Except when it is frustrating.
Patrice Evra | 2008-12 Performances
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Except when it is frustrating.
indeed.Patrice Evra will be happy to help Manchester United's young guns when they eventually start to misfire.
Sir Alex Ferguson's faith in youth this season has been rewarded with the Community Shield and six points so far and despite Arsenal's Champions League win in midweek, United will be heavy favourites to make it three Premier League triumphs on the trot when they face the Gunners at Old Trafford on Sunday.
"People talk about the academy of a lot of clubs but they didn't say enough about Manchester United," he told BBC Radio Manchester. "United is a big club, with a lot of pressure. But they are never scared to put young players into the team. It is just unbelievable. They bring a lot of energy and keep the team young."
The former France captain added: "But it is really important for the experienced players to help them because there will be some difficult moments. It is one thing playing for Manchester United, the key is to keep going. Manchester United has to stay at the same level."
They have done a pretty good job of that over the past two decades, during which time they have collected 12 titles, two Champions League final wins and countless other honours.
For most of that time they were in direct competition with Arsenal.No longer it seems. The departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri have left obvious holes in the Gunners ranks which manager Arsene Wenger has, thus far, failed to fill.
Evra has been critical of Arsenal in the past. For now though, he is playing the diplomat.
"Arsenal are still a big team," he said. "They have had players leaving but that is not my business. My business is Manchester United. We just have to respect them and concentrate on ourselves."
Rio Ferdinand will hope to play some part after discovering his hamstring injury was not as serious as initially feared.
Darren Fletcher could be involved too after completing 90 minutes for the reserves in their six-goal hammering of Swansea last night, although Antonio Valencia again missed out even though Ferguson has previously suggestion the Ecuador winger is ready to hit the comeback trail after an ankle injury suffered at Copa America.
Evra has young at heart - Premier League, Football - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Sir Alex Ferguson's faith in youth this season has been rewarded with the Community Shield and six points so far and despite Arsenal's Champions League win in midweek, United will be heavy favourites to make it three Premier League triumphs on the trot when they face the Gunners at Old Trafford on Sunday.
"People talk about the academy of a lot of clubs but they didn't say enough about Manchester United," he told BBC Radio Manchester. "United is a big club, with a lot of pressure. But they are never scared to put young players into the team. It is just unbelievable. They bring a lot of energy and keep the team young."
The former France captain added: "But it is really important for the experienced players to help them because there will be some difficult moments. It is one thing playing for Manchester United, the key is to keep going. Manchester United has to stay at the same level."
They have done a pretty good job of that over the past two decades, during which time they have collected 12 titles, two Champions League final wins and countless other honours.
For most of that time they were in direct competition with Arsenal.No longer it seems. The departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri have left obvious holes in the Gunners ranks which manager Arsene Wenger has, thus far, failed to fill.
Evra has been critical of Arsenal in the past. For now though, he is playing the diplomat.
"Arsenal are still a big team," he said. "They have had players leaving but that is not my business. My business is Manchester United. We just have to respect them and concentrate on ourselves."
Rio Ferdinand will hope to play some part after discovering his hamstring injury was not as serious as initially feared.
Darren Fletcher could be involved too after completing 90 minutes for the reserves in their six-goal hammering of Swansea last night, although Antonio Valencia again missed out even though Ferguson has previously suggestion the Ecuador winger is ready to hit the comeback trail after an ankle injury suffered at Copa America.
Evra has young at heart - Premier League, Football - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk
He is just a liability. He's always found out against the better teams (Barca, Bayern etc), and sometimes the smaller teams like Arsenal as well.
Great going forward, defensively he's nowhere near his usual standard which seems like an old memory right now unfortunately.
Is he turning into an Ekoto now? Going forward he is really good but sometimes he is shit defensively.
i hate to say this but evra's defending is becoming a liability now.
He was awful defensively. I don get what's wrong with him.
It's irritating to see so many gaps in the LB spot when we concede goals. Evra needs to try and be more responsible or we have to cover that position better. I'm worried opponents are targeting it as a weak point.
I know this might be a little extreme....but do you think his legs are going slightly? I mean he can absolutely bomb forward but he takes a fecking age to get back. Added to that he made a schoolboy error for Arsenal's first. I've posted this pic in another thread but what the feck was he thinking here?
Seems to be too casual at times
I know this might be a little extreme....but do you think his legs are going slightly? I mean he can absolutely bomb forward but he takes a fecking age to get back. Added to that he made a schoolboy error for Arsenal's first. I've posted this pic in another thread but what the feck was he thinking here?
Yeah if he had got back to his position and helped out Evans after he made the clearance, we would have been okay. He should not have gone to close down Ramsey. Two other players were doing that.
I worry about Evra.
He seems to have forgotten some of the fundamentals that made him one of the best left backs in the world. Become too casual as well. Fergie would do well to give Fabio some games because LB seems to be the one position on our team that's not been under threat for years now.
He seems to have forgotten some of the fundamentals that made him one of the best left backs in the world. Become too casual as well. Fergie would do well to give Fabio some games because LB seems to be the one position on our team that's not been under threat for years now.
I know this might be a little extreme....but do you think his legs are going slightly? I mean he can absolutely bomb forward but he takes a fecking age to get back. Added to that he made a schoolboy error for Arsenal's first. I've posted this pic in another thread but what the feck was he thinking here?
That picture shows the schoolboy error is Evans'. Had he stepped up with the rest of the defence, Walcott is offside.
Well, Smalling and Walcot are nip and tuck still, but Evra is all lost. There are like 8 players and yet we let them score.
it was really a bad clearance by Evra in the first place putting pressure back at the back four. Evans did what he should do by not stepping up by covering the runner. But again, De Gea should have done better.
It was Evra's fault, hands down.
I want to adopt Evra's children.
That being said, the guy needs to stop tucking in so much! Cost us 2 goals in the CL final, as I recall.
This guy loves United, but you don't see him getting up for headers much like you used to. The image of him jumping with the likes of Kevin Davies sticks in my mind, I can't remember the last time I saw that.
That being said, the guy needs to stop tucking in so much! Cost us 2 goals in the CL final, as I recall.
This guy loves United, but you don't see him getting up for headers much like you used to. The image of him jumping with the likes of Kevin Davies sticks in my mind, I can't remember the last time I saw that.
Evra seems to be running way to often inside to cover players he shouldnt be. If he had stayed where he should have, he would have been in Walcott's face even before he got the ball.
Agreed. Not a huge mistake but a significant one, as it turned out.
i even mis-thought that evans played at LB yesterday and his error led to the penalty conceded. it is quite apparent evra's fault but maybe he also has not yet adapted to the speed of our new mode!
I know this might be a little extreme....but do you think his legs are going slightly? I mean he can absolutely bomb forward but he takes a fecking age to get back. Added to that he made a schoolboy error for Arsenal's first. I've posted this pic in another thread but what the feck was he thinking here?
It actually a classic example of a breakdown of the protection infront of the back 4, Evra and Jones did not step up, they both rushed the ball carrier as he was free and facing goal
Evans had tracked the run of Van Persie when Arshavin put the ball in short, so there's a reason he's so deep. Evra, who left Walcott to double Van Persie, get the fluffed cross but clears weakly.
Evra may have seen that Arshavin was in trouble and didn't think he'd be able to pick out Walcott, and you can hardly fault that, as he went right where the ball was played.
At this point, even though Evans is deep, Walcott was probably behind Jones as well. It's a bad place to turn over possession, with Evans stranded shouldn't the other defenders step back?
Or should Evans be running to cover at LB?
Evra may have seen that Arshavin was in trouble and didn't think he'd be able to pick out Walcott, and you can hardly fault that, as he went right where the ball was played.
At this point, even though Evans is deep, Walcott was probably behind Jones as well. It's a bad place to turn over possession, with Evans stranded shouldn't the other defenders step back?
Or should Evans be running to cover at LB?
I'll need to see another video, but I'm pretty sure Smalling was the deepest a moment before that photo was taken. Evans was slightly ahead of him, then of course both Evra and Jones had rushed up to attack the ball carrier (understandably in Jones' case, not so much in Evra's). Evans then moved back to try to cover the two Arsenal players being kept onside by Smalling, at the same time Smalling stepped up to take them offside.
I wonder what SAF is thinking, we can see it and the amount of goals we conceded last season because of the pressure that Evra allows, is quite high really.
The amount of time he is not in position when we are under attack is astounding.
maybe saf just eally likes the man, but now he is our weakest link in the back four for me.
The amount of time he is not in position when we are under attack is astounding.
maybe saf just eally likes the man, but now he is our weakest link in the back four for me.
I know this might be a little extreme....but do you think his legs are going slightly? I mean he can absolutely bomb forward but he takes a fecking age to get back. Added to that he made a schoolboy error for Arsenal's first. I've posted this pic in another thread but what the feck was he thinking here?
He messed up the clearence originally and I think he did what a lot of players would have done and tried to make up for his mistake but he didn't win the ball and it left us exposed. Anyone can miskick a ball, especially when your trying to boot it without much thought up field. People are right though and I think Sir Alex needs to set Evra some targets and give him a rest now and then. At the minute though with our injuries, it's not been possible
Your had to find a way to imply Carrick would have dealt with it, your sly...
but I think people are forgetting it's a makeshift defense. People amaze me because they don't recognize the number of changes inspite it being right in front of us. Teams like arsenal will cause problems in the backline, the communication could be better maybe but in general our defensive united is young and mistakes will happen. It's just ironic it was our oldest who made two mistakes which left the space open for walcottOur backline: Patrice Evans Jones Smalling....
That's incredible in such a short space of time and they've done brilliant but people analyse it like it's Evra Ferdinand Vidic Rafael. We've even changed our goalkeeper and that communication between goalkeeper and defensive line is not there at the minute. If Evans steps up maybe we catch them offside. If Patrice doesn't miskick the ball, the chance doesn't arise. If Evra miskicks the ball but gets back into position, he blocks off the space. At the time we were comfortable, maybe too comfortable. I think it was fine because these mistakes will keep players grounded and they'll be better in the long run for them.
The first goal was a combination of mistakes by lots of people, lots of things can be suggested as to the reason, but the outcome was a goal against us.
Evra hasn't picked up his game which I thought he would after a summer's rest, which is cause for concern. I'm actually starting to look at what he offers us going forward these days as well. He's no goal threat, like Fabio or Rafa are, his crosses tend to miss the man, it's the exception rather than the norm. That on top of his poor defnesive work concerns me. I look back at Tweety and Judas, and whilst neither of them were perfect (if I'm honest the best of these two made up Evra), you could at least know that they'd recover defensively some how or other. Now Evra tends just be a spare part when defending. Had we not got the injuries we have I think Fergie may have opted for Fabio already, but with so many youngsters in, an older head should be helping out more, guiding them. Yet, often it's the youngsters helping Evra out.
I know we are playing well, we're winning games with him in our team, but he is at this point one of our weaker players in the team, and on other days he'll cost us wins, could cost us all the points in a game, if he carries on like this. Were we to be chasing a game and needed a defender off for a forward, right now, Evra would be my first choice to come off, it's the first time since he came that I've said that, as I was one of the few that actually supported him and Vidic when they arrived.
Evra hasn't picked up his game which I thought he would after a summer's rest, which is cause for concern. I'm actually starting to look at what he offers us going forward these days as well. He's no goal threat, like Fabio or Rafa are, his crosses tend to miss the man, it's the exception rather than the norm. That on top of his poor defnesive work concerns me. I look back at Tweety and Judas, and whilst neither of them were perfect (if I'm honest the best of these two made up Evra), you could at least know that they'd recover defensively some how or other. Now Evra tends just be a spare part when defending. Had we not got the injuries we have I think Fergie may have opted for Fabio already, but with so many youngsters in, an older head should be helping out more, guiding them. Yet, often it's the youngsters helping Evra out.
I know we are playing well, we're winning games with him in our team, but he is at this point one of our weaker players in the team, and on other days he'll cost us wins, could cost us all the points in a game, if he carries on like this. Were we to be chasing a game and needed a defender off for a forward, right now, Evra would be my first choice to come off, it's the first time since he came that I've said that, as I was one of the few that actually supported him and Vidic when they arrived.
Yes he was out of position a few times but tbh that was because he could smell the fear at the other end of the pitch and he was exceptional going forward. Give the lad a break had a decent game yesterday.
Evra is a superb footballer but he has worrying lapses in every game. I worry most when he tucks in and leaves huge gaps on the left flank (Young can't cover EVERY time).
And the fact that Evans has been blamed for the Walcott goal for not stepping up simply avoids the fact that Evra should have been in a wider position anyway.
And the fact that Evans has been blamed for the Walcott goal for not stepping up simply avoids the fact that Evra should have been in a wider position anyway.
The main worries for me with Evra is that when he busts a gut to get upfield, he walks back at snails pace, he makes Berbatov look like Usain Bolt. The ball is dribbling down his wing and he just walks back watching, he needs to be busting his arse to get back to his position if he's given it up. This forces a central defender to come over to LB to put pressure on the attacker and leaves one CB in the box.
Also he gets caught out all too easy with a ball over his head from outside the box to the byline and he just turns and watches it as it falls to someone who has ran in and controls it on the byline. There isn't a sense of urgency when that happens.
Also he gets caught out all too easy with a ball over his head from outside the box to the byline and he just turns and watches it as it falls to someone who has ran in and controls it on the byline. There isn't a sense of urgency when that happens.
Nope. The midfielders were pressing. The defence and era in particular did not need to press he just needed to keep the defensive line.
Neither Anderson or Cleverly are between ball player and back 4, thats why they pressed
Fabio should get an extended run at left back to see if he is an improvement on Evra. Evra's form has been dire for far too long for him to own the position.
All this over analysing is complete nonsense, at 3-0 and half time seconds away, Evra was guilty of showboating and trying to play his way out when all it needed was a good old fashioned hoof into row Z.As the senior defender he should know better
Only when one of the Rio/Vidic partnership returns.No way we'll go in with 4 young backs
Smalling is playing him on still. And how is Evans supposed to step up when Evra has rushed out two yards? Where would he step out to?
Debatable. I would say Walcott is just offside. Evans should be in line with Smalling. Evans is playing Van Persie and Walcott onside. Truth is had Evra not closed down and Arshavin stuck one in from 20 yards people would be whining that he didn't close him down. Damned if you do and damned if you don't really.
Evans isn't in line because he tracked Van Persie's run as Arshavin was trying to pass to him.
Maybe he should run up, but he's the only defender that's actually ready to defend Walcott. My first thought it that the defense should have dropped.
Anyway, Evra's link up play was great, and he was crucial to helping Rooney and Young unlock the left side, which has been our favorite side in all 3 games.
No, Evra doesn't get many assists for all the times he gets forward. But he does play a huge part in our ability to pass around teams. Rafael and Fabio aren't as good at passing and moving into space as Evra quite yet.
I just want to see him win a few headers again!
Don't understand this Evra criticism to be honest. Why seize upon everything Patrice did wrong rather than focus on the things he got right? Yes, he made a couple of mistakes (if you ask me for their goal Evans simply doesn't react to the rest of the line moving forward, which to a man they did) but he also did far more good than bad. He tracked, covered, intercepted, doubled up and was an elder head among younger players. Take him out of that back four and you would soon see the difference.
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