Hummels Or Miranda: Who Should Manchester United Go For ?

Hummels or Miranda?

Such is the nature of football that even during the moment of greatest triumph, deficiencies may exist. Sometimes victories do a splendid job of masking deficiencies that might exist in a team.

So it is unsurprising that despite their recent good form in the Premier League, most Manchester United fans recognize that their side still have a long way to go before they hit the heights of their glory years.

A string of successive wins don’t make a team that was hitherto struggling to make fourth place into a side that can challenge for the league title. Although always useful, statistics can sometimes lull fans into a false sense of security.

Mats Hummels

Although the Red Devils have statistically, the third-best defense in the league, no one is under any illusion that the current crop of defenders, especially centre backs, are anywhere near as good as their predecessors.

One of the reasons why centre backs, Mats Hummels in particular, is consistently linked to United, is because the current crop are not good enough despite their lofty league position. Another name that has often popped up in the rumor mill is Atletico Madrid’s Miranda.

So which of the two should Louis Van Gaal opt for? Should the Dutchman go for the stylish and elegant German World Cup winner? Or should he be more pragmatic and sign a cheaper, but equally effective alternative, who was recently quoted as being ‘proud’ of a link to Old Trafford?

Here are some numbers to help us come to the conclusion.

Defensive output of Mats Hummels and Miranda in the league this season

	Mats Hummels	Miranda
Games Played	18	18
Interceptions	2.4	1.4
Tackles	1.7	1.5
Blocks	0.6	0.4
Clearances	4.3	4.9
% of Aerial duels won	68.4	53.4
Pass Completion	78	75

 

One of the reasons why I have chosen this season’s numbers to illustrate my point is because both players haven’t been as good in the current campaign, as they were in the past few years. So, in many ways it is an apples-to-apples comparison, given both have featured in a similar amount of games this season.

A cursory glance at the numbers should tell you exactly the type of central defenders, both of them are. While Hummels is a gambler, who tries to anticipate attacks and stop them before they develop, Miranda stays back and deals with the attacks, whether it is crosses into the box or slide rule balls through the defense. The German is more confident in possession and likes to bring the ball out from the back, while the Brazilian is more in the mould of Nemanja Vidic, someone who likes to get the ball clear and nothing else.

But, as I said before, numbers can be misleading. Although Hummels has been statistically better at every aspect of defending, apart from the number of clearances he has made, it doesn’t necessarily mean that he has been the better defender.

You only need to look at the Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich game to see that Hummels was at fault for the goal that cost them the game. There have been times this season that the German has been found wanting. His positional awareness has been called into question more than once this season. And for a player, who was hailed as the best centre back in the world, before the start of the season, that isn’t something that fills you with particular confidence.

While the Brazilian has had his fair share of mistakes too, the quality of the Atletico defense has ensured that it hasn’t been as costly. And more often than not, Miranda has been a savior, when he has been called upon, even if not as much as the standards he has set himself.

Another important thing to consider is, where they are, in terms of their career. At 30, Miranda is more experienced and is arguably a short-term fix, whereas Hummels is just 26 and is only just getting to the peak of his powers. The Atletico defender is also considerably cheaper than the German, who is likely to be the most expensive defender in the world, if he does make the move away from Dortmund.

So the question of who is a better fit for United depends a lot on what Van Gaal especially is looking for. If he wants an experienced head to lead the defense and compliment the current crop of defenders, then Miranda is his best option. However, if he wants to build on the side’s current upturn in fortunes and play out from the back, then Hummels would suit them better, even if he is more expensive and slightly more risky. But one thing is for sure, you can expect the 63-year-old to address the defense malaise that has enveloped United, this summer.