Don’t know if it’s the best yet but it’s the most expensive right?
Now that we signed Varane do we have the best defense in the EPL?
- Thread starter SAFMUTD
- Start date
Close call vs City for cost, not sure
We won't find out until the games start. On paper I think we have one of the best in world football. They won't look out of place in a league winning team or ucl winner.
Ideally, we still need a top class shield in front of them, to help them out against the very best teams.
You must have missed all the games that Lindelof singlehandedly lost for us.
Wan-Bissaka sticks out like a sore thumb. Good tackler, mediocre overall defender. His positioning cost us so many goals last season.
Being honest I don’t think either of our keepers have proven they’re up to scratch yet and I still have my doubts about Wan-Bissaka. I don’t think we’re going to know until we’ve seen them play together. On paper it sounds really good.
hyperbole in the extreme, rarely is one player ever to blame for a defeat
Our RB is the best defender we have
I think having Varane next to him and Sancho in front of him will be a huge help to AWB. I expect him to have his best season because of this.
Liverpool and City have excellent back 5's, I think with the Varane signing we probably go level with them (On paper).
Just hope it works out and we can find a good balance in midfield too.
Liverpool and City have excellent back 5's, I think with the Varane signing we probably go level with them (On paper).
Just hope it works out and we can find a good balance in midfield too.
Some AWB bashing going on in a few threads. How is that a valid opinion? He's been immense for us, and he's better offensively than what he's given credit for and will only get better hopefully. He's not the best offensive full back in the league by any means but he's the absolute best defensively.
1 v1 defender sure but there's other parts he struggles with like long balls and anticipation
Absolutely, I love watching him play. He eats attackers for lunch.
We are definitely there, but it is a must to buy a proper DCM
I saw that. Some tool compared Varane to Lovren
They’re bitter about our signings. Ask any one of them and they’d take Varane at £34 million over Konate all day.
The underrating of AWB is unreal here at times. He has been an absolute rock for us on the right side, I predicted he would begin to improve a lot going forward and he did last season.
But in this thread topic specifically what he offers defensively is huge. Defensively he's better than anybody.
Player by player we probably have the best. But other teams may have a better system which helps the defence more.
Football isn't played on paper of course but it's impossible not to be excited about the backline for the upcoming season. L
Well said. I’d like to know what some people are watching!
It's up there, for sure. It depends how Varane settles and Wan-Bissaka cutting some of the errors out of his game, but it looks very promising on paper.
Excluding add-ons according to the BBC, City have the most expensive starting defence.
United:
AWB: £50m
Maguire: £80m
Varane: £34m
Shaw: £27m
Total: £191m
City:
Walker: £45m
Dias: £65m
Stones: £48m
Cancelo: £60m (£25m+Danilo)
Total: £218m
Mendy was £52m but not classed as a regular, so I excluded him. Laporte was also signed for £57m but Stones appears to be ahead of him in the pecking order.
Let's wait to see them play ONE game together before proclaiming them the best eh.
Potentially - although there are several better RBs in the league, and our GK/CDM situation means the back 4 is more exposed than that of teams with weaker defences on paper.
Agree. If DDG is our number 1 than we can't have the best defense because of his inability to come off his line consistently. That's the worse thing for a defender.
I can’t believe how low TalkSPORT has fallen.
Charlie Austin saying today that we need a new right back because AWB can’t defend! Of all the things AWB can’t do, the one thing he can do is defend! Unbelievable.
Apparently not, Charlie Austin, the vast well of defensive knowledge and expertise says we need a right back.
If AWB cant defend, Dalot is not Portugese.
I know this is not a majority view, but keeping possession and pressing from the front are essential to having a good defence. We invite chances on too much IMO.
Varane is undoubtedly better than Lindelof but being better defensively goes way beyond having a solid back 4.
Varane is undoubtedly better than Lindelof but being better defensively goes way beyond having a solid back 4.
It's up there with Simon Jordan talking about how clubs should be run.
Liverpool’s looks tidy on paper, I think a tie between us and them.
I don’t get it to be honest. I’d much rather have the best defensive right back in the league with Jadon Sancho in front of him who’s arguably the best winger in the world. It’s a perfect combination in my view. AWB won’t be needed much in attack when Sancho is more than willing to take men on one v one.
Varane will need time to settle in, and get an understanding with his CB partner and RB.
Generally a defence relies on knowing what each other will do in a given situation, so they can be in the right place at the right time.
AWB does struggle with his positioning at times, and Shaw does occasionally let a cross come in.
I have always felt that a dedicated defence coach would improve us a lot, especially with AWB.
We should be better at defending set pieces with Varane and Maguire both excellent in the air, and personally I think Henderson is the better bet in goal.
Hopefully, our defending will improve as the season goes on as the players get used to each other.
Generally a defence relies on knowing what each other will do in a given situation, so they can be in the right place at the right time.
AWB does struggle with his positioning at times, and Shaw does occasionally let a cross come in.
I have always felt that a dedicated defence coach would improve us a lot, especially with AWB.
We should be better at defending set pieces with Varane and Maguire both excellent in the air, and personally I think Henderson is the better bet in goal.
Hopefully, our defending will improve as the season goes on as the players get used to each other.
On paper it can at least be a debate, but you can say the same about Liverpool's defense (which, with City, would make the top 3 debatably). Let's see how Varane adapts, let's see how VvD recovers from injuries, but it's at least a positive sign that United's defense can enter the conversation, unfortunately it could quickly go out the window if Varane doesn't properly adapt, but I'd be surprised.
No, even on paper. One of the best yes, not the best.
If de gea wasn't our likely first keeper. Id say yes
You must have been seeing a different sport, with all due respect, if you cannot see the gaping hole in our play due to Lindelof. Defense is the base for any good attack and Lindelof is absolute garbage. He was being covered well by likes of Maguire, Shaw and AWB but with Varane we can all build attacks with some solidity.
Name a CB pairing better, at least on paper.
Though wouldnt say he is the absolute best defensivelyI agree with the rest. What is laughable is people slating his positioning and then going on about other right backs. TAA positioning is atrocious, Walkers positioning is average at best. I think only the two right backs fro CHelsea have good positioning out of the top sides in the league actually.....in fct everybody slating AWB as the weak link as his positioning is poor and then lauding Shaw as the best elft back in the league wich aI agree with....again positionally he isnt the strongest, people need som eperspective here.