Luke Shaw vs. Daley Blind: Who Is Manchester United's Best Left-Back Option?

Louis van Gaal has, in word and deed, made it clear who he thinks wins the Luke Shaw vs. Daley Blind battle over Manchester United's left-back spot.

At the back end of last season, Blind played left-back during United's best run of form. At that point, after the difficult season Shaw had endured, there was reasonable doubt as to who would win this particular battle.

Shaw's age, the fee he had cost and the promise he had shown at Southampton still probably made him favourite, but it was at least in question.

However, during United's pre-season tour of the U.S. and for their opening game against Tottenham Hotspur, Van Gaal selected Blind at left-centre-back and Shaw at left-back.

Van Gaal spoke in glowing terms about Shaw's potential, allaying fears that the youngster's injury-hit first season at United had clouded his manager's view of him. He said, per David McDonnell of the Mirror, "Luke Shaw is a big talent. He’s very young so it’s not so easy for him to come from Southampton to as big a club as Manchester United."

The Dutchman's key message, though, was to come. He went on to say "So I think that it shall be the season of Luke Shaw, that I believe. I believe in him and he has to feel that, and I hope he shall show it."

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It hardly seems likely that the "season of Luke Shaw" would begin with Blind ahead of him in the pecking order.

Van Gaal, it seems, has other plans for Blind anyway. The younger Dutchman has been a surprise inclusion at the heart of United's back four. His relative inexperience in that position, and the widely held idea that the Red Devils could do with an additional top-level centre-back in the squad meant a few eyebrows were raised over Blind's reassignment.

However, Van Gaal made it clear why he had opted for Blind over his other defensive options at left-centre-back—a position he delineates from right-centre-back—in an interview on MUTV (h/t Peoples Person on Twitter). Van Gaal said he had chosen Blind "Because we need good build up play + I think he can do that. He can also come in midfield to give an extra man."

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So, why is Shaw ahead of Blind at left-back? As we did with Matteo Darmian and Antonio Valencia, let's break down the different aspects of the role and look at their strengths and weaknesses.

Positioning

Unlike in the battle between Darmian and Valencia, this is a close-run thing. Blind has played as a left-back and left-wing-back plenty during his career and is a very intelligent footballer. At centre-back his positioning is occasionally a little suspect, but at left-back he uses his positioning well to compensate for his relative lack of pace.

His performance against Manchester City at Old Trafford last season was exemplary in this regard, as he kept attacks from down his flank to a minimum in spite of being up against a player as quick as Jesus Navas.

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Shaw has spent his young career at left-back. Much of that has been at a high level, as he spent two full Premier League seasons at left-back for Southampton before making the switch to Manchester. His best game last season, which came against Chelsea, saw him contributing plenty in attack without neglecting his defensive duties.

Knowing where to be and when to be there is absolutely key to the full-back arts and both of these players are good at this.

Tackling

Another category which is a close-run thing. Last season, Blind made considerably more tackles on average per game than Shaw—2.3 per league game to Shaw's 1.4. However, that statistic needs further analysis to be relevant.

After all, Blind played in defensive midfield for a good number of games in the season, a position from which he made a lot of those tackles. That alone skews the data, as does the opponents against which each man played.

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Whatever the numbers, they are both technically accomplished tacklers, with good timing and plenty of the necessary physical courage required.

As with the positioning category this one is probably a tie, although in both cases, Shaw is quicker than Blind. In terms of positioning that gives him a better chance of compensating for any mistakes he makes. In terms of tackling it means he can get himself in a position to make challenges Blind would not be able to.

Passing

Here, Blind has an edge. His schooling in Dutch football and his grounding in midfield means he is a very reliable passer of the ball. Last season he averaged a huge 63.3 passes per league game—again, not all from full-back—and his completion was an impressive 87.7 per cent.

Shaw's completion rate was hardly unimpressive, although on average he saw a lot less of the ball—partly because of Blind's games in midfield. He completed an average of 86.7 per cent of his average of 33.8 passes per league game.

Although he does generally make very safe use of the ball, it is worth noting that Blind's pass completion dropped as low as against 74 per cent against Liverpool, and 77 per cent against Manchester City, both key games he played at left-back.  

On the other hand, Shaw's was as high as 98 per cent against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, where he misplaced just one pass. These individual match statistics come courtesy of Squawka.com.

Shaw is far from a bad passer of the ball, but Blind just nicks this category.

Attacking contribution

This is a complicated issue to address. Shaw needs to improve his attacking contribution in terms of his direct impact on goals. He has just one Premier League assist in his career and no goals at that level.

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Blind managed two of each last time out, although both goals came in games in which he played in midfield. However, he provided an assist from left-back against Aston Villa at Old Trafford.

However, Shaw does contribute a lot to United's attack, and he has linked up well with Ashley Young in preseason. His pace is a useful asset. Blind still nudges this category, but Shaw will hopefully improve as he develops his game.

Physicality

Shaw appears considerably quicker than Blind. Neither men are Valencia-style powerhouses, but Shaw's speed makes him an comfortable winner here. He has improved his fitness over the summer, and looks in excellent condition. Hopefully that will have a bearing on his susceptibility to injuries at the season progresses.

Left-backness

As with the right-backness category in the Darmian vs. Valencia piece, this is obviously a made-up term. However, it is actually probably the most important category in either comparison. This one is closer than the battle between United's right-sided choices, but Shaw definitely comes out ahead.

Blind is very useful cover at left-back and is clearly an adaptable and intelligent footballer. Shaw, though, has been a left-back for his entire professional career. That kind of engrained training in a position makes a difference.

Conclusion

There is little cause to disagree with Van Gaal's decision to prioritise Shaw at left-back. The youngster was brought in at enormous cost to address United's needs in that spot for a long time to come.

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Whether Blind retains his first-choice centre-half berth as the season progresses or not, he looks unlikely to usurp Shaw at left-back. United have plenty of cover, and Blind is a good option to call upon, but Shaw is—and should be—first choice.

All advanced statistics except where otherwise stated per WhoScored.com.