Archives For Daley Blind

Bournemouth 1 Man United 3, August 14th: Solid start but there are a lot of interesting questions

August 14, 2016

Screen Shot 2016-08-14 at 12.55.37 PMThings couldn’t be going much better, an efficient, controlled, clinical performance at Bournemouth headlined by Zlatan’s goal, Bailly’s Man of The Match award, Blind’s calm assurance and a very impressive display from Fellaini. Top of the league and all that!

After the game Mourinho quite rightly pointed out he’s told the squad everyone will get minutes once September comes around and all competitions start. But that begs a lot of questions. Where does Pogba play? What will be the manager’s ultimate starting line-up? What will be the final squad?

With Lingard out Mourinho probably surprised everyone by starting Mata ahead of Mkhitaryan. Yet when everyone is fit or back from suspension, when the transfer window is closed and all the deals are completed, what team lines up to face City  on September 10th? Does Smalling walk right back into the team next Friday against Southampton? You would think so, but you can’t leave Bailly out and Blind has played well and provides a calm anchor. It also looks as if Fellaini is a Mourinho guy, forget the back pass against Leicester, in the first two games Fellaini has been everything you want in front of the back four.

Thanks to a relatively easy start and the successful transfer window United are in an enviable position. Everyone will be disappointed if going into the home game against City, there aren’t the maximum 9 points in the bank.

Screen Shot 2016-08-14 at 1.27.00 PM

But which players does Mourinho trust to challenge Guardiola for Manchester’s bragging rights? Which players may have come and gone? There are some really tough decisions ahead. Do you sell Mata to raise money for Madrid’s Varane? Who makes way if Southampton’s Fonte is the option instead?

Mourinho likes to have a squad of 22 players including three goalkeepers, so if by September 1st that squad is:

Goalkeepers:

De Gea, Romero, Johnstone

Defenders:

Valencia, Fosu-Mensah, Bailly, Smalling, Blind, Shaw, A.N.Other

Midfield:

Pogba, Fellaini, Carrick, Mkhitaryan, Herrera, Schneiderlin, Lingard

Forwards:

Zlatan, Rooney, Rashford, Martial, – Depay (??????)

That’s 22:

Not included:

Schweinsteiger, Mata, Jones, Young, Rojo, Darmian, Perreira, Wilson, Borthwick-Jackson – Nine players!

Wow, and I mean wow.

As the question marks suggest I wouldn’t keep DePay, I’d sell him and buy a genuine jet heeled speedster. There are lots of twists and turns left before the City game.

In Diary, Mourinho, Players, Transfers , , ,
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Shrewsbury Town 0 Man United 3, February 22nd: Why I’m an EvanGaalista

February 23, 2016

FB6EE0C38D5E423F9BE4BE22B60B536ETick-tock, tick-tock, one down two to go. If this is the pivotal week in LVG’s Old Trafford career it began with the coziest win over the League One strugglers. Shrewsbury were never in it. A very professional performance from United capped by the third goal from Lingard. Mata’s free kick was wonderful but I tend to agree with those who claimed the three players running back were offside. Nice trick though, and brilliant finish. The only problem is that yet again there were injuries. If there is a summer spending spree United should buy 6 full backs. Borthwick-Jackson is presumably out against Midtjylland on Thursday. Lingard didn’t look comfortable at the end, and the desperately unlucky Keane may be gone for weeks.

If there was a silver lining it was the team performance. Whoever is leaking stories about the senior players being unhappy with Van Gaal can’t be talking about Mata, Smalling, Blind, Martial or Schneiderlin. All played as if they meant it, and for me there was no indication of a team trying to get the manager the sack.

Now there needs to be a magic sponge. Thursday is a huge game, but Midtjylland don’t play in front of 75,000 very often and if it’s one of those magical Old Trafford nights and the crowd carry the team the Danes will get a battering. I’m not worried about Thursday, but Sunday and Arsenal is different. United need De Gea back, Rojo would be a bonus, Jones would help, but that’s about all to hope for.

Van Gaal says March is looking better:

“I think in March a lot of players are coming back and then we’ll have a full selection, and with our full selection we were first in the Premier League.”

Give the man his due, he doesn’t lay down.

Now for some speculation. If by any chance United win the next two matches what happens to all the hand wringing, vindictiveness, poison, slander, lies and general bonkersness about Van Gaal? He’s a football magician if he gets out of this week. An FA Cup tie, a Europa League salvage job, and a must win against the League favorites? All in 7 days? C’mon people, we know Woodward and the Glazers are ultimately responsible for this mess. It would be something special for Van Gaal to be celebrating 3 wins on the trot on Sunday night.

 

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Man United 0 Southampton 1, January 23rd: Mourinho’s love letter, and the lack of quality in the squad

January 24, 2016

louis-van-gaalWhere do we start? Worst performance of the season?  The boos? Champions League receding? Injuries?  Or the alleged Mourinho begging for a job letter?

Let’s begin with the squad and the lack of depth and quality players. Even with all the injuries there should be better players available.

Eleven new players have arrived in Van Gaal’s era. Everyone keeps talking about the enormity of the estimated 250 million pound spend, but keep in mind how much Chelsea, Barcelona, Real, Bayern and City also spent in the past few years. What matters is is how the money is used, and that maybe Van Gaal’s undoing.

As my friend John says:

In the end LVG, like all managers is judged on two things. Results obviously, but also signs that a team is improving. I think it is the second which will ultimately condemn him, since the eleven signings made on his watch have not improved the team.
He’s been unlucky with Shaw. Of the rest,  Blind is good value and arguably the best buy, Martial is a talent; Schweinsteiger provides leadership; Schneiderlin is solid; Depay is dreadful; Rojo injury prone; Herrera flatters to deceive; the jury is out on Darmian; Romero is a bench warmer; and Falcao and Di Maria were complete failures.
How many of the current team would get into the current Arsenal, City, Tottenham or Leicester starting line ups? De Gea and Smalling definitely. Rooney and Schneiderlin probably.
Yesterday United were beaten by a goal from a 4 million pound centre forward, yet Martial and Depay collectively cost around 60 million pounds. In a collective team performance lacking every traditional club value United ended the match with four teenagers on the pitch, Januzaj preferred before Depay as a sub and boos cascading from the stands. Van Gaal isn’t helped by inheriting a youth policy which in the past 20 years has delivered only one star, Paul Pogba, who, of course, in an ultimate irony for one of the world’s richest clubs, left for Juventus after an argument over wages.
The supporter’s anguish is perfectly summed up today in an open letter to the Glazers from the ManchesterLalaLa blog.

You are obviously intelligent, highly successful businessmen, but having been a United fan for 60 years, just like my father before me and his father before him, I have never seen such a clueless pair effectively in charge of this sporting empire.

I completely understand that Woodward is a star in your eyes on the commercial front, and that’s obviously where he belongs. But thanks to Woodward and Van Gaal, the football side has descended into farce, and if this continues, the damage to the brand will be disastrous. The core values at United are winning and doing it with style – something United are a million miles away from at this point in time.

This week Columbia Sportswear was added to the money roll as yet another sponsor. But what good is a worldwide brand if the team at its heart doesn’t perform? You can only market the past for so long.
Meanwhile it’s reported that Jose Mourinho has written a 6 page letter to the board outlining his credentials, and explaining why he should be immediately appointed as manager. Jorge Mendes, Mourinho’s agent and friend of Ed Woodward, rejected the report as “ridiculous and absurd”. I hope so because unless you believe in winning at all costs Mourinho’s practical approach and theatrical temperament is not right for United.
After the match Van Gaal acknowledged the supporters’ right to boo. You have to admire him for that. If only the Glazers would do the same.
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Man United 3 Sunderland 0, September 26th: Top of the league and a milepost

September 27, 2015

So here we are. It’s taken two years, UnitedBastian are back at the top of the league.

BBC Sport Football TablesFor Schweinsteiger, Mata, Schneiderlin, Darmian, Blind, Martial, Memphis, Fellaini, Herrera, Romero and Pereira, new territory in a United shirt.

Eleven players from Saturday’s match day squad of 18, are league leading newbies. The size of the transformation encapsulated in a teamsheet.  Add Van Gaal and his Dutch assistants and it’s staggering.

We’ve all watched and sometimes winced at the changes. The failed transfer attempts for Bale, Muller, and others. The Falcao and Di Maria experiments.  We all recognize it’s not buccaneering, cavalier, heart in your mouth Ferguson Football that’s topping the league, but Van Gaal’s calm, methodical, patient, planned game.

Yet this is a milepost and an initial return on the millions spent and huge turnover in players, and staff. Yes United have the resources, fanbase and business organization, but we should all savour that top spot and not least Van Gaal.

You can only imagine the sense of relief behind the scenes at Old Trafford late on Saturday.

So what happens now? Football is unforgiving. Wolfsburg on Wednesday. Arsenal away next Sunday. It could be a brief visit to the top spot, as Van Gaal said after Sunderland

“Ask me in May”.

Chelsea’s current decline. and City’s slump are indications of how things will change. However you don’t get to the top of the league without doing something right. Mata was terrific Saturday. Martial looks a steal. Schweinsteiger delivers calm authority. Blind just keeps on being a good footballer. Smalling is dominant. Enjoy it.

In the meantime spare a thought for Luke Shaw.

 

shaw-injuryPNG

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Man United 3 Ipswich 0, September 23rd: Defensive injuries and a critical set of upcoming fixtures

September 24, 2015

Solid victory over Ipswich. Pereira a boost. Schweinsteiger’s influence grows by the game. Now for Sunderland at home on Saturday.

Due to the long term loss of Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo’s short term hamstring knicknack and Paddy McNair’s injury, Van Gaal must reorganize again at the back. Every team has to cope with injuries but Phil Jones is back in contention and there are other defensive combinations available.

Darmian can play left back. So can Young.

Saturday could see

Valencia/Jones-Smalling-Blind-Young/Darmian

or

Darmian-Smalling-Blind-Young

I keep Smalling and Blind together. As argued previously Blind complements Smalling and makes him more effective. Blind’s technique, defensive smarts and ability to pass the ball are a very valuable package. It’s fullback where he has to make decisions.

Sunderland are a poor team, so further up the field is this the opportunity to give Pereira a further test. Who knows maybe Van Gaal even has plans for James Wilson?

There’s a lot that can go wrong for City at Tottenham on Saturday, and a draw in the Arsenal Leicester game would also benefit United.  It’s after Saturday when it gets much, much tougher. For me October defines the season.

BBC Sport Football Manchester United Fixtures

The Champions League fixtures are must win. Twelve league points are available from away games at Arsenal, Everton and Palace and of course City at home. It’s a serious test for the squad and the club’s ambition. Emerge out of October flying and who knows what may happen.

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Man United back four: The blind and Daley Blind

September 13, 2015

downloadDuring the match against Liverpool Lee Dixon said in his commentary on NBC Sports that: “Roy Keane says you don’t win anything without strong centre halves and Daley Blind isn’t a centre half”. Dixon who knows a thing or two about defending added “However Daley Blind is a very good footballer”. Couldn’t agree more. Blind was obviously United’s stand out player against Liverpool. Not only for the goal and the subsequent goal line clearance from Ings, but his overall play, particularly when confronted by Benteke.

Blind was targeted pre-match by a variety of pundits including Rio Ferdinand who didn’t hold back:

‘I don’t think Daley Blind will ever be able to deal with someone like Benteke if he’s on his game and he targets him,’ he said. ‘If I’m Benteke, all week I’m thinking is “wherever the ball is I’m going on Daley Blind”. That’s the only place I would be playing.

‘I wouldn’t even look at Chris Smalling or think about coming into contact with him. He’s a top striker and they played 30-odd million for him, if he even starts having any types of battles with Smalling I’d call him to the side as the manager and tell him to get on Blind as he is the weak point.”

Sour grapes? Two ex United greats piling on? Or will they be proven right? Aguero and Costa are on the way, so are the Crystal Palace trio Sako, Boyate and Zaha, and we’ve already seen Swansea’s Gomis trouble United’s back four. But for a “makeshift” centre half I think Blind is doing a terrific job. As Lee Dixon underlines he’s a wonderful footballer. He’s not the quickest but neither was Arsenal’s 1971 double winning captain Frank McLintock, who was successfully converted from a ball playing wing half to back four anchor. Blind’s dad Danny was a converted left back who did the same job for Ajax and Holland, again pace wasn’t his strongest suit. These types of players are guardians blessed with great technique. They have an eye for a pass, are good on the ball, and are intelligent and aware. Chris Smalling has come on leaps and bounds this season. Two excellent full backs in Darmian and Shaw have helped, but don’t underestimate Blind’s contribution. Smalling is free to go and attack the ball knowing Blind has his back. Add in the protection from Schweinsteiger, Carrick or Schneiderlin and De Gea back in the fold and defensively there’s not a lot to gripe about.

There was a Blind debate yesterday in the Red Cafe forum. where the majority of opinion is that he may prove Keane and Ferdinand wrong. My take is he’s the glue that makes that back four work.

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Man United 3 Liverpool 1, September 12th: Blind, Schweinsteiger, Young and Martial lead the way

September 13, 2015

Schweinsteiger’s best game; Blind terrific; back four top notch; and what a debut for Martial?

Forget the first half. Liverpool parked the bus and arrived without invention or aggression, maybe because Coutinho and Henderson were missing? We watched a game marooned in the middle third and no one from United ran at Liverpool except Shaw. No frontline penetration, pace, or goals. A yawn fest.

So let’s concentrate on the second half.  If Memphis/DePay has pace or confidence he hasn’t shown it yet. I know I sound like a broken record but I’m beginning to wonder if he has it at this level. Louis Van Gaal has a major decision to make. Maybe Van Gaal gave it the old Busby and Ferguson “just go out there and express yourselves” at half time, but we all saw the immediate impact when Ashley Young replaced Memphis/Depay. Blind’s perfectly executed training ground free kick and Herrera’s “take that” penalty and United fans were a heck of a lot happier.

De Gea did his thing saving good efforts from Ings and Ibe, and even though Benteke’s brilliant overhead kick made for a few anxious moments United were much, much better.

The icing on the cake was of course Anthony Martial’s debut goal. Kudos to the Twitter psychic who predicted it.

The early word on Martial was that he loves to drift left, cut in onto his right foot and drive at the heart of the defence. Job done, and a classic “allez vous faire foutre” (go fuck yourself) to the Daily Mirror and the “What A Waste of Money” chorus.

But let’s not get carried away. One brilliant goal doesn’t make a career. Remember Federico Macheda? Well he’s currently playing for Cardiff and is out for 10 weeks following back surgery.

All in all a very good day for Van Gaal. He can celebrate at Wings sitting in second place before focusing on Tuesday’s Champions League game at PSV. Rooney is expected to be out again so there are questions about the forward line. My bet is Fellaini starts again and I hope Young does too.

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