[Pexbo]

I'm not really sure what the fuss is about. He's pretty average and he doesn't have the physical gifts that Blackett has. If you could combine the two, that'd be some prospect.

Ooooh you saucy devil.

(You'll never go back)

 

[Rykker_4united]

Ooooh you saucy devil.

(You'll never go back)

Blackett is taller, faster, and stronger, you numpty. It has nothing to do with being black.

Also I don't know much about his penis but hopefully its better endowed than his passing ability.

 

[Getsme]

There seems to be a habit in here for singling out a player to blame when we concede a goal, it happens, teams concede, sometimes it's no ones fault. Even if it is a defenders error that leads to a goal as long as it's not idiotic or a player repeating the same mistake over and over then I don't see it as being a major issue.

 

[IwatUwat]

Thought he got a bit found out on Saturday. The whole defence were dodgy positionally throughout. But he got caught a few times and looked pretty slow at times. Welbeck ran right round him at one point. Maybe just a slightly poor start and Arsenal bombing on just caught him out a bit.

One bad game out of 5 or 6 isnt bad at all. And we won, so nothing influential and more experience for him, although his pace is concerning.

 

[2mufc0]

Blackett is taller, faster, and stronger, you numpty. It has nothing to do with being black.

Also I don't know much about his penis but hopefully its better endowed than his passing ability.

Blackett looked like a rabbit infront of headlights on Saturday, he's not composed enough even though he has the physical attributes.

I thought McNair did very well considering his experience, made good tackles and blocks, he's earned a starting place for me imo.

 

[red_7]

Paddy has the potential, that's obvious but we all know wheter young player make it to the top is down to a lot of things. Anyhow, you can't say he doesn't deserves to play atm

 

[soapythecat]

For a young lad who, let's be totally honest here, had no idea that he would be anywhere near the first team this season, when he reported back for training. He has done remarkably well. Yes, there have been some very basic errors but overall he has been quite good. He will have learnt so much and he looks pretty confident and composed out there. Reading the game at this level and speed takes time and experience, so he has done brilliantly.
If he carries on like this, there is every chance he will go on to have a great career at United. Lets just play him at CB, give him game time during the season and watch him grow.
Could save the club 10's of millions on transfers if he carries on progressing in such manor.
Well done Paddy.

 

[Bwuk]

Personally I think McNair is a better player than Blackett.

 

[Acquire Me]

Seems like he gets caught out by pace too frequently. Most people will say "well X is quicker than most players" but it's his positioning or awareness that highlights this error. Welbeck was always going to come inside, McNair should of ran in a straight line and positioned himself to defend instead of being attracted to the ball and trying to match Welbeck for pace.

His defending in terms of being turned by an attacker is excellent, he stands up well and anticipates the danger. In contrast Blackett is the complete opposite, if someone knocked it 20-30 strides in front and tried to beat him, he would most likely do a good job but in close corners he gets beaten too easily either going to ground or getting done by a drop of the shoulder.

I agree. He should have made his run in a straight line. With the curved run, he had to be a faster player than Welbeck to catch him.

So in my opinion, McNair has a great chance to become a big thing for us. Its more about experience than anything else for him.

 

[Rozay]

Overall I was impressed on Saturday. Also, he isn't fully grown yet either so I imagine he will physically improve.

Right now I'd still walk Jones straight back into the side when he's fit.

 

[DirtyOldTown]

Overall I was impressed on Saturday. Also, he isn't fully grown yet either so I imagine he will physically improve.

Right now I'd still walk Jones straight back into the side when he's fit.

Yeah me too. I don't think he would or will get many chances when the all defenders are fit but he's done brilliantly. Jones, Smalling, Rojo and Evans are all better defenders but when they're back it might be good for him to go on loan somewhere and grow as a player. His height is a worry for a centre half but Cannavaro was small and done well I suppose.

 

[Rozay]

Yeah me too. I don't think he would or will get many chances when the all defenders are fit but he's done brilliantly. Jones, Smalling, Rojo and Evans are all better defenders but when they're back it might be good for him to go on loan somewhere and grow as a player. His height is a worry for a centre half but Cannavaro was small and done well I suppose.

I haven't even noticed him being particularly short tbh. The worry for me is him not being strong enough yet, and too slow. You would worry that Peter Crouch would run away from him.

 

[Adam-Utd]

I haven't even noticed him being particularly short tbh. The worry for me is him not being strong enough yet, and too slow. You would worry that Peter Crouch would run away from him.

Nah, he isn't that slow. Welbeck made him look a bit slow, but then Welbeck makes a lot of people look slow.

 

[DirtyOldTown]

I haven't even noticed him being particularly short tbh. The worry for me is him not being strong enough yet, and too slow. You would worry that Peter Crouch would run away from him.

Tbh I haven't really noticed his pace until Welbeck went past him like he wasn't there but Welbeck does that to most defenders, it's not being close enough to him in the first place that was his issue. He can build strength though. I doubt he will shoot up in size at this stage.

 

[Rozay]

Nah, he isn't that slow. Welbeck made him look a bit slow, but then Welbeck makes a lot of people look slow.

I was more concerned at how he didn't ever look even close to catching Giroud, who is no faster than Mertersacker himself.

 

[Decotron]

Personally I think McNair is a better player than Blackett.

I doubt anyone would disagree at this stage....

 

[Adam-Utd]

I was more concerned at how he didn't ever look even close to catching Giroud, who is no faster than Mertersacker himself.

Giroud was fresh, but yeah Mcnair is definitely not "quick". He looks on the Vidic side of it. but it should be enough with good positional skills. Lightening pace like Smalling/Varane is pretty rare in top Cb's.

 

[limerickcitykid]

His height is a worry for a centre half but Cannavaro was small and done well I suppose.

Fabio Cannavaro is 5'9, Paddy is at least 6'0.

 

[Raoul]

McNair is listed as 5'8 , which i find hard to believe. Looks at least 6'0.

 

[gooDevil]

He's 6 foot or 6'1 iirc.

 

[Rykker_4united]

Fabio Cannavaro is 5'9, Paddy is at least 6'0.

Cannavaro was also an incredibly player who won the ballon d'or.

 

[limerickcitykid]

Cannavaro was also an incredibly player who won the ballon d'or.

Of course he was bloody brilliant. Comparing his size to McNair is just a bit odd though as he is 3-4 inches shorter.

 

[Rykker_4united]

Of course he was bloody brilliant. Comparing his size to McNair is just a bit odd though as he is 3-4 inches shorter.

McNair is taller, I think there is no doubt about that. Anyplace that lists McNair under 6 foot is outdated. My worry is his physicality, not his height. He seems not overly quick and a little weak. Of course, that can be improved to an extent.

 

[simonhch]

McNair has no problems with physicality. He's 19, he'll fill out. The fact he had Lukaku in his pocket for 90mins, the most physical center forward in the league, should debunk any notion that he's 'slow and weak'. Welbeck is very quick, let's be honest. He's had the beating of most defenders for pace for a long time. Nothing to see here.

I thought Paddy played very well on Saturday, especially when put into context. Context is everything, and difficult to achieve from an armchair. It seems the bar for Cafe approval has become a prodigious performance of pant wetting proportions every week. Out paced by one of the quickest players in the league? Slow, weak, physically inept! Misplaces a header? Crap in the air! Man gets in behind? Has no reading of the game! At least he's only 19. By Cafe standards he's still got a high ceiling. God help him if he makes any mistakes at 20 though. Wasted potential, never good enough in the first place, innit?

Off to the Januzaj thread. Probably time to cut our losses now he's failed to live up to the hype.

 

[Raoul]

He's apparently 6'0 according to another site. Sounds more accurate than 5'8.

 

[surf]

He's done OK, like Blackett. M Keane and Thorpe seem to be off the radar. Will be surprised if any of them make it at United long term as I suspect that there are better centre back prospects a year or two or three below them in the academy.

 

[ghagua]

Don't see him as a long term starter even when he is at his peak. He is very slow and awkward. At best i see him as 4th or 5th choice when we have everyone fit or bring in better players. He's done OK in a couple of matches, but not sure what the fuss is about.

 

[charleysurf]

Don't see him as a long term starter even when he is at his peak. He is very slow and awkward. At best i see him as 4th or 5th choice when we have everyone fit or bring in better players. He's done OK in a couple of matches, but not sure what the fuss is about.

Gotta love everyone writing off the long term prospects of McNair and Blackett when they've played barely a handful of senior games.
I'm sure all the PLs best defenders were flawless at the same stage.

 

[datura]

McNair has no problems with physicality. He's 19, he'll fill out. The fact he had Lukaku in his pocket for 90mins, the most physical center forward in the league, should debunk any notion that he's 'slow and weak'. Welbeck is very quick, let's be honest. He's had the beating of most defenders for pace for a long time. Nothing to see here.

I thought Paddy played very well on Saturday, especially when put into context. Context is everything, and difficult to achieve from an armchair. It seems the bar for Cafe approval has become a prodigious performance of pant wetting proportions every week. Out paced by one of the quickest players in the league? Slow, weak, physically inept! Misplaces a header? Crap in the air! Man gets in behind? Has no reading of the game! At least he's only 19. By Cafe standards he's still got a high ceiling. God help him if he makes any mistakes at 20 though. Wasted potential, never good enough in the first place, innit?

Off to the Januzaj thread. Probably time to cut our losses now he's failed to live up to the hype.

I'm more comfortable with low expectations of the youngsters then the overhyping that happens too often, overburdening a player too early in their career.

 

[khoazany]

Don't see him as a long term starter even when he is at his peak. He is very slow and awkward. At best i see him as 4th or 5th choice when we have everyone fit or bring in better players. He's done OK in a couple of matches, but not sure what the fuss is about.

Awkward?Some people have ridiculous standards.

 

[WR10]

We've won every game he's started

 

[charleysurf]

Awkward?Some people have ridiculous standards.

It's a ridiculous understanding of the normal development path for centre backs.

 

[Minimalist]

Gotta love everyone writing off the long term prospects of McNair and Blackett when they've played barely a handful of senior games.
I'm sure all the PLs best defenders were flawless at the same stage.

Laughable also considering how inconsistent or at times downright shite Smalling/Jones/Evans have been this season when they've played.

Blackett and McNair have essentially a free pass from me given their age but McNair has impressed me just as much as any of our centre backs.

 

[ricky-romeo]

"badstubered" by van gaal obviously.

hopefully he'll continue to impress and avoid all of these injury syndromes that badstuber and most of our defenders got.

 

[ghagua]

Awkward?Some people have ridiculous standards.

If you say so.

 

[ghagua]

Gotta love everyone writing off the long term prospects of McNair and Blackett when they've played barely a handful of senior games.
I'm sure all the PLs best defenders were flawless at the same stage.

Only time will tell.

 

[Bwuk]

We've won every game he's started.

Keep playing him and we'll win the league...

 

[ravelston]

In terms of defensive contributions (tackles, interceptions, clearances and blocks) McNair is bottom of the pecking order which goes Jones (average 15.1 per game), Rojo (11.9), Smalling (10.5), Evans (8.7), Blackett (8.7) and McNair (8.6). He's also bottom of the 6 in passing accuracy. That's not to say that he hasn't done spectacularly well - he has. But in no way is he the finished article and, when the senior players regain fitness, he's likely to go back to the reserves - he's simply not as good as Jones, Rojo or Smalling (although, at this point, it's pretty close between Evans, Blackett and McNair).

 

[charleysurf]

Only time will tell.

Sure. But saying they'll never be top grade defenders is as stupid as saying they will be definitely be future world class defenders.

 

[Kraftwerker]

I think he's looked a lot more assured than Blackett and is the 'no-brainer' back-up option if we have to play a kid.

One of the big upsides of our injury plight is seeing these guys get minutes and often flourish,