I think he is going to be the left footed central defender that LVG has been asking for. If we are getting someone let it be someone as big as Benatia or Hummels. If we are going for Vermealen, might be as well stick with Blackett.
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He's from Hulme, and yes he is a Red.
This.
I'd like this attitude with regards to all the spots in our squad for which there is a promising youngster ready and waiting. Either buy top, top quality or stick with the kids, please.
The resemblance in playing style with Abidal is uncanny. Also love how he diagnoses plays, very got anticipation skills for a young lad.
I would say that the athleticism and composure is more in common with Sol Campbell. Like Campbell he started out wide on the left, and was tried as a left back and left winger, eventually being made the center back.
Of course, it's not to suggest that Blackett will be as good as Sol, but if he does turn out that well we would have an absolute rock for a long time.
I still maintain Keane enjoyed a stronger pre-season up until the final game or so. Different centre-backs though, and the need for a left-footed defender certainly suits Blackett. Both will remain with us this season, I'd imagine, but I don't think either are ready to consistently start.
very impressed with Blackett. Sure he will make it with us. no hesitation...brave and is focused.
I might have agreed with this if he had any proven record of performing consistently in the first team for anyone, or had any sort of previous record of totally standing out and looking above everybody else and a real big talent.
You just don't throw young players who have been underwhelming before into the first team directly on back of a pre season, especially defenders.
This maybe a turning point for him, but he isn't ready to be a starter just because he did well in 3 halfs of pre season football against good teams. Backup maybe, but we need a starter.
He can't get a record of performing consistently for the first team until we play him in the first team. If we did it your way, we would never promote anyone.
Of course we're talking about back-up. No-one's suggesting he should be getting in ahead of Jones, Smalling or Evans. But I'd say he's shown enough to be on the bench if we need him to be, along with Keane.
It's true that he's never stood out in the reserves or youth sides. But then he's never played this position for them either, and it's looking more and more obvious that he wasn't entirely suited to the fullback position that he's always played for us before this pre-season.
How come? I am more comfortable promoting Michael Keane than i am with Blackett as he has a record of performing consistently whether it be for our U21s at CB or loans over 2/3 years.
Defenders need consistency particularly more than attackers as well, who you can take a gamble on.
He's played CB as well for our U18s/u19s and reserves and looked dodgy tbh. But that was in a 2 man central defence. Last time he looked a real good prospect was when he was England's best defender at u17 level and then he was just dropped. There's been suggestions of some attitude issues in the past as well though don't know how substantiated.
I am fine with Keane and him both being backup. Maybe Tom Thorpe could play a part too in this formation if really required, infact he's been unlucky not to go on tour ahead of Blackett due to not being left footed mainly which worked for Blackett.
Anyway, thing is Evans doesn't seem as good as he can be playing at LCB and limits his distribution as well. Blackett isn't ready to be a starter there so we need another defender in who can play that role as a regular.
Taking your points in order:
I rate Keane higher too. I think he's got the potential to be a top class defender. But that doesn't mean I don't think Blackett is ready to be a back-up for us.
He only briefly played CB in the U18s, and as you say playing CB in a two-man central defence is effectively a different position to doing it in a three anyway. It's the latter that he looks particularly suited to. I'd never heard about any attitude issues so I can't comment on that.
Agree on Tom Thorpe, as a tradition two-man CB I rate him higher than Blackett, probably equally as highly as Keane. On paper he's arguably got the more convincing record than Keane. It's this quantity of promising youngsters in the position which makes me confident we'd be fine relying on them as back-up. You never know who might quail under the pressure of the PL, but if one of them does, there'll be two more ready and waiting to take his place.
I've been really impressed with Evans on tour. He was shite in the Liverpool game, but then so was most of the first-half team. Until that game he'd been excellent, particularly standing out against Madrid. That said, I do think his best position is at the centre of that 3-man defence. The central man is the one who can step out, interrupting attacks early, bringing the ball forward with freedom, and almost acting as a DM at times, and that's an obvious strength in his game.
My attitude stays the same, though. If there was a top-class left-footed CB out there, someone at the level of Hummels or Benatia (both righties), then I'd be all for it. But if we're looking at mid-range options who aren't guaranteed to do well themselves, like Vermaelen, I'd rather we just stuck with promoting the kids to support our existing three.
I think it'll be good for him to be a back up for us and play for the U21s this season. He'll definitely get game time.
Good to hear. Nothing better than a local and a red making it and let's hope he nails his place down.
Just a few things.
Regarding Evans I have seen the Liverpool game twice on a big screen in HD and as far as I can judge he looked ill or had some sort of concentration problems. He was almost scared and dizzy the first 20-25 minutes. Probably temporary but it looked really weird.
Regarding Keane I can't say I was totally impressed, to many simple slips or errors for being ready playing at this level. There are also question marks regarding his pace and acceleration. Maybe I'm over critical but we need defenders with the whole package, even if they come from our academy.
Then the best part - Tyler Blackett. He was really impressive and I can see LvG promoting him as a back up to Evans/new signing, but I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up to be regular later on in the season. This guy have the whole package and loads of potential. You know more then me regarding his concentration problems but as far as I saw in our pre season games he looked ok. Future will tell.
Blackett has taken his chance on this tour, where as Keane has not IMO.
I know players like Bale are difficult to stop but when he gave that penalty away it really showed his immaturity.
I know players like Bale are difficult to stop but when he gave that penalty away it really showed his immaturity.
Bale is going to torch much better defenders than Keane, so that's not really much of a black mark. Keane's problem is that there are a lot of much better defenders around - he's not outstanding at anything and he's weak in some areas. Blackett is an outstanding passer of the ball and looks to be a better one on one defender than Keane. He also seems a lot more comfortable in a system that is new to both of them. It remains to be seen if either of them has the uncompromising (i.e. nasty) streak that van Gaal likes in his defenders.
Nowthat we've missed out on vermaelen, I hope this lad is given a chance.he impressed me on tour.
I wonder what Blackett would do if he's in the same situation as Keane. Jones is also another player we can say still show his immaturity.
Blackett made bigger errors vs Simple straight balls over the top vs Destro like 3/4 times over in the first half vs Roma with then getting into awkward retrieving positions in the first half when he played 90 minutes. It didn't cause goals as Destro fluffed the chances or the GK other defenders bailed him out but it was kinda terrible that first half before he settled better in the 2nd.
Getting outpaced by a Sharp Bale's acceleration is hardly the biggest sin going around either for a young defender especially. He's done it to Rio and Rafael before amongst others. And to someone that said above Keane doesn't lack pace that much even. Bale is just rapid.
Anyway, what happened to Keane and worse happened to Hummels 3 times over along with another mistake in the WC final vs Mesis and Lavezzi and twice in game vs Ghana and Gyan.
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You can't stop yourself being outpaced, but you can be clever and stay on your feet and Shephard them into a non lethal area. Keane made the mistake of purely getting too tight and actually trying to win the ball, he should have just stood him up and showed him down the line and let the rest of the defence reinforce him.
It's a simple thing but he would have been better letting Bale go and try to shoot than take him down. DDG may have saved Bale's chance, if that's a league or cup game it's the difference between winning or losing.
Better back him and Keane because we'll be relying on them at some point this season.
He is usually decent pace wise and can match majority of people for pace with little head start inside so no surprise he thought he had Bale in control until he just used his acceleration and strength which is probably the quickest in the world. If you haven't played against him before he can do it to most.
Anyway, yeah both made mistakes and it is expected for Young defenders and Jones probably made even bigger ones vs Liverpool but you have to go on their pedigree and record beforehand as well.
And re the bolded here you go -
Missing couple of isntances vs others as well. 0.16 pretty similar incident and Messi could have gone down to try his luck instead of carrying on but would have been a soft call for WC final.
Awesome. Wonder what school he went to?
Ducie, I think. I'll have to ask my neice. He lived next door to my sister, who was always moaning at him for playing footy in the back garden. Silly cow!
Good find.
My sister is not being helpful, though I know he went to Royce primary.
The boy just has a natural confidence on the ball, similar to John Stones. We badly lack that and he'll be a big help if we start to build play up from possession football in our half.
A couple of things from the posts above...
1. Blackett has played at centre-half for most of his Academy career...he also switched to left fullback and left wing on occasions. When we bought Fornasier and McGinty he found it hard to get regular games in central defence but was a year younger than some of the others.
2. I've never heard anything at all about any supposed 'attitudinal' issues so no idea where that rumour came from.
3. Watching him regularly when he was younger his biggest weakness was concentration and being too casual when on the ball. His physicality has never been an issue although personally I think his heading is also an area for improvement.
4. Some players just perform at higher levels while others don't...we won't know unless we give him a chance.
1. Blackett has played at centre-half for most of his Academy career...he also switched to left fullback and left wing on occasions. When we bought Fornasier and McGinty he found it hard to get regular games in central defence but was a year younger than some of the others.
2. I've never heard anything at all about any supposed 'attitudinal' issues so no idea where that rumour came from.
3. Watching him regularly when he was younger his biggest weakness was concentration and being too casual when on the ball. His physicality has never been an issue although personally I think his heading is also an area for improvement.
4. Some players just perform at higher levels while others don't...we won't know unless we give him a chance.
What you call being casual could also be called being confident. The sooner we start training young defenders to be confident on the ball instead of hoofing it the better. It takes more courage to use the ball and retain possession for your team than play a long 50/50 ball.
This is a very good point. Some personalities just raise to the occasion and find an inner joy to take on the challenge instead of getting nervous, sometimes they don't even know themselves that they have this ability.
Without knowing it looks like Blackett benefit from a clear structure and strict instructions instead of the usual whenever you have a chance "express yourself". Not a dig at anybody just that some personalities needs individual coaching to get the best out of their talents.
Would love to see him involved against Swansea. Even just on the bench. We need to buy at the back, no question but he deserves a chance on the back of preseason.
We're talking about men kicking a lump of leather around a pitch, not f*ckin Doctor Phil.
I'm pretty sure we already do that considering Evans, Keane, Blackett and Thorpe are all pretty good on the ball.
I suppose I meant in the country as a whole, good to see some of the young coaches trying to introduce this as it's important for the future of the national team.
Starts later today.
To me it's a massive sign that LVG rates him.
To me it's a massive sign that LVG rates him.
Hard not to rate him, has been impressive each time he's played so far.
He looked good on tour, shall be interesting to see how he does tonight. Still would prefer an experienced leader at the back, I wouldn't want to put all our hopes on the kid this season given the importance of it.
Blackett and James. They seriosuly may help to restore some balance in this club.
Didn't notice James is starting too. Probably cause Shaw's not fit enough or something, but Van Gaal clearly rates Blackett and James and rightly so!
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