Would you keep Shaw and Varane as first choice centre-back pairing?

[Bondi77]

Shawberto has been great but Martinez goes back in for me.
Great to see we have more flexibility in the backline though and I would move LIndelof on in January and see if we could put the cash towards bringing in a striker possibly Johnathan David.

 

[ryryzz]

I’d prefer Shaw at CB and Martinez move up to midfield as a DM alongside Case and Erikssen/Bruno

 

[roonster09]

Shaw had 2 very good and comfortable games but played against the 18th and 19th placed teams in the league. Don't want to downplay his performances, but come on, that's not something to make decisions off of.

Tbf Wolves are lot better than their position, Wolves away is always tricky.

 

[hobbers]

Malacia is not convincing enough, yet. And Martinez gives us much better forward passes than either Shaw or Malacia.

 

[Mindhunter]

What's wrong with this place? We want to put a World Cup winning defender on the bench because our first choice LB played a few games at CB to cover for our lack of options? Yeah, let's do it.

 

[Red in STL]

Why not a back 3 of Martinez - Shaw - Malacia.
Small defence energy

You want to leave out Varane, one of the best CB's in the world - please!!

 

[Wing Attack Plan R]

Hell no, Martinez straight back in and Shaw back at LB

Seconded.

 

[zenith]

No, we need shaw at LB but his ability to play CB well is great as it allows us to sell Maguire without compromising on defensive depth.

 

[Kopral Jono]

I’m all for anything that keeps Lindelof and Maguire out of our starting XI.

 

[tenpoless]

I would keep Shaw as a permanent LCB. Under one condition: his partner must be Phil Jones.

 

[Henandez14]

I wonder if all the people saying no are the same people who laughed at the idea of Shaw at DM...

 

[damoley]

No chance. Martinez straight back in and Shaw back to LB.

One thing this whole scenario has shown though, is how crucial it is having a competent midfield/midfielder that can protect the defence…namely Casemiro. And to a somewhat lesser extent the mentality and trust that has been installed in most of the players.

 

[dinostar77]

Shaw is such a good footballer and could play for any team in the world. He could even play centre mid. Unfortunately there's only one of him though, so we need him at left back. Fortunately, Martinez is quality too. Our defensive unit is as good as anything in Europe.

 

[NoPace]

No. But Shaw would definitely be the first-choice LCB in a 3.

Yeah. We're not going to bench Lisandro, but I guess there is a hot take to be made after Shaw's performances that we should try playing Shaw-Lisandro-Varane at the back, Antony in his usual RW spot and then just play a midfielder with some pace instead of a RB who can drop into RB when we defend, like City are doing with the kid Lewis.

If you want a hot take off of Shaw's form, it's that instead of buying Malo Gusto, Frimpong or Juranovic, we should just play 3 at the back and buy like Jonas Hoffman or Marcos Llorrente or some other guy who can play central or wide in midfield or at wingback since they're mostly going to be attacking from the right-half space. Beckham would fit well, but Trent is at Liverpool and doesn't really defend, and Ward-Prowse just isn't good enough from open play.

Then Rashford is wide left, Shaw plays a hybrid role between LB and LCB. This is basically how Ajax played in 2022, but the difference is they used Tadic out left instead of a winger type, and Timber is quicker and much tidier on the ball than Varane (though no faster over longer differences). Also Bruno and Eriksen are much better than Gravenberch and Berghuis, so we should be better, really. Casemiro is great, and better than Edson Alvarez, but Alvarez is really quite good so it's not by a mile.

 

[BazzaBear]

Why not try martinez at left back, he played there at times for ajax as well, maybe it's but I prefer defenders that don't go to ground so often

Wow. This forum has always been obsessed with playing players in a different position, but this is peak Redcafe right here.

Can anyone think of any reason why it wouldn't be the best ever idea to play our best centre back out of position at left back, and our best left back out of position at centre back?

 

[Walrus]

Shaw would be superb as an LCB in 3-at-the-back. Could arguably try AWB or even McTominay at RCB.

It would be pointless though, as the rest of the team doesnt work in that system.

 

[Big Ray]

Wow. This forum has always been obsessed with playing players in a different position, but this is peak Redcafe right here.

Can anyone think of any reason why it wouldn't be the best ever idea to play our best centre back out of position at left back, and our best left back out of position at centre back?

Can’t believe my eyes that someone would swap a centre back with a left back to play each others specialised positions. Heads gone!! This is typical hyperbole when a player plays well for a few games filling in a position he never plays and let’s face it, against two pretty poor sides.

 

[Someone]

I'm happy with Shaw the CB but we miss him at LB. He's our best fullback going forward and need this threat. Malacia isn't there yet.

 

[wolvored]

Hell no, Martinez straight back in and Shaw back at LB

This. We know now that Shaw is an able backup and we can move both Maguire and Lindelof on. Bailley and Jones will also go. We will either promote or buy another backup in the summer.

 

[charlenefan]

This. We know now that Shaw is an able backup and we can move both Maguire and Lindelof on. Bailley and Jones will also go. We will either promote or buy another backup in the summer.

I'd probably keep Lindelof around as 4th choice, definitely need someone to fill in when Varane is inevitably injured though

 

[Escobar]

Credit to him, he has been excellent. Having Varane as a partner surely helps though

 

[devilish]

Shaw had been solid as CB but he is not first team material there. I think that ETH is using this opportunity to push Maguire and Lindelof out of the door

 

[Volumiza]

No, because Varane, Martinez and Shaw is such a good combo so far. Can’t wait to see them after more time together.

 

[Scarecrow]

I trust Shaw in that role, to be honest, but Martinez is better than Malacia. That’s what it comes down to.

 

[EliotTheRed]

No, Martinez and Varane as CB and Shaw moved back to LB is my first choice preference. However, it’s good to see members of the squad being able to adapt to other roles pretty well in circumstances that require it.

 

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

Gives us another option but no, Martinez has been great.

 

[bosnian_red]

Tbf Wolves are lot better than their position, Wolves away is always tricky.

It's tricky because they are hard to score against and have a good midfield, but their attack is a bit useless.

 

[DJ_21]

Shaws performances have give the manager something to think about. Obviously martinez comes straight back in but Shaw with 2 clean sheets out of 2 games at the back.

 

[Jeppers7]

Martinez is phenomenal. Shaw has been an able deputy. Yeah let’s swap them

 

[Sassy Colin]

Where do people get these strange ideas from?

 

[Castia]

No

It's been ok in the past couple of games but in the long term we will get found out.

Besides with Martinez, Maguire and Lindelof we have plenty of quality to chose from and Shaw still plays at LB it's a no brainer.

 

[Red00012]

Tbf Wolves are lot better than their position, Wolves away is always tricky.

Wolves away is tricky but they had a 34 year old Diego Costa up top on his own who was hauled off at half time.

 

[Lee565]

Seeing as it is pretty unanimous that fans still want martinez with varane, then I guess the better argument would be should southgate have shaw as 1st choice centre back over Maguire when chilwell is fit.

people can downplay shaw performance against wolves but he has been far more assuring than both Maguire and lindelof who have been a 1st choice pairing for the past 3 seasons.

 

[bosnian_red]

Where do people get these strange ideas from?

Yeah it's like they forget that Martinez is arguably our player of the season
Class both on the ball and defensively.

 

[Red00012]

Yeah it's like they forget that Martinez is arguably our player of the season
Class both on the ball and defensively.

We possibly have found our solution for the 1st game v Barca perhaps .

 

[bosnian_red]

We possibly have found our solution for the 1st game v Barca perhaps .

That's very true. With Martinez out, Shaw at LCB and Malacia at LB has to be the backup. Lindelof is backup to Varane, but in that case than Maguire probably comes in due to height. Ten Hag seems ok with just 1 CB who is dominant in the air, and it makes sense for me.

 

[Demon Barber]

What an odd suggestion. Martinez and Varane is our obvious first choice pairing.

 

[Remember the geese]

I guess the better argument would be should southgate have shaw as 1st choice centre back over Maguire when chilwell is fit.

Of course not. Shaw has only played twice for United at centre back, while Maguire has generally performed pretty well for England. Though it would be nice if England could develop a World Class centre back in the near future. Also, Shaw is a brilliant left back. Certainly far better than Chilwell.

 

[captaincantona]

The left footed CB thing does seem like a must going forward so it’s great to know we have options when Licha is out. Also highlights how much of a fine footballer Shaw is when tuned in and motivated.

 

[Longlivekeano]

I think our best defensive CB pairings are like this:

(1) Varane-Martinez
(2) Varane-Shaw
(3) Varane-Lindelof
(4) Maguire-Martinez
(5) Varane-Maguire