I just love the partnership, but I will also add that Malacia provided the cover that we desperately needed at LB. It's not a coincidence that the back 4 did so well today. We had grit and heart oozing from Varane, Martinez and Malacia, and that's contagious in a very good way upon the rest of the team.
So, how about that Varane + Martinez partnership?
- Thread starter TsuWave
- Start date
Both were great today but I think the opposition suited them to a tee. That is to say a team not particularly blessed with strong, physical forwards.
It's going to be interesting to see what happens when we play teams with bigger forwards who like to play with the ball in the air. I dare say the obituaries being written for Maguire might be coming too soon as the lump could still fair a good choice in those situations (and vice versa with Harold sitting on the bench against more technical teams like City/Pool/Arsenal).
Where it leaves our precious Lindelof I'm not so sure. The ice man has truly fallen down the pecking order
It's going to be interesting to see what happens when we play teams with bigger forwards who like to play with the ball in the air. I dare say the obituaries being written for Maguire might be coming too soon as the lump could still fair a good choice in those situations (and vice versa with Harold sitting on the bench against more technical teams like City/Pool/Arsenal).
Where it leaves our precious Lindelof I'm not so sure. The ice man has truly fallen down the pecking order
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varane and martinez
Your attack is terrified
Varane and martinez
ohhh
na na na na na na na na na na na na
Your attack is terrified
Varane and martinez
ohhh
na na na na na na na na na na na na
May be a back three would suit us, with Harry Maguire coming in? Would need to see more for a clearer idea.Both were great today but I think the opposition suited them to a tee. That is to say a team not particularly blessed with strong, physical forwards.
It's going to be interesting to see what happens when we play teams with bigger forwards who like to play the ball in the air. I dare say the obituaries being written for Maguire might come too soon as the lump could still fair a good choice in those situations (and vice versa with Harold sitting on the bench against the likes of City/Pool/Arsenal).
Where it leaves our precious Lindelof I'm not so sure. The ice man has truly fallen down the pecking order
Couldn't agree more with you. Liverpool played in a way that suited them perfectly. Against other teams it might be more difficult.
Prey V can stay fit this season.
Inject it into my veins. There will be many more tests to come but after watching Maguire and Lindelof for years this elation within the fanbase is warranted.
We had defenders who actually defended on the front foot and let their markers know they were in for a battle.
We had defenders who actually defended on the front foot and let their markers know they were in for a battle.
Both were great today but I think the opposition suited them to a tee. That is to say a team not particularly blessed with strong, physical forwards.
It's going to be interesting to see what happens when we play teams with bigger forwards who like to play with the ball in the air. I dare say the obituaries being written for Maguire might be coming too soon as the lump could still fair a good choice in those situations (and vice versa with Harold sitting on the bench against more technical teams like City/Pool/Arsenal).
Where it leaves our precious Lindelof I'm not so sure. The ice man has truly fallen down the pecking order
Maguire can get to feck in my book. Lindelof 3rd choice, Maguire 4th.
Is that real? He put that up on his own account? That’s the mischief of handlers for the account, surely?
If not, that’s hilarious.
Looks like a great pairing doesn't it. Long way to go but that back line as a whole looked incredible tonight. They played together first off, and that's so important. Malacia makes us so much stronger on that left side. Dalot looked rejuvenated too. I think he's going to end up replaced but it feels like we're good on defense.
Midfield should start firing too with Case.
Forwards are a bit weak on the finish but hopefully they add a good striker and we see continued improvement by the young players. They'll look really good coming off the bench with that speed.
Keeper is killing us now. In tonight's game a better keeper would probably have given us quite a few more chances for downfield possession.
Feels much better now though looking at this team. It was really nice to see the young forwards playing with aggression. And I'll say it would be really nice if Ronaldo would get onboard, as I think he still has a ton he could offer this team if he's bought in.
Midfield should start firing too with Case.
Forwards are a bit weak on the finish but hopefully they add a good striker and we see continued improvement by the young players. They'll look really good coming off the bench with that speed.
Keeper is killing us now. In tonight's game a better keeper would probably have given us quite a few more chances for downfield possession.
Feels much better now though looking at this team. It was really nice to see the young forwards playing with aggression. And I'll say it would be really nice if Ronaldo would get onboard, as I think he still has a ton he could offer this team if he's bought in.
Both were great today but I think the opposition suited them to a tee. That is to say a team not particularly blessed with strong, physical forwards.
It's going to be interesting to see what happens when we play teams with bigger forwards who like to play the ball in the air. I dare say the obituaries being written for Maguire might come too soon as the lump could still fair a good choice in those situations (and vice versa with Harold sitting on the bench against the likes of City/Pool/Arsenal).
Where it leaves our precious Lindelof I'm not so sure. The ice man has truly fallen down the pecking order
Ten Hag seems to be putting it out as a myth about Martinez in the air, saying he is short but has good stats for physical duels and timing. Not into stats personally, I actually thought he did ok for a debut in the last game, though there were errors can see a player there....thats my opinion knowing nothing about him before he was linked anyway.
As for the partnership, think its more than that, the biggest difference today and a huge contribution to the fighting spirit was the whol eback four.
Luke Shaw is a talented player, but watching Malacaia who I thought was player of the match, only beaten once by one of the worls best players....kind of made you think, why have we put up with "he can be good, oh he injuries" Shaw for so many seasons. Performances like that and Malacia keeps him on the bench.
Also credit to Dalot who I have never rated, his best game by far in a Utd shirt for me today.
What I loved and it reminded me of Juventus was the toegetherness and high fives and support for each other the back four had winnign challenges and shuttign Liverpool out, celebrating like a goal at times.
There were several instances during the game where I thought if that was Shaw, Maguire, Lindelof.....that wouldnt have been shut out, there would have been a gap there etc etc.
yeah, it's still up on his instagram
In addition to the step up in qulity from Lindelöf and Maguire, I think they suit each other really well, where Martinez is the more aggressive and Varane covers the space behind him.
In that sense, Lindelöf seems a better fit to replace Varane when he is out, and Maguire should come in if Martinez isn't playing.
In that sense, Lindelöf seems a better fit to replace Varane when he is out, and Maguire should come in if Martinez isn't playing.
Our Varane’s a joker!
What name should we give to that new wrestling move?
An outstanding performance by Batman and Robin. (Robin was a pretty short guy.) Yes, we can acknowledge that Liverpool were not at their best, but they still sported Salah and for the most part the Liverpool front line was contained.
Yeah Martinez looks good in a duel but he still had a bit of a mare for Brentford's third goal (Mee's from the corner). Thomas Frank explained after the game that he saw physicality as a weakness and targeted us because of it. Granted it was only one goal but there are still some question marks for me. Liverpool don't play that way so it wasn't a factor today.
It's going to be a long season so I wouldn't mind seeing us pairing Maguire with Varane/Martinez tactically in some games and keeping Varane/Martinez for the bigger games against more technical teams. Varane's injury record means we'll inevitably have to figure something like this out at some point. I'm only struggling to see where Lindelof fits in now we have Martinez...
Agree about the togetherness and Malacia. The lad was brilliant today, a real breath of fresh air.
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Their assurance on the ball was what I really appreciated. Hoofing it when needed, but also using the ball to initiate attacks. It helped that Liverpool's fullbacks are so far forward that a lot of long diagonals were available, but still nice to see passes pinged to feet.
he won the ball
It is the way forward. Outstanding.
The whole back 5 seemed to really be fired up today. Every tackle, block, interception was met by low-fives and encouragement. They played as a unit but also really played for each other. Was super nice to see that spirit among them.
Fantastic tonight and certainly a partnership worth sticking with given that performance.
However they're going to be asked very different set of a questions in other games. We're going to have the majority of the ball in most games so will need to defend large open spaces and opposition counter attacks which we didn't have to tonight.
Another point is Liverpool like to play football and had no aerial threat on the pitch other than VVD on corners.
The Martinez/Malacia left side will be targeted aerially by more pragmatic teams in the league who have more big physical players and are constantly playing for set pieces, long throw ins etc. as well as long balls and diagonals into our left side.
The issue is we know Maguire or Lindelof aren't the answer so got to hope we make it work.
However they're going to be asked very different set of a questions in other games. We're going to have the majority of the ball in most games so will need to defend large open spaces and opposition counter attacks which we didn't have to tonight.
Another point is Liverpool like to play football and had no aerial threat on the pitch other than VVD on corners.
The Martinez/Malacia left side will be targeted aerially by more pragmatic teams in the league who have more big physical players and are constantly playing for set pieces, long throw ins etc. as well as long balls and diagonals into our left side.
The issue is we know Maguire or Lindelof aren't the answer so got to hope we make it work.
Please hope those two stay fit. Maguire should never play again.
Martinez makes it for me, and that's weird to say with a partner like Varane but honestly, I was so impressed with his performance tonight.
He's got composure, steps in at the right time, can play a pass upfield to start an attack, rarely gets caught out.
It's a bold prediction at this stage, but come the end of this season, I'll think he'll be recognised as one of the leagues best defenders. I loved watching him play that game, he was sublime!
He's got composure, steps in at the right time, can play a pass upfield to start an attack, rarely gets caught out.
It's a bold prediction at this stage, but come the end of this season, I'll think he'll be recognised as one of the leagues best defenders. I loved watching him play that game, he was sublime!
Watch press stories about maguire working hard and fired up for the next match. Montage of his long pass.
Absolute class. How well this season goes will hinge on Varane’s fitness (and that of our paper thin front attack)
After watching Maguire and Lindelof for years, this partnership was so refreshing
First choice now, let's pray for their fitness.
Add in the defensive steel of Casemiro and I no longer fear opposition teams walking through us.
Should this not read Varane Martinez and malacia no?
No way we can let Shaw and Maguire back in without maybe coming on in the 60th minute and proving their worth? If both of them started today we would of been bet
No way we can let Shaw and Maguire back in without maybe coming on in the 60th minute and proving their worth? If both of them started today we would of been bet
Use Varane only in PL and hopefully he can stay fit. Rest him for FA, Europa League and EFL Cup.
Yes!Fire and Ice
That was brilliant.
Varane calmly handling Liverpools threat in behind and Martinez launching himself into everything (and passing really well).
Is that you Ernie?Fire and Ice
Warm water!!
Pretty good. Now, Varane needs to be fit for every game from now on.
Not a good look for England if their captain is not first choice at a club that is in the middle of a rebuild. I think EtH can expect a media assault if he loses any game without Maguire.
Fire and Ice
Better than the House of Dragons pilot.
As a few have said they compliment each other very well. Too early to say they’re this level but how they compliment one another reminds me of Rio and Vidic at our defensive peak. I actually think Martinez uses his shorter stature very well, he’s stronger than a lot of lazy pundits expected for one, but for those of you who watch basketball it reminds me of how Draymond Green uses being the smaller man to his advantage when defending centres.
One of the things I was most impressed by was their ability to pass decisively and vertically through the lines. Varane hit that beautiful pass up the right line to I believe Rashford who then tried the Ronaldo chop against VVD in the first half, hopefully I’m remembering that correctly, and on the other side at once point Malacia was playing towards our goal, looked to panic for a second, got his head up and got it in to Martinez who had stepped up to make a great angle, and he played a great ball forward. Not to mention of course his great pass to Elanga for the goal after the move had slowed down. A little thing but a big difference to how we have been.
with Casemiro in front, if fit they should be a really solid block. I’m hoping too the following:
(a) the language consistency and just having a proper pair of defenders in front helps de Gea, whom I feel doesn’t love playing with Maguire all the time;
(b) a more solid platform helps our midfield players-I would love FDJ, we are really cooking then, but I don’t mind Eriksen and Bruno in front of that 3, and Fred providing legs off the bench;
(c) two proper defenders in the middle helps our full backs. Varane did a great job communicating tonight which could be a great help to Dalot playing outside him. Malacia looked great and I’m hoping that lights a fire under Shaw similar to 20/21. If not I’m happy with Malacia in that role for now.
(d) they look even better with a midfielder protecting them; a few times tonight I thought they were really exposed and performed admirably in the face of that.
feeling positive about stuff for the first time in a while. Our manager has balls and now some of our players do too
One of the things I was most impressed by was their ability to pass decisively and vertically through the lines. Varane hit that beautiful pass up the right line to I believe Rashford who then tried the Ronaldo chop against VVD in the first half, hopefully I’m remembering that correctly, and on the other side at once point Malacia was playing towards our goal, looked to panic for a second, got his head up and got it in to Martinez who had stepped up to make a great angle, and he played a great ball forward. Not to mention of course his great pass to Elanga for the goal after the move had slowed down. A little thing but a big difference to how we have been.
with Casemiro in front, if fit they should be a really solid block. I’m hoping too the following:
(a) the language consistency and just having a proper pair of defenders in front helps de Gea, whom I feel doesn’t love playing with Maguire all the time;
(b) a more solid platform helps our midfield players-I would love FDJ, we are really cooking then, but I don’t mind Eriksen and Bruno in front of that 3, and Fred providing legs off the bench;
(c) two proper defenders in the middle helps our full backs. Varane did a great job communicating tonight which could be a great help to Dalot playing outside him. Malacia looked great and I’m hoping that lights a fire under Shaw similar to 20/21. If not I’m happy with Malacia in that role for now.
(d) they look even better with a midfielder protecting them; a few times tonight I thought they were really exposed and performed admirably in the face of that.
feeling positive about stuff for the first time in a while. Our manager has balls and now some of our players do too
Varane is a very large Robin.