31 Oct 2019 07:51:30
Brandon William's looks really good. Certainly taken his chance. Of course he is still young etc. But he could turn out to be a top lb in the future.

I didn't think we would have beaten Chelsea last night. I'm still not convinced by Maguire though.


1.) 31 Oct 2019
31 Oct 2019 08:11:20
Not convinced? He's transformed out defence.

Wins nearly every header, seems to rarely get beaten apart from the odd occasion or two.

He's settling into a fairly poor United side so will take some time for him to reach top form.

You could argue he wasn't worth the money but when we're so weak in defence a player of his ability is welcomed.


2.) 31 Oct 2019
31 Oct 2019 08:56:50
Weggy,


I think he is just too slow. Partially paying 80 million for him aswell. He is a good player but for 80 million I think we could have got a better player. Time will tell, maybe I'm am being biased here.


3.) 31 Oct 2019
31 Oct 2019 08:57:21
But Weggy, MH could bo onto something. Despite having Maguire and unbeatable AWB and Lindelof, we have hardly kept a clean sheet this season. Although, i understand we are still early days in the season and the partnership needs developing but MAguire hasn't had that effect on the United defense as VvD had on Liverpool's.


4.) 31 Oct 2019
31 Oct 2019 09:29:00
Our defensive record has improved a lot. Maguire has been good, pace isn’t the most important thing as the first 5 yards are in the head.


5.) 31 Oct 2019
31 Oct 2019 09:40:23
Brandon Williams is very highly rated by coaches in youth team. He and Shaw should battle it out for the LB position.

Regarding Maguire, He has definitely improved our defence. Huge upgrade on Smalling. He has brought in calmness and a presence to the backline.
I'm certain he will improve more as the season progresses. Also expect him to chip in with goals soon.
However, Lindelof has struggled a bit this season. Once they settle as a pair, we will form a solid backline.

Moreover, the protection we receive from midfield is at times non existent. Apart from McTominay, each and every midfielder have have been poor this season.


6.) 31 Oct 2019
31 Oct 2019 09:49:21
Personally Maguire has been better than I thought he was going to be. He made a mistake last night that led to the equaliser, but no defender is perfect. Look how Rashford shrugged VvD off the ball last week. So even the very best aren't without a mistake or two in them.

I think on the whole we have been relatively solid at the back, especially when you consider the injuries we have had to Shaw, AWB and Lindelof at different times this season meaning that our first choice settled back four have only played on a few occasions. A defence is built on communication and understanding to create a unit stronger than the sum of its parts. Yet with constant chopping and changing due to injury while two new players are trying to settle is always going to make it difficult for them to build that rapport. Yet they have only conceded more than one goal in a game twice in 15 games this season. (2 against West Ham and 2 against Crystal Palace) . Duuring that run of games we have played Chelsea twice, Arsenal and Liverpool. As well as high flying Leicester and a Wolves team that surprised many last season.

Of the 6 sides currently above us in the table we have played 5 of them.

Our only real issue in defence this season has been silly individual errors, poor passes, mistimed tackles, or misjudging the flight of the ball. Often this has happened because on defender has been isolated in a quick counter, or switch of play. This has happened more than it should do in my opinion because we haven't got a true holding midfielder to shield the back four.

McTominay might be doing a phenomenal job in midfield this season, taking the bull by the horns and turning out top performances. However, he isn't a holding midfielder who'll shield the back four, he is a dynamic bullish box to box midfielder. The only player in our squad who could be described as a holding midfielder is Matic who's legs appear to have gone.

If we can bring in a true holding midfielder then that will give the defence an extra level of protection which will in itself lift the performances of our defenders by reducing the amount of times in a game they get isolated 1v1.


7.) 31 Oct 2019
31 Oct 2019 10:00:40
For a start our first choice left back hasn't started all season and he needs replacing at that, the young kid Williams won't be first choice at least until next season in the bigger matches/ epl games. The other CB which is Lindelof is terrible at everything bar passing.
You think Maguire can do it all himself?
Maguire will never be the worlds best CB but he will be a solid solid player for years to come. Give him some time.


8.) 31 Oct 2019
31 Oct 2019 12:47:58
you don't pay 80M world record fee, for someone that's just a solid squad player. he is a good player at best who was well overpriced due to his nationality.


9.) 31 Oct 2019
31 Oct 2019 12:53:46
Why do people always quote the price paid for a player when commenting on their performance?
The money pays has nothing to do with the ability or performance of the player, and it wasn't your (or my) money.

Maguire has improved our defence, so he is a good signing.


10.) 31 Oct 2019
31 Oct 2019 12:57:57
He is certainly not a "squad" player Cr92.
He is the first choice CB. Another important factor is that he organizes the backline well.
The players and Ole have touted him as a possible captain in the near future.

The price tag is not his fault.


11.) 31 Oct 2019
31 Oct 2019 13:00:44
He was over priced due to our desperation.


12.) 31 Oct 2019
31 Oct 2019 15:21:18
If you don't think Maguire has improved our defence then I'm sorry but you know nothing about football.

He's assured on the ball, dominant in the air and physically strong. Ok I accept he lacks pace and can be vulnerable on the turn or in 1v1 situations but so could Vidic. He makes our defence, whoever he partners just looks better. Would you trust Lindelof/ Rojo, Lindelof/ Tuanzebe or Rojo/ Tuanzebe for any length of time but put Maguire next to any of them and it makes a huge difference.

Lindelof has regressed from some decent performances last season and moving forward I expect Tuanzebe to replace him in the team. I actually think Bailly would also make an excellent partner for Maguire.

I remember people questioning some of VVD's early performances in a Liverpool shirt, try and get some perspective Shan and watch more football.

Forget the money it's irrelevant, he was under contact and we desperately needed him so we paid the money.

Maguire, AWB and James have all been excellent acquisitions. Along with Mctominay they have easily been our best and most consistent performers. If the rest on the squad had performed more consistently at their level maybe the ridiculous civil war we've seen erupt on this site over the last several weeks would have ran out of ammunition.

We all know the squad is threadbare but our first choice starting 11 is decent and certainly capable of a top 4 finish. Injuries have made life difficult and our season will wholly depend on keeping key men fit until the squad can be strengthened.


13.) 31 Oct 2019
31 Oct 2019 19:34:34
So far, only 4 teams have conceded fewer goals. Defence isn’t the problem, scoring goals has been the problem.


14.) 01 Nov 2019
01 Nov 2019 00:28:45
Doffs cap to DLIB. Good post.


15.) 01 Nov 2019
01 Nov 2019 04:23:37
Yeah. Well said DLIB.