DESPITE MANCHESTER UNITED’S rather patchy start to the season, the performance of their defence had been a major positive.
Until last night.
Injury has cost the side their best performer of the campaign so far but also breaks up the solid quartet that had impressed so much.
Even last night, the introduction of Marcos Rojo led to some uncharacteristic edginess in United’s defence but what are the options for Louis van Gaal?
Working on the likelihood of Daley Blind taking over from Shaw at left-back, there seems three possible scenarios.
Marcos Rojo
The Argentine is a strange case. A powerful player, he started 20 games in his debut campaign at Old Trafford but has never been an undisputed first-choice. When he signed, it was his versatility that was seen as a big reason why van Gaal wished to bring him to Old Trafford with his ability to slot in at full-back or centre-half.
But he’s featured very rarely on the flank for United, perhaps a sign that he was actually brought in to play as part of the three-man defence that lasted all of forty-five competitive minutes in last season’s Premier League opener against Swansea before van Gaal reverted to type and went with a flat back-four.
Last evening, van Gaal even refused to introduce Rojo in a straight-swap with Shaw. Instead, he disrupted the very successful central defensive partnership between Chris Smalling and Daley Blind and pushed the Dutchman to left-back.
But, van Gaal likes balance. So, Rojo appears to be in pole position to enjoy a considerable run in the side at centre-back despite lacking the ball-playing skills and intelligence of Blind, who complements the more physical and combative Smalling very well.
Van Gaal seems unsure of Rojo as a left-back despite him playing there for his country. And there’s also plenty of baggage between player and coach too.
Rojo turned up late for United’s pre-season tour because an expired passport meant he wasn’t allowed on the plane to San Jose after being granted an extended break following his Copa America involvement.
As deadline day approached, rumours also circulated that Rojo could be sold with van Gaal reportedly unhappy with the defender’s fitness.
Phil Jones
During United’s purple-patch last term, Chris Smalling was paired with Phil Jones and the duo showed they had what it took to be dependable long-term partners.
But Jones is injury-prone and hasn’t featured at all this season owing to a mild thrombosis in his thigh. He isn’t expected back in time for next Sunday’s clash with Southampton but could be in contention for United’s home game against Sunderland on 26th September.
When he does return to action, it gives van Gaal a dilemma: he can retain Rojo and keep the balance that he so badly craves at the heart of the defence or bring Jones in and hope he and Smalling pick up from where they left off last season.
Much depends on how Rojo does in the side and whether van Gaal can trust him enough. Jones may not be the most cultured or sophisticated of players but give him an instruction and he’ll carry it out.
Paddy McNair
Van Gaal likes the young man from Antrim.
He liked him last season when promoting him to the senior side when other members of the United U-21 side were regarded as better prospects.
And he’s liked him enough to keep him around at Old Trafford when so many others have been discarded this past summer.
As discussed here recently, McNair is comfortable on the ball, having arrived at the club as an attacking midfielder before being converted into an emergency centre-half. Many think his future is in a holding role, in front of the back four, but he’s also slotted in at right-back when asked.
He hasn’t played a single minute for United so far this season but he’s been on the bench for all but one of their games.
Calm and composed on the ball, he certainly offers something that Rojo and Jones don’t but his inexperience may count against him.
Still, if any manager is to throw a curve-ball, it’s Louis van Gaal.
