Centre-back pairings

[Bastian]

I think the "depth" is over-appreciated due to Lindelof's good form in the last third of last season. And when I say over-appreciated, I still know people think it's between poor and shit.

Varane and Shaw works as a pairing. As does Varane and Martinez. Varane and Lindelof is a level down. Lindelof and Shaw might be another level down from that.

Shaw and Martinez is too small and awkward with two left footers, Martinez and Lindelof is quite frail and lacks physicality. And Maguire and anyone else is calamitous.

In essence, without Varane we are a level down. And he's super injury prone. Out of ten possible pairings, two work, two are passable, six are nervy.

I hope we buy a centre back in January who can compete with Varane for his spot.

 

[norm87cro]

Firstv of all anybody that is under 6.1 feet (183 cm) isnt a CB (Shaw and Martinez). I dont care how "modern" football has evolved if you want to be a CB you need to head the ball. Lindelof is the worst CB this club has had since Blanc and isnt suited for this league. Maguire has no confidence any more since he has been the escapegoat for the last two years (aldo he is mid table PL quality at best). Varane is injury prone so in reality we need 2 CBs

 

[Crashoutcassius]

I think Varane will be replaced and would have been this summer if not for financial constraints. Lot of rumours we were looking at a right sided ball playing cb

 

[Leftback99]

Shaw and Varane is our best partnership. Both are far too injury prone so really we need two next summer.

 

[spe88]

I still think Martinez would be suited to a CDM next to Casemiro / Amrabat and be able to drop into a back 5 when needed.

We desperately need another centre back. I’d be looking at Tomori or Guehi

 

[Cassidy]

Shaw and Varane is our best partnership. Both are far too injury prone so really we need two next summer.

Now Shaw is a better CB than Martinez?

 

[Leftback99]

Now Shaw is a better CB than Martinez?

For me, yes.

 

[OrcaFat]

I think the "depth" is over-appreciated due to Lindelof's good form in the last third of last season. And when I say over-appreciated, I still know people think it's between poor and shit.

Varane and Shaw works as a pairing. As does Varane and Martinez. Varane and Lindelof is a level down. Lindelof and Shaw might be another level down from that.

Shaw and Martinez is too small and awkward with two left footers, Martinez and Lindelof is quite frail and lacks physicality. And Maguire and anyone else is calamitous.

In essence, without Varane we are a level down. And he's super injury prone. Out of ten possible pairings, two work, two are passable, six are nervy.

I hope we buy a centre back in January who can compete with Varane for his spot.

Yes. I was saying it all summer but the number of times I saw “Lindelof is fine as backup” was incredible. We probably did have higher priorities but we absolutely need another good CB.

 

[Rampant Red Rodriguez]

We certainly do need another usable cb who is good in the air, the drop off between with and without Varane is ostensibly too much to tolerate for this team. It's like a gaping blackhole appears when Varane isn't there and it's not a new thing for us.

We have known ever since he has been in Manchester and further back from when he was in Madrid that his fitness can be unreliable. But we just haven't gotten a damn substitute for him and it's hurt us on too many occasions. Our team falls to shit without our best defender at CB, it's simple.

 

[jungledrums]

Firstv of all anybody that is under 6.1 feet (183 cm) isnt a CB (Shaw and Martinez). I dont care how "modern" football has evolved if you want to be a CB you need to head the ball. Lindelof is the worst CB this club has had since Blanc and isnt suited for this league. Maguire has no confidence any more since he has been the escapegoat for the last two years (aldo he is mid table PL quality at best). Varane is injury prone so in reality we need 2 CBs

You tell ‘em norm

 

[norm87cro]

You tell ‘em norm

I will since everybody else is too busy being PC

 

[RuudTom83]

So far this season there have been so many different partnerships all over the pitch, CB, FB, CM, Forward 3 all changing week to week.

Licha and Varane are the clear 1st choice.

If the midfield area was settles then you could get away with Licha and Lindelof.

 

[OrcaFat]

So far this season there have been so many different partnerships all over the pitch, CB, FB, CM, Forward 3 all changing week to week.

Licha and Varane are the clear 1st choice.

If the midfield area was settles then you could get away with Licha and Lindelof.

I don’t like it but, yeah, if the rest of the team is working well then it shouldn’t bring the whole house of cards down if Vic has to come in sometimes.

 

[Todd]

Would it be entirely crazy to transition Casemiro into a CB at some point?

 

[Leftback99]

Would it be entirely crazy to transition Casemiro into a CB at some point?

So that he can be even more exposed for his lack of mobility?

 

[JediSith]

I think Varane will be replaced and would have been this summer if not for financial constraints. Lot of rumours we were looking at a right sided ball playing cb

EtH priority signing was Kim Min-Jae. I think based on media reports he was certain United would get him and must have been very disappointed when the board screwed it up.

 

[MegadrivePerson]

Firstv of all anybody that is under 6.1 feet (183 cm) isnt a CB (Shaw and Martinez). I dont care how "modern" football has evolved if you want to be a CB you need to head the ball. Lindelof is the worst CB this club has had since Blanc and isnt suited for this league. Maguire has no confidence any more since he has been the escapegoat for the last two years (aldo he is mid table PL quality at best). Varane is injury prone so in reality we need 2 CBs

Agree. It's also part of the reason we offer so little threat from corners too.

 

[Bobski]

Given how many thrashings Utd have taken away from home in the last year I don't think there is a single pairing, even Lisandro and Varane, that gives me full confidence. Ok to keep clean sheets at home in games you should be winning, but up against better quality, away from home is where you see the true level of a defensive set up.

Ten Hag's often baffling midfield set ups don't help them to be fair.