Sport
HAVE UNITED FINALLY FOUND THE PERFECT FULL-BACK COMBINATION?
HAVE UNITED FINALLY FOUND THE PERFECT FULL-BACK COMBINATION?
In a transitional period, there are many conundrums that a manager has to address before any progress can be made, and Manchester United have more to resolve than most.
There is whether Wayne Rooney is a No 9, how to accommodate a popular and energetic Ander Herrera, is Chris Smalling good enough to be the focal point of the defence or what Juan Mata’s best position is.
However, one issue that has, rather expensively, seemingly been resolved is an enigma that even the great Sir Alex Ferguson toiled with in the latter years of his tenure at Old Trafford.
Rooney’s hat-trick will draw all the plaudits from United’s evening in Brugge, but their solid, maundering full-backs further emphasised their importance to a new-look United, and gave fans reassurance that a problematic area may well become a strong point after so many years of indifference.
Rafael was a popular figure at M16, with his palpable love for all things United key to endearing the multi-faceted Brazilian to the United faithful.
Yet, despite being the more reliable of the Da Silva twins, Rafael was always prone to a high profile error, and his effervescence became a hindrance when a cool head was require.
United have tried a whole host of full-backs over the years. John O’Shea looked to have made the position his own after one impressive campaign, but he faded quickly, Fabio was far too erratic, Phil Jones and Smalling always looked like fish out of water, while Antonio Valencia was always a stop gap.
Patrice Evra never really had support on the opposite flank, and the Frenchman himself faded as his stay in Manchester came to an end.
Luke Shaw had big boots to fill, however. Such a heavy price tag can weigh down on such young shoulders, and it seemed to get the better of him as he struggled with his fitness in a debut season in 2014/15.
However, the England defender has arguably been United’s standout player so far this campaign, and looks like a different beast all together.
We are seeing the bursts forward that he made his trademark at Southampton, while showing tenacity to track his men and look like a formidable obstacle.
Matteo Darmian’s early form has been even more surprising to onlookers. His capture came somewhat out of the blue, and little was known about the Italian other than his superb display against England at last summer’s World Cup.
However, less of a forward-thinker than Shaw, the 25-year-old has looked an excellent addition, and added to the new resolute feel about the United rearguard.
With several fresh faces on display, it was Darmian who earned praise from Van Gaal after United’s opening day victory over Tottenham, with the Dutch supremo seemingly surprised at his immediate composure.
“Darmian was one of the best players. He as in all positions, and when the opponent had the ball he was always there. I have to congratulate him,” Van Gaal said, without prompting.
To categorically state United’s full-back problems have been resolved at such an early juncture in the season is obviously churlish, but the early signs are certainly encouraging.
With Mata and Memphis Depay prone to cutting inside from the flanks, United’s full-backs are key to stretching the play and providing the width.
But whereas Rafael and Evra did so with aplomb in the past few seasons, both (Evra more so in his later years) were prone to errors defensively, and their positional play often left much to be desired.
Now, Shaw and Darmian must build on their start, make the positions their own, and maintain their fitness levels.
Doing so will be key to Van Gaal’s system, but should they manage to impress, and with age on their side, this facet of United’s side could well offer the stability and energy United have been lacking for many years to come.
