I trust Maguire and Lindelöf. They just need to play in a better coached side and they will be golden.
Which CB to partner Maguire?
- Thread starter jamesjimmybyrondean
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
Hes not a patch on his defensive partner. No idea why Konate isn't speculated about more in the media, he's a much better player all round and could easily play alongside McGuire and form a formidable defesive partnership, I'd say he's ideally suited to playing in the Premier league.
Or we could just have 4 CBs Lindelof, Maguire, Konate & Tuanazebe/Mengi with Konate and Maguire as the starters....
But I guess tiring out Matic again is worth it so his performances can fall off a cliff once again, or better than that a single injury to Matic and we wouldn't even have a recognised Dm to field.
We need cover for Matic but fairly confident it is below RW, AM & CB in our transfer priorities.
I could see us going for someone like Rodon/Salisu/Torres who are in that chesp bracket.
It's evident that we won't have alot of money to spend this summer especially if we don't make it to CL qualification. Now if we go for Konate and Sancho then that would cost us 150m-160m. That fee might go down if we sell Periera, Sanchez, Mata Jones, Smalling, Rojo and Lingard. Unfortunately I can't see any of those guys fetching more then an average of 15m a piece.
Lindelof should fetch a 30m-40m fee. He's currently a Manchester United first teamer, he's young, he's got his uses and he's not on a huge salary. That would help us a great deal to fund those two. Salisu is the typical cheap but highly promising back up player with the right characteristics to succeed in the EPL that we need.
I'm sure you can see I mentioned Konate as a CB singing. My point is signing a CB + CDM is better than signing 2x CBs
A) Get new CB,
either...
B) Convince Smalling to return. Ole's job. So what if he's poor on the ball, we have plenty of players that can cover that.
(Contract is still long, until 2022)
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I think we should do both. And then let 'em all fight for places.
Would be great if that ideals happen but realistically our great captain won't ever be dropped.
Options:
1. Maguire
2. Lindelof
3. Smalling
4. New CB
Done.
Four generally fit-reliable defenders. Smalling tend to get injured a lot too, but for sure he'll return back quickly from injuries.
New CB is an unknown, hopefully a hit so this won't be a problem anymore.
That said, Lindelof + Maguire is just good enough, not great but not worse either. They're doing a good job this season.
Bring Smalling in to hold lead, he is also a good cover for injuries to Mag/Lind and a good rotation if we want to rest them in some games.
either...
(1) poach one or two from the relegation contender teams eg. Ake/Diop,
(2) trust out scouts to get another "unknown" or surprise signing ala Bruno/Ighalo. Make sure he has good fitness.
B) Convince Smalling to return. Ole's job. So what if he's poor on the ball, we have plenty of players that can cover that.
(Contract is still long, until 2022)
---
I think we should do both. And then let 'em all fight for places.
Would be great if that ideals happen but realistically our great captain won't ever be dropped.
Options:
1. Maguire
2. Lindelof
3. Smalling
4. New CB
Done.
Four generally fit-reliable defenders. Smalling tend to get injured a lot too, but for sure he'll return back quickly from injuries.
New CB is an unknown, hopefully a hit so this won't be a problem anymore.
That said, Lindelof + Maguire is just good enough, not great but not worse either. They're doing a good job this season.
Bring Smalling in to hold lead, he is also a good cover for injuries to Mag/Lind and a good rotation if we want to rest them in some games.
I guess its just a difference of opinion on priorities. I would prefer a CB + CDM (even a cheap one) than 2x CBs that's just me
I think Konate would be the ideal signing. First discovered him on Football Manager. But decided to follow him in real life. He has everything and could become a top player. Easily the best all-round young centre-back in Europe.
Ideally we should keep Smalling but Big Mike doesn't want to stay. Also Salisu's ridiculously low minimum fee clause is something we shouldn't pass by either. Therefore the argument is simple here. Konate would cost a bomb which means that we need to make a clear out. Once that clearout is done we add Salisu as a quality backup while hoping that Tuanzebe can remain fit and Mengi is good enough to be our joint 4th CB.
Yeah and his agent is Mata's dad which surely would make the deal very easy to do
Yeah I get that but gut feeling is signings this summer could be Sancho, Grealish & cheap CB
At this point I'm not sure I trust Maguire.
He is english and cost 80 million roughly. Put your faith in captain Maguire
.Agree.
And can we afford going for a Expensive new CB without EPL experience? different ballpark in EPL and even though some of the mentioned CBs are stars in their current leauge that wont mean shit here.
And this is why people shouldn't bother talking about replacing himHe is english and cost 80 million roughly. Put your faith in captain Maguire
Ah ok. He gets a pass as hes English and was expensive?
Unfortunate but not his fault
The same way you criticise him for being expensive.
Our deadwood is shit and it's massively overpaid. We'll be lucky if we sell them for decent money.
I am not playing a blaming game here.
He's being criticised for being English.
The post you quoted was tongue in cheek, hence the wink.
Don't like the look of him personally. Doesn't look like the player to partner Maguire, he doesn't seem to be the defender to cover with pace. Most of his defensive work is doing what Maguire does which is stepping up and taking the ball by being physical.
We'll never win the league with Lindelof in the first team.
I thought he was bought as a ball playing CB but looks completely terrified whenever he has the ball. Too slow, too weak and doesn't read the game well.
Let's hope Axel develops like Joe Gomez has for liverpool.
I thought he was bought as a ball playing CB but looks completely terrified whenever he has the ball. Too slow, too weak and doesn't read the game well.
Let's hope Axel develops like Joe Gomez has for liverpool.
We could if he had the right partner, similar issue with Maguire. I don't see much difference between the 2 they both need a quick and strong partner who can be an organiser at the back.
Maguire has qualities Lindelof doesn't (better in the air and physically stronger)
Lindelof has qualities Maguire doesn't (better at reading the game and has better positioning)
They are both the types of CBs who should be sidekicks to a top CB
I don't know enough CB's but I do like the look of Reuben Dias and Upamecano and I think they are both players we could get.
Rudiger + Maguire. Title winning partnership. Please?
Maguire is very much a Steve Bruce defender (imagine the crap he would have got here). Maguire needs his Pally. Quick and left-footed.
Mustafi, Maguire, Stones. Make it happen Woody!
Manchester born James Tarkowski is the right player to partner Maguire.
Is there another Rio type player out there. We need another Rio.
Agree. I don't know why all the hate for Lindelof really... Like you said, he's the sidekick (like Maguire), but not the main CB.
He would be our best CB and is very adept at playing a high press which is vital if we want to impose our game on the opposition. He's very good on the ball too and mixes ball playing ability with brute strength very intelligently something we have missed for too long. He's also rapid and would match attackers who are considered to have express pace especially in a very high defensive line. He can also destroy the high press in the defensive phase with his ability to dribble out of defense which was something we sorely needed yesterday IMO.
Kabak is also a good CB but I don't believe he has the pace to compliment our current options. I'd say he's similar to Lindelof in that regard but alot more aggressive.
Upamecano would also be good and I wouldn't be averse to signing him either.
Let's keep throwing Lindelof under the bus because our captain and 80m defender makes mistakes, so we need to replace his partner, right ?
Lindelof struggles in the air, constnatly get's out muscled, and is slow. He does read the game fairly well, but I'm more than ready to move on from him.
Now that the dust has settled and people have stopped pelting garbage at the team for the draw and also stopped dismissing any call for improvements, we can speak logically. Despite the fact that we didn't have control of much of the game, we were still able to create chances during the periods the team was settled, highlighting the fact that our attack is fully functioning. Our midfield had a hiccup during this game, due to fatigue and Southampton pressing really well for long periods. Games like this one are games in which you need a strong defence to hold the fort. For me, this is the first time since the restart that they have been truly tested and the cracks appeared. Our full backs as a unit are still not the finished product, and despite their improvement, are still growing. Where we have our biggest issue for me is at centre back. Particularly how we deal with aerial duels. For me, this is where 80 percent of errors from our defence comes from and this has been the case for years. In the Premier League, it is an area where centre backs need to master moreso than in any other top division, and United have struggled for years with it, especially from set pieces. Lindelof should not be starting as a result of it, as he is far too weak when dealing with one on one aerial situations. He makes it look difficult as opposed to top premier league defenders who make it look easy. Add this to De Gea' s lack of command in the area and it is clear where our problems lie.
What happened with Tuanzebe?
I know he is young but he has a promising future no? Maybe the answer is in the academy.
Looks like we're going to be stuck with Lindelöf/Maguire partnership for a while, not a lot of centre backs out there that is what we need. Either too young or or too old, or committed to their team.
I know he is young but he has a promising future no? Maybe the answer is in the academy.
Looks like we're going to be stuck with Lindelöf/Maguire partnership for a while, not a lot of centre backs out there that is what we need. Either too young or or too old, or committed to their team.
Always injured it seems
Have you noticed who is thinking of selling him and what our record with the players they sell to us is?