In an exclusive interview with The Peoples Person, Manchester United legend Wes Brown expressed his views on whether the club has enough quality centre-backs at its disposal ahead of the new season, particularly with the transfer window currently active.
Do Man United have enough centre-backs?
Currently, United have seven regular centre-backs on the books. Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven have proven to be talented but are still quite young, while Harry Maguire is ageing. Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez are both injury-prone, while Luke Shaw and Noussair Mazraoui were converted from full-backs to centre-backs by manager Ruben Amorim.
Speaking exclusively to The Peoples Person courtesy of WhichBookie, Brown explained: “I think if everyone would have stayed fit last year, the manager would have seen, maybe, a formation of the players that he would have liked to play in certain positions, especially the back three. I think we’ll see that a little bit more in the last couple of games of pre-season.”
“I really do like Yoro, I think De Ligt has improved so much, Heaven’s been very solid, but then you’ve got Harry Maguire again, who’s very controlled, and he’s probably the most experienced there at the back. If Luke Shaw can stay fit I think the manager has got a really good chance of maybe making a three,” he continued.
“I’m looking forward to it [next season], I don’t think they’re in the sort of position where the manager needs to improve again. You know, if Martinez can come back as well, he’s been brilliant when he’s been fit.”
With Brown convinced that United don’t need to browse the transfer market for additional talent, the United veteran broke down how he believes United could thrive at the back next season.
The recipe for success
“I think we can, maybe, get a good blend, a good three that work together, maybe that’s the thing that the manager has to work out. Who plays best together? Rather than age or name,” he explained.
“I always say, can we get a Rio and Vidic? Can we get a Bruce and Pallister? Obviously, there’s another one in there but, you know, can we make that work somewhere and he thinks he’s got the players to do that.”
Clearly, Brown’s insights and experience lead him to believe that a solid defensive partnership is more effective than simply slotting big names into the lineup.
Following this question, the United legend revealed who he believes to be United’s most talented centre-back at present.
United’s best centre-back
When asked to rank United’s centre-backs in terms of their abilities, Brown did not hesitate when delivering his answer.
“I really like Yoro, I think he’s very good on the ball, very calm, a little bit of a Rio type. Not many things put him out of sorts,” Brown explained.
He continued: “Martinez, obviously, with the experience that he has, and Harry [Maguire]. And then I would go De Ligt after that.”
“I would have to see Shaw a little bit more on the left-hand side. Heaven’s obviously the least-experienced, but he’s a big, strong, athletic, and you can see, I’ve noticed the manager does really like him, so he can see something in Heaven as well.”
“So, if anything, it’s a difficult job for the manager but a good one,” Brown concluded, reiterating his stance that United have sufficient cover at the back for next season.
“But Yoro’s probably my favourite one.”
Should Brown’s assessment of United’s back line prove accurate, it appears that fans will have plenty of reason to feel optimistic ahead of the new season.
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Mathew Cohen
A faithful Manchester United supporter, Mathew has worked as a football writer and analyst for SB Nation, FanSided, and now The Peoples Person. Mathew’s heroes include David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Sir Alex Ferguson, all of whom played their part in creating some special childhood memories.
