Luke Shaw - The Centre Back

horsechoker

The Caf's Ezza.
Joined
Apr 16, 2015
Messages
58,003
Location
The stable
What do we make of Shawberto becoming Shawdini?

Could he be converted into a centre back when he begins to slow down?
 
horsechoker said:
What do we make of Shawberto becoming Shawdini?

Could he be converted into a centre back when he begins to slow down?
Click to expand...

He's a world class left back, and Malacia isn't. Martinez owns that position, but it's a nice rotation option to have. A few
years down the line? Yes maybe
 
With the likes of lisandro, gary medel and other CB which arent particularly tall but are strong and good with the ball at their feet, and the game moving towards passing the ball in every side of the pitch, i can see this working in the long term towards the last years of his career
 
He's done exceptionally well there in a back four. His quality on the ball has been important when Martinez was out and he of course provides balance being left footed and mobile. But he's a better left back than a centre back.

What is most interesting of all with him playing there was him retaining his place while captain Maguire was on the bench, fit and ready. So a left back has now leapfrogged Maguire (and potentially Lindelof too) in the centre back pecking order.
 
Think Shaw will eventually move to LCB full time, whether with us or with someone else. He’s a very compact, efficient, tidy player and I think he could do very well there given a run of games.
 
Samid said:
Think Shaw will eventually move to LCB full time, whether with us or with someone else. He’s a very compact, efficient, tidy player and I think he could do very well there given a run of games.
Click to expand...
I was about to rag you you toe rag
 
DrRodo said:
With the likes of lisandro, gary medel and other CB which arent particularly tall but are strong and good with the ball at their feet, and the game moving towards passing the ball in every side of the pitch, i can see this working in the long term towards the last years of his career
Click to expand...
Shaw is 4 inches taller than Lisandro. He’s 6ft 1 which is perfectly reasonable for a CB.
 
Martinez is younger no? If an amazing LB prospect comes on the market, I think we could eventually move for them knowing that Shaw can then legitimately fight for the LCB role
 
He's always had the tools to play well there. Not sure if he'll ever be good enough to be first choice in that role for a top team, but he certainly could be a squad option (with somebody else taking his fullback spot of course). I would think it's a possibility he might move there more consistently as he ages, except for the fact that Martinez is younger than him and hopefully will be with us for the long-term.
 
He's probably the best full back in the league when he's on form, I don't know why we'd move him if we don't need to.
 
Pexbo said:
Shaw is 4 inches taller than Lisandro. He’s 6ft 1 which is perfectly reasonable for a CB.
Click to expand...
Still surprises me ... because of his stocky nature he just doesn't look that tall. Fecking tank, always rated him and it's so good to see him getting some mass love now.
 
ben_united said:
I'm not sure I believe that he's 6ft 1. Surely not.
Click to expand...

He varies from 178 cm to 185, so 5-11? to 6.1? Weird. Looks more like a 180cm guy than 185, but then he is very stocky. Suarez is also much taller than he looks, and they have a similar build.

Shaw is actually really good as a centre back. He has great recovery pace; at top speed there aren't many faster when he is bothered (can lose a foot race from time to time because he switches off not for a lack of pace). He is very, very strong and good in the air. He also has exceptional composure with the ball, and both short and long range passing are great, in particular his short passing. He also moves the ball up the pitch very well. The only issue is that we bought Martinez, and he does the exact same things as Shaw with the added bonus of being much more aggressive and stronger in the tackle, albeit lacking a little pace compared to Shaw.

For now, I think he should be first choice LB, with Malacia hopefully breathing down his neck, and second choice LCB.
 
His positioning was quite ropey against Everton, not sure it'll be a long term thing personally.
 
I think Shaw has been very good when playing centre back but he’s a world class left back at his best which is why I’d like us to go for Ndicka on a free in the summer as back up to Martinez then leaving Shaw and Malacia at left back.

If we signed Ndicka we could move one of Maguire or Lindelof on as well as Bailly, Jones and Tuanzebe so we clear deadwood but give ourselves a perfect balance with two right footed centre backs in Varane plus Maguire/Lindelof then two left footed centre backs in Martinez and Ndicka.
 
Massive Spanner said:
He's probably the best full back in the league when he's on form, I don't know why we'd move him if we don't need to.
Click to expand...

I agree, I prefer him at LB even though he has done really well at LCB in Martinez’s recent absence. Definitely later on in his career could end up playing there FT.

I think ETH is trying to give as many minutes as possible to Varane & Shaw as a CB partnership as that most likely could be the CB pairing for the Barcelona game with Martinez suspended for it. As obviously doesn’t trust Maguire & Lindelof to deputise in Martinez’s absence.
 
Skills said:
Martinez is younger no? If an amazing LB prospect comes on the market, I think we could eventually move for them knowing that Shaw can then legitimately fight for the LCB role
Click to expand...

A back line of Alphonso Davies, Shaw, Martinez, and Dalot would be pretty interesting...
 
We should be playing players in their best positions, which clearly is LB for Shaw. I'm still not convinced he has any potential in a CB pairing, he hasn't been really challenged and I think would be exposed against top teams. He's good in a back 3 though.

Honestly, I don't even like him playing CB as a fill-in; it means we lack depth or either don't trust our other CB's, which I get is a short term situation (hopefully).

But what do I know, I'm usually wrong about everything.
 
Pexbo said:
Shaw is 4 inches taller than Lisandro. He’s 6ft 1 which is perfectly reasonable for a CB.
Click to expand...

Really? Why in my head shaw is around 5'7? Maybe because he is shaped like a cube after his injury
 
Who has Shaw played, before you start anointing him Shawdini, let him play against some real competition.
 
Luke Centre - the Shaw Back
 
I hope he becomes a world class centre back and somebody asks Jose Mourinho why he couldn't get the best out of him?
 
MegadrivePerson said:
I hope he becomes a world class centre back and somebody asks Jose Mourinho why he couldn't get the best out of him?
Click to expand...

Shaw has been consistently good or let's say one of our best player or player with more good seasons since Jose was sacked including that season. Maybe Jose left his brain with Shaw.
 
Love it. He's got a profile that many defenders don't have or at least ones which are available and not stupidly overpriced.

I do think he struggles with keeping his level but that is only so obvious because when he's on, he's unplayable.
 
krazyrobus said:
Who has Shaw played, before you start anointing him Shawdini, let him play against some real competition.
Click to expand...

I mean fair comment but how many left backs do you feel could just slot in to the CB role at PL level with zero experience?

He’s done brilliantly and a great option to have.
 
Massive Spanner said:
He's probably the best full back in the league when he's on form, I don't know why we'd move him if we don't need to.
Click to expand...
If the midfield needs Lisandro as CDM, Ten Hag can put Shaw on CB and Malacia FB. This could be if Casemiro gets igured (hope not). He played that role sometimes with Ajax
 
Did well today but going to be a lot trickier going forward carrying Haaland in his back pocket.
 
He could probably do a Lahm midfield switch and still be the best player at the club.

Guy is an immense talent.
 
Oranges038 said:
He's more like Heinze or Silvestre.

Should call him Sheisse.
Click to expand...
Nothing like either imo. Heinze would tackle first, think later. As for Silvestre, he never gave me confidence in his defending.
Shaw, credit to him, seems a lot more level headed at CB, and doesn't seem to get so caught out as he would sometimes at LB.

Hopefully ETH sees him at CB so we can sell Lindelof. Maybe Fernández could take his place at LB, although it's probably too early for him.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.