ReddBalls
Full Member
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2015
- Messages
- 992
Eh? We don't play a high line! We signed Maguire because Ole wants to play out from the back and not hoof. He wanted a CB who is good with the ball at his feet and can also be a good aerial presence. That's why Maguire (good with ball and good with his aerial presence at both ends). AWB was signed with the knowledge that he's very solid defensively and has the potential to be better at attack (very young and has previously played as a winger). Result is that we're much better at the back.
Working, though? Feel our defensive organization needs a lot more work!
This is something I don't get about Ole's critics. They slam him for all the wrong things. To me, the biggest issue has been our inability to improve in terms of defending set-pieces. We have arguably lost no aerial presence (Smalling <-> Maguire), have a better RB (AWB >>>> Valencia/Young) and LB (Shaw/Williams >>>> Young). But our zonal system is clearly flawed. We've spent the whole season being massively vulnerable from corners and FKs, conceded from them too and occasionally had VAR to thank - and yet, we don't seem to be able to fix it. It's astonishingly bad at times. VVD going up against Williams for example, for a complete joke the first time. To allow it to occur a second time was bordering on criminal negligence. And it wasn't the first or the last time we had such issues. Right now, a near-post corner coming down ahead of the last line (zone) of defence is guaranteed to create chaos in our ranks. If fans and every single commentator can see it, surely the manager and coaches should be fixing it?
Coming back to signings, I think Ole has a clear idea of the profile and attributes he wants in players - and combines it with personality. I can see why. If you listen to any of the United podcasts talking to the former players, all mention personality and how SAF vetted them and ensured the group had the right mentality, attitude etc. This is obviously important and I think it's correct. From Maguire (right attributes and personality) and AWB (ditto) to Bruno (absolutely needed and proving to be yet another good purchase, albeit one that should have been made last summer!), he's getting the squad into much better shape than it's been in for years.
The issue for me really isn't about who he signs but about whether he's going to be able to maximize their potential once we have all the players he wants / needs.
Only PSG has more clean sheets than United in the top 5 leagues this season.