 THE RESURGENCE OF LUKE SHAW

The RESURGENCE

of LUKE SHAW

When Luke Shaw was snapped up by Louis Van Gaal in 2014, it was a time of rebuilding, on the back of one of the most disappointing seasons under David Moyes. At the time, Van Gaal represented hope and Shaw - still a highly promising 18-year old – was regarded as a long-term solution and one for the future.

A few months before signing for United – in March 2014 – Luke Shaw made his international debut and, as so often happens, when young English players play for England for the first time, his pedigree soared. He even went to the World Cup in Brazil and played the full game of England’s (meaningless) last group match.

A few days later, he joined United from Southampton for £27M for what was then a world-record fee for a teenager. He made his debut on 27 Sep 2014 in a 2-1 win against West Ham – a match that saw Rooney sent off and a makeshift defence enduring high pressure to hold on to the win. It was a prelude of what was to come for United and for Luke Shaw as well. The team struggled to find its feet and fluidity but at least there was marked improvement on the previous season as Manchester United finished fourth in the league table. Shaw made 20 appearances in that first season of his and the promise was still there.

by Julian Tabone

Shaw’s second season was meant to consecrate him in the side.

Indeed he started off very well. A constant threat bombarding down the wing, symbolizing what a typical Manchester United full-back should be like. Fans were still happy and very much optimistic that we had finally found a player that would unlock many defenses with his surging overlap runs.

Shaw suffered a horrible double leg fracture and he was ruled out for 6 months. I remember watching that match and praying he would be fine. At the end of the match, no one cared much about the disappointing result. It was one of those injuries that could make or break a player. The resilience and the mental strength that such injuries provoke can uncover characters. Many other players suffered similar fates. Some do come back. Others did not. Most of them – as the cliché goes - say they will come back “stronger than ever” but that is easier said than done. Most of them, in fact, do come back but they rarely come back to the same level. My mind springs back to Roy Keane of course. He too had a devastating injury at the start of the 1996-97 season and whilst he did come back, he had to adapt his game and it took him time. Shaw was still a 20 year old in September 2015. How would he react? How would he come back? To be honest, I had my doubts.

Indeed, the aftermath of that tackle took its toll on young Shaw.

He spent almost a whole year out, only making a return in August 2016. By then, the manager had changed. Mourinho came in and Shaw was so desperate to impress. Niggling injuries however, did not help his cause. Inexplicably (at least to me) Mourinho used to (and still does) single him out and publicly criticize him. His confidence, inevitably, took a hit and his performances dipped.

Mourinho managed United for 144 games; Luke Shaw featured in just 34 of those matches which translates to a mere 24%. That stat simply says it all. Solskjaer eager to replicate the Ferguson effect inside a dressing room full of insecurity and devoid of any confidence. OGS immediately recognized that the player needed an arm around his shoulder. Indeed, the whole team upped their game and went on an impressive run of wins culminating in that famous night in Paris. That was, until Solskjaer was handed a disappointing one but Shaw ended winning the Players’ Player of the Year and the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year. He is no prolific scorer ‑ he’s only scored 3 goals - but defensively and offensively Luke Shaw has also been slowly building up and been absolutely brilliant. He is now one of the first names on everybody’s team sheet. He is arguably – especially on the back of his impressive displays in Euro 2020 - an automatic choice as well in Southgate’s England’s back four.

In 2019-20 it was pretty much a similar story. Shaw kept improving. He made 33 appearances and Manchester United finished strongly in 3rd place. He’s now been 7 seasons with us and yet he has only racked up 187 appearances. That stat will improve.

And then – in December 2018 – in came The arrival of Alex Telles in the summer of 2020 pushed him even more and last season Shaw established himself and made 47 appearances – his highest ever tally for a single season. In a certain way, he seems to be older than what he actually is. It seems he’s been with us for a lifetime, but in reality he is still only 26 years of age. That means he has a long career ahead of him. And it is only now that he seems to be peaking.

Today, Luke Shaw is indeed regarded as one of the best left backs in the Premier League, a testament to his resilience and determination to succeed and to prove doubters wrong. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs credit for that as well. He has shown trust in him and he has been repaid.

Manchester United’s best teams have always boasted full-backs who were ready to risk, to overlap, to put in crosses and to put themselves on the line.

The transformation that Luke Shaw has undergone now needs to be capitalized upon.

Based on the progress we have witnessed in the past 2 seasons and also recently, Luke Shaw’s best is certainly yet to come.