioned the psychological thing
Last edited:
So according to Mourinho, you have to be like Darmian. A left back who can't make a proper offensive action correctly or gets beaten by mediocre players in the defence and can't barely make a move, even if his family's life were depending on it.
Luke Shaw with both his legs broken is more useful than Darmian and Rojo on the LB (Rojo is good as a CB though).
If Shaw isn't a starter at the end of the season, then Mourinho's dislike towards young players is really disgraceful. It's quite garbage to hear, that Mourinho can say, that Darmian is doing a proper job. We are playing with 10 men, when Darmian or Rojo is the LB.
Luke Shaw with both his legs broken is more useful than Darmian and Rojo on the LB (Rojo is good as a CB though).
If Shaw isn't a starter at the end of the season, then Mourinho's dislike towards young players is really disgraceful. It's quite garbage to hear, that Mourinho can say, that Darmian is doing a proper job. We are playing with 10 men, when Darmian or Rojo is the LB.
Nonsense.
A full back should defend first, attack second. Darmian does this. He's always where he is supposed to be defensively and is hard to get past. He doesn't do much going forward but he is not leaving gaping holes in the defence either.
Shaw by contrast is all over the place at the moment.
I agree Shaw is very shot to pieces just now. But where the feck is Darmain hard to get past? Plus when he gets the ball we consistently lose possession through him he is a liability. Blind has his issues as well but atleast he retains possession. We need a new left back and if Shaw steps up then brilliant but time does not wait for no one and he needs to buckle down or face the consequences. And that's coming from me who thinks Shaw has the potential to be one of the top in the world.
Thing is though, Darmian is awful at defending. He lets people casually stroll past him. He lacks all kinds of physical attributes to be able to compete with strong and/or fast wingers/attackers. Blind is at least good at reading the game and intercepting. Darmian, I have no idea how he can do what Mourinho wants him to do.
Then he should rather use Young who at least contributes in attack. Darmian offers basically nothing. I used to like the idea of him as a squad player, but he is woeful lately. I think Riley would be a much better option, not to mention our very own T-Rex.
- Status