Don't move the goalposts Chief, you said "competition". Baines wouldn't come here as cover either.
Not many players join a new club as "cover", like Young, he joined as part of a squad and hoped/had the confidence in himself to play a big part.
Leighton Baines
- Thread starter ::sonny::
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Don't move the goalposts Chief, you said "competition". Baines wouldn't come here as cover either.
Not many players join a new club as "cover", like Young, he joined as part of a squad and hoped/had the confidence in himself to play a big part.
Paying anything over 10 Million for 28 year old back-up left back is madness. I'd only believe this story if Evra has decided to move.
Nice new username 
Nice new username
Are you Sharky?
Sharky, Guybrush, I'm always right.
£13m plus £3m a year over four years is £25m.
Baines would come to occupy the same role an Ashley Young and a Jones offer our first team. Competition and cover.
That is just the politically correct way of describing it. Fact is we are not looking to replace Evra, we are looking rather just to back him up. So going for a superior player ,young or experienced, would be ridiculous frankly.
I'd take it. We can get up to 5 years out of a player like Baines.
So you'd rather blow a mini fortune on upgrade of a someone who is still a top class player, in a position you don't need to do it? all the in name of 'improving the team''?
yet some of you dare to laugh at transfer muppets...
No resale value, me not want...
I'd even get Giggsy to play LB if needed, not to mention Evans can actually player there a bit etc...
If we were to go for a 12m LB, I'd go for the best talents out there, not that Baines is not good, his distribution and crossing is excellent but I'd rather use the first team chances to blend in a potential successor that'll stay here for a long long time.
I'd even get Giggsy to play LB if needed, not to mention Evans can actually player there a bit etc...
If we were to go for a 12m LB, I'd go for the best talents out there, not that Baines is not good, his distribution and crossing is excellent but I'd rather use the first team chances to blend in a potential successor that'll stay here for a long long time.
I don't see Baines as a upgrade over Evra, as poor as Evra as been at times this season. £12m seems to much for me, especially as we have more pressing matters elsewhere that need addressing.
If we manage to improve elsewhere first and there's still money left for Baines then fair enough, competition for Evra might just what he needs. Not to mention I think he plays far too many games so being able to rest him would be good.
If we manage to improve elsewhere first and there's still money left for Baines then fair enough, competition for Evra might just what he needs. Not to mention I think he plays far too many games so being able to rest him would be good.
Everton are already hunting a replacement for Leighton Baines, should the left-back head to Manchester United in the off-season. Manager David Moyes has identified French defender Aly Cissokho, 24, as a possible £6m target.
i rather go for Cissokho
i rather go for Cissokho
I rather go for Cissokho
Has been my point all along.
I'd say Baines & Evra are about the same. Evra just needs some solid competition to raise his game.
I'd be all for Baines at United
But don't you feel that signing a PL experienced LB such as Baines can prove good for Fabio to go on loan and claim his place later on as our main LB rather some young option in the likes of Alba or Alaba?
Personally I feel kind of uncomfortable on seperating the twins for one season
I feel like Rafael and Fab lose half their twinpower or something.
Personally I feel kind of uncomfortable on seperating the twins for one season
I feel like Rafael and Fab lose half their twinpower or something.
over 12 million for Baines, when we got Evra for half of that sum. If we want someone to compete for the LB spot with Evra, or someone to fill in when he needs a break here and there we should definitely be looking at a younger player than a 28 year old.
Seems like throwing money away to me, just in the hope that Fabio comes good.
I'm sure there are plenty of players around Europe like Cissokho as mentioned above that would be younger and cheaper than Baines, and as he'd just be competition for Evra I just cannot see the point of spending all that money. If Baines was actually being brought to take Evra's spot then I don't agree with it but it'd certainly make more sense than spending 13m on competition.
I would prefer it if Paddy played a more phased out role next season rather than the 40+ games a season. I love his spirit but unfortunately makes way too many errors. A 25 game Evra + a 30 game main LB would be perfect IMO provided we are in all competitions.
You don't spend £13 million on 'back-up/competiton' if that player a) only players in one position that occupies one place in the team and b) that position is in defence.
A defence generally benefits from consistancy...rotating your left-back every few games, despite how competant both players are could well be more detrimental to the team then anything else.
In short, I've never known a team spunk £12/13million on a left-back who wouldn't be an automatic starter. If that's what we'd buy someone like Baines for, then that makes sense... but in my opinion, Evra is still the much better footballer.
A defence generally benefits from consistancy...rotating your left-back every few games, despite how competant both players are could well be more detrimental to the team then anything else.
In short, I've never known a team spunk £12/13million on a left-back who wouldn't be an automatic starter. If that's what we'd buy someone like Baines for, then that makes sense... but in my opinion, Evra is still the much better footballer.
Good player, great left foot, but not very fast if I remember correctly?
I'm fine with Evra being our full back.
If SAF reckons Fabio is not quite ready or good enough then I'd rather go with a younger, cheaper back-up with potential to give Evra some rest and take over that position full time in the future. Leighton Baines is just too good, old and expensive to be sat on the bench.
Everton are already hunting a replacement for Leighton Baines, should the left-back head to Manchester United in the off-season. Manager David Moyes has identified French defender Aly Cissokho, 24, as a possible £6m target.
i rather go for Cissokho
From what I've heard from people who've seen him regularly he's a bit overrated is Cissokho. He's been available for transfer for a while now and no one's bit. Lyon overpaid for him.
its clear that baines is coming to replace the home grown players which will be leaving, because the incomming foreign players cant.
Since when did supporters start giving a shit about resale value?? Leave that to the David Gills of this world.
If he can come in and do a job for the term of his contract, im happy.
If he can come in and do a job for the term of his contract, im happy.
I only want him if he changes his name to something more exotic, I mean 'Baines' ffs...... Cissokho, now I'd sign someone called that based on nothing else.
Who cares if Baines was named in the PFA team of the year whereas Cissokho only managed 16 appearances for Lyon.
Who cares if Baines was named in the PFA team of the year whereas Cissokho only managed 16 appearances for Lyon.
Hows that being a drama queen?
So we're basing our signings on age and price rather than on ability or experience are we?
People are saying they'd have Cissokha for 6m... based on what? Being young? If he's worth 6m playing 16 games a season, then tell me why Baines isn't worth 12 having played over twice as many games over the past 2 years (in the PL I might add) and being named among the best LB's in the league by the PFA....
So we're basing our signings on age and price rather than on ability or experience are we?
People are saying they'd have Cissokha for 6m... based on what? Being young? If he's worth 6m playing 16 games a season, then tell me why Baines isn't worth 12 having played over twice as many games over the past 2 years (in the PL I might add) and being named among the best LB's in the league by the PFA....
On the age thing, I'm not entirely convinced by Baines but his age is perfect if Fergie's serious when he talks about the Da Silvas as future regulars. Be a shame if Fabio has a storming season at Benfica and we've turned out to block his place in the team for the next 5 or 6 years.
All the reasons are here in this thread popper. And yes it was being drama queen to try making out that posters just wanted an exotic name, I don't think anyone is saying Baines isn't good, just that 13m or soo is a lot of cash for a player to be competition to Evra. As I posted myself above, were he an instant Evra replacement I'd understand it, I wouldn't agree but I'd understand it. But if it's competition we're after then personally I'm sure we could get someone younger and or cheaper.
I dont think that will be the case..... I think Baines would fit the age profile of the team quite well... Evra's 31, Baines is 27 and has a wealth of experience, Fabio is 21 and has limited experience.
I think Baines would be a good signing (albeit 12m is a steep fee). He'd compliment and Evra and it gives Fabio time to develop. In 2 years we could be perfectly set up for Evra to bow out, with 2 capable, experienced LB's.
I think Baines would be a good signing (albeit 12m is a steep fee). He'd compliment and Evra and it gives Fabio time to develop. In 2 years we could be perfectly set up for Evra to bow out, with 2 capable, experienced LB's.
If Baines were to cost around 8-9m I'd be in total agreement popper.
What I asked was, why would people be willing to pay 6m for Cissokho?
We have someone younger and cheaper, Fabio, unfortunately he's a little bit too young and two inexperienced.
We need someone at LB, its amusing to think that Fergie would go out and just buy someone to make up the numbers, he'll buy someone he realistically expects to try and oust Evra, Baines ticks the boxes in terms of being experienced and proven in the league, he's also at a stage in his career where he no doubt wants to progress to a higher level.
Much like Valencia, or Carrick when we signed them (another pair people moaned about us signing), granted they were a couple of years younger but they were in positions where age is more of a factor. 27 isn't old by any stretch of the imagination, certainly not for a defender.
The question is will either Evra or Baines willing to sit out games? With a younger less established player (I'm not advocating anyone in particular) that wouldn't be an issue. We also need to remember transfer fees and salary spent in this position limits how much we can spend on other positions.
I only want him if he changes his name to something more exotic, I mean 'Baines' ffs...... Cissokho, now I'd sign someone called that based on nothing else.
Who cares if Baines was named in the PFA team of the year whereas Cissokho only managed 16 appearances for Lyon.
Cissokho always truly been from awful to average so far at Lyon.He hasn't been worth all the money invested in him so far, he's also a loud mouth (as in complains in the media and has off the field problems)
Baines is like Evra in that he starts consistently, he had 99 league games in a row before he became injured that meant he couldn't hit 100. I don't think Evra would be disgruntled as much as Baines would if it meant them sitting out games seeing as Baines has more of his career to go yet.
Plus i don't understand why people are moaning about his price when it is only £12 million being touted at the moment.
He's English and in his prime, that is going to add around £5 million to his fee so to be purchasing a player of his standard for that sort of money is a bargain.
Evra has just gone 31, so will probably have two seasons left in him, maybe only one, so I can see the need for a LB replacement. Baines is 27, will be 28 at the end of the year, so if we sign him, he would have 4/5 years left in him. That is great, as it gives us options, and we can phase out Evra and replace him with a proven LB in his peak.
That would be all well and good, if we didnt have Fabio. He is 21, soon to be 22. If Baines comes in and becomes our number 1 LB, that means Fabio could be 26/27 by the time Baines is finished. That would be perfect if he was playing consistently all those years, and developing, but its unrealistic that we'd loan him out for that time.
You need stability at the back, and we cant afford to keep rotating Baines and Evra to keep them both happy, it just wont happen. For that reason, and the above, Im out. Do not want.
However, Fabio being loaned out next year does present a problem in that we'll only have one LB. Also, Im not a huge fan of full backs with opposite feet to the side they're on. It takes away from attacking fluidity imo. So does Fergie actually see Fabio as our future LB? Maybe he doesnt and maybe thats why he's apparently after a LB, and if thats the case, then Baines would be a good option, but I'd prefer a younger player tbh.
That would be all well and good, if we didnt have Fabio. He is 21, soon to be 22. If Baines comes in and becomes our number 1 LB, that means Fabio could be 26/27 by the time Baines is finished. That would be perfect if he was playing consistently all those years, and developing, but its unrealistic that we'd loan him out for that time.
You need stability at the back, and we cant afford to keep rotating Baines and Evra to keep them both happy, it just wont happen. For that reason, and the above, Im out. Do not want.
However, Fabio being loaned out next year does present a problem in that we'll only have one LB. Also, Im not a huge fan of full backs with opposite feet to the side they're on. It takes away from attacking fluidity imo. So does Fergie actually see Fabio as our future LB? Maybe he doesnt and maybe thats why he's apparently after a LB, and if thats the case, then Baines would be a good option, but I'd prefer a younger player tbh.
Doesn't concern me one bit, we play enough games every year to justify having 2 proven players in each position. It doesn't pose much of a problem for us in other positions.
We need options and strength in depth. We've been lucky in that Evra's never picked up a knock but if he were to miss a couple of months we'd be stretched.
Between Friers, Fabio and even Evans we have enough backup for Evra. Seems to me, if we're looking at Baines its to directly challenge for a starting place which I welcome. Signing young players is great but we need to be careful and maintain a balance between youth and experience, Giggs and Scholes, and probably Rio will be off over the next few years, at that stage the value of having someone 29-31, and with a lot of PL games under their belt will come into play.