The public mockery of Harry Maguire, the hapless Manchester United and England defender, has moved from being a bit of a joke to something a little more troubling, sinister even. The abuse, ridicule and attention he gets is way over the top, and increasingly resembles a publicly-sanctioned collective humiliation of one player.
The unfortunate Maguire is seen as some kind of rubber doll, to be poked and harangued by one and all, rather than an ordinary human being with vulnerabilities. He is simply expected to suck up the abuse every time he steps on the field. What’s all this howling about? It isn’t just because he isn’t much good as a defender but also reflects a nasty envy and rancour generated by the knowledge that he ‘earns’ millions for being useless.
Gareth Southgate, the England manager, is right to call for an end to this public goading of Maguire. He rounded on the defender’s tormentors after last night’s 3-1 friendly victory over Scotland, describing the perpetual attacks on Maguire as a ‘joke’.
Southgate, quick to lecture others, needs to take a long look at his own responsibility
Southgate blamed ‘pundits and commentators’, who he claims have helped turn the Manchester United player into a figure of derision: ‘They have created something that is beyond anything I have ever seen.’
Maguire was mocked by Scotland supporters after he scored an own goal during the England victory last night. The goal came when England were leading the game 2-0, so it momentarily gave Scotland hope of a comeback. That, unfortunately, is what Maguire does: he gives the opposition a chance, making him something of a walking liability on the football pitch. He has become the butt of jokes everywhere, from his own fans at Old Trafford to every away ground. It came as no surprise that at the recent match between Arsenal and Manchester United, he was mockingly cheered by Arsenal fans when he came on as a substitute. United went on to concede two goals.
The 30-year old Maguire, once the world’s most expensive defender, is the opposite of a lucky talisman. He doesn’t exactly help himself, either. He was roundly mocked for cupping his ears in celebration when he scored a goal for England against the football minnows of Albania. The pundit Roy Keane dismissed the celebration as ’embarrassing’. It fed into a wider feeling that Maguire has an air of undeserved entitlement about him. He turned down a move to West Ham in the summer, reportedly over a dispute about financial compensation. This kind of behaviour hardly endears him to Manchester United fans, who already think he is paid far too much for simply warming the bench.
None of this can justify the public taunting and humiliation though. The travelling England fans made a point of saluting Maguire when he was brought on at half-time in last night’s game. Perhaps this marks the beginning of an awareness that things have maybe gone a little too far.
Southgate, quick to lecture others, needs to take a long look at his own responsibility for some of the circus surrounding Maguire. It is far too simplistic to point the finger of blame solely at commentators and pundits — it is their job, after all, to highlight players who are underperforming. Indeed, the England manager’s stubborn insistence on picking the defender despite his drop in form has contributed to his troubles, inadvertently leading to the atmosphere of hostility that surrounds him whenever he steps on to a football pitch.
Southgate’s loyalty has clearly left him blind to Maguire’s obvious deficiencies. The England manager insists Maguire is a ‘top player’. He really isn’t. He should have been dropped from the England team, which would have helped remove some of the intense public scrutiny and questioning of his performances. That is on Southgate, not the fans or pundits. He is right to demand that the pillorying of Maguire must stop. All it does is draw attention to the game’s cruel and ugly mob tendencies.
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