Premier League - Manchester United Vs Southampton: Let’s look at Luke Shaw shall we?

All the talks about signing Leighton Baines had indicated David Moyes’ not totally convinced at Patrice Evra capability to hold down the leftback position throughout the season with consistent performance. Alexander Buttner too is not convincing, unable to produce more than one good performance in a row – as evident this season. Moyes has Fabio da Silva but looks likely to see him (Fabio) as a rightback. The link with Luke Shaw was there during the summer transfer, so why not consider this young and highly rated fellow who is now playing for Southampton?Leighton Baines – despite being consistently the best leftback in the Premier League for the last two seasons – is already 29 years old and at £20 million or more would not fit into David Moyes policy of ‘value for money’. Baines is not Robin Van Persie (who cost £22 million last season)  the one player capable of changing games, rather he can be seen as a solid member of the back four, dependable week in week out. Without Baines in the team Manchester United reliance on Patrice Evra increases but with age catching up, a solid dependable leftback should be Moyes’ priority. Therefore a player – a young one – in the mould of Luke Shaw would be perfect for the leftback position at United. How much Shaw would be willing to give up regular football to join one of the biggest clubs in the world remains to be seen. Another possibility is Moyes going back for Fabio Coentrao, most probably on loan – but it means that in European competition he will not be available.

 

Southampton will not be a walk over for Manchester United and West Bromwich Albion had proven that United can be beaten at Old Trafford. This is a team lying 4th in the table (yes it’s right – 4^th) and conceded the least goal in the whole of Premier League so far. Even a win for United will not see them leapfrogging Southampton – as is the gap United had fallen. This will be another of those games – that seems easy on paper – but will severely test United’s mentality, in particular David Moyes after a difficult start to his reign as United manager. With United key players all enjoying a good international, it is in Moyes’ advantage to use that momentum to spurs United to claw back from mid table to where they belong – top.