The text you’re about to read is a mistimed appreciation post for the England defender Harry Maguire who went on to impress the author here with his fantastic World Cup exploits.
England are coming off from a highly successful World Cup.
Gareth Southgate led his Three Lions to the semifinal in Russia and returned home a hero despite losing to Croatia 2-1 and subsequently Belgium 2-0 in the third place play-off.
England have, by all accounts, had a superb tournament as a young and talented squad which is expected to reach its full potential over the next couple of years. Gareth Southgate has been given unanimous backing by both fans and pundits alike to continue with his project and the future looks bright for the Three Lions.
The likes of Marcus Rashford, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling or Jordan Pickford are enough of a promise for years to come but If there’s one player that I would like highlight and set apart from a young and exciting England squad, it would have to be Harry Maguire.
Not a Typical England Defender
Gareth Southgate should be credited for reshaping the way England play. Days of balls long, physical play mode and bullying the opponent through rough and ‘get stuck in’ style as prefered modus operandi are long gone.
And as a modern-day defender, Harry Maguire was a perfect fit for the new England side we got to see in Russia.
Having made his name during the 2016/17 season at Hull City, Harry Maguire presented himself as an atypical centre-back. He might be burly and sturdy in his appearance but there’s much more than what meets the eye as a definite proof that looks can be deceiving.
Maguire can be a typical English defender – digging in and getting stuck in when needed – with his sturdy frame and impressive physical ability which were the traits that got him noticed during Hull City’s relegation campaign.
When talking numbers, Maguire made 29 Premier League performances, scored two goals and made three assists which it’s more than enough info to place in the elementary stats bracket, but there is much more to his ability. Maguire possesses traits which transcend the responsibilities of a defender, making him a unique asset in the market.
Unique Asset
The talented central defender had a raft of top-flight sides interested in his services as it became apparent he would leave Hull City. Leicester City made the first move and snapped him ahead of the competition, with Craig Shakespeare knowing exactly what kind of player he was getting.
Maguire’s ability to hold on to the ball and dribble past opponents with ease is arguably his most surprising characteristic. Combine it with his ability to play long balls and send precise, pin-point field-length crosses and you have yourself a player whose contribution to a team’s attack is immense.
It was during the 2016/17 season Hull were keen to forget as soon as possible that Maguire played 11 key passes throughout the season. It was one element of his game Leicester City hoped to benefit from and it’s fair to say they did.
Maguire went on to amass the total of 38 Premier League outings, scored two goals and create the total of 17 chances. As a huge presence at the back, the England defender won 62% of the duels and also made a significant contribution in the creative department with an average passing accuracy of 78%. If we were to compare his numbers to those from Leicester City’s main creative force – and now a new Manchester City man – Riyad Mahrez (80%) we’d come to a strikingly similar number.
Maguire the Man
I will have to make an admission and say that Maguire’s ability missed me until the World Cup when I saw him put in a string of commanding – and above all mature and confident – performances for England.
During his seven matches for the Three Lions in Russia, Maguire grew bigger and better, becoming one of the leading forces in Gareth Southgate’s side. He is a breath of fresh air with his courage and relentless spirit, whereas it was thanks to his fearless charges into dangerous areas of play that brought a real sense of excitement around him.
He is a remarkable player to watch. Maguire’s strides forward with his big and bulky frame are looking more like those of a rugby league player. Still, his close ball control is impressive and Maguire truly is a defender with a midfielder’s soul.
What Does the Future Hold for Maguire?
Having only joined Leicester last summer in a £16 million deal, Harry Maguire is already being linked with a move away from the Foxes. Having starred for England at the World Cup, the 25-year-old defender is being tracked by a number of Premier League’s big guns.
Arsene Wenger was the one keeping Maguire’s name written in his notebook but it now becomes clear that Maguire is a top transfer target for Manchester United. The Red Devils are attempting to reinforce their squad for the new season and have already been linked with Toby Alderweireld and Harry Maguire as their two top targets. With all of the traits of a midfielder never afraid to barge forward and break the lines to create opportunities for his teammates, Harry Maguire could easily be Jose Mourinho’s missing link, a piece of the puzzle needed to finally elicit the attacking power Red Devils are hiding deep in their trunk.
The Leicester star is a 6/5 bet to join the Old Trafford outfit although Tottenham are also given a 4/1 chance to sign him as a replacement for the aforementioned outbound Toby Alderweireld.
Who do you think Harry Maguire will play for next season?
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