Ex-footballer turned professional coach Stuart Pearce has come out in passionate defence of Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, insisting that the Premier League clubs should be jumping at the chance to sign the England international.
It’s safe to say that Harry Maguire‘s time at Man United hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing since he joined the club for a world-record fee back in 2019 and now having dropped out of the first-team squad over the past season or so, he has been left somewhat in limbo under Erik ten Hag.
However, with the 30-year-old’s future now more uncertain than ever after being stripped of the captaincy last month, Pearce seems to think that other teams in the English top flight should be racing to give Maguire a new home, stating: “If I was a Premier League manager, I would be doing everything I can to bring Harry Maguire to my football club.
In fact, his praise of the six-foot-four centre-back has been the case for some time, aligning with the likes of Luke Shaw in the belief that he receives a disproportionate amount of criticism. Here he is talking about it Maguire’s importance in the England squad back in November:
Speaking with Sportsbeat (via the Mirror), the 61-year-old said, “For what he stands for as a player — his age, experience, he’s comfortable on the ball and [is] capable of goals in the opposite box – I can’t see any negatives.
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“For me, I would do my level best to get him out of United if I was a manager at another team. It tells you a lot when ten Hag isn’t saying, ‘I want Harry Maguire moved on’. That tells you that his attitude in training is spot on.”
The Dutchman himself has reportedly told Maguire that he “doesn’t want him to leave”, according to Sam Matterface on talkSPORT, and could certainly do the with the cover in the event either one of his first-choice centre-backs gets injured again. This is a role Pearce also believes Maguire has already accepted.
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“[ten Hag] sees his worth”, said the former Manchester City defender and manager; “he doesn’t see him as a first-team starter but whenever you need a game seeing out, he puts Maguire in the heart of defence to make sure they keep the ball out the net.”
“When he comes off the bench in the 85th minute, he gets straight into the game”, continued Pearce. “He does the job the manager wants him to do and that says a lot about his character.”
He concluded by saying, “Knowing Harry, if he stays at United, he’ll do everything he can to make life uncomfortable for ten Hag with his performances to get back into the team.”
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Despite a fair bit of fuss being made after a bit of a heated exchange with new keeper, André Onana, there are some fans who feel Man United’s number five has shown plenty of positive signs in pre-season, but whether or not he’ll be staying in Manchester is anyone’s guess.
Would you keep Harry Maguire at the club or is it time for him to depart from Old Trafford and take on a new challenge?
Phil Foden picks up Premier League Player of the Year for 2023/24
Danny Jones
Manchester City forward Phil Foden has picked up the Premier League’s Player of the Year award for the 2023/24 season.
Having enjoyed the best statistical campaign to date, with two games still left to play, the Stockport-born star City and England star has swept up his first-ever Premier League POTY award at the age of 23.
The attacking midfielder has already swept up Young Player of the Year twice in his career (2021 and 2022), which was awarded to former teammate Cole Palmer on Friday, and this accolade just goes to show how much of a first-team star he’s become over the past couple of years.
With both awards going to Manc footballers and Foden being the first Englishman to win it since Jamie Vardy in 2015/16, you’ll hear no complaints from us.
Foden has 25 goals and 11 assists this season, his highest tally ever, and with the chance of a domestic double still looming, he could be set for another unreal 12 months in sky blue.
Pep Guardiola’s side simply needs to beat West Ham this Sunday to win their fourth consecutive Premier League title and with a Manchester derby FA Cup final waiting for them next week, the local lad has a big fortnight ahead of him.
Having already become a treble winner with Man City last season, not to mention emerging as one of the first names on the team sheet for the Three Lions, he’s graduated from one of the most talented youngsters to one of the most impressive in Europe – and he’s got the stats to back it up.
Here’s hoping he can round off this year with some more silverware while wearing an England shirt. Here are some of his highlights from this season:
A huge congratulations to Phil Foden on winning the 23/24 Premier League Player of the Year; regardless of who you support, you can’t deny he’s been unreal this season.
In fact, his emergence as a senior figure and somewhat of a leader in this current City side has given us a lot faith for the summer and we’re more convinced than ever that Gareth Southgate must try and build around him if we stand a chance of going for in Euro 2024.
Is it coming home and will a lad from Stockport play a big part in bringing it here?
Cole Palmer wins Premier League’s Young Player of the Year for 2023/24
Danny Jones
Manchester-born and bred footballer, Cole Palmer, has won the Premier League’s Young Player of the Year award for 2023/24 following a spectacular breakthrough campaign.
The ex-Manchester City youth product made his big-money move to Chelsea at the start of this season and has been comfortably one of the best players in the league this year, once again proving the old adage that if you’re good enough you’re old enough.
Sitting second in the race for the Golden Boot behind former teammate Erling Haaland and shining as one of the most creative midfielders in Europe in his first full season, you could have banked on him winning it months ago.
🔵⭐️ OFFICIAL: Cole Palmer wins the award as Premier League Young Player of the Year. 🧊
Chelsea star has scored 22 goals and provided 10 assists in Premier League this season. pic.twitter.com/HYpthQiOU3
Having bagged a hattrick in Chelsea’s remarkable turnaround against Manchester United as well as bagging four against Everton, just to name a couple of his most impressive performances over the past 12 months, he doesn’t like a player who only made a handful of appearances last year.
With the 22-year-old fittingly netting 22 goals not to mention 10 assists and quickly establishing himself as Mauricio Pochettino’s main man, despite the multi-billion squad assembled around him, it’s been nothing short of a remarkable emergence onto the biggest stage.
Having earned his first senior international call-up through his efforts too, he now looks set to be one the players England fans are dying to see start at the Euros – the point where many Blues are now wondering whether they made a mistake letting him go.
Congratulations to the Wythenshawe native on his well-deserved award and we sincerely look forward to seeing what he does in an England shirt this summer.
As for who will pick up the outright Premier League Player of the Year, surely Palmer picking up the youth award means that Phil Foden is set to mop up the main prize?
A clean sweep for Manc footballers. We like the sound of that.