Captaincy concerns and personal slump too much for Maguire
Can Harry Maguire function as Man Utd’s captain while his own form is so below-par? For the sake of his Old Trafford future, it’s time for the skipper to focus on himself.
It seems Harry Maguire has rattled a few cages in the Manchester United dressing room. Many United fans will probably view that as one of the few things the defender has done right of late.
According to The Times, Maguire has upset some of the delicate flowers in Ralf Rangnick’s squad by openly blaming them on the pitch for making mistakes and by some of his critical post-match comments to the media.
Christ. It would fascinating to see how some of these characters might have coped under the leadership of Roy Keane, Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce and Nemanja Vidic. No corner of the Old Trafford dressing room would be free of a thumb-sucking, foetal-positioned Red Devil.
Big Weekend: Manchester derby, Dele, Marsch, Brentford
Maguire’s obvious problem, though, is that he isn’t currently speaking from a position of authority. The four aforementioned captains could blame and cajole however crudely with no concern of having their criticism thrown back at them. They, and other former captains, led by example, pulling from the front while simultaneously shoving from the rear.
Any suggestion from the current captain that his teammates aren’t meeting the standards required at Old Trafford would be hypocritical to say the least. Maguire has endured a wretched few months to cap a largely miserable year and a half.
A dreadful first half for Manchester United but the best moment was Harry Maguire pissing about on Pro Clubs by holding R1 and X together for as long as possible to drill a ten-yard pass into Fred's thigh when he could see the imminent press.
— Football365 (@F365) February 23, 2022
His form has slipped to the hard-to-watch levels seen at the start of last season when the centre-back seemed to be struggling not only under the weight of expectation as United skipper but also in the wake of an arrest that means he’ll be swerving the Greek islands for his next holiday.
Right now, it looks like he needs one. After regaining his composure and a level of acceptable performance as last season wore on, Maguire thrived in England’s defence during the European Championships. Nut back at United, the £80million man once again looks bogged down amid the wider failings at Old Trafford.
Ralf Rangnick tried to offer some mitigation. Injury was one explanation for “some weaker moments”, as well as the teething problems that come with adapting to a new system or style.
“The way that we are playing now is new to him because in the English national team he was used to playing in a back three and here at Manchester United, in most cases a back four, but still not being as proactive, not with that kind of defence always being on the front foot when we are trying to defend. It will take some time for him to get used to that.”
The concern centring on Maguire is whether he might ever get used to that. Contrary to common perception, he’s no slouch but he’s certainly no whippet either. Turning 29 this weekend, it is unlikely he will suddenly discover another yard of pace and with Rangnick and the other leading candidates for the manager’s job next season reliant on centre-backs engaging high, safe in the knowledge they can recover ground if need be, the United captain is facing an uncertain future.
Reports suggest the Red Devils will look to sign a top-class centre-back in the summer and Maguire will struggle to argue one is not needed. Even if he was performing to the level expected of the world’s most expensive defender, United need greater strength in depth at the heart of their rearguard. But, as it stands, Maguire’s place is certainly under the greatest threat.
He could be saved by the fact United have other areas to focus on, with the spine of their team requiring remodelling. And even if that wasn’t true and all they needed was a centre-back, you wouldn’t back United to get done what is necessary.
Shedding the weight of the armband around his bicep might help Maguire feel lighter. Any abdication of the captaincy may seem unpalatable to the skipper given the kudos it carries and how stepping down might be perceived. But Maguire, right now and in the coming months, cannot be worrying about those around him while all his energy is required to address his own form. If Maguire wants to lead, he can lead. And United need him to. But passing the armband on to someone who craves the cachet of the captaincy, a teammate who can better bear the burden, should not be seen as a sign of weakness. Quite the opposite. It should demonstrate an example of self-scrutiny in a dressing room utterly devoid of introspection.
Regardless, Maguire quite simply must offer a consistent improvement on the performances he has given of late. Sunday’s Manchester derby, when United will expect to be pinned back closer to their 18-yard line than halfway, could be an environment in which Maguire feels more comfortable and one he can use as a platform to build upon ahead of a run-in that will likely decide his United future. That is assuming Rangnick restores him to his XI. If not, the battle may already be lost.
