Center Backs Situation

Realistically, I can't imagine we'll be quick to make another top level, first-choice CB signing immediately given we just brought in Varane last summer and no doubt already have plans to strengthen other areas as a priority this summer. I don't think the idea that Maguire might be displaced from alongside Varane was any more in the club's thoughts than sacking Ole was.

With Bailly and Jones possibly leaving though there may well be scope to bring in someone, I just don't expect it to be a nailed on first choice CB. The tenuous link to Max Kilman was interesting in that regard, depending on how much he'd cost. A younger CB who could come in for relatively cheap and potentially earn a starting spot eventually might be something, but I'd suspect midfield, right-back and CF are bigger priorities.
 
I'd be happiest pushing Maguire to 4th spot and buying a better 2nd/3rd choice defender to rotate with Lindy and Varane like City have with Laporte/Stones.

Frankly I think we should sell Maguire while his stock is relatively high because I reckon it'll plummet in 1/2 years. If some team were to offer 30m in the summer I'd snap their hand off.
 
Rossa said:
Newcastle?
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Baldy Castles reckons there’s some type of secret gentlemens agreement between all the PL clubs (bar City) not to sell players to newscastle so they’ll get relegated (with the exception of United for Lingard as he’s entering the last few months of his contract)
 
I don't think we're going to be spending much on a CB in the summer. Maguire is also not going to be sold. We will likely sell Bailly and Jones. We'll also try and sell Tuanzebe. We'll then look for a cheaper CB to join the squad as backup. Varane will play and then his partner will be either Lindelof or Maguire. The squad is going to need two midfielders and that's where most of the budget will go. We'll likely lose Pogba, Matic, and VDB. We'll be down to only Fred and McT. We might also need a RB. A first choice CB is not happening.
 
I tend to agree except we keep being linked with CBs and honestly we have needed midfield reinforcements for a couple of years now and yet we still don't spend the money there. The figures being talked about in the various stories are all around the 25m to 30m mark and one of the ideas behind bringing in RR was his supposed ability to identify young top players for low fees. I could see us buying 5 or 6 players this summer but not making any one major signing with the view being to build a team.
 
Maguire is either a starter or should be sold (somehow); you simply don't pay £80m for a back-up unless you're an oil/state-funded club.
 
Maguire is a good defender having a bad run of form. It's an indictment on the online fanbase that they can't see beyond their own keyboard and just bash him.

If we sorted out our midfield we'd see a huge improvement in the performances of our centre backs. Half our issues are caused by us being unable to keep possession or screen the defence adequately.

As it stands I'd like to see Maguire and Varane in a settled side. The former is the best ball playing defender in the squad and the latter the best sweeper.
 
I think it's sell Maguire and replace him with a left-sided CB so Varane can go back to the side he has more experience at and then Lindelof is the #3 CB. No idea at #4. Ideally Tuanzebe does fairly well at Napoli (rough start though) and we can just make him our #4 CB like Dalot improving at Milan and being good enough to be our backup RB now (though obviously he's starting).

Kilman has 3 years left, but he's interesting. Good on the ball, left-footed, nice size, having a nice season.
 
What's a Lindeloff?
 
Woodenlung said:
Maguire is a good defender having a bad run of form. It's an indictment on the online fanbase that they can't see beyond their own keyboard and just bash him.
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He has the same number of relegations as Cantona has Premier League titles.

He's a bad defender who had a couple of reasonable seasons at Leicester. Even then, Leicester fans always preferred Evans and he played in a back 5 for a chunk of the time and also had Ndidi babysitting.
 
Lindelof is better than most admit.

He's not top class and he's got some very obvious limitations. However he's head and shoulders above Maguire at the moment (not difficult) and I think he could form a perfectly serviceable partnership with Varane for the second half of this season
 
Gandalf said:
Sorry about that, will stay on topic.

Araujo, the issue seems to be that he is currently on a very low salary with his contract expiring in 2023. Barca do want to keep him but they are trying to get him to sign for far less than he is worth and both ourselves and Chelsea are linked. The reports today suggest we have a leg up as we have already agreed to meet the salary demands of the player and his agent.

Euro Paper Talk: Barcelona in panic mode as Man Utd step in for Araujo (teamtalk.com)
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A contract expiring in 2023 is nothing to go into panic mode over. It's all agent work and clickbait, much ado about nothing.

What's more relevant is why he is on such a low salary. It's because Barcelona snapped him up very young from the Uruguayan equivalent of Brentford and took him to La Macia. The sort of stuff you dream of as a kid. Within two years he was starting for the first team. The sort of stuff you dream of as a kid.

Unfortunately Barca have hit a bad patch financially, but the salary will come. He is on a roll, you don't chuck it all away lightly. In fact, if he starts burning bridges with Barca over wages you would have to wonder whether you want him at all. Doubt he will.
 
Woodenlung said:
Maguire is a good defender having a bad run of form. It's an indictment on the online fanbase that they can't see beyond their own keyboard and just bash him.

If we sorted out our midfield we'd see a huge improvement in the performances of our centre backs. Half our issues are caused by us being unable to keep possession or screen the defence adequately.

As it stands I'd like to see Maguire and Varane in a settled side. The former is the best ball playing defender in the squad and the latter the best sweeper.
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Stop with this logical nonsense, you're not allowed to be this level headed and sensible in the United forum.
 
I don't think we necessarily need to go out and spend vast sums on a CB. We have to be a bit smarter than that. The midfield needs 2 signings. We have 2 reliable bodies in there, an old man and a man we have no idea if he'll be here next season.

The striking situation needs looking at. Cavani will be gone, Ronaldo covers half a season at most. There is nothing else.

RB may need looking at unless Dalot really excels. We have no definitive first team quality there at all.

So while a CB would be nice I just don't think it's practical to think we're gonna shell out on another big money signing. We have to get Maguire playing better, ship Bailly out, assess Mengi, and maybe look at some cheap competition like Kilman.
 
Woodenlung said:
Maguire is a good defender having a bad run of form. It's an indictment on the online fanbase that they can't see beyond their own keyboard and just bash him.

If we sorted out our midfield we'd see a huge improvement in the performances of our centre backs. Half our issues are caused by us being unable to keep possession or screen the defence adequately.

As it stands I'd like to see Maguire and Varane in a settled side. The former is the best ball playing defender in the squad and the latter the best sweeper.
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Can try Lindelof and Varane behind a solid midfield too
 
charlenefan said:
Who the feck cares if he fits RR's philosophy? He won't be our manager next season (I hope)
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No but we shall have a like minded manager with a very similar philosophy. Ralf will have a big say in a lot of things, he’s got a proven record for excelling in developing clubs, something we desperately need.
 
We currently are very heavy sided with our CB'S - Bailly, Jones, Varane, Lindelof are all seen most as RCB's by me rather than LCB's.

I can't see why we would spend money on another CB unless someone is leaving - which then I can see why we would by a cheaper LCB left footed alternative.
 
I must say I would like us to have left footed one. It's more effective in this modern football to have left footed one imo.
 
I am very happy with Varane and Lindelof ws first pair. We can't get rid of Maguire so him and Bailly are decent cover.
Centre back position is covered well. No need for another cb.
 
Classic Redcafe. Our midfield is barely PL standard, we have a GK who resembles a subbuteo figure (able to only move sideways and not forwards) and a 36yo leading the line.

What do we need? A CB. To add to our 5 International CBs.

BeCaUSe new DEfend Man meen less GOal
 
Lentwood said:
Classic Redcafe. Our midfield is barely PL standard, we have a GK who resembles a subbuteo figure (able to only move sideways and not forwards) and a 36yo leading the line.

What do we need? A CB. To add to our 5 International CBs.

BeCaUSe new DEfend Man meen less GOal
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Classic Redcafe, we have 5 international CMs playing for Brazil, Netherlands, France but it's barely PL standard.
 
roonster09 said:
Classic Redcafe, we have 5 international CMs playing for Brazil, Netherlands, France but it's barely PL standard.
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Well, if I want to nitpick, one of those is off at the end of the season and one doesn't get into the worst Netherlands side in History. Of our CBs, four are nailed on regulars, two in two of the best International teams in the World, and one is the captain of his side.

Plus, as you well know, I am talking about CMs, not AMs. I have no issue with our AMs, my issue is with Fred, McTominay and Matic being our CM options.

And....it's not really about us needing players in a specific position per se, it's more about my frustration at the "Groundhog Day" nature of this forum.

Did we not have loads of threads about how we desperately needed a CB last year...so we signed Varane? Did we not have loads of threads about needing a CB three seasons ago, so we signed Maguire?

We all know the quote about the definition of madness don't we....how about actually trying something novel, like buying a GK who can claim a cross/sweep/kick or two CMs who can shield the back four and take the ball on the half-turn?
 
Lentwood said:
Well, if I want to nitpick, one of those is off at the end of the season and one doesn't get into the worst Netherlands side in History. Of our CBs, four are nailed on regulars, two in two of the best International teams in the World, and one is the captain of his side.

Plus, as you well know, I am talking about CMs, not AMs. I have no issue with our AMs, my issue is with Fred, McTominay and Matic being our CM options.

And....it's not really about us needing players in a specific position per se, it's more about my frustration at the "Groundhog Day" nature of this forum.

Did we not have loads of threads about how we desperately needed a CB last year...so we signed Varane? Did we not have loads of threads about needing a CB three seasons ago, so we signed Maguire?

We all know the quote about the definition of madness don't we....how about actually trying something novel, like buying a GK who can claim a cross/sweep/kick or two CMs who can shield the back four and take the ball on the half-turn?
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Likewise you can also nitpick for CB position that one of the CB played 1 game in 2 years and other CB gives Phil Jones run for money when it comes to treatment table.

The CM is not making the squad as he isn't getting chances to play for ManUtd. When he was at Ajax he was in squad all the time. Fred is regular for Brazil team, Pogba is regular for world champions.

Problem is not just individuals, it's lack of team effort. There is nothing CMs can do to shield defense when you have players giving away possession in dangerous position or can't defend set piece. Our problem is lack of playing style and inability to play as a team.

Regarding your other point about CB, we needed CM so we signed Pogba, Matic, Fred, de beek. Does that mean it's not a problematic area? It's the biggest problematic area and probably the area where we spent highest money or signed more players in last 5-6 years. Likewise we have spent money on CB but still it's a problem area.
 
roonster09 said:
Likewise you can also nitpick for CB position that one of the CB played 1 game in 2 years and other CB gives Phil Jones run for money when it comes to treatment table.

The CM is not making the squad as he isn't getting chances to play for ManUtd. When he was at Ajax he was in squad all the time. Fred is regular for Brazil team, Pogba is regular for world champions.

Problem is not just individuals, it's lack of team effort. There is nothing CMs can do to shield defense when you have players giving away possession in dangerous position or can't defend set piece. Our problem is lack of playing style and inability to play as a team.

Regarding your other point about CB, we needed CM so we signed Pogba, Matic, Fred, de beek. Does that mean it's not a problematic area? It's the biggest problematic area and probably the area where we spent highest money or signed more players in last 5-6 years. Likewise we have spent money on CB but still it's a problem area.
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I agree on the part about defending being a team effort, but this is my point in the a nutshell. We have defended poorly as a TEAM. Whatever combination of CBs we have used, we still haven't looked stable.

I am firmly of the opinion that our CBs are more than good enough. Which team wouldn't take Raphael Varane? Plus, for all the stick Maguire gets on here, he is still probably England's best CB. Lindelof is a good enough player to walk into most PL sides, as is a fit Eric Bailly.

I'm confident that if we can get the forwards pressing, the midfield working as a unit and a more progressive GK that the defence would be fine
 
Araújo looks like he'd be a good option but I can't see him leaving Barsa, he's their only good defender. The best defender that has played against United this season has been Pau Torres, he was brilliant against us in the CL. I'd love to see Varane and Torres together with two proper FB's. Torres is a leader, ideal signing, brilliant on the ball, he is a lot faster than people think, rarely ever caught out for pace as he's as he smells out the danger very well.
 
We should sign a CB. Lindelof is better than HM in a high line but he will always be prone to get beaten in corners or outmuscled. Ideally, we sell HM and simultaneously sign a replacement I would get rid of Bailly as well.

Rudiger on a free could be an opportunistic signing.
 
Hugh Jass said:
Most pressing area is MF for me. Then RB although Dalot looks promising.
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Totally agree.

With CM sorted, the CBs will get a decent run at forming a proper partnership without shitting themselves for 90mins. We have enough quality among our CB options, we just need to get them settled and into form and rhythm. They all look worse than they really are at the moment.
 
Mylock said:
Araújo looks like he'd be a good option but I can't see him leaving Barsa, he's their only good defender. The best defender that has played against United this season has been Pau Torres, he was brilliant against us in the CL. I'd love to see Varane and Torres together with two proper FB's. Torres is a leader, ideal signing, brilliant on the ball, he is a lot faster than people think, rarely ever caught out for pace as he's as he smells out the danger very well.
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Yeah I like Torres.

But I really think a new CB should be a little way down the list with our shambolic CM, two old fogeys up front and a question mark at RB (should have bought Trippier instead of CR7, imo).
 
Lindelof and Varane are best pair by a mile. Bailly is 3rd choice. Maguire is a problem. He is not good as first chouce but his price tag and captain role will stop us in selling him and new manager will try to find a role for him.
 
Andycoleno9 said:
Lindelof and Varane are best pair by a mile. Bailly is 3rd choice. Maguire is a problem. He is not good as first chouce but his price tag and captain role will stop us in selling him and new manager will try to find a role for him.
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I’d like to think this manager and any who come after him will just pick whatever team they think is best. Surely? If there’s pressure from the board to play this player or that we are truly lost.
 
Whilst I’d love a new CB, our priorities are midfield (x2 at least), RB and striker. Cavani will be off and I suspect Ronaldo will too.

we can promote Hannibal and Laird to address 2 of those positions. Maybe more. So we could have a bigger budget for a key midfielder and a striker

don’t forget that in the summer we will lose Pogba and Lingard from the squad, probably Mata too. Midfield will be a big job
 
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