26 Jul 2026 16:15:38
Are we on season 7 or 8 of Shaw, Maguire and Dalot starting in a United defence?
1.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 16:36:09
I challenge people to name 3 worse players that have their length of service and appearances.
Mind boggling stuff, Scholes.
Spend what you like on forwards and midfielders, but with players like them being our stalwarts in defence, there is no point.
3rd or 4th rate players at this level at best imo.
2.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 16:56:40
Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Quinton Fortune, Victor Lindelof.
3.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 17:28:25
Lindelof, I'll give you, without argument, a complete flake.
Jones, I'd compare to Shaw, both could have been so much better, but neither is strong enough in body or mind.
Smalling is better than Maguire, imo.
Fortune was a good squad player, never really 1st or 2nd choice, so not really comparable to 1st team stalwarts.
4.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 17:36:14
Add Buttner and Telles to that list.
5.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 17:46:13
No longevity or appearances. Please read the op.
6.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 18:13:47
Shaw had an excellent season last year. I get that people are frustrated by his previous injuries, but when fit he is a very good player.
7.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 18:24:26
Excellent? Not sure where you got that from. Must be watching another sport.
8.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 18:46:11
He was average last season, imo. He is average, not elite, not top class, just an average Joe.
9.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 21:15:46
Too many blaggers since Fergie retired.
10.) 27 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 22:25:46
The fact that we seem content with them as starters, and r relying on them this season, is baffling. With the increased workload, u just know that won't happen. Shaw played all last season, so u know he'll miss large chunks this season.
Maguire is steady, but an increasing liability due to lack of pace, and Dalot is just crap. It appears, though, that the management and those above don't agree, so not much we can do.
11.) 27 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026 03:13:16
While I agree with the sentiment of this post, let's not forget that we've also spent hundreds of millions of pounds on defenders over that same seven or eight year period. The fact that we haven't successfully replaced them yet is not through lack of trying.
12.) 27 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026 04:16:12
Need a coach with balls who is prepared to move on from them. We have never signed a first choice leftback to replace Shaw. Always trying to sign a cheaper backup. Shaw is a below average leftback these days, and I am hoping (perhaps naively) that we will sign a first team leftback this summer.
13.) 27 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026 08:46:16
Which rbs and lbs have we spent 100s of millions on?
14.) 27 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026 09:17:30
Shaw is as average as you get. Ken knows I don't mind Dalot, steady and absolutely fine as a squad player, not amazing at anything but not terrible either. He works hard, trains hard, is always available, and always gives his all.
Maguire was always overrated and overpriced, I don't blame him for that. He gives his all also, and is a decent squad player.
The fact is, these players are fine in a wider squad, but we have been horrible in recruitment over the years, which has meant these lads have always been there.
Hopefully, though, this season we will have a new LB, and Maguire won't feature as much, as Heaven and Yoro look like they will feature much more often this season. Also, Maz is a better RB than Dalot, but I hope he can stay fit.
Slowly getting there.
15.) 27 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026 09:59:39
I think these 3 are good players, but not great, and you could argue that for the past couple of years we could have had better. However, there are a number of factors that impact not moving them on:
Maguire - salary is high, and I also think he is well liked and respected within the club, as someone who can be in the first team and also play when others are out. He is never injured, and that is valued. He has been captain, so his leadership is respected. Historically, his huge purchase would have been a factor.
Shaw - injuries!!! No one was going to take him on with the salary he gets.
We probably should not have renewed his contract last time, but I am sure, at the time, he was having a good period.
Dalot - steady and reliable, usually available. Does not set the world alight, but is prone to switching off! Forever linked with big club moves, but never materialises, so could be all false.
I imagine the cost to replace these, with other areas of concern, has played into why we still have them at the club. I do not expect any of them to get any future contract renewals, so we will likely move on after this year (next for Dalot).
16.) 27 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026 10:21:44
Dalot has robbed a living off United.
I can't believe he's still at United playing week in week out.
17.) 27 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026 09:41:21
Part of the problem is dalots availability. I wish he was never available and had an injury record like christy brown
18.) 27 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026 11:06:47
But Ken, Dalot is right footed!!!
19.) 27 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026 11:19:55
Slight pivot here, as inferring that Carrick has been playing Yoro at right back in pre-season.
I do wonder if it's a sign he'll play Dorgu as a more attacking full back, and tuck Yoro into a back three when Dorgu goes forward?
20.) 27 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026 11:45:01
Just due to Dalot and Maz's extended post WC holiday.
21.) 27 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026 11:45:30
Our defence is a symptom of the previous leadership, massive overpayment for Mcguire and for Martinez, but the incoming take some blame too with Mazraoui and de Ligt. Just dreadful spend, look at the cost of those 4: £80m, £57m, £43m and £17m. Dreadful value, woeful.
That's £197m for 4 players. None of whom are anywhere near good enough. But I think they stand out because we are starting to see progress in the quality and value of other positions, and so they look even worse decisions as time goes on.
We no doubt must be planning a wholesale upgrade of the defence next summer window, despite having Yoro (still think he's going to come good), Heaven and Dorgu. Can't wait to see the back of Dalot either, his defensive positioning in RB is the worst I've seen in United.
22.) 27 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026 11:50:07
Maybe the majority will disagree with my opinion, but I do not think Smalling is/was better than Maguire, Ken.
I also think that Dalot is better than Rafael.
Shaw is def better than Richardson and Rojo.
Maguire > Eric Bailly.
I will pick Shaw over Daley Blind.
23.) 27 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026 11:51:35
All 3 of those are steady players and do a job. No, they are not great, but let’s be fair, which of our defenders are great? I would say none of them.
Shaw was once described by Shappy as world class!
Dalot gets in every manager's team, and we have had a few managers, so he can’t be as bad as you try to state with your opinion.
Maguire is just Maguire, but possibly our best CB, so that shows how poor we are in defence.
Might be a good idea to put Yoro as a full back, because CB in the EPL he ain’t, far too weak.
Maz certainly is not the answer either.
24.) 27 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026 13:16:03
Yoro just needs to mature physically. He is young for his position at centre back.
25.) 27 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026 16:03:52
We fixed the attack last year with Mbuemo, Cunha and Sesko, and got lucky/scouted well with Lammens at GK.
We will be fixing the midfield, hopefully this summer, with Santos, Tielemans and one more.
Next summer we will fix the defence and have a team ready to challenge for the title.
Easier said than done, and this is oversimplified, but it's what I think the hierarchy are aiming to do.
26.) 27 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026 16:56:58
Yes, Dsg. They spent a good chunk last year.
This year reports are that they have 250m+ to spend on various positions. We are getting there. It will take time, but we are undoing years of shocking recruitment.
27.) 27 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026 17:47:44
It will take time. There is a lack of individual quality in several positions yet.
But they did find ways to win, playing as a team. It will be much tougher this season, with so many more games and less rest and training.
28.) 27 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026 18:34:07
Ken, we were talking about right backs (Dalot), left backs (Shaw) and center backs (Maguire).
Since signing Maguire in 2019, we've spent around £222m on center backs. Since signing Shaw in 2014, we've spent around £45m on left backs.
Since signing Dalot in 2018, we've spent around £57m on right backs.
We've spent plenty trying to move away from Shaw, Dalot, and Maguire. Unfortunately, the recruitment just hasn't been good enough.
29.) 27 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026 19:08:00
I have Utd to win the league this year! We will play as a team whilst others find their feet with several changes within management structures playing out.
The defenders' situation has been dire for a while now, and I agree with the original OP. Those 3 are horrid players, Shaw being the most annoying of the three, then Maguire, and finally Dalot.
I hope beyond hope someone buys Dalot and we do not renew the other two. Force our hand into the market, or promote from within, something I think we will see a lot of this year.