Eric Bailly - English players were favoured

Status
Not open for further replies.
Rolaholic said:
Everything he said was spot on tbh, he even owned up to his inconsistency.

The English favoritism stuff was absolutely clear to anyone with eyes following this side over the past 3-4 years. Fans have been saying it so not a surprise the players involved would feel some way regarding it.

I'm glad ETH has torn that up and made it clear that any and everyone can be replaced/benched if they're not up to standard
Click to expand...
Tbf in the case of Maguire it's the above with the caveat that he can sign 2 players for 60m and on 400k a week to replace them.

We might as well now say 'rashford, if you are not on form that is it ! You will be dropped, as soon as we spend 130 million on osimhen next year!'

A lot is made of dropping Maguire but we have signed the best paid defender in football history in varane who was barely fit for a year and then a managers favourite at centre back. It was always going to be tough competition.

The Shaw one is more interesting as Shaw is a far better player with the ball than malacia, but we seem to have prioritised the defence and the aggression. And then conversely on the other side we have a good aggressive defender completely frozen out for a swashbuckling right back who can't defend. The most enlightening decision to me is the replacement of AWB. I would have guessed ETH could work with his skillset. But seems to simply want him gone.
 
Crashoutcassius said:
Tbf in the case of Maguire it's the above with the caveat that he can sign 2 players for 60m and on 400k a week to replace them.

We might as well now say 'rashford, if you are not on form that is it ! You will be dropped, as soon as we spend 130 million on osimhen next year!'

A lot is made of dropping Maguire but we have signed the best paid defender in football history in varane who was barely fit for a year and then a managers favourite at centre back. It was always going to be tough competition.

The Shaw one is more interesting as Shaw is a far better player with the ball than malacia, but we seem to have prioritised the defence and the aggression. And then conversely on the other side we have a good aggressive defender completely frozen out for a swashbuckling right back who can't defend. The most enlightening decision to me is the replacement of AWB. I would have guessed ETH could work with his skillset. But seems to simply want him gone.
Click to expand...

Shaw gave us like 6 months of good football since he signed. Isn’t it time we burst that particular bubble for good? I can't recall united giving so much 3-5 chances to foreign talent as they did with Shaw and jones
 
devilish said:
Shaw gave us like 6 months of good football since he signed. Isn’t it time we burst that particular bubble for good?
Click to expand...
Yes probably. But between him and malacia, I think ETH might use him this season, depending on how we develop. ETH might back himself to improve Shaw. He has all the attributes to be the best in the league in my book.
 
Remember when one of Ole’s strongest points reported by the ones who refused to admit the truth was that he was a great man manager, created a great dressing room atmosphere and all the players loved him :lol:

That being said, it’s clear that Bailly is talking about Captain “If I was so bad why would three managers in a row play me?” And he’s not wrong. There was some definite degree of favoritism in that Ole always played Maguire, AWB and Shaw, three players that were dropped by the two successive managers who came in, who happen to be more sensible football men than Ole. Do I think that the favoritism was because they were English? I can’t say that I do. Maybe it’s just a coincidence that they all happened to be English, but I think Ole had his reasons for trying to force them in and not give a chance to anyone else.
 
Cloud7 said:
Remember when one of Ole’s strongest points reported by the ones who refused to admit the truth was that he was a great man manager, created a great dressing room atmosphere and all the players loved him :lol:

That being said, it’s clear that Bailly is talking about Captain “If I was so bad why would three managers in a row play me?” And he’s not wrong. There was some definite degree of favoritism in that Ole always played Maguire, AWB and Shaw, three players that were dropped by the two successive managers who came in, who happen to be more sensible football men than Ole. Do I think that the favoritism was because they were English? I can’t say that I do. Maybe it’s just a coincidence that they all happened to be English, but I think Ole had his reasons for trying to force them in and not give a chance to anyone else.
Click to expand...

Ole had his favourites and like most managers it was the players he signed. If he favoured English players simply because of their nationality then he wouldn't have promised Henderson the number one shirt only to ditch him for DDG early on. Bailly didn't even compete with Maguire for a starting spot, he competed with Lindelof at RCB. When Maguire wasn't available Lindelof played LCB and Bailly RCB.

It's pretty obvious to me that along with Henderson that Bailly was on of the main leakers. Bailly played only 45 mintues in the PL last season under Ole and 75 minutes over 2 games under Rangnick. He was left out of the match day squad altogether in about a quarter of all PL matches whilst being fit. He was obviously out of favour for reasons other than his ability as a footballer under both of those managers. Like Henderson he's subsequently offered up an unprofessional interview that reeks of self pity.
 
Last edited:
Crashoutcassius said:
Yes probably. But between him and malacia, I think ETH might use him this season, depending on how we develop. ETH might back himself to improve Shaw. He has all the attributes to be the best in the league in my book.
Click to expand...
except attitude, he's now played under 5 managers and it's the same every time. He doesn't have the mentality to be at a club this size.
 
Red00012 said:
Well he’s right AWB , Shaw and Maguire were favourites of OGS. Less than 12 months have passed and 3 of them are not regulars anymore.
The problem was I don’t think the understudies were much better at the time
Click to expand...

Very true. But I think the problem is that you should 100% be giving players a chance if the starters you mentioned are playing that poorly. Imagine how demotivating it must be to watch their performances week in week out and not get a chance to at least make a claim to the position. I don't think they were good, but they deserved a chance. Bailly actually put in some decent performances the few times he was used if I remember correctly.
 
AdNani said:
except attitude, he's now played under 5 managers and it's the same every time. He doesn't have the mentality to be at a club this size.
Click to expand...

Exactly. I can't accept under any circumstances a professional footballer showing up completely out of shape every single season. What, it took like 2-3 months into every season just to see him reach a normal level of fitness? I doubt he even touched a treadmill in those 3 months off sometimes.

Complete and utter dud, who at one point had bags of potential. Can't wait till we never see him play for this club again. I don't rate Maguire or AWB but I don't have any issues with their professionalism.
 
There is too much division in our fanbase already, and toxic articles like this from Eric Bailly only widen it further. Makes me sad :(

His injury record is on par with super-crock Phil Jones, yet only one of them is complaining about nationalist favouritism while the other gets thrown out of the dressing room. Or wheeled out, whichever the case may be. Probably the latter.
 
Crashoutcassius said:
Yes probably. But between him and malacia, I think ETH might use him this season, depending on how we develop. ETH might back himself to improve Shaw. He has all the attributes to be the best in the league in my book.
Click to expand...

Many keep mentioning Malacia at par to Antony and Martinez. Sure they are all ETH's signings and they all played in the Dutch league. However the buck stops there. Antony and Martinez played for Ajax which is a top club whose constantly exposed to CL football. Malacia did not. It's basically like comparing Trent-Arnold to Max Aarons because they are of similar age and have played EPL football.

In my opinion Malacia was meant to be slowly bedded in. Unfortunately Shaw's horrific performance which had been consistent for over a year (actually his entire career bar a couple of months prior the Euro) had forced ETH's hand. Honestly unless Malacia picks an injury then I can't see Shaw getting a regular run at first team level again
 
Isotope said:
When his job was on the line, I don't think Ole gave a shit of player's nationality. He put whoever he thought can do better job.
Click to expand...

I don't think he cared much about nationality, but he most certainly had his favourites who he did not bench, regardless of how bad they were. I doubt he was 'thinking' much at all tbh.
 
Simple reason Eric didn’t play too often as he was just so erratic - amazing one moment - lunacy the next

A slower League is much more suited to him
 
romufc said:
Interesting. I love this Ole bashing.

So why is it that a Swede was starting ahead of him? Lindelof.

Also, when Varane was fit, he started almost instantly. French international btw.

When Bruno was fit, he started almost every game.

When DDG was fit he was in.

Finally, since November Rangnick was in charge and I didnt see Bailly play much... maybe Ole was still picking the team then?
Click to expand...
Ole signed 4 British players and 9 overseas players. Like you said Bruno had no issues, Verane etc. Bailly is deadwood externalising blame. Every manager we have had have tried to sign another CB and upgrade on Bailly.
 
Meino said:
Many triggered englishmen here, the fact that maguire played that much proves he is 100% right.
Nationality should never be a criteria for selecting a 11, performance should be the only criteria.
Click to expand...
It doesn't prove anything. Our defensive record was better with Maguire in it and got worse when he was dropped. Plus he is captain. Bailly is trash and creating an agenda. Martial got so many chances under Ole despite scoring like 3 goals. Bruno played through bad form also. Its not an England thing
 
Stacks said:
Ole signed 4 British players and 9 overseas players. Like you said Bruno had no issues, Verane etc. Bailly is deadwood externalising blame. Every manager we have had have tried to sign another CB and upgrade on Bailly.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but some of us are led to believe that Ole didn't want anyone but English.

Forget that he wanted Haaland and was the only one at the club that wanted him.

Forget that Jose wanted Maguire too.

Bailly has been at United 5 years and all these posters can talk about is Ole, when Rangnick didn't give him a chance either.

The next one is, it is in their contracts that they have to start... I only realised today that Maguire and Shaw signed new contracts at United 2 weeks ago.
 
Meino said:
Many triggered englishmen here, the fact that maguire played that much proves he is 100% right.
Nationality should never be a criteria for selecting a 11, performance should be the only criteria.
Click to expand...

Let me ask you a question, if Maguire starting proves that English players were prefered, answer this?

Why is Henderson (English) crying over game time over a Spaniard keeper?
Why was Lingard (English) crying over game time over a portugese?
Why was Lindelof playing and not Jones?
Why was Varane playing and not Tuanzebe?
 
He probably would have got a lot of game time and I would think he would have been a regular starter if only he had a brain!
 
devilish said:
Many keep mentioning Malacia at par to Antony and Martinez. Sure they are all ETH's signings and they all played in the Dutch league. However the buck stops there. Antony and Martinez played for Ajax which is a top club whose constantly exposed to CL football. Malacia did not. It's basically like comparing Trent-Arnold to Max Aarons because they are of similar age and have played EPL football.

In my opinion Malacia was meant to be slowly bedded in. Unfortunately Shaw's horrific performance which had been consistent for over a year (actually his entire career bar a couple of months prior the Euro) had forced ETH's hand. Honestly unless Malacia picks an injury then I can't see Shaw getting a regular run at first team level again
Click to expand...

That's complete nonsense, He was on an upward trajectory since he got into the team again in 2018 which ended with him getting into the PL team of the year in 20/21. That's 3 seasons of decent/great form with him being our Players' player of the year twice in that period. He was bad last season when he played and he's deservedly out of the team now. That doesn't erase though the years of good form he had before that but people here love to exaggerate everything just for the hell of it.
 
Rozay said:
He’s obviously referring to Ole and Maguire, particularly him starting Maguire against Leicester last season with question marks over his fitness, only for Maguire to go and subsequently embarrass himself and the team.

A lot of reports that Bailly and other players were unhappy with that decision.
Click to expand...
That game from Maguire is legendary.
 
Idxomer said:
That's complete nonsense, He was on an upward trajectory since he got into the team again in 2018 which ended with him getting into the PL team of the year in 20/21. That's 3 seasons of decent/great form with him being our Players' player of the year twice in that period. He was bad last season when he played and he's deservedly out of the team now. That doesn't erase though the years of good form he had before that but people here love to exaggerate everything just for the hell of it.
Click to expand...

He never really impressed me really apart from those few months. Regarding our player's player of the year award....well...I don't put too much weight on the opinion of the bunch of clowns Ole assembled and has built his team upon. Honestly most of them shouldn't be wearing a red shirt in the first place starting from Shaw and the captain.
 
Last edited:
Only a knuckle dragger would throw him shade because of his injuries. That's largely out of his control.

However, we do know that 1) Maguire wasn't playing based on merit even when Bailly was fit 2) the primary reason he was chosen as captain was b/c he was British.
 
He might have a point about not being picked...but doubt it was anything to do with nationality. Bailly had lots of injury time out and when he did come back, there was always one big 'slip up'/mistake moment in him in every game. He is faster than Maguire, but lacks 'the nous'.
 
Bailly made a mess of himself when rangnick came in by not showing up on time after AFCON, that's what stopped him getting a run of games.

He's right about the English players constantly playing. It was obvious maguire, shaw, rashford and even mctominay were putting in dismal performances every week and they kept playing.
 
I liked Bailly but it's very hypocrite of himself to talk about certain players being favored, without talking the obvious problem actually, the english players were mainly played because of lack of competition. Himself never being reliable to stay fit was actually the problem, Maguire being appalling last year was another.
 
I wouldn't say they played because Ole prioritized English players.
But I would say that there's always this need to have very good English players in the squad. That's why we signed Maguire and Shaw, we expected them to be very good. It's becoming a necessity.
I think we need to look at foreign players more considering English players are so expensive.
 
MackRobinson said:
Only a knuckle dragger would throw him shade because of his injuries. That's largely out of his control.

However, we do know that 1) Maguire wasn't playing based on merit even when Bailly was fit 2) the primary reason he was chosen as captain was b/c he was British.
Click to expand...
edgecutter said:
Bailly made a mess of himself when rangnick came in by not showing up on time after AFCON, that's what stopped him getting a run of games.

He's right about the English players constantly playing. It was obvious maguire, shaw, rashford and even mctominay were putting in dismal performances every week and they kept playing.
Click to expand...
please see below. The compitition was dire. Bruno and DeGea continued to play through bad form, as did Fred. Martial scored 4 league goals up until March yet started when fit until he ruptured his knee. Elanga was getting games when many believe he isn't that great. Must be because they are foreign.
Kostov said:
I liked Bailly but it's very hypocrite of himself to talk about certain players being favored, without talking the obvious problem actually, the english players were mainly played because of lack of competition. Himself never being reliable to stay fit was actually the problem, Maguire being appalling last year was another.
Click to expand...
Indeed.
 
ExoduS said:
How come Evans, Jones, Brown and Smalling were not favored over Vidic? How come Maguire is not favored over Varane/Martinez. Sour grapes. Baily was great on his day and sometimes just a space cadet who was out of position.

Maquire was favored because of his price tag and hope that he will eventually stop sucking and actually play well.
Click to expand...
Because Utd used to know what to do to win things. I don't think Bailly played for us then.
 
Real Name said:
Yeah, but the management is different now, the manager at least so I'm not sure it's a wise move from the players.
Click to expand...
The manager is different. The club management is the same. Im sure the players don’t see themselves at United any longer.
 
Cloud7 said:
Remember when one of Ole’s strongest points reported by the ones who refused to admit the truth was that he was a great man manager, created a great dressing room atmosphere and all the players loved him :lol:

That being said, it’s clear that Bailly is talking about Captain “If I was so bad why would three managers in a row play me?” And he’s not wrong. There was some definite degree of favoritism in that Ole always played Maguire, AWB and Shaw, three players that were dropped by the two successive managers who came in, who happen to be more sensible football men than Ole. Do I think that the favoritism was because they were English? I can’t say that I do. Maybe it’s just a coincidence that they all happened to be English, but I think Ole had his reasons for trying to force them in and not give a chance to anyone else.
Click to expand...

Shaw got player of the season (I believe he has had it twice since he has been here), so I'm not sure why he is included with the others, to be honest.

Don't buy the English thing, either. For defence, Varane and Bailly kept getting injured, so there wasn't any prolonged period to choose anyone else. Telles was rubbish and we had no other left back competition. De Gea could have been dropped at points, but we had no other keeper.
 
It makes sense, everyone on here was wondering why certain player(s) we’re getting picked even when they were playing championship level. I can see now Bailly has said it we’ve got all sorts of data coming out to say he was injured blah blah blah.
 
Suv666 said:
I mean its coming from a disgruntled employee so I'm not sure how reliable it is but as a fan I definitely got similar vibes.
Click to expand...
Yes. The continuous presence under Ole of poorly performing players such as our erstwhile captain tend to lend support to that.
 
Stacks said:
please see below. The compitition was dire. Bruno and DeGea continued to play through bad form, as did Fred. Martial scored 4 league goals up until March yet started when fit until he ruptured his knee. Elanga was getting games when many believe he isn't that great. Must be because they are foreign.

Indeed.
Click to expand...
Not sure why I was quoted when you didn't address anything I said. You're just so fixated on the English comment that you're ignoring the obvious preferential treatment for Maguire.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.