[Santiago_KinderBueno]

A truly terrible performance from Blind. I thought he lost his nerve completely. Of course he struggled against Gomis' power and turn of pace but you'd hope his positioning would limit the damage. The only surprising thing was that neither goal was particularly his fault.

Then why is it a terrible performance?

 

[Devil may care]

It is what it is, when he gets isolated by a big powerful #9 he'll have these issues and we didn't protect him well enough. I think in a game like this we'd have played Rojo if he was fit, that's the point of a squad even though as a rule you wouldn't want tinker with your back 4 if you don't need to.

 

[ivaldo]

Wasn't a particularly great performance, wasnt terrible either. He wasn't bullied by Gomis like some were expecting. Got beaten by an excellent turn in the first half but other than that he was rarely outmuscled.

 

[SteveW]

Gomis made things difficult for Blind in the first half, sure. He also made things difficult for Smalling in the second half, outpacing him for his goal. If that had happened to Blind you would never hear the end of it but the fact it happened to our fastest defender shows that pace and power really isn't the answer to everything. Likewise for Ayew's goal. If Blind had missed the header the knives would be out, but because it:s Smalling it's just a small error from a ruthless counterattack.

Absolutely 100% guaranteed this game will be referred to as the game when Blind was found out when it was his unbeatable partner for both goals

Surely that's normal when Smalling has already proven himself to be a very good centre back. Its Blinds 3rd best position and he hasn't played there much so obviously people will have doubts about him there.

Blind gave the performance you would logically expect him to give in that situation. Its no slight on him. I just think today was asking a bit too much from a player of his type playing in that position.

Don't think anyone is saying pace and power are the only attributes required either but they are obviously useful against someone like Gomis. If Rojo or Jones had been fit they would have been more suited to the task and we would have had a better chance of keeping them out.

That's not a criticism of Blind. Its just common sense. He is after all a midfielder/left back as opposed to a specialist central defender. I think against a partnership like Ayew and Gomis you need two proper CBs

 

[Brwned]

Surely that's normal when Smalling has already proven himself to be a very good centre back. Its Blinds 3rd best position and he hasn't played there much so obviously people will have doubts about him there.

Blind gave the performance you would logically expect him to give in that situation. Its no slight on him. I just think today was asking a bit too much from a player of his type playing in that position.

Don't think anyone is saying pace and power are the only attributes required either but they are obviously useful against someone like Gomis. If Rojo or Jones had been fit they would have been more suited to the task and we would have had a better chance of keeping them out.

That's not a criticism of Blind. Its just common sense. He is after all a midfielder/left back as opposed to a specialist central defender. I think against a partnership like Ayew and Gomis you need two proper CBs

I have no idea how you can say that when Blind's lack of pace or power had literally nothing to do with the goals we conceded, and the player with the most pace, power and height was powerless to keep them out on both occasions?

 

[SteveW]

I have no idea how you can say that when Blind's lack of pace or power had literally nothing to do with the goals we conceded, and the player with the most pace, power and height was powerless to keep them out on both occasions?

I don't quite get this. Blind should be exempt from judgement because his mistakes didn't lead to goals? I'm giving the opinion we would be more solid with two specialist centre halves who could match up with the likes of Gomis. Its not a crazy thing to say.

I never said Blind was at fault for the goals

 

[ivaldo]

I have no idea how you can say that when Blind's lack of pace or power had literally nothing to do with the goals we conceded, and the player with the most pace, power and height was powerless to keep them out on both occasions?

He's been banging on about this for days and quoted me out of the blue as some kind of vindication at half time. He's previously said his positioning sense and intellectual aspects of the game are fine but he can't play there because he isn't strong or fast. As you said despite the fact the goals had nothing to do with his lack of physicality the fact we conceded two and Gomis scores some how proves him right...

 

[Brwned]

I don't quite get this. Blind should be exempt from judgement because his mistakes didn't lead to goals? I'm giving the opinion we would be more solid with two specialist centre halves who could match up with the likes of Gomis. Its not a crazy thing to say.

I never said Blind was at fault for the goals

There was only one occasion where Blind's lack of pace and power was exposed and that was when Gomis hit the post, and in the very same move Smalling was left on his arse by Gomis which shows that even if you have the pace to stop him he can be very difficult to deal with. Surely if it was something that is so easily exploited then they would've just targeted him the whole game and ultimately created chances from it? In reality they exposed our defensive disorganisation and poor tracking of runners on both occasions. Blind is better at that than Jones and a lot better than Rojo, so I can only see them leaving us more exposed not less so.

I just think people overstate the importance of individual physical attributes when more often than not it's defensive disorganisation - through poor positioning, communication or just overall reading of the game - that leads to chances being created, and Blind is very good at that side of things. He has his weaknesses no doubt but I'm just saying that those weaknesses are less important than Rojo's weaknesses, for example, but it's far easier to point to physical traits than mental traits and this whole "pace and power" image that the PL is famed for is so prevalent that people worry far more about the former.

There's also that thing about it being his 3rd position. I don't agree at all. In a possession-based team he's much better in defence than in midfield and I'm not convinced he's any better at left back than he is at centre back. People refused to accept Blind could ever be a good left back in the PL for the exact same reasons they're saying he can't be a good centre back which is what I find really odd. They eventually accepted he is in fact a good left back - proving his lack of pace wasn't that easy to take advantage of despite it unquestionably being more exposed on the wing - and the strengths he showed out there - his organisational qualities, positioning and overall reading of the game - are utilised far more often in the centre, but that gets ignored completely while people regurgitate the same argument all over again.

 

[Santiago_KinderBueno]

Even if we go out and get a CB; i still think Blind can be a fantastic CB for us with practise.

 

[SteveW]

There was only one occasion where Blind's lack of pace and power was exposed and that was when Gomis hit the post, and in the very same move Smalling was left on his arse by Gomis which shows that even if you have the pace to stop him he can be very difficult to deal with. Surely if it was something that is so easily exploited then they would've just targeted him the whole game and ultimately created chances from it? In reality they exposed our defensive disorganisation and poor tracking of runners on both occasions. Blind is better at that than Jones and a lot better than Rojo, so I can only see them leaving us more exposed not less so.

I just think people overstate the importance of individual physical attributes when more often than not it's defensive disorganisation - through poor positioning, communication or just overall reading of the game - that leads to chances being created, and Blind is very good at that side of things. He has his weaknesses no doubt but I'm just saying that those weaknesses are less important than Rojo's weaknesses, for example, but it's far easier to point to physical traits than mental traits and this whole "pace and power" image that the PL is famed for is so prevalent that people worry far more about the former.

There's also that thing about it being his 3rd position. I don't agree at all. In a possession-based team he's much better in defence than in midfield and I'm not convinced he's any better at left back than he is at centre back. People refused to accept Blind could ever be a good left back in the PL for the exact same reasons they're saying he can't be a good centre back which is what I find really odd. They eventually accepted he is in fact a good left back - proving his lack of pace wasn't that easy to take advantage of despite it unquestionably being more exposed on the wing - and the strengths he showed out there - his organisational qualities, positioning and overall reading of the game - are utilised far more often in the centre, but that gets ignored completely while people regurgitate the same argument all over again.

Ok. I take it you also feel he will be a good CB for us. I don't. We've covered the physical part. I'm also still not fully convinced that his positioning, organising etc is as good as people keep saying. He looks to me like he's still figuring the position out. Anyway hopefully you're right and he will be a success at CB. Personally I'd be surprised. I don't think he has the tools.

Alex Ferguson said if Gary Neville was a few inches taller he'd be the best centre half in Britain. But he wasn't so he ended up at right back. He did ok at CB on the odd time he played there but was never going to be a Ferdinand or a Vidic. All the systems in the world wouldn't have made him a good enough centre half for United. I feel the same about Blind.

For what it's worth I agree on Rojo to a fair extent. He's all over the place. He isn't a good centre half. I think Jones can be though.

 

[Sarni]

Then why is it a terrible performance?

Because he is Blind and something has to be wrong with him. He came from Eredivisie.

He was actually not that bad today.

 

[dustfingers]

When thin on protection from LB and two DMs, he looks very vulnerable. Not even worth mentioning that he's not going to be a world class CB just because LvG decided to try him there. Every time team gets behind our two DMs, its either full-backs or Smalling who are the saving grace. Blind just looks caught up and then jogs back to defend the space. Is he worth the risk at CB considering his vulnerabilities just for his passing?

 

[worldinmotion66]

There was only one occasion where Blind's lack of pace and power was exposed and that was when Gomis hit the post, and in the very same move Smalling was left on his arse by Gomis which shows that even if you have the pace to stop him he can be very difficult to deal with. Surely if it was something that is so easily exploited then they would've just targeted him the whole game and ultimately created chances from it? In reality they exposed our defensive disorganisation and poor tracking of runners on both occasions. Blind is better at that than Jones and a lot better than Rojo, so I can only see them leaving us more exposed not less so.

I just think people overstate the importance of individual physical attributes when more often than not it's defensive disorganisation - through poor positioning, communication or just overall reading of the game - that leads to chances being created, and Blind is very good at that side of things. He has his weaknesses no doubt but I'm just saying that those weaknesses are less important than Rojo's weaknesses, for example, but it's far easier to point to physical traits than mental traits and this whole "pace and power" image that the PL is famed for is so prevalent that people worry far more about the former.

There's also that thing about it being his 3rd position. I don't agree at all. In a possession-based team he's much better in defence than in midfield and I'm not convinced he's any better at left back than he is at centre back. People refused to accept Blind could ever be a good left back in the PL for the exact same reasons they're saying he can't be a good centre back which is what I find really odd. They eventually accepted he is in fact a good left back - proving his lack of pace wasn't that easy to take advantage of despite it unquestionably being more exposed on the wing - and the strengths he showed out there - his organisational qualities, positioning and overall reading of the game - are utilised far more often in the centre, but that gets ignored completely while people regurgitate the same argument all over again.

Couldn't agree more. I'd say Blind would have been in an ideal position to defend both goals had our fullbacks also been in position, Smalling too. We were caught out by a counter attack when both full backs were far too advanced and Rooney carelessly and needlessly gave the ball away, and by an exceptional ball and run when I believe Shaw was again out of position (which can be forgiven as he was our only attacking threat and was up and down that flank all game). It appears that some people just have this initial opinion of Blind and can't see past it (pun there somewhere), he's been a revelation at centre back in my opinion.

 

[SteveW]

He's been banging on about this for days and quoted me out of the blue as some kind of vindication at half time. He's previously said his positioning sense and intellectual aspects of the game are fine but he can't play there because he isn't strong or fast. As you said despite the fact the goals had nothing to do with his lack of physicality the fact we conceded two and Gomis scores some how proves him right...

I quoted you because you'd been asking for examples of his struggling against a powerful striker.

I've actually never really commented too much on his positioning or intellectual aspects of his game. Please don't put words in my mouth

What I find frustrating is you act like I've some sort of agenda here. It's an opinion. An opinion that Neville and Carragher clearly shared in their halftime analysis. I'm not for a second saying their word is gospel but they both had long careers as defenders for big clubs. They both have champions league medals ffs. Do they have some sort of weird agenda against him too?

Clearly it's just the world vs Daley Blind here. How else could so many people possibly cast doubts on the man's brilliance as a centre half?

Edit: Just noticed the last part of you're post. Where did you get that from? I quoted you at half time. Gomis scored in the second half. I never made any comment about Gomis' goal in relation to Blind. It hadn't even happened yet.

 

[Santiago_KinderBueno]

Dalye blind when out of position has normally read the danger before anyone else.

 

[SteveW]

When thin on protection from LB and two DMs, he looks very vulnerable. Not even worth mentioning that he's not going to be a world class CB just because LvG decided to try him there. Every time team gets behind our two DMs, its either full-backs or Smalling who are the saving grace. Blind just looks caught up and then jogs back to defend the space. Is he worth the risk at CB considering his vulnerabilities just for his passing?

I've seen this a fair bit too actually. But all I've been reading is how great his positioning is.

Not to be too harsh on the lad though. He's doing well enough in the circumstances. I genuinely think people are trying to be too clever and failing to see the obvious. I fully expect in a years time for Blind to no longer been seen as a CB and people to look back on it as just another one of LVG's odd little experiments.

 

[dustfingers]

I've seen this a fair bit too actually. But all I've been reading is how great his positioning is.

Not to be too harsh on the lad though. He's doing well enough in the circumstances. I genuinely think people are trying to be too clever and failing to see the obvious. I fully expect in a years time for Blind to no longer been seen as a CB and people to look back on it as just another one of LVG's odd little experiments.

His positioning may be great or the best ever but with the way we play having a high line, without good recovery pace which both Jones and Rojo possess, he is going to give initiative to opponent ST. He's not a physical player either which Rojo and Jones are, and which I think is necessary to be a defender. Carrick was just as smarter and just as physical as Blind and he'd have some poor games at CB. We didn't have caftards wishing for him to play at CB with Jones being sold. No difference with Blind. He can do a job but he's not a CB.

 

[Everest Red]

Because he is Blind and something has to be wrong with him. He came from Eredivisie.

He was actually not that bad today.

He's short and slow. We want quick, speedy players with pace and height.

 

[ivaldo]

I quoted you because you'd been asking for examples of his struggling against a powerful striker.

I've actually never really commented too much on his positioning or intellectual aspects of his game. Please don't put words in my mouth

What I find frustrating is you act like I've some sort of agenda here. It's an opinion. An opinion that Neville and Carragher clearly shared in their halftime analysis. I'm not for a second saying their word is gospel but they both had long careers as defenders for big clubs. They both have champions league medals ffs. Do they have some sort of weird agenda against him too?

Clearly it's just the world vs Daley Blind here. How else could so many people possibly cast doubts on the man's brilliance as a centre half?

And ypu refused to give me any. the examples you eventually gave had absolutely nothing to do with physicality as has been pointed out to you by myself and others. He didn't struggle physically against him and yet you're still banging on about it.

 

[George Owen]

His fullback was on the otherside of the pitch. Both goals.

Where the feck were our 'defensive midfielders' or any midfielders? Depay was fecking lazy to track back, Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin both gone missing.

i did that remark after the first goal... Blind instead of rushing out to prevent the cross, was found out in the middle of the ball's way, marking no one, and offering no pressure to the ball's carrier.

So yeah, he was slow, both physically and mentally to react to that situation. Shaw had nothing to do with it because he was just participating in a very good attack play, which resulted in a very fast counter attack, so zero blame to him.

I agree our midfield (specially 40yo Schweinsteiger) failed miserably to give him cover, and yeah, Depay is a primadonna.

Still, CB is never going to be his position (not in our league at least), and as soon Jones or Rojo are fit, he wont play any more there (hopefully). His passing is nice when he has space, but we shouldn't be relying on our CBs to start our football. specially with the midfield we have). Their primary mission should be defend our goal.

 

[ZDwyr]

He struggled a bit with Gomis at times. He wasn't awful or anything, but he did have some issues.

 

[R'hllor]

Think it would be much better if he was right footed and Mike left,Darmian is better when it comes to defending and sense of position then Shaw,Shaw going forward is great but sometimes he is giving Blind more trouble then Darmian on other side imo.

 

[Hamadovich86]

Weird for anyone to say Blind was "found out" yesterday. Everyone knows he lacks strength/pace, hes an intelligent player who can pass really well thats why LvG wants him at CB because I guess thats what he expects from a CB.

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

This Abe Lincoln beard has to go.

 

[Devil may care]

This Abe Lincoln beard has to go.

I'm sure by this time tomorrow we'll have sold it or sent it on loan somewhere.

 

[RedMachine03]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[pierrethesnack]

This Abe Lincoln beard has to go.

I like it!

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

That article sounds like some pretentious feck just ate a dictionary for breakfast.

 

[ivaldo]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

What a horribly constructed article. I flow better when I'm constapated.

 

[Brwned]

Big test today. Not just because he's up against a striker that has physically dominated Smalling before, but also because they're up against two strikers for the first (?) time all season. He can't just let Smalling mark the striker while he sweeps up in behind. Should be interesting.

 

[RoadTrip]

Well from what I've seen so far as well as early this season, looks like I'll have to hold my hands up here. Blind is doing very well. Hopefully I don't jinx him...

 

[Minimalist]

Bentekkers in his pocket.

Super Daley Blind.

 

[Minimalist]

FOR SHAME YOU CNUTS! FOR SHAME.

SUPER DALEY BLIND! DUTCH MASTER!

 

[Big Ben Foster]

Love this guy

 

[Raptori]

 

[Dans]

Today's hero without a doubt.

 

[Red Stone]

Just close the vote. He's the man of the match.

 

[Wittmann45]

He was good last year considering he played in different positions, though he was more consistently used in the LB role near the end. However, I have to say I doubted him completely and his new role. The couple times he has completely out-muscled Benteke was very impressive as well. Still might go sour at one point in the season, but he has been a revelation. Martial to get the headlines, but Blind continues to impress in his new role

 

[FC Ronaldo]

Fecking wonderful. A straight 10.

 

[Baxter]

Amazing. Absolute class tonight.