I'd definitely play him ahead of Evans in this system, but that is probably more to do with how lowly I rate Evans, along with being less suitable for a back three IMO.
42
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 12
- Clean sheets
- 3
- Goals
- 0
- Assists
- 0
- Yellow cards
- 3
- Red cards
- 1
- Status
I liked his passing.
Didnt see the most of the 2nd half. Did we switch to 4-4-2 when then and what position did Blaykett play when he came on?
No, stayed with 3 at the back as far as I remember.
I thought he did well. The one time Benteke tried to bully him and Blackett resisted, I enjoyed that.
Totally agree. Evans to me offers nothing at this stage and I would much rather give game time to a young player with potential and live with his mistakes. Blackett is pretty good on the ball and has done well in challenging attackers so there is plenty of upside.
Precisely. At this stage, I actually see Evans as expendable in spite of our injury crisis, which might seem crazy to some, but I would honestly select McNair and Blackett over him, whether it's in the first team or Blackett. I would say out of all of our current defenders, Evans is in the most perilous position, because of his injury record and with Blackett and McNair at least having scope for improvement. You would think at Evans' age, he would have matured and cut out the schoolboy errors that have always been present in his game, but he remains weak and fragile and still is prone to stupid moments.
On the subject of Blackett, I'm not a big fan and I remain skeptical of whether he can have a future here and even if he can develop well into a position. Perhaps it goes to show that he isn't up to the level required at United, but he doesn't seem to have a 'specialist' position and the most suitable one currently is as a left-sided centre back in a back three, but will we continue with this formation in the long-term? It's good that he has a bit of versatility, but will he have development problems like you could attest to Smalling and Jones having.
His passing range and accuracy can be pin-point and accurate and he's a decent athlete, but he is still very susceptible in a back three due to his often poor concentration and positional play and he always seems prone to getting caught out from runners from deep. There were even a few instances in the Villa match. If we do play a back three against Newcastle (though we shouldn't), then I hope he starts instead of Evans if Rojo is still unavailable.
Yeovil 0:2 Man Utd
Did ok but like McNair he looked more comfortable when moved to fullback.
Reasonably good performance both as a left-sided central defender and as left-back. I like the weight on his passes; quite a contrast to some of the others. Nice pass that would have reached Falcao had he not been pulled back, which the ref somehow missed.
He actually is an interesting option to have on the left side of the defence.I would have him ahead of Rojo there.
No where near good enough for us. Christ we have enough money to aim for Europe.
Did well today and has raw potential but he is too defensively suspect to play regularly, gets far too easily at times, needs a good loan spell somewhere.
Agree with this, but I'll add that his range of passing is really impressive for a young defender.
I would argue that every of our young defenders have a good range of passing in their locker (I have seen Thorpe,M.Keane and McNair knocked those hollywood passes for fun).The only difference is the composure to really do it in tough circumstances.
Didn't see the game but pleased to hear he got a run and did a good job.
He was not our worst player yesterday and it's also interesting to see that he tries again and again the long ball to the forwards - actually he is quiet good in it and I am very sure that Van Gaal gave him the order to do so. (I remember Van Gaal at Bayern: One or two defenders had his explicit permission to play the long passes... others didn't.)
However and more general it's depressing to see the technical skills of Blackett. If you compare our young defenders with the defenders of Bayern, for example... there is a huge gap.
Take Bernat (born 1993) and Blackett (born 1994): The first one is able to stop the ball under pressure and to give a solid pass to the player next to him, even when the opponent is attacking him. Blackett is not able to do that. Not at all.
I locate massive deficits in our youth training. The defenders we develop play like british defenders did in the 80ies. While the german and spainish defenders could be our playmaker with their technical skills.
However and more general it's depressing to see the technical skills of Blackett. If you compare our young defenders with the defenders of Bayern, for example... there is a huge gap.
Take Bernat (born 1993) and Blackett (born 1994): The first one is able to stop the ball under pressure and to give a solid pass to the player next to him, even when the opponent is attacking him. Blackett is not able to do that. Not at all.
I locate massive deficits in our youth training. The defenders we develop play like british defenders did in the 80ies. While the german and spainish defenders could be our playmaker with their technical skills.
You can thank Meulensteen for that.
But he's the best Coach in the World ever according to himself.
I wish.
Seems like we've gone in completely the opposite direction with defenders coming through our youth system being comfortable on the ball yet lacking any sort of passion/affinity for defending. Comparing his ability to Bernat who is quite obviously a pretty special/unique talent is a bit unfair no? It's not as if those teams are churning out 2-3 Bernats every year?
Valencia are producing a new Spanish leftback each time they need one... Alba sold, Bernat in. Bernat sold, Gaya in
Bernat has played over 90 senior games. Blackett has played just over 20.
Blackett will be a better and more expierenced defender with 90 matches played, but his technical skills won't be much better. The basis for your technique is built in the youth, coaches are telling us, right?
Of course Bernat is a very good defender and it is maybe unfair to compare Blackett with him. However I just wanted to illustrate that our defenders look pretty weak when it comes to ball control, playmaking and technique. (At the same time, Bernat is very good, but he is no wonderkid like Alaba was. That's why I thought a comparison would be allowed.)
I guess where we differ is that I don't see much wrong with Blackett or McNair from a purely technical stand point, most of their problems and mistakes can be rectified through experience, especially knowing what to do when put under pressure. They are also both still in a position to improve the technical sides of their game.
The problem, as ever, is trying to judge too quickly.
It's so frustrating on here at times, half our squad have been written off as not good enough this season. Are players no longer allowed time to develop, go through bad patches, or make a mistake anymore FFS. Blackett has made 9 appearances and kept 6 clean sheets, McNair has never been on the losing side, sack the cnuts.
When was the last time there's a player coming up from the rank that hasn't been written off in their first season?I thought Januzaj was going to avoid this but there's plenty of criticism on him as well in his second half of Moyes's era.Pogba didn't really set the world alight in his appearances did he?And that's when we still have SAF.
Of course players aren't allowed to make a mistake anymore.We can always go out there and buy those Hummels don't you remember?
He played well yesterday, not sure why he's being criticized.
I don't think there's much wrong with him him technically either. His problems tend to be taking to much time on the ball, prone to hoof balling and concentration issues.
I don't think there's much wrong with him him technically either. His problems tend to be taking to much time on the ball, prone to hoof balling and concentration issues.
Bernat was bought by Bayern, no?
I agree with your point in general though, but there really aren't many top clubs who produce many of their own defenders. Bayern have done well recently, but like most big clubs, they also snap up most of the talented youngsters.
But technically, yeah, I'd have expected better or more technically able defenders coming through our academy - especially since we seem to be producing the right kind of technical midfielders - Pereira, Pearson, Januzaj, Rothwell etc all seem technically sound. (Though well see how they handle the step up, aside from Adnan).
It's a strange one though. He's so languid and "calm" on the ball, my mate already thinks he's got the wrong (Berbatov'esque) attitude to make it here
.He did well yesterday but he's a difficult one to call. Doesn't seem quite fast or skillful enough to be a regular fullback, and he doesn't seem positionally strong enough to be a CB. He's still young and learning though, so hopefully he kicks on.
Ah yes, I forgot how easy it was, but what happens when he makes a mistake
I like him. Physically imposing, pacy, good passing, composed and a decent defender. Just needs to improve himself positionally but that will come with age.
He becomes a new Rojo.Ah yes, I forgot how easy it was, but what happens when he makes a mistake
Indeed, then the new flavour of the month comes along and we start again.
I'd like to see Blackett used as a left back in a back 4 formation. Something seems off with Shaw physically and he may need a long rest to get over whatever is niggling at him (ankle? groin?), but between Blackett and Blind we'd be well covered at left back.
Derailing the thread for a moment, we need to take the right back situation more seriously. Rafael was unlucky to suffer a facial fracture but no one can deny that he's way too prone to injury. I would not at all be uncomfortable with a solid buy at right back and keeping Rafael on for cover.
Derailing the thread for a moment, we need to take the right back situation more seriously. Rafael was unlucky to suffer a facial fracture but no one can deny that he's way too prone to injury. I would not at all be uncomfortable with a solid buy at right back and keeping Rafael on for cover.
Blackett has shown how comfortable he is in possession. I think that playing as a left back for much of his youth has really helped him at that. It's also helped his distribution as well, and I think he can be decent in a back 3 particularly in helping us dominate possession. He's also decent at stepping forward with the ball and carrying it up the pitch; the one thing he can improve in terms of that is the speed at which he plays. He plays the ball at quite a slow pace and takes quite a bit of time before releasing the ball. By that time, the opposition's already organised; however, I'm sure van Gaal will improve this aspect of his game.
Defensively, I still don't really see it in him. He relies way too much on his physical qualities in his defending. Even in defending 1-on-1's, he seems sluggish and prone to being beaten by somewhat quick players. I hope he improves in this, but I just don't see that innate defensive ability in him.
Defensively, I still don't really see it in him. He relies way too much on his physical qualities in his defending. Even in defending 1-on-1's, he seems sluggish and prone to being beaten by somewhat quick players. I hope he improves in this, but I just don't see that innate defensive ability in him.
I make it 3 clean sheets. He didn't play against Palace, Hull, Liverpool or Tottenham.
No idea, didnt look into it to much, just going by his profile on his page.
Its a bit pointless comparing the style or technique of a Spanish international who has been converted from a winger and is exceptional for his age with that of someone who has played as a centre half most of his life. Have you actually watched much of our youth teams in order to come up with your assessment that we have massive deficits in our training because our current under 18s contain some very technically good defenders and in the younger age groups we have had some of the best technical players and players of the tournament in tournaments containing all of the best youth teams in Europe and have played the likes of Ajax and Barcelona off the pitch in certain matches.
1. I doubt we are going to offer Blackett 20k a week tbh.
2. You say he's a good forward passer, however there's been countless times where he just hoofs it. The Burnley game was horrific from him in that aspect.
3. Strong, quick, athletic, fair enough. That doesn't make a good footballer though, but we'll look past that for now.
4. You say he has good anticipation, but when it comes to forwards making runs he doesn't seem to anticipate movement. That was evident against Destro in pre season. And carried on into this season.
5. Don't really care for passing stats like that for CB's because it lacks context.
6. Van Gaal probably asked the coaching staff who the left footed defenders were. Blackett was the only one so he went on tour. If Blackett was right footed, he'd be out on loan in the championship or playing U21 football. That is based solely off his actual ability. You denying this is delusion. Imo, he's a left back.
1. Why not? Its been reported in different media outlets, same with Paddy McNair. You don't think LVG rates him? He's going to be offered a contract soon. His current one is up in summer. Want to take a friendly bet on it?
2. He doesn't just hoof it, he usually plays measured long balls and he's usually good at them. LVG likes us to pass out of the back, so its obvious Blackett is being instructed or encouraged to play it long because he's good at it. It seems you choose to only think of the instances where he missed his target and proceed to deem him a 'hoof the ball up' player. Have you taken notice of the many times when he found his man? People had no problems with his long balls when they were consistently finding their targets in pre-season and in games leading up to Burnley. After Burnley now he's a hoof the ball up player all of a sudden, its not true.
3. Yes, strong, quick and athletic, physical attributes that help defenders do their job more effectively. If Evans was more quick and strong on the ball he wouldn't struggle so much against pacy and physical strikers.
4. Yes, overall he has good anticipation. If you want to go back to preseason, he was one of our best players. Also, since you're okay with using examples from Preseason, look at the Real Madrid game, he kept Ronaldo in his pocket and matched him for pace. There was one instance when Ronaldo tried several dribbles and stepovers against Blackett and he failed to get past him. I guess you'll say Ronaldo wasn't match fit, but neither was anyone else really in pre-season.
Look at this video, 20 seconds in you'll see Blackett's excellent anticipation and positional awareness against best player in the world Ronaldo. The video is full of other instances where Blackett used his speed, skill and anticipation well against speedy players. Puts Evans to shame. After the 1 minute mark you see five instances where Blackett plays well measured long balls that find their target, hence why I say LVG probably gives him license to do so. He even made our defense look calm when he replaced Evans in the final game against Liverpool in Miami. Look at the entire video and you'll see why LVG made him a full member of the squad.
5. Why don't you care for passing stats? What context would suit you better? Forward passes? Pass completion? You may not care for passing but I'll tell who cares about it, LVG. LVG wants ball playing CBs and Blackett fits his philosophy. FYI Blackett has played and completed more forward passes than McNair this season, just as an example.
6. This is a moot point. Who bloody cares that he only got his chance because he's left footed? He took his chance well and the reality is that he's being rewarded with games. Yes, LVG took him because he's left footed, but he impressed him without a doubt. Keane obviously didn't impress him, Thorpe obviously hasn't impressed him. The theme here is LVG will only play you if he thinks you're good enough. IMO you're deluded in thinking Blackett isn't in this team on merit, and you're wasting your time thinking in alternative outcomes. Blackett is not on loan in the championship, he's a fully fledged member of Manchester United's first team and you can't take it, IMO.
I always wonder what would be said of players like Gary and Phil Neville, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes in their formative years if the caf were around then.
Let the lad at least try and grow into a member of the first team squad. Ffs.
Let the lad at least try and grow into a member of the first team squad. Ffs.
Let me tell you.
Gary and Phil - average hardworking players,will go down to be decent Championship players,or perhaps League One.
Butt - new Cattlemole,Tunnicliffe,etc
Scholes - too small and can't tackle to save his life.Should have played in Spain or Germany.
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