Blind & Smalling Set 21-Year Starts High

Daley Blind and Chris Smalling both made more starts for Manchester United in 2015/16 than any other outfield Reds player in the last 21 seasons.

The centre-back duo started 55 games each in all competitions this season – the most by a non-goalkeeper since Gary Pallister (58) in 1994/95 and the most by any player since Peter Schmeichel (56) in 1998/99.

In an era when squad rotation is more prevalent than ever, the impressive statistic is testament to the consistency and fitness displayed this term by both players, who helped United keep the most clean sheets in the Barclays Premier League (18) and concede the joint-fewest goals (35, with Tottenham Hotspur).

The only matches Blind didn’t start were Everton away, CSKA Moscow away and Manchester City at home (three successive games in October), plus Norwich City away in May. Smalling missed Bournemouth away in December, Midtjylland and Arsenal at home in February, and Watford at home in March. So at least one of the pair started in every one of the Reds’ 59 games in 2015/16.

As you can see below, only three other outfield players have made more than 50 starts in a single season for United in the last decade – Wayne Rooney (51 in 2006/07), Rio Ferdinand (51 in 2007/08) and Nemanja Vidic (52 in 2008/09).

You have to go back to 1993/94 for the last time a Red hit the 60 mark – defenders Steve Bruce and Denis Irwin both made a remarkable 61 starts that season, in helping Sir Alex Ferguson’s side win the Double.

Blind this week posted on social media that he was sitting out the Netherlands’ end-of-season friendlies through injury and, with the Oranje having failed to qualify for Euro 2016, the 26-year-old can take a well-deserved rest over the summer. Smalling, meanwhile, will hope to help England go all the way in the tournament, before returning to United to do it all again in 2016/17.

MOST STARTS PER SEASON BY UNITED PLAYERS IN THE LAST 30 YEARS

2015/16: Daley Blind, Chris Smalling (55)
2014/15: David De Gea (43)
2013/14: David De Gea (52)
2012/13: Michael Carrick, Patrice Evra (42)
2011/12: Patrice Evra (47)
2010/11: Nemanja Vidic (47)
2009/10: Patrice Evra (48)
2008/09: Nemanja Vidic (52)
2007/08: Rio Ferdinand (51)
2006/07: Wayne Rooney (51)
2005/06: Edwin van der Sar (51)
2004/05: Mikael Silvestre (45)
2003/04: John O’Shea (46)
2002/03: Mikael Silvestre (54)
2001/02: Fabien Barthez (49)
2000/01: Gary Neville (49)
1999/00: Jaap Stam (51)
1998/99: Peter Schmeichel (56)
1997/98: David Beckham (45)
1996/97: Eric Cantona (50)
1995/96: Peter Schmeichel (45)
1994/95: Gary Pallister (58)
1993/94: Steve Bruce, Denis Irwin (61)
1992/93: Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister (50)
1991/92: Brian McClair (57)
1990/91: Gary Pallister (58)
1989/90: Brian McClair, Mike Phelan (48)
1988/89: Steve Bruce, Mark Hughes, Jim Leighton, Brian McClair (48)
1987/88: Brian McClair (48)
1986/87: Peter Davenport (39)
1985/86: Paul McGrath (49)