25 Jul 2018 22:56:45
Anyone else seen the apparent quote from maguire Saying he's confident of joining united. Paper quotes tho so highly doubtful but still a rumour.


1.) 26 Jul 2018
25 Jul 2018 23:49:55
Let's hope not, imagine seeing a team sheet and we've got smalling Jones and Maguire in a back 3. I'd stay well clear of Maguire, I'm hoping were still pushing to get an alderweireld deal sorted with spurs as ed002 has said. i'd be happy at the moment with a left back and a center back and we can look at right wing in January.

{Ed004's Note - I really hope we do not sign Maguire. I reckon it'll be a massive waste of money and in a year's time we will be talking about his replacement like Lindelof this year}


2.) 26 Jul 2018
26 Jul 2018 00:06:07
Agreed ed, everyone talks about how good he is moving forward but what's the point in that if he can't defend. or he's wandered so far out of position he's not there to defend? We've already got a left winger who is constantly tracking towards the ball rather than excerting any energy making runs behind that everyone seems to want to keep, we don't need anymore players who are tactically unaware of the position they play in!


3.) 26 Jul 2018
26 Jul 2018 05:47:51
It's on the cards.


4.) 26 Jul 2018
26 Jul 2018 08:50:05
Varane and Giminez aren't available, Alderweireld is. For me them three are the only three we should be looking at. Varane I even have concerns about due to his injury record.

If we can't get any of them three then stick with what we have and give Tuanzebe a shot. As to be honest everyone else is much of a muchness and none a significant step up when you consider the cost. Bailly has been very good for us, Lindelof showed during the world cup and in the last ten games of last season that he can be very good. Jones when fit has been solid. Rojo and Smalling have their faults but do a job. And I'll say it again, I think Tuanzebe will be a superstar and I think he is ready to start playing games for the first team.

Any centre back we sign this summer is going to cost 50m+. So we if we sign one they have to be one of the absolute best or none at all.


5.) 26 Jul 2018
26 Jul 2018 09:41:25
Agree shappy but would add thatwe go for someone who can give us service for a few seasons so no 29/ 30 + year olds.


6.) 26 Jul 2018
26 Jul 2018 10:28:15
We’ve got a left winger who keeps tracking back towards the ball because our play is so ponderous he hardly ever gets balls played in behind at pace that he can run onto .

And instead of us playing. a high press, we drop off and he ends up playing left back so that when he does get the ball he’s 70 yards from goal .

As for Maguire, we don’t need another Jones / Smallimg especially for the money quoted.


7.) 26 Jul 2018
26 Jul 2018 11:21:59
Cookyman, I would sign Alderweireld if any. But yes, I would avoid signing anyone over the age of 27/ 28 if it was me. The vast majority of players we sign over the age of 28 them to struggle with adapting. Sure there have been a few successes, Sheringham and Matic spring to mind. However, the majority of our successful transfers have been younger players who could grow into the club and they have tended to adapt easier.

Centre back is one area though I would be fine with signing a 29 year old who already had many years of EPL experience under their belt.

As I have said many time I have high hopes for Tuanzebe, so signing someone who won't block his path for more than a couple of years would be fine as long as he has a good loan to an EPL team this season.


8.) 26 Jul 2018
26 Jul 2018 10:23:48
Ed, does this mean that Lindelof has been written off, completely?

{Ed004's Note - I wouldn't say written off. I just think it's very unlikely he will impress enough to become first choice cb at the club}


9.) 26 Jul 2018
26 Jul 2018 11:30:45
our play is ponderous because only 2 players put the effort in to make runs without the ball (mata and lingard) . martial needs to make the runs if the players are making the pass or not if he makes the runs and they don't play the passes its not his fault but if he stands on the lefts back, strikers, or attacking midfielders toes all game then it is. stay wide and run in behind its why liverpool looked so good last year all 3 of their attacking players were all over the place keeping width and getting in behind on or off the ball if a ball is played or not. this is the desire and passion everyone craves so much its not just shown by making tackles or fouls its about running yourself into the ground for the cause even if you don't get the reward.


10.) 26 Jul 2018
26 Jul 2018 12:01:27
I take your point Shappy but I think McGuire has come in for some undue criticism to be honest.

It remains to be seen if he's a viable target but I think he'd be a solid addition to our team. From what I've seen he's big, strong, very good in the air and good with the ball. He maybe lacks a yard of pace and I've heard people criticise his positioning at times but that's something that can be worked on and will prove with experience. I think he's better than what we've got (maybe Bailly apart) . He's got good pedigree and actually played in the FA youth Cup final against us with the likes of Pogba and Lingard. He's continued to improve at both Hull then Leicester and maybe he deserves a chance to play at a higher level. Sometimes we get seduced by more exotic names but I think he's a good solid player, at the right age that will continue to improve.

I think Lindelof was signed for the right reasons but I just think he lacks the physicality for the Prem League. If Jose isn't going to play him then maybe now is the time to cash in. He's had a good World Cup and I'm sure we'd get our money back at least. I'd definitely cash in on Rojo. He's perpetually injured and apart from a 15-20 game spell where he looked half decent playing next to Jones he's been pretty unspectacular to say the least. I think both Smalling and Jones are solid squad players and have served the club well. I fully agree about Tuanzebe but I'm not sure he's ready just yet.

In relation to the Martial saga just let the boy move on. It's obvious he isn't going to flourish under Mourinho and I see little point in keeping a player that is unhappy and isn't going to help the team. He may develop into a very good player but at the moment he's just not quite there and has shown little interest in fighting for his place. His next move will be crucial and if he's hankering for a move to the likes of Real or Bayern I'm certain he'll find himself in exactly the same position.

Maybe some kind of swap deal with Spurs for Son Heung-Min would interest all parties. He works tirelessly, he can play in any position across the top three including striker and scores goals.

Utd need to start getting creative if we want to see some transfer activity this summer.


11.) 26 Jul 2018
26 Jul 2018 13:18:01
Tuanzebe really doesn't look ready yet for me, lot's of potential though.


12.) 26 Jul 2018
26 Jul 2018 13:09:31
I would be happy to stick with Bailly and lindloff and the back and go for other positions.


13.) 26 Jul 2018
26 Jul 2018 12:45:15
DLIB, I have nothing against the less exotic named or seemingly less spectacular signings. In fact in my experience they are often the ones that work out best.

However, I don't rate Maguire all that highly, and certainly not enough to spend 50-65m on him. He is a solid mid to upper half of the table player. He is strong and he has a big head. However, his positioning and reading of the game is terrible and for someone so big and strong his headed clearances often don't clear the danger area.

Leicester have been a far poorer side defensively with Maguire than they were in their title winning season.

Maguire could work in a three man back line, but we would be left wide open if we played him in a traditional back four.

Also for someone who is touted as a ball playing centre back last season for Leicester he averaged 46 passes a game with a success rate of only 78%. Smalling who is slated for his passing ability averaged 40 passes with a 87% success rate. Admittedly the reason for those stats are Smalling passes tend to be safer passes while Maguire attempts the more ambitious passes. Yet what is the point if you give the ball away more more often than not when you attempt those passes.

I don't see the fuss, if he was French, German, Spanish, Brazilian or Argentine not only would be not get the hype he is currently getting, but he would never get close to an international cap, let alone be the cornerstone of a nation teams world cup bid.

Smalling and Jones received the same hype before we signed them, however, I feel they were better players than Maguire is when we signed them.

If we have to sign an English centre back this summer I would much rather we signed Alfie Mawson, maybe not as big a lump for the high balls to hit, but ten times the defender Maguire is.


14.) 26 Jul 2018
26 Jul 2018 16:25:54
Shappy - The exotic name thing wasn't aimed at you pal. In hindsight I should have omitted that. I just think Maguire is universally underrated on here but by no means am I saying he's the finished article. I think he'd be a decent signing but I understand your reservations and take your point about him maybe not being a major upgrade on we've already got. Anyway this site would be a boring place if we all had the same opinion.


15.) 26 Jul 2018
26 Jul 2018 19:36:00
Why would Spurs swap one of their best players in Son for an inconsistent player like Martial. Makes no sense.


16.) 26 Jul 2018
26 Jul 2018 22:45:23
Personally I think maguire looks a decent player. Big strong. Young at 25. Delivered on the big stage.
Yh he's come from nowhere but who had ever heard of vidic or Bailey? Cbs grow with experience a lot like gks. If he's being rated by some of the top scouts and coaches in the world then surely he's worth a look?


17.) 26 Jul 2018
26 Jul 2018 22:49:22
I love how a lot of people are writing him off yet he played almost every game for England and we got to the semi finals. Is he a flash big name no is he a very good defender yes. Is Tuanzebe or TFM ready nope. I’d get rid of jones to get Maguire.


18.) 27 Jul 2018
27 Jul 2018 08:19:10
He played almost every game for England at the world cup. England did badly at the world cup they played tunisia, Panama, Sweden, and a James Rodriguez less columbia. When we came up against any half decent side we were convincingly beaten I don't get why people think we did well? We bottled it. As for Maguire being a very good defender no he's not he's not bad but he's certainly not very good he leaves his defensive line way to often and has to make last ditch covering tackles which for some reason he gets credit for rather than being told he was in the wrong position to start. Finally tfm played a full season last year for palace, Leroy sane said he was the most difficult player he came up against why isn't he ready?