Is the Harry Maguire problem one with no immediate and easy fix?

Harry Maguire has been the most talked about player this summer that didn’t change clubs. The saga of the defender, whether it be the on-off move from Manchester United and his falling out of favour at Old Trafford to his selection for the England team in the recent international break.

The centre-back has become a very polarizing figure.

Harry Maguire Still Has Plenty To Offer

No one at this stage doubts that Maguire has something to offer. He may indeed lack a bit of pace; that is something that falls off of most defenders as they get older, and the attackers always seem to get faster. Now 30, this may seem more evident. However, there is a reason that he is still on Manchester United’s books and was the subject of transfer talk as the window was closing. West Ham United was the one that was pursuing the most, but in the end, no deal could be reached.

When Erik ten Hag stripped Maguire of the captaincy, that was seen as the tipping point and led to speculation over the player’s future in Manchester. Although this action doesn’t necessarily mean the end of your time at a club, and being free of the responsibility has seen some players thrive. Maguire, though, was not in the manager’s plans and fell down the pecking order.

However, the player kept himself on track and didn’t kick up a fuss. Thus proving his professionalism. Something that England manager Gareth Southgate will always welcome in his setup. Southgate has come under criticism himself recently for not selecting players who are in form or, at the very least, playing regularly for their clubs. With Maguire not getting minutes, it could’ve been the ideal time to drop him from the squad for games against Ukraine and Scotland. By picking the defender, Southgate was expressing his loyalty to, let’s face it, a player who has rarely let his country down.

Against Scotland, he did not start Maguire, instead opting for Marc Guehi, but when the Crystal Palace man was injured, the call went to the former Sheffield United player. The Scottish crowd was not going to let this kind of opportunity go, and whenever Maguire touched the ball, a chorus of jeers went up. Matters were worse when the defender tried to cut out a cross only to see his intervention slide into his own goal.

Unfair Criticism

The outpouring on social media, and in some cases the broadcast and written press, was now reaching a height that had to be addressed, and Southgate himself was angry at the abuse his man was getting, calling it “ridiculous treatment.” Harry Maguire, in his defence, has taken to the media and said he can handle the “banter” and that he “can deal with it.” Even saying if he can take the abuse, it means the rest of the team can go about their jobs. Taking one for the team is one thing, but should one player have to suffer constant abuse?

"Even Maguire’s mother has taken to social media to express concerns over the way her son is being treated, but also the wider scope of what this does to players.“As a mum seeing the level of negative and abusive comments in which my son is receiving from some fans, pundits and the media is disgraceful and totally unacceptable to any walk of life never mind someone who works his socks off for club and country,” she wrote.“I was there in the stand as usual, it’s not acceptable what’s been created, over nothing. I understand that in the football world there are ups and downs, positives and negatives but what Harry receives has gone far beyond “football”. For me seeing him go through what he’s going through is not ok.“I would hate to have to see any other parents or players go through this in the future, especially the young boys and girls breaking through the ranks today. Harry has a massive heart, and it’s a good job he’s mentally strong and can handle it as others may not be able too. I wish this sort of abuse on nobody!”"

Harry Maguire may well come back into the Manchester United team and play to the standards required at that level. Others will say he is better off leaving the club and playing regular football at a mid-level team and, therefore, justify any future call-ups to the national team. For now, though, the jury will remain out, but the talking will continue. Let’s just hope the abuse eases off.