Daley Blind image 17

Daley Blind Netherlands flag

2015-16 Performances


View full 2015-16 profile

5.9 Season Average Rating
Appearances
56
Clean sheets
22
Goals
2
Assists
4
Yellow cards
3
Status
Not open for further replies.

Wednesday at Stoke

Full Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2014
Messages
21,629
Location
Copenhagen
Supports
Time Travel
Blind isnt good enough to play holding for us, but I wonder is Schneiderlin that much better? Schneiderlin is a better ballstopper but Blind is netter tactically and better on the ball. Is the difference that big? Blind also played in a 4141 formation instead of the 4231, which offers far more protection and is less offensive.
I think is the other way around. In the 4-1-4-1 he's the only defensive midfielder. The other two were either out and out attacking midfielders (Di Maria & Herrera) or Fellaini and Herrera which probably afforded a bit more protection but playing alongside someone like Scheniderlin would make it much more easy for him.

I however do not wish to move him out of defense though, I think a large part of the shape and organization we have there right now is down to him. People commented a lot about how Smalling has helped him but I think it also works the other way around by Blind being the most vocal of the back 6 if you include the DM ahead of him and the keeper to keep everyone in line. Its almost like having a defensive coach out on the field.
 

adexkola

Doesn't understand sportswashing.
Joined
Mar 17, 2008
Messages
48,033
Location
The CL is a glorified FA Cup set to music
Supports
orderly disembarking on planes
Just the fact that he is comfortable playing in so many positions make him extremely valuable. Hes like a better O'Shea

I really wonder what he will end up playing as long term. So far hes put in really good performances at DM, LB and now CB
For all the flack O'Shea got, he was capable of delivering consistent 7.5/10 performances anywhere on the pitch. Blind has his moments but I wouldn't say he's much better than prime O'Shea.

They both have a knack for getting important goals though. O'Shea against Liverpool in '07 and Arsenal at home in '09, and Blind against West Ham last season, and Liverpool this season.

Typing that just made me realize Blind may be my favorite player right now.
 

Santiago_KinderBueno

Santiago Kinder Bannedo
Joined
May 6, 2015
Messages
2,351
Location
Outta Space Somewhere Near The Prodigy
For all the flack O'Shea got, he was capable of delivering consistent 7.5/10 performances anywhere on the pitch. Blind has his moments but I wouldn't say he's much better than prime O'Shea.

They both have a knack for getting important goals though. O'Shea against Liverpool in '07 and Arsenal at home in '09, and Blind against West Ham last season, and Liverpool this season.

Typing that just made me realize Blind may be my favorite player right now.
Get in line mate!
 

Mali_Zeus

New Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2012
Messages
16,987
Location
Zagreb, Hrvatska
For all the criticism LVG got for some of his decisions it seems putting Blind to CB was a right one.
Credit where credit is due.
 

sincher

"I will cry if Rooney leaves"
Joined
Sep 20, 2004
Messages
25,587
Location
YSC
Yes it's been a good call, though you could make a question out of it - why TF did you not try it last season?
 

JPRouve

can't stop thinking about balls - NOT deflategate
Scout
Joined
Jan 31, 2014
Messages
65,354
Location
France
Yes it's been a good call, though you could make a question out of it - why TF did you not try it last season?
Carrick injuries, Shaw injuries and you have to work that for months.
 

Ixion

Full Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2003
Messages
15,275
Yes it's been a good call, though you could make a question out of it - why TF did you not try it last season?
We didn't have Schneiderlin or Schweinsteiger to cover in midfield and Shaw was injured most of the season. Although I'm pretty sure Blind did cover at CB for the game against Palace at Old Trafford.
 

sincher

"I will cry if Rooney leaves"
Joined
Sep 20, 2004
Messages
25,587
Location
YSC
Yes, accept that, especially the lack of options in midfield. But we had ridiculous chopping and changing at the back and it would have helped a lot I think.
 

Riz

Full Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2014
Messages
4,242
Location
UK
Also the parts where Blind may get exposed as a centre back are minimised with the increased protection our defence now has, wouldn't have been possible with last seasons midfield I don't think.
 

ivaldo

Mediocre Horse Whisperer, s'up wid chew?
Joined
Nov 15, 2012
Messages
28,699
Is there a player in the league who is more monitored than Blind right now? He's under a microscope and any inkling on a mistake will be blown out of proportion. He has been condemned as a failure by many before he even kicked a ball at centreback. When you consider that he's done amazingly well to deal with pressure.
 
PSV 2:1 Man Utd

Americano

Make America Great Again!
Joined
Jun 6, 2013
Messages
3,978
Location
Home of the 2015 World Cup Champions
We're lucky to have a player like Daley who can slide over to left back and then provide a beautiful pass for the opening goal. He may not look like a prototypical center half but I have to respect his contribution to all phases of the game and his positional versatility.
 

Baxter

Full Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2010
Messages
11,737
In love with Daley :lol: what a pass. He's absolutely brilliant.
 

UnitedBoy

Redcafe Yahoo Pool champion 2007
Joined
Mar 16, 2006
Messages
5,831
Defence gone to pieces without him. Young or rojo left back?
 

Annihilate Now!

...or later, I'm not fussy
Scout
Joined
Nov 4, 2010
Messages
49,674
Location
W.Yorks
Not great for their first goal, If you know you're not going to get a good connection on that, then you're better of letting your keeper/bloke on the line deal with it.

Still, I was a bit fecked off that we moved him to Left Back... where's the logic there? Why split up your CB pairing that's been excellent all season? makes no sense.
 

Devil may care

New Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2010
Messages
35,976
His header on their 1st goal was one of those reflex moments, other than that he played pretty well IMO but personally I'd keep him at LCB and use Rojo at LB.
 

Ixion

Full Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2003
Messages
15,275
Good pass for the goal. Very surprised he wasn't kept at CB though and Rojo LB.
 

Acole9

Outstanding
Joined
Feb 17, 2013
Messages
12,503
He was fine at centre half tonight but then when he switched to left back it all went to pot for him. Based on tonight I'm hoping for the next match he'll put Rojo at left back.
 

ivaldo

Mediocre Horse Whisperer, s'up wid chew?
Joined
Nov 15, 2012
Messages
28,699
Absolute mismatch against Pelle. If he goes through the second half without conceding it'll be something
Getting zero protection from Carrick, you isolate Blind and he will struggle, infact most defenders would.
 

2mufc0

Everything is fair game in capitalism!
Joined
Jan 8, 2014
Messages
16,992
Supports
Dragon of Dojima
Said it before and say it again, he shouldn't play centre back in away matches.
 

2mufc0

Everything is fair game in capitalism!
Joined
Jan 8, 2014
Messages
16,992
Supports
Dragon of Dojima
What difference does it make which stadium he plays at?
We normally have 70% possession at home we have little to do. Away from home we have more pressure on us naturally being the away team, Swansea and today are good examples.
 

DWelbz19

Correctly predicted Portugal to win Euro 2016
Joined
Oct 31, 2012
Messages
33,745
Unsurprisingly, Pelle dominated him until he moved to Smalling's side, for some reason. These forwards will continue to do that.
 

Varun

Moderator
Staff
Joined
Mar 16, 2011
Messages
46,772
Location
Mumbai
Pelle had him for size and strength, Mane had him for pace.

They had a right go at Blind today, and he looked shaky.
Yeah. Exploited him today. Looked lost. Mane was too tricky for him, wasn't about pace for me.
 

tom porter

New Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Messages
402
He simple does not have the physical tools necessary to play cb at the this level. Too slow to handle Mane on the ground and not strong enough to handle Pelle in the air. I'd like to see us play Jones-Smalling with Blind at lb once Jones is healthy.
 

ivaldo

Mediocre Horse Whisperer, s'up wid chew?
Joined
Nov 15, 2012
Messages
28,699
I said earlier he wasn't getting any protection and we saw him exposed. Between Rojo and Carrick he was getting next to no protection. He's a very capable centreback when the system is there.
 

Van Piorsing

Lost his light sabre
Joined
Feb 10, 2006
Messages
22,525
Location
Polska
He's not the permanent solution in defense but he can get the job done at many times.

We may need one more signing to this formation but this time it has to be a highest shelf defender, possibly with bit of experience, too.
 

Devil may care

New Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2010
Messages
35,976
He struggled today, I thought it was his poorest game of the season. Couldn't cope with Pelle physically and couldn't handle Mane's pace. I think we saw how vital Shaw is for us in the way him and Smalling act as bodyguards either side of him, Rojo positionally doesn't have the discipline to do the same job.
 

Escobar

Shameless Musketeer
Joined
Jun 8, 2004
Messages
30,063
Location
La-La-Land
Opposition team will target him obviously. He's the weak point. In most games it will go well but there are games where it just won't work, especially if it's a team that manages to trouble us
 
Status
Not open for further replies.