THREAD:

Luke Shaw: Excellence
This thread will delve into Luke's improvement as a player but, in particular, some of his impressive qualities that make him an incredibly valuable for us.

I have focused on his offensive qualities for this thread as that is the area criticised most — especially by myself.
The following visualisation illustrates my in-house metric called ‘Positioning Zones’. I manually track the zones where Luke positions himself for at least five seconds and then went back to 17/18 to see if there were any differences.

There were...drastically:
We can see in the top two visualisations than Luke is fundamentally deeper (brightest zone) and then it thins out forward into higher zones. However, the bottom two visualisations, his last two seasons, differ in that he's fundamentally higher up the pitch as a base.
His current season (bottom right) — I've added post-lockdown to increase the sample — is emphatic in terms of how offensively-minded he has become. This is the same Luke we saw half a decade ago (~2015) except he's significantly better now as a total package.
However, it's all fine to say he's positioning himself higher up the pitch but the real question is: “What does he do there?”

Well...
Here, I clustered four of his most common on-ball actions. This is mightily impressive as splitting zones and beating the last line are effectively midfielder-based actions whilst his crosses match up to top full backs.

This highlights how offensively dynamic he's become.
Specifically, he is quite robotic in the zones he moves the ball into. Some might wonder whether this makes him predictable. Well, no as his repertoire is vast, making it difficult for the opponent to read him. Yet, it's easier for his teammates to read him due to chemistry.
The most impressive thing about the zone-splitting passes is that he completes them regardless of whether he's deeper or higher up the pitch. This has become an important part of our offensive structure as we can rely on him to receive and progress regardless of where he is.
This, again, is all good but the question now becomes: “Is he truly more proactive and progressive or is it just that he's proactive at times and the above are just those specific times?”

Well...
Luke's not only the most proactive he's ever been but he's become one of the most proactive but secure full backs in the world. His progression numbers put him in the 96th percentile in Europe whilst his proficiency (i.e. accuracy) puts him in the 98th!

Incredible improvement.
The most impressive thing about this one, at least in my view, is that his defensive third progression is higher this season than his final third progression in four of his last five seasons!

He's acquired the “give it to him” status which is such a massive thing for a FB.
Let's move onto to something else. It's nice to show his independent work but how has he been with Rashy (our main LM)? How has he improved with him? Is it just offensively?

Let's see!
Underlapping:

Luke has developed this underlap with Rashy which is majorly impactful. I chose this one below because of one particular reason — he's on the move before Rashy even receives the ball! A benefit of this pattern is that it's helped Rashy's passing game a lot.
Underlapping:Luke has developed this underlap with Rashy which is majorly impactful. I chose this one below because of one particular reason — he's on the move before Rashy even receives the ball! A benefit of this pattern is that it's helped Rashy's passing game a lot.
Underlapping:Luke has developed this underlap with Rashy which is majorly impactful. I chose this one below because of one particular reason — he's on the move before Rashy even receives the ball! A benefit of this pattern is that it's helped Rashy's passing game a lot.
Underlapping:Luke has developed this underlap with Rashy which is majorly impactful. I chose this one below because of one particular reason — he's on the move before Rashy even receives the ball! A benefit of this pattern is that it's helped Rashy's passing game a lot.
Underlapping:Luke has developed this underlap with Rashy which is majorly impactful. I chose this one below because of one particular reason — he's on the move before Rashy even receives the ball! A benefit of this pattern is that it's helped Rashy's passing game a lot.
Overlapping:

Despite his underlaps being more predominant, he's also developed a recent overlap this season which he's added to the list. These are things he didn't do much of before. Here, he makes a ~40m run right to the byline and was able to beat his man with the cross.
Overlapping:Despite his underlaps being more predominant, he's also developed a recent overlap this season which he's added to the list. These are things he didn't do much of before. Here, he makes a ~40m run right to the byline and was able to beat his man with the cross.
Overlapping:Despite his underlaps being more predominant, he's also developed a recent overlap this season which he's added to the list. These are things he didn't do much of before. Here, he makes a ~40m run right to the byline and was able to beat his man with the cross.
Overlapping:Despite his underlaps being more predominant, he's also developed a recent overlap this season which he's added to the list. These are things he didn't do much of before. Here, he makes a ~40m run right to the byline and was able to beat his man with the cross.
Overlapping:Despite his underlaps being more predominant, he's also developed a recent overlap this season which he's added to the list. These are things he didn't do much of before. Here, he makes a ~40m run right to the byline and was able to beat his man with the cross.
Deep Combination:

He's got this nice combination with Rashy in deeper areas which is so impactful. Rashy comes short and brings the RB with him and Luke's fast and strong enough to burst past the RB into the space left. They play a nice one-two and Luke's gone!
Deep Combination:He's got this nice combination with Rashy in deeper areas which is so impactful. Rashy comes short and brings the RB with him and Luke's fast and strong enough to burst past the RB into the space left. They play a nice one-two and Luke's gone!
Deep Combination:He's got this nice combination with Rashy in deeper areas which is so impactful. Rashy comes short and brings the RB with him and Luke's fast and strong enough to burst past the RB into the space left. They play a nice one-two and Luke's gone!
Deep Combination:He's got this nice combination with Rashy in deeper areas which is so impactful. Rashy comes short and brings the RB with him and Luke's fast and strong enough to burst past the RB into the space left. They play a nice one-two and Luke's gone!
Deep Combination:He's got this nice combination with Rashy in deeper areas which is so impactful. Rashy comes short and brings the RB with him and Luke's fast and strong enough to burst past the RB into the space left. They play a nice one-two and Luke's gone!
High Combinations:

Yes, they actually have this combination higher up, too! This one occurred in the same game less than 30 minutes later. He plays the ball off to Rashy and then underlaps him to receive it back in a high-value zone. He's starting to do this much more now.
High Combinations:Yes, they actually have this combination higher up, too! This one occurred in the same game less than 30 minutes later. He plays the ball off to Rashy and then underlaps him to receive it back in a high-value zone. He's starting to do this much more now.
High Combinations:Yes, they actually have this combination higher up, too! This one occurred in the same game less than 30 minutes later. He plays the ball off to Rashy and then underlaps him to receive it back in a high-value zone. He's starting to do this much more now.
High Combinations:Yes, they actually have this combination higher up, too! This one occurred in the same game less than 30 minutes later. He plays the ball off to Rashy and then underlaps him to receive it back in a high-value zone. He's starting to do this much more now.
High Combinations:Yes, they actually have this combination higher up, too! This one occurred in the same game less than 30 minutes later. He plays the ball off to Rashy and then underlaps him to receive it back in a high-value zone. He's starting to do this much more now.
Security:

However, it's not just their offensive combinations. Luke is important because he also offers himself as a security blanket to Rashy when the latter's pressed. Luke, himself, is one of our most press-resistant players — one of Europe's best actually.
Security:However, it's not just their offensive combinations. Luke is important because he also offers himself as a security blanket to Rashy when the latter's pressed. Luke, himself, is one of our most press-resistant players — one of Europe's best actually.
Security:However, it's not just their offensive combinations. Luke is important because he also offers himself as a security blanket to Rashy when the latter's pressed. Luke, himself, is one of our most press-resistant players — one of Europe's best actually.
Security:However, it's not just their offensive combinations. Luke is important because he also offers himself as a security blanket to Rashy when the latter's pressed. Luke, himself, is one of our most press-resistant players — one of Europe's best actually.
Security:However, it's not just their offensive combinations. Luke is important because he also offers himself as a security blanket to Rashy when the latter's pressed. Luke, himself, is one of our most press-resistant players — one of Europe's best actually.
Security II:

Luke's ability to trap the ball under pressure, process space and time, manipulate the ball depending on the opposition and play his way out of trouble is the reason why he's so valuable to us when we're building our possession.
Security II:Luke's ability to trap the ball under pressure, process space and time, manipulate the ball depending on the opposition and play his way out of trouble is the reason why he's so valuable to us when we're building our possession.
Security II:Luke's ability to trap the ball under pressure, process space and time, manipulate the ball depending on the opposition and play his way out of trouble is the reason why he's so valuable to us when we're building our possession.
Security II:Luke's ability to trap the ball under pressure, process space and time, manipulate the ball depending on the opposition and play his way out of trouble is the reason why he's so valuable to us when we're building our possession.
Security II:Luke's ability to trap the ball under pressure, process space and time, manipulate the ball depending on the opposition and play his way out of trouble is the reason why he's so valuable to us when we're building our possession.
Luke's Premier League (20/21) rank (full backs):

1st – expected assists
1st – shot assists (a.k.a. “chances created)
1st – progressive carries into final third
3rd – progressive passes

He's become proficient in carrying progressively, passing progressively and chance creation.
Summary:

In the last two seasons, and especially since lockdown (June to present), Luke has developed into one of the most impactful full backs in Europe. His offensive repertoire matches that of a good centre midfielder as well as excellent full back which speaks volumes.
Summary II:

This season he's improved almost exponentially in how he's developed little aspects to his game whilst magnifying them on the pitch. He's become a go-to starter for Solskjær and has proven his quality time and time again.
Conclusion:

Luke Shaw is currently one of the best full backs in Europe. The only concern I have is whether his body will hold up as his injury record isn't the best. However, if he can remain fit and healthy then we have our LB spot stamped for a very long time.
End of Thread.
You can follow @utdarena.
Tip: mention @twtextapp on a Twitter thread with the keyword “unroll” to get a link to it.

Latest Threads Unrolled:
Those who think consciousness raising & movement building are disconnected, or even a distraction from electoral politics have not paid attention to the history of social change.In this thread, we
Read more
The 2020s will be known as the Remote Work decadeA few predictions of what is likely to emerge[ a thread ] Third Space: Office and Working from Home will
Read more
1/29: Have you ever had a concept explained to you that helps frame complex issues you’ve been wrestling with and opens your eyes to new possibilities? A concept that I
Read more
By continuing to use the site, you are consenting to the use of cookies as explained in our Cookie Policy to improve your experience.