Complete Analysis of Manchester United's Summer Signing Daley Blind

It wasn’t a total overhaul of the squad, but it came close. This summer, new Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal finally made a number of signings fans around the world had been waiting for. 

Some of these signings were obviously intended to inject the squad with a dose of world-class talent. Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao, for example, will surely improve Manchester United and bring them closer to the quality of competing sides they had lost track of last season. 

Other signings, like Dutch defender Daley Blind, belong to a different category. For different reasons, Blind should be seen as a player who will improve United’s squad depth and provide Van Gaal with options for multiple positions on the pitch. 

Here, we provide a complete analysis of Manchester United’s summer signing Daley Blind. Where can he play, and where will Van Gaal most likely use him? 

Blind’s background

When Blind first broke through at Dutch club Ajax, he did so as a left-back. But he wasn't successful immediately. During the second half of the 2009-10 season, he was loaned out to FC Groningen, and at the time, it looked like there was a good chance he’d never return to Amsterdam.

But six months later, he did, and upon his return, Blind started making the necessary adjustments in his game and evolved from a recently graduated academy prospect into a mature and all-round senior. 

Now knowing when to hold back and when to surge forward to join the attack, he had learned what it takes to be a modern-day full-back.

But Blind’s development didn’t stop there. Following Vurnon Anita’s departure to Newcastle United in 2012, Ajax boss Frank de Boer decided to convert the left-back into his new defensive midfielder—a position Blind had already made himself familiar with as a youth player.

Not unlike Bayern Munich full-back Philipp Lahm, Blind was now a full-back turned midfield pivot. Able to exert his influence from a deep position in midfield, Blind started developing into one of Ajax’s most important players.

But his tactical transformation did not mean he would lose all his skills as a defender. Ahead of the World Cup, and after former captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s retirement, the Netherlands’ manager, Louis van Gaal, was in desperate need of a left-back. He regarded Blind as the ideal candidate.

In Brazil, the Ajax man played as a left-wing-back in Van Gaal’s 5-3-2 formation. As became apparent when he set up Robin van Persie’s wonder goal during the Oranje’s group-stage match against Spain, the Ajax man was one of the players who made the Dutch tactical setup work.

Later on in the tournament, Blind played as one of the Netherlands’ three centre-backs, teaming up with Stefan de Vrij and Ron Vlaar. On other occasions he played at the base of midfield, providing some positional intelligence right next to tough-tackler Nigel de Jong.

Blind’s role at Manchester United

At Manchester United, Van Gaal has so far persisted in using the same 5-3-2 formation he used with the Netherlands during the World Cup.

The new United boss’ decision to play in this formation may have influenced him in chasing Blind, whose versatility makes it easier to assemble a well-functioning team playing in 5-3-2.

5-3-2 utilises two deeper, centrally positioned midfielders and one No. 10. While Juan Mata or Wayne Rooney could play in the latter position, newcomers Ander Herrera and Angel Di Maria could form the base behind the playmaker. 

Especially with the quick and forward-bombing Di Maria, however, such a setup would be rather offensive. Against stronger oppositions, Van Gaal could therefore decide to add some defensive security by playing the more defensively minded Blind as one of his defensive midfielders. 

In this case, Di Maria could easily be placed in a more advanced position, for example as one of the two strikers or as the No. 10. Van Gaal could also decide to substitute Herrera. 

Should the occasion demand it, Blind could also be used as a left-back. But fellow newcomer Luke Shaw has been touted as Patrice Evra’s long-term successor: It’s not likely Van Gaal had the position of left-back in mind when he went for Blind. 

United still need some backup, however. With Shaw currently out injured, winger Ashley Young—who has little defensive experience—was forced to play as a left-back on multiple occasions. Blind will definitely provide his manager with a better option.

Then there’s the position of centre-back. Playing three central defenders, Van Gaal will need another man at the back, particularly a left-footed one. As we have seen during the World Cup, Blind can easily adapt his game to this position.

Tactical vision

This, then, seems to be the former Ajax man’s biggest strength. Depending on the way a match develops, and the tactical changes Van Gaal decides to implement mid-action, Blind can be moved around the pitch.

Whether Van Gaal will stick with 5-3-2 or revert to 4-3-3 or even 4-2-3-1, he is in the process of assembling a complicated puzzle. With all his versatility and tactical intelligence, Blind will surely be of assistance. 

Some players were needed because they can score and create goals. Blind was needed because he makes it easier for Van Gaal to implement his tactical vision. 

Will Blind solve all of United’s problems? He probably won’t. But if you put it like that, neither will Falcao or Di Maria. 

Football is a team sport, and especially with Van Gaal’s philosophy in mind, it’s important too look at the collective, not the individuals.