This story has been around a few months now and hasn't been denied or confirmed by anyone.
Ezequiel Garay
- Thread starter moses
- Start date
No offence man, but United have been a shambles at the back for atleast 2-3 seasons. Evra got alot of the blame, as did Rafa (cos he was learning we gave him a break), but apart from Vidic - nobody has showed any consistency apart from Rio this year.
Varane was our Rio replacement, Jones was our Vidic replacement - Varane went to Real & Jones isnt a patch on Vidic atm & maybe never will be. He cant head a ball like Vida thats for sure & thats one of the aspects that made Vida the best around. We were unbeatable when he was on top form, along with Rio of course!
Evans, Smalling & Jones arent even near being the best center-backs in England nevermind Europe either. U've the rose-tinted glasses on big lad. U always start the foundation of a great team at the back.
Bruce-Pallister combo over Smalling-Jones everyday of the week - even now!
Sorry, i meant "young" center-backs!
If we had to use Jones and Evans as our first choice CBs next season I'd have no worries about their quality at all.
Jones has been absolutely exceptional every time he's been given a chance at CB this season, and one or two more mixed performances when he's been playing out of position at full-back or in midfield have made people forget that. He's commanding in the box.
And Evansbauer. Need I say more?
Smalling, for me, has to prove that he has more ability on the ball and certainly better distribution than he showed this season, because there were games when he was 'doing a Joe Hart' - giving it away or kicking it out of play with every single long ball.
Jones has been absolutely exceptional every time he's been given a chance at CB this season, and one or two more mixed performances when he's been playing out of position at full-back or in midfield have made people forget that. He's commanding in the box.
And Evansbauer. Need I say more?
Smalling, for me, has to prove that he has more ability on the ball and certainly better distribution than he showed this season, because there were games when he was 'doing a Joe Hart' - giving it away or kicking it out of play with every single long ball.
I was reading something about a gentleman's agreement with Fergie to sign Garay, surely if this is true Moyes will have been notified before it was made.
Really? when Evans or Jones played, you've never worried of us conceding? Did you watch our first half season before Vidic was back? United conceded the most goals in the last 20 years (for United) at that point of time.
In all United and England games Jones' played, I've never thought he had an exceptional game as CB. His form is never close to the peak Rio and Vidic (who were truly 'exceptional').
What the hell are you on about? You can compare young kids with the likes of Vidic or Rio. Of course they are not as good as them. There arent many defenders you would put above Vidic when he is on song. Only the likes of Silva and Kompany can even come close to matching his standards.
I used to be the biggest Evans' critique on here but over the last 12-18 months, he has come on leaps and bounds. And Jones has shown this season that he can play CB without being as much a liability as he was last season. And if Smalling is fit, he starts for England over Lescott and Cahill.
And who are the young CB's that you would pick over Evans, Smalling and Jones today in the premier league? Around their age group? And no defender has shown consistency this season? When Vidic was injured it was Evans who was our best defender alongside Rio. And Rafael has been so consistent this season that we are talking about him being one of the best RB's in Europe. He has offered so much more going forward with goals and assists and also has been rock solid defensively. Many teams in football today will definitely be envious of our backline.
Again this unrealistic expectation for a young player to be as good Rio or Vidic is mind boggling. Also Jones has performed with much more assurance this season when he has played CB. Thats where his future lies. And if the youngsters are not allowed to play the big games, how will they make mistakes and learn? I, for one, dont want us to get another centre back THIS summer. If Rio retires next summer, then I guess signing a CB wouldnt be a problem. But not this season.
Mendes is his agent, he seems the sort of player Monaco will be after - they've not brought a defender except for Carvalho yet, they seem to have a good relationship with Mendes and can easily match Benfica's €20m+ asking price.
Our defense is well stocked as it is and we dont need any more defenders. However I wonder what was SAF's reasoning behind getting Garay. Maybe he believed that Rio wouldnt sign a new contract or Evra was going to leave (Jones-Rafael as right back and Fabio-Buttner as left back). Considering how SAF's rated our central midfield, he probably thought that by moving Jones in CM he was going to sort the CM issue once and for all.
Like Gaitan a year ago. And how did that finish?
Gaitan story was funny. I was under no doubt that he'll join United.
I don't want us to buy any centre backs now, so I was really happy when I saw which site the article is on. Of course they might be right, but that would be more luck than anything else.
It's quite sad that Caughtoffside have so many readers. I mean... why would anyone read that site?
You missed a letter h out there.
It's got to be bullshit this one. Especially with Rio staying on, we'd be fecking mental to spunk £20m needlessly on this guy.
I'm all for our young players are given the chance. But to state that he's never worried about their quality (Evans and Jones) when playing as CB, and always thought Jones was exceptional every game he was playing there, are a bit BS.
Both are still error prone as CB (not unusual for their age), and Jones has never been 'exceptional' when given the chance there.
Garay is no better than the likes of Evans, Smalling and Jones so if we really are looking at a CB I sure hope it's not him.
Don't think we are in for him though. If wiki are right Madrid will receive 50% of any fee Benfica receive for him and Benfica only own about 40% of him so he'll probably go for a ridiculous amount. I suspect it's just a case of linking a player to United to drive his transfer price up before his eventual move to Monaco
Don't think we are in for him though. If wiki are right Madrid will receive 50% of any fee Benfica receive for him and Benfica only own about 40% of him so he'll probably go for a ridiculous amount. I suspect it's just a case of linking a player to United to drive his transfer price up before his eventual move to Monaco
Gathering real pace this morning on the Twitter - what are we doing?!
OMG people are talking about it on twitter!
Gathering more pace than the other 5 times we've been said to be about to sign him?
He's not that good. Have more faith in Jones and Smalling
He's not that good. Have more faith in Jones and Smalling
How can you be so sure he isn't better than your back-up CB's? Have you seen that much of him? I think he's a fairly decent CB, but obviously haven't seen enough of yours to directly compare them.
I've seen plenty of him in la liga, none at all of him in Portugal. Just the europa final.
I'm sure he's quite good but as has been said multiple times already, this is one of the areas where we really don't need anyone. If we sign another defender it means more of Jones in midfield and this is very unsettling to me.
Our back up centre backs in Smalling and Jones are two of English footballs best prospects. Both happen to be very popular with the fans and are very highly rated. Bringing in Garay to take game time off those two is not something that we want to see.
If reports are to be believed and we're signing the right-back from Uruguay, there is absolutely no need to add another defender. We already (then) have two right-backs, three left-backs and five (!) capable centre-backs. This move makes no sense at all.
I haven't seem him play that much so don't know how good he is, however as many have said, it is a questionable "potential" signing. One of the areas we do not need to strengthen.
Is this not the same situation as with Gaitan? A lot of talk, no real substance. Same selling club too. The lesson here is never believe we're signing anyone from Benfica.
I think it is. We there were reports of United scouts at some of Benfica's games earlier this season so if they are to be believed, then we have interest in someone over there. Who it is, is up for debate.
Sky is reporting:
"Portuguese daily newspaper The Record claims Manchester United have a gentlemen's agreement to buy long-term target Benfica defender Ezequiel Garay. Reports back in March claimed the fee would be in the region of £17million."
Still can't understand why we will be in for another central defender unless one is leaving.
"Portuguese daily newspaper The Record claims Manchester United have a gentlemen's agreement to buy long-term target Benfica defender Ezequiel Garay. Reports back in March claimed the fee would be in the region of £17million."
Still can't understand why we will be in for another central defender unless one is leaving.
If we were short on defenders I would understand this, but if it happens I would have to assume that either
1. Vidic is leaving
2. Rio isn't going to play a lot.
3. Phil Jones will not be considered a CB and will move into midfield.
1. Vidic is leaving
2. Rio isn't going to play a lot.
3. Phil Jones will not be considered a CB and will move into midfield.
I don't think either of those scenarios. 
Ferdinand and Vidic are aging and their bodies can't handle the regular demands of top flight football. While their able deputies, Evans, Jones and Smalling are young and still not at the level of Rio and Nemanja. Someone like Garay might be at their level and offers more steel, experience and support to our younger centre-backs.
Ferdinand, Vidic, Smalling, Evans, Jones.
There isn't a partnership there that I wouldn't feel comfortable seeing. Maybe against City, I'd feel better if we went into it with Ferdinand and Vidic rather than Jones and Evans for example, but it's still a strong pairing.
I really don't understand why we need him. I haven't really seen him play, so I don't know how good of a player Garay is - but it's a strange one.
There isn't a partnership there that I wouldn't feel comfortable seeing. Maybe against City, I'd feel better if we went into it with Ferdinand and Vidic rather than Jones and Evans for example, but it's still a strong pairing.
I really don't understand why we need him. I haven't really seen him play, so I don't know how good of a player Garay is - but it's a strange one.
Evans is not exactly young. Is two months younger than Garay with double the amount of appearances at a European club.
Six CB's are too many for the squad.
I only really watched him play with Madrid, and he did nothing there to make me think United should be interested in him. As he suddenly got a lot better at Benfica? Or is this just some way for Mendes to set a price for Monaco?
Six CB's may be too many at the minute, but potentially we'll be loosing Rio next season and Vidic could be tempted to make one last move before he retires. We could be pipped to Garay if we wait til next year, it also gives him time to bed in rather than just be thrown in at the deep end if Rio leaves. This signing imo needs to be looked at as a viewpoint for the 14-15 season, and beyond, when we'll have 4/5 CB's with 4 of them (Evans, Garay, Jones & Smalling) gaining much more experience and all with age on their side.
We've been sending scouts to Benfica numerous times over the last season, we're definitely interested in some one at Benfica, and with the recent links to Garay I'd be very surprised if it wasn't him.
I just don't understand why we would want a defender with the current squad, that's probably one of our strongest positions, CB
This is from the same source that said we were signing Gaitan. There's been nothing on this from the Manchester journos, given the speculation has been around for months, if there was any truth in it I imagine we'd have heard something on our side.
Evans is 25. Smalling is 23. We can't keep pushing them down the pecking order year after year on the basis that they're young, they're not. Jones wont get games at CB either in our current situation and he again is not a teenager.
Rio and Vidic having to be constantly rested and rotated, as well as their injuries I do think has become a bit of a burden for us, although they are still obviously great defenders. If we were to have made a decision to build our defence around our other centre backs this summer alongside a new signing with Vidic and Rio heading out I, unlike most on here would have understood the decision. Keeping all 5 and bringing in another expensive purchase is just ludicrous and cannot be justified.
Evans is 25. Smalling is 23. We can't keep pushing them down the pecking order year after year on the basis that they're young, they're not. Jones wont get games at CB either in our current situation and he again is not a teenager.
You can't always plan ahead. When the time comes and Vidic/Rio or both leave, we'll deal with it. Right now, Six centerhalves are just too much. If we trust Smalling and Jones for the future, we can't have four players ahead of them.
I'm amazed people are getting so worked up by a summer transfer rumour. I honestly cannot see this one happening as it makes no sense.
A year and 2 months.