[carlosp]

Happy for the lad, did really well. Good passing and good dribbling too. Had the Inter players in his pocket.

 

[khoazany]

His distribution can be useful when playing against inferior opposition so I can see him getting a few league games this season if being kept.

 

[RDCR07]

I wouldnt mind giving him a run in the first team this year. He doesn't have to go out on loan. CC and FA Cup games he can start and in the league, against the lower table teams, he can get a run. Thats the brilliance of playing 3 at the back. Players like Blackett can easily get an opportunity because we have an extra defender.

 

[JSMHE]

He did really well today. Impressive. I haven't impressed with him against LA and Roma. But this time he is more solid and confident.

 

[NoWinNoFee]

Not watched the game, where did he play? I watched him a few times in the academy and i know he played LB, but Shaw occupied that side of the pitch right?

I'm guessing he played CB?

 

[stevoc]

Not watched the game, where did he play? I watched him a few times in the academy and i know he played LB, but Shaw occupied that side of the pitch right?

I'm guessing he played CB?

Yeah left CB of the 3.

I think he may be more suited to that position than left back.

 

[NoWinNoFee]

Yeah left CB of the 3.

I think he may be more suited to that position than left back.

Nice one, sounds like Michael Keane had a good game too.

Evans/Smalling/Jones/Keane/Blackett maybe we aren't that desperate for a new CB afterall.

 

[Dazzmondo]

Nice one, sounds like Michael Keane had a good game too.

Evans/Smalling/Jones/Keane/Blackett maybe we aren't that desperate for a new CB afterall.

We definitely need at least one. 5 players for 3 positions isn't enough. We need at least 2 players for each position. That being said, Blackett has been great so far and I don't know if Van Gaal will still feel we need Vermaelen as he was probably looking at him as either backup for Jonny or to replace Smalling. With Blackett ready to do either, perhaps that transfer is no longer necessary. Keane doing well also.

 

[stevoc]

Nice one, sounds like Michael Keane had a good game too.

Evans/Smalling/Jones/Keane/Blackett maybe we aren't that desperate for a new CB afterall.

I have been impressed with both Keane & Blackett i would like to see both promoted to the first team squad. Still think we need an experienced CB though especially if we are going to permanently play 3 at the back. Signing a CB would give us 6 to cover 3 positions. At some point during the season its likely all of Jones, Evans & Smalling could be injured at the same time.

 

[Feed Me]

Blackett looks like a proper player in the making - very good on the ball.

 

[Mali_Zeus]

Will he be good enough for this season so we dont have to go for a new CB?

 

[dutchred]

Will he be good enough for this season so we dont have to go for a new CB?

We need an experienced Center Back, preferably a left footed one.

 

[Stobzilla]

Will he be good enough for this season so we dont have to go for a new CB?

We should still be looking at bringing one more defender in if him and Keane are promoted.

 

[Drifter]

Reminds me of Rio how calm and composed he seems on the ball,Thought he did ok in the other two matches to.

 

[NMF]

I was a little surprised he was brought on the tour but his taken his opportunity and will probably be in and around the first team next season. But I still think Van Gaal will look to bring in another left footed central defender.

 

[red_7]

Blackett wasn't really tested by Inter. When he was in the games before he looked vulnerable, which quite normal to be fair. I hope gets his chance in the first team but we shouldn't have to count on him especially in big games if one or more of the only 3 PL proven defenders has one of his regular injury problems.

We must sign at least one top defender who also stays fit! So I do not talk about Vermaelen. The decision in terms of Vermaelen is him or Blackett as squad player / cover at the back.

 

[gooDevil]

On Blackett's loan and U21s role:

Blackett is listed on transfermarkt as having played 1 game at CB during each loan (2 out of 13 games).

The first game he played at CB, Blackpool lost 5-1 to Derby. The second, Birmingham lost 4-2 to Blackburn. So when he played CB last season his teams concede 4.5 goals on average. In the first he played 90, the second he was yanked at halftime (where all 4 goals were conceded in the first half).


Blackpool: 5 games (all starts)
LB - 3 games
CB - 1 (second to last game)
LW - 1 (last game)

Birmingham: 8 games (6 starts)
LB - 5
CB - 1 (last game)
subs - 2 (position not listed)


In both cases he started out as a LB and moved for a game to CB, suggesting they didn't prefer him there, he may have been injury cover as well.

http://www.transfermarkt.com/tyler-blackett/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/134414/plus//saison/2013


When he played CB for the reserves in 2012-13 he had 3 games at CB, during which we conceded 5 goals, which was the worst rate of the 11 players who played CB that season.

Obviously such a stat is far from comprehensive for analyzing performance, there are 10 other players on the pitch too who influence goals conceded. But I don't doubt it's meaningful data either.

https://www.redcafe.net/threads/reserves-statistics-2012-13.359329

 

[Godfather]

He was very good yesterday I thought. Very calm and composed on the ball.

 

[pseudo_canadian]

Thought he played really well last night. Really composed on the ball and uses his space well. Rarely got caught out defensively. I want to see him get more chances because I think he has a lot of potential.

 

[Brightonian]

This position really suits him. I don't think he's ever looked as good as this consistently as a full-back in the reserves.

 

[LeChuck]

So calm and composed on the ball. He played as part of the back 3 last night, but is he better in the LWB role?

 

[RedSky]

This position really suits him. I don't think he's ever looked as good as this consistently as a full-back in the reserves.

Or he could simply be raising his game because he's playing with better players. Some players thrive on pressure. Love young lads breaking through, the first of several imo.

 

[Brightonian]

Or he could simply be raising his game because he's playing with better players. Some players thrive on pressure. Love young lads breaking through, the first of several imo.

That too.

Yeah, if LVG's approach so far is anything to go on, there'll be plenty coming through over the next couple of seasons. The ones on tour aren't even necessarily the most gifted, just the ones who we currently have squad positions available for. Wait till he gets a look at the likes of Lawrence and Wilson, and eventually Pearson and Rothwell.

 

[RedSky]

That too.

Yeah, if LVG's approach so far is anything to go on, there'll be plenty coming through over the next couple of seasons. The ones on tour aren't even necessarily the most gifted, just the ones who we currently have squad positions available for. Wait till he gets a look at the likes of Lawrence and Wilson, and eventually Pearson and Rothwell.

Agreed. I think we'll see a fair few of our youngsters given a proper go. I know he said that he wants to concentrate on the First Team, but he strikes me as the type of man that can't help but get involved and after a few weeks he'll be assessing the players left at home. He gave Alaba minutes in the First Team when he was 17.

 

[Stobzilla]

Agreed. I think we'll see a fair few of our youngsters given a proper go. I know he said that he wants to concentrate on the First Team, but he strikes me as the type of man that can't help but get involved and after a few weeks he'll be assessing the players left at home. He gave Alaba minutes in the First Team when he was 17.

I was a little confused when he said this, surely a way of looking to improve the first team is to have a look at the reserves and U-18's first ?

I am sure what he meant was the structure of the academy was what he didn't want to get involved in initially.

 

[Zii]

Looks really good

 

[Brightonian]

I was a little confused when he said this, surely a way of looking to improve the first team is to have a look at the reserves and U-18's first ?

I am sure what he meant was the structure of the academy was what he didn't want to get involved in initially.

I assumed he was basically just talking about pre-season. He wanted to use it to sort out his first team squad - including some spots that might be filled by youngsters like Keane, Blackett and James - and only once he's done that will he start looking at youngsters like Wilson etc who aren't strictly needed in the first team just yet.

 

[Santos J]

Been great since he's come on so far.

 

[Ole's_toe_poke]

I have doubts about him but TBF he's looked really good on tour.

 

[charleysurf]

He's looked really really good on this tour.

 

[Juan't Mata]

LCB in a back three suits him perfectly. More comfortable on the ball than our senior defenders too.

 

[Nickosaur]

He's ace. Didn't have him down as one of the potential reserve players who could make an impact this season.

 

[#07]

Excellent since coming on against Liverpool. Considering we were behind at the time and low on belief his composure has been very impressive.

 

[hungrywing]

I can't recall him doing a single thing wrong/poorly in any of the games. Reminds me of Smalling's early appearances.

 

[Winrar]

He looked a bit nervous against Galaxy but looked better every game since then, he should be given a chance to make a breakthrough.

 

[Amadaeus]

Looks like Blackett will be one of the players Van Gaal will Schweinsteiger. Never taught he would seemlessly adapt to the centerback role. Albeit, I taught that he did seem to heavy and strong to be a proper fullback.

I also remember that he has a strong left foot. We have not gotten to see it this pre-season, but hopefully we can utilized that ability sometimes in the future.

 

[JSMHE]

Impressive again.

 

[Oneunited26]

I thought since he came on second half we looked much calmer at the back, looks like a very strong defender, perhaps we can save a few dollars and give guys like Blackett and even Keane a chance has back ups to our main 3, and under van gaal he will not be shy from putting younger players in the first team

 

[Red Shorts]

Will be happy for us to give youth a chance and allow Blackett to be 4th choice CB. He looks like a very composed player.

 

[Ekeke]

Our 2nd most convincing CB today after Smalling and clearly our best ball player in the backline. He looks ready