Just Who Should Partner Harry Maguire? We Analyse Ole’s Options
It’s no secret the main stream media as well as some fans believe Manchester United have no chance of winning anything this season using the centre-halves available to manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. It’s not as if there are no options available to the United legend who still has SEVEN choices at the club. Given that the transfer window is closed until January this leaves the centre-backs at the club including Captain Harry Maguire the opportunity to establish themselves by delivering a bunch of top performances leaving the manager no need to sign a centre-back in January.
On the back of conceding only 2 goals in their most recent 3 matches United’s defence have certainly bounced back well from the embarrassment of the 6-1 home defeat to Jose Mourinho’s Spurs side before the international break. With the 4-1 PL win over Newcastle, the 2-1 CL win over PSG and the 0-0 PL draw with Chelsea the team have hopefully stopped the defensive rot.
However, going 4 games without a win at Old Trafford stretching back to last season is a worrying streak the club needs to end immediately and Solksjaer won’t be unaware of this stat and the way the club faded so badly after winning in Paris vs PSG after he took over from Mourinho in early 2019.
The team really needs to have a central defensive partnership of the quality of Vidic-Ferdinand and while some may say the current squad does not have the likes of either of the two United legends there are still some pretty solid options for Ole to choose from. The current options at centre-back have the opportunity to lay claim to their positions as the first choice centre-backs over the next 3 months before the transfer window ends and a stable pairing must surely emerge as well as solid options for playing 3 at the back.
We have to view Captain Harry Maguire as one of the first team centre-halves but who should Ole have partner the England star as part of a back 4 and as part of a back 3? Press the Next Page button as we take a look at the options at the club…
Ivory Coast Star Eric Bailly
Eric Bailly was signed by Jose Mourinho from La Liga side Villareal for a fee of around £30million in the summer of 2016.
The Ivory Coast international was an instant hit with fans with his pace and ability to win physical challenges as well as his composure under pressure.
Bailly looked like a top signing but a combination of long stretches on the sidelines due to injury and a subsequent loss of form have left the player a shadow of his former self.
However the 26 year old is fit at the moment and has his prime ahead of him therefore he should look to make his spot in the United first team his own this season.
Swedish International Victor Lindelof
Victor Lindelof was another Jose Mourinho signing who joined United from Benfica for a £30.75million fee in the summer of 2017.
The “Iceman” as he is affectionately known by team-mates moved to Old Trafford with great fanfare and while Mourinho rarely played him at centre-half in big matches in his first season or so he still appeared to be a top player.
Unfortunately Lindelof while doing a decent job under Solksjaer has never really shown the consistency needed and seems a touch slow and indecisive.
Like Bailly however at 26 years old he still has time to improve and appears to be the man in possession of the position next to Maguire at least for the Premier League so he must take his opportunity to cement his place.
Argentina’s Marcos Rojo
Marcos Rojo signed by Louis Van Haal has always flattered to deceive since moving to United from Sporting in Portugal for a fee of £18million back in the summer of 2014. The Argentinian international became a huge hit with the fans as his performances on the field were always full of courage and solid defending.
However to say his spell at United has been injury hit would be an understatement as Rojo has missed way more matches than he has played for the Red-Devils.
Rojo spent a decent spell on loan at Estudiantes in Argentina last season and he has been named in the Premier League squad.
Still only 28 years old, at this point any games Rojo plays for the club must surely be viewed as a bonus yet he is still potentially a top class professional who could come good.
England U21’s Axel Tuanzebe
Axel Tuanzebe is a 22 year old graduate of the United Academy who is highly rated and has got top level game time during 2 recent loan stints at Aston Villa where he received excellent reviews. As a homegrown player Tuanzebe is a key player for Ole as he is named in both the Champions League squad and the Premier League squad.
The English youngster who left his native Democratic Republic of Congo as a child looks like he has all the tools to excel at the top level as his performance in the CL win over PSG showed.
As part of a back three he looks particularly at home. Over the season it may be Tuanzebe gets the most game time when the team plays with three at the back.
He certainly made his case to partner Maguire after his assured display in the Champions League match where he handled Mbappe, Neymar and company relatively comfortably. The future looks bright.
England Youth International Teden Mengi
Teden Mengi at the tender age of just 18 year of age is a recent United youth team captain who has impressed the manager greatly over the past year or so.
Mengi has been a U15, U16, U17 and U18 England international and has all the attributes of a top player and go on to become a full international for England and is one of a number of highly rated young English players at the moment.
The youth English international has shown great poise and ability while training with the first team squad and he has been rewarded with a place in the Premier League squad. Mengi’s potential is indisputable, much will depend on how the youngster is used and the opportunities he gets under Ole.
If used wisely Mengi may well prove to be a genuine defender of the quality of Ferdinand, Vidic, Pallister and Bruce and he may yet prove to be the right partner for Harry Maguire.
England International Phil Jones
Lastly and unfortunately quite likely least comes Phil Jones who amazingly recently signed a new contract, which will keep him at the club until June 2023. The 28 year old England international was in the Three Lions World Cup squad in 2018 but how far the former Blackburn Rovers man has fallen.
Currently injured and not expected back until next year, Jones has not played since January 26th 2020 in the 6-1 win over Tranmere in the FA Cup.
Whether Jones can still be considered a realistic option for the club is very much in doubt but he was once considered a prized asset after he was signed by Sir Alex from Blackburn after impressing for England playing both in the centre of defence and midfield.
Phil Jones has to be viewed as the least likely player to emerge as United’s best option to partner Maguire but again anything is possible and the club must still retain hopes of him returning to former glories as they did re-sign him.
Who Should Partner Harry Maguire
Yes lot’s not forget the centre-back who has just left United – England international Chris Smalling was signed permanently by Roma for a deal as much as £18.1million after spending a very successful spell on loan last campaign. With Sir Alex Ferguson signing Smalling gone just who should partner Maguire?
For the Premier League playing with a back 4 we think it has to be either Bailly or Lindelof who gets the most opportunities to partner Harry Maguire with Swede Victor Lindelof getting the first shout. Eric Bailly should be the man who gets the nod if Lindelof get injured or loses form. Marcos Rojo should provide obvious cover along with youngsters Axel Tuanzebe and Teden Mengi.
For the Champions League Ole should surely continue with Axel Tuanzebe as part of back 3 along with Maguire and look at Bailly first followed by Lindelof and Tuanzebe to partner Maguire as part of a back 4 until the preferred selections become apparent.
No matter how you think, the defence cannot really be considered weak when there are good options at left-back with Luke Shaw and Alex Telles and also at right back with Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Tim Fosu-Mensai plus the above SEVEN options for the centre of defence. Surely some of the combinations will come good.