Sam Allardyce has said Harry Maguire should have played more games this season.
I find it hilarious that Sam Allardyce sounds so appalled by the fact Harry Maguire lost his place in the Manchester United line-up. Even though results have picked up on the pitch, the former England manager jumps to the defeat against Manchester City – as an occasion that saw United miss Maguire, apparently.
Stretty News is a Manchester United blog and you won’t find any of us slagging off United players – unless they deserve it – and Maguire is not someone I think we should be pointing the finger at, though it is ridiculous to claim Erik ten Hag made a mistake by dropping him out of the team for Raphael Varane after signing Lisandro Martinez.
Maguire started the first two Premier League games of the season – which both ended in defeats – before sustaining an injury whilst on international duty. He only returned on Thursday night as a substitute against FC Sheriff.
With Varane injured for the foreseeable future, Maguire has a chance to get more minutes under his belt before the World Cup, so people like Allardyce can sleep at night.
The United skipper has now received the backing of Gareth Southgate’s predecessor, Allardyce, who insists Maguire is key to England’s chances in Qatar. He was talking on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast.
“It’s scandalous, what’s happening. This is out and out trying to destroy somebody,” Allardyce said, as per Manchester Evening News. “Everybody’s on his back, and if you’re going to have such a great player, for his country and for Manchester United… to put out what’s been put out, no-one can withstand that pressure. That sort of criticism in every way, shape or form – it’s bound to affect Harry.
“Playing for Manchester United, I find it strange that he’s not in the team. Why is he not in the team? Why is the new manager playing new players that he has bought over Harry? Because he bought them? That’s the way it looks to me because they’re certainly no better than Harry Maguire.
“I want to see him play for Manchester United again. Seeing them the other week play Manchester City – they need him!”
He added: “It has been outrageous from the people who are trying to undermine what a talent he (Maguire) is, and what a nice guy he is. That’s particularly worrying for Gareth [Southgate] in terms of subsiding to the pressure.
“I’ve got to know him (Maguire) over the last few years, and with what he’s done for England, I hope Gareth stays strong and sticks with him, because he deserves it. I hope he stays loyal to Harry, and I hope Harry repays him for that loyalty.”
