Does Daley Blind Deserve so Much Criticism by Manchester United Fans?

Throughout the latter part of the summer of 2015, many Manchester United fans have been wondering how Daley Blind has ended up as first-choice centre-back for the Red Devils.

That feeling has only intensified with Nicolas Otamendi signing for Manchester City, per BBC Sport. 

Blind got plenty of criticism last season too, particularly after Michael Carrick's injury meant the Dutchman had to slot into holding central-midfield when he was not quite fully fit himself. Against Everton at Goodison Park, United were taken to the cleaners. as Everton looked as if they could score at will on the counter-attack.

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Blind provided little cover for his defence in what was probably up there with his worst performances for United so far. However, that is weighed against the fact that plenty of fans were impressed with his—mostly—solid work at left-back during United's now-infamous good run of form in spring.

Any listen to fan podcasts or glance at forums or social media at the time would confirm this.

However, the news that Louis van Gaal considered Blind a guaranteed starter at left-centre-back for the beginning of this season came as something of a shock. Of course, for students of the manager's ways, it would have been less of a surprise.

In their book The Coaching Philosophies of Louis van Gaal and the Ajax coaches, Henny Kormelink and Tjeu Seeverens quote Van Gaal as saying (h/t Daniel Taylor of the Guardian): 

"

In modern football the two centre-backs have really become the playmakers.

The No. 10, behind the strikers, can’t be called a playmaker any more because the space in which he operates is too restricted. Today’s playmakers are to be found in the middle of the back four.

"

When seen through this prism, Blind's conversion, or, as Dutch football writer Elko Born points out on Twitter, reversion, to centre-back makes a good deal of sense.

Van Gaal is apparently prepared to sacrifice attributes more commonly associated with Premier League centre-backs—aerial presence, physical strength and pace. Although, of course, not all Premier League centre-backs possess great speed, it is generally considered an important asset for the role.

In their stead, he gets an extremely intelligent, well-schooled Dutch footballer, who is super-comfortable with the ball at his feet. His pass for Memphis Depay's second goal against Club Brugge on Tuesday night was a great example of what he can bring to the side from centre-half.

Neither Chris Smalling nor Phil Jones would have been likely to make that pass, based on past performance.

He has also, so far, done extremely well with the purely defensive side of the game. United have conceded just one goal in three games so far this season, and that came from an unfortunate deflection.

Much was made in the build-up to United's clash with Aston Villa of a potential battle between Blind and Rudy Gestede. In the end, Blind won that battle comfortably.

Against Brugge, there was a moment where he looked to have lost his man on the counter-attack, and memories of Everton away came flooding back. However, just as it looked as if he had been beaten for pace, he used a superb combination of body positioning and strength to unbalance the attacker and end the threat.

Tougher tests await Blind, but for now, he is certainly defying his critics. United's entire back four have looked like a cohesive and functional unit so far this season. Blind is a big part of that.

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Gary Neville made him Man of the Match during his Sky Sports co-commentary of the Villa game, expressing his surprise that Blind had been such a success in the role.

It is important to note, of course, that United's new-found defensive solidity is vulnerable to the kind of injury crisis that has repeatedly rocked the club over the past few seasons.

If Van Gaal does not bring in further recruits in that area, then much is being gambled on the fitness of the current first-choice group, particularly if the back-up options start picking up injuries too. Which, given Phil Jones and Jonny Evans are among them, hardly seems far-fetched.

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There is a long way to go in the season, and if Blind is to truly win over his many critics, he will have to keep up his level of performance, and prove himself against the best forwards in the division.

For now, though, he deserves plenty of praise for his excellent start.