Every Manchester United fan has probably woken up feeling the same – Ralf Rangnick has surely got to drop Harry Maguire against Southampton.
There is no point beating around the bush – United’s club captain is rapidly becoming a liability.
The Phil Jones and Chris Smalling partnership seemingly radiated panic across the rest of the United side, but it seems that Maguire’s sheer presence is currently enough to both unnerve the rest of our team and give the opposition an element of hope.
Regardless of his £80m (BBC Sport) price tag, that was schoolboy defending for Burnley’s equaliser, the way he got drawn out of position and sucked into the trap was very worrying.
Raphael Varane is a world class defender who is getting better and better in a Manchester United shirt.
The same cannot be said about his centre back partner. The World Cup winner eats up the ground with his ability to cover the ground, but he cannot perform miracles.
Maguire has been a shadow of his self ever since he returned from the European Championships.
With the top four race heating up and a pivotal Champions League last-16 tie looming against Atletico Madrid, maybe it’s time for Rangnick to take the former Leicester City man out of the firing line.
The German coach has already shown he isn’t afraid to make bold calls with his treatment of Cristiano Ronaldo.
After subbing the 37-year-old against Brentford, the 63-year-old started the five-time Ballon d’Or winner on the bench at Turf Moor.
Managing Ronaldo’s game time is understandable given his age and the hectic run of fixtures.
But persisting with Maguire, who looks vulnerable, makes little sense.
Despite all the technicalities and data surrounding football in the modern day, it still comes down to – if you play well you deserve to stay in the side – if you play poorly – there shouldn’t be any gripes when being dropped.
Maguire is comfortably the slowest out of United’s centre-backs and with Victor Lindelof and Phil Jones on the bench in East Lancashire, maybe it’s time for United’s number five to be taken out of the limelight.
The 28-year-old was lucky to only get a yellow card after being spun by Jay Rodriguez and pulling the striker down.
Maguire has been out-of-sorts all season and with the campaign entering its crucial period, Manchester United cannot afford to be carrying any passengers.
Rangnick has to be ruthless and drop Maguire – starting on Saturday at Old Trafford.
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