17 July 2023 , 13:21
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Harry Maguire certainly wasn't shy of letting people know what he thought.
On Sunday afternoon, as most of us were taking in the Wimbledon final, Maguire took to Twitter to issue a lengthy statement confirming that Erik ten Hag has removed him as Manchester United's captain, a decision he is not particularly happy about.
In truth it is a call which has been a long time coming, with Maguire falling down the pecking order at United and and struggling to maintain his England place. But what comes next for a club needing a new leader and a player needing a new challenge?
We asked our Mirror Football team what they think.
Mike Walters
It's one of English football's greatest anomalies - how can Harry Maguire perform so well for England, and yet with such mediocrity for Manchester United?
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To be captain of a major international institution like United, you need to be in the team every week, so Maguire can have few complaints about being stripped of the armband.
No great captains of industry earn their stripes in the waiting room when leadership is forged on the shop floor.
Maguire is out of favour at United (AP)If I were in Maguire's boots, I would clear off to a club where he would be more valued - but he will need to take a pay cut because few clubs interested in signing him, if any, can match his £190,000-a-week wages.
I always liked Maguire as a player, but there are too many accidents happening around him - even if they aren't his fault, like the double own-goal calamity against Sevilla last season. He has become the Frank Spencer of United's defence.
A new start would make sense for all concerned... somewhere like West Ham or Wolves?
As for his replacement as United's appointed captain, don't give it to Bruno Fernandes. Great player, but he went missing like Shergar when the chips were down in the seven-goal humiliation at Anfield. Personally, I wouldn't follow him into the chip shop, let alone the trenches.
Anyone for Luke Shaw?
Tom Blow
Harry Maguire's situation at Manchester United is unique, so it's hard to judge Erik ten Hag's decision.
The England international has fallen behind Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw in the pecking order... and you can't be the captain if you're not playing.
A skipper is usually shown the door when their time is up, but it's hard for United to do that because Maguire still has two years left on his contract.
World Cup hero wants Man Utd move as doubts over Harry Maguire's future grow
He's believed to be earning £190,000-a-week, a salary few clubs in the Premier League can match. United will probably need to pay some of his salary up front if they want him to leave Old Trafford this summer.
For all the talk of a transfer, there's every chance Maguire will stay at United as a squad player and see out the rest of his contract.
And if he does that, he can't keep the captaincy. You can just about get away with your skipper sitting on the bench for a year, but not for three years.
I would say Ten Hag has made a brave, but necessary, decision.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Who should be Manchester United's next captain? Comment below
Bruno Fernandes has over captained United in Maguire's absence (AP)Nathan Ridley
Ruthless, yes, Right, also yes.
Harry Maguire was a committed captain for Manchester United, with his work off the pitch during the Covid-19 pandemic testament to his good character, but once Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was dismissed from his role last November, it was clear that he needed to follow suit.
Maguire hasn't seemed to have a grip on the dressing room since the summer of 2021 and it's the man who stepped up in his place most often who should succeed him.
Ten Hag has acted decisively with the move (Getty Images)Proven candidates for the armband remain few and far between at Old Trafford but Bruno Fernandes clearly has Erik ten Hag's faith, despite his unsavoury antics every so often - *cough* the 7-0 at Anfield. Perhaps being given the role on a permanent basis will even help him iron out that kind of behaviour for good.
As for Maguire, I'd advise him to walk away from Old Trafford before it's too late. The European Championships are looming and by the time England's next major tournament campaign comes around, a heap of other centre-back options could've emerged.
Gareth Southgate - who could be gone this time next year - will still have faith in him so long as he plays regular football in the Premier League or at a good level abroad, and he's more than capable of doing that for a Europa League side. Get the system right and Maguire will thrive.
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Simon Bird
Was Erik Ten Hag correct to strip Harry Maguire of the Manchester United captaincy? Yes?
Is Maguire correct to be “extremely disappointed”? Damn right.
The England defender is a class act, who has suffered in silence at being used so little last season by Ten Hag. He made just eight Premier League starts.
Ten Hag, last season, and now in pre-season, has made it clear Maguire is not for him. Fair enough, he’s the boss and has new ideas to move the club forward. Taking the captaincy away is a powerful way of sending Maguire a message. And that harsh message is: clear off. Find a new club.
But Maguire knows he has plenty to give as a top class footballer. A top six club will surely pick him up, although a £50m fee and £190,000 a week wages may deter some, and United could end up compensating Maguire as part of his exit.
Leave Old Trafford, he must. He can be a major part of England’s European Championship campaign next summer and still challenge for honours elsewhere.
Maguire wants to retain his England place (Getty Images)Fraser Watson
It was a decision that Erik ten Hag simply had to make for the sake of both the club and the player.
Harry Maguire's failure to hold down a regular place in the starting XI last season, amid his evident struggles for form, made the notion of him continuing as captain at Manchester United inconceivable. The club has allowed itself to drift through a period of mediocrity in recent years, and Ten Hag making ruthless calls, with the captaincy decision following the release of David de Gea, have been two steps in the right direction.
Maguire now, should he choose to stay, must focus on fighting hard to win his place back. Should that not materialise, then for his own career he must scrap any ideas of earning big money for doing little, and look to move elsewhere in the Premier League.
Bruno Fernandes is now the obvious choice to take over. Yes, there are behavioural flaws, but then Roy Keane had them too. And United need to be led by a figure of his quality, and volatility, if they are to challenge for the elite trophies again.
Bruno Fernandes' captaincy was criticised after Man Utd's 7-0 loss at Anfield (AP)Andy Dunn
When Erik ten Hag sat down for a chat with Harry Maguire the other day, he was not only telling the England defender he was no longer club captain, he was telling him to leave.
Because the bottom line is that to have the armband taken away - especially at an institution such as Manchester United - is borderline humiliation.
Harry Maguire deserves better than that and has to get out of Old Trafford.
There is, though, a fundamental problem. If Ten Hag thinks Maguire is nowhere near good enough for a Champions League team, why should the manager of any other Champions League team think differently?
Maguire’ options might be limited and he might have to stomach going to a club who cannot offer immediate Champions League football.
But that has to be better than staying at a club that does not seem keen to offer ANY football.
One way or another - and, it goes without saying, for the sake of his fine England career - Maguire needs to get out of Old Trafford.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Who should be Manchester United's next captain? Comment below
John Cross
Erik ten Hag had no option but to strip Harry Maguire of the captaincy.
The Manchester United manager has to choose a player who plays every week. Not one who is not a regular. It was turning Maguire into some sort of mascot who would go up and pick up trophies or be a club spokesman. He’s better than that.
I feel really sorry for Maguire who, even in his statement, has acted with dignity saying he was disappointed but lesser characters would not have stopped there.
Let’s not forget - this is massive for him. This was his dream.
Maguire now has to move on for the sake of his career - particularly with England and the Euros around the corner. If he’s not playing for his club then he can’t be picked for England and unless he watches out, Levi Colwill will take his place.
The problem United have is there’s no obvious next captain. It shouldn’t be Bruno Fernandes - he’s not a great leader on the pitch. Lisandro Martinez would be my choice if he spoke better English. And the fact United don’t have an obvious replacement is a worry in itself.
Marcus Rashford could be a contender for the armband (Getty Images)Mark Jones
The role of the captain is so often overplayed in football, but obviously it is important enough to Erik ten Hag to do what he's done. Although there is an ulterior motive of course.
Ten Hag wants rid of Harry Maguire, obviously, with Manchester United seeking to raise money to help with FFP issues and summer transfers. The strain on the wage budget would be eased too.
A permanent sale might be what many consider to be best for all parties then, but who's asking Maguire?
It isn't up to him to help United solve the financial problems which are plaguing their summer, with a takeover still up in the air, and you don't walk away from a club as big as them lightly. For Maguire's career, the only way is down.
So how about a carefully chosen loan move then? One where Maguire is playing every week in his best position, on the left of a three-man back line, and getting enough football to stay in the England conversation for the Euros. Then he can return to Old Trafford for the final year of his contract next summer, and who knows what things could look like then?
As for his replacement? It'll probably be Bruno Fernandes but there's a Marcus Rashford opportunity here too. Thrown in the armband with his new deal and keep him at his club for life.