What does playing football means exactly? Modern FBs are expected to be able to defend and then turn into the conventional winger who create ample chances for the team to score. Shaw does an average job in the former and a horrible job in the latter. He's worse then AWB on both counts
United's FBs are in a sad state. AWB is a superb defensive fullback that struggles on the creative side, Shaw stinks of average and is injury prone, Williams is young and Dalot, well, Dalot is barely a footballer. The defence in itself creates almost nothing attacking wise and when one consider that we play with 4 defensive defenders + a DM it is hardly a rock defensive wise either. I think its time for United to consider getting a GK, a fast CB and an attacking LB. Henderson might cover the GK role but I think we'll need to spend money on the latter two roles.
Shaw do create chances though. Not as much as your typical cross and inshallah full backs, but he creates far more than AWB who have had quite the fortune of having four of his converted.
Assists isn't what Shaw is all about though. In the build-up, he is better than most midfielders. His touch, his passing, his movement and his ability to retain possession even under huge pressure is invaluable for a fullback.
Good teams usually have good players in the middle, but the middle is also congested most times. Every team usually turns to the flanks to escape the middle and not many players are able to keep it moving on the flanks as well as Shaw does.
In attack too, his link up play is very good. He combines very well with the winger, and is comfortable lapping or coming inside with and without the ball. Not every part of the game is played in the box, so I struggle to understand the obsession with assists and goals for defenders.
When defending, Shaw is as good as most. Superb at the back post, very good heading, strong on the flanks, and quick recovery pace. I'd go as far to say as an all-round package he's the best in the league for fullbacks in that category.
He used to get a lot of injuries, but he's playing most games lately, and looks fitter too. His only drawback is a relatively lack of aerial crosses which I feel he should add more to his game, though our forwards aren't exactly famous for their heading.