I don't know what is more amusing on Talksport this afternoon, Darren Gough tryign to sound coherent or Everton fans having a fit over our opening offer.
Leighton Baines
- Thread starter ::sonny::
- Start date
A benefit to having Baines: Having another fantastic left-footed set-piece taker would allow RVP to go in the box for corners and free kicks, using his aerial threat more.
I'm not sure if Baines makes sense before Moyes has had a proper look at Fabio. The reason being that he might think Fabio will be ready in a years time and therefore it would be wiser to keep Evra for a year and then ship him out and make Fabio number 1 with Buttner or somebody else as backup.
If we get rid of Evra and sign Baines, I'm not sure if we can realistically keep Buttner and Fabio happy, as Baines will be first choice for the foreseeable future.
If we get rid of Evra and sign Baines, I'm not sure if we can realistically keep Buttner and Fabio happy, as Baines will be first choice for the foreseeable future.
Not sure Fabio was going to be kept around anyways. A lot may depend on what United intend for Varela. If they loan Varela out, then Fabio might stick around as cover for RB behind his brother. Baines and Buttner on the left, with Fabio there for cover also. But it would certainly say that United doesn't see Fabio or Buttner as a long term answer at LB.
As others have said it will also give United another option on freekicks, corners etc. Giving RVP more freedom to be in dangerous positions in the box.
Providing of course all these rumors about the offer for Baines are true and we do eventually sign him. Hearing 2nd hand, somebody saying they heard it someplace else, that a new offer of 20mil has been put in and accepted, take it for what it is worth.
Now that Fabio seems to be over his injury problems, I thought he might get a shot. It'll be a shame if it doesn't pan out for him at United.
This one's a close call.
Evra on the downslope of his career, check.
Baines is a terrific finished article, check.
Fabio has incredible potential but we don't know whether will he realize his potential, check.
Buttner has shown promise but doesn't appear to be a shutdown defender, check.
IF it's the case Evra wants out, then I'd support procuring Baines although with a heavy heart as I really do believe Fabio is only one season away from being at or at least very near the level of Baines was last season. But if Evra is happy to stay another season I would absolutely want to give Fabio a chance to show us what he's got this season as we begin to wind Evra.
I'd be much more comfortable with the discussion of our left back options once we nail down terms with Ronaldo AND Alcantara. Do them first and I'd be okay with whatever Moyesey wants to do at left back.
One thing about Baines: he has the look of a United man (completely irrational, don't ask me why) and would be a sensational addition to the squad. It's just that left back isn't the first thing I think of when I think of where we need to upgrade the roster. But if Evra's on the way out, then we of course we have to think this one through.
Evra on the downslope of his career, check.
Baines is a terrific finished article, check.
Fabio has incredible potential but we don't know whether will he realize his potential, check.
Buttner has shown promise but doesn't appear to be a shutdown defender, check.
IF it's the case Evra wants out, then I'd support procuring Baines although with a heavy heart as I really do believe Fabio is only one season away from being at or at least very near the level of Baines was last season. But if Evra is happy to stay another season I would absolutely want to give Fabio a chance to show us what he's got this season as we begin to wind Evra.
I'd be much more comfortable with the discussion of our left back options once we nail down terms with Ronaldo AND Alcantara. Do them first and I'd be okay with whatever Moyesey wants to do at left back.
One thing about Baines: he has the look of a United man (completely irrational, don't ask me why) and would be a sensational addition to the squad. It's just that left back isn't the first thing I think of when I think of where we need to upgrade the roster. But if Evra's on the way out, then we of course we have to think this one through.
Was he that good during his loan spell? You're talking about one of the best LBs in the league and fabio here. Even though he's shown talent, i've seen nothing to suggest he's just 1 season away from being as good as someone like Baines.
Truth is, if Evra's leaving, we have to get a LB in. Fabio and Buttman as the only 2 options is a huge and needless risk. Ideally though, I'd like to keep evra and groom fabio to take over.
Ronaldo? 
Exactly.
Loads of people seem to assume Fabio is the long term answer at LB but he's done nothing to suggest that. If he wasn't Rafaels brother many of the same people would probably be looking for him to be sold.
Van Persie's in-swinging corners were so good last season I'd rather he continued taking them to be honest.
Look Moyes, Ruud10 won't care what you do as long as you sign Ronaldo.
Ahh someone agrees i'm not as sold on Fabio as a lot of us are. I think he is being judged by Rafael's standards in all honesty. He has hsown nothing to warrant the faith and confidence fans have in him. He went to QPR and still struggled to get playing time. Fergie brought in a left back rather than keep him here. He is still young so has room to improve but currently i'm not convinced.
We might have more than enough uncertainty as we evolve the centre back partnership over the next season or two, do we need to add to that at this moment with Fabio or Shaw as our first choice left back?
Baines is the finished article and some purchases like that during a period transition can't be a bad thing.
Baines is the finished article and some purchases like that during a period transition can't be a bad thing.
So much wrong with this post.
He's judged by his own standards not Rafael's. The only time Fabio had a consistent run in the side he did not look out of place starting for us and played in a champions league final. His problem has been Patrice Evra playing an absurd number of games and his own injury problems.
He did not struggle to get playing time at QPR. When he was fit he was generally a starter until the final few weeks when relegation was all but confirmed and Harry elected to go with the players owned by QPR.
The fact that Fergie bought a Left back means feck all. The objective for the previous season was for Fabio to get game time under his belt which going by the number of appearances racked up Buttner, he wouldn't have at United.
That was at right back.
Honestly I think Fabio has looked best at right back for us.
His problem is he has several players ahead of him in that position.
I know but he's been forced to play there due to Evra starting pretty much every game there. Most of his games for QPR came down the left and the ones I saw he did quite well
Apart from his brother, who?
A tongue in cheek reply, perhaps perfectly appropriate but Ronaldo rumors still persist. Before Fergie stepped down I called the odds of him coming back at well north of 50/50 (of course I was probably as daft then as I am now). It's hard to parse fact from fiction, but does anyone here have reliable knowledge that there's no fukkin chance in hell Ronnie aint comin' back? I don't think so.
The reason this is important is that what we do or don't do with Ronaldo significantly affects what else we're going to do. IF -- a massive IF -- we bring him home do we really NEED a flying left back like Baines? Maybe, probably not. Anyway, this is the silly season where muppets like us hold court in a brief flight of glory so let's have at each other.
If we could get similar quality of delivery with RVP in the box it would be a fantastic option to have and I doubt we'd be foolish enough not to try it.
What was that about 20 games 2-3 years ago since then he has gone on to play about 15 times and is currently on loan at QPR. I believe Rafael has an effect on peoples perception of Fabio they are twins and are both fullbacks hard to not think of the other when discussing one. He played 23 games this season and started 13 of them hardly someone who was a first team regular he was a rotation player at a team fighting relegation. If we need an Evra backup and we have a left back but he has gone on loan it says something to me. That's like sending Welbeck on loan and buying another striker what would that say to you?
If Fabio was good enough he would have challenged Evra who was come off a bad 18 months but at 32 he played basically every match because Fabio and now Buttner are not good enough.
I have heard NO plaudits for Fabio this season at QPR so I wonder what he has actually done there.
Fabio played for a shit club, but he stood out pretty well IMHO. I'm thinking more about Baines v Fabio as a defender, not as an attacking threat. What makes Baines the player we all admire is his attacking ability. He's well ahead of Fabio right now and probably for quite some time. But I'm not convinced Baines is a better defender than Fabio, and if he is it's by inches not miles. There's the age issue and the transfer fee issue as well.
But if were to ask me whether Baines would fit in fantastically at United, I would absolutely agree with you. He's a ridiculous offensive threat, we know about his free kicks and he's a team guy all the way. You get no bullshit from him, no drama and 100% effort every game. There's nothing not to love about a player like that.
Baines is a very good left back. Easily best in the league and deservedly Everton's player of the year, so I'm glad we're going for their best player and not their tallest. That said if we wanted Baines we'd have been best advised to go for him a year or two ago when we were first linked with him. Oh well.
I hope we're going to start the season with only one of Evra and Baines in the squad with Fabio as first backup
I hope we're going to start the season with only one of Evra and Baines in the squad with Fabio as first backup
Fabio has been very injury prone which is why he's struggled to make any impact on Evra at all. Buttner in my opinion was brought as a back up to allow Fabio to have a good run of games out on loan and to an extent it has worked seeing as Fabio has had more minutes this season than any other.
He's good enough for United (He's already shown that for me and it has nothing to do with Rafael) and all he needs is a consistent run of games where he's first choice and I am sure he'll cement his place in the side.
We will see. A good run of from at right back two years ago is not enough for me yet but to each their own. I don't think he would keep Evra out now and he is on the decline at 32 so how good is Fabio? He still needs to improve he hasn't proven anything after Anderson's first year he looked like he would be a mainstay too. He had a poor first half of the season at QPR but improved once Redknapp came in, hard to judge a player in such a poor team but he looked solid hopefully he can put his injury woes behind him.
Easily best in the league? He's not even the best English left back
Just said on SSN that Everton require us to up our bid to nearer £18m. I thought the response yesterday was that they're not selling him at any price. I'd have preferred them to have kept that stance tbh.
PL Team of the Year two seasons running.
People can dispute the style of a left back of course but overall i wouldn't say he is worse than Cole in terms of output, being at Chelsea he has experience which Baines presently lacks yet there's only one way to gain that isn't there.
Nonsense
Near 18 huh? 15-16m with the right amount up front and i think we might have this settled.
Much better than my original guess yesterday. lol
James Ducker just said on United in Press on MUTV that he reckons 15 million plus add ons would do it for Everton
Attacking qualities of a fullback, specially at a club like ours is very important and Baines is miles ahead of Fabio in that regard atm. Fabio does have massive potential though and I'd like us to keep him in the squad next season as 2nd choice and give him gametime. The problem is, if we get Baines, it'd be very tough for fabio to establish himself here, his chances are much higher with Evra considering his age.
So, Evra to Monaco? Or does Moyes think Evra is just too old?
15m + for a full back.
Cripes. the world has gone mad.
Cripes. the world has gone mad.
English tax.
What valuation would you have set for Evra when he was at his very best a few years back?
I'd rather we didn't get him at all but it looks nailed on now, I'll not complain I just don't think it was necessary.
For all the supposed best LB in the league claims I haven't seen one "wipes at the ready" / "cocks out" post in the thread. Our fans are hardly brimming with excitement.
Its because of who we have at LB already and not because of his quality or the lack of it.
I suppose the trouble is that we don't actually know that, if Evra quite amicably moves to Monaco we'll have an answer to the question.
I agree.
Well I don't expect a squad with both Evra and Baines in so its probably inevitable that he's moving/being moved on.