09 Aug 2026 18:43:11.
Really great to read that De Ligt is joining up with the rest of the squad in Dublin. Licha apparently isn't far from a return so we're in good shape. We're a little short of depth in CM and CB, and I've posted before about being most anxious about our fullback positions, but if we get our first choice CBs on the pitch I'll feel much more confident regardless.
09 Aug 2026 21:20:07
The big thing is whether DonRed can stay fit or not.
09 Aug 2026 22:15:35
Angel, DonRed hasn't been fit for years. God bless him, little tubby around the waist. ?? And we are in deep trouble if we need to play DonRed.
09 Aug 2026 22:51:47
Unfortunately you are far too on point there, Ken!!
09 Aug 2026 22:51:57
It would be nice, DonRed, if they could both stay fit for a sustained period. That said, I believe we should be easing in both Yoro and Heaven as the longer term preferred pairing.
09 Aug 2026 23:37:29
I reread that, what was I writing ? in my defence I'm having a few pints in Belfast.
10 Aug 2026 00:02:36
Enjoy the Fleadh.
10 Aug 2026 05:59:56
Cheers Ken.
10 Aug 2026 07:36:57
A solid defense wins you a league. The Fb and Cb options wouldn't be too bad if they all could stay fit. I think, next summer, one of Maz or Dalot will be moved on to upgrade the Rb.
We definitely need to develop Heaven and Yoro, but if somehow all our Cbs stay fit, then one of those two might need a loan to get game time to aid their development.
Although Martinez's contract expires next season, along with Maguire's, Utd may end up needing to buy 2 Cbs next summer.
Time will tell.
10 Aug 2026 11:04:38
Lots of fans (myself included) have stated over recent months that we probably need a new CB due to the injury issues, particularly with MdL and Martinez.
Yet at no point has the club seriously been linked with any CB's this summer. Maybe that's down to the new tight lipped way the club is being run (we've not really known about any of United's serious interest this summer), or maybe that is because the club just haven't seriously considered signing a CB this summer.
I suppose extending Maguire's deal was done with the intention of delaying the need to sign a CB. The problem the club has is when everyone is fit we have a good selection of CB's (MdL, Martinez, Maguire, Yoro, and Heaven). While we have two very gifted young CB's in Yoro and Heaven that needs to play regularly this season to continue to develop, meaning there is probably a reluctance to sign a 4th senior CB who'd probably play ahead of them, potentially blocking their pathway.
While I appreciate the benefit of a young defender having a senior pro alongside them to guide them through games, ultimately if you are in the first team squad then it should be because you are good enough to play in the first team on your own merit, not only if someone is available to hold your hand through games.
We have seen Carrick play Yoro at RB during pre-season, it will be interesting to see if that was just because neither Dalot or Mazraoui were available in the earlier games, or whether he is trying to get him ready to play a bit more in that position this season to help him develop and get more minutes on the pitch.
The club also would have had a better idea on the timeline and potentially recovery of MdL. Maybe they are confident that he will be fit and available for the majority of the season due to having a better understanding of his injury and recovery.
If MdL is fit and available for 60-70% of our games then he will play in those games more often than not.
Meaning that the other options will be fighting it out to play alongside in those games or in the 30-40% of games that he isn't available for.
If we think of it that there are two CB positions, meaning there is 200% of game time available, with MdL likely to play in 60-70% of those games at least then that leaves 130-140% of game time to be shared out between Maguire, Martinez, Yoro, and Heaven.
Ideally you'd want young players like Yoro and Heaven to play 40-50% of those minutes each in order for them to develop, leaving between 30-60% left to be picked up by Martinez and Maguire.
If MdL stays fairly fit and available (typically throughout his career he has been available for an average of 75-80% of games). Then even if that dips a little this season then we probably have enough to see us though the season, while also giving plenty of minutes to our young CB's to hopefully accelerate their development ahead of next season. Then next summer when Maguire leaves the club can possibly look at moving Martinez on (he'll have one year left on his deal) and then looking to sign a new top class CB to compete with MdL, Yoro and Heaven.
10 Aug 2026 13:14:59
But we should also aim to have a standard CB partnership, id argue it's not that good to rotate the CB pairing that much.
10 Aug 2026 13:25:57
Trololo, I agree that it helps to have a settled back line, particularly in the centre back partnership. But who's to say we won't.
If MdL is fit for around 75% of our games, it might be a case of who takes the spot next to him. Will it be Martinez (if he can stay fit), Yoro, Heaven or Maguire? It'll probably depend on who can stay fit and put a run of form together.
Maybe Heaven steps up and is the guy to play more often than not with MdL, with Yoro getting games at RB and Martinez and Maguire playing as cover for MdL and Heaven.
10 Aug 2026 17:32:54
I would also like to see Heaven getting the most minutes, but I just don't see it. It seems like Carrick wants a more experienced back line.
My guess is De Ligt and Martinez will be the first choice, but let's see.
10 Aug 2026 18:19:50
Heaven looks a good prospect.
Did you see his interview? He says he is only 19 and getting more game time than he expected. He understands his shortcomings, and lack of experience counts against him. He is very level headed, and feels he knows his position in the squad. He will be a very good player in time, I think, and maybe this season he will be more back up, but that can change if injuries occur, and there is no doubt he will play quite a bit.
Yoro is another I'm hoping improves a lot this season. He is a season ahead of Heaven, but you wouldn't have thought that watching them.
In my opinion, the defence is the weakest part of our squad when it comes to high quality.
Lots of average Joes, with nobody to hang your hat on, being fairly sure they will be 8/10 ten weeks in a row.
Shaw and Dalot were both available and consistent last season, but were 5 or 6/10 more often than not, imo.
Hopefully we will see 2 or 3 more come in before the window closes.
Lb looks like the one they are going to go for, which I think everybody advocates. It will be interesting to see who they get.