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I disagree. Carvalho is what David Luiz was likened to at younger age by the Latin/Hispanic football culture. Here in the good way that Carvalho is athletic, strong, and powerful bar physique disadvantage. With Carvalho there were dominant performance like David Luiz on song, not just dominant in and around the box. Was statistically one of the best tackler for few years. He played a more active destroying role than John last ditch tackler Terry as I recall.
He might have been aggressive and a good tackler but he was never particularly strong or quick.
I thought he was deceptively quick tbh.
He's certainly not slow, when he does have the pace of someone like Smalling.
Fully agreed.
It's hard to argue for a defender who was now on decline and got forgotten now.
Well i think he was quite fast so, dont need to convince me on that. I think he used his strength well too - tenacious and clever.
Oh I'm not saying Carvalho was weak or slow by any means, but at the highest standard he would'nt be defined as a fast centreback or a strong one. My point being is if these were must have assets for a Mourinho CB then he would've never opted for Carvalho. For me by far his greatest asset was his intelligence, his ability to read the game and react accordingly.
Fair point. I do agree with you here. He is not on the high end of strength and quickness for CB. His great attribution is great anticipation of situation/ reading game.
Probably best we don't predict what Mourinho is going to do with what is already here, because we collectively got it all wrong over LvG's plans. We were all expecting RVP to get the armband, with Rooney and Fellaini punted out before even kicking a ball under his rule. However, I struggle to see Blind in a Mourinho team. I can't think of anyone similar in previous Mourinho teams (correct me if I am wrong there). He might keep him as a squad player to cover left back, central/defensive midfield and perhaps even centre back, as he is certainly a great option to have in that respect. I just don't see him as a starter in a tough, counter attacking set up.Daley Blind has spoken out over the sacking of Louis van Gaal and says Manchester United enjoyed a “successful season” despite finishing fifth.
Van Gaal was dismissed by United on Monday, 48 hours after winning the FA Cup at Wembley following a 2-1 triumph over Crystal Palace after extra-time.
Blind, who was brought to Old Trafford from Ajax in 2014 by Van Gaal, believes his compatriot “deserved more respect” over recent months, during which time speculation has been rife over the manager’s future and United’s interest in Mourinho.
“I’ve enjoyed working with the manager so much,” said Blind.
“I would have liked to have carried on for a long while.
“A manager at a big club in the Premier League will always be under pressure.
“But in the case of Van Gaal he has not been treated fairly over the last six months.
“I think a manager with the status of Van Gaal, who has achieved so much in his career, deserved more respect.”
Reports have suggested that the dressing room was close to mutiny due to Van Gaal’s methods, but Blind believes the whole squad should be grateful to their former manager for his backing this season.
Blind said: “No matter what was said or written about him as a manager, he never stopped protecting us as players.
“He has defended us under any kind of circumstances, he was always taking the stick instead of us.
“I think I can say that the whole squad is grateful for that, for what he has done in that respect for us as players.
“As players we kept believing in each other and we also kept believing in our manager, which was part of the reason we were able to win the FA Cup.
“We achieved this as a group, including the manager. In the end, this was a successful season in our eyes.”
You reckon? As a pure defender, I think Shaw is just as good as Blind. Both good tacklers and both reasonable - not great - in the air. Shaw's passing is perhaps not as good, but he's a good dribbler with searing pace. I think Shaw has more to offer a counter attacking approach than Blind.
Why? He's a great squad player who can put in good performances in three different positions (four if you include left wing back)
Doubt it.
I'd agree. I'd be shocked if Mourinho continues to play him alongside Smalling, but Blind definitely could be useful for us as a squad player and hopefully Mourinho will see that.
Zanetti was still at inter when he was there wasn't he?
You're doing Zanetti a lot of disservice here. He is very underrated player. He is IMO the only one defender who almost shut a healthy Messi off. Giggs did name him the toughest full back he was against in his career. Blind is nowhere near at his level. Blind is too slow and prone to get skinned by pacy wingers.
I'd agree but were talking about a 36ish year old zanetti here.
I was talking about Zanetti vs Messi in those CL semi final legs (Inter vs Barcelona). Yes, he was mid 30s there, and Messi couldn't gain ground against him 1 vs 1 in both legs.
But he will be replaced by a stronger, more physical and most importantly natural centre half. Which is the whole point really. All players mentioned are number one; natural centre halves. Number two; more physical than Daley.
Grab a dictionary, look up the word "context" and familiarize yourself with it.
Agree with the rest, but I'm not sure on that part yet. I think it remains to be seen. If he's not playing, I think there's a good chance he'll want out. He's been an important player in the last 3 or 4 seasons for club and country. I'm not sure he'd want to be a rotation option. I could be wrong, of course, but I think he's too good to be filling gaps here and there. I'd predict Blind himself feels he's too good to be doing that as well.
Perhaps you're right, just seems like a lad that'll get on with things to me.
Shaw is faster and stronger than Blind. He's like Ashley Cole with better crossing. It's hard to see any manager would prefer Blind over a fit Shaw.
He does seem pretty laid back and chill, to be fair. He might just sit on the bench with his feet up without a fuss, then come on and do the Mikel role for the last 10 minutes.
I'm not saying blind is as good as zanetti, at any age.
Just wanted to write this. No way will he be a starting player if everyone is fit. Well said, but we also need players like him.
Shaw's only 19 and still learning the game. Blind, whilst not stronger or faster, reads the game better than Shaw, in my opinion. Mourinho likes a defensive back, with the ability to also get forward. Blind can do that, and has a very good delivery and good decision making in the final third.
When Van Gaal first started he was playing Blind behind Herrera and Di Maria, it showed promise. The biggest crime wasmt moving Blind into defence though, it was playing DiMaria out wide. By far hi sbest seasons have been in central midfield for us, Madrid and Benfica even, total waste of talent by Van Gaal. Blind is a better central midfielder than he is a left back or centre back....but still an average one for me
I disagree with Blind is similar to Zanetti's style. Their similarity ends with versatility, and that's it. Zanetti is like a mixture of Lahm and Irwin. Yes I am talking about mid 30s Zanetti not even prime young Zanetti here. Blind severely lacks strength and pace. Blind is more similar to Heinze than Zanetti.
Style is the key word, not combined level of performance.
In my mind, this wasn't the weird bit, as much as why Ivanovic despite being not very good any more kept getting picked ahead of a Felipe Luiz LB/Azpilicueta RB combo
Nothing saying it can't happen, but there's nothing wrong with discussing what we think will/could happen.
