Leighton Baines

I have a hard time seeing how we can keep both him and Evra happy. Both are at stages of their career where they probably want to play as much as possible, Evra especially with limited time.

If we do sign him, I think that means Evra might be marginalised next season, and then shipped off after that. Pure speculation of course, but for me it seems like the most likely scenario.
 
I have a hard time seeing how we can keep both him and Evra happy. Both are at stages of their career where they probably want to play as much as possible, Evra especially with limited time.

If we do sign him, I think that means Evra might be marginalised next season, and then shipped off after that. Pure speculation of course, but for me it seems like the most likely scenario.

I think that would be the best scenario
 
If we are going to spend on a LB I'd prefer it was someone who was a bit younger so that by the time we're ready to pension off Evra we have Fabio and one other waiting to fight for the spot. Baines is 28 and would probably cost in the region of £15m, which seems very steep considering he's not better than Evra at this moment in time, IMO.
 
Best scenario would surely be a better player than Baines. Evra is still better than Leighton fecking Baines.

He is not, Baines is one of the best left backs in the league & probably second to Ashley Cole. Evra has been a great player for us but he has become a worry at the back and his best days are behind him.
 
The only thing about him that I like is his fantastic crossing and set pieces.Other than that he's an ok LB.Not one United should try to sign
 
He is not, Baines is one of the best left backs in the league & probably second to Ashley Cole.

We'll certainly have to agree to disagree on that.

Evra is a miles better footballer than Baines and adds so much more to our all round ball game than Baines ever could.

I also don't rate Baines' defending that highly. As storey pointed out earlier in this thread, he made Downing look like fecking Garrincha in the Cup Semi not long back.
 
Best scenario would surely be a better player than Baines. Evra is still better than Leighton fecking Baines.

At 28 he's obviously a stopgap solution. My guess is that SAF has identified that the position will be filled by someone from our youth ranks within a couple of years. It could be Fabio, or someone else. I'm not up to speed on what's coming through at the backs though, so I wouldn't know.
 
At 28 he's obviously a stopgap solution. My guess is that SAF has identified that the position will be filled by someone from our youth ranks within a couple of years. It could be Fabio, or someone else. I'm not up to speed on what's coming through at the backs though, so I wouldn't know.

Tyler Blackett has always looked very good any time I've seen him for the youth teams and there's Fryers as well, both of them are a few years away from being close to ready though.
 
Tyler Blackett has always looked very good any time I've seen him for the youth teams and there's Fryers as well, both of them are a few years away from being close to ready though.

Yeah I've seen Fryers in his first team cameos, and I've heard rumblings about Blackett. I reckon Baines has at least three good seasons in him though, and that seems like the perfect scenario for ushering in one of the youth - Not too long to be a hindrance, and they could both be afforded a season out on loan before coming back to be ready to step up.

Very hypothetical this, but for me that's the only way signing Baines makes much sense! Plans are only tentative of course, so we might be able to identify a top young prospect from elsewhere in the coming seasons as well.
 
Yeah I've seen Fryers in his first team cameos, and I've heard rumblings about Blackett. I reckon Baines has at least three good seasons in him though, and that seems like the perfect scenario for ushering in one of the youth - Not too long to be a hindrance, and they could both be afforded a season out on loan before coming back to be ready to step up.

Very hypothetical this, but for me that's the only way signing Baines makes much sense! Plans are only tentative of course, so we might be able to identify a top young prospect from elsewhere in the coming seasons as well.

Baines is in his prime right now and like you say he still has a few years of that prime left.
It all comes down to wether you're willing to use Evra next season in possibly his last year as a first team player then using the season after to bed in Fabio (if he gets and has a good loan move). Obviously Baines would be the better option playing wise over those 2/3 years but with the state of your CM the money would be best spent there (if it is 15 million +)
 
Considering the players we are after.. I expect a more free flowing footballing United next season so maybe Baines's ability to cross the ball from the flank will be a good alternative tool with all the ball players.

But we already have players that are already at the club that can do that.. I get what your saying.. Its just that we already do have them so no.. That's not the reason we would be after him..

The actual reason seems like a complete mystery to me.. Unless of course SAF is planning to fast track Evra out of the team by next season like he did with Heinze.. or he doesn't have faith in Fabio as a long term replacement for the 1st choice left back role..

I don't agree with this he is not good enough tag though.. He is good defensively.. Slightly better than Evra surely.. Also he creates more chances attacking wise.. He might not be the better player overall.. But he is better at the 2 departments he needs to be at to replace Evra eventually..

But like I said earlier I would rather we take a gamble on a cheap unknown player who won't mind playing 2nd fiddle and will be competent enough to be a good backup..
 
Baines is in his prime right now and like you say he still has a few years of that prime left.
It all comes down to wether you're willing to use Evra next season in possibly his last year as a first team player then using the season after to bed in Fabio (if he gets and has a good loan move). Obviously Baines would be the better option playing wise over those 2/3 years but with the state of your CM the money would be best spent there (if it is 15 million +)

Yeah, I voiced that earlier in the thread when the rumours first appeared again after the season ended. Couldn't agree more!
 
I honestly think Evra's become seriously under-rated on the CAF.

He's had two season below the very high standards he has set and he has not been as solid defensively as 06-09 but he's still one of the best full backs about and a standard above Baines. Baines is a good player but I don't think he is good enough for a top club. Evra is still about that standard but he's at an age now where we need to be looking to the future.

The biggest problem with Evra is that he has no competition for his place and gets nowhere near enough rest. If Fergie never saw Fabio as his understudy the decision to sell JOS last season was an odd one as whatever anyone says about JOS he was a solid defender and the perfect back up player.

Signing Baines who is going to look to be first choice and loaning Fabio after selling JOS is an odd way of dealing with out left back issues.
 
Banes would be competition for Evra's place which would bring out the best in him. I find it strange no one seems to like that idea.

It'll just be a fair whack of money for that competition. I don't mind us getting a left back in, but he should be better than Baines. I'd rather we keep Fabio than spend 13 or so million on Baines.

Plus, how many fecking scousers do we want in the team, we'd be more scouse than the scousers.
 
Banes would be competition for Evra's place which would bring out the best in him. I find it strange no one seems to like that idea.

....

It'll just be a fair whack of money for that competition. I don't mind us getting a left back in, but he should be better than Baines. I'd rather we keep Fabio than spend 13 or so million on Baines.

Plus, how many fecking scousers do we want in the team, we'd be more scouse than the scousers.

This.
 
Competition for Evra? Is that reason enough to spend 13mil on a LB when we're letting fabio go out on loan at the same time?

The thing with Fabio is he's probably played less than 20 games at left back in his four years at United and it's a position he has played in dead rubber CL games and the Carling Cup. The number might actually be less than that. Can you recall a meaningful match he has played at left back for United?

Fabio's longest run in the side was at right back and he played very well in that position. The reason we have not used him at left back maybe because it's not actually his position. Of course United fans want a bright prospect like him used in a position where he can develop and play some football but it's telling how often Evra is used IMO. We will see how Benfica use him.

It's only twelve months ago and Fabio had effectively broken into the first team and played in the side regularly playing in some big games and he was capped by Brazil. It's abit odd for him now to be loaned out if Fergie thought his long term future was at left back.
 
The thing with Fabio is he's probably played less than 20 games at left back in his four years at United and it's a position he has played in dead rubber CL games and the Carling Cup. The number might actually be less than that. Can you recall a meaningful match he has played at left back for United?

Fabio's longest run in the side was at right back and he played very well in that position. The reason we have not used him at left back maybe because it's not actually his position. Of course United fans want a bright prospect like him used in a position where he can develop and play some football but it's telling how often Evra is used IMO. We will see how Benfica use him.

It's only twelve months ago and Fabio had effectively broken into the first team and played in the side regularly playing in some big games and he was capped by Brazil. It's abit odd for him now to be loaned out if Fergie thought his long term future was at left back.

I do agree with you there, i voiced similar concerns when the loan deal came out. Sir Alex might not see fabio as a LB i feel with our style of wingers on the left who prefer cutting in. I think he wants a left footer there for the overlaps. Hence the loan deal imo.

Coming back to topic, Baines for me isnt better than Evra. They are similar defensively whereas i rate Evra better offensively even though Baines has a much better final ball in him. Having both at the club makes no sense at all to me as neither would be happy sitting out big games.
 
Competition for Evra? Is that reason enough to spend 13mil on a LB when we're letting fabio go out on loan at the same time?
Fabio is going on loan to get proper first team experience. the type that will have him return as Evra's true long term replacement if Benfica used him they way they have proposed to. .

Also 13m is peanuts. We spent way more on back ups like Young and Jones.
 
Fabio is going on loan to get proper first team experience. the type that will have him return as Evra's true long term replacement if Benfica used him they way they have proposed to. .

Also 13m is peanuts. We spent way more on back ups like Young and Jones.

Baines will be 28 when Fabio returns, Evra will still be here most likely. If we really intend to replace Evra with Fabio we should simply stick to Evra for one more season and then replace him with Fabio.

Also, £13m isn't peanuts and Jones was a long term prospect.
 
Maybe Fergie feels that Evra needs some competition, competition that Fabio does not sufficiently provide at this moment in time.

Never underestimate the benefit of good competition for places.
 
Baines will be 28 when Fabio returns, Evra will still be here most likely. If we really intend to replace Evra with Fabio we should simply stick to Evra for one more season and then replace him with Fabio..
It makes more sense to bring in a Baines, have Fabio go out on loan to get experience and return here as Evra's time winds down.

Also, £13m isn't peanuts and Jones was a long term prospect.
It is peanuts. Young for example was way more expensive yet he isn't a superior player to Nani or Valencia who he came in to cover.
 
I personally don't believe Baines is an improvement on Evra. We need a young left back willing to bide his time and learn. I don't get this Baines transfer (if rumours are to be believed).
 
I read exactly the same arguments when we signed Evra. People could not understand the signing because Heinze was considered as one of the team's top performers at the time.
My impression is that fergie is fearing the worst about evra and still not fully convinced about fabio.
Time proved him right when he brought evra and i wont bet against him if he decided to bring baines...
 
It makes more sense to bring in a Baines, have Fabio go out on loan to get experience and return here as Evra's time winds down.

It is peanuts. Young for example was way more expensive yet he isn't a superior player to Nani or Valencia who he came in to cover.

You're out of your mind if you think an £25m outlay over the next four years for a back-up left back is justifiable. Either he becomes first team player or it's a stupid move.
 
I personally don't believe Baines is an improvement on Evra. We need a young left back willing to bide his time and learn. I don't get this Baines transfer (if rumours are to be believed).
Why on Earth would we want to sign an improvement on Evra?

I don't get why people can't understand the need for us to have someone competent enough to step in and give Evra much need rest to be at the top of his game for us.


Besides, I'd like anyone to name a young left back better than Evra out there who would be interested in being cover for him
 
You're out of your mind if you think an £25m outlay over the next four years for a back-up left back is justifiable. Either he becomes first team player or it's a stupid move.
You are the one who is mad if you believe we will spend 25m on a fullback aged 28.

Any way 10-13m for a left back with experience makes sense.
 
I read exactly the same arguments when we signed Evra. People could not understand the signing because Heinze was considered as one of the team's top performers at the time.
My impression is that fergie is fearing the worst about evra and still not fully convinced about fabio.
Time proved him right when he brought evra and i wont bet against him if he decided to bring baines...

Evra was 24 though.

The issue isn't buying a new left back, the issue is Baines.