Phillipe Mexes

Cal?

CR7 fan
Joined
Mar 18, 2002
Messages
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Now the real Laurent Blanc is retiring, are we getting the "new" Laurent Blanc to replace him?

To be honest, he's been pretty impressive every time I've seen him on TV and at the price quoted of 3-4m, I think he'd be a great bargain. :D

Also, according to my gf, he's damn hot and will sell load of shirts too. ;)
 
Originally posted by Cal:
<strong>Now the real Laurent Blanc is retiring, are we getting the "new" Laurent Blanc to replace him?

To be honest, he's been pretty impressive every time I've seen him on TV and at the price quoted of 3-4m, I think he'd be a great bargain. :D

Also, according to my gf, he's damn hot and will sell load of shirts too. ;) </strong><hr></blockquote>

3-4 million is well short of his real value, he's already a full international, more like 10-15. But who knows what will happen with that funny clause in his contract, and Auxerre unlikely to get to the CL next year.
Regarding the 'New Lauren Blanc' title LaRoux actually said that while Blanc was more comfortable bringing the ball upfield, Mexes had more defensively.
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Originally posted by Gabe:
<strong>

3-4 million is well short of his real value, he's already a full international, more like 10-15. But who knows what will happen with that funny clause in his contract, and Auxerre unlikely to get to the CL next year.
Regarding the 'New Lauren Blanc' title LaRoux actually said that while Blanc was more comfortable bringing the ball upfield, Mexes had more defensively.</strong><hr></blockquote>

<img src="graemlins/smirk.gif" border="0" alt="[Smirk]" /> Exactly, not long ago (last Summer), we were rumoured to be ready to pay 15m for him, so if he's now available for a quarter that amount, it'd be ridiculous not to sign him, esp. given the fact he's most likely off to the Arse if we don't.
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mexes_new.jpg


hot???.... <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
 
Mexes is going to be a star. He's still an average defender, but you have to keep in mind that he's only 20 (or so) and still has many years ahead of him. Investing 10-15m on him this summer would be peanuts when you consider that we would have an intelligent, gifted defender who could wear the red shirt for far beyond a decade. Good business imo.
 
Originally posted by Raoul:
<strong>Mexes is going to be a star. He's still an average defender, but you have to keep in mind that he's only 20 (or so) and still has many years ahead of him. Investing 10-15m on him this summer would be peanuts when you consider that we would have an intelligent, gifted defender who could wear the red shirt for far beyond a decade. Good business imo.</strong><hr></blockquote>
We've already got Rio, Wes and O'Shea. We don't need him. Doubt he'd want to come anyway to a club with so many talented young defenders already.
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i dont mind for 3m..
he should be very very good..read through some news..seems like all the big clubs are interested since two ys ago..so he must have lots of potential..
anyway..we can partner him with ferdinand with O'shea/Silvestre as left back and Gary/brown right back..our defence will be feckin awesome for at least next 5 yrs..
;)
 
Originally posted by shakiraa:
<strong>our defence will be feckin awesome for at least next 5 yrs..</strong><hr></blockquote>

It already will be, with or without Mexes. The arrival of Mexes or van Buyten would however free O'Shea to move to central midfield.
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I agree with Thomson. And I disagree whole heartedly with Spinoza and anyone who thinks O'Shea should be played in midfield.
 
Originally posted by Dans:
<strong> And I disagree whole heartedly with anyone who thinks O'Shea should be played in midfield.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Amen to that. O'Shea is first and foremost a DEFENDER and a damn fine one.

He's only played ONE match as CM, in the Worthington Cup vs some nationwide team, I think.....
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Originally posted by Dans:
<strong>I agree with Thomson. And I disagree whole heartedly with Spinoza and anyone who thinks O'Shea should be played in midfield.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Of course Neil is right about that.

As to your second point, why?

I'm sure that is where he is destined to play as I've said many a time, but not for a few years yet.
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In your opinion he is destined to play in midfield, but he's certainly not in mine.

He's the best left back I have seen since Maldini and I don't think we should pass up the opportunity to nurture O'Shea into one of the world's best defenders. We have sufficient resources in the midfield and even if one or two of them are no longer with us before too long we still have a great depth in the midfield and Fletcher coming through. If we really needed another midfielder in that situation I would hope that we'd buy one and not waste O'Sheas' defensive talents there.
 
And you say of course Neil is right, yet Neil specifically mentions O'Shea in a defensive role. So which is it?
 
Some say that O'Shea is the best all round player since Duncan Edwards. Of course I'm not that old so I can't say for sure, but if its true wouldn't it be better to make use of his talents in midfield?
 
See my above post re the best since Maldini. That says it all for me.
 
Originally posted by Dans:
<strong>And you say of course Neil is right, yet Neil specifically mentions O'Shea in a defensive role. So which is it?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Not about O'Shea, but rather the fact that there is no need to buy another CB.
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But your scenario would have O'Shea moving to CM. That would leave us with Silvestre as left back I guess, Rio and Wes as CBs, with Gary on the right and Phil a back up full back. That's would leave us a little thin would it not?
 
Originally posted by Dans:
<strong>See my above post re the best since Maldini. That says it all for me.</strong><hr></blockquote>

It says a lot to me about the player that you say that, because IMO he's too good to be a leftback.
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Originally posted by WeasteDevil:
<strong>

It says a lot to me about the player that you say that, because IMO he's too good to be a leftback.</strong><hr></blockquote>


I don't understand that at all. Are you saying that Milan and several managers of that team were wrong to leave Maldini to waste away at LB?
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Originally posted by Dans:
<strong>But your scenario would have O'Shea moving to CM. That would leave us with Silvestre as left back I guess, Rio and Wes as CBs, with Gary on the right and Phil a back up full back. That's would leave us a little thin would it not?</strong><hr></blockquote>

You buy yourself a fullback, not a centreback.
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Well we're not going to agree so let's call it quits and see what others have to say.
 
Btw from what I've read and heard I would hold back on the comparisons with Edwards, granted they have probably come from those who know better than I do, but wasn't Edwards 17 when he was regularly playing for the first team? O'Shea is already 20 I believe and despite his undeniable talents I would personally hesitate to burden him with such a flattering comparison.
 
Originally posted by Dans:
<strong>Well we're not going to agree so let's call it quits and see what others have to say.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Ok.

But regarding your Maldini comment, the Italians do place more emphasis on defence don't they? And O'Shea is almost 2 inches taller than Maldini.

Most agree that the kid can play nearly anywhere on the pitch. So surely a player that is just as good on the left as on the right, going forward as defending, the most logical place to stick him is in the middle.
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JOS started of as a CB.. then moved to LB in the Leverkusen match... He is immensly talented, i'd love to see him tried out in midfield... remember, Keane started of at CB n'all, people said he was too good to be a defender as well..... he turned into one of the best box to box midfielders ever.
 
Originally posted by giggzy:
<strong>JOS started of as a CB.. then moved to LB in the Leverkusen match... He is immensly talented, i'd love to see him tried out in midfield... remember, Keane started of at CB n'all, people said he was too good to be a defender as well..... he turned into one of the best box to box midfielders ever.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Exactly.
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re Mexes: Not only could we use a player like Mexes, but I think he would be in the first XI within a year and a consistent starter for a long time. Brown imo is going to be a long term squad player and we need the depth.
 
Originally posted by RUDDY:
<strong>can we play fab in the hole behind Ruud

hes small like zola</strong><hr></blockquote>

He started of as a forward, I think..

so, yeah why not. ;)

btw-I agree with Raoul, I would love us to sign Mexes, he's very talented and has many years ahead of him.
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Originally posted by Raoul:
<strong>re Mexes: Not only could we use a player like Mexes, but I think he would be in the first XI within a year and a consistent starter for a long time. Brown imo is going to be a long term squad player and we need the depth.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Wes has been poor over the last few weeks.... perhaps its because it's his first full season back, after a long lay off.. Ruud had a similar problem at the end of last season.
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if we got him we would have the most promising selection of defenders in world football

i rather get him and ronny than cisse tbh
 
Originally posted by giggzy:
<strong>

Wes has been poor over the last few weeks.... perhaps its because it's his first full season back, after a long lay off.. Ruud had a similar problem at the end of last season.</strong><hr></blockquote>

IMO Wes's entire tenure has been a bit of a disappointment. I keep waiting for him to breakthrough to the next level and it just never seems to happen. We're going to need more depth at CB for the long term and Mexes is the ideal candidate.
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Another CB isn't exactly the priority right now though is it?

And Raoul, you seem to want us to sign a new player in almost every position, yet cry foul when the prospect of having to sell a player to fund it is brought up.

New Keeper
New CB
New FB
New CM
New Winger
New Striker

How the hell can we afford that lot all at once, and the CB I would say is the lowest priority out of the lot.
 
Originally posted by spinoza:
<strong>With that 65m quid and 4 Real players we can fill all those I reckon.</strong><hr></blockquote>

<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" />

It's not sensible to change more than 3 1st team players at once IMO.
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Originally posted by vijay_vr:
<strong>Mexes is good and might become the ulitmate Blanc replacement.Do we require him now and Whats our main problem in the defense?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Lack of fullbacks.
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