so were not selling posh then?
Phillipe Mexes
- Thread starter Cal?
- Start date
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>
Agree that he will be a huge. He's already very good(average?); a popular choice as the french leagues' best player last season, which says a lot considering he's a defender and his age, this season he's continuing, establishing himself in the French squad, he's obviously the long-term future of the french defence, its just a question of who will partner him.
Do we need a Mexes? Are we settled on a Rio-Wes partnership, would be a good one probably,but rio-Mexes would be excellent. Wes is good but Mexes is world class material, and a stronger defender IMO.
Mexes would not leave us overstocked with CBs. With JOS now looking more like a fullback( or the perfect all-round midfielder even): opinion on JOS has definately shifted from early in the season, because at that time some people were saying- 'yes, I know he's doing well at LB, but look at him, he's really a CB.' Now after a season mostly at LB it's becoming clearer what he can do, and really his ability would be wasted at CB, though obviously he can do the job.
then whats the need for Mexes?
<img src="graemlins/houllier.gif" border="0" alt="[Houllier]" /> Scroll up and read all of my posts.
Do we need another CB? Larry is going which would leave us with Rio and any off Wes, Mickey or JOS. But really JOS and Mickey are better as fullbacks, and I think we can do better than Rio-Wes as a long term pairing. I share some of Raoul's doubt about Wes, while he's pretty tidy overall, he still lacks forcefulness for want of a better word. Mexes along with his superb technique has the aggression and confidence Wes lacks.
According to the Guardian
well, if its gonna be done, id prefer to see it done in the worthless, where no harm can be done by playing him CM.
tbh the last time he played there (i think against Burnley) in the Worthless, IMO i thought he looked like a CB trying to play midfield.
Time will tell i guess
tbh the last time he played there (i think against Burnley) in the Worthless, IMO i thought he looked like a CB trying to play midfield.
Time will tell i guess
In an ideal world, I would get hold of Walter Samuel to partner Rio, with Wes and Big John at full-back.
However, from what I've seen of Mexes he does look a pretty good defender - I thought he coped very well with Henry in the Ch. League.
He looks a lot more solid and confident than Wes, who I think has a major inferiority complex when he's up against the Real Madrids of the world.
However, from what I've seen of Mexes he does look a pretty good defender - I thought he coped very well with Henry in the Ch. League.
He looks a lot more solid and confident than Wes, who I think has a major inferiority complex when he's up against the Real Madrids of the world.
I think with Blanc leaving we def need another CB and a LB maybe. Otherwise we run the risk of being left short at the back, if we are without 2 CBs we are screwed, take out Rio and Wes and your left only with JOS, Mexes is a great young player and would be a great investment IMO.
We have about 6 players that can play at centre back.
How many at Fullback? That is where we are lacking depth.
How many at Fullback? That is where we are lacking depth.
Sorry, I slightly bothered!
Is Mexes a hard tackler? Because that's what we lack at the moment, everyone is too nice. I know that sounds wierd, but you need someone in the defence who isn't scared to smash the player if it means getting the ball out of the box. An enforcer. That's why I think Keano should be utilised more of a defender next year.
Rio, Wes, O'Shea - they're all 'cultured' defenders like Larry. Gary Neville is the only real enforcer in the backline currently. And his time in the first team could possible be winding down with Brown being used as the right back in the last few games, so we need a new youngster that isn't scared to be physical. If Mexes fits that profile then bring him on. If not, then we need to find someone who does.
Rio, Wes, O'Shea - they're all 'cultured' defenders like Larry. Gary Neville is the only real enforcer in the backline currently. And his time in the first team could possible be winding down with Brown being used as the right back in the last few games, so we need a new youngster that isn't scared to be physical. If Mexes fits that profile then bring him on. If not, then we need to find someone who does.
I rate Wes very highly, he has the potential to be better than Rio defensively. However he does have some weird cock ups that you cant explain or prepare for.
I am going to give him th ebenefit of the doubt and say that he hasnt had a full season for like 2 years now, so he is still rusty. Lets see him blossom next year cos time is running out for him.
As for Mexes, he is sublime.
He has a £1.4million buy-out clause which means if someone pays that fee his contract is nullified and someone can then buy him for £3million or some other "reduced" fee. Rumours were that he bought out his own contract cos he is desperate to leave. But you know...rumours suck.
I am going to give him th ebenefit of the doubt and say that he hasnt had a full season for like 2 years now, so he is still rusty. Lets see him blossom next year cos time is running out for him.
As for Mexes, he is sublime.
He has a £1.4million buy-out clause which means if someone pays that fee his contract is nullified and someone can then buy him for £3million or some other "reduced" fee. Rumours were that he bought out his own contract cos he is desperate to leave. But you know...rumours suck.
I also rate Mexes higher than I rate Rio, considering he is younger, and well....awesome.
Much cheaper too, bargain in comparison.
Much cheaper too, bargain in comparison.
I still reckon we're going after the wrong defender from Auxerre. Boumsong is the one I'd go for. Powerful, pacey, no-nonsense defender. We need someone like him at the back with all the bal players we've got at the back. He'd be our Sol Campbell, only younger and better!
Johnso,
Walter Samuel is too one dimensional - ie a donkey too slow. Mexes is quality and has the necessary agression,without looking clumsy! Like Grimes or McQueen ! And would cost alot less
Walter Samuel is too one dimensional - ie a donkey too slow. Mexes is quality and has the necessary agression,without looking clumsy! Like Grimes or McQueen ! And would cost alot less
Originally posted by red_baron:
<strong>Johnso,
Walter Samuel is too one dimensional - ie a donkey too slow. Mexes is quality and has the necessary agression,without looking clumsy! Like Grimes or McQueen ! And would cost alot less
Agree Mexes has the necessary aggresion, even a little dirty which is fine. People tend to label Mexes a flash defender because he's so skillful but he gets stuck in. Excellent in the air too BTW
If Mexes is as good as i've heard, we'd be stupid not to dive in for anything up to 6 million. Not too much because we have more pressing areas to strengthen but otherwise it could only help. I didnt think we needed another centre-back but events recently (O'Shea and Brown maturing as full-backs) may mean we do.
With O'Shea - he's the best left-back in England imo. Soon he could be the best in the world. He'd make an average midfielder imo. I cant see him ever being as good as Vieira, Keane or even Lampard or Gerrard. We could always try, but doing such next season could leave us fecked if we didnt get cover for centre-mid and O'Shea didnt make it there.
With O'Shea - he's the best left-back in England imo. Soon he could be the best in the world. He'd make an average midfielder imo. I cant see him ever being as good as Vieira, Keane or even Lampard or Gerrard. We could always try, but doing such next season could leave us fecked if we didnt get cover for centre-mid and O'Shea didnt make it there.
Originally posted by Floyd:
<strong>
Brown is NOT maturing as a fullback.
He looks completely lost out wide, no idea what to do when bringing the ball upfield.
Brown is a CB.</strong><hr></blockquote>
That's your opinion. You're wrong. IMO.
everyone seems to be of the opinion that Rio Ferdinand is a lock at cb,he has not shown me any reason to think that his name should be an automatic on the team sheet,in fact for 30 mill i would have expected a lot more return on my investment,i think neville and silvestre were a lot more convincing at cb's than ferdinand and brown,maybe utd should be looking to off load him,his defensive abilities leave a lot to be desired IMO.. <img src="graemlins/nono.gif" border="0" alt="[No No]" />
Originally posted by Gazza:
<strong>
That's your opinion. You're wrong. IMO.
So do you really think Brown looks comfortable attacking down the flank?