Laurent Blanc

Julian Denny · Nov 11, 2002

This explains the problem rather well.

<a href="http://sport.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2002/11/11/sfnhan11.xml&sSheet=/sport/2002/11/11/ixfooty.html&secureRefresh=true&_requestid=276604" target="_blank">Time is catching up with Blanc and United</a>

Im red · Nov 11, 2002

Can't be true that is written by that dipper that said you can't win nothing with kids.
but IMHO Blanc is too slow. It was even spelled out to us last season losing at home to teams whose first letters combined spelt B.L.A.N.C. Bolton, Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle and Chelsea.

pete_8 · Nov 11, 2002

Originally posted by Im red:
Can't be true that is written by that dipper that said you can't win nothing with kids.
but IMHO Blanc is too slow. It was even spelled out to us last season losing at home to teams whose first letters combined spelt B.L.A.N.C. Bolton, Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle and Chelsea.<hr></blockquote>

I agree he is to slow ..No pace to recover as Goater showed on Saturday.He is a great footballer on the ball and reads the game well but in his position and in this day and age pace is very important.Unfortunately I feel it's time for him to hang his boots up .

Livvie · Nov 11, 2002

Interesting stats on TV earlier about the number of goals we conceded in Stam's last 20 or so games, compared with Blanc's first 20.

Let's just say it wasn't close.

Gazza · Nov 11, 2002

Originally posted by Livvie20:
Interesting stats on TV earlier about the number of goals we conceded in Stam's last 20 or so games, compared with Blanc's first 20.

Let's just say it wasn't close.<hr></blockquote>

But then Stam's last game and Larry's first 20 also coincide the one thing: Seba's arrival. It meant we were lacking in midfield which is the first line of defence. No use playing the blame game though, if the whole team isnt performing we cant expect Larry (or any other defender for that matter) to bail us out.

golden_blunder · Nov 11, 2002

Originally posted by Livvie20:
Interesting stats on TV earlier about the number of goals we conceded in Stam's last 20 or so games, compared with Blanc's first 20.

Let's just say it wasn't close.<hr></blockquote>

I think its silly to compare the 2 timescales though. For so long the defence was built around Stam, then suddenly, without warning he was gone. Of course this was going to unsettle the defence. Then to further complicate it, a new defender was brought in, who barely speaks english. Of course there was going to be problems. ANY defender would have had a tough time settling in under those circumstances, with everyone looking at him and comparing him to Stam. IMO though Blanc, like him or not, went on to become our most consistent defender last season. Whether he's stayed a season too long is a matter of personal opinion. I personally dont think he's been too bad this season & the fact that our defence has been one of the best around bares that fact out. I think people are looking for scapegoats for Saturday, but theres more to it than one player being too old or too slow. Remember that 2 of the goals conceded were down to bad mistakes from 2 of the youngest defenders on the pitch.
Ill not even start on what i thought of Rio Ferdinands performance on Saturday, ill just say it was nothing short of a disgrace.

Livvie · Nov 11, 2002

Actually, I wasn't as much comparing the two, as pointing out that Stam wasn't finished, not by a long way.

giggzy · Nov 11, 2002

Originally posted by Livvie20:
Actually, I wasn't as much comparing the two, as pointing out that Stam wasn't finished, not by a long way.<hr></blockquote>

i don't think he was, aswell

pity, coz blanc and stam would have made a good partnership...

Im red · Nov 11, 2002

Interesting stuff found on another United forum.
"from two interviews SAF gave at the start of the season, Carlos's appointment was;
"we have multi-nationals in the first team now and although my French is passable I felt we needed someone who could communicate with them better.He (Carlos) is fluent in 4 languages, that coupled with our increasing "net" of bringing in players from South America led me to think I needed a coach from abroad. Everyone I spoke to, the same name came up."
and there you have it...........forget bringing on young lads who understand our(the fans) passion and history, let's bring in all and sundry.....
and you want further proof? on Quinton's on-going contract talks (this only last Thursday!!)....."we hope to get the lad on a 4 year contract. He's a fine young man, he lives a good clean life, he's a fine ambassador for us out in South Africa........."
YEAH ALEX, BUT HE'S NO feckING GOOD!!!! surely that's MORE important?"
I can see truth in that.

spare ribs · Nov 11, 2002

Originally posted by Im red:
Can't be true that is written by that dipper that said you can't win nothing with kids.
but IMHO Blanc is too slow. It was even spelled out to us last season losing at home to teams whose first letters combined spelt B.L.A.N.C. Bolton, Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle and Chelsea.<hr></blockquote>
It looks like this year the letters might spell 'Antidisestablishmentarianism'

Amir · Nov 11, 2002

Originally posted by Livvie20:
Actually, I wasn't as much comparing the two, as pointing out that Stam wasn't finished, not by a long way.<hr></blockquote>

Fair enough to say and believe that, but that comparison doesn't confirm that at all. It just shows Blanc in a bad light even though it's based on a very unequal ground.

How about Stam's first 20 matches and Blanc's first 20, for a start?

Im red · Nov 11, 2002

Originally posted by spare ribs:

It looks like this year the letters might spell 'Antidisestablishmentarianism'

<hr></blockquote>

lchk · Nov 12, 2002

Blanc is too slow for the pace of the Premiership.

No amount of stats, comparisons etc can disguise that fact.

He, like Veron should only play in Europe.

great_se7en · Nov 12, 2002

Originally posted by lchk:

He, like Veron should only play in Europe.<hr></blockquote>

Forgive my ignorance and lack of vengance against Veron but I thought for the first half hour of the game, he was easily one of our better players on the pitch. He only went shit with the rest of the team, and I'm sure if yuo put giggs under the same microscopic examination he would have been just as poor.

But then again, I figure only foreigners make acceptable scapegoats. <img src="graemlins/houllier.gif" border="0" alt="[Houllier]" />

RUnited · Nov 12, 2002

Originally posted by giggzy:


i don't think he was, aswell

pity, coz blanc and stam would have made a good partnership...<hr></blockquote>

but if stam never left then we would not have gotten blanc.. it would have stayed like that and JOS and Wes would have been given first team opportunities permanently.

RUnited · Nov 12, 2002

Originally posted by Im red:
Interesting stuff found on another United forum.
"from two interviews SAF gave at the start of the season, Carlos's appointment was;
"we have multi-nationals in the first team now and although my French is passable I felt we needed someone who could communicate with them better.He (Carlos) is fluent in 4 languages, that coupled with our increasing "net" of bringing in players from South America led me to think I needed a coach from abroad. Everyone I spoke to, the same name came up."
and there you have it...........forget bringing on young lads who understand our(the fans) passion and history, let's bring in all and sundry.....
and you want further proof? on Quinton's on-going contract talks (this only last Thursday!!)....."we hope to get the lad on a 4 year contract. He's a fine young man, he lives a good clean life, he's a fine ambassador for us out in South Africa........."
YEAH ALEX, BUT HE'S NO feckING GOOD!!!! surely that's MORE important?"
I can see truth in that.<hr></blockquote>

you have to think in terms of business.. financial reasons..

it's important that we have players from certain countries to build our reputation abroad.. i think this maybe the PLC policies.. we have now have Forlan as a representative of Uruguay,.. Fortune of South Africa..

And we have Timm of Denmark, Djordic (sp?) of Yugo,.. i think they fringe/prospects players are here to build our fan base in their countries.. and i must say that it is probably working.

I have seen a danish guy in the forum (don't remember who) who was very excited at prospect of Mads Timm making a first team appearance with our team - i wouldn't be surprised if he became a fan because of Big Pete.. it's probably the same with fans of fortune and forlan..

RUnited · Nov 12, 2002

Originally posted by Im red:
Can't be true that is written by that dipper that said you can't win nothing with kids.
but IMHO Blanc is too slow. It was even spelled out to us last season losing at home to teams whose first letters combined spelt B.L.A.N.C. Bolton, Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle and Chelsea.<hr></blockquote>

I never realized that! <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" /> that's amazing! and this year B.L. has already spelled Bolton and Leeds - coincidence??? although shitty seems to not have been on the plan though.. maybe coz even God thought we should have gotten that match rather easily.

devilish · Nov 12, 2002

You know what I think about Blanc. He was a wonderful defender, but too old and his lack of pace had been punishing expecially in the premiership

If he is not leading us well ( Man City, Haifa home/away shows that the defense is not lead well)

And is caught outpaced in every counter attack

He is not good

Livvie · Nov 12, 2002

Originally posted by Amir:


Fair enough to say and believe that, but that comparison doesn't confirm that at all. It just shows Blanc in a bad light even though it's based on a very unequal ground.

How about Stam's first 20 matches and Blanc's first 20, for a start?<hr></blockquote>

I already said that the intention was to highlight the fact that Stam wasn't necessarily finished, not just to compare him to Blanc, so Stam's first matches for us are irrelevant in this case.

giggzy · Nov 12, 2002

Originally posted by RUnited:


but if stam never left then we would not have gotten blanc.. it would have stayed like that and JOS and Wes would have been given first team opportunities permanently.<hr></blockquote>

SAF, wanted Blanc before he got rid of Stam...

Blanc said that he was told that he'd be paired with Jaap... this was before the book fiasco.

Red15 · Nov 12, 2002

I think Blanc's a wonderful defender too, great to watch especially in person. I would have loved to have seen him play 10 years ago. But I agree that at this age he's too slow for the premiership and I really hope Fergie gets the Rio/JOS partnership going as soon as possible. O'Shea will make mistakes but at least for him it will be a learning curve and we'll see progression in his game.

I agree with those of you who say that Blanc can pass on a lot of knowledge to Rio/JOS/Wes. But he can do that on the training ground. In an interview, O'Shea actually said once that he learns more from Larry during training than during matches.

I also think we'll get the best out of Rio by partnering him with O'Shea or Brown. With Larry's lack of pace, I think that puts more pressure on Rio and it's just one more thing he has to think about.

Amir · Nov 12, 2002

Originally posted by devilish:
You know what I think about Blanc. He was a wonderful defender, but too old and his lack of pace had been punishing expecially in the premiership

If he is not leading us well ( Man City, Haifa home/away shows that the defense is not lead well)

And is caught outpaced in every counter attack

He is not good<hr></blockquote>

Blanc was horrible away to Haifa... We did not lose that match in defence (not that he played anyway).

Im red · Nov 12, 2002

Originally posted by RUnited:


I never realized that! <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" /> that's amazing! and this year B.L. has already spelled Bolton and Leeds - coincidence??? although shitty seems to not have been on the plan though.. maybe coz even God thought we should have gotten that match rather easily.<hr></blockquote>

Yeh well even God did not expect us to capitulate against that shower of tossers

thumper · Nov 12, 2002

I dont know why the subject of Blanc even comes up anymore. Why did SAF think that he could take a player who was at the end of his career, "pluck" him from the Milan 4th teamand expect him to be the same player we all wanted to sign 4-5 years ago? He didn't have the language, didn't know the league and is probably still shocked at how fast the EP is compared to Italy. There is a huge lack of forward thinking in the club at the moment and it stems from the top.

Amir · Nov 12, 2002

Originally posted by thumper:
There is a huge lack of forward thinking in the club at the moment and it stems from the top.<hr></blockquote>

Is it? Or maybe there actually is long term thinking by bringing such a player who can help the younger lads progress.

Everyone sees it in a different way I guess. One says 'we brought a 36 year old player' and stops at that, another looks at the long term thinking.

I don't think having someone instead of Blanc over the past year and a bit would have given us more trophies.

Im red · Nov 12, 2002

Originally posted by Amir:


I don't think having someone instead of Blanc over the past year and a bit would have given us more trophies.<hr></blockquote>

But it would not have been difficult to have more trophies than us last season

Amir · Nov 12, 2002

Originally posted by Im red:


But it would not have been difficult to have more trophies than us last season

<hr></blockquote>

No, it would only take 1. Is anyone here convinced that if we had someone, no matter who, instead of Blanc last season, we'd have won something?

I doubt that would have made the difference.

Big E · Nov 13, 2002

Originally posted by Amir:


No, it would only take 1. Is anyone here convinced that if we had someone, no matter who, instead of Blanc last season, we'd have won something?

I doubt that would have made the difference.<hr></blockquote>

You can't tell, could have been a whole defense effect as opposed to just one person. If we'd had more pace then people wouldn't have tried to use it against us so much

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