I'd echo the 'need a signing....any signing' comments. This might be the best we get this summer. Baines, the Crewe lad and some other value signing could be the extent of this so it might be an idea for us to try to get a bit more excited?
Leighton Baines
- Thread starter ::sonny::
- Start date
I dont see the point of loaning one senior left back out only to buy another unless Fabio isn't in the long term plans in which case why not just sell him this summer?
Evra never gets injured anyway so I dont see the need to have cover for him
Rafael is a right back, when did he last cover at left back?
Evans, while having covered the left back on occasion before for club and country, is a centre back.
I'd rather we play players in their proper positions.
Well, we played O'Shea there for many moons. And Brown at RB.
I'd rather we didn't spunk tones of cash on a player we don't need. Evra will still be first choice, he rarely gets injured and once Vidic is back, LB will be a good chance for Evans to get some minutes too.
I don't see us buying him to be honest. Evra hasn't had the best of seasons, and Baines has probably been playing better than him for a couple of seasons, but Evra at his best is comfortably better than Baines, and Baines isn't too much of an improvement in all honesty.
O'Shea was a proper utility player though, he just filled in anywhere.
I'd rather Evans play in his best position which is obviously centre-back, same goes for Rafael at right back.
If we don't get Baines, I just hope Evra doesn't get an injury because then we're in trouble if we've no or little cover for that position.
Me too, but in the event that Evra misses games, these 2 can do more than an adequate job. As I said, Evans may well be thankful for the minutes.
We do have cover.
I'm clutching straws here, but maybe Fergie will convert him into a left-winger? ala Gareth Bale.
I'm clutching straws here, but maybe Fergie will convert him into a left-winger? ala Gareth Bale.
Gareth Snail
it would be nice to have a real option at LB. Someone to make Evra realise he cannot coast through games and still keep his place.
Lets be honest, there have been times over the last couple of seasons when Evra has been shite.
Lets be honest, there have been times over the last couple of seasons when Evra has been shite.
how do you figure when he's practically played a full season this year?
I would rather our cover be a proper left back though.
This might be one time that I'd prefer a "value" signing - a natural left-back under the radar in their early-twenties who can develop here while Fabio is on loan with a view to succeeding Evra.
Baines is a fine player of course, but I don't see the need for an established player of his age/cost when Evra is likely to be first choice again next season.
Baines is a fine player of course, but I don't see the need for an established player of his age/cost when Evra is likely to be first choice again next season.
Evra went through a poor run of form but seems to have snapped out of it recently. Much like Cole. I can't really see why you'd want Baines - it's much more likely you'll invest in a top left-back talent than get a decent established player.
This.
What about the lad Jordi Alba? He's only 23 years old and I think we've been linked to him.
All I'm saying about Baines is that I can see why SAF would go for him as we'd be a little short in that area, and if Evra gets injured we're screwed.
I know you don't want Evans to play there but he is accomplished there so I'd like to know why you think we'd be "screwed"?
I've already given my reasons, and I'm not repeating them.
I'm giving my opinion, and that's it.
But wanting a specialist and being "screwed" are totally different, surely you see that?
Why not?
Over the last 2 seasons Baines has been a far better left back than Evra, both defensively and in attack.
Evra needs the competition, I wouldn't complain about the signing unless it's a high fee.
I've already said, I'd rather we have a natural left back as cover for Evra.
Whether it's Baines, Alba or whoever. Will we get one? I don't bloody know as we're only being linked with players.
That's my opinion okay.
Whether it's Baines, Alba or whoever. Will we get one? I don't bloody know as we're only being linked with players.
That's my opinion okay.
Yes I totally get your opinion, you're opinion doesn't mean we're screwed though, just means it's not ideal.
Drama queen
Yes I totally get your opinion, you're opinion doesn't mean we're screwed though, just means it's not ideal.
Drama queen
You're going on and on to me about it after I've given my opinion and reasons why I think we could sign Baines. I'm not absolutely gagging for us to sign him, I'm just saying why I could see us signing him.
Now in the nicest way possible, give over
if Bains is the 4th, 5th transfer this summer, meaning we already have singed 2 CM, striker, right back - then ok. I'd take him. We have to strengthen other areas first.
Cover for Evra? He's miles better at this point
Fantastic
You've never seen Evans at left back? better than John O'Shea for me.
the Houliers make me think that you think Evans is shit at left back? odd.
He's been decent cover before, but we should not be relying on a centre back for cover out in a full back position to be honest, unless they can play there regularly like Jones for example, and Smalling too.
If Evra plays like he did last season he won't be first choice LB for much longer. Baines is a good player, also got the bonus of set-pieces.
We could do with another free-kick taker. Everyone seems to be shit at them bar Rooney, I cringe when Giggsy steps up.
For the past 2 seasons our first choice CB's have had stop-start seasons
Evans will still get plenty of game time as Rio gets older and also at this point we dont know how Vidic will come back from what was a very serious injury
Agreed, but if Vidic and Rio are fit, I'm still quite sure they'll start most games. Smalling will also be another years older.
I don't think it's controversial to think that Evans will get less playing time once Vidic returns.
Am I the only one who thinks that Leighton Baines isn't very good?
Granted I didn't watch every one of Everton's games last season but the ones I did see he was about 50:50 quite good : borderline shite, especially defensively. That's a worse ratio of good:shite than Evra in the season just gone and everyone seems determined to write him off completely.
Granted I didn't watch every one of Everton's games last season but the ones I did see he was about 50:50 quite good : borderline shite, especially defensively. That's a worse ratio of good:shite than Evra in the season just gone and everyone seems determined to write him off completely.
I never got the fuss about him either. Seems like a decent player but hardly the star some make him out to be.
Evra was shite defensively in almost every game this season. He's not even trying to do that job. Coming forward he was about as effective as ever, but Baines easily has more quality in that regard as well.
The statement in bold is definitely true. He seems very composed and has good passing range and accuracy. On the contrary Evra does everything brilliantly (dribbling, positioning, runs down the line) until the time to put in a cross comes and then he tries to beat the last man by either cutting outside or just putting in a terrible cross. Evra still is a great player though, no doubt about that.
Ridiculous hyperbole.