Opinions, opinions.
My top ten would be as follows.
1. VVD
2. Laporte
3. Vertonghen
4. Rudiger
5. Alderwiereld
6. Stones
7. Maguire
8. Gomez
9. Otamendi
10. Mustafi?
Compiling that list was more difficult than I thought it would be
Harry Maguire | Signed
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Opinions, opinions.
My top ten would be as follows.
1. VVD
2. Laporte
3. Vertonghen
4. Rudiger
5. Alderwiereld
6. Stones
7. Maguire
8. Gomez
9. Otamendi
10. Mustafi?
Compiling that list was more difficult than I thought it would be
You lost me here. So close.Opinions, opinions.
My top ten would be as follows.
1. VVD
2. Laporte
3. Vertonghen
4. Rudiger
5. Alderwiereld
6. Stones
7. Maguire
8. Gomez
9. Otamendi
10. Mustafi?
Compiling that list was more difficult than I thought it would be
I can't imagine anyone seriously could argue lindelof is better than maguire.
That's a fair point, but could it also be argued that those attainable, cheaper CBs from Italy and France could be chewed up and spat out in the PL/struggle to adjust to England etc.? At least we don't have those worries about Maguire, whatever else justifiably worries you about The Slab.
The "EPL" is special arguement is somewhat flawed. The issue is when one changes clubs and suddenly play in a different system and with new players compared to before. So the risk will be there regardless.
If we bougt a CB from a Serie A side that defended the same way we tried to defend, then this player would settle easier in to the team compared to a player from another EPL club used to play in a very different way. Not that we can say how we want to defend, but if we could.
Either the players abilities aligned with the way the team plays, or it does not. If we are aiming to have a "low block defend from crossing" approach and where we have a CDM that protects our CBs from tricky speedsters, then Maguire is a very good fit, and could potentially be worth the money spent on him. If not, then it is another player not suited to the modern game with a long contract that we are unlikely to get rid of.
With this post you invalidate much of what positive you might say. Otamendi? Matip? Rudiger and Sanchez? You have to be jesting. Look I think 80m for Maguire is more of a piss take than Stones at 50m, but now you are looking for negatives when you bring up Otamendi, exactly what has he done?
The trouble with the other players like Diop, etc, is that they don't have any basis for proof of ability at a high level. Maguire is over priced and safe, Diop and those other gambles are likely to cost us around the 50m if we are lucky.
That's the Caf for you. After a good season here he will be on par with Van Dijk. Similarily, after one instance of being too slow to catch a forward he'll be a laughing stock and a Championship player.
Opinions, opinions.
My top ten would be as follows.
1. VVD
2. Laporte
3. Vertonghen
4. Rudiger
5. Alderwiereld
6. Stones
7. Maguire
8. Gomez
9. Otamendi
10. Mustafi?
Compiling that list was more difficult than I thought it would be
I think my list would roughly be the same I'd have the same list but definitely not Mustafi at 10 (Maybe Diop or Sanchez there?) i'd put Gomez way higher (I think he's class) so I'd have Maguire as number 8? ... So my question is, does being the 8th best in the league make you one of the best centre backs in the league? Suppose it's subjective based on your definition (and rankings).
I reckon you could in the Lindelof thread!
This thread is how I feel. He's not perfect, but his ability in the air and on the ball would improve us instantly, and hes pretty proven. Get her done Ed.
Wish we'd been around when Rio signed. Loads of posters saying how hes got too many lapses in concentration, and lacks the mentality to step up at a club like United.
Opinions, opinions.
My top ten would be as follows.
6. Stones
10. Mustafi?
Compiling that list was more difficult than I thought it would be
Thats a big nope,.....
Rudiger and Sanchez are both very good centre backs? (Rudiger especially) Matip was solid for Liverpool last year and is a generally a good CB... Otamendi is a bit debateable, but I always think City are at the most solid when they have him and Laporte at the back.
Sounds almost right. I would have Maguire over Stones though. I'd probably have:Opinions, opinions.
My top ten would be as follows.
1. VVD
2. Laporte
3. Vertonghen
4. Rudiger
5. Alderwiereld
6. Stones
7. Maguire
8. Gomez
9. Otamendi
10. Mustafi?
Compiling that list was more difficult than I thought it would be
- VVD
- Laporte
- Vertonghen
- Alderweireld
- Rudiger
- Maguire
- Gomez
- Diop
- Coady
- Lindelof
Not a fan of him, but he's good.
80m is somewhat a normal price these days.
Our CBs seriously need the competition anyway, resting on their laurels for far too much... then again many of our CBs seem to be fine on the fringe and club don't mind them being there so idk, no way competition of places can be fostered in this type of environment.
Hopefully if we seriously getting him, he'll be a far better upgrade and permanent reliable starter. Imo our two CB positions are not secure, only Lindelof comes close but honestly from the way he perform, a more ambitious CB could easily displace him.
80m is somewhat a normal price these days.
Our CBs seriously need the competition anyway, resting on their laurels for far too much... then again many of our CBs seem to be fine on the fringe and club don't mind them being there so idk, no way competition of places can be fostered in this type of environment.
Hopefully if we seriously getting him, he'll be a far better upgrade and permanent reliable starter. Imo our two CB positions are not secure, only Lindelof comes close but honestly from the way he perform, a more ambitious CB could easily displace him.
Rudiger and Sanchez are ok centre backs but placing them high up the list and miles better than Maguire I am say no IMO. Matip again is an OK centre back but nothing special. So the real question here is, we need to buy a centre back, preferably one with appropriate experience. Of those in your list who is being sold for <50m in this market? Who can we get?
For all this idea that you don't need a PL proven CB I would agree in principle if you are buying a top talent, but we aren't we are buying tier 2 players. Koulibaly is the only tier 1 player we could possibly get but we have been put off by a price of 120m+, and him not likely wanting to come. So which tier 2 players are coming from Ligue 1 or La Liga that slot into our team and cope with the PL style?
I am not a Maguire fan, but I can see the logic of paying 60m + addons
For all this idea that you don't need a PL proven CB I would agree in principle if you are buying a top talent, but we aren't we are buying tier 2 players. Koulibaly is the only tier 1 player we could possibly get but we have been put off by a price of 120m+, and him not likely wanting to come. So which tier 2 players are coming from Ligue 1 or La Liga that slot into our team and cope with the PL style?
I am not a Maguire fan, but I can see the logic of paying 60m + addons
What laurels?
Opinions, opinions.
My top ten would be as follows.
1. VVD
2. Laporte
3. Vertonghen
4. Rudiger
5. Alderwiereld
6. Stones
7. Maguire
8. Gomez
9. Otamendi
10. Mustafi?
Compiling that list was more difficult than I thought it would be
I'd pretty much agree with this (Apart from Number 10). Personally I'd have Smalling at number 10 on that list..... Unpopular I know.
1. VvD
2. Vertonghen
3. Laporte
4. Rudiger
5. Maguire
I don't think there is anyone else that are good enough to claim a top 10 spot. Mixes with form.
2. Vertonghen
3. Laporte
4. Rudiger
5. Maguire
I don't think there is anyone else that are good enough to claim a top 10 spot. Mixes with form.
It is not my money but it would still tick me off if we pay more than 60mil for Maguire, some may say that is the market value but the fact is a player is worth as much as a team will pay for him and Leicester are only setting this ridiculous amount because they think we are desperate to get him....he is not that good.
I would imagine that we have no more than 200mil as our budget this summer and we have already spent nearly 70 and we still need at least one really good midfielder so it is all about balancing the books
I would imagine that we have no more than 200mil as our budget this summer and we have already spent nearly 70 and we still need at least one really good midfielder so it is all about balancing the books
Yea so speed is not a big issue is you are parking the bus. If you control the game and play a high line, then you need speed.
Because all players don't develop the same. That's it. Sometimes things just click.
Can you think of any other proven PL CB's who would instantly improve our back line, give us a minimum of 5 years' in his peak, that is attainable in this summers market?
The state of this thread....
Bloody Matip, Sanchez and Otemendi? Should be ashamed of yourselves.
There’s clearly an agenda going on here. Perhaps it’s because Maguire isn’t Van Dijk. Perhaps it’s because people don’t like his square head.
However, he is clearly better than most of the names suggested - I’d only have VVD, Laporte and Vertonghen as clearly, indisputably, better players.
Bloody Matip, Sanchez and Otemendi? Should be ashamed of yourselves.
There’s clearly an agenda going on here. Perhaps it’s because Maguire isn’t Van Dijk. Perhaps it’s because people don’t like his square head.
However, he is clearly better than most of the names suggested - I’d only have VVD, Laporte and Vertonghen as clearly, indisputably, better players.
Cheers mate - Lindeloff almost gave Maguire a tough competition there. Still think Maguire needs a good partner to cover him. Lindeloff might not be that guy.
Listening to that Duncan Castles pod cast he fairly does a number on us. Says top European clubs are laughing at us and the fees we have supposedly offered for this deal.
the underrating of Maguire in this thread, mental really some of those lists are an absolute joke.
some of those lists are an absolute joke.That might be the case but he is a bitter cnut.
Completely agree. If he was Italian and had shown similar form in Serie A or the Bundesliga over the last 3/4 seasons, people on here would be demanding we sign him what ever it cost.
We all laughed at Van Dijk’d transfer at the time too...
I suppose the difference is VVD was vastly more talented and was probably the best or 2nd best defender in the league at that time. Only certain people laughed at it.
Castles does raise one good point and given how we were playing against Perth and how high our defenders were if we plan to continue with this style of play then I would worry about Maguire in a high line. I guess having Shaw and Bissaka can protect him but would stunt the freedom they would be provided.
The same European clubs that slap a 20-30mil premium on any player we try to sign? What choice do we have?
Slow players can play high line. Pique played all his career in very high line and he isn't fast CB. Plenty of CBs from the league alone. You need anticipation and positioning, most cases CBs dont even deal 1v1.
Fair points for sure. I would say in this case Ole is looking for a player who can slot into the first team and lead the back four. Rightly or wrongly that has been deemed not to be Smalling and Jones nor the likes of Tah, Konate (age) nor any other mid-bracket foreign CB. Koulibaly as a leader or De Ligt as an extraordinary talent and a future leader would have been great but price and current state of play seem to have put us out of those races.
Fosu your points about the types of CB we're talking about are well-made but as frustrating as it is I see Ole swallowing Maguire's weaknesses, trusting the likes of McTominay to screen him from MF (I hope he's not expecting Matic to follow midfield runners as he seems to have lost that ability completely), and bite the bullet on a clear improvement on what we have.
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Clearly Duncan is making thing up and projecting his own views and assumptions onto other people, realistically which representative from what European club would have contacted a random British journalist to sneer about a hypothetical transfer between two British clubs, laughing with him at Utd paying “silly money” which is all conjecture at this point?.
And also if we’re such a laughing stock for bidding “extortionate” amounts for a player deemed no way near worth that in the current inflated market, do Leicester take our place as a laughing stock if the transfer doesn’t go through for keeping the player instead of taking double what some bald lying weasel from the express has deemed his market value.
Stones, otamendi and mustafi should be nowhere close to this list. Especially stones and mustafi, they're woeful center backs. Mustafi is probably the worst CB that Arsenal have. I'd drop Rudiger out of the top 5, push Alderweireld up to 4, Maguire 5, then probably have Lindelof as 6 or 7 with Rudiger. That's whatever though. Having stones, otamendi or mustafi in any top 10 is craziness though.Opinions, opinions.
My top ten would be as follows.
1. VVD
2. Laporte
3. Vertonghen
4. Rudiger
5. Alderwiereld
6. Stones
7. Maguire
8. Gomez
9. Otamendi
10. Mustafi?
Compiling that list was more difficult than I thought it would be
Gomez - potential, not better
Otamendi - never in 1000 years
Rudiger - solid but nah not better
Sanchez - potential, not better
Lindelof - not better
Matip - no
David Luiz - better on his peak days, but will forever be error prone and unreliable
Stones - this one is a joke right?
So in the mould of all the best caf pundits I went to google and asked google who are the best defenders in the world at the moment and it took me to a list of FIFA 19 players.
Young players:
Vallejo, Nordi Mukiele, Issa Diop, Upecamano
Top Defenders:
Sergio Ramos
Diego Godin
Mats Hummels
Giorgio Chiellini
Thiago Silva
Samuel Umtiti
Kalidou Koulibaly
Jan Vertonghen
Gerard Pique
Raphael Varane
Nicolas Otamendi
Azpilicueta
Leonardo Bonucci
Jerome Boateng
Mehdi Benatia
Naldo
Milan Skriniar
Virgil van Dijk
Kostas Manolas
Toby Alderweireld
Miranda
Vincent Kompany
Pepe
Scouting done over to you United.
Young players:
Vallejo, Nordi Mukiele, Issa Diop, Upecamano
Top Defenders:
Sergio Ramos
Diego Godin
Mats Hummels
Giorgio Chiellini
Thiago Silva
Samuel Umtiti
Kalidou Koulibaly
Jan Vertonghen
Gerard Pique
Raphael Varane
Nicolas Otamendi
Azpilicueta
Leonardo Bonucci
Jerome Boateng
Mehdi Benatia
Naldo
Milan Skriniar
Virgil van Dijk
Kostas Manolas
Toby Alderweireld
Miranda
Vincent Kompany
Pepe
Scouting done over to you United.
Mustafi? Seriously? Remove him from this list before you get crucified.Opinions, opinions.
My top ten would be as follows.
1. VVD
2. Laporte
3. Vertonghen
4. Rudiger
5. Alderwiereld
6. Stones
7. Maguire
8. Gomez
9. Otamendi
10. Mustafi?
Compiling that list was more difficult than I thought it would be
Either get CBs that can handle 1v1s and do not need protection (VVD is the one that can do this) or get a CDM that can protect them... Neither going to happen.
Sorry to be negative, but this is just sad. The people involved are either extremely unlucky (given that the outcome of most deals and contracts are just pathetic) or utterly incompetent. Not so far out to suggest that we would have been better off roling a dice for each transferdecision to be made.
too late
Gomez is brilliant. He's better already and will only get better (annoyingly) in my opinion.
Anyway, it's obviously all opinions, but i don't think anyone arguing Rudiger, Sanchez, Matip or Luiz can be dismissed, or Stones for that matter - as in an England shirt they've looked about as good/bad as each other for the most part.
Maybe we can go and buy Ramos again?
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