[pseudo_canadian]

His defending is so good and just rock solid. I'm never worried when a player is taking him one-on-one.

He will improve his attacking prowess over time, but I'm not even worried about that because he defends like he's been playing top-level football for 10 years. Amazing talent.

 

[bishblaize]

His defending is so good and just rock solid. I'm never worried when a player is taking him one-on-one.

He will improve his attacking prowess over time, but I'm not even worried about that because he defends like he's been playing top-level football for 10 years. Amazing talent.

I don't worry about the long term, because actually when he does attack he does okay. The problem is just being a little over-cautious and that's probably a combination of being young and new to the club.

However, I do worry short term because with him on one side and Valencia on the other we're painfully narrow in attack.

 

[Get In Scholesy]

I'd rather have a young fullback who is a natural defender than a converted winger into a full back. The attacking aspect of his game can be coached into him, looks an exciting player.

By the way, he's a quick stocky looking bastard.

 

[Sarni]

He'll improve offensively, I certainly remember him making impressive runs at Southampton and he's got himself in good positions this season, his delivery is lacking but he has it in him to improve significantly in that aspect because he's already shown glimpses of genuine quality.

 

[DWelbz19]

His style of play really reminds me of a young Abidal at Monaco and Lille more-so than an Evra at the same stage in his career. Similarly tall for a fullback, not the greatest going forward at this point but an effortless defender who is also generally reliable in possession. Eric made impressive strides at Barcelona and was a fixture as a left back who could control possession and made attacking contributions with intelligently timed runs without compromising on his defensive positioning.

Shaw could easily become a player like that with proper tutoring and maybe even more given his superior physical skill-set. Will be interesting to watch him develop over the next decade. Wouldn't be surprising if he even contributes as a central defender at times. Shaw certainly has the defensive awareness and presence to do a job there, just like Abidal did.

And like Abidal, Shaw looks like he could fill in almost as a left sided CB in a lopsided 3 back with his height and defensive prowess if we get a marauding right back like Alves was at his best. I really do rate him highly, and he's only 19. Injuries will be the only thing preventing him, his potential is sky high.

 

[Adam-Utd]

His defending is so good and just rock solid. I'm never worried when a player is taking him one-on-one.

He will improve his attacking prowess over time, but I'm not even worried about that because he defends like he's been playing top-level football for 10 years. Amazing talent.

Ha, it's almost De Gea like in a sense that I always think "go on shoot from there, you'll never score!". When I saw their RB who obviously fancied himself as pacey try to knock it passed Shaw, I literally had a little giggle as he got into stride and realized nope not getting passed.

 

[Keeps It tidy]

Watching Chelsea play they do alright even though their three main FBs are not that great attacking wise. So even if Shaw does not turn into a great attacking threat I am not too worried.

 

[Devil may care]

He was playing well and LvG took him off, unless he was injured I don't get it.

 

[Cina]

He was playing well and LvG took him off, unless he was injured I don't get it.

He was replaced because LvG wanted the attacking thread that Young offers on the field. I doubt it had anything to do with his performance.

 

[Escobar]

Him and ADM is not really working yet but I also thought it was a poor sub. Rather have Young playing upfront for Fellaini

 

[Ludens the Red]

He was playing well and LvG took him off, unless he was injured I don't get it.

Maybe because he always looks like he's just ran a marathon.

 

[Devil may care]

He was replaced because LvG wanted the attacking thread that Young offers on the field. I doubt it had anything to do with his performance.

Young should have came on for RvP and played ahead of Shaw to double up our attacking threat.

 

[saivet]

Young should have came on for RvP and played ahead of Shaw to double up our attacking threat.

Baffled as to why this didn't happen

 

[Eric'sCollar]

Thought he had a good game. Was shocked when he came off.

 

[bugmat]

Baffled as to why this didn't happen

The same reason RvP didn't come off for Wilson to play on the right head of Valencia...RvP appears to be Loui's lovechild!

 

[bucky]

Young should have came on for RvP and played ahead of Shaw to double up our attacking threat.

Thought he had a good game. Was shocked when he came off.

Agreed.

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

Disappointed in him for the Ki goal, I'd rarely expect him to be beaten like that defensively.

 

[RORY65]

Disappointed in him for the Ki goal, I'd rarely expect him to be beaten like that defensively.

I don't think he's particularly brilliant positionally, I'm sure that will develop as he matures, but he's already really strong in one-on-one situations. If he matures as he should and we can refine his game going forward then he'll be a fantastic (albeit very expensive) full back for many years to come.

 

[kundalini]

He seems to make a lot of defensive errors. Not only the Ki goal but the other big Ki chance that was saved too. Going forward he was better than usual but a horrible defensive display.

 

[ZDwyr]

Seems most here is positive, which I find strange. I thought he did well going forward but was poor defensively. Strange because it is usually the other way around. He lost his man a few times when they made runs across him, especially on the first goal. I would have kept him on the field though.

 

[mu77]

he was no better than most. which isn't good enough.

 

[m1y2]

Thought he had a good game. Was shocked when he came off.

He had a good game IMO, getting better going forward, solid defensively, quite unlucky with the goal. He must have gone out as we were prepared to stick to the hoofing tactics so Van Gaal tweaked some areas he could like wing play, Young is obviously better going forward, he used to be a winger/striker for once..

I hope Shaw will start next game anyway. He needs to have a run of games, to gain on confidence. Shame he could be utilized better if he had winger in front of him

 

[mattsville]

Lots of potential, don't think we are seeing enough from him, made some good driving runs, played a good pass in our goal but should have dealt better with their goal, he is young and you expect that so not overly concerned.

 

[Cristiano Jonaldo]

The jury is still very much out of him. Decent defender, timid going forward and far more likely to play an easy side or back pass than he is to do something attacking. When he does try and play the ball forward his delivery is poor and it's not difficult for defenders to block his attempts.

£30M seems a bit much for what we're seeing from him at the moment. I'm also not happy with his fitness given his age and level he's playing at. He's looking a bit chunky which is unforgivable for a professional footballer.

 

[Sammyjunn]

Decent defender? Please watch the majority of the games before you say something. As a left back he has shown very much defensively already, he can play 90 minutes and is one of our fastest players, so what do you have to moan about physically, his looks? Other than that is has no effect.

 

[Sean_RedDevil]

The jury is still very much out of him. Decent defender, timid going forward and far more likely to play an easy side or back pass than he is to do something attacking. When he does try and play the ball forward his delivery is poor and it's not difficult for defenders to block his attempts.

£30M seems a bit much for what we're seeing from him at the moment. I'm also not happy with his fitness given his age and level he's playing at. He's looking a bit chunky which is unforgivable for a professional footballer.

Because of yesterday???

 

[Kag]

I'm also not happy with his fitness given his age and level he's playing at. He's looking a bit chunky which is unforgivable for a professional footballer.

Are we still doing this?

 

[JohnnyLaw]

The jury is still very much out of him. Decent defender, timid going forward and far more likely to play an easy side or back pass than he is to do something attacking. When he does try and play the ball forward his delivery is poor and it's not difficult for defenders to block his attempts.

£30M seems a bit much for what we're seeing from him at the moment. I'm also not happy with his fitness given his age and level he's playing at. He's looking a bit chunky which is unforgivable for a professional footballer.

We payed for his potential not for the player he is right now. No doubt he needs to work on his offensive contributions but he has the Tools as we saw yesterday.

About the chunky bit, this has beeen discussed so many times, go backa afew pages and you'll see that he's pretty ripped. He's strong and fast, couldn't be in a much better condition physically.

 

[ZDwyr]

The chunky/overweight stuff is nonsense. He is naturally quite solid. Don't see any issues with his size, still seems to run like the wind.

 

[Keeps It tidy]

I remember reading that at Southampton's academy he had faster sprint times than Bale, Walcott or Ox had when they were at Southampton.

 

[Lawman]

Going to be awesome, would like him to do more overlaps even when he doesn't get the ball. Hit the byeline son!!!

 

[izec]

He is great for a 19 year old. Dont know what the moaning is about. His pace is fantastic

 

[LeChuck]

I'll be honest-I'm not convinced by him.

Too often he ends up ball watching when the play comes in from the right. Going forward, he's not penetrative enough (maybe this is a tactical instruction, though). Defensively, when the play is in front of him, he's quite composed and reads the game well. When the play is beyond him, he often ends up giving silly fouls.

But as others have said, he's only 19, debut season with us etc. So, I hope he does improve.

 

[Raees]

Decent defender? Please watch the majority of the games before you say something. As a left back he has shown very much defensively already, he can play 90 minutes and is one of our fastest players, so what do you have to moan about physically, his looks? Other than that is has no effect.

Defensively he still needs to develop in terms of his defending inside the box. Reacting to crosses etc.

 

[Pexbo]

I remember reading that at Southampton's academy he had faster sprint times than Bale, Walcott or Ox had when they were at Southampton.

I very much doubt he was faster than Bale. Bale broke all sorts of records as a kid.

 

[Adam-Utd]

People saying he looks fat, if he was stick thin like Di Maria they would say "too thin, needs to bulk up".

So he bulks up and now they're saying he's too fat

 

[Mali_Zeus]

People still banging about his weight.

 

[NK86]

Defensively he still needs to develop in terms of his defending inside the box. Reacting to crosses etc.

That is the one thing I noticed as well. Lost his player 2-3 times, one of which they scored from. That could be a lapse in concentration. He is still just a kid. But from the looks of it, he seems a very solid defender.

 

[Cassidy]

He's always going to have the weight label, since the whole not being fit enough thing during pre-season.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Defensively he still needs to develop in terms of his defending inside the box. Reacting to crosses etc.

Yeah, when it comes to one on one defending he's superb. Probably as good as any other leftback in the PL. Definitely needs to work on his marking, though. In set-pieces and open play. Been caught napping a few times. As well as Ki's goal at the weekend, Daley Blind gave him an awful bollocking for losing the same player when he had that near post chance in the second half.