Analysing Daley Blind’s Performance vs. Leicester and Amazing Fan Response to It

Manchester United’s Daley Blind was in superb form against Leicester City on Saturday. Ahead of the season, the versatile Dutchman was widely expected to be one of the players with whom Jose Mourinho would dispense, per Sky Sports. Instead, he was one of the manager’s starting centre-backs. 

At least, he was until after the Manchester derby. Blind was given a torrid time by Kevin De Bruyne and made errors for both Manchester City goals. It always looked like City would offer the first proper test for the Blind and Eric Bailly partnership, and so it proved. It would be generous to give them a passing grade.

However, fast-forward a few weeks and an injury to Luke Shaw offered opportunity for Blind to shine in perhaps his best position: left-back. And shine he did. Both in defence against Riyad Mahrez—for the first half at least—and in attack alongside Marcus Rashford on the left flank, Blind was an integral force.

Watching the highlights and can’t help but notice the quality of the corners from blind #unsunghero #class

— De Gea Bae (@ot__1987) September 25, 2016

The first port of call for analysis, fairly obviously, has to be his corners. After all, they made the telling difference in the match. He earned two assists and one hockey assist from them.

The first was a fine cross for Chris Smalling. Leicester’s defenders did not earn themselves a lot of credit, but nonetheless, Blind’s delivery was inch-perfect.

He lined up to take a left-footed outswinger, with most of United’s heavy-hitting aerial threats gathered around the far edge of the six-yard box. He successfully swung the ball out of ‘keeper Ron-Robert Zieler’s reach, over the first clump of Leicester defenders and into the danger zone. Smalling obliged with the goal, and United had the lead.

Difference after scoring was huge. Shows importance of confidence. Herrera stand out for me. Blind’s corners superb too.

— Karate Jesus (@KarateJesus44) September 24, 2016

That lead dramatically changed the tone of the game and the atmosphere in the ground. As Juan Mata wrote in his blog: “Taking the lead gave us more confidence and helped to create a great atmosphere in the stadium.”

So Blind’s excellent capacity to make a football go where he wants it to when he kicks it was on show for the first goal. The second showed his other great quality: speed of thought.

Leicester’s defending for the Smalling goal was questionable given the England man ended up with close to a free header. For the third, it was shambolic, and Blind took full advantage.

Love that corner from Blind today for Rashfords goal. tactical corners aren’t utilised enough. #Rashford anticipation though, future of #UTD

— Liam Jöe (@ljblackwood) September 24, 2016

He spotted that the champions were not set and slid a ball into Mata, who in turn found goalscorer Rashford. It was abysmal organisation, but taking advantage of the moment required quick thinking. In Blind, Mata and Rashford, United had no shortage of football intelligence with which to …

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