03 Jul 2019 18:52:15
Hi Ed001,
How do you rate Maguire vis-a-vis players like Umtiti, Alderweireld and Stones.
And what's your take on Nathan Ake?

{Ed001's Note - Alderweireld is a class above any of those others, Stones is the worst. Umtiti has a few issues like being rash and not good on the ball, but he is very good physically. Maguire is just an average defender with a tendency to make runs forward that lose the ball.

As for Ake, the lad himself says he wants to play in midfield and he plays like a midfielder thrown in at the back. His positional sense is utterly abysmal but he has excellent recovery pace to, sometimes, rescue the situation. Working under Eddie Howe, who couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery defensively, is not helping him improve though.}

1.) 03 Jul 2019
03 Jul 2019 19:49:53
Whilst you are giving your valued opinion Ed01,
what are your thoughts on Lindelof?

{Ed001's Note - much improved and starting to look like the defender United thought they were buying. Good on the ball with a decent reading of the game, he has been hampered badly by playing the opposite side from his preference and by constant chopping and changing of partners. Despite that he has improved massively and looks a good Premier League defender.}

2.) 03 Jul 2019
03 Jul 2019 20:22:08
Thanks Ed01

I was still not convinced but you saying he’s playing on the wrong side does make a difference.

{Ed001's Note - that is the only thing about Maguire that makes sense, he likes to play on the left, so allows Lindelöf to move back to the right where he is comfortable.}

3.) 03 Jul 2019
03 Jul 2019 20:46:31
That does make sense. Think we also need some legs in front of any back 4 we get to protect them a bit more than Matic did last year.

Still a long way to go in the window so hopefully that happens along with a CB and we can start thinking about at least competing with the 2 top.

Would you play McTom instead of Matic?

4.) 04 Jul 2019
03 Jul 2019 23:14:52
Agree editor 001 Toby (if fit) is in my opinion the best CB in the league followed closely by VVD. I thought United would have pushed for Toby as a short term solution but guess change in gaffer and lack of CL put an end to that.

I am not fully against Maguire but his price is hefty for what he is - as you say average. His main weakness for me is on the turn and I am not sure VL has the pace to mop up after him if he is caught out.