The Year of Luke Shaw

-Nate Hyatt

In the weeks leading up to David Moyes' dismissal, heated rumors have surfaced that Manchester United already had a deal in place for a highly coveted 18 year old full back - Luke Paul Hoare Shaw.  He had a stellar season with Southampton. A Chelsea fan from birth, the only thing that appeared in the way of this move was Chelsea coming in to get the young defender.  As it happened, United secured his services for 5 years paying a record fee for the teenager, rumoured to be 30 million pounds. However related or unrelated, Patrice Evra was on his way to Juventus.

Shaw was a born footballer. His hope was to join Chelsea and even though he played at their development center he was never offered a permanent spot. He ended up joining Southampton at the age of eight and began his footballing life in their academy. He progressed quickly and was a regular in the U18’s when he turned 15.

On September 2011, Shaw was an unused substitute in Southampton’s League Cup match. That January, he made his first team debut at the age of 16 as a substitute in the FA Cup. By then, a 4 million pound price tag had been slapped on the left footed defender -with Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City rumored to be in hunt. Former Southampton manager Nigel Atkins quelled the rumors by dispelling any rumors of any desire to get rid of Shaw. The South Coast club made it clear that he was fully in their plans for the future. They made good on their promise that May as they offered Shaw, and three other Academy players, their first professional contracts following St. Mary’s promotion back to the Premier League.

In the 2012-2013 season, he failed to start his first Premier League match until November of that season, but by the time the year was over, Shaw had made 28 appearances in the first team; 25 of those coming in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, Shaw has been progressing for country as well. In January 2013, at 17 years of age, he made his full debut for the England U21’s in a friendly against Sweden. He was injured during training before that match and was unable to finish. Labeled “an outstanding talent” by U21 manager, Gareth Southgate, he was called up for the next few matches as well as the European U21 Championships, but missed it all through the earlier injury sustained in training.

On his 18^th birthday, July 12, 2013, Shaw signed a shiny new 5 year Southampton deal. His performances in the first team at 17 years of age had warranted the trust and the pay raise. If the new contract was supposed to overwhelm the teenager, it didn’t. That season was Shaw’s breakout year. A regular in the Southampton team, he was shortlisted for the PFA Young Player of the Year. He was also selected into the PFA Team of the Year at left back. Life was good for the technically gifted full back. That year he also made his full England debut, replacing Ashley Cole at halftime in a 1-0 England win against Denmark.

That summer Shaw joined a changing United team as the club and players were still reeling from the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson a full season previous. Louis Van Gaal was now the manager and at 19 years old Shaw was the starting left back for the biggest team in England, Manchester United. His first term, as it happens for many players new to the massive club, didn’t go as planned. A preseason hamstring injury and a stop-start campaign for the entire club, saw many of the players, including Shaw, trying to fully understand their manager’s wishes. Shaw was back by the end of September and was nominated for the 2014 Golden Boy award in October. Shaw struggled to find form but United fans and coaches knew they had the best English left back in the country.

During the summer holidays, Shaw took a trainer with him and the effect was immediate. In one of Louis Van Gaal’s first press conferences of the pre-season he declared this would be the “Year of Luke Shaw.” The Dutchman was right. Shaw was a different player in the preseason and started every match for the club. His pace on the left with new-found friend, Memphis Depay was a joy to watch. His strength in defense for a 19 year old was fantastic. His desire to push forward almost saw him score on a couple of occasions. No doubt a brilliant throw back to Patrice Evra. Sadly, the year of Luke Shaw came to an abrupt end.

A surging run into the PSV box on September 15 saw him ready to shoot on goal. A rash and out of control Hector Moreno ended the Year of Luke Shaw prematurely. A double leg break and a shocked United were forced to watch as the match halted for 10 minutes as crews properly and carefully tended to the in shock Shaw. Instead of having a penalty kick, United would end up losing the match even after going ahead. Moreno would later score the equalizer and assist on the go-ahead PSV goal. Football can be a cruel game.

Manchester United’s fortunes in the Premier League and Europe have changed to match the seemingly ahead-of-time recovery Luke Shaw is having. United host PSV tomorrow in the Champions League knowing a win will see them through to the knockout stage – back where they belong. Luke Shaw has been told to stay away from the AON Training ground for 4 days by Louis Van Gaal, as the United manager says Shaw seems “fed up” with the monotony of his recovery.

United have a slew of injuries to work through, but 3 points tomorrow night will be anything but monotonous for the 3 time Champions League winners. Shaw is looking to make a full, and early, recovery from his horrific injury and hopes United will be well placed in Europe and in the Premier League for the year of Luke Shaw to continue, as unlikely as that may be.