Should we have bought him yet?
Leighton Baines
- Thread starter ::sonny::
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) and Imran (@Annihilate Now!) are here to discuss Amad saving our blushes in a win against Southampton as well as our now annual loss at home to Brighton. They discuss Amorim's post-match comments, revisit how mid-table we may or may not be, and discuss some transfer news.
Dont think we need a left back anymore so no.
Really.
Evra at 31 is so far from the player that he used to be, at times - it is painful to watch. Buttner is an absolute unknown quantity and Fabio has started the season very poorly.
Baines is a very good player, for a more reasonable fee he would be ideal.
Sure we have Robbie Brady 
Sure we have Robbie Brady
I just wonder though
1. How much longer can Evra be our number one choice?
2. Are we expecting Buttner or Fabio to take over from him?
My answers to those questions are
1. Not long
2. Both are far from sure bets
I wouldn't be surprised to see us back in for Baines next summer.
He has played three matches, out of which he did very well against Manchester City and was okay against Norwich. Awful in the first match but not sure that's starting the season "very poorly".
Evra might be 31 and on the way down but Baines is not the answer.
Well I took my City reports from City fans and they, to a man, said that he was chronic against them. I prefer to listen to listen to you though, as a QPR man. I hope that you get relegated though.
We should have bought him. Some may say he's not that much better then Evra, and truth is if we were talking about Evra of 2 years ago that might be true. But the current Evra is a massive defensive liability. He seems to want to make up for it by running up field at every given opportunity but that almost always ends up with our left flank being exposed (which is where a lot of the goals we conceed originate from).
hopefully this Buttner chap is up to the task because Evra has been on a steady downhill decline for years now and needs to be dropped.
hopefully this Buttner chap is up to the task because Evra has been on a steady downhill decline for years now and needs to be dropped.
Evra's had a pretty good start to the season, bar being outjumped last match.
Also, he's provided more attacking impetus than Rooney, Nani and Welbeck combined.. he's beat his man well, put in good crosses, and provided excellent width.
He also hasn't been really beaten by his winger, nor let in any preventable crosses from dangerous positions. Again, his only real error was being outjumped, and there's naught he can do aerially significantly better than he is; he's by far the best in the air out of the comparable PL full backs, in terms of % headers won (way ahead of Cashley etc).
Evra gets a lot of undeserved stick, yet he's being castigated after 3 performances in which he's not gone too far wrong really, and been truly marvellous down the left flank.
Also, he's provided more attacking impetus than Rooney, Nani and Welbeck combined.. he's beat his man well, put in good crosses, and provided excellent width.
He also hasn't been really beaten by his winger, nor let in any preventable crosses from dangerous positions. Again, his only real error was being outjumped, and there's naught he can do aerially significantly better than he is; he's by far the best in the air out of the comparable PL full backs, in terms of % headers won (way ahead of Cashley etc).
Evra gets a lot of undeserved stick, yet he's being castigated after 3 performances in which he's not gone too far wrong really, and been truly marvellous down the left flank.
I just wonder though
1. How much longer can Evra be our number one choice?
2. Are we expecting Buttner or Fabio to take over from him?
My answers to those questions are
1. Not long
2. Both are far from sure bets
I wouldn't be surprised to see us back in for Baines next summer.
1. Another season before he has to compete with Fabio for the right.
2. Fabio, the plan seems to be give him games at QPR and then he'll come back to challenge for the position.
Why would we bother with Baines next summer? He'll be 28 and our transfer policy is that we don't sign players over the age of 27 isn't it? Even if we did, he'll be 29 next year and it would again only be a temporary solution and expensive solution to what is a long-term problem. Just throw Fabio in there in rotation with Evra next season and build from there.
Nah mate, I support Man Utd. That QPR thing was for the Soccer Manager. Still I saw that match against QPR and he was pretty fine. Most of us in the match day thread agreed he was pretty good.
While I agree Evra is not what he was defensively, don't you think him playing high up the pitch is more to do with how Fergie is telling him to play than to do with Evra himself? Fullbacks are expected to help make the pitch wider and give the option for the overlap on both sides in modern football and Gary Neville has said as much himself.
So he has the most accurate crosses and most key passes in the league still (counted as two different things) 46% of Everton's attacks come down the left which is also the most in the league and Everton have 20.1 shots per game, the most in europe at present. More about Everton here
http://www.whoscored.com/Blog/kbiryo9tx0wrutrp9qddrg/Show/Team-Focus-The-Secret-to-Evertons-Success
As he showed against us, he knows how to defend and as he continues to do each season he shows he's one of the best coming forward. Arguably the best fullback in the league but definitely the most underrated one on here. He enjoys a great partnership with Pienaar thats for sure but he still did well when Pienaar left for Spurs and when it comes to having a left winger coming inside and a fullback overlapping only Marcelo is better.
http://www.whoscored.com/Blog/kbiryo9tx0wrutrp9qddrg/Show/Team-Focus-The-Secret-to-Evertons-Success
As he showed against us, he knows how to defend and as he continues to do each season he shows he's one of the best coming forward. Arguably the best fullback in the league but definitely the most underrated one on here. He enjoys a great partnership with Pienaar thats for sure but he still did well when Pienaar left for Spurs and when it comes to having a left winger coming inside and a fullback overlapping only Marcelo is better.
The best left back at least. He's had a better season so far judging by the Everton games I've seen. Very split opinions on him here. You've got to understand that over the course of 3 years a player gets better. Progression has been pretty steady and clear in Baines' case.
The time to buy him would be after this season and have him in his prime if a left back is really what SAF is after. I'd expect the fee to at least double from when Everton bought him 5 years ago.
If Everton keep on playing like they have been playing this season there's no reason why they would sell. 4th has to be their target. One season in the CL could do wonders for them.
The time to buy him would be after this season and have him in his prime if a left back is really what SAF is after. I'd expect the fee to at least double from when Everton bought him 5 years ago.
If Everton keep on playing like they have been playing this season there's no reason why they would sell. 4th has to be their target. One season in the CL could do wonders for them.
I doubt theres any possibility of us buying him now that we signed Buttner so I disagree. I think the time to do it would have been this summer if at all. But my point is more about him being a good player who doesnt really get the credit he deserves, rather than being someone we need to sign.
I don't see Buttner as a replacement for left back. I see him as cover. I don't either that we're looking at a left back next summer but I think we should. That's why I brought it up.
It all depends on Fabio and if there are other priorities for a new signing, which there are.
Baines had very good stats last season as well but that still doesn't convince many people on here. I don't know however if said people watch him regularly or not.
It all depends on Fabio and if there are other priorities for a new signing, which there are.
Baines had very good stats last season as well but that still doesn't convince many people on here. I don't know however if said people watch him regularly or not.
Showing this season why he is worth the fees which were being said in the media whether fabricated or not. The best thing about him is that he never tries to be too fancy, just does what he does best and is super consistent at it.
I was one of the many who thought he wasn't good enough for United this summer.
Proving me wrong so far. He does look a much better player this season though..not sure if it's to do with Everton's more expansive game, perhaps that he is just improving further, something I didn't think he was capable of.
Fair play to him.
Express reporting that we are in for in January, on my phone so can't be bothered posting link and highly doubt there is any truth to it since the Buttner signing. Although I do think he is a quality LB I think SAF would be looking at other positions.
Should have seen his run against Norwich on Saturday. Deserved a goal, it was fantastic.
SilentWitness, how do you rate him defensively? Would he be good enough defensively for us?
If we got Baines then what about Fabio?
He's 29 soon and going for a fair bit of money, abit too old for a fullback
Incidentally, there was a rumour not long ago that we are interested in signing Ashley Cole on a free in the summer
Incidentally, there was a rumour not long ago that we are interested in signing Ashley Cole on a free in the summer
Baines' ship has sailed.
He is 27 now, I would say that he is more likely to be 30 soon rather than 29.
If our desire is play a bit narrow on the left with one of Rooney, Welbeck or Kagawa starting there regularly then Baines would be a good option to provide width on the left. He is one of the best attacking FB's on the left. Also, If we don't get a left-footed wide winger, I don't see how Fabio can start on the left regularly.
This story wont go away...don't see the logic as we bought Buttner!!
I think Buttner was always bought as a backup.
1. Evra has been decent this season
2. Everton couldn't get within a million miles of Evra's wages
I think that Baines is arguably the best left back in the Prem, certainly going forward, but I can't see it happening.
More interest in a position we seem well covered in. Joy.
Don't you see Baines as lacking a bit pace to play for United? Evra has lost a yard or two, but is still faster than Baines, surely. I think Baines would be one of the players who we would realise isn't United material if we bought him. Has a sweet left foot though...
Not really.
Evra is getting old
Buttner isn't up to standard IMO
Fabio is on loan at a relegation fodder club.
Not exactly well covered.
Evra has enough in the tank while Buttner and Fabio come good IMO.
If there is money available to buy Baines, dont buy Baines, put it in the piggy bank and save up for a better player in a position we are weaker in.
If there is money available to buy Baines, dont buy Baines, put it in the piggy bank and save up for a better player in a position we are weaker in.
I agree 100%. There is absolutely no guarantee that Baines will get better than Evra, who has been very good lately.
Evra is looking much better at the moment, for me. Especially considering the team performances he's having to play in.
Buttner has had two really good performances, and one slightly under-par one. For me, that's good enough to suggest he can do the back-up thing until Fabio is ready. Plus all those who go on about him being an 'unknown' earlier in the thread: well, yes, he is to us, but presumably not to Sir Alex. Especially now that he's been at the club for months. If Fergie doesn't buy, then presumably he thinks Buttner has enough for the job.
Buttner has had two really good performances, and one slightly under-par one. For me, that's good enough to suggest he can do the back-up thing until Fabio is ready. Plus all those who go on about him being an 'unknown' earlier in the thread: well, yes, he is to us, but presumably not to Sir Alex. Especially now that he's been at the club for months. If Fergie doesn't buy, then presumably he thinks Buttner has enough for the job.
Yeah, seen as a back-up with the outside chance of really pushing on and developing his game hugely because of his attitude to make himself a first-teamer. You get the impression he has a great character when you see the kind of worship he got from the Vitesse fans, and that must be just as a big a factor as his footballing ability because he's not looked great on the latter front so far.
Chelsea might be interested with Cole almost certainly leaving.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...esh-15m-Everton-defender-Leighton-Baines.html
Manchester United are increasingly confident of signing Leighton Baines next month.
Sportsmail understands talks between United and Everton over the protracted transfer have reopened and Old Trafford chiefs feel the Merseysiders will now sell the England star for £15million.
Manchester United are increasingly confident of signing Leighton Baines next month.
Sportsmail understands talks between United and Everton over the protracted transfer have reopened and Old Trafford chiefs feel the Merseysiders will now sell the England star for £15million.
