Maguire

We had that issue when Per Mertesacker was brought to Arsenal. Wenger wanted pressing at the front and midfield yet played a defender who couldn't do anything but sit deep (or get roasted by any ball in behind).

We were left with a team stretched from top to bottom of the pitch, gaping holes with some people pressing and others sitting back. Useless.

Comment Deleted by Site Moderator

Maguire is rubbish.

“But he’s a ball playing centre back...”

I don’t. None of these ball playing centre backs can actually defend. What happened to signing a defender because he wins tackles, reads the game, makes interceptions and wins headers? Someone actually looked at Maguire and thought “now there’s a guy spending £80m on.”

comment by No Thomas No Partey (U18355)
posted 38 minutes ago
Python getting BATTERED on this thread
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Am I. Where exactly?

It seems pretty obvious that Solskjaer tasked Axel with tracking Mbappe's runs, and also using that formation to enable Axel and AWB to double up when necessary. If Maguire had played, it's unlikely he would have been given that responsibility.

I can't off the top of my head think of any central defending partnerships that had no weaknesses. Vidic didn't have Rio's pace. Rio didn't have Vidic's warrior characteristics defending crosses. But they complemented each other perfectly. Maguire isn't perfect but our defence let in a lot fewer goals last season than it had the season before, even as we started to look a much more dangerous side in attack. We know his key weaknesses, and if Tuanzebe can emerge as partner who is consistently fit and playing at a level that his talent suggests he can, then that's not only good news for the club, but also probably the best thing that can happen to a defensive unit led by Maguire (in the absence of spending another £60m+ on a new partner).

Does Ole want to play a particularly high line?

I think Maguire was a club signing that Ole was fine with rather than being his target.

Bit harsh to compare Maguire's pace with Mbappe or even Tuanzebe really. Timothy Fosu-Mensah in rapid, would you put him at Cb no.

comment by No Thomas No Partey (U18355)
posted 3 hours, 20 minutes ago
Python getting BATTERED on this thread
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He really isn’t because he is right.

comment by Robb Pochettino (U22311)
posted 11 hours, 32 minutes ago
Ole played two pacey defenders either side of Lindelof today so in another game you could have Maguire where Lindelof was and the only difference may have been we cleared the header that Martial facked up on
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This is the correct answer.

---------------------- DDG ----------------

--- Tuanzebe -- Maguire --- Shaw ---

AWB ------- CM ---------- CM -------- Telles

--------------------- Bruno -------------------

--------------- ST ---------- ST -----------------

This should be the line up in games vs the absolute best sides.