Blanc staying

Neil Thomson

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And it appears that Blanc is going to stay for another year too. He did very well after Christmas, but I don't think he will be able to last all next year, and I don't see him as being first choice centre back for all next season. We need to improve our defense, not keep it the same - I'd still prefer Thuram and Ayala as first choice centre backs, and Blanc and Brown getting a fair lot of games too, more Prem and Cup though than CL.

If barthez and blanc are staying - where exactly are we going to improve the team, and who will be the sacrificial lambs to this? Micky? Brown? Gazza?
 
That depends on who we will get. I think Thuram is a perfect choice to partner Blanc because of their understanding and because Thurm can offer the pace Blanc lack at the back. Our second CB target should be Ayala. That means, if we can get both Thuram and Ayala, it's perfect; if we can't, then Thuram partner Blanc in the first half of next season, and then Brown gradually begins to start more games instead of Blanc in some less important matches later.

Besides CB, hope we can get another good RB in good price who is good enough to challenge Gazza.
 
Just hope Blanc staying doesn't mean we only go for one new defender - but I'm afraid that'll be the case now. I'd hate to think we would get Thuram for £20 mill or so and let the Arse pinch someone like Ayala for £13m...
 
Originally posted by the reporter:
<strong>
I'd hate to think we would get Thuram for £20 mill or so and let the Arse pinch someone like Ayala for £13m...</strong><hr></blockquote>



:eek: Thanks for putting that into my head <img src="graemlins/nervous.gif" border="0" alt="[Nervous]" /> <img src="graemlins/nervous.gif" border="0" alt="[Nervous]" /> <img src="graemlins/nervous.gif" border="0" alt="[Nervous]" /> :(
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Originally posted by uranushk1:
<strong>That depends on who we will get. I think Thuram is a perfect choice to partner Blanc because of their understanding and because Thurm can offer the pace Blanc lack at the back. Our second CB target should be Ayala. That means, if we can get both Thuram and Ayala, it's perfect; if we can't, then Thuram partner Blanc in the first half of next season, and then Brown gradually begins to start more games instead of Blanc in some less important matches later.

Besides CB, hope we can get another good RB in good price who is good enough to challenge Gazza.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Considering how Brown will probably we right back for England this WC, he could actually be that competition for Gary.
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Originally posted by the reporter:
<strong>Just hope Blanc staying doesn't mean we only go for one new defender - but I'm afraid that'll be the case now. I'd hate to think we would get Thuram for £20 mill or so and let the Arse pinch someone like Ayala for £13m...</strong><hr></blockquote>
We should pay whatever it takes to get Ayala just to stop Arsenal having Sol & Ayala at the back, its bad enough Liverpool having Hyppia and Henchoz.
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It's a fact that we definitely need defenders this time around. It would be awesome if we got both Thuram and Ayala. But we . Are the PLC and the board members willing to splash out the money for both of them after the spending that was done last season? I guess we will just have to sit back and see what happens.
 
Great news if Blanc really is staying.
He can be used sparingly next season but still be an important part of our squad. Hopefully he will give a coaching role some thought - Larry and Irwin as coaching staff ? Awesome ! :D
 
LB stayin' on is great news. he'll be settled , and may not have to play as often if MU can get ayala. it may also help in getting mexes , maybe at mid-season.
 
Originally posted by Neil Thomson:
<strong>
Considering how Brown will probably we right back for England this WC, he could actually be that competition for Gary.</strong><hr></blockquote>

But what do you think about Brown as RB? From what I watched so far, I think Brown is more suitable to be a CB. Because play as full back need to be more mobile and better in attack (especially in a team playing attacking football), but it seems Brown is not very well in going forward.
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Originally posted by Davo:
<strong>Excellent news..

I hope this means that you'll sign one less defender..

;) </strong><hr></blockquote>

How about you? I don't know what will happen to your team if either Hyppia or Henchoz get a injury and need to out for a month. ;)
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I'm quite sure Larry will stay in OT (as Micky) and if Thuram comes, there is one question :

Who is going to learn french ???
 
Whilst I think Thuram would be an excellent purchase I think we should not get hung up on Ayala. He is a great defender but lacks discipline and is a South American (crazy journeys to games).

My preference would be to sell back Veron to Lazio for Nesta and about 5 million cash.

Also we need another wide guy. Any suggestions?
 
Originally posted by uranushk1:
<strong>

But what do you think about Brown as RB? From what I watched so far, I think Brown is more suitable to be a CB. Because play as full back need to be more mobile and better in attack (especially in a team playing attacking football), but it seems Brown is not very well in going forward.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I thought he was great in 99 in that position, he's very fast but he could do with improving his passing and crossing. I prefer him at CB because he's such a good tackler.
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Originally posted by Neil Thomson:
<strong>
I thought he was great in 99 in that position,</strong><hr></blockquote>

Totally agree. I´ll never forget how Wes put Le Saux in the ad boards at OT.
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True. Brown - Thuram - Gary - Micky would be a safe defense next season imo, with Blanc ready to step in if needed.
 
Originally posted by Gazza:
<strong>True. Brown - Thuram - Gary - Micky would be a safe defense next season imo, with Blanc ready to step in if needed.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Blanc is not going to "step in". If he stays another year he'll want to play regularly.

We need to buy a RB to put some pressure on GN and a world class CB.
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Originally posted by Travis Bickle:
<strong>

Blanc is not going to "step in". If he stays another year he'll want to play regularly.

We need to buy a RB to put some pressure on GN and a world class CB.</strong><hr></blockquote>

RB: Brown
CB: Thuram

When I said step in, I mean European games etc, as he won't be able to play all the time. He is almost 37, and however good he is he won't play every game.
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Blanc cannot be more than a backup this season. He cannot possibly last the whole season playing regularly. He will have to play the Henning Berg role of 1999. IMO Thuram will come to utd and possibly Ayala as well. Or else, Thuram will play with Brown or O'Shea as partner, with Blanc playing a few games. Blanc may stay even if he is not first choice because it will mean a year more of salary and a few trophies.
 
Firstly anyone who thinks Blanc will only be a sqaud player next year is talking out there arse, he is a class act who we should make the most of.
Secondley this buying Thuram shit, where exactly did that come from? You lot all seem to take for granted were getting him yet Juve only just spent 20 odd million on him and he's a year older from when the board refused that last year.
You should also all note how highly rated Wes Brown and John O'Shea are within Old Trafford so buying a couple of centre backs is very unlikely, I reckon where Fergie will strentghen most is the left back position because I personley don't believe Fergie has 100% faith in Silvestre, I have it on very good account that Duff will sign so expect Giggs to be played in the hole position again next year and thats that basically
 
Originally posted by Gazza:
<strong>

RB: Brown
CB: Thuram

When I said step in, I mean European games etc, as he won't be able to play all the time. He is almost 37, and however good he is he won't play every game.</strong><hr></blockquote>


Putting Brown at RB does not represent strenghthening our defence. There is no serious competition at RB and LB. Two defenders have left. I think something more radical is needed if we are "strenthening" our defence.
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The ideal scenario would be for Larry to stay another year and for us to sign Phillipe Mexes and Lilian Thuram. Blanc could mentor Mexes for a year before he takes over fulltime. O'Shea and Brown to fill in as needed.
 
Originally posted by Raoul:
<strong>The ideal scenario would be for Larry to stay another year and for us to sign Phillipe Mexes and Lilian Thuram. Blanc could mentor Mexes for a year before he takes over fulltime. O'Shea and Brown to fill in as needed.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I don't know how good is Mexes, but I wonder if we are really going to get him as we already have two very promising young CB. Anyway if we really get Mexes, that may signal the end of the United career of either Brown or O'Shea, because we definitely don't need as many as three young backup defenders.
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Originally posted by MW16:
<strong>Firstly anyone who thinks Blanc will only be a sqaud player next year is talking out there arse, he is a class act who we should make the most of.
Secondley this buying Thuram shit, where exactly did that come from? You lot all seem to take for granted were getting him yet Juve only just spent 20 odd million on him and he's a year older from when the board refused that last year.
</strong><hr></blockquote>

Thuram is obviously not happy to remain in Juve as RB and is going to leave. Of course we are taking nothing for granted, but given that now Fergie and the board "finally" understand that the defence is the primary subject to fix in this summer, at least we can sure that they will definitely do their best to try to land Thuram.
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Originally posted by uranushk1:
<strong>

Thuram is obviously not happy to remain in Juve as RB and is going to leave. Of course we are taking nothing for granted, but given that now Fergie and the board "finally" understand that the defence is the primary subject to fix in this summer, at least we can sure that they will definitely do their best to try to land Thuram.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Let's hope that whoever they buy will 'fix' the defence and not just create new players who make mental errors because they're unfamiliar with one another.
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Originally posted by Raoul:
<strong>The ideal scenario would be for Larry to stay another year and for us to sign Phillipe Mexes and Lilian Thuram. Blanc could mentor Mexes for a year before he takes over fulltime. O'Shea and Brown to fill in as needed.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Spot on. I have been advocating a similar situation for a while.
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Well, anything?

So much for 'it's going to happen this weekend' of 10 days ago. I wonder if Blanc said 'non' but we're keeping it quiet so we won't be forced to pay more for our targets as we're desperate.
 
Blanc can't last a full season. Expect Thuram and either Rio, Nesta or Ayala to join him. O'shea is bound to be the back upcenterback with Wes filling in for Gary Neville. And even if Arsenal got ayala to play with Campbell, I do not believe it would be better than a Thuram-Blanc/ Rio/Nesta-Thuram or Blanc-Nesta/ Rio partnership.
 
we better buy mexes next season, no matter who we get this season, <img src="graemlins/nono.gif" border="0" alt="[No No]" />
 
We'll probably buy one diffender this year (Thuram)and whenever Blanc leaves next year, we'll get Mexes.

However, SAF might get Mexes and Hofland so that he can recreate Bruce-Pallister partnership he talked about.
 
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