18 Aug 2026 15:47:12
We started the 2022-2023 season with a back four of Shaw, Martinez, Maguire, and Dalot. Four years and 205 league goals conceded later, we look set to start the 2026-2027 season with the same four players.
I know we've signed a few additional defenders over that four year period, but there's something about this fact that's a little depressing. None of them are good enough for a team with title winning aspirations.
18 Aug 2026 17:01:11
Maguire is a steady Eddie, but he's getting on a bit. Decent squad player and has proved so in the past. Shaw... can't believe he's still our no1, same for Dalot. As for Martinez, after a good first half to his first season, he hasn't been the same.
Injuries seem to have taken something away from him. Hopefully Yoro and Heaven can kick on, and we can transition to them moving forward. Fullbacks... who knows, but we need an upgrade there for sure.
18 Aug 2026 17:17:46
Further to that, redseven, Shaw, Maguire, Dalot were 3 of the 4 from Ole's time in 2020, which is worse.
Also, the fact that we could potentially have 5 players starting from then with Rashford and Bruno.
18 Aug 2026 20:00:42
It was stats that we needed to overhaul both midfield and defence... but there was an argument that the defence would be ok for another year. I definitely doubted that would be how it viewed come this time of the season, and, well... here we are.
We needed to be ruthless, and we bottled it.
We needed a full purge of the players that are not bought into the task.
Maybe those defenders mentioned are fully committed and that's why they are still here? The season is upon us, we are hopefully going to come out of the blocks and stake a claim for the title. Time will tell.
18 Aug 2026 20:23:34
If Martinez stays fit, and I know it's a big if, he is a very good defender.
One of the few we have that can bring the ball out from the back as well.
He's up there with Mount for me, in that if he stays injury-free, he's a big plus for the team.
18 Aug 2026 20:29:49
He played well for Argentina. I don't know why Utd didn't try to buy Romero. Yes, a madman, but a real warrior and aggressive defender.
18 Aug 2026 21:20:21
Criminal that back 4 if it starts like that.
It's actually criminal that our lb is still Luke Shaw.
18 Aug 2026 21:34:11
Jose had him pinned years ago.
18 Aug 2026 21:44:14
Oh yeah, but people on here called Jose out for bullying him. ??
But Jose bought Dalot. Not sure I can forgive him for that.
As for Maguire, he is slower than Redman would be to give a Glazer the kiss of life.
All the above are average Joe's or below.
Martinez had a great attitude, but is too small for the EPL, and has been exposed for that dozens of times over the past 4 years.
18 Aug 2026 21:52:03
More criminal is that, seeing as we have no money, we didn't go for Senesi.
18 Aug 2026 22:44:35
Martinez has played well against Haaland, so not been bullied that much. A lot of our conceded goals come from poor FB play and midfielders not tracking runners.
I think Heaven will have a breakout season this year.
He looks a top player, but needs an experienced leader next to him. I would go with him, and then rotate the experienced guys next to him. Yoro can back up Heaven.
18 Aug 2026 23:25:38
Crikey almighty, who said he got bullied? His lack of height gets exposed a lot, and if you can't see that, then I'm not sure what you're looking at, DB.
He doesn't get bullied, and has done OK v Haaland in the four games they started against each other. He shut him out twice, conceded one in one game, and a 6-3 v City when Haaland got a hat trick, so a bit mixed.
He copes well with his lack of inches in the main, and is a very good defender, but gets exposed a couple of times in every game. He then throws himself into challenges, writing checks his body can't cash.
I love his attitude, but he can't stay fit. And, when he is, there are still some big negatives that negate a lot of his positives, imo, sadly.
19 Aug 2026 09:51:42
Both Dodgy and Ken have valid points. He has often been left exposed by poor full backs. One thing he doesn't have is pace, but if our midfield is a good one, that will matter less.
I would play Martinez in front of the back four
and push Santos further forward if we don't get another midfielder. He is tenacious, a good tackler, and good at passing.