--- title: "Player Focus: Tyler Blackett" canonical: "https://readmanutd.com/2015/07/09/player-focus-tyler-blackett/" type: "post" language: "en-GB" section: "Articles" published: "2015-07-09T13:06:36Z" modified: "2015-07-09T13:07:20Z" --- # Player Focus: Tyler Blackett **In the aftermath of Manchester United’s shocking 5-3 defeat to Leicester City last September, the internet lit up with snap judgements about Tyler Blackett. How he wasn’t good enough to don the United shirt. How he was a walking liability. How the likes of Tom Thorpe and Michael Keane should have been given a first team opportunity ahead of him.** Who could blame them? They had just seen United squander a two-goal lead and concede five goals against a side that had just been promoted to the Premier League, and Blackett had been sent off for a clumsy challenge on striker Leonardo Ulloa, which led to Leicester’s fifth goal. United fans were looking for a scapegoat, and Blackett was perfect man for fans to take their frustration out on. Blackett’s confidence may have been dented after that day, and Louis van Gaal only started him in two other games after that – against Arsenal in the Premier League and Yeovil in the FA Cup, but it’s clear that van Gaal sees something in the 21-year old, and he was given a new contract in February, which may have bewildered some fans. After giving Blackett the new deal, van Gaal said: “I am delighted that Tyler has signed a new contract. He is another young player that has risen through the Academy system to break into the first-team squad this season. Tyler has great potential and I believe he is at the right club to continue his development and progression to become a great defender.” It was Blackett’s pre-season performances that propelled him into the first-team picture. With Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic leaving Old Trafford, the Mancunian youngster was given an opportunity by van Gaal on the tour of the United States and impressed at centre-back in the manager’s 3-5-2 formation. He showed bits of class throughout the tour, and his work rate was a notable attribute, and he seemed unfazed playing the likes of Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Raheem Sterling. Those performances led to Blackett being given a formal debut in the opening Premier League game of the season against Swansea. Although the Reds lost 2-1, Blackett acquitted himself well, and completed more passes than anyone else on the pitch, with an accuracy of 93%. However, he also showed some naivety, giving the ball away too quickly for a Swansea free-kick which led to one of their goals. He continued his impressive start in the next game against Burnley, where only one player completed more passes than him, and in the following game against QPR, he barely put a foot wrong when he was called upon – which admittedly, wasn’t much – and out of 97 passes, he completed 95, which are numbers you would usually associate with Andrea Pirlo or Michael Carrick. Blackett certainly reminds fans of Rio Ferdinand, who loved to pick a pass. Both are similar defenders – tall, powerful, good on the ball and quick. Blackett also possesses versatility, being able to play at left-back as well as in the centre of defence. Granted, Blackett is some way from being anywhere near where Ferdinand was in his prime. There are weaknesses in his game however, which is perfectly normal for a young defender. He needs to develop his ability to take on players, as he can get the ball stuck under his feet when in possession, making him easy to tackle. He also needs stop giving needless fouls away, which are often detrimental, as this can put United under constant pressure while defending set-pieces. Experience often gets rid of this trait, and being sent off at Leicester will have been a lesson for Blackett. His work ethic does show a man that is determined to make it at Old Trafford – he has been known to train on days off at Carrington, pushing himself to the limit, analysing his performances meticulously and putting in extra sessions at the gym. It is that determination that garnered him praise from Birmingham manager Lee Clark during his loan spell with the Blues in early 2014. “He is a tremendous boy. He is brilliant on the training pitch, he is always asking myself and the coaches to stay behind and do some individual work on his defending and different types of stuff. You want lads like him to succeed because you know they are working really hard at their game to try and get better,” he said. Blackett explained in an October edition of United Review that his only dream was to play professional football for United. “My whole childhood revolved around the game and I always wanted to play professionally. I never had a back-up plan for what I might do if things didn’t work out at United. It was always about playing football for me and I was determined to make it happen. It was basically football or nothing, which might have been risky but that was how I saw it.” United will be looking for a top quality central defender this summer, which may limit Blackett’s opportunities in the first team, but if he can continue to work hard and develop his game with the help of the coaching staff at Carrington, there is no reason why Blackett can’t become a top quality defender in the future himself.