[yan man utd]

You also have to remember that he had to partner these said defenders and as everyone knows if you have one great defender and one bad defender you have a bad defence regardless. He had one good defensive partner in his entire time at United - Blind. They were our best defensive partnership since Rio/Vida.

I'd at least like to see Smalling have a chance to partner with Maguire. I think their attributes would suit each other well.

totally. It’s simple - let’s spend the money in midfield and Attack because we just don’t have unlimited budget but what we do have is a lot of options in defence including our best out and out defender - Smalling - who has proved himself hands down

the only witch hunt has been on him - and that is to our loss -nobody else’s!

spend on greaalish and sancho and ideally a dynamic DM - simple

 

[yan man utd]

Any top defender would say that the attacker closest to him and within his vision is his responsibility especially in the penalty area. It’s as simple as that. Maguire tried to cut it out but then the defender who can see it all has to see and react

lindelof is too passive - again. How many times?

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

It's heading height, the ball does not fly above him, it passes in front of him because he chooses not to clear it and decelerates, He had time, ample time to dive in and put it other the bar. Any amateur can do that. There's two things you do not do as a centre back: let the ball bounce and let the ball move beyond you if you know someone's coming hot behind. It's not how top class defenders play.

It's really, really, really simple. There was no need for a covering run from the others.

This!

Lindelof is just poor when handling the ball in the air. People keep saying because he’s weak. No, that’s not the main issue! It‘s because he‘s just awkward when the ball in the air and he also can’t aim the ball with his head properly. So many times I have seen him being an iceman freeze watching the ball when he had time to move towards the ball and clear it. Even when he hit the ball with his head, it doesn’t connect properly and the ball wasn’t clear far enough.

If the cross was low, he would probably have deal it but when the cross is in the air he often not be able to anticipate it.

That wam up on sky sports against west ham in 2019 when Mourinho as pundit spoke about him not good in the air and at the same time showed clip when Lindelof miss the ball when trying to head it, sums up he’s just awkward in the air. It’s not about his aerial duels just basic how to heading the ball.

 

[Ekeke]

If you actually watch the goal Lindelof doesn't turn and blame AWB like posters here have. He looks at and consults with Maguire. I think he's upset about Maguire's position and blaming that for his own position.

 

[Litch]

He's ok and the 80m spent on the bloke next to him was to help not hinder him. How can we be in a position where we need to spend more money to make the person we just spent money on better......will this madness ever end. We have a graveyard of CB's?

 

[onemanarmy]

He's ok and the 80m spent on the bloke next to him was to help not hinder him. How can we be in a position where we need to spend more money to make the person we just spent money on better......will this madness ever end. We have a graveyard of CB's?

There are just very few good defenders around. And I'm not talking about 18-20 year old talents but 25-28 year old experienced high quality defenders.

Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea are struggling in defense. City have had about 10 CB's in last couple of years and are still struggling. Liverpool have VVD, but have problems finding his best partner imo. Also in Europe. When Ramos was unavailable for Real, it showed massively and he's will be 35 next year. Barcelona have a 33 year old Pique and Lenglet, the drop in quality is big if you consider a prime Pique with Puyol couple of years ago.

All in all, I think there is a lack of quality CB's, which is why decent CB's cost as much as they do.

 

[Litch]

There are just very few good defenders around. And I'm not talking about 18-20 year old talents but 25-28 year old experienced high quality defenders.

Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea are struggling in defense. City have had about 10 CB's in last couple of years and are still struggling. Liverpool have VVD, but have problems finding his best partner imo. Also in Europe. When Ramos was unavailable for Real, it showed massively and he's will be 35 next year. Barcelona have a 33 year old Pique and Lenglet, the drop in quality is big if you consider a prime Pique with Puyol couple of years ago.

All in all, I think there is a lack of quality CB's, which is why decent CB's cost as much as they do.

To be honest, we are pretty much talking about the same top players in most of the other positions too. The top draw should be small by default and its nature. Our problem is Im not sure Harry belongs in that top draw as if he did, who is next to him would be as much an issue.

 

[EwanI Ted]

He's ok and the 80m spent on the bloke next to him was to help not hinder him. How can we be in a position where we need to spend more money to make the person we just spent money on better......will this madness ever end. We have a graveyard of CB's?

Ole clearly doesn't think that any of the CBs he inherited are any good enough, and I tend to agree. What else is there to do but buy new ones? He shouldn't be forced to play substandard players just because the previous manager wanted them.

 

[Foxbatt]

Ole clearly doesn't think that any of the CBs he inherited are any good enough, and I tend to agree. What else is there to do but buy new ones? He shouldn't be forced to play substandard players just because the previous manager wanted them.

The man he bought is not much better than the ones he inherited. That is the problem.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

The man he bought is not much better than the ones he inherited. That is the problem.

The man is the minimum standard you want to compete. Anything below Maguire level is just top 4 challenger or lower.

 

[A-man]

The man is the minimum standard you want to compete. Anything below Maguire level is just top 4 challenger or lower.

How could today’s defence not even be challenging for better than top 4 when they just finished third?

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

How could today’s defence not even be challenging for better than top 4 when they just finished third?

Because with the current defense, we were only challenging top 4 in 19/20.

 

[Strelok]

There are just very few good defenders around. And I'm not talking about 18-20 year old talents but 25-28 year old experienced high quality defenders.

Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea are struggling in defense. City have had about 10 CB's in last couple of years and are still struggling. Liverpool have VVD, but have problems finding his best partner imo. Also in Europe. When Ramos was unavailable for Real, it showed massively and he's will be 35 next year. Barcelona have a 33 year old Pique and Lenglet, the drop in quality is big if you consider a prime Pique with Puyol couple of years ago.

All in all, I think there is a lack of quality CB's, which is why decent CB's cost as much as they do.

Imo the current trend of building from the back along with high pressing is what to blame.

Nowadays a CB apart from their usual defending set skills must play like a midfielder in possession. They must be able to retain possession under pressure and know how to pick a pass. A Vidic in defense and a Scholes in possession. And coaches generally favour the Scholes part over the Vidic part. That's the problem imo.

No wonder it's really hard to find a good CB these days. It's just too much.

 

[A-man]

Imo the current trend of building from the back along with high pressing is what to blame.

Nowadays a CB apart from their usual defending set skills must play like a midfielder in possession. They must be able to retain possession under pressure and know how to pick a pass. A Vidic in defense and a Scholes in possession. And coaches generally favour the Scholes part over the Vidic part. That's the problem imo.

No wonder it's really hard to find a good CB these days. It's just too much.

It’s a good comment. The role for the CB and the game have changed a lot and that’s why comparing old players with this of today is meaningless.

 

[romufc]

The man he bought is not much better than the ones he inherited. That is the problem.

What a load of crap. Maguire in the team elevates the team so much more than having the defenders he inherited. Just have a look at the stats between the two.

 

[yan man utd]

If you are building play from the back the CB has 2 simple responsibilities- 1 to win it as the last line of defence 2 if possible when clearing or distributing to keep it simple and give it to either the fullback or even better the midfielder.

we do not need a playmaker CB - first and foremost to be a brilliant defender, a simple pass and retention of the ball should be easy if the midfield and fullbacks are available

 

[Vidyoyo]

Never see him in the news do you. The boring bastard.