First time I had seen shaw last night and I was interested to compare him with bale when he emerged in the saints team. Shaw looks top quality too, but he is clearly under instruction not to attack but to just give the ball to lallana. Bale on the other hand was an attacking force at 16/17. I'm not saying shaw can't do it - unlike bale he is starting out in the premier league, and with our defence there may be other reasons why heh as been asked just to defend. But I guess we won't really know his full potential until we also see him in the attacking third. In addition to tactical issues, he also seems to struggle to finish games at the moment but this is understandable at his age. What do others think. Does he have attacking potential too?
But Bale was obviously a better left mid. His chances just happened to come as a left back. Shaw is evidently a full back, who always be a full back.
I think shaw was on course to finish the game but he made a clearance and as he cleared he kicked the pitch more than than the ball and injured himself. Very very good performance though especially defensively.
Who enjoyed Shaw putting Snodgrass flat on his arse in the opening minutes of the game...oh how I laughed! Shaw seems to pretty strong for a 17 year old.
I dont recall Bale being all that special at defending when he played for us. It was all about the free kicks and crosses. Shaw looks a little bit shy about going forward and taking on players, always looking to pass the ball on but his defensive work is truely excellent. But than maybe he's been instructed to do so as we have such a capable attacking 4 up top. Think its wrong to compare the two players as they have completely different jobs to do imho
People near me started singing "Mugged by a school boy, he got mugged by a schoool boy" haha. All I know is Shaw was my MOTM last night, he was absolutely superb.
I'm certain that Shaw has been instructed to be mindful of his defensive duties, bearing in mind our earlier blunders costing us points. Or, of course, that could be his natural game.
It is , he is nothing like Bale sooner the media and a few people realise this the better(not saying you don't know this already). Shaw is a Lb Bale isn't so to compare them is stupid.
Yep I have watched Shaw around 30 odd times for the youth and he is nothing like Bale, it is just very lazy journo's comparing them both.
I think Shaw will stay at LB. When Bale started out, we were all just on about his free kicks. Then he started totally controlling games, because he was clearly too good for the level we were playing at. I don't think Shaw will ever bring the level of excitement that Bale brings to a game, but he'll be a very solid defender. Also, why is that that whenever a quality full-back emerges, journalists have to speculate on whether they'll be able to advance into a more attacking role? As if winger is in some way a more respectable position than full-back. The art of defending seems to be totally lost on most viewers of the modern game.
There's nothing wrong with producing an exciting young defender, in fact it makes a bit of a change. He did the boring defensive stuff fantastically again yesterday.
Could it be because England haven't produced a good left mid for years?, so journo's hop on any youngster that plays on the left?.
He gets over looked as he is older then Bale so they can't use the old "He could be the next Bale" line.
Shaw is a defender, Bale is not. simple. However we havent seen Shaw's attacking capability because at the moment its about defending and settling himself, I am sure if we were in the Championship attacking teams all day long and not worrying about our defence he would show us what he can do. I prefer him to be a good defender first then develop his game. Where Bale was never a defender really.
His attacking play is average, yes he has a good left peg on him, but he is a defensive left back at heart.
Didnt he score one last night, and come close with another? (think he did, although could be making it up!)
