Now that we signed Varane do we have the best defense in the EPL?

SAFMUTD

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Not going to lie, with Varane's signing I'm truly excited about our defense, I was talking with some friends and we were discussing if now we have the best defense in the league.

Of course the obvious candidates are City, Liverpool, Chelsea and us. Going name by name I think besides the keeper we are not behind in any department. Shaw is top of the league, Maguire and Varane are up there at top with anyone behind maybe VVD who we don't know how is going to come back after that injury and Dias.

Attacking wise I think Liverpool's defense is still the most exciting but defending wise I don't think I would swap for any other team not just in the premier league but in the world.

What are your thoughts?
 

Mr.Ridiculous__

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Varane is the guy who stopped prime Messi in his tracks when he was a teenager. He's absolute peak is a monster. Let's see how it translates on the pitch now.
 

charlenefan

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I said this in another thread but do we really think Varane is going to make that big a difference/was Lindelof really stinking up the place that much?

Varane will absolutely no doubt improve things that much is a given but to go from where we were last season to being the best based on one signing? I dunno not something you'll see me typing

There's also more to defending that just names on the pitch, the coaches have got to do their job as well
 

IrishRedDevil

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We don’t have the best anything until a season is played and the stats are checked against all other teams.
 

SAFMUTD

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I said this in another thread but do we really think Varane is going to make that big a difference/was Lindelof really stinking up the place that much?

Varane will absolutely no doubt improve things that much is a given but to go from where we were last season to being the best based on one signing? I dunno not something you'll see me typing

There's also more to defending that just names on the pitch, the coaches have got to do their job as well
There are not many players that could had a bigger impact than Varane, I think it could be a Virgil kind of impact. Combined with the newly appointed coach who will strenght set pieces I think we should see an instant improvement.
 

Dante

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We let in a shit ton of goal at set pieces and a shit ton of goals off the back of AWB being out of position. Only the first has been fixed.
 

charlenefan

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There are not many players that could had a bigger impact than Varane, I think it could be a Virgil kind of impact. Combined with the newly appointed coach who will strenght set pieces I think we should see an instant improvement.
Maybe it's the years of playing with Ramos that makes me think this but I don't see Varane having that kind of impact simply because I don't see him as that dominating CB like VVD. I think what he will do though is being as good as he is he'll bring Maguire's game onto another level. As a pair they really should be great together and Varane really should be Maguire's perfect partner
 

charlenefan

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We let in a shit ton of goal at set pieces and a shit ton of goals off the back of AWB being out of position. Only the first has been fixed.
I said this in another thread as well but hopefully Varane will have the same impact on AWB that Maguire has had on Shaw. Varane should be able to help AWB with his positioning something he obviously wasn't going to get with Lindelof
 

SAFMUTD

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Maybe it's the years of playing with Ramos that makes me think this but I don't see Varane having that kind of impact simply because I don't see him as that dominating CB like VVD. I think what he will do though is being as good as he is he'll bring Maguire's game onto another level. As a pair they really should be great together and Varane really should be Maguire's perfect partner
On the contrary I see Varane as a really dominant CB, he's tall, fast and strong a quite rare combination for any player but specially a CB. His aerial stats are insane.
 

RedDevilRoshi

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Us:

AWB-Varane-Maguire-Shaw

City:

Walker-Dias-Stones-Cancelo

Chelsea:

James-Azpilicueta-Silva-Rudiger-Chilwell

Liverpool:

TAA-Konate-VVD-Robertson
 

DWelbz19

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Defences don’t work in vacuums and on paper like that. We clearly have great personnel there now but the back four has to cohesively work as a unit and the coaching needs to be there from a set piece perspective etc.
 

K Stand Knut

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FFS!!

can we let the ink dry and get him settled in the country before we start making bold statements like this???!?

Fan hysteria is unbelievable sometimes
 

Okey

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On the pitch is where it matters. Let's wait for that. Welcome Varane. Please hit the ground sprinting and never look back!
 

charlenefan

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Us:

AWB-Varane-Maguire-Shaw

City:

Walker-Dias-Stones-Cancelo

Chelsea:

James-Azpilicueta-Silva-Rudiger-Chilwell

Liverpool:

TAA-Konate-VVD-Robertson
Chelsea should be the best they have 5 in there :smirk:
 

VanDeBank

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No, because of DDG's decline.

Maybe if AWB fixes those lapses in concentration that see him cancelling offside or go sleep on the back post.

City have the best defense I think. They also have the squad depth to deal with injuries.

Ours is better than Liverpool's though, but their fullbacks and VVD offer so much going forward, it has to be mentioned.

Chelsea 4th, not impressed by others.
 

SirAnderson

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We don’t have the best anything until a season is played and the stats are checked against all other teams.
This this this. Can see how the cafe will turn on him the moment he has 1 bad performance. The Vidic-Rio partnership comparisons are just going to lead to a lot of disappointment for some.
This is Maguire and Varane, let them have time to show us what kind of partnership we will be in store for.
 

Borys

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On par with City. But they have fairly superior system which makes it easier to defend.
And I'm very pessimistic about our goalkeepers.

We should concede less goals this season with Varane though, very good signing.
 

Big Ben Foster

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The best defense or the best back line? Because those are two entirely different things.
 

Revan

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It is hard to say.

A lot depends on how well Varane settles. He might become the best CB in the world, or might not settle that well.

Then we have Maguire and Shaw. They were both world-class in Euros, and very good at the end of last season. Shaw in general was very good for the entire season. However, last summer many were expecting Telles (who is just decent) to bench Shaw, who has been very inconsistent for us. Maguire's credit increased after the end of last season and the Euros, but he was a walking disaster and did all kinds of mistakes (including getting nutmegged 5 yards away from the goal, the only time I have seen a professional footballer) at the beginning of last season. While he is generally consistent, he had just an average first year, a terrible couple of months at the beginning of last season, before he became awesome and probably the second-best CB in the league after Dias.

Finally, we have AWB. At times, he looks like a wall. At other times, he doesn't bother to run and chase the opposition player. His positioning leaves a lot to be desired, and his aerial ability makes Lindelof look like Ayala in comparison. And in the ever-increasing importance of footballers being able to attack, he typically struggles to do so.

So, I guess we will see when they start playing together. I think that three of them have the potential to be the best in the league in their position. I have my reservation about AWB though. We also don't know about the keeper yet. De Gea is probably past it, and I find Henderson extremely average.

Right now, I would take City's defense ahead of ours. If Van Dijk returns to his best (a big if) and TAA finds his form, I would take Liverpool's defense ahead of ours too. But if Varane plays as he did mostly for Madrid and France when they were winning trophies, if Maguire and Shaw continue where they left in Euros, if AWB improves, if De Gea goes back close to his past form, then yes, undoubtedly so.
 

Siorac

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It's good on paper and none of the others are particularly special - this is not an era of great defences.

We'll see how it actually performs on the pitch. On paper, Alexis Sánchez should have been the missing piece of our attack.
 

Siorac

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and his aerial ability makes Lindelof look like Ayala in comparison
What an unexpected, quite hipsterish comparison. Hats off to you: a lesser soul might have used Vidic or Terry and then retreated into their own unimaginative shell but not you.

Oh, I remember the days when he was strongly touted to be our Stam replacement. Would have been great, too.
 

Revan

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What an unexpected, quite hipsterish comparison. Hats off to you: a lesser soul might have used Vidic or Terry and then retreated into their own unimaginative shell but not you.

Oh, I remember the days when he was strongly touted to be our Stam replacement. Would have been great, too.
:lol:

Ayala as Heinze as CBs :drool:
 

432JuanMata

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Is it feck, we have the best defensive RB in the league. Plus he’s young and will mature like a fine wine.
I’m sorry but no we don’t. He can improve and hasn’t been that bad at all if anything I’d say he was good last season but you’re falling for the great 1 on 1 and amazing slide tackles yet forgetting his positioning especially with the other back 4 is a weakness.
Though it’s not a insult, based on Maguire/Shaw last season and Varane being the weakest link doesn’t make you a bad player
 

DSG

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We were fifth in GA last season with 44, City first with 32, Chelsea 2nd with 36.

‘Will the inclusion of Varane mean a 10-12 GA improvement? I don’t think so. If we can get a classic DM in the Casemiro mold, maybe.

Going forward and contributing to attack, I rate Liverpool the best, with maybe us and Chelsea second. Maguire, Shaw and Varane are all good passers and can carry the ball forward. For all the shite AWB gets here for attacking play, he had 2 goals and 4 assists. City’s fullbacks generally recycle possession, so they are the least impactful.

I think we are maybe 2nd best? Chelsea play 3 at the back, so….
 

Robertd0803

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Wan-Bissaka still concerns me. That and Maguire and De Gea barely look like they know each other at times would be a concern. Much more confident with Henderson behind the defence.

Im still struggling to believe we have signed Varane to be honest, incredible signing.
 

RopersReturn

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This is great news, I’m really optimistic and excited seeing the addition of Sancho and Varane to the squad.
 

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Wan-Bissaka still concerns me. That and Maguire and De Gea barely look like they know each other at times would be a concern. Much more confident with Henderson behind the defence.

Im still struggling to believe we have signed Varane to be honest, incredible signing.
Relax, De Gea will likely be gone by Christmas.
 

sullydnl

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Best defence and best defenders are slightly different things. I would generally expect City to have the best defence, simply because of the way they play, from front to back. Similarly Chelsea looked good statistically because of the way they were set-up and coached too (despite not exactly being perfect in terms of personnel) and I wouldn't be surprised if that continues.

In terms of individual defenders, Varane improves us a lot no doubt. But not so much that I'd definitively say we're the best. I mean would I be shocked if TAA/Konate/VVD/Robertson outperform AWB/Varane/Maguire/Shaw this season? Not particularly.

Our defence should be good enough to challenge for the title though, which is what matters. Having the best attack tends to be more important in terms of actually winning the league.
 

JG3001

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Still got problems at the centre of the pitch. Matic, Fred and Mctominay aren’t going to give that defence the cover it will need to sustain a title challenge.
 

432JuanMata

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Wan-Bissaka still concerns me. That and Maguire and De Gea barely look like they know each other at times would be a concern. Much more confident with Henderson behind the defence.

Im still struggling to believe we have signed Varane to be honest, incredible signing.
Found it incredible that he was looking up how many goals we concede from set plays in a way to improve us even before joining. That is the mentality we need.
Also the problem for us is DeGea is still a miles better shot stopper while Heno is better and commanding his area. Wish we could mix both
 

Plant0x84

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I’m sorry but no we don’t. He can improve and hasn’t been that bad at all if anything I’d say he was good last season but you’re falling for the great 1 on 1 and amazing slide tackles yet forgetting his positioning especially with the other back 4 is a weakness.
Though it’s not a insult, based on Maguire/Shaw last season and Varane being the weakest link doesn’t make you a bad player
I think it’s unfair to single out AWB for poor positioning when Luke Harry and Victor are all culpable for goals conceded from being out of position as well. I really don’t think RB is a massive weak spot which is what was claimed.
 

Dirty Schwein

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FFS!!

can we let the ink dry and get him settled in the country before we start making bold statements like this???!?

Fan hysteria is unbelievable sometimes
Yeah the OP is crazy asking stupid questions like that when we all know that we now have the best defence in the league!!!