[PoTMS]

Cowardly performance. He may as well not have even been there. Him being such close mates with Saka must've played some part because I've not seen him play this poorly for a while.

 

[DevTheRed]

Absolutely sh*t himself against Saka today… paid him way too much respect and let him just walk into the box countless times

 

[ValenciasDrilledCrosses]

Was poor today. His stand-offish style of defending does not work against a winger as good as Saka. That said, he had no help whatsoever the entire game.

 

[Skills]

Poor today. He struggles against Saka because he's so evasive.

 

[Leftback99]

Saka ran him ragged.

 

[slored1]

Had literally zero help vs Saka. Eriksen switched once and Saka instantly hit the post. Not to blame today.

 

[Sylar]

He needed help. Once he got booked we could have brought on malacia. If we wanted the 2-2 to sit back, malacia on for eriksen and Shaw into a three at back

 

[Litch]

Was shit today....

 

[avgp_1]

I thought he was pretty decent first half, don't know what happened in the second

 

[AjaxCunian]

Saka is the best RW in the league, Shaw made him look like prime Robben though. Embarassing.

 

[Based Adnan]

Did a solid impression of a back up dancer today

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Not sure what people watched. It was his midfield support that got rinsed. Saka wasn’t doing much directly against Shaw.

 

[IrishRedDevil]

Cant believe how much he kept backing off Saka time and time again.

 

[Idxomer]

Exactly the reason we should've gone for 3-5-2, Malacia is the worse left-back but he doesn't give up or back off his attacker even when playing badly.

Shaw should've sat beside Varane and Martinez sweeping and building from the back.

 

[croadyman]

Fair play to him for coming out and speaking

 

[Lyng]

Saka had him on toast today sadly. He has been among our best most of the season though so wouldnt worry about this. Saka is a fantastic player to be fair.

 

[Irwin99]

I'm not sure i can fault his effort today like others are doing and i thought he was pretty composed on the ball but yeah, had a tough time against one of the best wingers in the league.

 

[Frank Grimes]

Disappointed. He's meant to be the experienced player but Saka made him his bitch. At least hurt him so he'll think twice before he thinks he'll take you on again.

 

[Amar__]

Remember the criticism Malacia got from Shaw fans when he faced Saka even though it was one of his first games for us and he generally improved until end of the game and did well later on?

 

[Baneofthegame]

Poor performance from Shaw today, not that he got much help with Saka regardless.

 

[DWelbz19]

Shaw was very poor but I can’t think of one instance that Rashford got back to double up. It was always Eriksen in support, which may as well be no support at all

 

[Murder on Zidane's Floor]

Poorest performance of the season happened to come against the best RW in the league. Happens.

He stood off but he clearly knows Saka is looking for a pen and has a full back/runner going outside.

 

[Murder on Zidane's Floor]

Shaw was very poor but I can’t think of one instance that Rashford got back to double up. It was always Eriksen in support, which may as well be no support at all

We need a player up for transition/out ball, Arsenal do it and cope fine, why can't we.

 

[arthurka]

Back to being the guy who doesn't even try to stop crosses. Awful

 

[2mufc0]

Horrendous.

 

[justboy68]

Meh. It's the toughest matchup in the league and he had a but of an off day. He showed glimpses of his quality in his own right though. He'll be back.

 

[saik]

What was up with him? Did he think he was facing Messi or something? Constantly backed off Saka and let him do whatever he wanted. Such a cowardly performance. Not just him, but the whole team(including ETH) were scared I felt.

Arsenal of all teams don't deserve that kind of respect when we were the only ones who beat them this season. So, so disappointed in our performance. That 2nd half after we scored was painfully rubbish. Instead of going for the push, we backed off and basically confirmed we were going for the draw by bringing on Fred for Antony instead of Garnacho.

 

[Fortitude]

The running comments that Shaw was supposed to be going out to meet Saka were worrying…

 

[Orion.]

It would have made more sense to start Shaw at left centreback and allow Martinez to man mark Saka at leftback - his physique and style is better suited to dealing with that kind of player.

Ten Hag at least not starting Fred to support Shaw was naive.

 

[Escobar]

Where was he for the 1-1?? Not up for it today

 

[RonaldoVII]

He wasn't great but had his hands full given Rashford and Eriksen offered him no help

 

[Stadjer]

Remember the criticism Malacia got from Shaw fans when he faced Saka even though it was one of his first games for us and he generally improved until end of the game and did well later on?

Yes.

Saka is an excellent player. He can make any left back look bad. Malacia and also Shaw.

 

[Andersons Dietician]

The running comments that Shaw was supposed to be going out to meet Saka were worrying…

Kind of feel like it was by instruction he didn’t as it’s not like he has never had one on one’s with ridiculously talented people and dealt with them. Wonder if he was told to stay tight to Martinez as to not open up that channel between them as Odegaard did seem to keep heading there.
Eriksen was struggiling to close it but seemed better when Fred came on and he got more aggressive and went to Saka. So it had to be instruction surely.

 

[Fortitude]

Kind of feel like it was by instruction he didn’t as it’s not like he has never had one on one’s with ridiculously talented people and dealt with them. Wonder if he was told to stay tight to Martinez as to not open up that channel between them as Odegaard did seem to keep heading there.
Eriksen was struggiling to close it but seemed better when Fred came on and he got more aggressive and went to Saka. So it had to be instruction surely.

Yeah, without support it’d be suicidal because it’s always in the attackers favour to be one-on-one, if not for the opportunity to beat the fullback, then to draw out potential cards, which would then have the fullback on eggshells for the remainder of the game. At least tucking in buys time until support comes and keeps shape for as long as possible. It’s definitely on the midfield and flanker for not providing support; Shaw stuck to a brief and did it to the best of his ability against the RW who looks to be emerging as the best in the league. Getting tight would’ve created more problems than it solved.

 

[Marwood]

Absolutely sh*t himself against Saka today… paid him way too much respect and let him just walk into the box countless times

I've seen him do the same a few times against Traore.

A foot race, using his strength, all good.

But he really doesn't like a winger running at him.

 

[jem]

One bad game, and people around here are bandying around terms like 'embarrassing' and 'cowardly.' Pathetic.

 

[Solius]

One bad game, and people around here are bandying around terms like 'embarrassing' and 'cowardly.' Pathetic.

Direct me to these bellends.

 

[jem]

Direct me to these bellends.

Examples on this very page.

 

[cletus7]

What was up with him? Did he think he was facing Messi or something? Constantly backed off Saka and let him do whatever he wanted. Such a cowardly performance. Not just him, but the whole team(including ETH) were scared I felt.

Arsenal of all teams don't deserve that kind of respect when we were the only ones who beat them this season. So, so disappointed in our performance. That 2nd half after we scored was painfully rubbish. Instead of going for the push, we backed off and basically confirmed we were going for the draw by bringing on Fred for Antony instead of Garnacho.

It was like he was up against a diver whilst a yellow card away from missing World Cup final. Definitely emboldened Saka seeing Shaw so scared.

 

[criticalanalysis]

Yeah, without support it’d be suicidal because it’s always in the attackers favour to be one-on-one, if not for the opportunity to beat the fullback, then to draw out potential cards, which would then have the fullback on eggshells for the remainder of the game. At least tucking in buys time until support comes and keeps shape for as long as possible. It’s definitely on the midfield and flanker for not providing support; Shaw stuck to a brief and did it to the best of his ability against the RW who looks to be emerging as the best in the league. Getting tight would’ve created more problems than it solved.

This is sound in theory. However, in practice Shaw was far too passive and didn't engage in any sort of baiting Saka to go either side or attempt to 'get tight'. Getting tight doesn't need to mean getting close enough and possibly getting turned, it can mean at least trying to shield them away or make them hesitate to come forward.

Yes he didn't have much 2nd help and perhaps Martinez was a bit deeper than usual but conceding territory like that so easily doesn't sound like a tactic to me.