Next stop Barca for the English Pique? Was clear he was England bound after his first full season in a Blades shirt.Strangely a lot of Blades and the pigs doubted his ability He seems like a top lad.
Exactly.
Just like with Walker, for people who have watched a lot of football, it was apparent straight away that Maguire had attributes that set him apart from the majority of youngsters that come through - the sort of attributes that enable a player to go to the highest levels. It invariably doesn't matter what level they are actually playing at at the time, but when you've seen lots of football it stands out like a sore thumb; you just know when you see it.
Maguire was at home in the Championship as soon as he came in to the side in what is a hard position for a youngster to play. Similarly, it was obvious immediately that Walker clearly had the added strength and athleticism that made him a cut above Naughton, regardless of how well Naughton had done all season in 30 odd games. And, irrespective of the fact that it was against Orient, it was blindingly obvious when Brooks came on in the FA Cup tie last season that he is a player with the x-factor; the confidence to try outrageous bits of skill straight away.
Often, and it seems to be a curiously Sheffield trait, however, we are guilty of under-rating our own players who we see all the time - thus seeing the things that don't come off or the games when somebody is below par - whilst over-rating other club's players who we only see in highlights. It's happening right now with Brooks. Is it any wonder that our Board under-value these players when many of the fans are guilty of talking down the abilities of our players?
Maguire has his England call-up which, as the great TC has said, was always on the cards. Funnily enough, though, it comes immediately after what I thought was one of the more unimpressive performances that I've ever seen Maguire have, on Tuesday. More mis-placed and overhit passes in 65 minutes than I've ever seen from him. You don't judge it on one game, though, as every player will have days when standards drop and the fact is that Maguire has been consistently excellent over a long period.
As for the opinions of Pig fans, they're worthless. I've forgotten more about football than any of those cretins have ever known.
