[MadDogg]

In the first half he was quite good and easily our best player. Mostly because of his attacking work, but somebody has to do it. Second half was just normal Maguire, with both the benefits and negatives that brings.

 

[SadlerMUFC]

I thought Maguire was MOTM today. He had the one brain fart where he should have just cleared it and De Gea ended up making a great double save, but that would've been called back for the obvious foul on Maguire had they scored. Other than that, I thought he was great. He was also trying to get it done in the offensive 3rd and nearly gave us the game winner at the end...

 

[He'sRaldo]

How on earth can he be the captain of Man Utd?

This silliness needs to end, Ole needs to swallow his pride and remove the captaincy from him.

 

[always_hoping]

Not sure if it's been mentioned already but that was poor by Maguire to tell Bruno not to shoot on that free kick on the 86 minute.

 

[Kostov]

Not sure if it's been mentioned already but that was poor by Maguire to tell Bruno not to shoot on that free kick on the 86 minute.

I'd be surprised if Bruno actually listened to Harry, but it was awful decision I agree.

 

[Sylar]

When did Diagne get past him? I remember one occasion where Diagne fouled him and had an effort on goal which would have obviously been ruled out had he scored. However, you can’t be referring to that surely, as that would so obviously be entirely agenda driven?

That was pretty much the only time. The ref seemed to give the play advantage sign after ddg saved anyway

I still think it's odd the ref didn't blow the whistle, I reckon it will take a serious injury for that to change and refs once again blowing for obvious fouls.

I also don't get this 'Maguire isn't given his all'. Bizarre statement to give especially after this game where he was driving to help us try get an equaliser in the first half and a winner in the second

 

[Berbasbullet]

I thought Maguire was MOTM today. He had the one brain fart where he should have just cleared it and De Gea ended up making a great double save, but that would've been called back for the obvious foul on Maguire had they scored. Other than that, I thought he was great. He was also trying to get it done in the offensive 3rd and nearly gave us the game winner at the end...

Would it? I’m willing to bet a lot of money VAR wouldn’t have bothered even though it was a blatant foul and a foul a defender wins 99/100 (see Martials constant fouling of defenders).

 

[Bwuk]

I’m fed up of him.

The West Brom striker should of been flattened by Maguire early doors and bullied. Maguire is far too nice and passive.

Any striker facing Lindelof and Maguire would fancy there chances. We are far too nice and soft at the back.

 

[VP89]

You know they didn't score, right? From that time where Maguire was fouled, and the referee said it'd have been given as a foul if he scored...

Yeah he attacked well
Yeah he took the initiative and created chances from CB
Yeah he almost scored a last minute wonder goal

BUT REMEMBER THAT TIME HE WAS FOULED AND THEY DIDN'T SCORE? Maguire out.

The prime objective of a centre back is to defend well, and yesterday he made a mistake so criminal I wouldn't have expected it from our reserves. I don't give two shits how he attacked relative to his primary purpose on the pitch.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

 

[Kostov]

I saw a quote of him crying out how some decision should have been given in our favor while being dead quiet during the match and to the refs. Baffling by a captain imo, you either pressure the refs during matches or shut the feck up, not go looking for excuses after.

 

[VivaObertan]

The prime objective of a centre back is to defend well, and yesterday he made a mistake so criminal I wouldn't have expected it from our reserves. I don't give two shits how he attacked relative to his primary purpose on the pitch.

You're referring to the foul from Diagne, right? Just checking because I missed the first 10 minutes.

 

[Patchbeard]

He was fouled by Diagne before the double save, but he was faffing and playing for the foul. Same thing happened against Everton, someone needs to tell him just to not risk it.

 

[slored1]

Thought he was decent yesterday and unlucky not to score.

 

[Kostov]

He was fouled by Diagne before the double save, but he was faffing and playing for the foul. Same thing happened against Everton, someone needs to tell him just to not risk it.

Imagine how stupid you need to be to try that shit again? I though he was smarter.

 

[Davie Moyes]

I saw a quote of him crying out how some decision should have been given in our favor while being dead quiet during the match and to the refs. Baffling by a captain imo, you either pressure the refs during matches or shut the feck up, not go looking for excuses after.

I'm glad he's highlighted this and Old needs to do more of this also. We have had a lot of decisions go against us since Klopp opened his gob about us.

 

[Desert Eagle]

He is a coward like the man that made him captain. Platitudes and excuses. They are both beyond shocked and thrilled they are in positions neither are qualified for. The fact that he thinks we created plenty of chances yesterday says it all.

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

He was always going to struggle when he has to defend in space against a counter but I loved how he seized the initiative in attack and almost got the winner from a corner if not for a fantastic save by Johnstone.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

I thought Maguire was MOTM today. He had the one brain fart where he should have just cleared it and De Gea ended up making a great double save, but that would've been called back for the obvious foul on Maguire had they scored. Other than that, I thought he was great. He was also trying to get it done in the offensive 3rd and nearly gave us the game winner at the end...

Not sure it would have been to be honest... I mean I also thought it was a foul, but can you honestly rely on VAR to see it that way? Maguire just needs to deal with it in that situation and not rely on the ref.

 

[Doracle]

Not sure it would have been to be honest... I mean I also thought it was a foul, but can you honestly rely on VAR to see it that way? Maguire just needs to deal with it in that situation and not rely on the ref.

The ref confirmed to Maguire that he would have given it as a foul though. I know at least one poster above is so anti Maguire that he thinks Maguire is lying about that but clearly he wouldn’t make up a conversation with the ref - it would actually better fit his overall point that decisions are going against us to have said he wasn’t sure why the ref hadn’t given it.

It’s also a blatantly obvious foul (far clearer than the Lindelof one which should still have been given). Criticising our players for being fouled, as some above have sought to do, really is scrapping the barrel.

 

[Zen86]

He was fouled by Diagne before the double save, but he was faffing and playing for the foul. Same thing happened against Everton, someone needs to tell him just to not risk it.

Agree with this, he needs to put his foot through the ball and clear it rather than gambling on getting a foul. He’s not the only one who does it but it’s a bit of a liability for us considering our tendency to concede cheap goals.

 

[Abhinav]

I think he is definitely more solid of the two defenders and also adds to the attack when he carries the ball forward. He is also good in the air and usually clears anything near him. The problem is his lack of pace & his tendency to overcompensate for it by dropping deep and playing the opposition onside. As a captain, he needs to take the responsibility of organizing his back line. Either everyone drops back or all hold the line. The lack of communication is worrying and should be thrashed out on the training pitch. Its not as if his lack of pace is any secret.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

The ref confirmed to Maguire that he would have given it as a foul though. I know at least one poster above is so anti Maguire that he thinks Maguire is lying about that but clearly he wouldn’t make up a conversation with the ref - it would actually better fit his overall point that decisions are going against us to have said he wasn’t sure why the ref hadn’t given it.

It’s also a blatantly obvious foul (far clearer than the Lindelof one which should still have been given). Criticising our players for being fouled, as some above have sought to do, really is scrapping the barrel.

Fair enough - I'd also believe him, but the ref didn't give a foul for a similar thing against Everton so not beyond the realms of possibility that a ref doesn't give a foul (have noticed more and more refs are not giving fouls when players are trying to "buy" them)... so in a situation like that - where's easy to just deal with the situation - he'd be better doing that then relying on the ref.

 

[James35]

The quote about we shouldn't expect to create 10 chances against WBA was honestly. I think my biggest problem with him isn't his defensive effort, because he's decent/above average, it's that he's a terrible captain.

My biggest problem also. He is only a 80m defender by price (not his fault), certainly not talent as I agree with your assessment of him but being our captain is a joke in my opinion and not justified at all by his performances on or off the pitch.
What doesn't help him though is the shite zonal system Ole has us playing, I feel he would do a lot better without the rigid constrictions defending set pieces as well as not partnering Lindelof.
He won't be sold by Ole that's for sure so if he is still our manager next season I pray he has brought in a quality CB to partner him at least. Not confident we will even do that though knowing our subpar transfer record and the way Ole has been talking up Phil fecking Jones lately...as if he already knows money won't be available.

 

[Anustart89]

It was confirmed in the post-match press that the ref told the players on-field that it was a foul and a goal would have never been given.

So come on, show me evidence he was “awful” today.

The fact of the matter is that Pawson let the entire situation play out without blowing his whistle (which is weird if he already decided on-pitch that it was a foul, why wouldn't he blow?), so whether the goal would have counted or not would've hinged on whether Jon Moss, the guy who didn't recommend their goal be disallowed and recommended to overrule our penalty, deemed this instance a clear and obvious error. Chances are he wouldn't have made Pawson go to the monitor and so the goal would've stood. The only reliable way for Pawson to say that it wouldn't have counted would've been if he'd actually blown his whistle and not allowed the shot to be taken, which he didn't.

 

[VP89]

You're referring to the foul from Diagne, right? Just checking because I missed the first 10 minutes.

Foul is a soft term. Lindelof's error for the goal was a much much bigger foul.

Put it this way, if that had gone in (Maguire's incident), I don't think VAR would have overturned it because it wasn't clear and obvious. Diagne did nothing to make Maguire tumble really - and Maguire has made a stupid shit habit of falling to the ground with minimal contact it seems. This was seen in the same game where he just dove to the ground to try and win a penalty.

When he's flustered he just collapses and hopes for the best.

 

[Kostov]

Foul is a soft term. Lindelof's error for the goal was a much much bigger foul.

Put it this way, if that had gone in (Maguire's incident), I don't think VAR would have overturned it because it wasn't clear and obvious. Diagne did nothing to make Maguire tumble really - and Maguire has made a stupid shit habit of falling to the ground with minimal contact it seems. This was seen in the same game where he just dove to the ground to try and win a penalty.

When he's flustered he just collapses and hopes for the best.

That's not true actually, he went through his leg, but nonetheless it was an appalling decision by Maguire just a week after doing the same and losing the ball. It made me fuming how an individual and captain can be so stupid.

 

[simplyared]

Can't complain about his performance yesterday. His will to carry the ball forward and play with the intent he has, he should be getting praise for and not the slagging off he unjustly gets far too often.

 

[tenpoless]

Cursed by Greek Gods.

 

[Doracle]

The fact of the matter is that Pawson let the entire situation play out without blowing his whistle (which is weird if he already decided on-pitch that it was a foul, why wouldn't he blow?), so whether the goal would have counted or not would've hinged on whether Jon Moss, the guy who didn't recommend their goal be disallowed and recommended to overrule our penalty, deemed this instance a clear and obvious error. Chances are he wouldn't have made Pawson go to the monitor and so the goal would've stood. The only reliable way for Pawson to say that it wouldn't have counted would've been if he'd actually blown his whistle and not allowed the shot to be taken, which he didn't.

Referees are meant to let the incident play out before blowing their whistle, so VAR can overturn if they get it wrong (this was the error made by the ref in the Sheffield United game for Martial’s “goal”). Pawson was correct to hold off blowing his whistle but confirmed on the pitch that he would have blown for the foul if they’d scored. No need for VAR to do anything other than confirm the correct decision.

 

[Anustart89]

Referees are meant to let the incident play out before blowing their whistle, so VAR can overturn if they get it wrong (this was the error made by the ref in the Sheffield United game for Martial’s “goal”). Pawson was correct to hold off blowing his whistle but confirmed on the pitch that he would have blown for the foul if they’d scored. No need for VAR to do anything other than confirm the correct decision.

The "waiting to give the decision" is an instruction given to assistant referees as to not lift the offside flag for marginal offside calls, and thus influence the players, since VAR can check and the decision is "black and white" when it comes to offside. I've not seen referees call it back that way for fouls. I mean, if he was always giving the foul, and he was always disallowing the goal, then he should've blown the whistle. It sounds more like a cop-out to get Maguire off his back, but what do I know. I'll keep a look out for fouls being called that way in the future but I've never seen a foul incident being held that long while waiting for a situation to play out. Obvious fouls are always called immediately, apart from this one time. The problem with allowing the goal and then somehow backtracking is that once the goal is allowed to be scored, then the call on the pitch becomes goal, which means that the VAR's burden of proof is to say that it's a clear and obvious error to allow the goal, and with Moss in charge and his officiating yesterday, it could well have been allowed to stand.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

Let's just call it for what it is, he's nothing more than a decent to good centre-back. His price hasn't helped but that is not his fault. I also do not think the captaincy suits him. We need to find a defensive partner for him in the summer, which should improve his game.

 

[Ekeke]

You know they didn't score, right? From that time where Maguire was fouled, and the referee said it'd have been given as a foul if he scored...

Yeah he attacked well
Yeah he took the initiative and created chances from CB
Yeah he almost scored a last minute wonder goal

BUT REMEMBER THAT TIME HE WAS FOULED AND THEY DIDN'T SCORE? Maguire out.

Remember that time you thought we lost when we actually drew.

 

[Zen86]

Let's just call it for what it is, he's nothing more than a decent to good centre-back. His price hasn't helped but that is not his fault. I also do not think the captaincy suits him. We need to find a defensive partner for him in the summer, which should improve his game.

I think he would be a completely different player with a capable partner in the middle. The guy has been mix and matched with Lindelof, Bailly, Tuanzebe et al. None of whom are reliable, at all.

 

[gza the genius]

I see a lot of comments praising him for getting forward but honestly that annoyed me to no end. Why not let the midfielders do that, and if they aren't, as the captain tell them to. I'm not sure if it was directed by Ole or anyone else but Mctominay and Fred were constantly having to sit back while they waited for Maguire. It'd be different if he was any good in midfield but he just isn't. Whatever you think of Fred and Mctominay they're still infinitely better in midfield than Maguire and he basically took their place for half the game.

I think that's what annoys me the most about Maguire, you can tell he thinks he's something he's not. I wish he would just focus on trying to organize the defense and mids and on his actual defending.

 

[Saddy]

Lots of mixed views on Harry and his obvious weakness is lack of pace particularly when he's turned to run back - however, he could have been our match winner in the last minute with only the fingers tips and post stopping the ball going in.

He was our main driving force through midfield the way Sam's super blocking back 9 worked and surrounding Bruno with 3 midfield players - this left sided attack with Luke Shaw was the main opportunity but it should have had Rashford from the off to make it work. I also think Harry should try a long shot when the defence stays back in the box and he showed against Tranmere this could work as an option.

I'm willing to stick with him alongside either a fit Bailly or a new guy with pace but at least he stays fit !

 

[elmo]

I see a lot of comments praising him for getting forward but honestly that annoyed me to no end. Why not let the midfielders do that, and if they aren't, as the captain tell them to. I'm not sure if it was directed by Ole or anyone else but Mctominay and Fred were constantly having to sit back while they waited for Maguire. It'd be different if he was any good in midfield but he just isn't. Whatever you think of Fred and Mctominay they're still infinitely better in midfield than Maguire and he basically took their place for half the game.

I think that's what annoys me the most about Maguire, you can tell he thinks he's something he's not. I wish he would just focus on trying to organize the defense and mids and on his actual defending.

Scott and Fred aren't even as effective driving forward than Maguire. Why the feck we needed to play both of them against one of the worst team in the league is baffling.

We were set up so defensive that even the subs couldn't save us because the team is just too used to having the both of them there every game.

 

[gza the genius]

Scott and Fred aren't even as effective driving forward than Maguire. Why the feck we needed to play both of them against one of the worst team in the league is baffling.

We were set up so defensive that even the subs couldn't save us because the team is just too used to having the both of them there every game.

I think at the very least Mctominay definitely is more effective at it but every time Maguire got forward I'd look and see Mctominay sitting back covering for him. But yeah in general it didn't make sense to have them both on. Fred is basically on to win the ball back but they didn't ever really have the ball anyway.

 

[Theo Cherry]

Why has Harry Maguire been playing like a roving midfield general lately?

Is this tactical? Is it frustration (lack of play from fowards)?

 

[Solius]

Why has Harry Maguire been playing like a roving midfield general lately?

Is this tactical? Is it frustration (lack of play from fowards)?

It's needed sometimes when a team plays so defensively. I think he did well against West Brom and it was his run that eventually led to our goal.