So with Evra likely gone soon, any thoughts on who we'll bring in as LB along with Shaw?
I've seen suggestions of Vermaelen and Fabio.
I've seen suggestions of Vermaelen and Fabio.
Backup LB
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) and Imran (@Annihilate Now!) are here to discuss Amad saving our blushes in a win against Southampton as well as our now annual loss at home to Brighton. They discuss Amorim's post-match comments, revisit how mid-table we may or may not be, and discuss some transfer news.
Ducker said that Ricardo Rodriguez is one of the options the club are looking at.
Fabio?
Fabio?
If Vermaelen can slot in at LB or CB his signing makes a lot of sense. Especially if he's cheapish and Van Gaal knows him well
Both poor choices for back up. Coentrao would be far better we shouldnt be flogging an 19yr old Luke Shaw lets remember. He should still be rested for the benefit of the longer term at times. We are not Southampton.
Blind.
I think it will be fine to have a versatile player who can slot in at LB if needed. Blind or Vermaelen would be obvious choices for this.
I'd take Vermaelen. Adds depth to our defence and is good enough to act as a backup. Have only seen Blind in the world cup but from what I've seen I'd definitely take Vermaelen over him. Don't see the point in splashing out for another left back like Rodriguez.
A left back that can play left wing might make more sense.....
We're also forgetting we have only one first team right back at the club, no? I have a horrible feeling Valencia will be used there a lot next year. Ugh.
A full back who can cover both left and right I suppose is ideal.
A full back who can cover both left and right I suppose is ideal.
Hilariously we already have one in our book.His name is Marnick Vermijl.
Ducker said that Ricardo Rodriguez is one of the options the club are looking at.
Fabio?
He'd want to be a starter though.
Maybe we should have gone for Ashley Cole..
Not seen this mentioned but Coentrao on loan for a season would be great. However IIRC towards the end of last season he was beating Marcelo in the pecking order for first choice, so doubt Real would be interested.
Vermaelen would be much more realistic but not particularly inspiring. Would be a similar problem to playing Smalling at LB.
I've seen very little of Rodriguez play. From what I've seen of him and reports he would be great, but seems too good to be a backup. Unless one of them will get time on the wing, but can't see that either.
Blind's flexibility and the fact LVG knows and trust him would be a good signing, but not sure if the player would like to join knowing he has the role of backup/utility player.
this. cannot think of a name though, someone who is a good back up and has no problem not starting every game.
Rather just promote Vermijl, been solid out on loan and can play either side. Better than us splashing out on a new left back like Rodriguez who's better than Shaw and would want first team football. De Sciglio would be good to go for if not, can play either side well and doubt he'd expect to play every game, don't think Milan would sell though.
I'm still pissed Moyes sold Fabio, Fergie seemed to rate Fabio the better of the Da Silva's hence him starting in a Champions League final at right-back even though Rafael was fit and is the more natural right-back.
Vermalen will be brought in to cover LB and CB.
I wonder if Rufus Brevett can still do a job.
Fabio just wasn't good enough & Fergie can't have rated him that much or he'd have seen more game time ahead of Evra & Rafael if he rated him the highest of the two wouldn't he?
Vermaelen or Blind.
Well that's like saying Pogba wasn't good enough or he would have started ahead of Ji Sung Park/Rafael in midfield.
Fabio was good enough and got plenty of game time under Fergie.
If we can get Vermaelen on the cheap I'd take him and keep Vermijl around the 1st team this season as further backup
It's not like saying that at all, Pogba was in the reserves, Fabio was around the first team squad. Pogba's gone on to excel at Juventus, Fabio looked shite at a relegated Cardiff. If Fergie rated him higher than Rafael why didn't he start him over Rafael all the time?
He didn't get plenty of game time at all, he made 20 starts in the league & CL in 3 years. He wasn't good enough, simple as.
There's a million things you can blame Moyes' wrong doing for, selling Fabio isn't one of them.
It would be good to get somebody with some experience who is capable of covering the entire flank. Over to the scouting team..
This. Or someone like them that can play more than just left back.
A left sided Valencia?
He struggled at Cardiff. He wasn't good enough to warrant all the outrage on this place. Remember when he came on and got himself sent off within minutes?
Vermaelen seems inevitable and will be used as cover for CB and LB if he can stay fit for 5 minutes.
Ducker said that Ricardo Rodriguez is one of the options the club are looking at.
Fabio?
If Rodriguez, or Shaw can muliti task, and play further forward, or be shifted iside when needed then he would be a good choice, if not then it makes no sense.
Ducker said that Ricardo Rodriguez is one of the options the club are looking at.
Fabio?
I just can't understand why we let Fabio go. He'd have been a fantastic back up for both full back positions and would have got plenty of game time.
Another fecking stupid Moyes decision IMO.
This is the utter myth that continually gets peddled out.
If Fergie really rated Fabio better, he'd have played him more often than Rafael surely.
And he didn't.
Its not a myth considering he did start in the champions league final.
I think Fabio just didnt want it enough, there was defo ability there so it must have been something else...
I think Fabio just didnt want it enough, there was defo ability there so it must have been something else...
It's not really a myth, Fabio was more highly rated when signed (both were very talented). Fabio had a worse fitness situation and was more lightweight than Rafael so never really got a run of games. When he did in 2011, he was very good for the second half of the season (not just being arguably our best performer in the CL final).
So what happened the 2 years after then?
I think this really points to Blind who can cover as a backup for a few spots.
All this about Fabio. He was the better player when we signed the twins, he started a CL final etc etc. He hasn't been that good at QPR and Cardiff. He also gets injured a lot. Why people bang on about him as if he was going to own that LB spot I'll never know. Would have been a good back up but he is a young player who deserves more than that.
He was injured a lot. When he finally got a run of games he excelled in Champions Legaue knockouts. Then he got relegated back to no game time then sent on loan to a club in complete shambles for some inexplicable reason, following that he played like 2 full games under Moyes, then got half a season at a relegation side.
We had a back up who could play both sides, with equal talent levels of Rafael, who'd proven himself capable at the highest levels of Champions League football, he wasn't on big wages. No one would mind but our alternative solution for when our RB was out was to try and ruin Chris Smalling's career.
I'd bet very close to zero people have ever said that. As you said, he's a good back up, he'd probably have stayed if we offered him the chance, instead we played Chris Smalling at right back.
Anderson is left back anyway, and we can use Fletcher on right back. And we can always bring back O'Shea.
We'll see how good he is elsewhere then. I doubt he will become as good as Rafael.
Injuries, basically.