Leighton Baines

Plenty of experience in any case. Abidal is also French.

I wouldn't say no to Baines in any case. A bit more experience in depth at left back is certainly good for the longevity of Evra if he isn't off.
 
If Evra is off then Baines is as good a replacement as you'll likely get, but I wouldn't be keen on bringing him in over Evra, or pushing Evra out for him.
 
I don't think there's anyone here who would want that though is there? Post man pat has delivered the goods enough times since he arrived and he's manage dot learn a thing or two about finishing ;). If its true that he does want out then yes Baines is as good and as safe an option as we can probably get at this time.

Maybe later down the line I really would love to see us take a punt on Lucas Digne. I really think this kid is gonna be one of the best LBs in the next couple of years. :drool:
 
KanieKaned said:
I don't think there's anyone here who would want that though is there? Post man pat has delivered the goods enough times since he arrived and he's manage dot learn a thing or two about finishing ;). If its true that he does want out then yes Baines is as good and as safe an option as we can probably get at this time.

Maybe later down the line I really would love to see us take a punt on Lucas Digne. I really think this kid is gonna be one of the best LBs in the next couple of years. :drool:
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Have never seen him play, so I can't really comment.

I basically meant that unless Evra is going, I don't see the point in Baines. Spending the sums suggested for a back-up full-back would be pointless for me. I don't see the need for both, and in the scenario where we could only have one I'd rather have Evra. Unless, as you say, it's his decision to leave.
 
Couldn't agree more, we'd just be spunkin cash when it's not really needed. Obviously ButterBean ain't up to the task yet so if Pat DOES wanna leave then its all fair enough.

You should try cast an eye over Digne, he's very talented for his age. Tons of pace and really patrols the left side. He's good at attacking and his defensive play ain't the worst for a young lad, mainly positioning work for me but I'm no scout and I just like the cut of his jib.
 
Earthquake said:
I can't imagine Baines moving to become a backup, couldn't see him coming here unless Evra is indeed leaving. :(
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Can he play on the left wing though? Can Patrice?

Some extra left footed delivery options from the left will bring a lot of balance to our play. Especially with the majority of Young's left sided play being 'penetrate, turn, deliver right footed inswinger across the face of goal' and Danny Welbecks inside forward play that was more like a playmaker than a genuine winger.
 
ghaliboy said:
Can he play on the left wing though? Can Patrice?

Some extra left footed delivery options from the left will bring a lot of balance to our play. Especially with the majority of Young's left sided play being 'penetrate, turn, deliver right footed inswinger across the face of goal' and Danny Welbecks inside forward play that was more like a playmaker than a genuine winger.
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Paddy was originally a winger I believe then converted to LB as his final delivery and finishing wasn't up to scratch. with Baines delivery I don't think he would need to be as mobile as Evra was/is. His crosses would create a shit load of chances for the forwards. I'd quite enjoy seeing a good regular supply of quality crosses coming in. Then both fullbacks are quite dangerous and will have to be tracked and closed down accordingly which will help n creating space for the likes of Kagawa, RVP and co to do some damage.
 
Kid Cunto said:
Manchester United ready to increase offer for Leighton Baines
Times reporting we'll up the offer to £15 million this week. This is happening, ladies and gentlemen.
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Article:


Manchester United will make an improved bid for Leighton Baines this week as the Barclays Premier League champions prepare to fly to Thailand for the start of their pre-season tour without Robin van Persie.

United are due to travel to Bangkok on Wednesday for the first leg of their three-week, 24,000-mile round tour of Asia and Australia.

David Moyes is hoping to make a breakthrough in his efforts to strengthen his squad in the coming days, with United likely to offer around £15 million for Baines after Everton rejected an initial £12 million bid for the England left back.

But the manager will be without Van Persie and six other senior players for the opening game against a Singha All Star XI at the Rajamangala Stadium in the Thai capital on Saturday. The striker has been granted dispensation to miss the Bangkok leg after playing for Holland in friendly matches against Indonesia and China last month and will instead join up with his United team-mates in Sydney on Monday.

David De Gea will also join the squad in Australia after the goalkeeper was given extended leave after winning the European Under-21 Championship finals with Spain in Israel three weeks ago.

Shinji Kagawa is due to link up with the travelling party in his native Japan on July 21 after representing his country in the Confederations Cup but another United forward, Javier Hernandez, who also played in the tournament in Brazil with Mexico, will miss the entire tour.

The same could apply to the wingers, Ashley Young, who has an ankle injury, and Nani, who recently underwent an operation on his nose. Chris Smalling, the defender, is also a doubt for the tour with a foot problem.

However, Wayne Rooney, the unsettled striker who was present at the launch of United’s five-year £40 million sponsorship with Aeroflot, the Russian airline, at Old Trafford, will be among the travelling party.
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surf said:
Doubt Baines would be a backup, that's more likely to be Evra's job if he stays.
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Why would that be exactly? Id nearly go so far as to say thats disrespectful towards Evra.

I still maintain Evra is the better player for us. Baines provides postitives that Evra doesnt and visa versa. I think Evras style of play especially attacking wise is more suited to us. We didnt exactly struggle service wise last season even though our wingers were poor.

Defensively I think people are overating Baines completely. He struggles just as much as Evra does with quick wingers. SWP ripped him a new one on more than one occasion. Defensively I cant help but suspect people see Baines on match of the day and presume hes better than Evra who's every mistake is analysed to death here.

Another factor thats worth a mention is I dont see Baines ageing as well as Evra either.
 
Decotron said:
Why would that be exactly? Id nearly go so far as to say thats disrespectful towards Evra.

I still maintain Evra is the better player for us. Baines provides postitives that Evra doesnt and visa versa. I think Evras style of play especially attacking wise is more suited to us. We didnt exactly struggle service wise last season even though our wingers were poor.

Defensively I think people are overating Baines completely. He struggles just as much as Evra does with quick wingers. SWP ripped him a new one on more than one occasion. Defensively I cant help but suspect people see Baines on match of the day and presume hes better than Evra who's every mistake is analysed to death here.

Another factor thats worth a mention is I dont see Baines ageing as well as Evra either.
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That bodes well for Fabio then.
 
On the list of things I want to happen with our Left Back slot, I think Baines is about 3rd or 4th down.
 
It really only makes sense if we're selling Evra for a decent fee. Otherwise it'll be a baffling first signing by Moyes and I shall be massively against it.
 
ghaliboy said:
Right footed, isn't he?
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I think that this has been exaggerated. There are good examples of right footed leftbacks. Zambrotta was fantastic for Juve, probably the best left back in the world, while Lahm did a great job as a left back too. Fabio is a right footed but he can cross very well with left foot. Don't think that there is any problem for him that he's right footed.
 
Decotron said:
I still maintain Evra is the better player for us. Baines provides postitives that Evra doesnt and visa versa. I think Evras style of play especially attacking wise is more suited to us.
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I read that Baines created the most chances in Europe last season. Dont know how true that is. Some statto can verify
 
I'd say Baines is a better player then the current incarnation of Evra (he's not close to the world-beating Evra of a few years back - nor does he have the potential to reach that sort of height anymore) but it's not a massive gap by any stretch.

Baines is a marginally better defender (though he's not great or anything) and obviously has a better delivery, whilst Evra is a better passer, his link-up play is superior and he's far better in the air.
 
golden_blunder said:
I read that Baines created the most chances in Europe last season. Dont know how true that is. Some statto can verify
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It's supposedly true yes, however it's quite misleading seeing as he takes all their set pieces and pretty much every attack Everton makes goes down the left. There's no way he'd have a stat like that if he came here.
 
Baines would be excellent replacement for Evra. I love evra but he has been well off the pace last 18 months. Well, when I say well if the pace I should say well if the pace of his own high standards. Baines is better than evra at the moment. Yes, would much prefer likes of alaba or the barca left back but we would never get them for the sub 20m we would get baines for. Great crosser, great corner/freekick taker. Could do a lot worse. .. just shame he isn't year or two younger
 
Baines doesn't appear to be desperate for the move, seems to be content to keep plugging away for a good side rather than contend on the very biggest stage. Should be a no-brainer of a decision if he has any ambition.
 
shaggy said:
Baines doesn't appear to be desperate for the move, seems to be content to keep plugging away for a good side rather than contend on the very biggest stage. Should be a no-brainer of a decision if he has any ambition.
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Only thing I imagine would do him is the fact he is a Liverpool fan apparently, but of course that didn't stop him going to Everton.

The fact we bid for him last year meant both he and Moyes knew we were interested. I can't believe that Moyes didn't have a word with him before he left Everton, if he wasn't interested Moyes would have told utd not to bother
 
Cina said:
It's supposedly true yes, however it's quite misleading seeing as he takes all their set pieces and pretty much every attack Everton makes goes down the left. There's no way he'd have a stat like that if he came here.
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Maybe its just because his timing and execution of delivery is pretty fecking superb? He takes their set-pieces but he still has to deliver the ball accurately. Misleading that pretty much every attack goes down the left aswell.....Seamus Coleman saw plenty of the ball last year, he just doesn't do as much with it as Baines.

I agree he wouldn't have those stats at United though. Anyone who thinks he can't be an improvement on Evra right now is perhaps clouded by nostalgia (not aimed at you Cina, although I know you would prefer Coentrao.)
 
Comsmit said:
Maybe its just because his timing and execution of delivery is pretty fecking superb? He takes their set-pieces but he still has to deliver the ball accurately. Misleading that pretty much every attack goes down the left aswell.....Seamus Coleman saw plenty of the ball last year, he just doesn't do as much with it as Baines.

I agree he wouldn't have those stats at United though. Anyone who thinks he can't be an improvement on Evra right now is perhaps clouded by nostalgia (not aimed at you Cina, although I know you would prefer Coentrao.)
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He would definitely be an improvement on the current Evra, anyone who thinks otherwise is definitely kidding themselves.
 
shaggy said:
Baines doesn't appear to be desperate for the move, seems to be content to keep plugging away for a good side rather than contend on the very biggest stage. Should be a no-brainer of a decision if he has any ambition.
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He's just a very honest, loyal and decent pro. I seriously doubt he wants to upset Everton by agitating for a move, even if he does want to join United. He will most likely be of the opinion that Everton are a great club, been good to him and he is obviously happy there (which is the key thing). If United's interest is concrete, he will likely speak to the new manager and chairman behind the scenes...who will then inform him of their stance i.e. you can go if United offer x amount etc.
 
Cina said:
He would definitely be an improvement on the current Evra, anyone who thinks otherwise is definitely kidding themselves.
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I think the point is more how much of an improvement. We might get an extra 20-30% benefit in quality versus Evra, but at the cost of delaying the growth of buttner and Fabio.

Also in midfield we could probably get players who would offer 200%+ effectiveness in midfield versus the inconsistency we currently have
 
Cina said:
He would definitely be an improvement on the current Evra, anyone who thinks otherwise is definitely kidding themselves.
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Evra is still providing for the team, but his top level of 2008-2009 is a distant memory. If Baines is to come in then Evra must be sold surely. Incidently I would prefer Coentrao, but that isn't going to happen with Moyes in charge. Would be superb in the Premier League (hunch).
 
RedTillI'mDead said:
I think the point is more how much of an improvement. We might get an extra 20-30% benefit in quality versus Evra, but at the cost of delaying the growth of buttner and Fabio.

Also in midfield we could probably get players who would offer 200%+ effectiveness in midfield versus the inconsistency we currently have
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Fabio maybe....Buttner is dogshit.

Baines is 29 in December though.....so it's another medium term signing.
 
Agree with the majority that it would only make sense as a stop-gap signing between Evra leaving and Fabio being given a chance.
 
It's amazing how a foreign player excites the people here. Baines for the last two-three seasons has comfortably outperformed Coentrao at left back. Apart from a very good world cup, Coentrao hasn't really proved much and is widely known as one of Madrid's poor signings.
 
I think it's more to do with valid concerns over his age. He was fantastic last year but that could well be his peak. Most fullbacks do seem to deteriorate when they reach their 30s.
 
I'd argue that we already have loads of youngsters with potential in defense. Signing a defender at his peak makes absolute sense, not every signing needs to be long term.
 
shaggy said:
I think it's more to do with valid concerns over his age. He was fantastic last year but that could well be his peak. Most fullbacks do seem to deteriorate when they reach their 30s.
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True. If Baines was 25 I doubt many people would oppose to this signing. At 29 he might play at this level for another 2 or 3 seasons and will need replacing in all likelihood.
 
KM said:
It's amazing how a foreign player excites the people here. Baines for the last two-three seasons has comfortably outperformed Coentrao at left back. Apart from a very good world cup, Coentrao hasn't really proved much and is widely known as one of Madrid's poor signings.
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To be fair, that's a pretty good place to have a pretty good anything!

Also, Coentrao is 25 and can still improve. Whilst Baines isn't going to get any better then his current incarnation.
 
Annihilate Now! said:
To be fair, that's a pretty good place to have a pretty good anything!

Also, Coentrao is 25 and can still improve. Whilst Baines isn't going to get any better then his current incarnation.
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That's what we thought about Kleberson!
 
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