CONFIRMED Mark McGuinness - 4 year contract

[LBA_Blade]

I haven't seen our defence have many great games.

They've occasionally looked comfortable in games we've dominated, but when put under any sort of pressure they crumble.

Despite signing half a dozen CBs, I haven't rated the look of any of them over a period of games - even Tanganga.
I do think Tanganga has the potential to play much better but he needs a better partner next to him (someone akin to Souttar).

I agree that we have been poor defensively which is unusual of late, Tanganga and a "fit" Souttar would make the ideal partnership, the summer will bring a rebuild regardless of what league we are in, a lot of things to consider, if we can be safe before Easter that would be great, then when the playoffs are out of reach (most likely) we can try some combinations for next season. I would like to see if we can get Beattie through into the first team amongst a couple of others.

 

[JD88]

has to be a big turnover this summer and wilder and all united fans know it mcguinness and chong have to be 2 of the worst signings weve ever made for me their both league 1 level if that we need 8 moving on in the summer and 6 good championship players to come in

Including the loan players going back it will be a lot more than 8 from this squad who will need shifting

 

[jimmymuir]

Him and Chong on four-year contracts is sickening. Whoever wanted them in the first place needs sacking.

 

[ancientblade]

Including the loan players going back it will be a lot more than 8 from this squad who will need shifting

could be right yeah as for ben mee alongside tanganga hes looked a very confident assured centre back even at 35 yesterday he looked a total wreck alongside mcguinness mind figures really playing alongside that clown one of the worst quality centre backs ive ever seen in a united shirt and believe me ive seen some humdingers over 60 years

 

[Roygbiv]

He is a head it, kick it, tackle defender. He needs a athletic runner alongside him such as a Tanganga. If he doesn't win first contact then he has someone to cover anyone getting beyond the defence.

Pairing him with a 35/36 year old Ben Mee even though it was Mansfield at home yesterday was not a wise move. You have paired a slow defender with someone even slower that relies on their positional sense.

Then you are relying on the right and left backs to help who will likely be further up the pitch.

That said should we keep him? Not really, as others have said someone his age should be quicker than he is. You can get a similar type of player, similar age but can still win the aerial duals.

McGuinness playing affects Tangangas game though because he has to play on the left. They were both woeful against West Brom. Mee was woeful yesterday. Nobody looks good playing next to him

 

[Withington Blade]

It's honestly like nobody at the club had actually watched him before signing

I could see within his first 45 minutes here that he was nobody to justify any sizeable spend on. No particular strengths. A nothing player

The club must have been enticed in by a combination of desperation (main ingredient) and some very selective stats taken out of context

Bearing in mind the interview process we allegedly followed to recruit Selles, it would not surprise me in the slightest if he was signed without being properly scouted. They obviously panicked on deadline day, looked at the £8m fee Luton paid and thought we were getting a bargain paying £4m. How wrong they were!

 

[Gimli]

Him and Chong on four-year contracts is sickening. Whoever wanted them in the first place needs sacking.

It’s incompetence bordering on gross negligence awarding those two 4 year contracts!

 

[BangorBlade]

It’s incompetence bordering on gross negligence awarding those two 4 year contracts!

Think it was called desperation

 

[TJ blade]

Him and Chong on four-year contracts is sickening. Whoever wanted them in the first place needs sacking.

Recruitments been shite for years at the lane! Time for a clearout!

 

[jimmymuir]

Recruitments been shite for years at the lane! Time for a clearout!

True, but summer 2025 will take some beating. There's not a single player that has improved us.

 

[ancientblade]

Recruitments been shite for years at the lane! Time for a clearout!

i think there will be a big clearout this summer has to be really i think wilder will be looking to build his 3rd squad at the lane

 

[Kenilworth]

Wednesday fans loved him. I realise now that was in League 1 - which is probably his level. He's only ever going to be passable in the champ with an athletic CB next to him to make up for his many misgivings. Putting Mee next to him was a recipe for disaster.

Like the Chuckle Brothers

 

[SouthStandGBlock]

He’s the modern day Mark Foran. Makes Darren Carr look like Franco Baresi.

Darren Carr - there's a blast from the past.

He was shocking wasn't he.

 

[Bladesman101]

I genuinely think he’s half decent maybe my mates are right and I’m and idiot

 

[Kenilworth]

I genuinely think he’s half decent maybe my mates are right and I’m and idiot

I’m not yer mate but now I think you’re an idiot too.

Soz.

 

[Balham]

McGuinness playing affects Tangangas game though because he has to play on the left. They were both woeful against West Brom. Mee was woeful yesterday. Nobody looks good playing next to him

Mee (correctly) took pelters for his role in the build up to Mansfield's fourth goal last Sunday. However, what seems to have escaped most people's notice is that the very left footed, left sided centre half was defending in the wide right centre half channel because the right sided centre half (McGuinness) was nowhere to be seen.

 

[Bladesman101]

I’m not yer mate but now I think you’re an idiot too.

Soz.

Double whammy

 

[ckpe147]

Nobody going to praise him for probably his best game for us yesterday? Or does everybody on this forum only like criticizing our players. I do think this lad needs a run of games before we can truly judge, was excellent in the first half against Stoke before Christmas, and excellent yesterday, couldn't do much for the penalty, and think he will be a useful squad player. Not a bad option to have, as last year we had 3 centre backs in total. Hope others agree.

 

[Foody]

Thought he was excellent yesterday, completely bullied Hurst, ref let him away with a fair bit and he took advantage of it. Handball aside, which was more poor luck than judgement, he barely put a foot wrong all game. Great to see.

 

[bladesince64]

I posted on another thread that I think he can be developed into a very good CB and even a ball carrying one at that.

Bashembaur was coached into an excellent defender/midfielder and McG reminds me very much of him.

 

[LiamBG]

He was OK yesterday. George Hirst is a league 1 striker. He dropped a bollock in the first half and he gave a penalty away with his stupidity. His best game for us though but nothing amazing. Some of our fans love mediocrity. UTB

 

[fifty shades of blade]

Let's not get carried away. He played well yesterday, but as someone else said, he was mainly dealing with donkey Hirst who makes Conor Sammon look like Zlatan. Hia previous games have mostly been calamatous, so will say well done for yesterday but needs more of the same.

 

[Weasel]

He played well yesterday. Pleased for him and he didnt know much about the penalty incidient which i thought was a slightly harsh call (but understood why it was given). I dont mind him as a squad player as he can come in and do a job. But hes not a top end Championship level centre half and i doubt he ever will be. He is an easy target this season as he has been poor at times and he needs to work on various aspects of his game. But that said, with good coaching he will be worth having around but yesterday and the stoke performance are where he needs to get to consistently.

Well done to the lad for yesterday though. Praise when its merited, criticise if warranted also.

 

[steve26272]

He played well yesterday. Pleased for him and he didnt know much about the penalty incidient which i thought was a slightly harsh call (but understood why it was given). I dont mind him as a squad player as he can come in and do a job. But hes not a top end Championship level centre half and i doubt he ever will be. He is an easy target this season as he has been poor at times and he needs to work on various aspects of his game. But that said, with good coaching he will be worth having around but yesterday and the stoke performance are where he needs to get to consistently.

Well done to the lad for yesterday though. Praise when it’s merited, criticise if warranted also.

Can’t think of an occasion when he lost a 1-1 aerial duel, his strength is his height

I’d have him as a squad player and bring him out for Keiffer Moore types, but on the deck he has the turning circle of a bendy bus, that’s more suited to Bindon

 

[Trigger Blade]

He was OK yesterday. George Hirst is a league 1 striker. He dropped a bollock in the first half and he gave a penalty away with his stupidity. His best game for us though but nothing amazing. Some of our fans love mediocrity. UTB

Stupidity? He was blocking a shot, that’s part of his job. We see plenty of stupidity from our players (Bamford yesterday) but that wasn’t an example of it.

 

[Bladey_blade]

Thought he was excellent yesterday, completely bullied Hurst, ref let him away with a fair bit and he took advantage of it. Handball aside, which was more poor luck than judgement, he barely put a foot wrong all game. Great to see.

Felt a bit sorry for him with the handball, could have happened to anyone. Looked as if it may have hit his torso if he had no arms too so may have not been given either VAR (I saw a very limited amount of replays BTW so correct me if I'm wrong)

Also when his shoulder popped out against Southampton, he looked in agony, popped it in, went off for 30 seconds then came back on and played like it didn't happen, then played again today, gained some respect for that then

 

[LiamBG]

Stupidity? He was blocking a shot, that’s part of his job. We see plenty of stupidity from our players (Bamford yesterday) but that wasn’t an example of it.

With his arms yeah. Not allowed under the rules I’m afraid. The shot is about 10 yards away from him no reason to have his arms up. Shot isn’t troubling the keeper and at 2-0 we aren’t under any pressure at that point.

 

[Slim Man]

By his standards it was a good performance and that's about the best I can say about him as a player

 

[Slim Man]

Nobody going to praise him for probably his best game for us yesterday? Or does everybody on this forum only like criticizing our players. I do think this lad needs a run of games before we can truly judge, was excellent in the first half against Stoke before Christmas, and excellent yesterday, couldn't do much for the penalty, and think he will be a useful squad player. Not a bad option to have, as last year we had 3 centre backs in total. Hope others agree.

He had a run of games, he was woefully shit

 

[wadblade]

He was OK yesterday. George Hirst is a league 1 striker. He dropped a bollock in the first half and he gave a penalty away with his stupidity. His best game for us though but nothing amazing. Some of our fans love mediocrity. UTB

he gave a penalty away with his stupidity? = i dont even think it was a a pen