Manchester United Banter Archive March 22 2019

22 Mar 2019 08:28:21
I've been on this site for years now, so I know that transfer "news" that's written in the papers is generally just guess work/ entirely made up and should be taken no notice of. However, there is sometimes a story there that catches your eye and just gives you the fear. A story this morning about United going for Harry Maguire has done exactly that.

Anytime I see a story linking Maguire with United, I think about how we used to have a go at Liverpool for buying Andy Carroll and think this is our Andy Carroll moment.

22 Mar 2019 11:18:49
By 'Andy Carroll moment' do you mean, the story may turn out to be true or that he will be a complete flop considering how much we pay (cos we have had quite a few of those already) .
I took note of Harry during his Hull days, together with Robertson and Clucas I told my mates to watch them make it big. Seems i was 2/ 3 right but still think Clucas is a talent. Anyway back to Maguire, he will definitely improve our defense. I will pick him over smalling for a few clear reasons, he is better with the ball at his feet, better passer be it short or long range, better in the air as well. He will also be a more dominating presence in our back line, more than any of our current squad can provide.

That being said, I think to pry him away from Leicester we will need to pay quite an amount, an amount that can maybe bring in a different CB who ticks all of the above boxes and more better than Harry does.

Over the past few months a lot of 'regular' CB names have been discussed and a few wildcard ones thrown in as well, no need to drag that discussion up again.

However the bottom line for me is Maguire will improve Utd's defense but there a some out there who can do it better than him at a possibly similar price.

22 Mar 2019 11:45:33
The two biggest issues with our defence is a lack of authority in the air and only having one CB who can pick a pass.

Both of these things are areas Maguire excels at. He is also English and EPL proven. So shouldn't have a problem adapting.

Is he a perfect defender? No, of course not. None are. He often gets caught ball watching and has a tendency to move forward with the ball at poor moments leaving gaps in behind.

He wouldn't be an awful purchase as he ticks several boxes, including a great attitude, which many of our players lack.

However, there are better players out there. Whether they're available and whether we can get them is a totally different matter though.

22 Mar 2019 12:25:42
Good point Shapps 👍.

22 Mar 2019 12:32:28
Agree completely MBD and Shappy. Really good posts.

22 Mar 2019 12:37:33
I like defenders who can actually defend.

22 Mar 2019 13:05:54
Wouldn't worry about it as based on all the forwards we're apparently signing we'll be playing 2-3-5 next season anyway.

22 Mar 2019 13:35:14
Defend how Tony? There's more than one way to skin a cat.

How a team and how a player defends very much depends on how the manager sets the team up.

Do you want a defender who is good at sitting deep or one who can play in a high line?

Do you want your defender to be comfortable on the ball or better without it?

Do you want a defender who throws himself into tackles or one who shepherds players out?

There are no defenders in the world where can do it all. Every player has at least one physical weakness and normally several footballing ones which of course can be worked on.

Maguire can defend, as can Smalling. Yet they have very different skillsets.

22 Mar 2019 13:48:12
We need a defender that can lead and organise a defence. McGuire can do neither. He's good in the air, and likes to bring the ball out of defence. But he is positionally terrible, prone to rash decision making, and is not an organiser.

He is a slight upgrade on Smalling, but he, in no way, solves our primary defensive issues.

22 Mar 2019 14:26:17
I agree with Danny, I would not get near McGuire. Not the solution we need, why buy another Smaling/ Jones type of defender, if we want to solve our defensive problems let's go all out for Varane.

22 Mar 2019 14:28:58
I have always wanted maguire not because of the defender he is now but because of the defender he will become in 2/ 3 years when he reaches his peak
With all the international exposure he will be getting in the future he is only going to get better. We have seen how vvd has improved Liverpool defence and imo maguire will do the same for us.

22 Mar 2019 18:12:32
Just look at the videos of what sancho has been doing to him in England training. Stay away. I'd personally like alderwierald and at 25 Million that is a bargain.

22 Mar 2019 20:00:29
Shaps, his positional sense is woeful and he is regularly off the pace. I like the guy, he is good on the ball, but a poor Steve Brice in my opinion. He us cumbersome and one dimensional. Not for me.

22 Mar 2019 20:23:45
And slow.

22 Mar 2019 19:12:15
Wouldn't go near maguire. Awful defender in every single aspect of his game.

23 Mar 2019 01:56:10
I agree with yous about Maguire but everyone going on as if he's a rubbish player yh he's not good enough for United but it's not his fault he was part of the England squad that got to the semi-finals of wc but we all no we got the easiest ride through it if you want to be critical it was ridiculous we didn't get to the final but we all no the market for players these days is stupid the prices alone are putting immense pressure on a player to perform even before he's played for the club a mean we all go on that were not buying the right players imagine the boss still being in charge in this day he wouldn't pay these hefty fees now.

{Ed001's Note - Fergie was always happy to splash out the cash mate, he would have no issue with it. It might seem like small fry now, but even when he first came in he spent comparatively big fees.}

23 Mar 2019 09:16:25
Fergie broke the British transfer record how many times? Pallister, Keane, Cole, Yorke, van Nistelrooy and Veron I believe. It was the glazers that stopped him spending the last few years, does anyone think he was happy not seeing the Ronaldo money reinvested and bringing in owen an Valencia only?

21 Mar 2019 23:11:33
Hey eds/ all,

Ed002 if you are about and get a chance as i know you are extremely busy, who might united be targeting for the rb/ cb/ midfield/ rw positions at the minute? thank you as always.

{Ed002's Note - I don’t have time right now to deal with long lists.}

22 Mar 2019 00:09:35
With all the injuries we've had - 12 first team players at one stage. Now again Rashford, Martial and Matic have had to pull out of their international commitments. It's just a thought but I wonder is the adaptation to the new style (pressing and quicker transitions) under Ole taking it's toll on the players physically? That they are not used to playing this way and not usually trained to do it. I'm delighted we have changed to this style but it just looks like it's taking it's toll on the players. I would be over the moon if we could stumble into the Champions League next season anyway, shape or form. Get a few strong signings in key positions (CB, RB, CM, RW) to suit the style and a full preseason under our belts then have a proper go at it next year!

22 Mar 2019 06:30:43
Yes Killerscones, after Jose's reign, we are starting to outrun our opponents.
It will take time to build the endurance in our players.
Next season, I feel, the players will be better equipped to adjust to this play style.