I see far more upside in Malacia than Shaw. He's very comfortable on the ball and I like the way he picks out passes forwards and between the lines. He does his little ball-roll to create angles and moves it forwards. Shaw boils my p*ss with the amount of times he needlessly plays the ball backwards. I think Shaw is taking on a new level in people's heads because he's not been playing. He had a decent season once for creating goals and chances, but generally he's not produced a lot in an attacking sense and I don't think he's as good as people are now making out.
I also believe there is a tactical change that probably won't suit Shaw. Look at how our fullbacks tuck in now, Malacia operates far more centrally and this is where his ability to pass well and off the ball movement is looking good. How does Shaw translate into this role?
And this is all before we get on to the discussion of defensive ability. Malacia is far more tenacious and closes his man down quickly. Ok he has hiccups here and there, which more experience will iron out, but another issue for Shaw was his lack of intensity. He always allows his man time on the ball, allows crosses in with minimal pressure. Then he had recurring issues with switching off to runs at his far post for crosses.
I think people are forgetting the issues that Shaw has had for a long time and has never managed to iron out. Concentration, energy, intensity, bravery in playing forwards under pressure. All of these things I am already seeing Malacia do, and he isn't even settled in fully yet, I imagine.