Who else is excited about next season's defence?

Mr.Ridiculous__

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Shaw -- Lindelof --- Maguire --- Awb
De Gea

This thread might backfire on me, but honestly I am really excited to see how this defence functions. If our full backs can increase their offensive output, we should have a fluid buildup from the back next season. I feel optimistic right now.

Edit: As pointed out, Maguire will be the left centre back
 
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Irwin99

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Very excited. Looks a very good defence although I think the jury is still out on Shaw.
 

SoCross

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I am!

Looks solid and will be hard to break down. Good foundation set for the next few years.
 

King Eric 7

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It's looking a lot better. We have decent back up CBs in Smalling and Jones (when fit) but next season I'd like to see an upgrade on Shaw and a backup for AWB, just to be sure we're not going to see Young / Dalot / Whoever filling in as full backs. Hopefully Dalot can improve by the end of the season and compete with Shaw.
 

SadlerMUFC

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I won't be surprised to see Smalling end up at Newcastle by the time the transfer dealings are done. Either him or Tuanzebe as a part of a swap plus cash deal for Longstaff...but our first 4 defense looks as solid as anyones with Maguire and AWB coming in...
 

Dolf

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Looks really good and for some reason it looks like something SAF would use.

Only thing missing is someone in front of the defence. Let’s hope Matic will surprise us all
 

United58

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It's an extortionate amount to pay for Maguire that almost certainly won't lift us the way VVD lifted Liverpool, but he's still a significant upgrade on what we have at the back. Having a player who's so comfortable on the ball playing out from the back will also ease the burden on our midfield and allow them to play further forward. He and AWB improve our defence massively - DDG, Shaw, Lindelof, Maguire, AWB is one of the best back 5s in the league.

Exciting times ahead.
 

Bwuk

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Very excited. Looks a very good defence although I think the jury is still out on Shaw.
Agreed.

AWB looks so much better than Shaw, that’s the level we should aim for. He’s the weak link in that back 4.

Assuming Maguire and AWB settle in, we’ve got the strongest defence we’ve had since Ferguson left.
 

Amar__

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I am excited about Bissaka who will improve us a lot, but that's basically it. I don't think Maguire will improve pur central defense that much, except by staying fit and playing ahead of the likes Bailly and Jones.
 

ayushreddevil9

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Can't really judge without having seeing them play together. I am excited though
 

Littlinho

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I reckon Maguire is underrated by many on here, he will make a huge difference to us with his ability to spray a pass and remain calm under pressure, not to mention how dangerous he will be from corners for us in the opposition box. Big upgrade on anything we have at the moment, not sure if anyone agrees but he may bring out the best in Smalling who has all the attributes to be a top defender apart from his technique lets him down. Playing next to Someone who isn't also gonna go into panic mode as soon as their is a mild press may be a help to him. Would rather keep Smalling than Jones.
 

Leftback99

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It's better than last season but I'm not sure why Lindelof is seen as some rock solid first choice on here. Shaw needs upgrading soon too.
 

Eddy_JukeZ

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Pretty good defensively, but I wish we had a full-back who was great going forward.

I think Shaw can be upgraded on.
 

bosnian_red

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Back 4 looks set, so long as they all stay injury free and all 4 build on from their last season basically. Need them to gel well, but they're all good enough players to make that work. Our defensive problems aren't over though. Still a whole balance job to be done in midfield/attack, and while I think it can work brilliantly if we sign Dybala to play alongside Rashford and Martial, we really need to focus on that midfield otherwise it'll still be disjointed. Either McTominay really steps up and Pogba gets consistency in that part of his game, or we have someone who can really balance out those 2 with our new front 3.
 

DBT85

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I'm excited that our back 4 will be comprised of 4 actual defenders for the first time in... I don't even know.
 

Pexbo

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Looking forward to the reaction when we play a game with:

Young - Smalling - Jones - ?
 

11101

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Excited is a strong word. I'm not bricking it anymore, I'll say that much.
 

marktan

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On paper looks good, but we've had a lot of discarded post-summer paper over the last 6 years.
 

AJ10

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Imagine thinking Maguire won't be a upgrade on the shit show at the back. They've never seen him play or forgot how shit our CBs are.


:lol:
 

Bastian

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Definitely much much improved. Now for midfield improvement.
 

Lee565

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I have reservations about lindelof and Maguire as a pairing, in an ideal world Tuanzebe has a break out season and becomes the first choice in partnering with maguire
 

Reiver

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I'm excited. For the first time in years we have a proper defence. I'm old school, I'd always prioritise having a solid defence and build from there. I'd say our first choice back line is now at least as good as anything else in the EPL. If we can make similar progress in subsequent transfer windows, we might look back on this one as a real turning point.
 

Adamsk7

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What I like is that our defence has now been sorted for the most part for the next 6 yes at least. If we get Dybala, it’s possible our Strike force is sorted too. That just leaves the midfield which could definitely do with an upgrade and I for one am happy to wait until next season to spend on a couple of players in those positions.
 

The Don

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I think because both Lindelof and Maguire are very comfortable stepping out of defence with the ball, it'll benefit our attack. If they gel well together and get their timing right, it will be a nightmare for the opposition to work out which one to watch out for.
 

Walters_19_MuFc

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Me. Very excited, but worried about the pivot ahead of them. Every strong defence needs a strong midfield partnership. Whilst i've been impressed with the pivot of Pogba and McTominay, neither of them are specialist ball winners, which is what I feel we need. Having said that, we have been pressing very high up the pitch as a unit, meaning we win it back quite quickly. Whether we can do that for a whole season remains to be seen, but I do feel very optimistic with that potential back four.
 

Thepinhead

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I am excited about Bissaka who will improve us a lot, but that's basically it. I don't think Maguire will improve pur central defense that much, except by staying fit and playing ahead of the likes Bailly and Jones.
Dunno. We conceded a lot of goals on setpieces last year. Maquire is a beast in the air so that alone should mean we concede 10 goals less next season.
 

redshaw

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Exciting to see who will stand out as a partner to Maguire. I'm looking at Lindelof and Axel but perhaps Smalling can be good with him. I'm really worried about Smalling's holding style with VAR.

Jones and Rojo had some good spells together, it's hard to tell.

Bissaka could be incredible up and down the pitch.
 

The White Pele

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Looking forward to both Maguire and Lindelof bringing the ball out from the back and starting attacks
 

Eckers99

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I lost count of the number of times the opposition easily pressed both Smalling and Young into making basic errors. A combination of their lack of ability on the ball and being fairly close to one another was calamitous at times.

I'm confident that won't be a problem next season.
 

charlenefan

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Buzzing about the team as a whole tbh, over the moon with AWB and Maguire and if that's it I'm excited about what the likes of Gomes and Greenwood will bring at the other end alas we may have a certain Argie to get excited about as well

Ole and the club and the players have done a great job of extinguishing the negativity that was the end of last season unlike last summer where the previous season ended shit, pre-season was shit and the first few months of the season was shit
 

The Irish Connection

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Yep, genuinely am. Wan Bissaka is the most entertaining tackler since prime Vidal. Hopefully maguires pace doesn’t get caught out but will be great to have a leader and playmaker from the back.
 

Icemav

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I reckon Maguire is underrated by many on here, he will make a huge difference to us with his ability to spray a pass and remain calm under pressure, not to mention how dangerous he will be from corners for us in the opposition box. Big upgrade on anything we have at the moment, not sure if anyone agrees but he may bring out the best in Smalling who has all the attributes to be a top defender apart from his technique lets him down. Playing next to Someone who isn't also gonna go into panic mode as soon as their is a mild press may be a help to him. Would rather keep Smalling than Jones.
Maguire
McTominay
Pogba

That is the spine that is going to control games for us this season. Wan Bisaka to be a wall. Looking for Rashford and Martial to step up. James to cameo and do some damahe. And I have a sneaking suspicion that things wont quite click up top and Gomes will be brought in and start to flourish.