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I don't know if it's younger fans who didn't watch greats of the past or fans who've bought into the media's role in over analysing every error.
But making a mistake here or there doesn't make someone error prone. It's just a natural consequence of playing football. Unfortunately one mistake in a game seems to completely colour a players performance now.
He's now coming up with even more new and unique ways to not score goals.
Incredibly he was sold to the fanbase as a threat in the opposition box when he signed. Even with nobody in front of him he contrives to miss!
Our best header of the ball... Yet I genuinely don't think he'd have scored the Amad header.
Our best header of the ball... Yet I genuinely don't think he'd have scored the Amad header.
I have a similar opinion. But maybe he didn’t decline, maybe football got faster, press increased etc, you know, development.It largely depends on what year we're talking about with Rio. His ability on the ball declined quite significantly as he got older, probably more than just about anyone else I can think of (it's an unpopular opinion but I think Vidic had probably overtaken him by the end). Maguire is certainly much better on the ball than Rio was in his last few years, and perhaps even when he was at his defensive peak. Not sure if I'd put him ahead of Rio in his younger years though.
TBF our team under Fergie wasn't as focused on building up play from the back. Vidic had an weak foot excellent pass. He could hit the ball long or short accurately with his left foot, I think Maguire is still pretty weak in this aspect. But Maguire is still our best ball-playing CB since Blind or Rio.It largely depends on what year we're talking about with Rio. His ability on the ball declined quite significantly as he got older, probably more than just about anyone else I can think of (it's an unpopular opinion but I think Vidic had probably overtaken him by the end). Maguire is certainly much better on the ball than Rio was in his last few years, and perhaps even when he was at his defensive peak. Not sure if I'd put him ahead of Rio in his younger years though.
It also depends on why Maguire is so slow at playing the ball out from the back, something that is quite an issue. He's technically a very good passer but he doesn't do it enough and tends to slow things down too much. Is it because HE is slow at it, or is it because he doesn't have any options since we regularly only have two players ahead of him (normally Bruno and Fred) constantly moving and trying to provide an option while the others don't get into space? It is a real downside with Maguire but I'm not sure who to 'blame' for it.
