In year of Manchester United mediocrity, Daley Blind’s evolution an unqualified success

Greg Lea writes Daley Blind's solidification as a centre back has been 'an overwhelming success' and one of the bright spots for Manchester United this season.

Manchester United's Daley Blind celebrates during the team's match against Everton in the FA Cup semi-final. Tony O'Brien / Action Images / Reuters / April 23, 2016

Louis van Gaal's penchant for fielding Manchester United players out of their natural positions has received a great deal of attention this term.

It was widely noted, for instance, that United's front four towards the end of the 3-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month featured one winger at centre-forward and one in a No 10 role, as well as a centre-forward out wide and a No 10 on the other flank.

To underline the point further, many acknowledged the presence of Marcos Rojo, a centre-half by trade, at left-back, and Daley Blind, nominally a midfield player, in the heart of the backline.

Some of Van Gaal’s decisions in this regard have been baffling, but his redeployment of Blind cannot be included in that category.

The use of the Dutchman in defence has been a success, as well as part of a wider trend that has seen many possession-based sides employ midfielders or players with qualities associated with the position at centre-back.

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Blind has demonstrated his versatility ever since moving to Old Trafford in 2014, the former Ajax man used as a left-back, a left wing-back, a central midfielder and a centre-half at various points in the last two seasons.

The majority of his appearances in 2015/16 have come in the middle of United's defence, however, with Blind making more Premier League starts than anyone else at the club.

The 26-year-old’s accurate passing has been important to a side who routinely dominate possession, with Blind’s intelligence, positioning and reading of the game other attributes that have seen him excel in the role.

United regularly face opponents who sit deep and allow them control of the ball – a game plan Leicester City will enact on Sunday – which heightens the need for a player with good distribution to form part of the back four.

Since many teams press United in midfield but are wary of closing down too high up the pitch, the players with the most time in possession are the central defenders, who are often relied upon to build the play and control the tempo – duties usually associated with players further up the park.

Van Gaal made that observation back in 1997, a few years after he had deployed former midfielder Frank Rijkaard in Ajax’s defence.

“In modern football the two centre-backs have really become the playmakers,” he said in The Coaching Philosophies of Louis van Gaal and the Ajax Coaches. “The No 10, behind the strikers, can’t be called a playmaker anymore because the space in which he operates is too restricted.”

It was for the same reason that Barcelona's Javier Mascherano was re-stationed at centre-back by Pep Guardiola, who has also frequently dropped Javi Martinez into Bayern Munich's backline.

Other top teams rely on centre-halves who possess the same technical characteristics as the traditional midfielder. Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels, Juventus' Leonardo Bonucci and Paris Saint-Germain's David Luiz are examples of central defenders who are adept at bringing the ball out from the back, thus allowing their forward-thinking teammates to remain in advanced positions.

Those sides who are content to cede possession and defend deep have less need for a centre-back in Blind’s mould, but the Netherlands international has proven himself to be an essential part of United’s approach under Van Gaal.

He has also exceeded expectations with regards to the physical side of the game, Everton's Romelu Lukaku coming off second best in his battle with the Dutchman in a Premier League encounter four weeks ago.

"I feel good in that position ... I've shown it's not only about strength but also quick thinking and being in the right position," Blind told United Review.

“I know my job and that’s why I’m in the middle as well, to play balls into the midfielders and then play from there. It’s about helping the build-up of the game and that’s one of my strengths.”

It may not be the position in which he started his career, but the use of Blind at centre-back has been an overwhelming success.

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