It's not that he is defensively weak, he continually makes things difficult for himself and his fellow defenders by being caught out of position. It is easily remedied, he simply needs to stop flying forward every time we gain possession. We now have plenty of attacking threat, so considering the inexperienced defence we had that day, he would have been better off hanging back a little to make sure he can help out where he can be of most benefit to those less experienced players.
Patrice Evra | 2008-12 Performances
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It's not that he is defensively weak, he continually makes things difficult for himself and his fellow defenders by being caught out of position. It is easily remedied, he simply needs to stop flying forward every time we gain possession. We now have plenty of attacking threat, so considering the inexperienced defence we had that day, he would have been better off hanging back a little to make sure he can help out where he can be of most benefit to those less experienced players.
This makes no sense to me. When did you ever see our centre midfielder or our right sided centre back in the left back position covering for Evra? I think they've enough on their plate.
Evra's main problems defensively are in 1 v 1 situations, going to ground rather staying on his feet (as Ray Wilkins would testify). If he's out of position Young will drop back or Evans will try his best to cover. Its nothing to do with the positional sense of Jones or Cleverley.
For some reason he loves roaming into the centre. If he doesn't want to play leftback why can't he ask SAF nicely to let him play centre mid?
It's just nuts, it's as if people haven't watched United over the last several years. Even SAF is talking about how much it helps the attacking winger to have Evra out there because it opens up space.
As a team we know Evra goes up and attacks, it's nothing new. Our players and coaches know that it leaves space and am sure they work on ensuring that our backs and CM know to try and account for that.
That's why when people say Evra/Vida have an understanding - it's not because Vida is so superior positionally but, having worked along side for so long Evra, he instinctively knows what to be doing. Evans and Rio also know this. For Jones - he probably knows it now but, still that learned experience will take a bit of time.
Thing about Evra as people have said is sometimes he just makes some silly decisions, such as going to ground but, that's nothing new. He does silly things like when he dallied on the ball against Bayern in the first leg. His mistakes have cost us but, he's saved us so many times.
The blanket well he is defender first and we have enough attacking options, that he needs to primarily work on defending - I don't agree with. A lot of our play revolves around the runs that Evra makes, he creates space and attacking opportunities by sometimes risking being out of position but, that goes back to the rest of the team knowing to cover. It's a conscious team effort and I don't think for a minute if he was as bad as people say he has become - a major liability - that SAF would just let it continue.
As a team we know Evra goes up and attacks, it's nothing new. Our players and coaches know that it leaves space and am sure they work on ensuring that our backs and CM know to try and account for that.
That's why when people say Evra/Vida have an understanding - it's not because Vida is so superior positionally but, having worked along side for so long Evra, he instinctively knows what to be doing. Evans and Rio also know this. For Jones - he probably knows it now but, still that learned experience will take a bit of time.
Thing about Evra as people have said is sometimes he just makes some silly decisions, such as going to ground but, that's nothing new. He does silly things like when he dallied on the ball against Bayern in the first leg. His mistakes have cost us but, he's saved us so many times.
The blanket well he is defender first and we have enough attacking options, that he needs to primarily work on defending - I don't agree with. A lot of our play revolves around the runs that Evra makes, he creates space and attacking opportunities by sometimes risking being out of position but, that goes back to the rest of the team knowing to cover. It's a conscious team effort and I don't think for a minute if he was as bad as people say he has become - a major liability - that SAF would just let it continue.
Thought he hardly put a foot wrong tonight.
Outstanding going forward i thought. Our best outfield player tonight.
Slowly returning to his form. Good news before tough PL fixture.
Excellent today.
That was the Evra of old out there. Good stuff.
Love this guy, and his interviews. Good to have him well back in form.
Only saw the first half but thought he was excellent and really drove forward like evra of old
He's been great all season.
Best performance for a long time tonight. ITV tried to criticise him for their goal but I don't think he can have any blame. Excellent attacking and not troubled defending. Sets him up well for his favourite opposition on Sunday.
Good against Bolton and probably our best player today. I hope he keeps this form up.
He was great going forward, as he usually is.
I do think he's quite a poor defender though, and has been for most of his United career.
I do think he's quite a poor defender though, and has been for most of his United career.
Positionally weak at the back, good going forward. Evra leaves us exposed more often than not these days.
Exaggerate much?
Zzzzzzzzzz!
Still the best left back around. So much of our best play starts with him, great great player.
much improved over the last 2 games.
I've probably been one of the most vocal critics of his positioning and, to be more exact, his lack of desire to get back and recover when his positioning is off.
But the last two games have been much better. If he can keep it up it'll be a massive boost for us.
But the last two games have been much better. If he can keep it up it'll be a massive boost for us.
Last 2? Do you not remember how many of our goals he was involved in vs. Arsenal?
He's been cracking all season.
It's got nothing to do with how many of our goals he was involved in.
It was, like all last season, him being caught out defensively and giving the opposition chances to score goals. Sometimes they took that chances, sometimes they didn't. But the opportunities were there.
The last two games have been more like him at his best - great going forward and also doing his defensive duties.
Was an absolute beast today. Great understanding with Young on the left.
Was surprisingly solid at the back today. Now if only he could manage to get those final balls in
one of his best games for a long whilte in my opinion...
Like the one Rooney scuffed against the post you mean?
Great performance.
It has everything to do with that, we won fecking 8-2.
He has been brilliant this season, was really amused that he was getting stick after the Arsenal match. Back to his best.
He was attacking and ...defending... today which was good to see from God again.
This was a complete Evra performance. Long may it continue.
It was hilarious watching him square up with Lukaku at set pieces, but he did get the better of him.
Quality performance from him. I'd rather he had a good run of solid performances throughout the first few months of the season than some spectacular and some below-par on a topsy-turvy form chart. Good start.
Quality performance from him. I'd rather he had a good run of solid performances throughout the first few months of the season than some spectacular and some below-par on a topsy-turvy form chart. Good start.
I couldn't believe he was supposed to mark Lukaku. Lukaku is a beast. He dwarfed Evra.
His best game in months.
Truly immense today!
Truly immense today!
The Demise of Patrice Evra has been greatly exaggerated.
Fantastic game today at both ends of the pitch.
His positional sense sometimes lets him down but he is still an outstanding left back
Fantastic game today at both ends of the pitch.
His positional sense sometimes lets him down but he is still an outstanding left back
It really hasn't. And it's not been a demise just a player losing form. It happens. And it did happen.
A few good performances of late. Hopefully he can carry on.
I thought this was the Evra of old.
Fantastic performance from him, defensively rock solid and saved us a couple of times with great positioning.
Fantastic performance from him, defensively rock solid and saved us a couple of times with great positioning.
"I prefer Wayne does that here than in Moscow." - Paddy on Rooney's missed pen 
"I prefer Wayne does that here than in Moscow." - Paddy on Rooney's missed pen
fecking legend
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