It is a few minutes past midnight and Twitter is awash with breaking news that a fee had been accepted for Harry Maguire. If Twitter is anything to go by, Maguire has been having a medical at United for the past two weeks. Somebody should check on him.
Anyway, it is no secret that United are interested in the center back but is he really what we should go after?
Maguire is a tall, strong center back. His frame might deceive but he is incredibly good with the ball at his feet and is adept at finding those passes into midfield that completely open up the opposition. When looking at it in that way, Maguire is the perfect defender, the perfect piece to fit in Solskjaer's jig-saw puzzle.
The fee that is being quoted is probably not justified but most United fans will readily admit to that fact. However, if last season is anything to go by, we cannot simply rely on Smalling and Jones as a center back pairing. Both are extremely edgy, poor with the ball at their feet, especially the enigma that is Smalling. He is the definition of 'old school defender.' He literally risks dislocating his hip whenever he attempts a pass.
Is Maguire Better Than What United Has Got?
That is a big, fat yes.
Currently, United are stacked in defence with Smalling, Jones, Rojo, Tuanzebe, Lindeloff and Bailly. If United sign Maguire Smalling, Jones and Rojo simply have to leave the club either now, January or next season. Frankly, the sooner the better.
While watching the Inter pre-season game it was massively evident that United still struggle to defend set-pieces. It doesn't help that De Gea isn't comfortable coming out to get the ball. He is an excellent shot stopper but he does fall short in that department.
A Maguire - Lindeloff partnership is likely to solve that pesky issue and equally give United more attacking threat in the opposition 18-yard box. That is one of Maguire's top qualities on account of his massive dome.
Conclusion
While the quoted fee is unjustifiable, we cannot simply afford to go into the next season with what we have in defense.
Jones, Bailly and Rojo are all injury prone players with the latter being quite reckless in challenges. Smalling is rubbish and struggles to even pass the ball 5 meters.
In with the new and out with the old. Solskjaer is doing quite a good job based on how the players have performed in the pre-season games.
I am super excited to see what the final team will be at the close of the transfer window.
Do you think the Maguire deal will be done, and will he improve the Manchester United back line?
Ferdinand and Vidic were the last duo United had in the central defense position and since then it has been a random pair due to injury on one or the other.
For me Maguire is a nice choice but I don't know about his injury history...
Great addition.
Fortunately, Maguire does not get injured often. However, it always feels like every time we sign someone they start getting injured randomly. I hope it is not the case with Maguire.
"If Twitter is anything to go by, Maguire has been having a medical at United for the past two weeks. Somebody should check on him."
Lol
A left-sided centre back is something that United have needed for a couple of years and their failure to buy one has cost them.
British players always attract a premium in regards their transfer fee so they are over-paying for him but at the same time it's an essential piece in the jigsaw puzzle.
I think the thing to remember is that defending is the responsibility of the entire team. United have struggled to find the right balance particularly in midfield and it won't matter who they have at CB if they can't rectify that problem.
I always feel like on top of the premium fee for British players there is also a premium for being Manchester United. If there was another club going in for Maguire I doubt they would even quote anything north of 50 Million.
We are desperate for quality in defence so we really have no choice in the matter.
As for the midfield, I do agree with you. You will remember the season when we finished second, De Gea won the golden glove with this same defenders. That is because Jose played defensive.
Under Solskjaer towards the end of the season we exposed our poor defense as a consequence of how we played. Attacking football exposes our frail defense.
A quality CB and a new CDM to replace the sloth that is Matic would do wonders to our campaign.
That's probably true too to a certain extent but then the clubs dealings of late in the transfer market have ensured that clubs go in with a higher asking price because they think they'll get it! Remember the reports about the transfer of Fred last year .....
I was really surprised that Matic went to United and that Jose put him in the team while he was manager - the guy had already sold him twice! TBH he is one of the most overated midfielders in world football and he's been found wanting at a club which hasn't always had World Class players around him to protect his lack of pace and poor positional awareness.
I do. For some reason, Jose always wanted every player City were after ie Sanchez and Fred. Solskjaer is going the cheaper route with young players with potential but you still need a strong spine hence the Maguire business.
The sooner Matic leaves the better. I was excited at first when he arrived but last season really showcased just how poor he has become. I would go with McTominay who has grown in leaps and bounds.
Here is to hoping for better next season. Ps: We play Tottenham next. Can't wait.
I always feel like on top of the premium fee for British players there is also a premium for being Manchester United. If there was another club going in for Maguire I doubt they would even quote anything north of 50 Million.
We are desperate for quality in defence so we really have no choice in the matter.
As for the midfield, I do agree with you. You will remember the season when we finished second, De Gea won the golden glove with this same defenders. That is because Jose played defensive.
Under Solskjaer towards the end of the season we exposed our poor defense as a consequence of how we played. Attacking football exposes our frail defense.
A quality CB and a new CDM to replace the sloth that is Matic would do wonders to our campaign.
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I can vouch for the replacements for Rojo and Jones.
No offense but they've been great in their own ways. I respect Jones a lot but I have to give him up because of his age. We need to sell them in these moments to maximize their value on the market, the sooner the cheaper.
Excited to see more of your updates!
From Jones and Rojo, I would probably keep Rojo.
Jones is embodiment of the cancer that has ravaged our club. The man barely plays 20 games in an entire season and is still a United player. He should be at championship club where United bought him from.