We don't play with that set up anymore so I would say that's irrelevant.
He could have played in place of Carrick /Schniederlin today easily.
Smalling & Blind Partnership
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
We don't play with that set up anymore so I would say that's irrelevant.
He could have played in place of Carrick /Schniederlin today easily.
Not a popular opinion at all but I think I agree with you. As good a defender as Smalling is, he should be ashamed of himself that after 6 seasons at the club he's still so bad on the ball. It really is comical at times and it slows down our attacks and invites pressure on the defence quite often.
To the people saying replace Blind, its worth noting that this is his first season as a CB and he's performed extremely well and I can only see him getting even better next season. He adds so much from the back with his passing and composure, without him in the side we would have to endure a lot more aimless hoofs from Smalling and sloppy passes.
Fwiw I'm not saying Smalling has to drop out, I just feel he should have competition for his place as should Blind. In the grand scheme of things though, if both can stay fit we can keep the partnership as we have the second best defence in the league having had countless injuries in the full back position with Shaw being a massive loss.
If you upgrade Smalling then you could have anyone from the youth system beside that player. He'd have to be an absolute one man monster to eclipse the one man monster that Smalling has had to be because of Blinds lack of positional awareness/discipline. If we're going to continue with this combination then we have to sacrifice Blind's passing for someone with a powerful direct one on one ability to close down and pressure from the CB position. I think this whole "but but, what a passer!" thing has gone to everybody's heads a little bit. If you can't defend properly first and foremost, forget about everything else. Blind has his days like today but that is one game in a season that he has been largely a big disappointment.
Blind, quite simply has to be moved away from CB and a compatible partner found for Smalling whether we work on growing Smalling more or placing an absolute worldy beside him for him to aspire to will be the key.
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I really like Blind as a player and I think he's done very well in this role considering how new to it he is. In time, and with a good partner in Smalling, with a top keeper and settled team around him, he could become an excellent, if slightly unorthodox CB.
blind was excellent yesterday. still it should be smalling plus one next season if we want to win the league.
1. There has been more goals leaked by Smalling that cost us than Blind. So I suppose you dont want to start him either next season?
2. How is it a failure when it worked? I'm sorry but thats the most stupid thing i have heard. Clearly the manager knew something when he tried it out and Blind was intelligent enough to adapt well to it. He did have bad games of course (like every player - do you think Stones or Laporte didnt have bad games this season?). No player is going to have all good games over a season. even vidic in his prime had shockers.
Blind has done very well this season. At the start of the campaign, i thought it would be suicidal to play him there, but ive been rather impressed by him. Even physically, he's not getting bullied by bigger strikers.
Going forward though, a dominant natural CB would be better, thats for sure.
Going forward though, a dominant natural CB would be better, thats for sure.
Considering the constant change around the team and fullbacks, smalling and blind have been our two most consistent outfield performers along with Martial. Still feel Blind will be upgraded on with a proper center back, but he has done really well. I really like him as a player but feel he would be better suited in a different league at the back. In the premier league you need that physicality and height to deal with the crosses and all that, though I can't say he has been caught out from them too much. But in spain for example, that wouldnt matter and his intelligence and on the ball abilityability would stick out even more. In the premier league, he will always be seen as someone to upgrade simply because of his lack of pace and not being too strong.
Anywa, replacing him per se isn't high at all on the priorities, but we need more depth at least as Jones is always injured and Rojo is also a crock and only meh. Smalling, Blind, (Stones/marquinhos/laporte), Fosu Mensah and then Jones if he ever gets fit is a good group of center backs IMO. 1 is definitely needed though.
Anywa, replacing him per se isn't high at all on the priorities, but we need more depth at least as Jones is always injured and Rojo is also a crock and only meh. Smalling, Blind, (Stones/marquinhos/laporte), Fosu Mensah and then Jones if he ever gets fit is a good group of center backs IMO. 1 is definitely needed though.
It has done well for us this season. They have excelled in our defensive set-up.
Still don't think that it is a partnership that is going to win us big titles and trophies. The games in which we were forced to attack, they didn't look comfortable and were badly exposed. I don't think either is top, top quality. The only manager besides LVG that I can envision using Blind at CB is Pep, and he will be at City. Don't think Blind has much future at CB (regular, I mean) under a new manager.
Still don't think that it is a partnership that is going to win us big titles and trophies. The games in which we were forced to attack, they didn't look comfortable and were badly exposed. I don't think either is top, top quality. The only manager besides LVG that I can envision using Blind at CB is Pep, and he will be at City. Don't think Blind has much future at CB (regular, I mean) under a new manager.
We need an upgrade of Blind to partner Smelling at the back and Blind should return to midfield for our double pivot game. He'd replace Carrick very well and give us even better passing balance there for LVGs football. I also want the likes of Fosu-Mensah, Tuanazebe, Williams and Poole to become official CB cover alongside Jones.
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Daley is a perfect emergency plan for almost any defensive role. Up to maybe 10 games while nominal defender is injured but never a permanent solution. We'll need two specialists with superior air domination just like it was in 2008 when Rio & Vida had every attacking team in Europe under control.
Blind's defensive skills, reading the game and vision can be still used in many other roles including midfield. He'll always be important to United and will get easily about 35 games per season even with upcoming summer upgrades.
That being said, Smalling-Blind is one of the smartest LvG's ideas in currently still unbalanced and unfinished team.
Blind's defensive skills, reading the game and vision can be still used in many other roles including midfield. He'll always be important to United and will get easily about 35 games per season even with upcoming summer upgrades.
That being said, Smalling-Blind is one of the smartest LvG's ideas in currently still unbalanced and unfinished team.
I am not too sure. He was shown up badly in the midfield a few times last season. He is a good player - has good technique, decent passing range, reads them game well - but neither of those attributes are top notch. Add his physical limitations, it's hard to see him being a regular starter in a team with lofty ambitions. Like the above poster, I can see him notching 30-35 appearances in different positions in defense and midfield. As a regular for any position - I am highly doubtful.
Having said that, we as a club seem to be content with top 4 position and a decent run at the cups. So, he could be starting for us for years under VG, who may get a 2 year contract extension this summer.
I don't believe that to be the case at all about Smalling, I think he's done a fine job playing the one man defensive (cleanup) band all season but we can't rely on that as a defensive partnership next season going forward. Especially with newer midfielders bedding in, new wide players and fullbacks trying to bed themselves in also. The simple move is to sign a proper central defender and add Blind to the midfield mix and as cover for left back.
I'm sorry, what has worked now?... We lie well out of reach of the top three. I think it is safe to say, looking at the overall picture that Blind and Smalling as a combination hasn't really worked out this season. Moving forward to next season the logical answer is to replace the guy who isn't actually a defender. When we've had to actually play proper football to score goals and win games we've left Blind very exposed at the back. He's unfortunately been punished a few to many times which has cost us valuable points. When we're playing the most nerfed, eye-wateringly boring football we can muster up then I have no problem really with the way LVG sets up his team. But to win the league you need to do a lot more than have the finest swordsmen in your own lands. You need to venture out and be able to conquer lands to win trophies. LVG rolled the dice and while he didn't lose his entire bank he came up short of even and I think looking at the overall picture that is a fair assumption.
Couldn't give less of a damn about Stones or Laporte. Don't watch Everton or very much or Bilbao anymore.
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I have been impressed with Blind. if we sign a new CB, which defender do you think has better passing ability than him?
Also, between Stones, Laporte, Koulibaly and Hummels... Who do you think would complement Smalling better?
Also, between Stones, Laporte, Koulibaly and Hummels... Who do you think would complement Smalling better?
I think anyone who watched smalling over the season has noticed how he has been poor since December. He has been individually culpable for more goals than Blind or anyone else who played in the back 4. Off the top of my head, the 2 newcastle goals in our 3-3 draw, one against Wolfsburg in our 3-2 loss to them that got us out of the CL. Smalling doesnt organize a defence.
You cant judge a defence by our position. We need our forwards in form, which wasnt always the case. The fact that we have the second best defence in the league clearly shows that it has worked. DDG played a big part yes but our back 4 has been good too. Especially when you compare to some of the so called "actual proper CBs" in other teams who play bad, like Gabriel, Otamendi, Mangala and all.
Entitled to your opinion but this is just not true. On the whole, despite his limitations physically, he's been continually more dependable back there than Smalling (who has been pretty good too despite a poor second half of the season). You also just brush over his passing like it's meaningless (I don't agree with this idea he's a defensive weak link anyway) when it's the very passing that makes our back line somewhat competent as a unit. Take out Blind and you've got Smalling either hoofing into touch, passing back to Dave or driving into space ...only to pass it sideways. All the rest of the centre backs do the same thing. If you want us to have old fashioned centre backs that's fine but in the long term, assuming we eventually get back into the CL, it's just not going to cut it.
I'll say it again: Blind on performances alone is comfortably our best centre back. That's not saying he's world class. That's simply a reflection on how fecking poor our group of centre backs are.
Smalling has struggled with injuries as well as form, I can't really deny that. Nor would I, he isn't excused from the entire scenario by any means. I merely suggested that logically (and you even say similar above) the next step is to get another quality natural central defender in. Because if, as you put it, Smalling can't "organize a defence" (which I am not really disputing, the defense as a whole this season has been a bit of a shambles in many different aspects not just personel) then trying to play him next to somebody who is predominantly a passer and not a natural central defender it is probably not the right way to go about fixing the problem. Logic says sign a much better central defender? No?..
People can judge a defense by the position or however they like, overall the season has not gone very well. Every aspect of our match day approach is culpable from the front to the back to the manager himself. I'm not saying that they are the one true fault of the season by any stretch of the imagination but this feels like a bit of a budget or stop-gap type of play where the problem really should have been fixed by bringing in an actual CB (preferably a worldy) to partner and or complement Smalling and Jones.
David De Gea's heroics this season have been nothing short of incredible. Excellent shout that.
Seriously?! You're slagging Blind and you bring up Phil Fecking Jones? Now I know not to take your opinions seriously.
He is one of the best examples of our current lack of standards. Give me a back line of four Daley Blinds over a back line including one Phil Jones. The guy is comedy show, not a footballer.
I wouldn't mind him as a stop gap or emergency centreback but to permanently play there is like putting square pegs in round hole again. We need a proper defender.
So now you're stating Blind isn't good with one on ones? He's incredibly good at dealing with one on ones, there's a ridiculous amount of evidence to back it up as well.
No surprises that you've gone and spectacularly missed the point. At the start of the season with the two senior central defenders on the books Smalling and Jones (not to mention with only 19 senior players registered in the squad, suppose you could also throw Rojo in there), logic would tell you that a CB was to be brought in and we were left with Blind as that other CB and not the extra CB we probably needed. Nowhere have I slagged off Blind either.
He's had about three or four costly one vs one defensive errors that lead to goals and dropping points in the last couple of months alone. More than happy to review that on any evidence that suggests otherwise.
Care to go ahead and outline them? Because including three instances yesterday against Lukaku, he was also left as last man twice in the international break and came up trumps.
I mentioned earlier I didn't see yesterdays game and haven't seen a replay or anything so I can't comment on that performance. But I hear he was excellent, so I praise him for that.
Sure, ran away from his man against WBA which resulted in a 1-0 loss. Also ran away from his man against Chelsea. I may have mistakenly included him when we lost to Southampton and Sunderland. I will have to go and double check those two games to confirm.
edit: I will switch those two out and claim Vardy's goal, even though that is a poor claim. I recount my previous three or four. Two at least.
Anyway, all I will say to sum up is that if we were to change one thing in that defensive line it would be to take out Blind and move him into midfield and add a proper defender (a worldy preferably) and I think that would be a pretty logical solution to the defensive issues. I think I'd much rather be seeing Blind playing in a role where he can press from midfield with the safety of the defense behind him and have our defenders play the ball to him in front of the defense to pass out. Rather than have him as the last man having to defend the line (which I admit I do not rate, fair play if anyone disagrees), pass and defend one v one. I think it would be a much safer option to have him do that in front of the defense and add the proper protection as well as give him the space to utilize his passing while recycling off the CB's/FB's.
So from the entire season, where he's been left as the last man on an almost regular basis, this is what amounts to him being poor in one on ones? Right.
The season not going well cannot be used to judge a player, especially a defence. were it not for our defence and GK being good we would have been even worse.
Regarding your point of buying defenders, who could we have bought last summer? The muppet dream was otamendi who has clearly proven that we did a good job not to go in for him, Chelsea seemed to go all in for Stones who himself is having a howler of a season. The first placed team in the league has a CB pairing of huth and Morgan and kasper as keeper, so it clearly shows that you dont need World class defenders, but defenders who can actually defend. And Blind has showed multiple times that he can defend (not a big surprise as he has played as a LB,CB and DM in his career for ajax, groniggen and NT so logically he should defend well?).
Blind has performed better than Smalling for a few months now (he has had his share of bad games of course). Smalling had no injury problem. He missed maybe 2 games all season to injuries. He had form problem which is not anyone else's mistake. He has had more months being out of form than being in form. Logic thus states that you bring in a CB who can organize a defence and play him next to Blind so that the defence will be complemented well and also will help us bed in youngsters like CBJ, shaw and all well.
It makes you nervous though doesn't it. Every time you see him one V one because most forwards are quicker and bigger than him.
He has played very well but his lack of height makes us look vulnerable at corners. I wouldn't want to go another season without more height in the defence as Smalling though dominant in free play (mostly) can't seem to defend set pieces any where near as well as he should.
Err exactly. You said Blind can't play in midfield. Then you said he can't play at the bottom of the diamond. We don't play with a diamond anymore. I'm not sure where you're going with this non argument.
Blind should be Carricks replacement. Simple.
Quote me exactly where I said he can't play I midfield please.
I'm not really sure what else you want me to say other than the two instances I stated where he lost his man that cost us points, cost us points. When he chooses to push out of the line and close down the ball carrier with the intent to tackle has been a common theme for him this season and one that I find him to be competent at and capable of performing with intelligence. But it would be a much better utilized skill if he weren't the last line of defense in a system which relies on him being the main outlet for distribution of the ball as well. I think it would make a lot more sense for him to pressure the ball in front of our defense with two players behind him to bail him out and to interplay if he or they wins it and utilize the ball which is more his strong point.
What you have just described here sends alarm bells that the defense has not been very good. There have been many factors including the one I mentioned, I am not tarring the whole team with the brush, every player is culpable for the result and they have not been good enough.
If I am fixing one thing first from next season it is to push Blind into midfield in front of the defense and get a proper defender in. I don't really care who, one that can defend and is a natural central defender first, stays injury free second and if he can play on the ball then great. If he can defend then give the ball to Blind to play on the ball then even better.
Because you criticised Blind for his one on ones abilities and then proceed to bring up a goal that wasn't a one on one in the West Brom game. I'm confused about the Vardy goal too, are you talking about the 1-1 game in November?
'Smelling'Is this a joke I don't know about or a typo? Either way it tickled me.
For me Blind is a fantastic player to have in the squad, but wherever we put him we could have a better player there, and we should a lot of the time.
Smelling needs a powerful defender next to him.
We need to bring in a top quality CB to Mike Smelling. Daley Blind should play as a box to box midfielder.
The part where they almost bumped into each other was unintentionally hilarious...
I swear they just don't talk to each other during the game.
I swear they just don't talk to each other during the game.
I have had the same problem on iOS, autocorrects to "Smelling".
Is this a joke I don't know about or a typo? Either way it tickled me.
Yes, I see you want to just keep jabbing at this same point for some reason. (The Vardy goal was in the international by the way.)
What I said was rather than complement Smalling with a passing midfielder playing at CB (as Blind has been doing), it would be much better to complement him with a player who's specialty is playing with a powerful direct one on one ability to close down and pressure from the CB position it would be a much better foil and leave Blind free to play in front of the defense and focus on ball-playing without the added pressure of being the last line of defense.
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I feel like Blind is wasted at CB; hard to ask for much more from him playing there this season, but a club like United should have a better pairing. He's a much better defensive mid type. Schweinsteiger is ineffective for the most part and Carrick will be gone. I don't mind partnering Blind with Schnerderlin I if we continue playing 2 no. 6's next season.
Hopefully we manage to nab a top class talent like Marquinhos, who is pretty similar in stature and ball-playing abilities to Blind, but a lot quicker and naturally more athletic with a great leap. Him and Smalling could be a fantastic partnership.
Blind has been a fantastic stopgap in a season where the intended CB partnerships were obviously Smalling/Jones or Smalling/Rojo. But having to play him there has severely limited our capabilities in all phases of the game. When we bought him I thought of him as a very much needed replacement for John O'Shea, and that's where I still see him - an extremely valuable utility player. Smalling has (on average) been excellent, but the stress of having to cover 1 1/2 positions has clearly started to tell on him in the latter part of the season. If we don't think we can rely on Jones or Rojo going forward, then another top class CB will be a necessity in the summer.
I honestly feel like people simply have a template of the last time we were successful and they keep looking at replicating it exactly as though it is the only way for success. Barcelona and Bayern who are probably the best teams in the world play with equally if not more unorthodox defenders and it doesn't seem to be harming them does it? City have been buying the supposedly world class "natural" defenders and nobody could argue they are doing any well with it. I am not saying that one way is better but the point is the players you need are depending on the way you play. There is no fixed style of defender or midfielder. We try to dominate possession and push high up, if you do that well, you don't really have to defend like a team that sits deep. If you don't need to defend that much, a traditional defender is a waste. That is why Blind is as effective for us as a "traditional" defender would be for a different type of team.