Rating: Every Man Utd CB pairing Jose Mourinho has used in the Premier League

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Since Jose Mourinho took charge of Manchester United in 2016, one area that has consistently tested the Portuguese manager’s patience has been at central defence.

In their second Premier League game of the season, the Red Devils lost away at Brighton, shipping three goals in the process. Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof were the two defenders in the hot seats that day – neither of them covered themselves in glory.

Mourinho had insisted throughout the summer transfer window that he wanted to add some top-class reinforcements at the back, but no signings were forthcoming – Mourinho will now have to cope with what he has until January, at least.

So, at Squawka, we looked at how many pairings he has used in the Premier League – therefore excluding back three scenarios – over the course of his United reign to see which players have conceded the fewest goals.

Phil Jones and Victor Lindelof, along with Daley Blind and Marcos Rojo, only played together once, both keeping clean sheets.

This article will look at the nine other pairings Jose Mourinho has used since taking charge of the Red Devils and attempt to work out which duo could cause the least damage if he persists with a 4-3-3 system.

1. Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof

Games started together: 2

Opponents: Brighton and Leicester

Clean sheets (per game): 0 (0)

Goals conceded (per game): 2 (2)

Bailly and Lindelof have been the choice partnership at central defence for United in their opening two games of this season – the only games they have started together.

They put in a solid performance against Leicester in their opening game, keeping a fluid Foxes side at bay until the 92nd minute. However, after being dominated by a 34-year-old Glenn Murray and co. against Brighton, they may not be a partnership for long.

Rating: 5/10

2. Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo


Games started together: 3

Opponents: Brighton, Huddersfield and Manchester City

Clean sheets (per game): 1 (0.33)

Goals conceded (per game): 3 (1)

The last time these two played together as a pair was back in December 2017 in a 2-1 defeat at home to Manchester City.

That was only the third time the pair lined up alongside each other and, given the calamitous nature of United’s defending that day, coupled with Marcos Rojo being well out of favour with Jose Mourinho, it is unlikely we will see this pairing again.

Rating: 4/10

3. Eric Bailly and Marcos Rojo

Games started together: 4

Opponents: Watford, Sunderland, Everton and West Brom

Clean sheets (per game): 3 (0.75)

Goals conceded (per game): 1 (0.25)

With the second highest clean sheets per-game ratio out of any defensive pairing to play more than one game under Mourinho, it is quite surprising that we haven’t seen more of these two together – although none of their games came against fellow members of the ‘Big Six’.

Again though, Marcos Rojo’s uncertain role in the United squad at present means we are unlikely to see it again – some food for thought for Mourinho, perhaps.

Rating: 7/10

4. Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof

Games started together: 7

Opponents: Arsenal, Chelsea, West Brom, Swansea, Crystal Palace, Brighton and Newcastle

Clean sheets (per game): 2 (0.29)

Goals conceded (per game): 6 (0.86)

Entrusted against both Arsenal and Chelsea, unable to keep a clean sheet in either, while conceding two against Crystal Palace, Smalling and Lindelof are a statistical nightmare.

These two have both been known to have their clumsy moments, while they’re not blessed with a great deal of pace between them. Their last appearance together was a 4-1 win over Newcastle in which Smalling scored a goal, although that does not necessarily solve the defensive issues.

Rating: 4/10

5. Eric Bailly and Daley Blind 

Games started together: 7

Opponents: Swansea, Man City (x2), Burnley, Hull, Southampton and Bournemouth

Clean sheets (per game): 4 (0.57)

Goals conceded (per game): 4 (0.57)

Eric Bailly and Daley Blind looked like they had started to put a decent partnership together back in 2016, keeping four clean sheets in seven games and developing a complementary relationship.

However, a combination of Mourinho shuffling Blind across to left-back and an injury to Bailly derailed any progress the duo had made. Even a return to fitness was not enough to convince Mourinho to test out the partnership once again.

Blind is now back in his native Holland with boyhood club Ajax, ending any hopes Man Utd fans may have had of seeing the pair together again.

Rating: 7/10

6. Eric Bailly and Phil Jones 

Games started together: 7

Opponents: Southampton, Everton, Stoke, Leicester, Swansea, West Ham and Crystal Palace

Clean sheets (per game): 6 (0.86)

Goals conceded (per game): 2 (0.29)

With just two goals conceded in seven games, Eric Bailly and Phil Jones by far the most effective duo in this list – statistically at least.

The pair had a seven-game run together in central defence during the early part of last season, starting with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace and ending with United’s 1-0 win away at Southampton. With United remaining unbeaten and keeping six clean sheets, this could be a partnership we see again if United continue to struggle.

It would be intriguing to see both tested alongside each other against more threatening opponents.

Rating:  8/10

7. Eric Bailly and Chris Smalling

Games started together: 10

Opponents: Man City, Liverpool (x2), Chelsea, Watford (x2), Leicester (x2), Middlesbrough and Stoke

Clean sheets (per game): 3 (0.30)

Goals conceded (per game): 13 (1.30)

Having paired up against the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool (twice) and Chelsea, Jose Mourinho has had no problem trusting Eric Bailly and Chris Smalling at the heart of the United defence in the big games.

However, having shipped four against Chelsea, three against Watford and only keeping three clean sheets in 10 games, Jose may not be putting too much faith in this partnership in the future.

Rating: 5/10

Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo

Games started together: 14

Opponents: Everton (x2), Burnley, Bournemouth, Hull, Liverpool, West Ham (x2), Sunderland, West Brom, Crystal Palace, Tottenham, Arsenal and Swansea

Clean sheets (per game): 5 (0.36)

Goals conceded (per game): 10 (0.71)

The tenacious pair of Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo were given an extended run together at central-defence over the Christmas period of Mourinho’s first season in charge.

The two performed very well, keeping five clean sheets in 14 games while limiting the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool to two goals between the three of them as United went on a long unbeaten run.

This partnership hasn’t been used in a while, though, due to Marcos Rojo’s knee injury and subsequently falling out of favour at Old Trafford.

Rating: 8/10 

Chris Smalling and Phil Jones

Games started together: 16

Opponents: Bournemouth (x2), Newcastle, Tottenham, Burnley, Stoke (x2), Leicester, West Brom, Huddersfield, Liverpool, Crystal Palace, Southampton, Arsenal and Middlesbrough

Clean sheets (per game): 7 (0.44)

Goals conceded (per game): 14 (0.88)

Mourinho’s most popular choice of centre-halves during his spell at Manchester United has been the English pair left behind by Sir Alex Ferguson at the end of his reign at Old Trafford: Chris Smalling and Phil Jones.

The duo have generally done well, keeping seven clean sheets – including one against arch-rivals Liverpool. However, in true Mourinho fashion, he has never let them settle as a partnership – Smalling and Jones have never played more than three league games in a row together.

That being said, they were the pair trusted against Chelsea in the 2018 FA Cup final… which did not go to plan.

Rating: 6/10

So, who comes out on top?

Most used partnership (games): Chris Smalling and Phil Jones (16)

Most clean sheets (per game): Eric Bailly and Phil Jones (0.29)

Fewest goals conceded (per game): Eric Bailly and Marcos Rojo (0.25)

Highest writer rating: Eric Bailly & Phil Jones and Phil Jones & Marcos Rojo (8/10).

Despite the relatively small sample size for most pairings, some light conclusions can still be drawn.

Although his display against Brighton was erratic, Eric Bailly features in the more statistically favourable partnerships and after starting his Man Utd career promisingly alongside Daley Blind, it seems odd it was not pursued any further.

Finding a player to complement his proactivity – a more composed presence – is probably why Mourinho identified the likes of Alderweireld and Jerome Boateng as his top targets.

Reuniting the Ivorian with Chris Smalling looks dangerous on paper, but they should be cut some slack for facing the deadliest sides in the league – conceding three goals against Watford should also be highlighted.

Phil Jones, meanwhile, is interestingly a feature of both 8/10 duos, including his partnership with Bailly.

What is clear, however, is that eleven different combos in two seasons shows Mourinho has not found the desired balance when using a pair of centre-halves.

A back three, somewhat ironically, might be the best way to combat that.

 

 

 

 

The post Rating: Every Man Utd CB pairing Jose Mourinho has used in the Premier League appeared first on Squawka News.



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