Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Tim Sherwood is known for his outspoken nature, and he has recently turned his attention towards Manchester United’s performances and specifically, a certain “bang average” star. Sherwood did not hold back in his criticism, drawing comparisons to United’s captain Harry Maguire.
Sherwood declared that “United’s star defender isn’t doing enough for the team” and went on to state that the player in question is nowhere near the level required to lead the defense of a top club like Manchester United. Although Sherwood did not specifically name the player, it was clear that he was referring to Victor Lindelof, who has been under scrutiny due to some inconsistent performances this season.
Sherwood further stated that Harry Maguire, United’s highly-priced center-back, has failed to transform their defense despite his leadership qualities. He argued that Maguire has not lived up to his price tag and lacks the commanding presence needed to rally the defensive line. Sherwood emphasized that United’s defense has been shaky, and the blame falls on players like Lindelof and Maguire.
These comments by Sherwood have opened up a debate among fans and pundits alike. Some believe that Sherwood’s critique is harsh and unfair, highlighting the player’s occasional solid performances. However, others speculate that there may be truth in Sherwood’s words, as United has been struggling defensively in recent games.
It remains to be seen how United and the players in question will respond to Sherwood’s criticism. This could be a turning point for Lindelof and Maguire, as they are now under increased pressure to prove their worth and justify their places in the starting lineup.
As always, in the world of football, opinions and criticisms are bound to arise. Whether Sherwood’s comments will have any lasting impact on Manchester United and its players is yet to be seen. Only time will tell if his words will serve as a rallying cry for improvement or if they will merely be brushed off.
Former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood has issued his verdict on Raphael Varane as the defender prepares to return to the Manchester United squad to face Sheffield United.
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Erik ten Hag reviews the Sheffield United match
Tim Sherwood has criticized Raphael Varane and believes the Manchester United centre-back is ‘getting away with murder’ amid criticism directed at team-mate Harry Maguire.
Varane has struggled to find his form so far this season and has already missed four matches due to injury, including the Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich last month. In fact, the Frenchman has now missed an astonishing 36 games since his big-money move to Old Trafford from Real Madrid in 2021.
Last season when Varane was fit, he often played alongside Lisandro Martinez at centre-back, but the pair have only played together a handful of times over the past six months. This has seen the likes of Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans given minutes instead, especially in Premier League matches.
When assessing Varane, former Tottenham boss Sherwood criticized the defender for his recent performances in the United squad. Sherwood also pointed out the hate Maguire has received, with the 30-year-old being booed by his own fans during a pre-season friendly.
He told William Hill: “One player that really bothers me is Raphael Varane. I think he gets away with it. He’s never fit and when he’s fit he’s very average. We all know he’s had a great career but at the same time everyone is happy to jump On Harry Maguire’s back as Varane gets away with it.
“People who play more football are simply more durable and can play week in, week out. Varane seems to play once and then get injured again for a couple of weeks. He seems to pick his matches, but when he plays he’s not great.” In any case.
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“Ten Hag doesn’t judge players equally, he just throws people on the field and hopes one of the stars wins the game. Once a star is fit, he takes the likes of Hannibal and McTominay out of the team, and they end up losing football matches.”
After missing the 2-1 win over Brentford before the international break, Erik ten Hag confirmed on Friday that Varane is set to return to the squad to face Sheffield United. Sergio Reguilon is also set to return to the team, although United will be without the injured Casemiro.
“Rafa Varane is back, so I think, especially at the back, I’m very happy with Rafa back and Sergio back,” Ten Hag told MUTV. This is very good news, of course. It’s disappointing that Casemiro is injured, but it’s not too bad. I am sure and confident that he will be back for the next matches, so in a very short time. The good thing is that Sofiane Amrabat is available.”
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