Maguire needs a partner, Maguire needs a partner!

It's still the same problems.

First problem is midfield, Fred and McT are supposed to be blockers, but their positioning is poor. They vacate the central areas so much that the defence is often got at directly with simple passes down the middle.

For me the other problem with the defence is De Gea. Yes he is back to making some saves, but his organisation, command and control of the back 4 is poor. His reluctance to come off his line also means that the defence ends up being too deep, even when the midfield and forwards have pushed up or are trying to press high. This leaves a gap in front of the back 4 for the opposition to attack into that space.
 
Maguire is making very stupid mistakes so far this season but it could be due to lack of sharpness.
 
The problem with this team from back to front is the coaching and that midfield.

No amount of coaching is going to make Fred a good passer of the ball and read the game better, he just isn't able to do those things. McTominey isn't much better either with his passing, although he is better going forward.

Man for man excluding the centre midfield of McFred our team are very capable, but when you see how we play I am left scratching my head as to why we are so poor at basic things e.g. pass & move. you watch the next game, we'll pass and no one will instinctly move into a progressive area. We are reactionary.

When you look at how Brentford play the game and then look at our team you can see instantly what hte issue is.....It's coaching and no matter if we sign Kante and Kimmich we'll still not be good enough because our coaches(and manager) belong in the Championship or lower.
 
Oranges038 said:
It's still the same problems.

First problem is midfield, Fred and McT are supposed to be blockers, but their positioning is poor. They vacate the central areas so much that the defence is often got at directly with simple passes down the middle.

For me the other problem with the defence is De Gea. Yes he is back to making some saves, but his organisation, command and control of the back 4 is poor. His reluctance to come off his line also means that the defence ends up being too deep, even when the midfield and forwards have pushed up or are trying to press high. This leaves a gap in front of the back 4 for the opposition to attack into that space.
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This, they have a strange way of both pressing concurrently and they leave space behind them, holes for the opposition to exploit, be it with the ball, or just with runners to create space, both of which drag our CB's forward and create even more space.
 
It's obviously a combination of many factors.
  • Maguire is a player that strongly divides opinions and as it is always is with such players, he got a bit overrated after a very strong spell since the middle of last season (just as he quickly gets discounted completely once he makes a few mistakes). He's not world-class though, just a very good defender, his weaknesses are bit too glaring and the nature of them leads to some comically bad mistakes (when he's bad, he's really bad)
  • Varane is a fantastic upgrade on Lindelöf that instantly became our best defender but he still needs some time to form a great understanding with Wan-Bissaka, Maguire & De Gea
  • Fred and McTominay are still underwhelming to put it mildly
  • Pogba is still a defensive catastrophe when played in midfield two
  • Shaw started this season in poor form
  • Maguire started this season in poor form
  • Wan-Bissaka's defensive form has been patchy so far
  • Our tactics in defensive phase are also not ideal even though the main issue is our offensive structure (or the lack of thereof)
 
harms said:
It's obviously a combination of many factors.
  • Maguire is a player that strongly divides opinions and as it is always is with such players, he got a bit overrated after a very strong spell since the middle of last season (just as he quickly gets discounted completely once he makes a few mistakes). He's not world-class though, just a very good defender, his weaknesses are bit too glaring and the nature of them leads to some comically bad mistakes (when he's bad, he's really bad)
  • Varane is a fantastic upgrade on Lindelöf that instantly became our best defender but he still needs some time to form a great understanding with Wan-Bissaka, Maguire & De Gea
  • Fred and McTominay are still underwhelming to put it mildly
  • Pogba is still a defensive catastrophe when played in midfield two
  • Shaw started this season in poor form
  • Maguire started this season in poor form
  • Wan-Bissaka's defensive form has been patchy so far
  • Our tactics in defensive phase are also not ideal even though the main issue is our offensive structure (or the lack of thereof)
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Has he really been fantastic so far? He might be our best defender but it's not like he's played on a different level or has transformed anything. He has not allowed us to a play a higher line, and has made mistakes and cost us just like everybody else. There is no chemistry at all between him and Maguire (yet?), and it looks more like two individuals rather than a partnership. He's been fine, but "fantastic"?
 
The whole team looks short on confidence and ideas. The responsibility shouldn't lay in one specific position but across the board.
 
A-man said:
Has he really been fantastic so far? He might be our best defender but it's not like he's played on a different level or has transformed anything. He has not allowed us to a play a higher line, and has made mistakes and cost us just like everybody else. There is no chemistry at all between him and Maguire (yet?), and it looks more like two individuals rather than a partnership. He's been fine, but "fantastic"?
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"He is a fantastic upgrade on" does not really equals "he has been fantastic so far" in my book. He hasn't yet shown the impact that the likes of van Dijk or Dias had on Liverpool/City, but I have no doubts that he is a fantastic upgrade & our best individual defender that would only get better — based on both his career before the transfer and what he has already shown for us.
 
The only time I was genuinely impressed with him was when he managed to high five a supporter without looking at him. It happened instantly.
 
Has anyone done the joke about Maguire having Jones as a partner in the physio room yet?

If not - Maguire has a partner in the physio room.. Phil Jones
 
Maguire needs to stop playing balls straight to opponents in critical positions.
Been sloppy recently and I'm usually his biggest fan.
 
harms said:
"He is a fantastic upgrade on" does not really equals "he has been fantastic so far" in my book. He hasn't yet shown the impact that the likes of van Dijk or Dias had on Liverpool/City, but I have no doubts that he is a fantastic upgrade & our best individual defender that would only get better — based on both his career before the transfer and what he has already shown for us.
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I expect him to be an upgrade, maybe even with fantastic measures, but I can't say he really has been a fantastic upgrade so far. He's been ok. My hope is that this is his lowest level.
 
I need a partner
I'm holdin' out for a partner til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong
And he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be a native English speaker who will back me up in bar fights in Greeeeece
 
A mixture of 1, 2 and 3

plus Ronaldo instead of cavani
Plus injuries and loss of form

it’ll come. We’ve replaced a player with a superior player, it doesn’t happen overnight
 
tomaldinho1 said:
They fleeced us on price, that's for sure, the bigger issue is we bought him knowing his weaknesses and then generally setup in a manner which has the potential to expose him. People have started banging on about the CDM need but 1) we don't play that way and 2) Ole has said he wants all rounders in the pivot so it's a moot point.

If we want to play a high line the hard truth is Maguire will always have games where he struggles, if we want to play a deeper line he is excellent but then is that how United want to play?
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I really like your answer. I think you've said it here better than I've seen it laid out anywhere.
 
Maguire did need a partner. Us being rather poor so far this season doesn’t suddenly make Lindelof a great CB.
 
And all this while we thought it was a speedy, mobile partner. Hopefully he's sorted now!
 
Congrats, Harry. It looks a beautiful old fashion wedding.


Although you just can't stop grabbing, eh? How can you survive with VAR.
 
Hopefully a nice marriage gives him a calmer summer than bashing some twat and almost getting jailed, and a knackering world cup.
If he starts the season in bottom end form there really is no excuse.
 
If reports are to believed, he could have had the perfect partner.......................at Barca. Are we mad?
 
Is this that same girl from the meme?
 
I'm not a Maguire fan and feel he should be sold, but Congrats Harry.
I hope you enjoy married life.
 
No, Maguire doesn't need a partner. Basically, Maguire's defensive partner needs a partner.
 
Varane isnt the asnwer, he is another injury-prone and Lindelof is an error-prone.

Hopefully ETH sees the same and finds the right partner for Maguire who is always available and has already proved he can be a World Cup semifinalist.
 
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