Van der Vaart on Maguire "He's really sh*t"

He's analyzed Maguire "properly" as well:



I think the footage speaks for itself, really. All these blunders were from 2 consecutive away games.
He is absolutely not wrong when he says he could find 3 players at a Sunday league club capable of matching the performance in the footage.


Van der Vaart can honestly go and feck himself, not because he had a go at Maguire but because he's a chicken shit who beats women. No respect whatsoever for lowly scum like him. fecking coward clown.
 
We absolutely are. You can find compilations on Youtube about his "defending" that would even surprise you that he is an actual professional footballer. Were Chris Smalling and Johnny Evans great defenders? Because if you consider Maguire to be, might as well consider Johnny Evans a world class one. It's ridiculous that the captain of Manchester United is a footballer who even relegation teams would think twice now if he was offered on a free and I'm being deadly serious here.

There are compilation for every player, if players are judged on lowlights then everyone is shit. So we have only 2 levels of defenders, great defenders and shit defenders.

Yeah bold part sums up everything, there is no point in discussing.
 
He was shit for years? Yeah we are not being honest here then.
We conceded 50% less goals playing mostly Lindelof Bailly compared to Maguire Lindelof if we look at both seasons in which we finished second.

Do you rate Bailly, Darmian or Young that highly? Or is Mourinho who's about to fail at Roma for the umpteenth time that good of a manager?
 
Maguire was overpaid - and he has been poor this season, he is not a bad footballer. Van der Vaart is just annoying to listen to.
 
We conceded 50% less goals playing mostly Lindelof Bailly compared to Maguire Lindelof if we look at both seasons in which we finished second.

Do you rate Bailly, Darmian or Young that highly? Or is Mourinho who's about to fail at Roma for the umpteenth time that good of a manager?

We conceded 44 goals from 41 xGA last season
We conceded 28 goals from 43 xGA in 2017-18.

Lindelof, Bailly shouldn't be getting the credit for De Gea saving everyone.
 
We conceded 50% less goals playing mostly Lindelof Bailly compared to Maguire Lindelof if we look at both seasons in which we finished second.

Do you rate Bailly, Darmian or Young that highly? Or is Mourinho who's about to fail at Roma for the umpteenth time that good of a manager?

In the season we finished second under Mourinho we defended terribly but were bailed out by an exceptional shot stopping season from DDG. The xGA in that season was 42 goals. Ironically Mourinho wanted to sign Maguire because the centre backs were so poor that season and threw his toys out of the pram when we didn't sign him. The best xGA season we've had in recent seasons was Maguire first season when the xGA was 37. It's been fairly consistent at around 40 xGA in most recent seasons. We're on course for worse this season if we don't improve, however.
 
Last edited:
small man syndrome from VDV. I's imagine going through life with a last name pronounced Fart hasn't been easy.
 
We conceded 44 goals from 41 xGA last season
We conceded 28 goals from 43 xGA in 2017-18.

Lindelof, Bailly shouldn't be getting the credit for De Gea saving everyone.
Sounds like you're making a case for Maguire being on the same level as those two.

The thing is, Bailly is fast and athletic, while Lindelof is good on the ball. It would be no suprise to me if those 2 outperform Maguire under a more progressive manager.

Maguire cost 80m and might put up a stink if he isn't for choice and he still has some value because he's English. The other two are content with sitting on the bench. I know who I'd try to sell to Newcastle.
 
Sounds like you're making a case for Maguire being on the same level as those two.

The thing is, Bailly is fast and athletic, while Lindelof is good on the ball. It would be no suprise to me if those 2 outperform Maguire under a more progressive manager.

Maguire cost 80m and might put up a stink if he isn't for choice and he still has some value because he's English. The other two are content with sitting on the bench. I know who I'd try to sell to Newcastle.

Or one is a player who can't stay fit for more than 2 games and other player watches ball like a grenade and runs away from attackers. I know which player I want in my team.

Tbf to Lindelof, he is better than Maguire this season.

Football is not attack and defense, it's a team game. If a team is conceding too many chances it's not because only of defense, shame a dutch pundit didn't say that as I thought they are known for their total football.
 
We conceded 44 goals from 41 xGA last season
We conceded 28 goals from 43 xGA in 2017-18.

Lindelof, Bailly shouldn't be getting the credit for De Gea saving everyone.

It wasn't Lindelof & Bailly either...our best defensive runs under Jose came with Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones at CB.

I haven't got the stats to hand, but I'd love to know how many times Lindelof and Bailly have played together in the PL or Champions League, I bet it's not many
 
It wasn't Lindelof & Bailly either...our best defensive runs under Jose came with Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones at CB.

I haven't got the stats to hand, but I'd love to know how many times Lindelof and Bailly have played together in the PL or Champions League, I bet it's not many

It can't be high, Lindelof barely played in the first season and Bailly was injured a lot from 2017-18 season. So it shouldn't be more than 20 since Lindelof was signed.
 
There are compilation for every player, if players are judged on lowlights then everyone is shit. So we have only 2 levels of defenders, great defenders and shit defenders.

Yeah bold part sums up everything, there is no point in discussing.
These are the sort of people who would see a screenshot of defending - such as from the Seville semi final a couple of years ago - and shout that Maguire is the problem even if he is literally the only defender doing the right thing in that passage of play. It's pointless arguing with them.
 
Or one is a player who can't stay fit for more than 2 games and other player watches ball like a grenade and runs away from attackers. I know which player I want in my team.

Tbf to Lindelof, he is better than Maguire this season.

Football is not attack and defense, it's a team game. If a team is conceding too many chances it's not because only of defense, shame a dutch pundit didn't say that as I thought they are known for their total football.
Sounds like you have an agenda against Lindelof and Bailly.

You can keep writing bigger picture paragraphs, but I find it odd how one can make so many excuses for Harry losing the ball when pressed (as a CB he can hoof it for all I care) and not being able to give the ball to someone in a United shirt when he's under 0 pressure and has all the time in the world.

The man lacks technical ability, yet plays like he's Beckenbauer.

You keep saying every player has those mistake compilations, but I've never seen a CB make montage level blunders FIVE times during a SINGLE game.
 
Sounds like you have an agenda against Lindelof and Bailly.

You can keep writing bigger picture paragraphs, but I find it odd how one can make so many excuses for Harry losing the ball when pressed (as a CB he can hoof it for all I care) and not being able to give the ball to someone in a United shirt when he's under 0 pressure and has all the time in the world.

The man lacks technical ability, yet plays like he's Beckenbauer.

You keep saying every player has those mistake compilations, but I've never seen a CB make montage level blunders FIVE times during a SINGLE game.

Yeah I have agenda and you, VDV are very honest with your opinions :lol:

I'm not making excuses, I said Maguire is shit this season. How is that making excuses?

Also VDV is a shit cnut and a shit pundit.
 
Yeah I have agenda and you, VDV are very honest with your opinions :lol:

I'm not making excuses, I said Maguire is shit this season. How is that making excuses?

Also VDV is a shit cnut and a shit pundit.
You seem to have a habit of saying people you disagree with have an agenda, I'm merely returning the favor.

You are making excuses. Maguire's technical ability has always been awful, it has nothing to do with just this season. I get that he's in a slump right now, but I have given countless examples of Harry being an amateur on the ball, including in west ham away 2019, nations league vs Holland and the euro finals.

The response by Maguire enthusiasts is always "mistakes happen".

Well, frequency matters. If he does it every other game and does it 5 times in one single game maybe he's just shit.

Fellaini also lacked technical ability to play for United. McTominay does too. Trust me I don't go to bed thinking about Harry but I sure am frustrated watching him being a clown on the ball for 3 years straight.
 
VDV is dutch and they tend to be very direct in the way they say things. I work with dutch customers every day.
Its quite a rude way to talk about a player but the core essence of his message is still very true.
 
You seem to have a habit of saying people you disagree with have an agenda, I'm merely returning the favor.

You are making excuses. Maguire's technical ability has always been awful, it has nothing to do with just this season. I get that he's in a slump right now, but I have given countless examples of Harry being an amateur on the ball, including in west ham away 2019, nations league vs Holland and the euro finals.

The response by Maguire enthusiasts is always "mistakes happen".

Well, frequency matters. If he does it every other game and does it 5 times in one single game maybe hes just shit.

I said Maguire is having shit season but somehow I'm making excuses.

Shit cnut wanting to be relevant again, well done to him for achieving his goal. Honest opinion when he says he can find 3 players from the park who are better than Maguire but somehow I have agenda :lol:
 
VDV is dutch and they tend to be very direct in the way they say things. I work with dutch customers every day.
Its quite a rude way to talk about a player but the core essence of his message is still very true.

Nonsense.
 
These are the sort of people who would see a screenshot of defending - such as from the Seville semi final a couple of years ago - and shout that Maguire is the problem even if he is literally the only defender doing the right thing in that passage of play. It's pointless arguing with them.

Amazing how suddenly Lindelof became better CB and even Bailly.

Next we will see Lingard > Bruno.
 
Amazing how suddenly Lindelof became better CB and even Bailly.

Next we will see Lingard > Bruno.

Look at this season, look at stats. Lindelöf has been miles better than Maguire.
Its not sudden. Maguire simply isnt that good.
He looked decent when we played with a low block and focused on counters, much like the more simple defensive style he was used to at Leicester.
As soon as we tried to play more progressive and attacking football he was struggling.
Yes from a physical point he is stronger than Lindelöf. But Lindelöf is much better at reading the game and passing, and also moves much more fluidly.
 
Look at this season, look at stats. Lindelöf has been miles better than Maguire.
Its not sudden. Maguire simply isnt that good.
He looked decent when we played with a low block and focused on counters, much like the more simple defensive style he was used to at Leicester.
As soon as we tried to play more progressive and attacking football he was struggling.
Yes from a physical point he is stronger than Lindelöf. But Lindelöf is much better at reading the game and passing, and also moves much more fluidly.

This season? Yes.

Overall? Not a chance. Not even close.
 
The major issue with Maguire is that, even at his best, he does not suit a progressive and pressing team. He is too slow to be relied upon to deal with any counter attacks from the opposition.

This is a big problem I had with us signing him in the first place. It showed that we were never moving towards a pressing system under Solskjaer. Maguire has only ever looked his best in very defensive sides that sit back with heavy cover, and that includes Manchester United during his time here.

Both England and Manchester United have two players in defensive midfield to cover him. If he was 'that' good, would these managers need to do that? Do we really want a defender that we need to make allowances for? It is not something that will work in a high pressing system as our midfield needs to drop too deep to make up for his inadequacies.

I think Maguire is going to go down as, potentially, the worst signing Manchester United have ever made. He is not suitable for a top side with the way the game is played, nowadays.
 
He's not very shit, but he's just average. I don't see the difference between people saying he's an amazing defender and VDV. Although I would tend to agree with VDV considering you shouldn't really be paying 80 million for an average defender.

The only quality Maguire has that the top 10 defenders in the world have is probably in winning aerial duels, the rest he's completely average and nowhere near the 80 million price tag. We just need to accept it as fans and move on, it is what it is, there's no need to try and justify it.
 
Not shit exactly. But sometimes maybe good, sometimes maybe shit.

Van der Gas is a malakia hobbyist.
 
I think Maguire is going to go down as, potentially, the worst signing Manchester United have ever made. He is not suitable for a top side with the way the game is played, nowadays.

I don't rate the guy but come on, that's a vast stretch! :lol:
 
The major issue with Maguire is that, even at his best, he does not suit a progressive and pressing team. He is too slow to be relied upon to deal with any counter attacks from the opposition.

This is a big problem I had with us signing him in the first place. It showed that we were never moving towards a pressing system under Solskjaer. Maguire has only ever looked his best in very defensive sides that sit back with heavy cover, and that includes Manchester United during his time here.

Both England and Manchester United have two players in defensive midfield to cover him. If he was 'that' good, would these managers need to do that? Do we really want a defender that we need to make allowances for? It is not something that will work in a high pressing system as our midfield needs to drop too deep to make up for his inadequacies.

I think Maguire is going to go down as, potentially, the worst signing Manchester United have ever made. He is not suitable for a top side with the way the game is played, nowadays.
This is the obvious truth. Maguire is a good defender, just not as good as his price tag, which makes him an easy target.
 
If football is a binary world where everyone’s either great or shit, I certainly know which side of the fence VdV would be as both a player and a pundit.
 
The major issue with Maguire is that, even at his best, he does not suit a progressive and pressing team. He is too slow to be relied upon to deal with any counter attacks from the opposition.

This is a big problem I had with us signing him in the first place. It showed that we were never moving towards a pressing system under Solskjaer. Maguire has only ever looked his best in very defensive sides that sit back with heavy cover, and that includes Manchester United during his time here.

Both England and Manchester United have two players in defensive midfield to cover him. If he was 'that' good, would these managers need to do that? Do we really want a defender that we need to make allowances for? It is not something that will work in a high pressing system as our midfield needs to drop too deep to make up for his inadequacies.

I think Maguire is going to go down as, potentially, the worst signing Manchester United have ever made. He is not suitable for a top side with the way the game is played, nowadays.

It's a popular myth on here that England play with two DMs or holding midfielders.

Whilst Phillips plays a holding role for Leeds he plays for England he plays as a box to box 8 who focuses on high pressing. The article below describes this in detail.

https://www.skysports.com/football/...king-role-that-showed-the-depth-of-his-talent

When Henderson was in goal last season we played with a higher line and had a better defensive record overall than when DDG was in goal.

I mean Pep Guardiola wanted to sign Maguire to play in his side with the highline. Hopefully this chap knows his onions on the matter.
 
If football is a binary world where everyone’s either great or shit, I certainly know which side of the fence VdV would be as both a player and a pundit.
Yeah, he was fantastic obviously.
 
Maguire is in atrocious form but his usual level is that of a good player, after Varane he's your best CB. The money paid for him was too much, and his makeup does mean that it can be tricky to play him in certain setups. Not impossible, but it's definitely something that would have to be taken into consideration . There have been plenty of CBs who have lacked speed but have been able to play in teams where this should be a problem, but have been able to negate that with other qualities and tactical tweaks. One thing that should be take into account is the amount of football he has played over the last couple of years, I don't think this has affected him physically but mentally he's all over the place, a lot of the mistakes he's made recently haven't come from a lack of speed but awful decision making. Which has been compounded by United's overall poor form and the club going into freefall over the last two months. Yes Maguire has probably been one of the biggest contributors to that form and it probably would have been beneficial for the guy to have been dropped for a bit, but virtually none of the side has played well.

A fresh start with the new interim and Varane shortly coming back to fitness will be a big boon for him and I think Maguire will have a much improved second half of the season.


Calling him an average player is a hilarious take though. He was extremely gifted, albeit a bit lazy and didn't live for his sport.

Yeah I don't like him as a person (unrelated to his punditry) but he was supremely talented and good fun to watch.

It wasn't Lindelof & Bailly either...our best defensive runs under Jose came with Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones at CB.

I haven't got the stats to hand, but I'd love to know how many times Lindelof and Bailly have played together in the PL or Champions League, I bet it's not many

I can't imagine Lindelof and Bailly ever working as a partnership over a long period. For a few reasons but they'd be very easy to exploit aerially.
 
There have been plenty of CBs who have lacked speed but have been able to play in teams where this should be a problem, but have been able to negate that with other qualities and tactical tweaks.

Yeah, speed is definitely an overrated trait in a CB. Terry and Vidic had no pace, yet if you asked people to name the 5 best CBs of the PL era, they would probably feature in plenty of lists.

I feel what has suckered many of our fans into believing pace is the issue is that our defenders are constantly chasing back towards their own goal, scrambling to stop counter-attacks or chasing opponents into the channels. These are all tactical issues.

All CBs would be exposed in this scenario, quick or not. When people say 'quick', they generally should add 'for a CB'. The majority of top level CFs/wingers would absolutely destroy even the fastest CBs in a footrace, because they're generally shorter, more explosive and slighter.
 
Maguire is a very poor defender. There's only one thing he does better than others which is to bully others during offensive headers.

Maguire is tall at 1.93m and he usually manhandle the defenders to get into a good goalscoring position for heading. Not all defenders will do that.
 
He really is a cnut. Van der Vaart I mean. And I'd sort of understand if he was some world class player so he goes around and call other players shit but he was an average player.
I'm not sure this is even worthy of a thread really.

He really is a cnut. @Real Name I mean. And I'd sort of understand if he was some decent footie player so he goes around and call other ex players average but he can't kick a ball in 5-aside.
Pretty sure that's how the analogy would go if taken a step further.
 
Harry Maguire's passing has always been suspect. I posted some stats while he was a Leicester player comparing his passing ability with other center backs in Europe and he was off the charts bad.

https://www.redcafe.net/threads/harry-maguire.425839/post-23652711

Interesting also to look at this thread whilst he was still a Leicester player and we were interested - a much more objective discussion of his talent and ability. Plenty were calling him shit, and overpriced at over 40m quid though, so that's consistent.