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:
🏴 “Maguire has become crucial!”
🤨 “But the footballing public are still desperate to have a dig at him.”
👀 “Without him against the USA, I don’t think we would have kept a clean sheet!”
Stuart Pearce believes Harry Maguire is ‘crucial’ for England and still has plenty to give at club level.
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?
If you don’t rate Harry Maguire highly then you need to reassess how you view the sport.
He’s special on the ball whilst also being elite aerially & a leader. His only faults are a lack of speed + he can’t receive with his back to goal like ten Hag wants.https://t.co/EzICPP3jFb
Manchester Storm’s record-breaking return to AO Arena goes down a storm with fans
Daisy Jackson
Manchester Storm have made their grand return to the AO Arena, after more than two decades away from their former home.
And it appears the ice hockey craze (which may have been spurred on by a certain Heated Rivalry) is here to stay, with record-breaking numbers piling into the venue for Sunday’s match against Sheffield Steelers.
The AO Arena has now shared that a record crowd of 11,000 fans attended the long-awaited Manchester Storm homecoming last week.
The action has gone down a storm with fans, with plenty of chatter on social media (and videos of a certain fight) doing the rounds.
Manchester Storm’s homecoming has now smashed the record for an Elite Hockey pre-season fixture, with fans travelling from across Manchester and beyond.
As the team enters this new era, bidding farewell to the ‘Storm Shelter’ in Altrincham that’s been their home for a decade, demand for tickets is continuing to grow.
This is the first time fans have been able to see the club on the ice at the AO Arena since 2004, and last weekend they thrilled supporters with a 5-5 draw agains the Steelers.
Manchester Storm is now set to bring approximately 35 games to the city centre each year, providing a regular programme of major sporting events for Manchester and its visitors.
It also brings elite-level hockey back to one of Europe’s largest indoor sporting arenas.
Gemma Vaughan, General Manager at the AO Arena says, “Tonight is a hugely significant moment for Manchester.
“To welcome Manchester Storm back to their former home after more than 20 years, and to do so in front of a record Elite Hockey League crowd, is incredibly special.
“The response from supporters has demonstrated the strength of Manchester’s passion for ice hockey and the demand for world-class sport in the city. We’re proud to be able to provide a home for the Storm as they begin this exciting new chapter.”
Erling Haaland has named his four favourite films… and fans have a lot to say on it
Emily Sergeant
Erling Haaland has answered the all-important question.
The question heard around the world, the question on everyone’s lips, a question that has absolutely nothing to do with football whatsoever… that’s right, he’s answered Letterboxd’s famous question of ‘what are your four favourite films?’.
If you’re unaware of what Letterboxd is, it describes itself as being an ‘online diary platform and app for film lovers’ and it gives users the chance to display their four favourite films at the top of their profile for all to see (and judge).
An extension of this has then been Letterboxd asking celebrities in press junket interviews and on red carpets what their ‘four faves’ are – and it’s gone on to become something of a phenomenon in the film world.
Everyone from massive A-list movie stars, to indie darlings and up-and-coming names have answered this question before, and now (it appears) to be Erling Haaland’s turn.
He’s not the first footballer to be tasked with question though, as the entire Spurs team was ambushed with it by former player – and famously massive cinephile – Alfie Whiteman last year, but it’s fair to say that after the summer he’s had with Norway at the World Cup, achieving international fame in the process, that Haaland is one of the most high-profile to answer it in a long while.
So, what’s on Erling’s list then?
Well, to self-confessed ‘film bros’ out there, you’re not going to find any deep cuts in this selection unfortunately, and you’re probably not going to get any recommendations for movies you haven’t seen before either, but come on, he is only a footballer after all.
Erling Haaland has named his four favourite films… and fans have a lot to say on it / Credit: Letterboxd
First up for the Manchester City striker is a pretty common pick by straight white men, it’s The Wolf of Wall Street, and he doesn’t give much of a reason for it, other than just suggesting: “I think you understand why”.
He then follows that up with Ridley Scott’s classic Gladiator, calling it ‘amazing’, before naming 2004’s epic Troy, and then rounding it out with a Christmas favourite for many, Home Alone, adding that he ‘watched it a lot as a kid, and then again now’.
As for fan reaction to Haaland’s four favourites, let’s just say it’s been mixed.
Among the 1,000+ comments on the Instagram video, you’ll find just as many people called him ‘king’ and saying he has ‘goated’ taste, as you will comments like this: “He has the most male gazed top four in history of Letterboxd.”
Danny Jones -
4th August 2023 
