[Adam-Utd]

Thought he was really good tonight, actually 1 of his best performances for us that I can remember.

Let's get it straight also, the goal wasn't his fault. He held the line and Smalling shit the bed and dropped deep way too early, left the guy onside. Yes it made him look like he was sleeping because he stood still waiting for the offside, he clearly expected it also as you see him slowly jogging with his hand raised just as he receives the ball, unfortunately it happens.

He looked much quicker tonight again, threw their attackers around like rag dolls at some points, great to see.
No surprise he slowed down in the last 20 minutes or so, but he had really been gunning it up and down the wing in that first half.

He also surprised me a lot with his passing range, there was 1 pass to Mata in the box that showed great vision, something I hadn't expected.

He had a good game and I hope Jose can reward him with another game soon, but he will have to be patient. I just hope that if anything happens to Young he will trust him next in line.

 

[CM]

The comments from Mou are encouraging and I thought he played well but, feck me, what the hell is he doing going down with cramp in the 75th minute?! It wasn’t even a back and forth game. We were camped in their half. He only had to cover half the pitch and he still couldn’t hack it.

Am actually quite pissed off. He has nothing else to prove other than being committed and physically fit and he fecking cramps up with 15 minutes still to play. Christ almighty, he would try any manager’s patience.

What is it you're expecting of him exactly? He hasn't played a full competitive match for nearly 8 months and his position requires the most running of anyone. Give it up man. Let's deal in tangibles, rather than endless speculative analysis of cramps, weight, mentality and all the rest of it.

 

[RedFish]

Dare to say it, but whenever I listened to Stevie G, he sounded like a decent pundit.

I can't get past his screwed up face to actually listen what he's talking about.

 

[Ban]

I can't get past his screwed up face to actually listen what he's talking about.

Close your eyes. Although his voice is a bit irritating.

 

[RedFish]

Close your eyes. Although his voice is a bit irritating.

Good idea, I use an airplane blindfold!

 

[VeevaVee]

Very happy to see Jose was hinting at knowing he might be ready and that he took the chance.

You have to be careful of falling in to the trap of him performing well in one game and bigging him up, then not again for months or at all this season though. Tough one obviously with not getting many games.
Scholes also compared him to Rooney in terms of not looking after himself, but Rooney was putting in blinding performances by that age.
He looks in better shape than he has though so hopefully we see more.

 

[bosnian_red]

What is it you're expecting of him exactly? He hasn't played a full competitive match for nearly 8 months and his position requires the most running of anyone. Give it up man. Let's deal in tangibles, rather than endless speculative analysis of cramps, weight, mentality and all the rest of it.

Nah he definitely has a point. He hasnt played a first team match but he has trained with them for half a season and played with the reserves. Plenty of players come in after time out of the team and would be fine lasting the game. Going down with cramp after 70 odd minutes in December when you should be completely fresh fitness wise is a bit embarrassing for a footballer at his level. Only thing it proves is he hasn't been working hard enough to get his fitness up to speed, which is something every single one of his managers has said about him. For someone as young as him, he shouldn't have Pochettino, Hodgson, Van Gaal and Mourinho all criticize his fitness and dedication to be match fit.

 

[Andersons Dietician]

Where were these people complaining about Cramps when Pogba and Rojo went down with them recently. Honestly for the love of god some people

First proper competitive match in 8 months or more, playing in a position that requires probably the most running on the pitch and ran up and down the line a lot with some serious showings of proper athleticism.

If you hate him it’s fine and you’ve had enough and just want him to confirm everything you’ve been saying over the last few months we get it, but this is seriously clutching at straws.

 

[Dante]

Great performance against a very slow backline. Time will tell if he can still do it against a competent PL defender. Shaw clearly has a high top-end level. Now it's about proving he can produce that week-in-week-out.

 

[CM]

Nah he definitely has a point. He hasnt played a first team match but he has trained with them for half a season and played with the reserves. Plenty of players come in after time out of the team and would be fine lasting the game. Going down with cramp after 70 odd minutes in December when you should be completely fresh fitness wise is a bit embarrassing for a footballer at his level. Only thing it proves is he hasn't been working hard enough to get his fitness up to speed, which is something every single one of his managers has said about him. For someone as young as him, he shouldn't have Pochettino, Hodgson, Van Gaal and Mourinho all criticize his fitness and dedication to be match fit.

Training and match rhythm are two different things though. You can't simulate the intensity of a real match at professional level - it's why so many players are eased back in once they return and build up from there.

Honestly though, I've had this discussion more times than I care to remember on here so I'll leave it at that. It's encouraging to see him back, doing so well and hopefully he'll get more opportunities to continue this progress.

 

[SalfordRed18]

Complaining at cramp

 

[bosnian_red]

Training and match rhythm are two different things though. You can't simulate the intensity of a real match at professional level - it's why so many players are eased back in once they return and build up from there.

Honestly though, I've had this discussion more times than I care to remember on here so I'll leave it at that. It's encouraging to see him back, doing so well and hopefully he'll get more opportunities to continue this progress.

I agree it's completely different. What it normally impacts though is sharpness on and off the ball, it's not what will build your fitness enough to not get a cramp in the situation he was in. Things like his touch, speed of thought, movement will improve a lot in time but the fitness has to be improved IMO. I'm sure it will, just hopefully he doesn't get an injury as he seems to crumble whenever he gets an injury.

 

[Ali Dia]

He's a nice option to have once he gets fit. He's not shifting young out of the first team any time soon though. If you told me 2 months ago I'd be saying that I'd have said you were mad!

 

[Luke1995]

This season should be the last one with Young as the first choice since he's 32 and Shaw is 22, Luke will need to be patient this season though.

 

[Carl]

This season should be the last one with Young as the first choice since he's 32 and Shaw is 22, Luke will need to be patient this season though.

We'll be buying a new left back in January or the summer. No doubt about it.

 

[Dante]

Ashley1985 might disagree.

 

[Sylar]

Complaining at cramp

Quite funny tbh

 

[King.of.Red]

If he can keep his performance like this and improve more, I really wish United will give him renewal contract. He has to take each chance well and forces Jose to finally play him as our starter.

 

[criticalanalysis]

The comments from Mou are encouraging and I thought he played well but, feck me, what the hell is he doing going down with cramp in the 75th minute?! It wasn’t even a back and forth game. We were camped in their half. He only had to cover half the pitch and he still couldn’t hack it.

I get that “match fitness” might give an edge. Marginal gains and all that. But fecking going down with cramp with 15 minutes left to play - in such a controlled and comfortable match -is borderline disgraceful. Wayne Rooney was the classic, genetically un-athletic footballer, who needed to play every week to be at his best. And he paid the price with an unusually brief career at the highest level. But I never once remember him getting cramp in normal time. That’s just unacceptable.

Think you're being a bit harsh because even though it wasn't a back and forth game, what did it for Shaw was the amount of long(er) high speed sprints imo. Would be interesting to see the stats if there are (guessing Rashford would probably be first) but I reckon Shaw would be near the top/have done a lot, which would be more physically demanding. I.e 10 of Mata's high speed sprints would do less take out less for him that Shaw's lung busting runs.

As for Rooney, you've said it, he played with fire in his belly (with no proper conditioning) until there was no more and then he was only able to show it once or twice a game. Imo it's not so much he didn't get cramp, it was more he didn't try hard enough towards the end.

I'm of the camp 'you give it your all until you can't give anymore' and Rooney's latter years were more unable and unwilling so he'd conserve what little energy he had anyways.

Not absolving Shaw of criticism because maybe his energy was misplaced (apart from the good forward runs); he was a bit in no man land's positionally in defence so had to make up ground he shouldn't have had to.

Then again, this is still harsh. It's his first proper game in how long, in a new positon.

 

[tomaldinho1]

This season should be the last one with Young as the first choice since he's 32 and Shaw is 22, Luke will need to be patient this season though.

Given Young has basically become the a mix between Messi & Thuram I disagree.

Ballon D'Ashley

 

[Damien]

Mourinho on the cramps:

“A very positive performance, especially with the balls going forward. Creating a lot, great intensity in his game. It was no surprise that in 80 minutes he’s feeling the consequences of that intensity; it’s normal as it’s the first match of the season for him. But he’s going to get more.

"He was waiting for quite a long time, he was deserving [of his chance] for quite a long time. It’s not easy to give an opportunity to a player who doesn’t play for many months in matches where the team really needs [a] result.

"I wanted to make changes but changes in players that need a change and not spend a change on Luke. But he managed on for 90 minutes and really I told him this is not the best, this is just an opportunity for you to play and to improve your level. Honestly, I am happy with his performance."

 

[ricky-romeo]

good game and he might just put himself behind Ashley is the left back pecking order.

vital as it is december and there will be times that Ashley needs some rests so he should get a few more chance over the next couple of months.

 

[Bastian]

Scholesy quotes:

"It's difficult to say as we don't see what goes on behind the scenes. I don't think he lives his life as clean as he possibly should do.

With his body shape, he looks like a player who needs to be playing every week. We had Wayne Rooney, who was a player if he missed a couple of games you knew, he wasn't looking after himself. He needed to be playing all the time, Saturday, Tuesday, whatever it may be.

With Luke Shaw, is he going to get a run of 10 games in the team? I'm not sure, the problem he has got is that Ashley Young has been brilliant at left wing back.

I hope there is a future for him. A couple of years ago, I thought we were signing the best left back in the world.

He is the best left back at the club, he won’t play on Sunday but he showed what he can do.
He is a flying machine, he got caught a bit for the goal but he is so powerful. I can’t think of a left back who can change a game as quick as he does"

 

[amolbhatia50k]

I get that “match fitness” might give an edge. Marginal gains and all that. But fecking going down with cramp with 15 minutes left to play - in such a controlled and comfortable match -is borderline disgraceful. Wayne Rooney was the classic, genetically un-athletic footballer, who needed to play every week to be at his best. And he paid the price with an unusually brief career at the highest level. But I never once remember him getting cramp in normal time. That’s just unacceptable.

Feck knows what’s going on in his head. Maybe Shaw needs the carrot of regular first team football to even make the minimum effort required in training? Which is obviously a big problem but hey, yong and lernin, I guess...

Rooney only stopped playing due to little niggles and that one major injury thought. Otherwise he basically continuously played for club and country over 16 years and counting.

Shaw's gametime over the last 3 years has been miniscule and over the last 1 year it's been even lesser.

So I'm not sure we can compare the two. I'd give him more time back in the fold to really judge his fitness.

 

[Damien]

Scholesy quotes:

"It's difficult to say as we don't see what goes on behind the scenes. I don't think he lives his life as clean as he possibly should do.

With his body shape, he looks like a player who needs to be playing every week. We had Wayne Rooney, who was a player if he missed a couple of games you knew, he wasn't looking after himself. He needed to be playing all the time, Saturday, Tuesday, whatever it may be.

With Luke Shaw, is he going to get a run of 10 games in the team? I'm not sure, the problem he has got is that Ashley Young has been brilliant at left wing back.

I hope there is a future for him. A couple of years ago, I thought we were signing the best left back in the world.

Bit above is from before the game I think. Definitely easy to compare himself to Rooney in terms of body shape though I don't think Shaw has the Rooney "gut" even though he looks like it at times.

He is the best left back at the club, he won’t play on Sunday but he showed what he can do.
He is a flying machine, he got caught a bit for the goal but he is so powerful. I can’t think of a left back who can change a game as quick as he does"

While this was after.

Wing back formation definitely suits him more and his lack of defensive ability at the moment but I'm not sure how much we'll be using that formation over the next month or so. Does seem to suit the front three of Lukaku, Martial and Lingard though playing central.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

I didn't watch the game but it's great to hear that Shaw did well. Young has done well over the last 3-4 games but if Shaw fulfills his potential, he's quite comfortably the best we have in that position. But that's still a long distance away for him to do. He could easily feature here and there again drop back into insignificance. It all depends on his mentality. If he's not got the right approach he'll keep having the off game where he reminds everyone of his talent and how he's not made use of it.

 

[Steven7290]

If someone could manage to make a fusion between him and Daley Blind we would have the best left back on the planet.

 

[Damien]

I didn't watch the game but it's great to hear that Shaw did well. Young has done well over the last 3-4 games but if Shaw fulfills his potential, he's quite comfortably the best we have in that position. But that's still a long distance away for him to do. He could easily feature here and there again drop back into insignificance. It all depends on his mentality. If he's not got the right approach he'll keep having the off game where he reminds everyone of his talent and how he's not made use of it.

Was an article a few weeks back saying his parents were disappointed with him saying he was wasting his career and needed to do better so if there's any truth in that it certainly seemed to light a fire under him as he played with a purpose for most of the game, driving forward trying to shoot and set up players even though it didn't come off. Last 15 minutes of the game he was knackered and sat back.

 

[11101]

I didn't watch the game but it's great to hear that Shaw did well. Young has done well over the last 3-4 games but if Shaw fulfills his potential, he's quite comfortably the best we have in that position. But that's still a long distance away for him to do. He could easily feature here and there again drop back into insignificance. It all depends on his mentality. If he's not got the right approach he'll keep having the off game where he reminds everyone of his talent and how he's not made use of it.

He did well but he got completely caught out for their goal. I don't know if it's concentration or what but even in his decent run of games a few years back he made a couple of very similar mistakes that marred otherwise excellent games. I hope he does sort himself out but it's no use being great going forward if he's leaving us exposed at the back.

 

[dpansheth]

Was an article a few weeks back saying his parents were disappointed with him saying he was wasting his career and needed to do better so if there's any truth in that it certainly seemed to light a fire under him as he played with a purpose for most of the game, driving forward trying to shoot and set up players even though it didn't come off. Last 15 minutes of the game he was knackered and sat back.

I think last 15 minutes we were sitting back on left and counter attacking with only Rashford. Specific instructions seemed to be sit back, especially given Blind's lack of pace being exposed.

 

[WR10]

The way he attacked today reminded me of that period before he smashed his leg. Back then I really thought he was going to be the reason we win the league - I thought he was that influential attacking from left back. Tonight was THAT Shaw back again. However, his discipline for defending and positioning is atrocious. I really couldn't believe how lazy he was at times. Number 1 thing you don't do as a full back is get sucked into closing down the player that's about to put the winger you're marking behind you. He's let that happen so many times, and to be fair to him, sometimes he successfully blocks the pass and if he doesn't, he trusts his speed and strength to make up for it. Either way, you would think that is coached out of him by now. The premier league is not the place to make that gamble at full back. If he can iron out that defensive game of his, we've easily got the best left back in the league.

 

[Ali Dia]

He'll be like a new signing if he keeps improving.
Hopefully most of us are still rooting for that to happen.Wasted talent is the hardest thing to witness in football and Shaw definately has lots of talent. He was one of our better players tonight and he hasn't played much at all. With games If he can get back to doing that against teams in the PL then we have gone from having a standout problem area of the team to a strong area of the team in the space of a few months. He still has it all to do to persuade Jose and get past young but games like tonight are encouraging at least.

 

[Morpheus 7]

Too little, too late unfortunately. It's a shame really but realistically it's not going to work out now. Talented player but injuries wrecked his progress here. He's been fit since September but he's featuring in a nothing game before Christmas, speaks for itself but still a shame.

 

[AP88]

The way he attacked today reminded me of that period before he smashed his leg. Back then I really thought he was going to be the reason we win the league - I thought he was that influential attacking from left back. Tonight was THAT Shaw back again. However, his discipline for defending and positioning is atrocious. I really couldn't believe how lazy he was at times. Number 1 thing you don't do as a full back is get sucked into closing down the player that's about to put the winger you're marking behind you. He's let that happen so many times, and to be fair to him, sometimes he successfully blocks the pass and if he doesn't, he trusts his speed and strength to make up for it. Either way, you would think that is coached out of him by now. The premier league is not the place to make that gamble at full back. If he can iron out that defensive game of his, we've easily got the best left back in the league.

He was the wingback - it's Blind's job to track the runner for the goal, and sweep up behind him when hes attacking players in possession.

I'd play him on the left of the back 3 against City, to deal with the inverting Sterling - Rojo was a shambles against Arsenal and Shaw can match Sterling for pace and low centre of Gravity.

 

[manunited1919]

He was the wingback - it's Blind's job to track the runner for the goal, and sweep up behind him when hes attacking players in possession.

I'd play him on the left of the back 3 against City, to deal with the inverting Sterling - Rojo was a shambles against Arsenal and Shaw can match Sterling for pace and low centre of Gravity.

Let’s not get carried away, Shaw is not even match fit and has only played 1 game in the team, so he would need to build up his fitness, his positioning, and his natural links with other teammates before going anywhere near an EPL game, to say nothing of the most important game of our season so far.

 

[K2K]

Still think he's time here is done.

I'd love to be proven wrong but just can't see it.

We still need to sign a first choice LB imo.

 

[Striker10]

I wouldn't write him off. He's 22 and I was happy to see him being positive at times with his running. He just has to stay fit and focused. Hopefully he can build up some minutes in the second half of the season and maybe next season will be the one he makes an impression. Tonight was a big game for him.

 

[NotQuiteManc]

Looked really lively and sharp in attack, but susceptible to lack a bit of focus in defence. I take that as a bit of rustiness from months and months of almost no football. Having said that, I hope he will continue to be given chances at least as a sub in the next few games during the hectic months. Not ready for the big, crucial games yet, I think.

 

[UnrelatedPsuedo]

Dare to say it, but whenever I listened to Stevie G, he sounded like a decent pundit.

Even though Shaw is a far better defender than he is going forward (historically).

He's closer to Ashley Cole than Evra.

Gerard is a goon as a commentator.

 

[Strachans Cigar]

Mentality is definitely a concern.

Given two or three consecutive starts & positive post Match comments from Jose & it's hard to shake off the image of Shaw screaming "Yeeeees! I fecking told ya I'd make it at United!!"

Then racing down to McD's promptly stuffing his face with a Big Mac as a reward.

I think Scholes may be on to something. If he is to become a starter he'll have to play every single game and I'd probably have him turning out for the reserves as well just to keep him away from Pizza Hut.

Obviously if he does make it, it's a big plus and fees up major funds for a top notch RW for example.