Why this could be Luke Shaw’s year at Manchester United
Jose Mourinho should breathe a sigh of relief after Manchester United finally got back to winning ways with a convincing 2-0 victory over Burnley. The win should mean a lot to the club after a shocking 3-2 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion and a 3-0 humiliation at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur.
Mourinho has been at the receiving end of a lot of criticism for his tactics and style of play. The manager has been unable to find his best XI and the constant chopping and changing haven’t helped the team settle down. The players often look confused and uninspired as Mourinho has often been guilty of deploying certain players at unfamiliar positions.
However, Luke Shaw is one of the few players who has made it to the first-team right from the first game. Mourinho has awarded the Englishman with regular starts and the left-back has not disappointed at all.
Much of United’s woes have been down to poor defending. The Red Devils have struggled to find a permanent pairing at the heart of the defence with Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Victor Lindelof all guilty of silly errors in the first three games. It is true that United’s defence has lacked solidity but most of it could be due to poor composure and bizarre decision-making. However, one man who has put his hand up and has been a silver lining amidst all the woes is none other than Luke Shaw, who joined the club for £27million from Southampton.
Shaw was left out of Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad as he made only 11 appearances in the Premier League last season. The left-back had witnessed a dip in his career graph, owing to the double leg fracture he suffered a year-and-a-half ago.
However, he showed plenty of energy in the first game against Leicester City and came up with the winner that guaranteed all three points for Mourinho’s team. Even though United struggled to make a mark against Spurs in the 3-0 defeat, the left-back was pretty impressive with his defending and crosses into the box. The Englishman continued his consistent run of form this weekend as well. In fact, it was his surge down the left that ultimately led to the team’s second goal.
While most of his teammates have blown hot and cold in patches, Shaw has been outstanding with his work rate as a left-wing back. Although he has struggled occasionally against pacy opponents, he has mostly kept things tight down the left side. Not only has he looked solid defensively but he has also carried the ball forward into the opposition’s third where he has been precise with his crossing.
All in all, Shaw has shown the hunger to compete at the highest level and it would be harsh to take anything away from the young man. There was no doubt about his abilities in the past and his good form can take him far this season.
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Shaw has successfully reinstated himself as one of the best left-backs in the Premier League, alongside the likes of Marcos Alonso and Andrew Robertson. With the fitness and consistency he has shown so far, Luke Shaw could be the man who inspires Manchester United to a respectable finish in the Premier League.
