News: One Swede for Another - The Victor Lindelöf Thread

Taking into account how Bailly has not been consistently at his best for the last year and Smalling, for his part, has managed to hold his own, it's hard to see Smalling lose his place to Bailly just yet.
Bailly and Lindelof are still the CB partnership I want to see at some point, but for it to come together at this time, it will take a very bad run of form from Smalls or an injury. Down the line though, with a new manager at the helm, it's very likely we'll see that tandem come to the fore.
Bailly is in the same boat Martial and Pogs are/have been recently: he just needs to hold on and bide his time. Hopefully, given his age and the ability he's shown early in his United career, he's among Woodward's 'Untouchables' as well.

 

Holding a good thought for Lindelof that his injury does not end up being too serious, but it did not look too good. Quietly, Lindelof has turned things around this season to the point that I believe he's been our best defender this season (even over Shaw).
Would be perfectly emblematic of our season if we were to lose him for a significant amount of time. The only positive is that it may open up a spot for Bailly to get games again. But Mourinho somehow has been favouring Jones over him in the past couple of game squads, so nothing is guaranteed there and we'll see...

 

According to social media rumours its 4+ weeks.. Gosh .. Hope he comes back stronger and time for bailly to grab the opportunity. .

 

Lindelof has won United's Player of the Month award for November. So unfortunate he had to be struck down with injury just as he was hitting his stride.
Fingers crossed he will come back as strong as he did previously.

 

Yes at last something was clicking at CB pairing but now have to deal with calamitous Jones and retarded Smalling

 

Lindelof was class again today. Such an improvement over last season.

 

More like such a big improvement under Ole but Atsun rang and twisted him on few occasions.

 

He has established himself as the guy we thought we bought. He is moving towards being half of the CB pairing we need to win a title. Now to find him a suitable partner.

 

Best CB at the club. He's been good the past 3 months. Still quite young, too, at only 24.

 

Agree but he is looking more assured under Ole specially playing out from back. He can pick a pass too under Jose it may have been a wishful thought.

 

This.

He's playing with more confidence now. Also, he, like all our CBs bar maybe Rojo, benefits from us playing a high line and pressing up the pitch.

 

Lindelof's form is another reason for fans to be cheerful.

www.espn.com/soccer/club/manchester-united/360/blog/post/3742184/victor-lindelof-form-is-another-reason-for-man-united-fans-to-be-cheerful

All Lindelof needed was a little trust and stop playing afraid, which was the main reason for his patchy form with United last term. He didn't have those issues with Sweden, as demonstrated in the qualifying playoff tie vs Italy and then subsequently at the WC.
We finally got the real Lindelof and it's been a welcome sight. Best defender at the club right now.

 

There was a play where there was a 50/50 ball on the ground and the race was between Rondon and himself. Not only did he outrun him, when he got to the ball. He won the physical tussle as well. Just bodied Rondon out if the way. Glad to see.

 

And then he went on to set up a nice chance. He has improved massively.

 

That play vs Rondon was great to watch! I've not seen something like that in ages from a United defender. I love how high up the pitch we are playing. It feels like almost a decade since we were camped in the oppo half, pinning them back.

The only problem w/ Lindelof/Bailly combo is the lack of a left footed CB. Not always necessary, but I'd love to have Bailly as our 3rd option CB and Tuanzebe as our 4th option. A naturally left footed or a both footed CB to play LCB would be great.

Beggars can't be choosers though, Bailly/Lindelof for the rest of the season would at least give us a chance to see what we've got.

 

Lindelof looks much happier and very solid back playing RCB (not surprising given he was billed as a RCB / RFB), be interesting what OGS does when Smalling back available.

Agree 100% that we should get a starter leftie LCB if possible. For example was interesting to see City use Laporte (usually a CB) as a LB vs 'pool to counter the threat of Salah and forced Salah to play a lot more central (where there was less space).

We used to use Silvestre in a similar way in the old days for certain oppo / circumstances.

Plus with modern football, being able to play quick accurate balls with left foot from LCB area is something Pep specifically wanted.

Hard to find top leftie CBs, so agree that may have to make do. But if not a leftie has to be comfortable playing that side and must have at least reasonable distribution from left foot even if not strongest.

 

I thought that was brilliant.

 

Lindelof turned things around at United after a tough start.

www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/01/18/victor-lindelof-enjoying-strange-renaissance-manchester-united/

 

The biggest difference is probably errors, forced & unforced. He doesn’t put a foot wrong now.

 

He's also more confident. He's would get beat by every single player in the past. I'm certain some of that is confidence and I'm sure the rest is down to our scheme which allows him to be more aggressive and there are fewer instances of attackers running at him at pace which tbf is bad for most CBs.

 

Defenders typically take six months to a year to adjust to the EPL. See Evra and Vidic. They were so poor that first half season, but the next year it was like two different players.

Lindeloff started playing improved back in September/October. I don't think our change in management has anything to do with his improved defensive performances. His attacking out of the back is something, however, that's been a boon of the Ole-era. He's been our best ball playing CB since Ferdinand.

Lindeloff + Koulibaly is my current wet dream. I think that's a complimentary pairing. Does anyone know which side Koulibaly prefers to play on?

 

The best thing that has happened to the defense since Vida and Rio left. May it continue.

I enjoy watching his composure caressing the ball while clattering into Chris Wood and knocking him off or when he brings the ball out the back and then wins a header against Glen Murray.