Who thinks that Blanc should carry on playing ?

No, he's too slow and O'Shea/Hoffland or whoever comes in the summer will replace him. I'd keep him as a coach though.
 
I think he should stay on for another season.

He could easily do it. No idea why people go on about his pace though as he's never had pace. His ability to read the game and his positioning are superb.

In Europe he comes into his own and should prove to be vital.

Sure bring in some more young defenders but don't let the big man go
 
Originally posted by tareq abd albari:
<strong>I think he can, & young players will learn a lot from him.</strong><hr></blockquote>

No, he should stop playing now when he's still got it (à la Cantona)... ;)
 
hope he stays on a player and a coach would be such a waste of talent and experience given our young defence ..... as a player i can't say i would want him to start regularly but having BLANC o the bench aint bad eh? ......

<img src="graemlins/devil.gif" border="0" alt="[Devil]" /> <img src="graemlins/devil.gif" border="0" alt="[Devil]" /> <img src="graemlins/devil.gif" border="0" alt="[Devil]" /> <img src="graemlins/devil.gif" border="0" alt="[Devil]" />
 
don think he will stay... if he play a good season here then he will just decide to keep a good memory and leave ... Think he has nothing much to prove ... He don't seems so optimistic still like Fergie ... so we won't see a repeat of scenario IMO
 
Don't want him to stay -- plenty more good defenders out there who are as good and quicker!
 
Laurent Blanc is our best defender at the moment. He's hardly put a foot wrong since he joined. I would love to see him play on for another year. I would also like to see at least 1 addition to the defence in the summer.

I don't think I've seen Blanc play a stray pass yet. He is magnificent (to borrow from big-nose)

Just wish we'd signed him 10 years ago.
 
Originally posted by GaryLifo:
<strong>Laurent Blanc is our best defender at the moment. He's hardly put a foot wrong since he joined. I would love to see him play on for another year. I would also like to see at least 1 addition to the defence in the summer.

I don't think I've seen Blanc play a stray pass yet. He is magnificent (to borrow from big-nose)

Just wish we'd signed him 10 years ago.</strong><hr></blockquote>

well said, the man is class. i have never seen a defender look so composed on the ball and never looks flustered.hopefully he'll stay for one more year.
 
Originally posted by GaryLifo:
Just wish we'd signed him 10 years ago.
<hr></blockquote>

That's my point -- 10 years ago. He can read the game really well, but IMO he can't just get there all the time.
 
Originally posted by United78:
<strong>

That's my point -- 10 years ago. He can read the game really well, but IMO he can't just get there all the time.</strong><hr></blockquote>

But as you've been told, he wasn't fast even 10 years ago! Learn to read ;)

A few years ago when we still had Brucey I've seen him running to a ball with a young Les Ferdinand, having a huge lead and still not getting there first. Haven't seen that happening with Laurent yet.

Just accept the fact that in a one on one situation a good striker would normally have the edge on any defender. Nesta v Lazio and Galatasaray striker making a turkey of Samuel on Wednesday are good examples. But a brain like Blanc... is worth a lot more than what we paid (which was nothing).
 
Initially I don't think he should carry on... but his performance is really brilliant recently. There is still true class in him. His positioning and ability to read the game is several classes above any of our current defenders, that means, if he stays he can teach our young defenders a lot. Therefore, I don't mind he carry on with us, as soon as it isn't being used as an excuse for not buying any new defender in this summer.
 
Agree. He should stay but we still need to buy a central defender and a full back this summer.Blanc has been excellent in the past few weeks. Didn't put a foot wrong on Wednesday and just oozed class. Hands up those who need to apologise to SAF!!!
 
but he gave another blunder again when we here said that he's been briliant lately ... That Defoe goal - I have seen Defoe running alright ... and it's just a norm for any striker to sneak in the near poll for goal like that !! ... we have got it from Christie last week... hasn't we learn?!?! .. For a WC winner, I think it's really not convincing for me to see such a thing happen ... the only reason that I could find is - he's too tired to actually "GET THERE" ... his mind might be strong but his flesh has gone weak come end of the game ... so it's NOT that he don't expect the ball to be there ... but his body just CAN'T do the job to block it in time ... that's the ONLY reason I could think of for him .. .
 
Originally posted by thumper:
<strong> I'd keep him as a coach though.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yeah, whip out his teeth and stick in seats. ;)
 
Originally posted by Penny:
<strong>For a WC winner, I think it's really not convincing for me to see such a thing happen ... the only reason that I could find is - he's too tired to actually "GET THERE" ... his mind might be strong but his flesh has gone weak come end of the game ... so it's NOT that he don't expect the ball to be there ... but his body just CAN'T do the job to block it in time ... that's the ONLY reason I could think of for him .. .</strong><hr></blockquote>

If that is the case, you can be damn sure he WILL retire. Just like he retired from the national team when he still could have carried on, he's got too much pride.
 
Reads the game like an ABC book un like some I could mention.
Bit like War and Peace to me when i play Ha ha
 
Originally posted by Penny:
<strong>but he gave another blunder again when we here said that he's been briliant lately ... That Defoe goal - I have seen Defoe running alright ... and it's just a norm for any striker to sneak in the near poll for goal like that !! ... we have got it from Christie last week... hasn't we learn?!?! .. For a WC winner, I think it's really not convincing for me to see such a thing happen ... the only reason that I could find is - he's too tired to actually "GET THERE" ... his mind might be strong but his flesh has gone weak come end of the game ... so it's NOT that he don't expect the ball to be there ... but his body just CAN'T do the job to block it in time ... that's the ONLY reason I could think of for him .. .</strong><hr></blockquote>

Talking about Defoe's goal, of course I cannot say Blanc is not at fault, but I don't think his fault is serious -- it is just a lack of concentration because we were two goals ahead and there is only 10 minutes left. And in the first place Johnsen should not so easily let the player to cross the ball in.
 
He's definitely got to stay, what he can teach the kids coming through the ranks will be invaluable in the future.If SAF thinks he's the greatest thing since sliced bread, who is going to argue.His brain saves his legs a lot of work, he's class.
 
From RI:
Bixente Lizarazu again states he will not be joining United:

"I am always flattered when a club the size of Man United show an interest in me,but I have one year left on my Bayern contract and there is no way I would ever break that."

Larry White is still determined to retire at the end of the season

"There is nothing to think about," I have made up my mind and that is that. I have thought long and hard about retiring, and I think it's fair to say that I am feeling the effects of games more. This is the logical thing to do."

Ferguson sounds like he will be trying to sign a central defender in the summer whether Larry stays or not:

"We have to address the Blanc situation in particular," he said. "I think his mind is made up about quitting at the end of the season, so that has to be catered for. I would like him to stay for another year because of what he can give us. Apart from being a genuinely brilliant player, he has other contributions to make which people don’t see.

"He’s very good for Fabien Barthez, for example, keeps him alert and focused. And he is a terrific influence on younger players, who know when they’re with him they’re learning from a master. I would like another year from Blanc, but even if he does stay, we’d still need another centre-half.


Irwin said:

"I want another year in the game, but that will probably be elsewhere. If you look about there are still players about playing at that age.

"You see other full-backs like Lee Dixon at Arsenal, Nigel Winterburn at West Ham and Stuart Pearce at Manchester City, who is 39."

Johnny Ronsen is happy that Fergie’s stayed.

"United is my club and I want to stay"

"It would have difficult for United to offer me a new deal if a new boss had been coming in. So I'm pleased Sir Alex is staying. United is my club and I want to stay but nobody has spoken to me about another contract. We'll just have to wait and see what happens up to the end of the season and take it from there.

"All I can do is my best until then and see what that brings. But it's not the important issue at the moment. I want to play games and the main thing is helping United at a vitally important time for the club. I'm not going to let the contract situation put extra pressure on me. There's enough to worry about in matches without adding to that burden.

"Last season, everything was over when I came back. We were out of the Champions League and had already won and had already won the Premiership title but this year couldn't be more different. I'm fortunate to return just as the season is reaching a climax.

"Every game is a final from now on and you need to be on top of your game. If I can get a championship medal this time, I'll feel like I've earned it more.”


NT - So Blanc will NOT be playing for us next season. Johnsen looks unlikely to be given a new contract, and Irwin almost definitely won't be. Maybe 3 out, at least 2 in. No mention of David May here, but I suspect he'll be gone on a free to be honest, especially since we almost sold him to S'ton (sorry yaps!). O'Shea though will step up, and Tate will probably come back from Antwerp for next season. I wouldn't be surprised if Tierney replaced Tate at Antwerp either.
 
Originally posted by tareq abd albari:
<strong>I think he can, & young players will learn a lot from him.</strong><hr></blockquote>He should get a 5 year contract right now.I hope you keep him for a long time.

:)
 
lets put the donkey out to pasture
you can be a wonderfull reader of the game
but if your as slow as blanc it doesn't
matter.
 
Originally posted by pungent joe:
<strong>lets put the donkey out to pasture
you can be a wonderfull reader of the game
but if your as slow as blanc it doesn't
matter.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Is heskey as slow as Blanc? Really? Maybe they should put Heskey out to pasture. Maybe hed score their ;)