‘Elite’ hipster CBs vs Maguire & Lindelöf

Godfather

Full Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2007
Messages
29,966
Location
Austria
Sammsky and esmufc are the king of jinxes with their stupid threads all the time. They aren't even funny
 

James Peril

New Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2016
Messages
3,576
Like with many of our players, we overrate them considerably after good games and when better players have done badly. Of course ridicule will come after bad performances like today, but there’s no room for that either. Truth is somewhere in between, they are good players but not great. Maguire was so expensive that we kind of have to stick with him, and I like his ability on defensive set-pieces... but we really need to get the «next» great, obvious, rapid defender. Someone who bosses Maguire around and sees the chess moves, like Rio, we all know Lindelof isn’t that player.

Not my job to find him, but a pairing of Maguire/Lindelof will not win a single trophy.
 

Gazza

Full Member
Joined
Jul 25, 2000
Messages
32,644
Location
'tis a silly place
It was poor defending, but we doesn’t lose because of them at all.

We should have been way ahead by then. Our much vaunted MMM who many posters salivate over have a lot to answer for. I blame them.
You do this kind of thing a lot by the way, mate! :)
 

Godfather

Full Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2007
Messages
29,966
Location
Austria
Yeah cos making this thread is the reason we lost. grow up.
I just don't see the point in these threads? Apart from being completely wrong and making you guys look a bit stupid (which you aren't as you are actually decent posters)
 
Joined
Jan 15, 2016
Messages
3,094
Location
Salford
We are desperate for a world class centre back. We have about six of them, but none are top notch. Clear a few out and sign a commanding player there. And Maguire is never a Manchester United captain.
 

croadyman

Full Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2018
Messages
34,796
We are desperate for a world class centre back. We have about six of them, but none are top notch. Clear a few out and sign a commanding player there. And Maguire is never a Manchester United captain.
Who do you think is available that summer which fits that commanding top notch criteria
 

amolbhatia50k

Sneaky bum time - Vaccination status: dozed off
Joined
Nov 8, 2002
Messages
95,790
Location
india
There's people who are desperate to want to believe that Lindelof is top class whereas he really isn't. He's fine as second choice CB but for a starter he just doesn't defend enough. I wouldn't say CB is as important as some other areas though. Our record isn't too shabby. But yeah, eventually we need an upgrade.
 

Red_toad

Full Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2010
Messages
11,616
Location
DownUnder
There's people who are desperate to want to believe that Lindelof is top class whereas he really isn't. He's fine as second choice CB but for a starter he just doesn't defend enough. I wouldn't say CB is as important as some other areas though. Our record isn't too shabby. But yeah, eventually we need an upgrade.
He's a good squad player, but if the club wants more he needs to be moved out of the team. At times he can step up and take responsibility, but those games are few and far between. He generally likes to stand off and not deal with developing situations.

I really had high hope for Tuanzebe to step up this season, but he's proved to be made of glass thus far. Transfer window is going to be difficult for Ole as we still look 4/5 players away from a really good team and I'd very much we have the funds nor ability to address all areas.
 

amolbhatia50k

Sneaky bum time - Vaccination status: dozed off
Joined
Nov 8, 2002
Messages
95,790
Location
india
He's a good squad player, but if the club wants more he needs to be moved out of the team. At times he can step up and take responsibility, but those games are few and far between. He generally likes to stand off and not deal with developing situations.

I really had high hope for Tuanzebe to step up this season, but he's proved to be made of glass thus far. Transfer window is going to be difficult for Ole as we still look 4/5 players away from a really good team and I'd very much we have the funds nor ability to address all areas.
No point in expecting us to address all ar as. Neither us not Chelsea will make such a huge jump next season. We have to improve well what we do opt to improve now. Rest will be done in future windows.
 

Son

Full Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2019
Messages
1,727
How is Varane a hipster CB? Guy has won multiple champions leagues and dominated a World Cup Final.

It’s like saying Maldini was a hipster left back because he had the hair.

Maguire I really like as a player, not so much Lindelof but because Varane had a shocker against City doesn’t change his elite level in pretty much most other games ever.
 

Ekeke

Full Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2006
Messages
53,304
Location
Hope, We Lose
Then how come Maguire was better than VVD statistically this year???
Answer is he wasnt



This is the 2nd year in a row where VVD has been rated highest by whoscored's formula. He was 3rd the season before, 2nd the season before that while at Southampton and 1st the season before that also at Southampton. So in every season in English football VVD has been in the top 3 highest rated CBs statistically
 

Charles Miller

Full Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2017
Messages
3,046
Answer is he wasnt



This is the 2nd year in a row where VVD has been rated highest by whoscored's formula. He was 3rd the season before, 2nd the season before that while at Southampton and 1st the season before that also at Southampton. So in every season in English football VVD has been in the top 3 highest rated CBs statistically
Mustafi is the 6th best by that model.
 

Charles Miller

Full Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2017
Messages
3,046
I
In terms of workrate/productive defensive actions yes. I never said frequency of mistakes werent also extremely important. He's very error prone which ruins his high defensive actions, same with Jones.
I think VVD is the best for sure. I just dont trust stats 100% for a reason: you need to watch thr players regularly to be sure when and against who they are performing. Because some players will produce excellent stats in moments when games are already decided or against weak opposition. This is easy to see when is a striker who never scores against top sides, but its hard when is a cb.
 

PeteManic

Full Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2012
Messages
2,152
Its seems to me that United need two hipster CBs. But I do think that Maguire is still playing injured.
 

E-mal

Full Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2017
Messages
3,746
Our world class pairing produced another blinder today. That's two semi finals with awful defending this season. Embarrassing against Chelsea and today also.

All well and good having a go at better players in the CL, when ours can't show up in the EL.

Joke of a thread.
:lol: :lol:
 

E-mal

Full Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2017
Messages
3,746
It was poor defending, but we doesn’t lose because of them at all.

We should have been way ahead by then. Our much vaunted MMM who many posters salivate over have a lot to answer for. I blame them.
These defenders, all of them currently at the club are not good enough and all have one major deficiency.
In the truest sense of it, they are the hipsters.
 

E-mal

Full Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2017
Messages
3,746
It was poor defending, but we doesn’t lose because of them at all.

We should have been way ahead by then. Our much vaunted MMM who many posters salivate over have a lot to answer for. I blame them.
These defenders, all of them currently at the club are not good enough and all have one major deficiency.
In the truest sense of it, they are the hipsters.
 

Ekeke

Full Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2006
Messages
53,304
Location
Hope, We Lose
I

I think VVD is the best for sure. I just dont trust stats 100% for a reason: you need to watch thr players regularly to be sure when and against who they are performing. Because some players will produce excellent stats in moments when games are already decided or against weak opposition. This is easy to see when is a striker who never scores against top sides, but its hard when is a cb.
You obviously need both, unless theres a stat for everything. For example whoscored doesnt have "mistakes" so like I said above, it only really tells you about how many defensive actions and the workrate of the players. But if they had a stat that was "How many defensive mistakes that led to shots on goal" and they had a definition that you agreed with, then it would cover most things. Volume of actions - mistakes leading to chances, because the more willing you are to be tested defensively the more likely you are to make a mistake. So the best would be someone who is a highly active defender who makes few mistakes. VVD would be this type of player because he does a lot in the air and clearing the ball, while also not messing up very often. Then theres players like Lindelof who do a very low amount and then still make mistakes. And sure, not as many as some players like Jones or Mustafi but once again, the more you engage the more likely you are to get it wrong at some point. But someone has to do it. You can't leave it to everyone else, otherwise they'll just make the mistake you would have made and as a CB you really should be better at defending than those from other positions around you. The 2nd goal is a perfect example, Lindelof leaving his job to someone else because he doesnt seem to actually enjoy defending
 

pratyush_utd

Can't tell DeGea and Onana apart.
Joined
Aug 30, 2017
Messages
8,431
So it turned out hipsters were better than what we have. And not only at CB but at FB also.
 
Joined
Jan 15, 2016
Messages
3,094
Location
Salford
Who do you think is available that summer which fits that commanding top notch criteria
Not being sarcastic, but I assume that's why we have a scouting department. Our defence didn't have a great deal to do last night, but we looked vulnerable every time Sevilla went forward. The defending for the second goal was dreadful; no wonder Bruno went mad at them. A Lindelof/Maguire partnership won't win us trophies. I'm still shocked we paid 80 million for Maguire, but that's in the past. There has to be someone playing in Europe's leagues who is an upgrade on what we currently have.
 
Last edited:

croadyman

Full Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2018
Messages
34,796
Not being sarcastic, but I assume that's why we have a scouting department. Our defence didn't have a great deal to do last night, but we looked vulnerable every time Sevilla went forward. The defending for the second goal was dreadful; no wonder Bruno went mad at them. A Lindelof/Maguire partnership won't win us trophies. I'm still shocked we paid 80 million for Maguire, but that's in the past. There has to be someone playing in Europe's leagues who is an upgrade on what we currently have.
Well seeing as we are very likely to get priced out for Upamecano due to new contract then think we should get Badiashile
 

glazed

Eats diamonds to beat thermodynamics
Joined
Sep 30, 2012
Messages
7,707
Then how come Maguire was better than VVD statistically this year???
He isn't. But if he was it would just show the statistics were wrong. Anyone with eyes can see that VVD is world class and Maguire is just pretty good.
 

SadlerMUFC

Thinks for himself
Joined
Dec 7, 2017
Messages
5,757
Location
Niagara Falls, Canada
Answer is he wasnt



This is the 2nd year in a row where VVD has been rated highest by whoscored's formula. He was 3rd the season before, 2nd the season before that while at Southampton and 1st the season before that also at Southampton. So in every season in English football VVD has been in the top 3 highest rated CBs statistically
He isn't. But if he was it would just show the statistics were wrong. Anyone with eyes can see that VVD is world class and Maguire is just pretty good.
------------------Tckl----Blk---Int--Clr---HdClr----Rec---DW---DL---50/50---ABW---ABL
Maguire-------37------6-----72---157---94-------237--240--128---8---------176-----71
Virgil VD-----23------5------40--162----83------220----239--81----3---------191------60
Lindeloff----29------1------26---122---58------215----135--78----4----------96-------50

Legend: Tckl=Tackles, Blk=Blocks, Int=Interceptions, Clr=Clearances, HdClr=Headed Clearances, Rec=Recoveries, DW=Duals Won, DL=Duals Lost, ABW=Arial Battles Won, ABL=Arial Battles Lost

https://www.premierleague.com/players/9566/Harry-Maguire/stats?co=1&se=274
https://www.premierleague.com/players/5140/Virgil-van-Dijk/stats?co=1&se=274
https://www.premierleague.com/players/5066/Victor-Lindelöf/stats?co=1&se=274

The only stat where VVD is ahead of Maguire is clearances and arial battles won. And for those who say there isn't much between Maguire and Lindeloff, this tells an entirely different picture...
 

romufc

Full Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2019
Messages
12,559
He isn't. But if he was it would just show the statistics were wrong. Anyone with eyes can see that VVD is world class and Maguire is just pretty good.
The problem with comparing defensive stats is that they do not give you the right answer. VVD is clearly miles ahead of any defender but also, he is the best protected CB in Europe too.

They have a shield of Fabinho, Hendo and Gini which really helps them defensively.

Stats wise, Maguire has had a fantastic season, almost on par with VVD stat wise.

MaguireVVD
Tackle won %62.252.2
Clearances157162
Blocks2215
Interceptions7240
Duels won240239
Duel won %6574
Ariel duels %71.376.1
Recoveries237220
 

glazed

Eats diamonds to beat thermodynamics
Joined
Sep 30, 2012
Messages
7,707
The only stat where VVD is ahead of Maguire is clearances and arial battles won. And for those who say there isn't much between Maguire and Lindeloff, this tells an entirely different picture...
Who cares about stats? They are a useful data point but misleading without context.

Look at the broad narratives. Anyone can see that Maguire turns and recovers like an oil tanker trapped in the English Channel, but is great apart from that. Lindeloff often gets caught out of position and also could be quicker but is great apart from that. VVD plays in a much better team so he has better protection but he appears to be the perfect CB in that context. He was also really good at Southampton (though not as good as he appears now.)

He is also European Footballer of the Year, an award ceremony that Harry and Viktor won't be troubling for a while yet.
 

Darlington Padgett

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Sep 9, 2017
Messages
1,223
Lindelof getting all the hate when Maguire is just as bad or worse... Maguire watching every cross go past him last night was just as infuriating as Lindelof. And stop it with the Maguire stats, that doesn't show how anyone faster than Mata beats him.