Our fans can complain, cry and insult all the players and the manager as much as they want. This is how we look when we go for it with the team as currently constructed. Sure Maguire would have helped significantly cover the flaws of Lindelof and kept the ball enough to relieve Mctominay and Fed of the pressure of having it.
However, here's the the thing, our fans don't like to actually watch the oppositions we play. Our press was actually good, however Liverpool were able to play out of it because they had midfielders who were willing and capable of playing one on one. Their midfielders had the agility to turn, the passing range to pass out of tight situations and the quick thinking to make quick moves. All with the confidence to take on that responsibility and get on the ball. They could play out of our press, we couldn't play out of theirs. That was the difference. Blaming Pogba, Rashford, Cavani, Bruno, AWB and Shaw is futile when the centre of the pitch, both defensively and in midfield were battles that we lost. Liverpool played out of defence with their youngsters because their midfielders had theconfidence to take on responsibility of control of the ball.
At least it highlighted our needs more so than any other game.
a. we need a capable midfielder that has good technique and quick decision making. A CDM would be nice.
b. Maguire should never have been blamed for anything. It so obvious when he plays, yet people turn a blind eye to it due to his price tag. He covers our midfield in term of holding possession, he constantly covers for Lindelof's errors and allows Shaw to venture high. We are lucky he is always available. We need a defender, one that can finally give him a worthy partner.
