Jamie Carragher has weighed in on the Harry Maguire situation because that is what is making column inches at the moment… and the world needs to read a take on the matter by the former Liverpool defender.
Well, that is what they will lead you to think, along with the notion that Carragher should be the honorary spokesperson for all.
Manchester United centre-back Harry Maguire is at the middle of another media meltdown due to his England selections, own goal against Scotland and the ongoing abuse that has been directed his way for the past two years.
Maguire’s mum, Zoe, has even hit out at the abuse with a statement this morning, as per BBC Sport.
Before we get to Carragher pretending to try on the morale crusader costume, we must not forget this is someone who reached out of his car window to spit at a driver in the opposing lane. It should be granted there’s a lot of hypocrisy in what he writes.
“This is not just about Scotland fans comically taking the mick in a hostile atmosphere,” Carragher wrote in his column for The Telegraph. “That is part of football tribalism. In isolation, there was nothing at Hampden Park which many players have not endured at tough away venues. We are talking about an accumulation of incidents which have created a circus and create a genuine concern for a player’s wellbeing.
“England fans have been praised for standing behind Maguire in Glasgow. It was the right response. But let us not rewrite history because of a belated recognition it is getting out of hand. In March 2022, there were many home supporters inside Wembley who booed Maguire before a friendly against the Ivory Coast. Gareth Southgate called it an ‘absolute joke’.
“Manchester United fans jeered Maguire during pre-season games in 2022 and 2023. One of the most distasteful incidents of all occurred during the friendly with Borussia Dortmund in July, when new signing Andre Onana started yelling at Maguire, in my view disgracefully playing to the gallery to endear himself to United fans.”
So, in Carragher’s own words, one of the most distasteful incident of all was when goalkeeper yelled at his defender for not doing his job? I am certain this would not be a story at any other club.
It gets worse as Carragher adds: “I watched that in disbelief, but it said everything about what has gone wrong. Maguire was still the club captain then. He should have reacted furiously, put Onana in his box and demand respect. Instead, he has the persona of someone whose confidence and authority is utterly broken.”
We did a quick fact check on when Bruno Fernandes was named club captain, and it was over a week prior to the pre-season friendly against Borussia Dortmund that Carragher refers to.
Jamie Carragher is slagging off Onana for yelling at his own players… https://t.co/krjkAVxnih pic.twitter.com/Uct9HAVERo
— Stretford Paddock (@StretfordPaddck) September 14, 2023
Also, the idea of Carragher not ‘yelling’ at his Liverpool teammates is one that makes me laugh.
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He’s like that other scouse twat Souness who unlike when he was playing for United hasn’t jumped all over Pogba’s drug test failure