[Classical Mechanic]

Tricky situation for United and Axel. If Bailly leaves then we really need him to stay but he really needs to be playing regular football at this point.

 

[Brightonian]

If we do bring in a new CB in the summer, I think we should look to secure him a Lingard-esque loan spell in the PL. We've seen evidence that he could be very very good (PSG, for example), and excluding possibly the Istanbul game I don't think he's ever put in a bad performance for us. But it'll be impossible to tell if he's starter material until we see him starting consistently and he's not going to get that here. Worth the risk of a loan spell if we're canny about it and look for a manager we trust and a club with a genuine weakness in the position.

 

[Grande]

Yes he did well. Some have claimed he plays better together with Lindelof, and maybe he does.

However doubt there will be any chances for him to build on this at the rest of this season. Starting one more game or a few subs maybe, but not starting consecutive games. I think Maguire is one yellow away from suspension in the PL and Lindelof one away in the EL.

There really isn’t much to go by. But he’s been brilliant once with Lindelöf in a three and very solid once with Lindelöf in a two, while he has looked confused twice with Maguire in a two. Might well be coincidental.

 

[red woppit]

Was much better than Lindelof in the first 20 minutes or so, but then they both performed well. I was waiting for a couple of moments where he switched off, as he has in several matches, but he didn't, his concentration was 100%.
He seems to be, on the face of it, the ideal partner for Maguire, quick, good passer of the ball (can't remember one of his passes going astray last night), but whether he'll get the opportunity, I'm not sure.
I've always thought Bailly was our best defender, but I have to admit that his injury record is dismal, and as much as I regret it, I think it's time for him to move on. Although Lindelof has been reasonably solid recently, alongside Maguire, he still doesn't fill me with confidence when he plays. The Spurs goal at the weekend, and his couple of poor clearances last night make me feel unsure about him, so I would like to see Tuanzebe get a few games alongside Maguire, starting on Sunday against a very physical Burnley. You know the ball is going into the box in the air a lot, and I think Tuanzebe is better equipped to deal with that aerial threat than Lindelof, but I don't expect it.

 

[A-man]

There really isn’t much to go by. But he’s been brilliant once with Lindelöf in a three and very solid once with Lindelöf in a two, while he has looked confused twice with Maguire in a two. Might well be coincidental.

No there is not much to go by. This was a relatively stress free evening. Even if all defenders had to work quite a lot, it was never any real danger. They got a lot of opportunities because our midfield lost the ball a lot, but then they took forever to attack so we were always very organised. They also subbed off two of their best attacking players.

 

[Rozay]

Was his best performance since Paris. He wasn’t that busy, but did what he did well enough.

 

[theklr]

Think many see him negativly because of the times he has been thrown in as a sub in the 90th minute in a weird formation while we frantically are trying to defend a lead.

Not the easiest of tasks at all .

But he needs a run of games , and he wont get it from Ole.

 

[Bertie Wooster]

Yes he did well. Some have claimed he plays better together with Lindelof, and maybe he does.

However doubt there will be any chances for him to build on this at the rest of this season. Starting one more game or a few subs maybe, but not starting consecutive games. I think Maguire is one yellow away from suspension in the PL and Lindelof one away in the EL.

As regards those bookings: I think the EL ones are now reset for the S/F, so that one booking away doesn't apply anymore. And the PL suspensions go from 10 to 15 after the Burnley game, so as long as Maguire doesn't get booked on Sunday and remains on 9 he's then 6 bookings away from a suspension.

 

[Hughes35]

I think he's decent but it's hard to tell how decent from the sample size. A loan would be great for him.

Should be a tonne of takers in the PL.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

I don't think it's safe to settle with 3 CB only next season. Especially knowing Tuanzebe has bad injury record even though he hasn't hit much injuries this season. I'm speaking this because of what happened to Liverpool. Tricky situation how to deal with this.

 

[SwedishFish]

Was much better than Lindelof in the first 20 minutes or so, but then they both performed well. I was waiting for a couple of moments where he switched off, as he has in several matches, but he didn't, his concentration was 100%.
He seems to be, on the face of it, the ideal partner for Maguire, quick, good passer of the ball (can't remember one of his passes going astray last night), but whether he'll get the opportunity, I'm not sure.
I've always thought Bailly was our best defender, but I have to admit that his injury record is dismal, and as much as I regret it, I think it's time for him to move on. Although Lindelof has been reasonably solid recently, alongside Maguire, he still doesn't fill me with confidence when he plays. The Spurs goal at the weekend, and his couple of poor clearances last night make me feel unsure about him, so I would like to see Tuanzebe get a few games alongside Maguire, starting on Sunday against a very physical Burnley. You know the ball is going into the box in the air a lot, and I think Tuanzebe is better equipped to deal with that aerial threat than Lindelof, but I don't expect it.

He had a good game yesterday, but to suggest that we'd change our CB partnership when we've been defensively solid in the PL during the business end of the season is not gonna happen.

 

[red woppit]

He had a good game yesterday, but to suggest that we'd change our CB partnership when we've been defensively solid in the PL during the business end of the season is not gonna happen.

I know it won't happen, but I still have doubts about Lindelof, and still reservations about Maguire.
Against teams like Burnley, we will be under physical pressure every time they get the ball, that's why I would prefer Tuanzebe to Lindelof.

 

[Bertie Wooster]

I think he's decent but it's hard to tell how decent from the sample size. A loan would be great for him.

Should be a tonne of takers in the PL.

I guess a lot depends on whether Tuanzebe is happy to be a squad player here for a while with the hope that, through performances when selected, he can establish himself in the team.

If so, then I'm happy for us to produce a few initial squad players / utility players through the academy. Not all of them have to immediately become a key player like Rashford or loaned out until first teamers here.

However, if Tuanzebe wants more guarantees about regular games then maybe he'll have to be loaned out next year - but that creates an issue about numbers (we'd be down to 3, one injury prone and with reported contract issues) and maybe having to bring in at least one more which creates another issue after Tuanzebe's loan.

Personally, if Tuanzebe is happy enough with the role at a big club, then I'm happy with him staying as 3rd or 4th choice defender - he might end up with more games than planned next year depending on injuries to the others (Maguire and Lindelof have mostly been available for us this season, which has lessened opportunities for others - but next year we might have injuries there, not in attack like this year?)

 

[Hughes35]

I guess a lot depends on whether Tuanzebe is happy to be a squad player here for a while with the hope that, through performances when selected, he can establish himself in the team.

If so, then I'm happy for us to produce a few initial squad players / utility players through the academy. Not all of them have to immediately become a key player like Rashford or loaned out until first teamers here.

However, if Tuanzebe wants more guarantees about regular games then maybe he'll have to be loaned out next year - but that creates an issue about numbers (we'd be down to 3, one injury prone and with reported contract issues) and maybe having to bring in at least one more which creates another issue after Tuanzebe's loan.

Personally, if Tuanzebe is happy enough with the role at a big club, then I'm happy with him staying as 3rd or 4th choice defender - he might end up with more games than planned next year depending on injuries to the others (Maguire and Lindelof have mostly been available for us this season, which has lessened opportunities for others - but next year we might have injuries there, not in attack like this year?)

True. I guess it also depends if we sign another CB and if Bailly stays. If both of those things happen, then Axel should definitely go out on loan.

Iv'e no issue with him staying...... if he will get a decent amount of matches.

 

[Ali Dia]

Now is not the time to go switching around again. Lindelof and Maguire are almost like new signings with Henderson behind them

 

[Freak]

I don’t trust axel to stay fit.

 

[TwoSheds]

I don’t trust axel to stay fit.

Well the good thing is he's shown he can have a relatively injury free year at least, although you would assume that is easier when you're not really playing much. Not been a fantastic season for him overall but certainly some positives in it for both him and us.

 

[DomM]

Thought he did well last night, seems to have a very good turn of pace when required,needs to play a bit more often as it's difficult to judge based on so few appearances.

 

[Poborsky's hair]

Would only be good if Mengi could do Axel but without injuries but having a slow start now. For Axel it owuld be good to play, he´s still developing and needs to iron out mistakes. We certainly learned the hard way with Lindelof and will probably never stop as he´s mistake prone but Axel needs to stay fit at least to be trusted otherwise it´s nother Bailly situation. Would love if we bought a defnitive start next to Maguire demote Lindelof to third/fourth CB so we could send Tuanzebe on loan to prove his fitness and skill in the Prem.

 

[Foxbatt]

Since he became Townzeybee he has become a decent player.

 

[A-man]

True. I guess it also depends if we sign another CB and if Bailly stays. If both of those things happen, then Axel should definitely go out on loan.

Iv'e no issue with him staying...... if he will get a decent amount of matches.

The problem with him as third or fourth choice is that he has played so little in his career that he doesn’t have much experience. Better to go on a loan. I’ve also got the impression that Ole doesn’t fully trust him.

 

[DWelbz19]

If we do bring in a new CB in the summer, I think we should look to secure him a Lingard-esque loan spell in the PL. We've seen evidence that he could be very very good (PSG, for example), and excluding possibly the Istanbul game I don't think he's ever put in a bad performance for us. But it'll be impossible to tell if he's starter material until we see him starting consistently and he's not going to get that here. Worth the risk of a loan spell if we're canny about it and look for a manager we trust and a club with a genuine weakness in the position.

Agree that he needs a loan - there’s no point him sitting around playing 600 minutes a season. Inflate his value whilst he still has some.

That being said, if Bailly goes - we’re left with Maguire, Lindelof, [New CB], Tuanzebe, and Jones. We’ll end up keeping him around as fourth choice, I reckon.

 

[Red_toad]

The problem with him as third or fourth choice is that he has played so little in his career that he doesn’t have much experience. Better to go on a loan. I’ve also got the impression that Ole doesn’t fully trust him.

Was it when he threw him into the team in a massive European fixture, against the best forward line we’ve faced all season and Axel played exceptionally the point when you figured that out?

 

[Grande]

Was it when he threw him into the team in a massive European fixture, against the best forward line we’ve faced all season and Axel played exceptionally the point when you figured that out?

Do you think it is stupid and ridiculous to have an idea that Ole doesn’t fully trust him? What would you say was the reason he hasn’t been playing more at a point where he needs experience to develop?

 

[Mickeza]

Do you think it is stupid and ridiculous to have an idea that Ole doesn’t fully trust him? What would you say was the reason he hasn’t been playing more at a point where he needs experience to develop?

He probably lost some trust towards him after the significant role he had in some of the worst defending I’ve ever seen at this level in Turkey which ultimately cost us our CL place.

 

[arthurka]

He probably lost some trust towards him after the significant role he had in some of the worst defending I’ve ever seen at this level in Turkey which ultimately cost us our CL place.

That is just naive really. We had plenty of chances to secure that spot after that. But showing up for the first 30 min in Germany might have had a thing or two to do with it as well..

 

[Mickeza]

That is just naive really. We had plenty of chances to secure that spot after that. But showing up for the first 30 min in Germany might have had a thing or two to do with it as well..

That’s a game we win 9/10 times. Winning against Leipzig in Germany is a difficult game. As is PSG. Of course the game in Turkey was the major factor - it’s a game we should never be losing. Nobody else dropped points against them.

 

[arthurka]

That’s a game we win 9/10 times. Winning against Leipzig in Germany is a difficult game. As is PSG. Of course the game in Turkey was the major factor - it’s a game we should never be losing. Nobody else dropped points against them.

Agree but we had plenty of chances to secure that spot. The showing in Germany was even worse than in Turkey. Absolutely the worst 30 min under Ole in my opinion.

 

[A-man]

Was it when he threw him into the team in a massive European fixture, against the best forward line we’ve faced all season and Axel played exceptionally the point when you figured that out?

It is a mix of common sense and observations.
He has started 2 PL matches as CB in his career. The only season he played a decent amount of matches was when he played about half of the matches for Villa in the Championship. For his age he is extremely inexperienced.

He was good against PSG, but as I have written before, it was a straight forward and easy to understand task in a well organised 8 men defence. The problems have come when he has needed to take on a bigger role, bigger responsibility and more decisions to be made. Istanbul away, very poor and that ended up with us out of the CL.
His minutes in the PL have not been good imo. All this makes me conclude he needs more minutes. As a back up he will not get that. And a back up who doesn’t get many mi utes can be ok, if he has experience.

And about Ole’s trust. Who would he play if not Tuanzebe? When Bailly has been not a single and Lindelof needs a rest, he rather pushes Lindelof to play through injury than play Axel.

 

[Kag]

I’m pleased he played well on Thursday. I think he has all the tools to be a really good defender but just hasn’t quite had the chance to piece it all together yet. It’s hard to come in every few months at a club like United and perform, especially as a defender.

A full season at a Premier League club (injury free) would do him the world of good. The issue is that Bailly might be off and we don’t really have the cover.

 

[yumtum]

We should have sold him after his Villa loan with a buyback clause, would have been better for him as a player.

 

[A-man]

I’m pleased he played well on Thursday. I think he has all the tools to be a really good defender but just hasn’t quite had the chance to piece it all together yet. It’s hard to come in every few months at a club like United and perform, especially as a defender.

A full season at a Premier League club (injury free) would do him the world of good. The issue is that Bailly might be off and we don’t really have the cover.

This is what I think as well. He has the tools and know all the basics, and is properly schooled though his youth years. But he struggle when he need to make quick decisions and cover a large area. These are the things that can only come with matches and increased responsibility. The odds are very small that he’ll get that at United. To only chance is if there are a lot of injuries on the CBs ahead of him.

 

[A-man]

As regards those bookings: I think the EL ones are now reset for the S/F, so that one booking away doesn't apply anymore. And the PL suspensions go from 10 to 15 after the Burnley game, so as long as Maguire doesn't get booked on Sunday and remains on 9 he's then 6 bookings away from a suspension.

Thanks for clarifying! Didn’t know the EL cards were reset but that really good for us.
Regarding Maguire, he hasn’t been booked against Burnley before but it wouldn’t surprise me if it happened. Then he would miss Leeds and Liverpool.

 

[Red_toad]

Do you think it is stupid and ridiculous to have an idea that Ole doesn’t fully trust him? What would you say was the reason he hasn’t been playing more at a point where he needs experience to develop?

Injuries have been a major issue for him. Maybe Ole only sees him as an option of we play a certain way? I don’t know to be honest. But it’s pretty evident if Ole needs him, he throws him in there when required, we’d be playing Matic or Mctommy back there if he didn’t trust him, in my opinion.

 

[Cassidy]

Injuries have been a major issue for him. Maybe Ole only sees him as an option of we play a certain way? I don’t know to be honest. But it’s pretty evident if Ole needs him, he throws him in there when required, we’d be playing Matic or Mctommy back there if he didn’t trust him, in my opinion.

He doesnt trust him that much, that much is evident. Hence why he hardly features when fit (even when we had injuries issues and players who needed a rest).

 

[SAFMUTD]

He's already 23 and it's going to be 24 by November. So he's not really a youngster anymore, problem is we don't have reliable back up cb's.

With Bailly most likely leaving I think he'll stay and still won't get much game time, my prediction is we will sell him on summer 2022.

 

[Lee565]

Should have allowed him to stay on loan with villa as we stunting any potential he may have by being on the bench so often.

 

[lex talionis]

Easy call. Keep Tuanzebe on the squad — no loan or sale.

I really like Bailly but it’s time for him to move on. It’s an open for me whether we spend huge on a CB or bring up Mengi. I suppose they depends on whether we can trust Lindelof enough.

 

[A-man]

He doesnt trust him that much, that much is evident. Hence why he hardly features when fit (even when we had injuries issues and players who needed a rest).

There have been matches where he would have played if trusted. Bailly and Lindelof were taking turns playing when Lindelof had his worst back problems. Lindelof was never even on the bench when Bailly played. When Bailly had his car accident, Lindelof played instead of Bailly deapite he needed the recovery time. I also think he would have Leicester in the cup of trusted.

 

[red woppit]

He probably lost some trust towards him after the significant role he had in some of the worst defending I’ve ever seen at this level in Turkey which ultimately cost us our CL place.

What was this 'signicant role' that he had. If I remember rightly, he was up for a corner, as was Maguire, when for some reason we played it short, lost the ball, and Matic had left their striker on his own on the half way line, and he scored unapposed. Tuanzebe's fault?
The second goal was down to Mata miscontrolling a poor ball from Bruno, getting robbed, and then their player had a relatively free run to our goal. Tuanzebe had to come across to close down his space, which meant Maguire had to come across to pick up the striker, which left a 'midfield player' frre to score, not sure where Matic was on that one. So I wonder where this 'signicant role' you mention came from.