Daley Blind Could Be Manchester United's Most Important Summer Signing

There was a new and palpable sense of anticipation around Old Trafford as Manchester United’s supporters strode up Sir Matt Busby to watch their team against QPR on Sunday. 

The malaise of the David Moyes era was long gone, and even the alarm at Louis van Gaal’s own slow start had been banished, and instead, a giddy, almost childish excitement had taken hold at suddenly being able to watch a new collection of world-class players.

The leading attractions on Sunday were understandably the guile and speed of Angel Di Maria and the predatory and prolific instincts of Radamel Falcao.

After years of jealously watching as these players paraded their talents on the continent, they were now here in Manchester M16 and about to perform in red shirts.

Amid this excitement it is fair to say no one gave much contemplation to the debut of another of United’s summer signings: Daley Blind.

And yet over the course of the 90 minutes against QPR, Blind quietly put on an impressively accomplished display as a holding central midfielder.

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The Dutchman was the anchor at the base of a midfield diamond that allowed the more extravagant talents around him a greater freedom to perform.

As Di Maria, Falcao, Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata roamed the pitch, Blind was stationed in front of the defence where he kept a close and watchful eye over them. 

This new United side has been hailed as the Galaticos, and Blind fulfills the same role as Claude Makelele did for the original Real Madrid Galaticos a decade ago.

Makelele wasn’t spectacular, nor showy, but he did his job with an efficient and clinical simplicity, collecting the ball and distributing it to his team-mates.

Blind plays a similar role, and on Sunday he was there to snuff out opposition attacks, and then restart them with a short pass. He made 112 passes against QPR, with only five not reaching their intended recipient. 

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Watching Blind at the weekend it became increasingly clear why Louis van Gaal decided not to pursue the signing of Toni Kroos in the summer.

Manchester United have been without a player of this calibre playing in the holding role since Owen Hargreaves began to be plagued by injury six years ago.

The former England international enjoyed a fine first season at United, helping to guide United to the Premier League and Champions League in 2007-08, but he would never recover from a succession of injuries and played only a handful of games over the next four seasons. 

Ever since, the United midfield has lacked a calming presence in front of the defence until Blind stepped on to the pitch on Sunday afternoon.

The Dutchman has only played one game, but the early signs are United might have finally found the player they have long needed in this position.