Leighton Baines

Baines crossing ability is up there with the best in the league. Not just from set pieces, but in open play its a real asset.

Evra certainly attacked this season, not at the pace he used to and he was still as frustrating as ever with his terrible crosses, however he still managed to create several goals. I believe more than he's managed in a season at United.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Ridiculous hyperbole.
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He's just one of your players. One of those ones you will defend no matter what.

A left back who attacks, then walks back to his position while his team are constantly under assault down his wing, out of position and partly to blame for as many if not more goals than young players defence.

He's an absolute liability, but its okay he'll play every game.
 
Raoul said:
I never got the fuss about him either. Seems like a decent player but hardly the star some make him out to be.
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Hard to look good playing left back - defends well in a solid back foru and gets forward. Good crosser of a ball also.

Not a superstar but how many left backs are? Solid, reliable and would perhaps look even better playing in a better team where he may not have to defend as much.

Would be a decent signing for me.
 
Newbie iBoss just pm'ed me this:

iBoss said:
Might wanna tell the lads in the mains that SkySports are reporting that Everton want Sunderland's Richardson.

He's been playing LB as of late
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Interesting developments if there is any truth in the above info.
 
Guybrush Threepwood said:
Come on Ekeke, almost every game.

Do you think SAF is a fool?
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I think we dont have another left back. As Fabio is picked more often at right back.

If the battle is between Evra and Evans for left back, its no surprise that even though he's a free hit down our left side, he'll still play every game.
 
Guybrush Threepwood said:
Absolutely ridiculous comment eh?

"Almost every game". The mind boggles.
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Sure does. A lot of drivel written about Evra this season but that's right up there.

It's something I've noticed about a lot of players. If they ever dip in form they have to be absolutely outstanding over a prolonged period before the consensus changes and people realise that actually they're playing ok.

Evra definitely had a below par season after the whole WC 2010 debacle but has been generally solid enough this season with a handful of genuinely poor individual performances (along with almost every other player in our squad). He's probably matched those shockers with a similar amount of really top class displays. Not back to his very best yet but he's leagues ahead of Leighton fecking Baines when he's at his very best and comfortably ahead of him in the season just gone. From what I've seen anyway.
 
Ekeke said:
I think we dont have another left back. As Fabio is picked more often at right back.

If the battle is between Evra and Evans for left back, its no surprise that even though he's a free hit down our left side, he'll still play every game.
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Why make him captain then? Why let O'Shea go?

SAF isn't a fool, and Evra had a handful of bad games.
 
Guybrush Threepwood said:
Why make him captain then? Why let O'Shea go?

SAF isn't a fool, and Evra had a handful of bad games.
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The only reason Rio isnt captain is because of his injuries. Sir Alex said that, and said thats why he shouldnt be surprised not to be England captain anymore. Because its the same reason he's no longer United captain.

When you take that into account, Evra is the only experienced player he could count on to be fit in defence. He also has experience of being team captain.

I suppose you could say that the captain doesnt have to be in defence, but if you look at the list of our last fulltime captains :

Neville
Rio
Vidic
Evra

The only exception being Giggs, and hes not guaranteed starts these days. In fact he's usually managed so he doesnt overplay. Then it doesnt surprise me that Evra was given the captains armband. Just dissappoints.

As for O'Shea, when have I ever said he's a good enough first choice left back?
 
Fair enough, you obviously still think a shite Evra who was awful for most games is better than O'Shea.

And you think despite his shiteness he's a better skipper than say Rooney? And yet SAF gave zero chances to Fabio and didn't bring anyone in this January. Bizarre considering he had a player who was awful in most matches.

Hyperbole Ekeke, that's all it is. Evra was fine in most matches and had a handful of bad ones.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Sure does. A lot of drivel written about Evra this season but that's right up there.

It's something I've noticed about a lot of players. If they ever dip in form they have to be absolutely outstanding over a prolonged period before the consensus changes and people realise that actually they're playing ok.

Evra definitely had a below par season after the whole WC 2010 debacle but has been generally solid enough this season with a handful of genuinely poor individual performances (along with almost every other player in our squad). He's probably matched those shockers with a similar amount of really top class displays. Not back to his very best yet but he's leagues ahead of Leighton fecking Baines when he's at his very best and comfortably ahead of him in the season just gone. From what I've seen anyway.
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Evra has underperformed for years. He was a great left back but his energy, passing and especially his defending, have dropped a huge amount in their levels.

The more worrying part is that he's visibly not putting the effort in to try and improve it. He'll lose the ball on the half way line and walk back into position while the opponents attack down his wing. Every player will have abilities that start to drop as they get older, but it gets more and more frustrating when they arent even trying to do the things they used to do and needed to do, in order to do their job well.
 
However, it would be interesting to see how many goals we conceded which originated from the right side of the pitch

Evra was very inconsistent this season for me, reliant too much on his pace to get him out of trouble and if that pace goes then Evras defensive side of his game falls apart

Baines is a solid player, underated, but perhaps on the wrong side of 25
 
Guybrush Threepwood said:
Fair enough, you obviously still think a shite Evra who was awful for most games is better than O'Shea.
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I think Baines would be miles better than either option. Evra or O'Shea though? Well O'Shea would be a bit more solid defensively, but bring nothing to attack. Evra the opposite. Pick your poison but I wouldnt like either.

And you think despite his shiteness he's a better skipper than say Rooney? And yet SAF gave zero chances to Fabio and didn't bring anyone in this January. Bizarre considering he had a player who was awful in most matches.
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Sorry, what? I wasnt aware that I was responsible for picking United's captain. I was mistakenly under the impression that Sir Alex Ferguson will pick that and we forum dwellers wont have any part to play in it.

With that said I'll have to inform you that Sir Alex's choice of Evra as captain and not someone, like you say, Rooney, or whoever, is completely up to him and I had no part in it.

As I told you already, Fabio plays more matches on the right than on the left. Despite having some really good games at left back, I have no problem with him there. But the manager seems to show a preference with him at right back

Hyperbole Ekeke, that's all it is. Evra was fine in most matches and had a handful of bad ones.
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He's just a popular personality and you're used to him playing rubbish.
 
Redfighter said:
Can't say I'd be disappointed if we signed Baines. Definitely only behind Cole and Evra in the Premier League. Just suprisinmove from his point of view as he can't expect to be first choice.
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I think that Enrique, Baines and probably even Ekotto were better than Evra's this season, who wasn't that great even in the season before this. Also at 31 years old, chances aren't that high that he will become as good as he was in 2008-2010. If Fabio will go, which looks like a certainty I think that in 5-7M region fee, Baines would be a good signing who not only will cover for Evra, but also will challenge him for first spot. Also, we can see this signing as a transition period for Fabio, who in next 3 years hopefully will develop into a world class leftback.
 
Ekeke said:
Sorry, what? I wasnt aware that I was responsible for picking United's captain. I was mistakenly under the impression that Sir Alex Ferguson will pick that and we forum dwellers wont have any part to play in it.

With that said I'll have to inform you that Sir Alex's choice of Evra as captain and not someone, like you say, Rooney, or whoever, is completely up to him and I had no part in it.
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What are you on about? :lol:

My point, if SAF thought Evra was as bad as you say (awful in most games, and walking back to his position, costing us goals every game) he wouldn't be in the team, never mind fecking captain. If SAF wanted a captain who's fit, it would be Rooney over Evra if his attitude's as bad as you say.

Ekeke said:
As I told you already, Fabio plays more matches on the right than on the left. Despite having some really good games at left back, I have no problem with him there. But the manager seems to show a preference with him at right back
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So despite having some really good games at left back, SAF still decided to go with a player who was playing awful in most games?

Are you smoking crack today Ekeke?

Ekeke said:
He's just a popular personality and you're used to him playing rubbish.
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Gibberish.
 
Guybrush Threepwood said:
What are you on about? :lol:

My point, if SAF thought Evra was as bad as you say (awful in most games, and walking back to his position, costing us goals every game) he wouldn't be in the team, never mind fecking captain. If SAF wanted a captain who's fit, it would be Rooney over Evra if his attitude's as bad as you say.



So despite having some really good games at left back, SAF still decided to go with a player who was playing awful in most games?

Are you smoking crack today Ekeke?



Gibberish.
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SAF always like to make a defender or midfielder as skipper, the only striker I can remember who was appointed captain was Cantona. So this is probably the main reason why Evra was chosen captain instead of Rooney.

Also, I think that if Vidic would have played all season, and if would have been one of VDS / O'shea instead of De Gea / Rafael or Jones or Smalling, Fabio would have played more games. Evra played all those games partially because of his experience. We had a young goalkeeper, young right back and one (in some games two) center backs. I think that this is one of the reasons whynEvra played that much games, his experience.
 
Ismail Elezi said:
Also, I think that if Vidic would have played all season, and if would have been one of VDS / O'shea instead of De Gea / Rafael or Jones or Smalling, Fabio would have played more games. Evra played all those games partially because of his experience. We had a young goalkeeper, young right back and one (in some games two) center backs. I think that this is one of the reasons whynEvra played that much games, his experience.
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Experience means nothing when you're "awful".

Laurent Blanc would also have experience, would we play him over say, Chris Smalling?

One further point: Vidic is back next season and we're sending Fabio on loan.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
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.
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I dont think he's very good but I guess if it's for cover it's okay? *cringe*
 
Somebody actually thinks Evra was anything other than awful this season?

I mean come on, we all love the guy. Great attitude, respects the club, strong leader and all. But he was terrible this year, there's just no way around that.
 
Guybrush Threepwood said:
Experience means nothing when you're "awful".

Laurent Blanc would also have experience, would we play him over say, Chris Smalling?
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"Awful" is an exaggeration, but he wasn't good by United standards. Also, Evra was the best of at-least in top 3 LB in the world, while now is far from it. Hence "not being that good" by some people is equals "awful".
 
Bebe said:
Somebody actually thinks Evra was anything other than awful this season?

I mean come on, we all love the guy. Great attitude, respects the club, strong leader and all. But he was terrible this year, there's just no way around that.
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Yes, I'm sure a lot of fans don't think he was "awful" for most games.

I mean come on, would SAF play a player all season that was awful and cost us goals. Which is more likely, SAF isn't stupid, or that you are right and SAF had a nightmare and couldn't see what was happening in front of him?
 
Guybrush Threepwood said:
Experience means nothing when you're "awful".

Laurent Blanc would also have experience, would we play him over say, Chris Smalling?

One further point: Vidic is back next season and we're sending Fabio on loan.
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We clearly don't have a clue how good will Vidic be after that terrible injury. He was the best defender in the world, but things could have chanced. Also, with Ferdinand not becoming younger it could easily be that we have our 2 CB as young players (Also Rafael and DDG young too). And maybe for this SAF wants to have at-least one experienced players in that sector - by knowing that - he's sending Fabio on loan.
 
Cutch said:
I'd rate Enrique and Ekotto higher aswell. Both mightn't offer as much offensively as Baines but are better defenders imo.
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Not sure about Ekotto being in that bracket. Granted Evra had a poor season but I wouldn't have swapped him for Ekotto. I might hae swapped him for Baines, Cole or Enrique. Perhaps Baines would get more games based on last season but I'm not convinced Evra is finished yet.
 
Ismail Elezi said:
We clearly don't have a clue how good will Vidic be after that terrible injury. He was the best defender in the world, but things could have chanced. Also, with Ferdinand not becoming younger it could easily be that we have our 2 CB as young players (Also Rafael and DDG young too). And maybe for this SAF wants to have at-least one experienced players in that sector - by knowing that - he's sending Fabio on loan.
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One experienced awful/not very good player..... riiiiiiiiiight.

As I said, experience mean nothing if you're awful/not very good.

We could stick Micky Phelen in the team somewhere, there's experience.

My points stand, there is no reason that SAF would play a player who is performing as bas as some of you say, NO reason, certainly not bloody experience.
 
Guybrush Threepwood said:
What are you on about? :lol:

My point, if SAF thought Evra was as bad as you say (awful in most games, and walking back to his position, costing us goals every game) he wouldn't be in the team, never mind fecking captain. If SAF wanted a captain who's fit, it would be Rooney over Evra if his attitude's as bad as you say.



So despite having some really good games at left back, SAF still decided to go with a player who was playing awful in most games?

Are you smoking crack today Ekeke?



Gibberish.
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You still seem to be under the impression that I am Sir Alex Ferguson. I'm not. His opinions and mine may actually be different on some things, I kid you not. For example I didnt think Berbatov would be a good partner for Rooney. Sacrilege I know, but I dont have a direct line to his brain and I am not him.

When I think someone has played well, he might not agree. He may well agree and there might be other reasons said player doesnt get another game in the same position. Again as I said before I have no problem with Fabio at left back, Sir Alex however usually picks him on the right. If I remember correctly he was playing right back in games where Evans was left back before. This gives me the impression that Fabio isnt seen as a left back but once again, I'm not Sir Alex so I dont know for sure.
 
Ekeke said:
You still seem to be under the impression that I am Sir Alex Ferguson. I'm not. His opinions and mine may actually be different on some things, I kid you not. For example I didnt think Berbatov would be a good partner for Rooney. Sacrilege I know, but I dont have a direct line to his brain and I am not him.

When I think someone has played well, he might not agree. He may well agree and there might be other reasons said player doesnt get another game in the same position. Again as I said before I have no problem with Fabio at left back, Sir Alex however usually picks him on the right. If I remember correctly he was playing right back in games where Evans was left back before. This gives me the impression that Fabio isnt seen as a left back but once again, I'm not Sir Alex so I dont know for sure.
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My point exactly, he knows better than you.

Not all his decisions are right, some are occasionally awful, but he simply would not play a player as first choice that has been "awful" for 2 seasons, you'd have to think he was a complete fool to think this.

Thanks.
 
Guybrush Threepwood said:
Yes, I'm sure a lot of fans don't think he was "awful" for most games.

I mean come on, would SAF play a player all season that was awful and cost us goals. Which is more likely, SAF isn't stupid, or that you are right and SAF had a nightmare and couldn't see what was happening in front of him?
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So are you now saying that Sir Alex has never persisted and picked a player who wasnt very good or had dire form?

Sounds more like a God than a human being. I wonder what its like never making mistakes.
 
Guybrush Threepwood said:
My point exactly, he knows better than you.

Not all his decisions are right, some are occasionally awful, but he simply would not play a player as first choice that has been "awful" for 2 seasons, you'd have to think he was a complete fool to think this.

Thanks.
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I guess you thought Fletcher was an amazing player since his debut. Credit to you.
 
Guybrush Threepwood said:
One experienced awful/not very good player..... riiiiiiiiiight.

As I said, experience mean nothing if you're awful/not very good.

We could stick Micky Phelen in the team somewhere, there's experience.

My points stand, there is no reason that SAF would play a player who is performing as bas as some of you say, NO reason, certainly not bloody experience.
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The bold part is completely useless, same thing about Laurent Blanc.

The truth is that experience means something, and for SAF is very precious, for example in our most important game of the season SAF decided to go with Giggs, Park and Scholes in midfield. Also, I never said that Evra was awful, just that he wasn't that good by United's standard.
 
Ekeke said:
So are you now saying that Sir Alex has never persisted and picked a player who wasnt very good or had dire form?
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Not for 2 years week in week out no, and not as skipper.

Ekeke said:
Sounds more like a God than a human being. I wonder what its like never making mistakes.
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Ah playing silly beggars now, if you re-read my post I just mentioned that the man makes errors.
 
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