05 Aug 2019 15:20:15
So it has happened, Maguire becomes the most expensive CB ever, who would have thought that? Making the amount VVD was signed for look like a bargain.

Looking at Leicester's squad which has some very good players and also being a very well run club, just wonder what Maguire was thinking moving to UTD, a team in decline?

Then there is also the factor of Ole as manager. Not saying Rodgers is miles ahead of Ole but if I had to pick between the current state of UTD vs Leicester then I would rather play under Rodgers.

Obviously Maguire will probably be earning 3 times more at UTD compared to what he did at Leicester but cannot see it ending well for him at UTD.

Transfer market gone mad!


1.) 05 Aug 2019
05 Aug 2019 15:52:43
Where did Leicester finish last year with their squad compared to United, who are is disarray, and now Leicester have lost a key defender.

If you can't see that signing for United is a massive step up for Maguire then, I'm sorry but you are more childish than some of your banter on the United page.

Let's call a spade a spade here. United are a shambles at the moment and I think they have bigger problems than the players they sign, namely their manager but they will still be ahead of Leicester this season.

Ole and Brendan? Both shouldn't be anywhere near a top six club. Difference between the 2 managers? Rodgers talks a good game, that's it.

{Ed025's Note - ole is unproven i will give you that irish but you are guessing that he will be terrible mate, i think they have made a mistake by appointing him but he could well prove us wrong as you never know in this game..


2.) 05 Aug 2019
05 Aug 2019 16:06:23
He did manage Cardiff ed025.

{Ed025's Note - i know irish but they never had the resources then mate and some managers just fit a certain club..


3.) 05 Aug 2019
05 Aug 2019 16:15:51
Calling me childish while ranting about Ole and Rodgers?

Jeez, what happened to banter? And by the way, I was just trying to bring UTD fans down to earth as Dybala was not going to sign for them, not now, tomorrow or on any other given day.

Funny, you are visiting the UTD site and rubbishing them on here. What is the difference?


4.) 05 Aug 2019
05 Aug 2019 16:24:56
Great move for the player, a decent patrias and an improvement on the current CBs at the club.

That’s where the similarities with Virgil end. As an England player I wish him a healthy season but beyond that he’s got the pressure of not only the price tag but also the pressure of expectancy of the squad and fans as that’s a team in one hell of a mess. They potentially have a lot of players still to come in, in a very short time and some key players wanting to leave.

They will alway have a very skilled team on the pitch that’s full of internationals and quality but Ole’s dilemma is how and if the want aways can be accommodated if they don’t get their wish before the deadline and it’s a tough spot for a manger who has probably had a fairly serious drama free career so far.


5.) 05 Aug 2019
05 Aug 2019 16:26:46
I refer you to your second paragraph.


6.) 05 Aug 2019
05 Aug 2019 16:32:07
Bournemouth looking for 75m for ake says it all about the transfer market these days, makes big virg look like a steal now.


7.) 05 Aug 2019
05 Aug 2019 16:32:38
With the acquisition of Maguire and Wan Basakka Utds defensive unit is clearly stronger. If DeGea gets back to his usual standard they will be much better than last season. Everton, Wolves, West Ham and Leicester (even after Maguire leaving) are a stronger unit. Throw in the usual suspects of Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs and the league looks a lot tougher than last season. I don't see over 90 points being needed to win it this year nor do I see the gap between 2nd and 3rd being 25 points.


8.) 05 Aug 2019
05 Aug 2019 16:42:33
I reckon Leicester may just be a surprise package this season.

Put it this way, if Vardy had to leave it would be a much bigger loss compared to Maguire packing his bags.

Plus they have made signings which will improve them without having to pay over the odds. They seem very smart the way they are going about their business in the transfer market plus they can now go look for another CB at one of the Euro teams and pay less for a player and may even be an upgrade on Maguire as he just is not that good.

Just take Tieliemans for example, better than any signing UTD have managed in this window.

I guess we will have to wait and see. I highly doubt the gap between UTD and Leicester will be as big come the end of this season compared to last.


9.) 05 Aug 2019
05 Aug 2019 16:55:48
Its going to be us and city. Its going to be 100 points. 3rd will 20 points behind. Only difference we will win it this time.
I don't understand why people have automatically assumed our performance will drop this season?
Have city dropped performance in last three seasons?
I can see our team ready for it big time and they will win the league and i predict with record points.

{Ed025's Note - i cant agree akshit, this will be a lot tougher imo as a lot of teams have strengthened whereas up to now liverpool have stood still, i think city will also find things tougher and i think the winners will not even hit the 90 point mark, you can quote me on this at the end of the season mate..


10.) 05 Aug 2019
05 Aug 2019 17:01:55
There are a lot of Leicester fans in my area and the fact none of them are bothered at all by this sale says it all. They all just bang on about some guy who was on loan at Celtic and is better anyway apparently. Maguire's bang average. I don't even know how it has come to this. It's genuinely funny.

{Ed025's Note - they are as bitter as the reds then PB, i think he is a good player to be honest and will improve united big time mate..


11.) 05 Aug 2019
05 Aug 2019 17:07:49
Wolves, Leicester and even Westham might just have a big impact on the way the top of the table will end this season.

Arsenal may have the worst defence out of the top teams but they will be an attacking force this season.

Spurs do not look to be done in the transfer market. Looks like they will be very busy over the next coming days.

I also expect Everton to up their game. Gap between 4th and 10th will decrease which will have an impact on how the top 4 finishes.

{Ed025's Note - i will have that max..


12.) 05 Aug 2019
05 Aug 2019 17:16:57
Come on Ed025, stop being diplomatic ;) He wouldn't even get in your team. I honestly cannot believe how far hype can carry a player nowadays with the power of social media. He scored a header and a World Cup and that was it. Heads gone.

{Ed025's Note - hes not everybody,s cup of tea PB but he is a ball playing CB and that is the future mate, he is also a good tackler and good in the air, i see you as the typical liverpool supporter mate in thinking that every reds player is world class and every other player is a pile of crap...especially if the sign for united..no offence intended..


13.) 05 Aug 2019
05 Aug 2019 17:21:37
The premier league is an unpredictable beast. We forget the current crop of players can get better and teamwork can improve. Equally things can get worse and a manager can lose their mind.

Regardless I’m just excited to see the league unfold. It’s never predicable and if it was that would sure be boring.


14.) 05 Aug 2019
05 Aug 2019 17:32:52
Fair point Irish. i’d say the United have a slightly more panicked panicked expectancy now that we did when we signed Virgil. only slightly though. 😃.


15.) 05 Aug 2019
05 Aug 2019 17:36:31
It also says a lot that Pep has come out and said that City couldn't afford him.

Of course they can afford him. They just didn't want him.


16.) 05 Aug 2019
05 Aug 2019 17:44:50
Ed025, ok, Maguire not the worst defender out there and may improve UTD but to be classified as the most expensive defender ever?

I understand paying a premium for English players, especially if it is an English club buying from another English club but there is just something wrong with paying that much for Maguire when he is not nowhere on the level of even Alderweireld (spelling) .

UTD have lost the plot. Just like paying majority of Wan-Bissaka's fee upfront, they probably had to do the same with Maguire's fee. I am not an expert scout and have no idea about the inner workings of transfers but what it seems like UTD are doing is flashing money around without fixing the problems they have with their squad first. Lukaku and Pogba, surely they should have taken what they were offered and run which may have solved some problems for them.

Guess all will come to for end of the season but having a scatterbrain transfer approach dishing out vast amounts of money, seriously overpaying not going to solve any problems unless you get to the root of the problems first and remove those problems. Oh well, just my opinion.

{Ed025's Note - the thing is max clubs are taking advantage of united,s plight, teams know they are desperate and selling clubs are doubling and trebling the price of their players when united come a calling, they are very rich and can pay top dollar but now its becoming ridiculous mate, i actually feel sorry for their fans who are very loyal..


17.) 05 Aug 2019
05 Aug 2019 17:46:44
I disagree on the standing still point ED025. It was always going to be difficult to bring anybody in who was happy to be a bit part player.

Even if you did who are you replacing? I wouldn’t swap any of the front three or back 5? I wouldn’t replace Fabinho and I think Keita could come into his own this season. You then have Henderson, Milner, gini, ox and Lallana all fighting for one spot.

We have signed two really promising youngsters and a few youngsters have made impressions that they could step up (Brewster looks like he could offer everything Sturridge could in the squad - save for experience) . Our big issues was lack of fullback cover and that probably hasn’t been addressed. That being said I feel the squad generally is at a slightly better state than it was this time last year.

Most of our rivals had glaring gaps in their squad that had to be addressed. I actually don’t think they have. Chelsea are worse now hazard has gone. City have atm signed Rodri who is seen as a Fernandinho replacement. United needed more than one centre back and a right back. Arsenal needed a whole back four. Spurs have added a midfielder but not much else. Annoyingly it’s only you lot I think have bought quite well.

As for Maguire i do agree he will make united better but I think that speaks more about the state of the centre backs they had.

{Ed025's Note - you make some good points wazza but i still feel the reds should have a good back up striker a creative midfielder and back up full backs, you are very strong but that does not account for unforseen injuries, lack of form or suspensions mate, most teams have bought or are in the process of buying but it seems liverpool are resting on their laurels and thats what i meant by standing still, i could be wrong and the reds could walk the league of course but if they dont and its down to not having the squad quality a lot of questions will be asked..


18.) 05 Aug 2019
05 Aug 2019 18:35:26
I prefer Zouma to Maguire Ed025 tbh.
In fact I could name at least half a dozen CBs that I’d prefer ahead of Maguire - Virgil, Gomez, Zouma, Rudiger, Spurs pairing, Laporte.
There’s seven straight off and there’s others to add on top of that list.

{Ed025's Note - people see different qualities in players juicer, besides great pace i think he ticks most boxes mate, time will tell of course but i think he will be a great asset to united even though the money they paid was obscene..


19.) 05 Aug 2019
05 Aug 2019 18:43:40
Ed25, you are correct that Maguire is a good CB and will improve Utd BUT based on the dreadful state of their CB situation, you have to agree that Maguire being able to improe them is not that hard to do cos their CB's are that dreadful. Even Gomez or Matip would start ahed of the other 7 CB's they have apart from Maguire. That is clearly not a high bar, surely. N btw, Maguire can only be as effective as the partner they pick to play with him. Are they going to be complimentary together? No one knows, really.

I do agree that they can build around him and make themselves hard to penetrate by being more compact out of possession. Now is Ole smart or savvy enuff to crack the code? We shall see. Like you, I think he should never have gotten the job and to some extent, it looked like Utd were already regretting it right after it happened BUT he could surprise us all.

{Ed025's Note - i agree with all of that redwolf, time will tell and i could be totally wrong about him but as you say it wont be difficult for him to be an improvement on that bunch mate..


20.) 05 Aug 2019
05 Aug 2019 19:27:31
Ed025, UTD's approach to this tranfer window not sustainable no matter how much revenue they make. Another season without CL football followed by how they have been operating in recent transfer windows not going to do them any favours. As it is they are probably overflowing with their wage bill. Look at Sanchez lol.

Not that I feel sorry for them but to see a club which was dominating English football fall at such a rapid pace, continue to fall is quite frightening. UTD can have all the riches in the world, does not last forever when you are on a road without direction leading you to nowhere.

{Ed025's Note - i see that max, but they are in a catch 22 situation mate, they have to do all they can to get in the top 4 as its imperative to their future...but its costing them the earth to achieve this mate..


21.) 05 Aug 2019
05 Aug 2019 19:35:47
There’s some bold predictions and statements being made on here today, but I think we may just see a season unlike no other. Besides, perhaps, the off side rule, VAR has the potential to alter the game in a way like no other change. No longer will defenders get away with sly shirt tugs at corners, or other dark arts to compensate for whatever the weakness might be. Strikers won’t be winning penalties by faking contact etc. It’s going to be fascinating to see, will the notion that the big teams get all the decisions still prove true, do the unfair decisions even themselves out over the coarse of a season. For better or worse I think things are going to be different.

{Ed025's Note - good post that hopeful..


22.) 05 Aug 2019
05 Aug 2019 19:42:05
I think he’s massively overrated, turns like a bus, lacks pace and intelligence, but and strong and can ping a pass but nothing special.

{Ed025's Note - i take it your not his agent then jerry?.. :)


23.) 05 Aug 2019
05 Aug 2019 19:51:26
Agree, VAR going to upset the apple cart this season.

{Ed025's Note - all the divers beware....salah , richarlison and zaha..


24.) 05 Aug 2019
05 Aug 2019 20:07:28
Not at all 25. I said the same when people suggested him for Liverpool. I'll also happily admit that Bissaka is the best one on one defending full back in the league. He's a great young player and a huge upgrade on Young.

I just genuinely don't rate Maguire. I have never seen him play well.

{Ed025's Note - dont get me wrong hes no VVD mate, but people are jumping on the maguire is crap bandwagon at the moment..


25.) 05 Aug 2019
05 Aug 2019 21:48:55
I think the real question is. how much more would Koulibaly cost? Sure not much more than £85m. Then they would have a real top class centre half. Maguire, is ok. He's a decently good defender but not world class. I also cannot fathom why (although I don't believe the hype, but he's still a very good defender), if they're prepared to pay £85m, why didn't they go all out for De Ligt?

Their transfer dealings really baffle me.

{Ed025's Note - koulibaly and de ligt had the pick of the choice epic, united cant offer them CL football so they were never at the races mate..


26.) 05 Aug 2019
05 Aug 2019 22:04:15
Ed025, you just need to remember City's rise to where they are now. They bought Robinho when they had no European football. Money talks, and if they got say the likes of Koulibaly, it would be one season without CL football.

If they would have significantly increased Koulibaly's wages, he'd have taken the jump, and he'd have got them back into the CL. Very little gets past the Wall from Senegal. I'm not sure that Harry Maguire will do that for them. He's an improvement, but he's not going to be pulling up trees for them.

{Ed025's Note - im a big fan of koulibaly epic, but one player alone will not solve the united problem mate, they need to change the attitude and mindset of the players at the club and that wont happen overnight..


27.) 05 Aug 2019
05 Aug 2019 22:32:23
I completely get you Ed025. I'm not saying that Koulibaly would solve all of United's problems, I'm just saying that he'd have made the difference to get them back into the CL. Then, they would have the springboard to get the better players that they need.

Maguire may make a difference and get them back into the CL, but it's only a maybe. I think that KK would be a damn fire sure bet. And he wouldn't have cost that much more.

{Ed025's Note - im a big fan of his as well mate..