I remember you listing all the moments where he could've had an assist or played a huge part in setting up a goal since the restart in his performance thread.
@devilish should take a look. He's been excellent for us again this season.
Shaw is our best full back and best FB in Europe (edited)
- Thread starter Andycoleno9
- Start date
@devilish should take a look. He's been excellent for us again this season.
Here it is:
As well as probably being our most consistent player in defence, he HAS contributed a lot to our attack, too. Especially since Rashford's had a slight change in role in that he's started trying to playmake more instead of direct dribbling, thus allowing Shaw to make overlap after overlap, which we really missed against Palace and Chelsea.
This is why stats don't tell the full story.
As well as probably being our most consistent player in defence, he HAS contributed a lot to our attack, too. Especially since Rashford's had a slight change in role in that he's started trying to playmake more instead of direct dribbling, thus allowing Shaw to make overlap after overlap, which we really missed against Palace and Chelsea.
You haven't watched our play with Shaw clearly. We look a more balanced team with Shaw in the team.
He may not have produced assists but the work he does on the left hand side linking with Rashford is impressive. I do not care if Shaw gets 0 assists all season.
The reason Shaw has played LCB against Liverpool, CIty and Chelsea shows he is very good defensively.
Attacking, yes he doesnn't put the ball in the box, he doesnt lose the ball either and keeps attacks going.
Yeah, he is very good in build up phase, also he was very important player in the build up play. His link up play with Rashford was excellent, for first time since SAF we had proper Wide player - Fullback partnership.
He's got 1 in Europa!
Seriously though his final ball leaves a lot to be desired. He really should have put the ball on a plate a few times with the amount of times Rashford put him through recently.
I can only remember one where Bruno should have scored. Where there more I'm not remembering?
EDIT: I can see that's been covered. I'll have to watch him more closely in future. Maybe I'm confirmation biasing his performances but I didn't remember all of those times listed above.
That's not the case the last two seasons though where he played over 70 games combined.
Wow, if Shaw is our best defender, we are in a world of hurt regarding the other defenders.
Our defense is a mess, and in the transfer window we should buy..... oh wait, we already did... we bought a player based on 2 weeks of hype in the World Cup, and he has now proven a total liability...
Our defense is a mess, and in the transfer window we should buy..... oh wait, we already did... we bought a player based on 2 weeks of hype in the World Cup, and he has now proven a total liability...
The perception regarding him is similar in a way to both Pogba and Martial where mistakes and quiet games got scrutinized to the maximum and their qualities didn't get highlighted as much.
They were able to change that lately and I'm expecting Shaw to also do this as long as his fitness levels don't drop again.
They were able to change that lately and I'm expecting Shaw to also do this as long as his fitness levels don't drop again.
Yes he's been robbed of a few this season - but I'm sure eventually the numbers will sort themselves out.
The fact that he's so good in the build-up with his 1-2s, line breaking passes, and occasional scooped balls - along with his great first touch - really help in dealing with opposition press and keeping possession in the final third. We've missed him big time in that regard (& defensively) since his unfortunate injury against Southampton.
We didn't buy Maguire just off his World Cup performances. His performances in the league for Hull and Leicester are what prompted us (& City) into wanting him. That's 2/3 years worth of performances, not 2 weeks.Wow, if Shaw is our best defender, we are in a world of hurt regarding the other defenders.
Our defense is a mess, and in the transfer window we should buy..... oh wait, we already did... we bought a player based on 2 weeks of hype in the World Cup, and he has now proven a total liability...
Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but don't we have the 2nd best defence in the league behind Liverpool?
I agree. Like the other two you mentioned, I think Shaw's still struggling to shake off the stigma José put on him; making out as if he's not reliable.
If Ighalo had buried that chance the other week that would've been one of my favourite assists this season. It was a beautifully weighted ball from Shaw.
I'd pay attention to @Yagami's post just above.Wow, if Shaw is our best defender, we are in a world of hurt regarding the other defenders.
Our defense is a mess, and in the transfer window we should buy..... oh wait, we already did... we bought a player based on 2 weeks of hype in the World Cup, and he has now proven a total liability...
Also I keep reading our defense is a mess despite the fact stats say otherwise.
I think he's becoming one of our most reliable players, and like our better full backs of the past anyone who plays in front of him tends to have the freedom to assert their will on the game.
He's constantly involved in our build up play and he's crucial for building up our attacks with his constant moves, overlaps, passing, opening up lines and so on. People expect fullbacks to just stick to the byline and overlap but he has much more to his game now as opposed to before. Sure he could have more assists but he's constantly trying to find his teammates, via quick passes or crosses. Hopefully he'll be back for West Ham cause he's an important player for the way we play nowadays.
Shaw has come on a lot this season in fairness to him. Love seeing him get forward and his link up play with Rashford is going from strength to strength. I do wish he'd improve his positioning when balls are played over his head/shoulder, I panic every time it happens and you can see it coming from a mile away.
Last edited:
He's enabled our fluent attack since the restart. He does the modern fullback 'job of two men' - constantly running past Rashford AND defending. Just look at TFM and Williams versus him. Night and day. You can just take for granted he's going to control a difficult ball, not screw up a throw in, and be able to pass it to another teammate once he's received it from the keeper. Compare that with the right-hand side...eesh.
Desperately need him back asap. Has to be on the short list for player of the season.
Desperately need him back asap. Has to be on the short list for player of the season.
He is still our best defender though.
Its a team game so I guess everyone does something at the end of the day. Is it enough? Well considering what the likes of Alexander-Arnold, Robertson and even the likes of Digne do then the answer is no.
Like i said i hate to talk about rumours because in 99% they are bs. I believe only when official bid comes. But Shaw to Barca rumour was in most of Uk sites. Shaw to Liverpool was in Sun probably
Last edited:
I think our last few games without him have really highlighted his importance to the team. We're in far more control when he's playing.
Goes off injured vs Southampton then we end up drawing from a winning position. We get battered by Chelsea without him, then are trailing to West Ham at half time without him. Our form has dipped massively with him not in the side.
If Shaw really is our best fullback maybe we should follow Sir Alf Ramsey's lead with his Wingless Wonders and play without fullbacks.
So you think that our dip in form is down to Shaw rather then down to the fact that this squad is knackered or because of Pogba deciding to save a ball inside the box? Also were is Shaw? Is he engaged in one of those early summer breaks down the treatment room? Can anyone build a team around such injury prone player?
No question. He is solid defensively. Brandon is enthusiastic and makes some good runs but has the World to learn as a defender.
The assist stat is meaningless. Rashford, Martial & Bruno have all been guilty of bad misses on chances that would have been assists for Shaw since the restart alone. I don’t care if AWB has more assists, my eyes tell me Shaw is miles better on the ball. It’s not even debatable, he’s levels better going forward.
Our fans having agendas against certain players is weird to me. Is Shaw world class? No I don’t think so. Could we upgrade in the future? Potentially yes, but he is far from the biggest problem in our team & has been our best defender since the restart by quite some distance.
Our fans having agendas against certain players is weird to me. Is Shaw world class? No I don’t think so. Could we upgrade in the future? Potentially yes, but he is far from the biggest problem in our team & has been our best defender since the restart by quite some distance.
Don't know why anyone would consider AWB better than Shaw on assist. Shaw's overlapping run, and most important of all, his timing, is miles ahead of Williams and AWB. William's timing is awful as if he never learn the trade. AWB's timing is OK but his delivery or cross is awful. IMO Dalot is better on his delivery but he is poor in every other aspects. Shaw's delivery is the ONLY threat that we can produce from wide, because Rashford likes to cut inside to try his luck, pass it off only when absolutely no chance. So when Rashford is in shitty form as yesterday, we had no chances created on the left.
Unfortunately we have no true summer break, otherwise AWB and Williams can work on their cross and run during the break.
This is true. His stability in the side is what has given us confidence at the back along that left side. Without him there and Brandon's inexperience we do look very vulnerable.
Any updates on if he can make Sunday? I would feel a lot more confident with him back in the team. Just gives us so much more down the left hand side.
You can't have it both ways. Use basic goals conceded for saying we have a good defense then disregarding basic goal and assist stats for attacking contributions of fullbacks. Shaw is decent fullback that fluctuates between 6/7/8 for most of his performances. the fact that he is our best fullback/defender should be very concerning especially after spending 130 million on defenders just last summer.
Just because he doesn't play like Robertson does not make him bad or even average. The fact that the team plays much better when he's in it is enough for me.
Our 2nd most consistent and intelligent player after Martial.
While he gives a lot in defense, his contribution in midfield and attack isn't less important. He usually has the composure and awareness to drive us forward and also fill in gaps when it's needed. There was a post pointing out that Williams seemed to be trying to emulate his role in the team and this is where you see his importance and the huge gap in ability between them.
Of course, he isn't perfect and could improve his final ball but there's no denying we're missing him terribly right now.
While he gives a lot in defense, his contribution in midfield and attack isn't less important. He usually has the composure and awareness to drive us forward and also fill in gaps when it's needed. There was a post pointing out that Williams seemed to be trying to emulate his role in the team and this is where you see his importance and the huge gap in ability between them.
Of course, he isn't perfect and could improve his final ball but there's no denying we're missing him terribly right now.
Lets hope hes fit for Sunday he will be needed!
Slightly above average is not the standard I expect of a man united starter. You are welcome to disagree. If shaw plays at the level pre injury consistently(20 plus games) then he can stay and even start. In an ideal world he would be my backup lb. fecking sad though that the best fullback in the world plays for our biggest rivals.
Slightly above average? What a ridiculous thing to say.
go on humor me. How good do you think luke shaw is if slightly above average is ridiculous?
On balance, I would say that when on form, AWB is a better defender. But his offensive play is still not good enough.
Luke Shaw is more experienced and more consistent.
I do think that Williams will turn out to be better than both.
Luke Shaw is more experienced and more consistent.
I do think that Williams will turn out to be better than both.
He is our best full back currently yes, but our full backs are really really average in general.
Up around top 3 or 5 left back in the league. So, very good but not quite world class
agree to disagree.
Still quite young too, I think after Robertson he is the next best LB in the PL.
He's massively underrated, similar to Martial before his reaching world class levels. People here aren't satisfied unless every player is world class, not how it works in reality.