My initial point was about being careful what we wish for. All I am saying is that whatever combination we have fielded over the last 3/4 seasons, we haven't defended particularly well, and seem to give up goals cheaply, particularly on the counter when we lose possession.
If the four International CBs we have (5 if you count Jones) aren't good enough, then I think it's legitimate to start thinking 'is it the individuals....or do we just not defend well as a team?'
Personally, I think we've been a poor side (tactically) for 4/5 seasons, since LvG left. Virgil van Dijk is a monster, and would look half-decent in any team, but apart from him, I reckon if you put any other CB in our side (Dias, T. Silva, Matip, Rudiger included) we wouldn't have looked significantly better. In fact, we'd probably be looking at Maguire at City and going 'why didn't we sign that lad, City's defensive record is excellent'.
Sometimes the easy thing when a team concedes goals is to blame the CBs, but I think our issues have been tactical, lack of pressing, lack of defensive shape, not working hard enough in forward areas, not good enough at turnovers/in transition.
Last thing I'll say on it for now because we're not going to agree but let's see how Maguire and Varane get on until the end of the season. If we get to the end of the season and we're still defending badly (not that I think we have defended badly lately) then we'll have to re-assess it again. But I do question what we can do about it, because we haven't got the luxury of going out and buying yet another CB.
indeed.