Summer Transfer Window 2023

alderz

OldCastleSwift said:

alderz said:

For what it's worth, I'm just looking at Maguire vs Zouma vs Aguerd stats over the past three seasons (basically since Maguire became an internet joke). Maguire makes more tackles than Zouma (nearly double), has a higher tackle success than both Zouma & Aguerd, makes more blocks than both, makes more interceptions than both, makes more clearances than Aguerd. He has comparable pass success (86.3% compared to 88.4% and 88.2%), even though he plays much more progressive passes than both of them.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Maguire plays, and has almost always played on the left of a two? So he'd be replacing Aguerd.

Or has he played enough on the right to make him a comfortable Zouma replacement?

I think you're correct. Transfermarkt has a teammates section where you can see appearances with particular teammates. I've filtered on centre-backs, and the vast majority are players that play on the right, I think.

From the list, I think Lisandro Martinez, Jason Pearce, Danny Higginbotham, Jonny Evans and Tyrone Mings. are the only players who play on the left

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/harry-maguire/gemeinsameSpiele/spieler/177907/plus/0/galerie/0?gegner=0&kriterium=2&wettbewerb=&liga=&verein=&pos=3&status=0

Lukerz

Reality is Aguerd has been a liability in more than one game & Zouma always misses 2/3 months of a season.

OutcastLondoner

Aguerd had a few standout bad performances/mistakes but I think overall looked remarkably good for someone in his first season. I also think we looked much better as a side in general when he recovered from his injury and was finally able to play.

OldCastleSwift

OutcastLondoner said:

Aguerd had a few standout bad performances/mistakes but I think overall looked remarkably good for someone in his first season. I also think we looked much better as a side in general when he recovered from his injury and was finally able to play.

Agreed. And not that's it's massively relevant, but he and Zouma will have built an understanding and are very close; even went on holiday together this summer. That partnership will now be broken (assuming Maguire signs) and I'm not sure either deserves dropping, to be honest. No problem at all with rotation, but with Maguire I think it'll be another Lingard situation whereby if Maguire is fit, Maguire starts.

OutcastLondoner

Alderz, run up the Gundo partnership calculations please

https://www.joe.co.uk/sport/ilkay-gundogan-could-leave-barcelona-for-free-402440

jay_in_cpt

Play all 3 , with wingbacks…
Could be worth a try 🤷‍♂️

alderz

I think that’s what would happen, tbh. Maguire between the others, Alvarez Paqueta and another in midfield, Bowen and Antonio up front.

OutcastLondoner

If we play a back 5, then can we get Benrahma in front of Paqueta and Alvarez? I think he’s so much better centrally and we did some really good things when he got into those positions, whereas he’s predictable and wasteful on the left.

Also, genuine request. Can you do a partnership of Paqueta and Alvarez v others? When I did a rough check of defensive work, Paqueta actually came out better than McT so is it true that we can’t afford to play him in a two?

Fortuneseeker

Jorderz_Moyes_will_be_Moyes said:

Let's be honest, Zouma is injured a lot and limping the rest of the time. So a solid back-up is needed, whether that's Maguire or not.

A hell of a lot of money involved IF he is going to be signed as a back up which I doubt he would be.

steve

Can't see Maguire getting a good welcome from our fans

buffybegood

steve said:

Can't see Maguire getting a good welcome from our fans

Tbh, if we hugely overpay for him, then we've the right to expect hugely above average performances from him; any less then people won't be happy.

Lukerz

He’ll be fine. We let Paqueta off despite spending over £50m on him.

jay_in_cpt

If we sign Maguire it would not have been my choice, but I’m sure fans at the ground would give him a warm welcome… They want what we all want, good performances and some wins…

claretandbluesky

Lukerz said:

Hypothetical alert 🚨
So IF we sign Harry Maguire & IF we play a back four, does he come in for Aguerd or Zouma?

You have to pick, can’t say ‘neither’.

Out of those two Aqured, but I wouldn't be surprised if the medical staff know Zouma has an issue that is always going to flare up and result in him being out for a few matches each time it does. Hence why Moyes wants three centre backs that could be considered starting quality. Out of those three Zouma has a bit of class the others don't quite have but I wonder how many times this season he will put together six matches without missing a couple.

buffybegood

Suggestions that we're close to a deal for Maguire for £37m. Moyes and Sullivan are braindead, why on earth are we paying this much for him? Man Utd are desperate to offload him and no-one else is remotely interested. All we're doing is helping them out with their mistake in paying so much for him.

Absolutely no leeway for me this season for Moyes (obviously goes without saying there's none for Sullivan), this is just dreadful business.

OldCastleSwift

jay_in_cpt said:

Play all 3 , with wingbacks…
Could be worth a try 🤷‍♂️

But we only have one wingback. To make a back three work we'd need at least one RWB and another LWB. But you'd want them to be defensively sound in case we revert back to a four. It would need big money, or quality scouting, to fill those roles.

If we go with Coufal, Kehrer or Johnson at RWB then we're seriously limiting our ability in the final third.

EXETERHAMMER

OldCastleSwift said:

jay_in_cpt said:

Play all 3 , with wingbacks…
Could be worth a try 🤷‍♂️

But we only have one wingback. To make a back three work we'd need at least one RWB and another LWB. But you'd want them to be defensively sound in case we revert back to a four. It would need big money, or quality scouting, to fill those roles.

If we go with Coufal, Kehrer or Johnson at RWB then we're seriously limiting our ability in the final third.

Antonio

Jorderz_Moyes_will_be_Moyes

I'm gonna put my neck on the line and say that if we signed Maguire, he'd been one of our best players this season.

He might have one or two clangers but in terms of blocking, winning headers and winning tackles, he is tailor-made for a Moyes setup.

buffybegood

Jorderz_Moyes_will_be_Moyes said:

I'm gonna put my neck on the line and say that if we signed Maguire, he'd been one of our best players this season.

He might have one or two clangers but in terms of blocking, winning headers and winning tackles, he is tailor-made for a Moyes setup.

He'll obviously suit a Moyes team far better than Man Utd, but the sort of money being quoted for him is beyond ridiculous.

alderz

OutcastLondoner said:

If we play a back 5, then can we get Benrahma in front of Paqueta and Alvarez? I think he’s so much better centrally and we did some really good things when he got into those positions, whereas he’s predictable and wasteful on the left.

Also, genuine request. Can you do a partnership of Paqueta and Alvarez v others? When I did a rough check of defensive work, Paqueta actually came out better than McT so is it true that we can’t afford to play him in a two?

I can do this tomorrow fairly quickly I reckon

Lukerz

Paqueta - Alvarez
Bowen - Benrahma - LW
ST

alderz

Lukerz said:

Paqueta - Alvarez
Bowen - Benrahma - LW
ST

Now that’s a team of #Ballerz

buffybegood

Vlasic departure confirmed on the OS:

https://www.whufc.com/news/nikola-vlasic-departs

Lukerz

https://twitter.com/jacobsteinberg/status/1689001762567446530

alderz

I’d really like that. He’s very good. Very quick, very attacking. Chelsea have Chilwell, Cucurella, and Lewis Hall broke through last season. Maatsen feels surplus.

IronHerb

Isn't Lewis Hall going to Brighton?

buffybegood

Yeah, Maatsen has apparently had a good pre-season after impressing on loan at Burnley last season. Would certainly consider an outright purchase, obviously a loan with an option is even better, but a loan without an option should be a big no-no.

OldCastleSwift

IronHerb said:

Isn't Lewis Hall going to Brighton?

Palace, I think I read.

I'd be delighted with Maatsen if we could get him. Watched a number of Burnley games last season and he certainly stood out. He'd be perfect on the left if we were going to a back three.

buffybegood

The very reliable ITK over on KUMB is suggesting JWP is close; after the news that Maguire is looking very likely this is soul destroying news. Sullivan needs shooting for allowing Moyes to spend so much of the Rice lottery winnings on a 30 year old and a nearly 29 year old. It's just such terrible business and I genuinely worry about what the standard of the squad in 3, 4 or 5 years time. Too many cans have been kicked down the road for too long, and so we waste our windfall on players that are completely the wrong age profile.

Bazshuayi

In the would like Maatsen camp