Ok Quick Tactical/Statistical Analysis thread on this. Like I said, Shaw ain't perfect but he isn't as much of the problem as people make him out to be. A lot of United's left side problems stem from Rashford due to his lackluster positioning and ability to play the overlap #MUFC https://twitter.com/pkwestel/status/1316331666709778437

Take this situation vs Brighton. Shaw gets the ball and runs forward. Rashford is on the wing but instead of making a run he moves back toward the halfway line. That allows the fullback to hold his ground, and when Shaw reaches Rashford, his only choice is to lay it off #MUFC

Brighton's midfielder, and Shaw, are going to reach that white area at roughly the same time, so two Brighton defenders can now mark him. If Rashford gets right up on the RB then Shaw could either play him in behind, or the RB would have to back up (giving Shaw more space) #MUFC

By not doing that, Shaw runs himself into a trap where his only option is to lay it off to Rashford but by then he's brought the CM over with him, allowing the CM to pick up MR, and the RB to stay with Shaw. #MUFC

With no one in the middle of the pitch, it's easy for the other defenders to rotate over, allowing the RB to pass Shaw off to a CB and now being available to trap Rashford. Rashford's lack of movement single handily turns a United break into a numerical disadvantage. #MUFC

Similar situation happens later on in the first half but this time it's Bruno who's out on the right wing. He does the right thing. He runs at the fullback, not much, but he runs, causing him to back up. How does it play out?

United scored from the resulting free kick #MUFC

Situation vs Everton last year. Shaw has the ball at the edge of the box and looks to play a 1-2 with Rashford. Shaw plays the pass and begins running forward, Rashford plays the ball first touch but back behind Shaw... why? #MUFC

Shaw is looking to run into ALL THAT SPACE, which would cause the RB to back off Rashford and allow United's runners in the box to make runs to the six yard box. It's not a difficult pass from Rashford, he just needs to hit it *somewhere* but he goes.. behind Shaw? Why?? #MUFC

Yes this is only two examples but I've got plenty more, trust me.

2018/19, basically Shaw's first *full* season with United thanks to injuries and Mourinho never trusting him. #MUFC

JM gets fired, OGS comes in. Suddenly Shaw is pressing more and higher up the pitch, he's touching the ball in the attacking box more often.

He goes from 0.07 assists per 90 under JM to 0.20 under OGS. His xA per 90 rises from 0.05 (JM) to 0.19 (OGS) #MUFC

Shaw wins United's player of the season award. He finished the season with four assists - tied for 7th most among PL left backs - not great by any means but the same amount as noted attacking left backs Marcos Alonso, Lucas Digne, and Ben Chilwell #MUFC

Under JM Shaw was playing with a rotation of Rashford, Martial, and Alexis Sanchez at LW in front of him. When OGS came in, Rashford was moved down the middle (and Shaw took off).

Under OGS the LW was mainly Martial, or Alexis, or often no LW because they played a diamond #MUFC

That's an important note. Shaw's numbers picked up even further after OGS got the fulltime job - as an injury to Martial meant that United often played with two up top, tasking Shaw with more creative duties. #MUFC

He more than responded to those tasks. From when OGS got the perm job till the end of the season
0.40 A/90
0.20 xA/90
0.50 xG Buildup
7.80 Progressive passes/90
26.6 touches in the final third/90 (his highest period)
2.2 touches in opp box/90
He contributed in all areas
#MUFC

Last season when did everyone say he played his best football? From Jan-March when Brandon Williams' emergence was credited with pushing Shaw.

Williams rise certainly had a positive effect on Shaw but guess who was injured during that time and not playing on the LW? #MUFC

You can definitely upgrade on Luke Shaw, it just seems awfully interesting that he's been noticeably better when Rashford isn't playing ahead of him on the LW.

If Rashford doesn't sort out that movement it could very much limit Telles' effectiveness #MUFC