You're past it Blanc

$ukhjit

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You're past it Blanc

TONY ADAMS last night claimed that Manchester United defender Laurent Blanc is past it.

Former Arsenal centre-back Adams, 36, retired from playing in the summer because he realised he could no longer perform at the highest level.

And he reckons Blanc, who is a year older, is proving to be a massive liability in United's bid to reclaim the Premiership title from the Gunners. Adams, capped 66 times by England, was shocked by Blanc's embarrassing display in the 3-1 Boxing Day defeat at Middlesbrough, which resulted in him being dropped for Saturday's win over Birmingham.

Adams said: "I am sorry to say, given how talented a player and defender he has been, that Laurent Blanc has had his day.

"In fact, against Middlesbrough it was the worst central defensive display I can remember seeing for a while and I felt sorry for John O'Shea having to try and cover.
 
Fergie's blind spot

By Tony Gale

USUALLY it is football fans who show blind faith but at least two Premiership managers are guilty, too - and it has cost them dearly.

Alex Ferguson, the best manager of all time, has stuck with Laurent Blanc at the heart of his Manchester United defence.

And Glenn Roeder, a Premiership rookie, has done exactly the same in persevering with his Czech centre-half Tomas Repka at West Ham.

It may cost United the title - and it has caused no end of problems at Upton Park as Hammers bid for Premiership survival.

Blanc was axed for yesterday's victory over Birmingham, but he should have been ruthlessly ditched earlier.

His return to the first team on Boxing Day coincided with a 3-1 defeat at Middlesbrough.

The Frenchman missed seven games with a calf injury and while he was out the pace at the heart of United's defence was so much better.

Take your pick from Rio Ferdinand, Mikael Silvestre, Wes Brown or John O'Shea. They all have speed off the mark to compensate for the way United play.

How many times have you seen United caught two-on-two at the back? Those younger players are better equipped than Blanc to deal with it.

By playing with pace and holding a higher line at the back, you can pressure more. And if United do get caught, then pace can bail them out.

To be fair, Blanc at his peak was one of the best footballing centre-halves the world has seen and United's youngsters have benefited from his experience.

And he has NEVER let Ferguson down with his discipline - which cannot be said for Repka at Upton Park where his three red cards and 19 yellows in 53 matches tell their own story.

Repka thinks that by fighting in every situation he will end up the winner.

But he needs to concentrate a bit more on the game than simply his immediate opponent.

He has also found it difficult to adjust to the English game - and especially to fighting a relegation battle with the Hammers.

There is no doubt Repka wants to do well but he needs to be left out and the ban for his most recent red card - against Fulham on Boxing Day - will give him the rest he needs.

ALL the major trophies went to attacking teams in 2002 - Arsenal taking the domestic double, Real Madrid lifting the European Cup and, of course, Brazil the World Cup in Japan last summer.

That kind of "go for it" attitude is good for the game and thrills the fans - and that's why I am sticking with Arsenal to win the Champions League and Premiership this season, with United landing the FA Cup.

I've taken some stick recently for saying that Chelsea won't win the title - but I have to admit Claudio Ranieri has done brilliantly this season by taking Blues into second spot.

Ranieri admitted though, he made a big mistake fiddling with his side against Leeds and paid for it with a 2-0 defeat.

Chelsea need to play their best 11 in every match to qualify for the Champions League. And, as they do not have the extra European matches to play that Arsenal and United face, there is no reason why they can't.

When Ranieri stopped tinkering Chelsea climbed to second. Hopefully he has taken note of what has happened against Southampton and Leeds.
 
Whats the betting Larry will be MoM in the sunderland game and the hacks will pick on someone else.
Scholes hasnt been slagged for a while :rolleyes: <img src="graemlins/yawn.gif" border="0" alt="[Yawn]" />
 
exactly murt. seems like the scapegoat changes from week to week

repka..53 matches, 3 reds, 19 yellows...dirty bastard!
 
This is a totally different situation, the fact is Blanc is too slow to play in the Premier League. The guy helped us out and our younger defenders have obviously learnt from him and for that we can be grateful. But anyone who thinks that Blanc is still fast enough to be picked needs to open their eyes. He is simply not good enough anymore. I wish he was but he is not. But he is not a disgrace as someone in another thread suggested.
 
Blanc being phased out of the first team by fergie is no real surprise.

I don't think Blanc being in the first team is an issue anymore as he's already behind in the queue.
 
Originally posted by Raoul:
<strong>I agree with Itchy. :eek: </strong><hr></blockquote>

I told you to stay off the nandrolone or whatever performance nehancer your using these days, i can distort your perception and cause crazy halucinatons,
ppl have experienced houses running after them, trees talking to them, itchy making sense,
mad scary things like that :eek: ;)

Carry on Blanc - Fergie ^top

Sir Alex Ferguson has hit back at claims that Laurent Blanc's Manchester United career could be over, insisting he "is still a great player".
The emergence of Mikael Silvestre and Wes Brown plus the improving form of John O'Shea and return to fitness of Rio Ferdinand has led to speculation that veteran Blanc's Old Trafford days could be numbered.
The Frenchman looked out of sorts on his return from injury at Middlesbrough on Boxing Day and was not even among the substitutes as United got back to winning ways on Saturday against Birmingham.
But Ferguson has no qualms that Blanc can carry on at the top level and has even compared him to German legend Franz Beckenbauer.
Ferguson said: "Laurent is still a great player - he is a real reader of the game and his ability to play out of defence is second to none.
"There are a lot of qualities you can pigeon-hole people with. How they can head the ball, tackle or whatever.
"But when you get a centre-back who can play football the way he can, and turn defending into attacking, then you are talking a special player.
"Beckenbauer was a legend because of that. Laurent is not a libero as such, but makes himself one because of how he plays as soon as the team gets the ball."
Ferguson has made noises to suggest he could even tempt Blanc into staying for a further 12 months at Old Trafford, while France want the 37-year-old to become their defensive technical coach.
Blanc suffered from terrible press upon his arrival in England as a shock replacement for Jaap Stam, but eventually won fans over with his composure in the heart of United's rearguard.
And Ferguson, while admitting that Ferdinand is set for a run in the team, says Blanc will play some part in the club's quest for more honours.
He added: "I had to play Rio on Saturday. After 10 days of training it was the right time for him and Laurent understands that.
"Rio needs a good run of games but Laurent will get plenty of games for us.
"He is a fantastic player to have about the place."

<hr></blockquote>

tematalk, seems like Larry's going to get a run soon enough :D
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Maybe Blanc can be a coach but I his playing days are over but Fergie will continue to play him as he always wants to with players that he has brought. Fergie nevers wants to show that he was wrong in buying a player so he continues to play them, a loyal person but he needs to look at it in terms of the team.
 
Originally posted by $ukhjit:
<strong>Maybe Blanc can be a coach but I his playing days are over but Fergie will continue to play him as he always wants to with players that he has brought. Fergie nevers wants to show that he was wrong in buying a player so he continues to play them, a loyal person but he needs to look at it in terms of the team.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Nah, I don't think Blanc will feature much in the first team for the remainder of the season if all our centre-halves are fit.

SAF may be loyal to certain players but results and the form book count at the end of the day
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Blanc should play most CL games, he's very comfortable there, where it is a bit slower paced.

I really hopes he stays on........ as a technical defensive coach ;) . As he has alot of experience.
 
Blanc has helped us through a difficult period, and his leadership and experience has given our young centre backs a role model to follow.
But the Middlesborough game was a disaster; we should stick with Tweetie and Wes when fit, with JOS on the right and Eeza Rednev at Right Back. :)
 
although I'm getting sick and fecking tired of our Gazz's inability to play the offide trap without a whole bucket of shite landing at our feet :mad: Can Charlie Q help this ladd out? :rolleyes:
 
I can't see what the problem is! Sure, Blanc will be around to the end of the season, but as back-up, not first choice. After that, hopefully a coaching role will be found.
 
Blanc had been important in the defense development but he s now too slow to withstand the quick runs of likes like Henry

he can be utilised as sweeper in a 5-4-1 backline (when we are winning) but its obvious that he should retire next season
 
Originally posted by devilish:
<strong>Blanc had been important in the defense development but he s now too slow to withstand the quick runs of likes like Henry

he can be utilised as sweeper in a 5-4-1 backline (when we are winning) but its obvious that he should retire next season</strong><hr></blockquote>

Few (if any !) defenders can cope with Henry.Tony Adams was spot on....Blanc turns even slower than the QE2! :D
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In fact he turns so slow that when Nemeth scored against us in the Boro game he was still facing the Boro goal when the ball hit the back of the net :mad:
 
I'm sure blanc knows he wont be getting a whole lot of games this year, after all, he was planning on retiring anyway until fergie talked him out of it.

Im sure he gets quite a bit of satisfaction out of seeing the youngsters he has been nurturing coming through and doing the business. bringing blanc in on a free was another stroke of genius from saf and we shouldnt be to quick to put blanc down as he is at least partly responsible for steadying the ship through a period of transition.
 
Nonetheless i still feel secure knowing there's blanc on the bench and not some 16 year untested kids. Not losing goals seems to have been our priority of late and no one will cover Brown/Rio better than Blanc. (provided that both O'Shea and Silvestre are on the field).
 
Originally posted by RUnited:
<strong>Nonetheless i still feel secure knowing there's blanc on the bench and not some 16 year untested kids. Not losing goals seems to have been our priority of late and no one will cover Brown/Rio better than Blanc. (provided that both O'Shea and Silvestre are on the field).</strong><hr></blockquote>

I'd actually put Gary, as well as the four you mentioned above, ahead of Larry.
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Originally posted by Red15:
<strong>

I'd actually put Gary, as well as the four you mentioned above, ahead of Larry.</strong><hr></blockquote>

i can see where you're coming from and i have to agree with you. But anyhow, it's always good to have atleast 7-8 capable defenders in a squad and i'm of an opinion than Blanc is among those required 7-8 in our team. I don't see him leaving until the end of the season and i'm very certain he'll play parts in many important games down the road this season.
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