A Case For Our Defence

The Past 

In my time as a Manchester United fan, the centre-back pairing of Steve Bruce-Gary Pallister and Rio Ferdinand-Nemanja Vidic have been highly acclaimed. They are admired for their quality and consistency. There are other pairings I would highlight like Jaap Stam-Ronny Johnsen and Rio Ferdinand-Mikael Silvestre.
The Struggle 

Since Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic have left the club, United have struggled to produce a pairing of similar ilk. Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Jonny Evans have failed to establish themselves consistently. Managers like Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solksjaer have between them signed or used Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo, Eric Bailly, Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire in that position without successfully establishing a pairing that works. 

Peculiar Statistic 

A peculiar statistic stood out last season. Manchester United had the second most number of clean sheets in Europe’s top five leagues. We found it hard to believe based on the performance of our defence that didn’t look rock-solid. Lindelof-Maguire was Solksjaer’s first choice and both players were guilty of individual mistakes in some matches. I can understand why Solksjaer chose this pairing at the start but United fans have not been convinced. 

This Season’s Options 

 For this season, Bailly has returned from a lengthy injury and did well in the two League Cup matches he played in. His first start in the Premier League was a forgettable 1-6 thrashing to Tottenham Hotspur. Youth product, Axel Tuanzebe did well on loan at Aston Villa, aiding their promotion to the Premier League last season. But we didn’t see him play much last season due to injuries. Another product of our youth academy, Teden Mengi has been much vaunted. Fans would like to see him and Tuanzebe play more often this season.
Maguire 

Maguire has come under intense scrutiny as one would when they become the world’s most expensive defender and play for a big club like Manchester United. Every error is magnified and there is no room for mistakes in his game. His signing has been seen as one that was expected to strengthen the defence. It’s through no fault of his own that Leicester City placed a huge price tag on his head. United was in a position that they would be damned if they paid the amount and if they didn’t. 

Last season, I felt his overall performances weren’t too bad. There were some errors but even Rio Ferdinand made mistakes when he joined United. I always felt that Lindelof was the weak link and not the right partner for Maguire. I felt, if he can maintain his fitness, Bailly is the best bet to be his centre-back partner. If Tuanzebe or Mengi can step up, the position is up for the taking. 

Partnerships can click at any moment on the training ground or in a match. The coaching of players and the ability to spot the right partnership plays a part too. This season, Maguire has looked off the boil. It might have to do with his troubled summer in Greece with his family. The manager has to assess his state of mind and decide on whether to take him out of the limelight or not.
Calls For Centre Back Reinforcement 

United fans were clamouring for centre back reinforcements in the transfer window that has just passed us by. We have signed a centre-back almost every summer transfer window but still not found a solution to our defensive woes. The name Dayot Upemecano was mentioned as a possible signing. Considering our ineffective transfer strategy and negotiations, you would be best advised to take every transfer rumour with a pinch of salt. A club like Manchester United shouldn’t standstill. If the players that we have don’t step up to the mark after having been given time, we will need to sign someone of quality to replace them. The competition for places should be intense. 

For now, it’s over to the ones that we have to make a mark and silence the critics.

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