Leighton Baines

Comsmit said:
I've said before he is too one-dimensional, too pedestrian for my liking. Imagine someone with rapid pace and trickery running at Baines...he doesn't have the nous to deal with that player in an open attacking game. If he is closed down by defensive wingers or midfielders he cant whip in a ball, and then doesn't have the skill set to mix it up. He becomes neutralised and in effect redundant..a waste. Its fine if United are dominating possession against an inferior side, but against true top end quality he won't be nearly good enough.

If this does happen I'm assuming Evra may be pushed further forward. If Baines were to start ahead of Evra then in my opinion that makes the team weaker.
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For what its worth I agree completely. His performance at (from memory) QPR last season was genuinely terrible. He got ripped to pieces constantly. Very similar to Evra in that respect (versus speedy wingers).

The quality of his delivery could be a welcome addition it has to be said....
 
Ashley Young did Ok with corners last season.

I believe our problem with corners is more of a lack of an attacking header in the ranks than the corners themselves.

When we had Ronaldo he would cause havoc with his heading both creating and scoring from corners.
 
Remember Valencia raping him down his side at least a couple of times the season before last at OT. Then again, Valencia can beat anyone bar Barcelona's system so it doesn't say much.

I like Baines, 12 mln would be a fair price and a decent purchase, unless it influences our must CM signing. He's got quality in his left foot and is decent apart from that. Not a dream buy, but not a catastrophic one like some people want you to believe. If we are to get him, buy one world-class CM (or preferably two:)) and we're sorted for the time being with everyone across the pitch having an adequate cover.

If this potential purchase can push Evra to show his all then it's fine with me.

EDIT: we can obviously kid ourselves that we'll get a top-class left-back, having player of Evra's stature already in the team.
 
He'll be a quality addition to the team. Wrap this deal quick and move on with the CM pursuit please.
 
lem8sh said:
Alba goes for 14 million euros and apparantly Baines is worth around the same, robbery.
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After all the stupid numbers that have been speculated about this summer then I'd be RELIEVED if we got Baines for ONLY the same as Alba cost.
 
Bape said:
He'll be a quality addition to the team. Wrap this deal quick and move on with the CM pursuit please.
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Won't happen. Chances are we'll sign a LB due to the sheer lack of numbers there but that will be it.
 
pocco said:
At this moment in time we need a LB more than a CM, so I don't see what the problem is. Obviously a LB isn't as glamorous a signing a CM.
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Yeh I see your point, I think its clear a left back is on the agenda. Personally though I don't think Baines should be that left back...that's my problem.
 
Fans also only take into consideration "how good" a player is, but there are a lot of other factors to consider too. Utd are a family club and Baines is a family man. He's never been outspoken or difficult (as far as I know). He'll have the right mentality and the right sensibilities that appeal to Fergie. He's a known quantity in this league. I also think Fergie was interested in him back when Everton signed him, and we know Fergie doesn't like it when signings get away from him (such as VDS). All of these come into play.
 
After Baines wins a match for us with one of those beautiful free kicks, everyone will change their tune.

With Baines delivering crosses down the left, and Valencia down the right, I believe our forwards will have a field day. Maybe Rooney will be back up top next season and back to heading them in.

I know we've all seen him, but here's a Youtube vid. Just pretend his hair is shorter, he has a healthier skin tone or a Spanish name, and imagine the muppets reaction off a vid like this:

 
Youtube vids are never a good indicator though. Be it english or foreign players. I wouldnt mind Baines but i dont think he's an improvement on Evra. The reason Evra's been bollocked all season has been his defensive vulnerabilities, baines is no better. Both are good going forward but thats not what our concern at LB is.
 
Varun_Utd said:
Youtube vids are never a good indicator though. Be it english or foreign players. I wouldnt mind Baines but i dont think he's an improvement on Evra. The reason Evra's been bollocked all season has been his defensive vulnerabilities, baines is no better. Both are good going forward but thats not what our concern at LB is.
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I'm not going off Youtube vids at all. I've watched plenty of Everton over recent seasons. That's why I said, "I know we've all watched him..."

But many seem to think Baines is an average player without anything special to offer.

A United left back must be good going forward because against most teams we play on the front foot.

Evra's problems have been due to getting caught out of position. We don't need great defensive ability at left back. We just need a bit more youth, pace and discipline.

Baines may not be a strong defender, but he is a disciplined and energetic one in my opinion.
 
I will reserve judgement on him until he plays some for us, if he plays for us, I dont think he is worth the money quoted but I am all for Evra getting a boot up the hole. Sincerey hope, if he signs, that its not our last piece of business.
 
Ferguson said:
When is the last time you've seen this for United?

When is the last time Giggs has scored a left-footed free kick like this for us?
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Are you suggesting we should sign him just because he takes a good free kick? :confused:

Escobar said:
Question is not why we are signing Baines, but why we dont use Fabio more
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He's far too prone to injuries to be relied upon imo. Needs to remain fit and get regular games at another club which is where QPR comes in hopefully.
 
Varun_Utd said:
Are you suggesting we should sign him just because he takes a good free kick? :confused:



He's far too prone to injuries to be relied upon imo. Needs to remain fit and get regular games at another club which is where QPR comes in hopefully.
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I don't think that is what he is saying - but for a club like United. A good leftback with a superb cross and freekicks - is perhaps just as valuable as a very good leftback without the crosses and freekicks.

In quite a few matches we can probably afford to be slightly worse off in defense - if the reward is a set-piece specialist like Baines. It is an area which has cost us a lot of points in recent years.
 
Escobar said:
Question is not why we are signing Baines, but why we dont use Fabio more
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That question has already been answered in this thread.

Fabio needs to develop which means he needs a lot of games and the opportunity to make mistakes along the way.

With Baines and Evra, you have two players who are already fully developed and experienced. They can sit on the bench and come in when needed and not lose form. If Fabio were to do the same thing, he would not get where he needs to be.

The only way to keep Fabio this season would be to bench Evra, and stick with the youngster while he finds his way. Unfortunately after one bad game everyone would be calling for Fabio's head, and the manager cannot afford the mistakes a pairing of Rafael and Fabio would make over the course of a season.

Evra may leave after a few seasons anyway, so it doesn't hurt to develop Fabio and bring in another player to play alongside him going forward.
 
Remains to be seen whether or not he's gonna be a good defender, you never know he might improve slightly with us. For 12 million its not a bad deal considering what's left on his contract and that left peg of his can put it a superb crosses.

He should be decent competition for Evra, he seriously needs a rest to try and get back to his former self.
 
Ferguson said:
After Baines wins a match for us with one of those beautiful free kicks, everyone will change their tune.

With Baines delivering crosses down the left, and Valencia down the right, I believe our forwards will have a field day. Maybe Rooney will be back up top next season and back to heading them in.

I know we've all seen him, but here's a Youtube vid. Just pretend his hair is shorter, he has a healthier skin tone or a Spanish name, and imagine the muppets reaction off a vid like this:
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This is so wrong IMHO.Just because a player has got a latin name doesn't mean he'll be automatically highly rated
 
lysglimt said:
I don't think that is what he is saying - but for a club like United. A good leftback with a superb cross and freekicks - is perhaps just as valuable as a very good leftback without the crosses and freekicks.

In quite a few matches we can probably afford to be slightly worse off in defense - if the reward is a set-piece specialist like Baines. It is an area which has cost us a lot of points in recent years.
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Evra is much more dynamic in attack than Baines though. Carries the ball well, is great at beating players and driving us from the back. Baines is definitely the better crosser but at the prices being branded about, i just dont see how we'l benefit from getting a LB who's as good.bad defensively as our current LB, is equally good going forward albeit in a different way.

Yes, he takes good freekicks but that surely isnt worth spending 18mil or so. Rooney did well with FKs actually last season. has definitely improved a lot.
 
lysglimt said:
I don't think that is what he is saying - but for a club like United. A good leftback with a superb cross and freekicks - is perhaps just as valuable as a very good leftback without the crosses and freekicks.

In quite a few matches we can probably afford to be slightly worse off in defense - if the reward is a set-piece specialist like Baines. It is an area which has cost us a lot of points in recent years.
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Cost us a lot of points how ? Be more specific please
 
Varun_Utd said:
Are you suggesting we should sign him just because he takes a good free kick? :confused:



He's far too prone to injuries to be relied upon imo. Needs to remain fit and get regular games at another club which is where QPR comes in hopefully.
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:wenger: Yeah, that's what I'm suggesting: get him for his free kicks and nothing else.

So if I point out that Nani is a good dribbler, then does that mean I don't care about his ability to score goals?

Look, there is a distinct lack of excitement in this thread over the prospect of Baines with many even treating him like an average player. Many cannot understand why SAF and our boardroom brain trust are pursuing him so hard and willing to offer so much money.

My point is that most of that reaction is due to a lack of respect for an unsexy name, from an unsexy club, in an unsexy position. But the same kneejerk responses will turn the other way, once Baines is plying his trade at our club IMO. The same idiots that think he's not worth the money will be over the moon once he does it in our club's colours and once they can see the effect of some decent crossing from the left side in the course of future matches.

Sorry, Evra has never crossed the ball well. Evra does not score many goals or take free kicks very well. I believe Evra at his best has incredible stamina, a superior work rate, and has better dribbling and control than Baines. But in the past season Evra has looked like a player in his 30s who has taken a step back. He needs to play less games like Scholes or Giggs, and in any case we need a backup should age and injuries catch up with him.
 
He's to expensive for 'an option' Pat is a world class left back and fabio is one of the best young fullbacks in the game.
 
Ferguson, I think the thing is most people here have said Baines is terrific at crossing and shooting but that he's not particularly pacy, can't head very well, and is defensively suspect on 1 on 1's. Then you posted a youtube vid of his crossing and shooting as some kind of new information to the discussion, but it doesn't speak to the attributes Baines lacks which a lot of people think are important!
 
Ferguson said:
:wenger: Yeah, that's what I'm suggesting: get him for his free kicks and nothing else.

So if I point out that Nani is a good dribbler, then does that mean I don't care about his ability to score goals?

Look, there is a distinct lack of excitement in this thread over the prospect of Baines with many even treating him like an average player. Many cannot understand why SAF and our boardroom brain trust are pursuing him so hard and willing to offer so much money.

My point is that most of that reaction is due to a lack of respect for an unsexy name, from an unsexy club, in an unsexy position. But the same kneejerk responses will turn the other way, once Baines is plying his trade at our club IMO. The same idiots that think he's not worth the money will be over the moon once he does it in our club's colours and once they can see the effect of some decent crossing from the left side in the course of future matches.

Sorry, Evra has never crossed the ball well. Evra does not score many goals or take free kicks very well. I believe Evra at his best has incredible stamina, a superior work rate, and has better dribbling and control than Baines. But in the past season Evra has looked like a player in his 30s who has taken a step back. He needs to play less games like Scholes or Giggs, and in any case we need a backup should age and injuries catch up with him.
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Baines is an average defender, and he's a left back. The sole reason people wan him is for his set pieces. For 16 million that's to much, nothing to do with his name, that's idiotic.
 
kouroux said:
This is so wrong IMHO.Just because a player has got a latin name doesn't mean he'll be automatically highly rated
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Muppets overrate players based on a few short Youtube clips all the time on this forum.

Anderson is the next Ronaldinho based on one skill for Gremio, and all these years later people are still expecting him to become something he never will be.

Meanwhile players like Ashley Young who we have watched for years with Aston Villa are labeled pedestrian, and there is great surprise when they prove to be match winners by scoring brilliant goals in a United shirt.
 
The notion of people rating a player because he's got a "sexy" name is extremely stupid.I thought the likes of Rafa Benitez with his legion of average Spanish had put an end to this
 
Cutch said:
Our corners and free kicks have been embarassingly shite for the last couple of seasons. I thought Young would have improved this last season but it hasn't really happened. I'd expect us to carry a significantly greater goal threat with Baines taking them.
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Doesn't matter how good our corners are if no one attacks them as aggressively as Ronnie used to do or Vida does when he's fit. Although I do agree Young's corners haven't been as good as I expected them to be.
 
JakeC said:
Baines is an average defender, and he's a left back. The sole reason people wan him is for his set pieces. For 16 million that's to much, nothing to do with his name, that's idiotic.
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Nonsense. People want him for his crosses and because Evra needs some competition and cover.

Muppets can't get excited about him because they only get excited by the free kicks. The rest of us know he is a solid professional who could make the difference in a championship season.

Why are people so desperate to stick with Fabio as cover for Evra, if it isn't the name and Brazilian pedigree, then?

Fabio has been injured too often, is too inexperienced, and could cost us a season if Evra were to get injured and we had to rely on him.

Idiots throw young players into the fire and cost their club trophies instead of bringing them along slowly and keeping a healthy mix of experience and youth in the team.
 
kouroux said:
The notion of people rating a player because he's got a "sexy" name is extremely stupid.I thought the likes of Rafa Benitez with his legion of average Spanish had put an end to this
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I agree that it is stupid. That's why I don't get the disrespect for Baines around this place, because I can't see where he has put a foot wrong.

Is he such a bad defender? I don't think he is.
 
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