Former Manchester United full-back Paul Parker has dealt criticism to Harry Maguire at a time the defender is playing well in a side of underwhelming performers.
I can understand why Parker would single out Maguire, but he’s probably the last player who deserves it now. Especially after coming back into the team as an unwanted figure and putting his body on the line.
We could look at how Maguire isn’t the quickest at bringing the ball out of defence, or how he’s prone to a mistake in a big game (eeek) but that seems like nit-picking at a time he is playing well.
Parker feels the England international has been made to look better that he is in recent games for United.
“Maguire is being made to look good because in the low block you’re more likely to be making blocks and heading balls away,” Parker told bettors.
“The defence has been put under so much pressure and they’re making mistakes.
“They did very well after the World Cup but the bad form picked up after the league cup final.
“After that it’s been a backwards step and losing Maritnez at the start of the season didn’t help.
“He drags people with him so they miss him.”
Parker went on to claim Maguire is partly responsible for Andre Onana’s rocky start to life at Old Trafford, adding: “The stats only show you how many times the ball goes into the back of the net but you have to look at the number of saves Onana has to make.
“He’s never worked like this in Italy. It’s a different kind of goalkeeping and that’s why we’re seeing faults in his goalkeeping. It’s relentless.
“He’s having to shift his positioning and make all kinds of decisions more consistently than he did in the Italian league.
“United have to sit deeper now because Harry Maguire is playing and the manager has had to accept that because Maguire can’t squeeze up and he can’t run.
“They’re trying to play out from the back but they know they can’t do it with Harry Maguire but it’s like a shy horse pulling a cart.
“He’s very slow and very cumbersome.
“The deeper you sit the more you’re one bad decision away from allowing the opposition to have a shot at your goal.”
Speaking of Onana errors, he will be hoping to avoid another in the Champions League when United take on Bayern Munich on Tuesday night at Old Trafford.
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