Bastian
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Centre-back pairings and results 2022-2023 season
(H) Brighton 1-2: Martinez-Maguire
(A) Brentford 4-0: Martinez-Maguire
(H) Liverpool 2-1: Martinez-Varane
(A) Southampton 1-2: Martinez Varane
(A) Leicester 0-1: Martinez-Varane
(H) Arsenal 3-1: Martinez-Varane
(H) Real Sociedad 0-1: Lindelof-Maguire
(A) Sheriff Tiraspol 0-2: Martinez-Varane
(A) City 6-3: Martinez-Varane
(A) Omonia Nicosia 2-3: Martinez-Lindelof
(A) Everton 1-2: Martinez-Lindelof
(H) Omonia Nicosia 1-0: Martinez-Lindelof
(H) Newcastle 0-0: Martinez-Varane
(H) Tottenham 2-0: Martinez-Varane
(A) Chelsea 1-1: Martinez-Varane
(H) Sheriff Tiraspol 3-0: Martinez-Lindelof
(H) West Ham 1-0: Martinez-Maguire
(A) Real Sociedad 0-1: Martinez-Maguire
(A) Villa 3-1: Martinez-Lindelof
(H) (LC) Villa 4-2: Martinez-Maguire
(A) Fulham 1-2: Martinez-Lindelof
(H) (LC) Burnley 2-0: Lindelof-Casemiro
(H) Forest 3-0: Shaw-Varane
(A) Wolves 0-1: Shaw-Varane
(H) Bournemouth 3-0: Lindelof-Maguire
(H) (FA Cup) Everton 3-1: Shaw-Varane
(H) (LC) Charlton 3-0: Martinez-Maguire
(H) City 2-1: Shaw-Varane
(A) Palace 1-1: Martinez-Maguire
(A) Arsenal 3-2: Martinez-Varane
(A) (LC SF 1st leg) Forest 0-3: Martinez-Lindelof
(H) (FA Cup) Reading 3-1: Lindelof-Maguire
(H) (LC SF 2nd leg) Forest 2-0: Martinez-Varane
(H) Palace 2-1: Martinez-Varane
(H) Leeds 2-2: Martinez-Varane
(A) Leeds 0-2: Shaw-Maguire
(A) Barcelona 2-2: Shaw-Varane
(H) Leicester 3-0: Martinez-Lindelof
(H) Barcelona 2-1: Martinez-Varane
LC Final United 2 Newcastle 0: Martinez-Varane
(H) (FA Cup) West Ham 3-1: Lindelof-Maguire
(A) Liverpool 7-0: Martinez-Varane
(H) Real Betis 4-1: Martinez-Varane
(H) Southampton 0-0: Martinez-Varane
(A) Real Betis 0-1: Martinez-Maguire
(H) (FA Cup) Fulham 3-1: Martinez-Maguire
(A) Newcastle 2-0: Martinez-Varane
(H) Brentford 1-0: Martinez-Varane
(H) Everton 2-0: Martinez-Maguire
(H) Sevilla 2-2: Martinez-Varane
(A) Forest 0-2: Lindelof-Maguire
(A) Sevilla 3-0: Lindelof-Maguire
FA Cup SF Brighton 0 United 0 (6-7 on pens): Shaw-Lindelof
(A) Tottenham 2-2: Shaw-Lindelof
(H) Villa 1-0: Shaw-Lindelof
(A) Brighton 1-0: Shaw-Lindelof
(A) West Ham 1-0: Shaw-Lindelof
(H) Wolves 2-0: Lindelof-Varane
(A) Bournemouth 0-1: Lindelof-Varane
(H) Chelsea 4-1: Varane-Lindelof
(H) Fulham 2-1: Lindelof-Maguire
(Wembley FA Cup Final) City 2 United 0: Lindelof-Varane
9 different centre-back pairings:
Martinez Maguire
Martinez Varane
Lindelof Maguire
Martinez Lindelof
Lindelof Casemiro
Shaw Varane
Shaw Maguire
Shaw Lindelof
Lindelof Varane
Eventual first choice pairing used in 21 matches (from the third match onwards), 12 wins, 5 draws, 4 losses.
Centre-back pairings and results 2023-2024 season
(H) Wolves 1-0: Martinez-Varane
(A) Tottenham 2-0: Martinez-Varane
(H) Forest 3-2: Martinez-Varane
(A) Arsenal 3-1: Martinez-Lindelof
(H) Brighton 1-3: Martinez-Lindelof
(A) Bayern 4-3: Martinez-Lindelof
(A) Burnley 0-1: Evans-Lindelof
(H) (LC) Palace 3-0: Maguire-Varane
(H) Palace 0-1: Lindelof-Varane
(H) Galatasaray 2-3: Lindelof-Varane
(H) Brentford 2-1: Evans-Maguire
(A) Sheffield United 1-2: Evans-Maguire
(H) Copenhagen 1-0: Maguire-Varane
(H) City 3-0: Evans-Maguire
(H) (LC) Newcastle 0-3: Lindelof-Maguire
(A) Fulham 0-1: Evans-Maguire
(A) Copenhagen 4-3: Evans-Maguire
(H) Luton 1-0: Lindelof-Maguire
(A) Everton 0-3: Lindelof-Maguire
(A) Galatasaray 3-3: Lindelof-Maguire
(A) Newcastle 1-0: Shaw-Maguire
(H) Chelsea 2-1: Lindelof-Maguire
(H) Bournemouth 0-3: Shaw-Maguire
(H) Bayern 0-1: Varane-Maguire
(A) Liverpool 0-0: Evans-Varane
(A) West Ham 2-0: Evans-Kambwala
(H) Villa 3-2: Evans-Varane
(A) Forest 2-1: Evans-Varane
(A) (FA Cup) Wigan 0-2: Evans-Varane
(H) Tottenham 2-2: Evans-Varane
(A) (FA Cup) Notts County 2-4: Martinez-Varane
(A) Wolves 3-4: Martinez-Varane
(H) West Ham 3-0: Martinez-Maguire
(A) Villa 1-2: Maguire-Varane
(A) Luton 1-2: Maguire-Varane
(H) Fulham 1-2: Maguire-Varane
(A) (FA Cup) Forest 0-1: Varane-Lindelof
(A) City 3-1: Evans-Varane
(H) Everton 2-0: Evans-Varane
(H) (FA Cup) Liverpool 4-3 (aet): Varane-Lindelof
(A) Brentford 1-1: Varane-Lindelof
(A) Chelsea 4-3: Varane-Maguire
(H) Liverpool 2-2: Maguire-Kambwala
(A) Bournemouth 2-2: Maguire-Kambwala
FA Cup SF Coventry 3 United 3 (5-7 on pens): Maguire-Casemiro
(H) Sheffield United 4-2: Maguire-Casemiro
(H) Burnley 1-1: Maguire-Casemiro
(A) Palace 4-0: Evans-Casemiro
(H) Arsenal 0-1: Evans-Casemiro
(H) Newcastle 3-2: Evans-Casemiro
(A) Brighton 0-2: Martinez-Casemiro
FA Cup Final United 2 City 1: Martinez-Varane
15 different centre-back pairings:
Martinez Varane
Martinez Lindelof
Evans Lindelof
Maguire Varane
Lindelof Varane
Evans Maguire
Lindelof Maguire
Shaw Maguire
Evans Varane
Evans Kambwala
Martinez Maguire
Maguire Kambwala
Maguire Casemiro
Evans Casemiro
Martinez Casemiro
First choice pairing in 6 matches, 5 wins 1 loss.
With Varane off now, it is an obvious position that needs a first choice player in the summer. With Martinez' lack of availability and how fundamental his ball playing ability is for the collective performance of the team I'd argue that we require two centre backs, both of whom are good enough to start, tactically more suitable than the other three senior centre backs on our books (Maguire, Lindelof, Evans) while it's still to early to make a judgement on Kambwala. We can see that Erik relied heavily on Shaw at LCB when Martinez was injured, but having them both out had a major impact on our collective performance. Shaw's fitness is also a question mark going into next season.
We cannot stockpile defenders so we have to get rid of some in the summer. Evans is out of contract while Maguire and Lindelof can both command a decent fee and getting them off the wage bill will be very useful. I'd give Evans another contract, as a safety measure as well as having him in the dressing room.
This update was inspired by @BenitoSTARR excellent thread on injuries and availability this season (great work!).
(H) Brighton 1-2: Martinez-Maguire
(A) Brentford 4-0: Martinez-Maguire
(H) Liverpool 2-1: Martinez-Varane
(A) Southampton 1-2: Martinez Varane
(A) Leicester 0-1: Martinez-Varane
(H) Arsenal 3-1: Martinez-Varane
(H) Real Sociedad 0-1: Lindelof-Maguire
(A) Sheriff Tiraspol 0-2: Martinez-Varane
(A) City 6-3: Martinez-Varane
(A) Omonia Nicosia 2-3: Martinez-Lindelof
(A) Everton 1-2: Martinez-Lindelof
(H) Omonia Nicosia 1-0: Martinez-Lindelof
(H) Newcastle 0-0: Martinez-Varane
(H) Tottenham 2-0: Martinez-Varane
(A) Chelsea 1-1: Martinez-Varane
(H) Sheriff Tiraspol 3-0: Martinez-Lindelof
(H) West Ham 1-0: Martinez-Maguire
(A) Real Sociedad 0-1: Martinez-Maguire
(A) Villa 3-1: Martinez-Lindelof
(H) (LC) Villa 4-2: Martinez-Maguire
(A) Fulham 1-2: Martinez-Lindelof
(H) (LC) Burnley 2-0: Lindelof-Casemiro
(H) Forest 3-0: Shaw-Varane
(A) Wolves 0-1: Shaw-Varane
(H) Bournemouth 3-0: Lindelof-Maguire
(H) (FA Cup) Everton 3-1: Shaw-Varane
(H) (LC) Charlton 3-0: Martinez-Maguire
(H) City 2-1: Shaw-Varane
(A) Palace 1-1: Martinez-Maguire
(A) Arsenal 3-2: Martinez-Varane
(A) (LC SF 1st leg) Forest 0-3: Martinez-Lindelof
(H) (FA Cup) Reading 3-1: Lindelof-Maguire
(H) (LC SF 2nd leg) Forest 2-0: Martinez-Varane
(H) Palace 2-1: Martinez-Varane
(H) Leeds 2-2: Martinez-Varane
(A) Leeds 0-2: Shaw-Maguire
(A) Barcelona 2-2: Shaw-Varane
(H) Leicester 3-0: Martinez-Lindelof
(H) Barcelona 2-1: Martinez-Varane
LC Final United 2 Newcastle 0: Martinez-Varane
(H) (FA Cup) West Ham 3-1: Lindelof-Maguire
(A) Liverpool 7-0: Martinez-Varane
(H) Real Betis 4-1: Martinez-Varane
(H) Southampton 0-0: Martinez-Varane
(A) Real Betis 0-1: Martinez-Maguire
(H) (FA Cup) Fulham 3-1: Martinez-Maguire
(A) Newcastle 2-0: Martinez-Varane
(H) Brentford 1-0: Martinez-Varane
(H) Everton 2-0: Martinez-Maguire
(H) Sevilla 2-2: Martinez-Varane
(A) Forest 0-2: Lindelof-Maguire
(A) Sevilla 3-0: Lindelof-Maguire
FA Cup SF Brighton 0 United 0 (6-7 on pens): Shaw-Lindelof
(A) Tottenham 2-2: Shaw-Lindelof
(H) Villa 1-0: Shaw-Lindelof
(A) Brighton 1-0: Shaw-Lindelof
(A) West Ham 1-0: Shaw-Lindelof
(H) Wolves 2-0: Lindelof-Varane
(A) Bournemouth 0-1: Lindelof-Varane
(H) Chelsea 4-1: Varane-Lindelof
(H) Fulham 2-1: Lindelof-Maguire
(Wembley FA Cup Final) City 2 United 0: Lindelof-Varane
9 different centre-back pairings:
Martinez Maguire
Martinez Varane
Lindelof Maguire
Martinez Lindelof
Lindelof Casemiro
Shaw Varane
Shaw Maguire
Shaw Lindelof
Lindelof Varane
Eventual first choice pairing used in 21 matches (from the third match onwards), 12 wins, 5 draws, 4 losses.
Centre-back pairings and results 2023-2024 season
(H) Wolves 1-0: Martinez-Varane
(A) Tottenham 2-0: Martinez-Varane
(H) Forest 3-2: Martinez-Varane
(A) Arsenal 3-1: Martinez-Lindelof
(H) Brighton 1-3: Martinez-Lindelof
(A) Bayern 4-3: Martinez-Lindelof
(A) Burnley 0-1: Evans-Lindelof
(H) (LC) Palace 3-0: Maguire-Varane
(H) Palace 0-1: Lindelof-Varane
(H) Galatasaray 2-3: Lindelof-Varane
(H) Brentford 2-1: Evans-Maguire
(A) Sheffield United 1-2: Evans-Maguire
(H) Copenhagen 1-0: Maguire-Varane
(H) City 3-0: Evans-Maguire
(H) (LC) Newcastle 0-3: Lindelof-Maguire
(A) Fulham 0-1: Evans-Maguire
(A) Copenhagen 4-3: Evans-Maguire
(H) Luton 1-0: Lindelof-Maguire
(A) Everton 0-3: Lindelof-Maguire
(A) Galatasaray 3-3: Lindelof-Maguire
(A) Newcastle 1-0: Shaw-Maguire
(H) Chelsea 2-1: Lindelof-Maguire
(H) Bournemouth 0-3: Shaw-Maguire
(H) Bayern 0-1: Varane-Maguire
(A) Liverpool 0-0: Evans-Varane
(A) West Ham 2-0: Evans-Kambwala
(H) Villa 3-2: Evans-Varane
(A) Forest 2-1: Evans-Varane
(A) (FA Cup) Wigan 0-2: Evans-Varane
(H) Tottenham 2-2: Evans-Varane
(A) (FA Cup) Notts County 2-4: Martinez-Varane
(A) Wolves 3-4: Martinez-Varane
(H) West Ham 3-0: Martinez-Maguire
(A) Villa 1-2: Maguire-Varane
(A) Luton 1-2: Maguire-Varane
(H) Fulham 1-2: Maguire-Varane
(A) (FA Cup) Forest 0-1: Varane-Lindelof
(A) City 3-1: Evans-Varane
(H) Everton 2-0: Evans-Varane
(H) (FA Cup) Liverpool 4-3 (aet): Varane-Lindelof
(A) Brentford 1-1: Varane-Lindelof
(A) Chelsea 4-3: Varane-Maguire
(H) Liverpool 2-2: Maguire-Kambwala
(A) Bournemouth 2-2: Maguire-Kambwala
FA Cup SF Coventry 3 United 3 (5-7 on pens): Maguire-Casemiro
(H) Sheffield United 4-2: Maguire-Casemiro
(H) Burnley 1-1: Maguire-Casemiro
(A) Palace 4-0: Evans-Casemiro
(H) Arsenal 0-1: Evans-Casemiro
(H) Newcastle 3-2: Evans-Casemiro
(A) Brighton 0-2: Martinez-Casemiro
FA Cup Final United 2 City 1: Martinez-Varane
15 different centre-back pairings:
Martinez Varane
Martinez Lindelof
Evans Lindelof
Maguire Varane
Lindelof Varane
Evans Maguire
Lindelof Maguire
Shaw Maguire
Evans Varane
Evans Kambwala
Martinez Maguire
Maguire Kambwala
Maguire Casemiro
Evans Casemiro
Martinez Casemiro
First choice pairing in 6 matches, 5 wins 1 loss.
With Varane off now, it is an obvious position that needs a first choice player in the summer. With Martinez' lack of availability and how fundamental his ball playing ability is for the collective performance of the team I'd argue that we require two centre backs, both of whom are good enough to start, tactically more suitable than the other three senior centre backs on our books (Maguire, Lindelof, Evans) while it's still to early to make a judgement on Kambwala. We can see that Erik relied heavily on Shaw at LCB when Martinez was injured, but having them both out had a major impact on our collective performance. Shaw's fitness is also a question mark going into next season.
We cannot stockpile defenders so we have to get rid of some in the summer. Evans is out of contract while Maguire and Lindelof can both command a decent fee and getting them off the wage bill will be very useful. I'd give Evans another contract, as a safety measure as well as having him in the dressing room.
This update was inspired by @BenitoSTARR excellent thread on injuries and availability this season (great work!).
I think the "depth" is over-appreciated due to Lindelof's good form in the last third of last season. And when I say over-appreciated, I still know people think it's between poor and shit.
Varane and Shaw works as a pairing. As does Varane and Martinez. Varane and Lindelof is a level down. Lindelof and Shaw might be another level down from that.
Shaw and Martinez is too small and awkward with two left footers, Martinez and Lindelof is quite frail and lacks physicality. And Maguire and anyone else is calamitous.
In essence, without Varane we are a level down. And he's super injury prone. Out of ten possible pairings, two work, two are passable, six are nervy.
I hope we buy a centre back in January who can compete with Varane for his spot.
Varane and Shaw works as a pairing. As does Varane and Martinez. Varane and Lindelof is a level down. Lindelof and Shaw might be another level down from that.
Shaw and Martinez is too small and awkward with two left footers, Martinez and Lindelof is quite frail and lacks physicality. And Maguire and anyone else is calamitous.
In essence, without Varane we are a level down. And he's super injury prone. Out of ten possible pairings, two work, two are passable, six are nervy.
I hope we buy a centre back in January who can compete with Varane for his spot.
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