[Walters_19_MuFc]

Another very good game from Darmian today. Good on him.

 

[Scorpy]

He's not a full back, a role like Azpilicueta's at Chelsea would suit him.

Agreed. He was at his best as a wing-back in Torino 3-5-2 formation a couple of seasons ago.

Scored a fair few goals as well.

 

[ivaldo]

But what if Jose don't want to play a back 3? We've played it only a few times the entire season. Should we keep him around for those rare occasions or permanently alter the system to get the best out of Darmian? How often are we expecting such extreme man marking to be employed in future United games?

You say it yourself, "he just needs to be played in the right system". That generally hasn't been as a FB in a back 4 (he's had some decent/solid games there). Darmian is a pretty good defender when that is all he has to worry about, he had a very specific job today that involved following his man about and meant he wasn't relied upon to provide width and forward impetus but 90% of our games don't allow for that and we require a FB (his reputed position) to be involved in attacking phases and ball progression. He has his uses but they are quite limited based on the 2 season sample of evidence.

He was good today and full credit to him on his recent form.

No, he doesn't.

Mourinho plays with one attacking fullback and a defensive one. With Valencia on the opposite flank being the aggressor it's Darmians job to offer balance. He tucks in and makes a back three when Valencia has bombed forward and his offensive contribution doesn't need to be big. There's a place for him in this squad.

 

[Unlikely lad]

Agreed. He was at his best as a wing-back in Torino 3-5-2 formation a couple of seasons ago.

Scored a fair few goals as well.

Azpi doesn't play as a wingback though.

 

[Mike09]

It's very odd, but I did not see him today, unless I was mistaking him for Herrera.

He was man marking Pedro. Played like a traditional left back who focused more on defensive duty. Rarely going forward but he does his job very well today. He might have the less touches from our outfield 10 players but still he was very good and so did the others. You probably wasn't looking when he touched the ball.

 

[Scorpy]

Azpi doesn't play as a wingback though.

Yeah, you're right. Completely forgot he's sort of a centre-back in Conte's system.

 

[stevoc]

No, he doesn't.

Mourinho plays with one attacking fullback and a defensive one. With Valencia on the opposite flank being the aggressor it's Darmians job to offer balance. He tucks in and makes a back three when Valencia has bombed forward and his offensive contribution doesn't need to be big. There's a place for him in this squad.

When? Whenever Darmian plays?

If Shaw and Valencia both played both would bomb on. Blind doesn't even sit back that much when he plays at LB with Valencia at the other side. We only seem to employ this tactic with Darmian which points to it being down to Darmians playing style as opposed to specific instructions, as he didn't attack much under Van Gaal either.

 

[Skills]

Been impressed with him him this season. Last season I thought he was a shit defender and shit attacking. His defender has improved this season though, he doesn't get ripped open by any half decent winger now.

I think he probably needed a season to settle in to the PL and it's pace. It's probably much tougher for a fullback coming from serie a. He's still bad going forward, but as long as he can defend he'll have a career here.

 

[JoaquinJoaquin]

Probably on his best run of form since the first few months when he signed. Long may it continue.

 

[facund]

No, he doesn't.

Mourinho plays with one attacking fullback and a defensive one. With Valencia on the opposite flank being the aggressor it's Darmians job to offer balance. He tucks in and makes a back three when Valencia has bombed forward and his offensive contribution doesn't need to be big. There's a place for him in this squad.

What was the general consensus for the games he played at FB in such a system? Nothing as complementary as today I would suggest.

You make it sound like he doesn't go beyond the half way line, get in to crossing positions or overlap. He might not do that as often as Valencia but it happens and his underwhelming ability to do it does effect the teams attacking ability. If you feel he is good enough that's great but I don't think he offers enough at FB in a back 4 (or that he is a good enough pure defender to compensate for his on the ball deficiencies).

Of course there is a place for him in the squad (at present) but that doesn't mean we shouldn't find a player that is able to offer both defensive solidity with the added option of attacking prowess. That would provide options/flexibility we lack with Darmian in the team. If the option arises to move him on in favour of a more rounded FB then United should do so.

 

[Manny]

I've been massively critical of him but he was very good today.

Supported Young down the left, showed for the ball and wasn't wasteful with it.

 

[Jippy]

What was the general consensus for the games he played at FB in such a system? Nothing as complementary as today I would suggest.

You make it sound like he doesn't go beyond the half way line, get in to crossing positions or overlap. He might not do that as often as Valencia but it happens and his underwhelming ability to do it does effect the teams attacking ability. If you feel he is good enough that's great but I don't think he offers enough at FB in a back 4 (or that he is a good enough pure defender to compensate for his on the ball deficiencies).

Of course there is a place for him in the squad (at present) but that doesn't mean we shouldn't find a player that is able to offer both defensive solidity with the added option of attacking prowess. That would provide options/flexibility we lack with Darmian in the team. If the option arises to move him on in favour of a more rounded FB then United should do so.

Not sure we want him getting forward too much. His crossing is godawful. He is a wily defender though.

 

[facund]

Not sure we want him getting forward too much. His crossing is godawful. He is a wily defender though.

That kind of captures the essence of my point. He can defend but is too one dimensional to be a FB for United. I don't think it is asking too much to have a FB that can both defend and contribute better in build up and the attacking phase. If he was rock solid defensively I might look beyond his shortcomings but, as the post I initially quoted eluded to, he has struggled with the pace and physicality of the PL at times (and isn't himself ever going to be blessed in these areas).

 

[Jippy]

That kind of captures the essence of my point. He can defend but is too one dimensional to be a FB for United. I don't think it is asking too much to have a FB that can both defend and contribute better in build up and the attacking phase. If he was rock solid defensively I might look beyond his shortcomings but, as the post I initially quoted eluded to, he has struggled with the pace and physicality of the PL at times (and isn't himself ever going to be blessed in these areas).

It's tough. He has had great games and looks back on form, coping with the physical side well today.
He's no Evra going forward though. I think both strong attacking and defending fullbacks are so rare we'd take him as a squad player. Stuck to the gameplan well today.

 

[Cloud7]

I don't think Darmian will ever be at the level we would want our primary starting LB to be, however he should definitely be kept in the squad. He's quite a handy player in my opinion. He is a solid enough full back defensively, and he's fully capable of performing as a pseudo CB if the team needs it. Under a manager like Jose i'm sure we can find a lot of use for a utility player like him in the squad.

 

[facund]

Stuck to the gameplan well today.

Very good game today and good recent form.

 

[Sylar]

Will defo be interesting to see what happens to him come the summer. Few months ago I would have said he was defo out. But hes come into form and has been looking good esp defensively recently. Obviously confidence is helping him (seemed like he didnt recover after that 3-0 loss to Arsenal last season).

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

At times, he seemed to be play as CM. Great game.

He looks like Carrick from a distance.

 

[Bojan11]

He looks like Carrick from a distance.

I always got confused with him and Herrera.

 

[berbatrick]

I always got confused with him and Herrera.

Especially because of their position and their jobs today.

 

[ivaldo]

When? Whenever Darmian plays?

If Shaw and Valencia both played both would bomb on. Blind doesn't even sit back that much when he plays at LB with Valencia at the other side. We only seem to employ this tactic with Darmian which points to it being down to Darmians playing style as opposed to specific instructions, as he didn't attack much under Van Gaal either.

No in general, it's well documented he plays like this.

What was the general consensus for the games he played at FB in such a system? Nothing as complementary as today I would suggest.

You make it sound like he doesn't go beyond the half way line, get in to crossing positions or overlap. He might not do that as often as Valencia but it happens and his underwhelming ability to do it does effect the teams attacking ability. If you feel he is good enough that's great but I don't think he offers enough at FB in a back 4 (or that he is a good enough pure defender to compensate for his on the ball deficiencies).

Of course there is a place for him in the squad (at present) but that doesn't mean we shouldn't find a player that is able to offer both defensive solidity with the added option of attacking prowess. That would provide options/flexibility we lack with Darmian in the team. If the option arises to move him on in favour of a more rounded FB then United should do so.

No, that's not what I'm suggesting at all. He contributes in an attacking sense, like against Anderlecht for Mhkitaryan. I feel he is good enough for a squad position, as a specialist for instances like today, and Mourinho seems to agree.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

When he's on his game he reminds me of Azpilacueta. A really neat and tidy defender, constantly nicking the ball away without ever fouling or over-committing. Can see why Mourinho likes him.

 

[marjen]

When he's on his game he reminds me of Azpilacueta. A really neat and tidy defender, constantly nicking the ball away without ever fouling or over-committing. Can see why Mourinho likes him.

Plus he's one of those guys who'll stick to his task 100 %.

Tell him to man mark someone and they won't get a kick, much like Herrera and Young in that regard.

 

[ti vu]

Plus he's one of those guys who'll stick to his task 100 %.

Tell him to man mark someone and they won't get a kick, much like Herrera and Young in that regard.

It's not just about man marking and being with the man, but also when it's into grey area where you can't just blindly follow your mark and ignore the team shape, it's where understanding of the game & positional discipline come into play. He showed his worth in this situation.

 

[Litch]

He's like many of our current defenders....will the real Damian, Rojo, Smalling, Jones please stand up? Injuries aside, I'm not bloody sure whether he's the Damian that was outstanding when we first signed or like the others, a bit of a purple patch only to revert back to crap. In fairness to Rojo at CB, he's pretty solid.

I think he'll be sold along with Smalling this summer.

 

[marjen]

It's not just about man marking and being with the man, but also when it's into grey area where you can't just simply follow your mark and ignore the team shape, it's where understanding of the game & positional discipline come into play.

But yesterday was a pure man-marking job, to such an extent that Darmian followed Pedro back into his own half. The same with Herrera.

It was a system tailor made to stop Chelsea and it worked.

 

[ti vu]

But yesterday was a pure man-marking job, to such an extent that Darmian followed Pedro back into his own half. The same with Herrera.

It was a system tailor made to stop Chelsea and it worked.

There was an instance he decided to leave his mark since if he followed there is space for Chelsea to exploit. He chose correct decision which prevented a potential threat.

 

[Fracture90]

Need to give him credit for completly eliminating Pedro from the game.

 

[SirAF]

Slowly and quietly finding some form again.

 

[Di Maria's angel]

Slowly and quietly finding some form again.

Think he was good earlier in the season then fell away once he was left out. Regained that form again and he's looking like the fullback we thought we had purchased last season.

 

[UnrelatedPsuedo]

Signed as a right back. Plays left back.

He's adapted to the left hand side of the pitch so well. Annoys me when he's criticized for playing an unfamiliar role.

He's had more good games than bad. Pleased for him.

 

[SirAF]

Think he was good earlier in the season then fell away once he was left out. Regained that form again and he's looking like the fullback we thought we had purchased last season.

Yup. I'm not sure he's first choice material, but I really hope he stays.

 

[RedMaestro]

Signed as a right back. Plays left back.

He's adapted to the left hand side of the pitch so well. Annoys me when he's criticized for playing an unfamiliar role.

He's had more good games than bad. Pleased for him.

Agreed. He's doing his job without complaining, a true professional.

 

[CM]

Signed as a right back. Plays left back.

He's adapted to the left hand side of the pitch so well. Annoys me when he's criticized for playing an unfamiliar role.

He's had more good games than bad. Pleased for him.

It's not that unfamiliar, he had already played on the left several times for Torino and I think Italy before he joined us. He has been fairly reliable defensively for us this season but he rarely contributes in attack which is obviously a huge consideration for the modern day full back.

As others have said though, I could see him reinventing himself in a similar way to Azpilicueta if we choose to go down the three man defence route at any time in the future.

 

[Djemba-Djemba]

This is his best run of form since that first month of the season last year.

Was very solid yesterday

 

[Robertd0803]

Where has this Darmian been? Fantastic performance, kept Pedro quiet and was really good. More of the same please.

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

An Italian defender playing a.perfect game when equipped tactically. Quell surprise!

 

[stevoc]

No in general, it's well documented he plays like this.

Well i don't know about that, at previous clubs perhaps but he hasn't down it at United that i have seen. Rojo, Blind, Shaw and even Young have played LB opposite Valencia this year none have seemed to sit back as deep as Darmian.

This nonsense about Darmian being under instructions to not go forward is bullshit. Thats just the way he plays.

 

[Fracture90]

Azpi doesn't play as a wingback though.

True. Moses is their RWB.

 

[stevoc]

Signed as a right back. Plays left back.

He's adapted to the left hand side of the pitch so well. Annoys me when he's criticized for playing an unfamiliar role.

He's had more good games than bad. Pleased for him.

He did very well yesterday, and his recent form is promising (defensively anyway) but lets pump the breaks here and not go overboard. He's been down right awful for most of this season and last. The fact people are saying this is his best patch of form since august 2015 says it all.