Jun 04
Do United Need Another Left Back?
Yesterday’s major point of debate was on right backs; at least that was the idea. There was a point raised in the comments that rang true to me when I read it, so I decided to put it up for debate.
United were indebted to the lung busting runs of Patrice Evra — who has become one of the best left backs in the world — last season. We were also lucky in a way that Evra didn’t pick up any serious injury. John O’Shea is an adequate cover, whilst Silvestre may leave the club before the start of the season. This leaves our left back spot rather thin. While O’Shea does the job when called upon, he may not give us the consistency nor the ability to overlap on the left flank. Relying on one specialist and a non-specialist for one position all season may not be a risk worth taking. So isn’t the left flank a bigger priority to plug than the right.
Or should we say, isn’t it of greater importance to buy a young decent left back to give Evra a breather, than buying a big money right back?
Meanwhile, don’t forget to sign up for the RR Euro 2008 fantasy league. No prizes for winning — at least not yet — just pride. Head over to UEFA.com -> go to the fantasy league section -> create an account -> create your team -> click on leagues -> search for this group code 98380-18218 and join the group.
I won’t do the customary round up for today because it will involve people I don’t want to talk about for now. Other than that we are in direct competition with Arsenal for Aaron Ramsey, with personal terms needing to be worked out; according to reports, we are also the favourites. Updates, if any, would certainly pop up in the comments section. So watch that space.
And that’ll be all for now. Take it away…
Related items from Red Rants:
- ‘Fabio will be one of the greatest left backs for Manchester United’
- Why Moving to Liverpool Won’t Help Heinze
- Heinze loses arbitration for Liverpool move, what’s next for him and United?
- Lesson to be learned from the Manchester derby
- Swiss chocolate hard to stomach for United
Tags: Manchester United News
Craig Mc (195)
RedDevilEddy (170)
Opti (135)
Moscow is my heaven (96)
Ian (95)
grognard…. frankly, i find this talk about letting voldy leave after the end of next season instead of right now quite disturbing…..
if he does have his heart set on moving to spain, then get rid of him now! I’ll give a couple of reasons why….
1. we all said this last season too, but i honestly dont think that voldy can repeat this season’s performance, and that will mean that his value drops… dont get me wrong, unless he has a career threatening injury, he will go for a world record transfer… but right now we can probably squeeze an extra 10-12 mil outta his sale
2. if he stays, and keeps making comments about leaving (he will, he wants the attention) its going to disrupt the team’s spirit… the dressing room will be divided and that problem will stay even after voldy is long gone!
3. sir alex has already said that he’s with us for 3 seasons tops….. and we all agree that voldy cant really be replaced immediately….. if he leaves now, its gives fergie time to put into place a system where we can prosper without him…. its gives him time to experiment (what if plan A goes bust???)… i dont trust anyone else to be able to do it as fast as fergie can… and besides voldy and him leaving in quick succession wuld leave a huge void at the club that the next manager (whoever it is) with all his ideas may not be able to fill……
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Samg; The problem lies with the fact that if he does leave now Fergie DOESN’T have the time to place the foundation of a new system for the start of this season. The team would be in a state of chaos and dare I say that we could be hurt badly enough that we might miss out on a top 4 finish. Yes that’s radical but certainly possible since I don’t feel we have enough scoring up front and we don’t have enough service of quality like we used to, although Nani is possibility in that area. Your other points are valid. He could create dissension or he could in fact get injured but then again, money isn’t everything here. The future style and contentment of the team is vital and his rapid departure I feel would cause the walls to fall in a bit. Sure Fergie is a great manager but so far this off season he has dragged his ass in the transfer market and the news about Voldemort hasn’t been good or subtle. He’s going so really he should have been moving already to find his replacement even before he’s gone. Remember Voldy himself was in a Manchester United uniform within days of David Beckham leaving. That was only good luck as we played Sporting and the team and Fergie were WOWed by Voldy. Had they not played Sporting who knows what would have happened and who would have been the replacement. Remember, we aren’t talking about three years down the road when Fergie leaves, we are talking just one year. I just don’t have the confidence that all can be fixed in two months before next season starts.
And now I read that Barcelona has entered the Voldemort sweepstakes. I wouldn’t have a problem with Fergie selling him there because they don’t conduct there business with the same sleaze as Real. It would teach Voldy a lesson too although I guess he would have to agree to the transfer and I doubt he would. He has Madrid firmly embedded up his ass.
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Oh for God’s sake. Now I read at Sky Sports that Calderon has given up his chase for He who shall remain nameless as he clearly sees that United are not willing to sell and that he doesn’t want to ruin the friendly relations with Man Utd. 8:O What friendly relationship? Fergie didn’t sound like he was to fond of them in his last interview. This roller coaster ride is just exhausting and tiresome and I for one have finally had it. I give up. I no longer care until it actually happens either way. He stays or he goes. ENOUGH ALREADY
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OOPS! Never mind, my mistake
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[Grognard]
Finally, you’ve seen reason. Why do you think I decided to not speak about him this week? I knew this kind of thing is bound to happen, and talking about him is exactly what he wants.
When I said I won’t name him, I also meant not discussing the whole issue at all from my side. I have until friday to stick to my vow. After that I will write a full blown account of what I really think of him and the whole situation. I’ve had enough time to introspect and anything that happens from now on will not change the opinion I’ve formed over the past few days.
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grog
with barca reportedly interested in ronaldo now, what do you say to Messi+a few million for ronaldo (or Messi + eto’o for ronaldo + a few million!)
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Jos; I’ll take Messi and they can have the few million. Problem is that I don’t think they would sell Messi. Can you imagine Barca with both Voldemort and Messi. Out of this world! I definitely think Fergie would take Eto and probably Deco or Iniesta. But I don’t think it will happen. Real is where Voldy want s to go and so I think he would turn Barca down.
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But the Spanish club are prepared to pay R%^#$*o £300,000-a-week after tax in a £75m deal over five years to lure him to the Bernabeu. (The Daily Express)
WTF??? Have they stolen a mint??? Our new contract offer is 150 000 a week…. How the fuck are they getting this kind of money!!!
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Gronard-Good post on Gretzky, legend in all senses. A bit like MJ IMO, just a level above everyone else in his field, and also did lots of good off the pitch/rink. Footballers don’t tend to have that same level of allegiance though. There are a few exceptions, but most of the very best ply their trade in multiple leagues, so have to leave their home/favourite club.
I think the conclusion of most on here is that if he wants to go, let him. Get as much money as possible, and say thanks for the 5 years, good luck in Spain. And then let Wes Brown get some tackles in when we meet in the CL
My concern is now with keeping him. If he has done all this crap just to get a better contract, what doest that say about him? At best he’s easily influenced by his girl/agent/mum at worst that he’s a selfish prick. Neither of which are great traits to have in the team.
It really does dissapoint me, because I thought after last summer he was going to stay for a long time, at least 3 more years, and become the absolute professional on the pitch. If he goes to Madrid, they’re just not as good at keeping players focused on the game, adn Ronnie certainly has a potential to burn out with offfield activites. And that would be such a waste of talent.
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Grognard, I think Crespo would be a good buy. Has hardly played club football in years but is still very good on the international stage. But I doubt Mourinho would sell to us. Also I imagine his wages are still really high and I doubt he’d be willing to go down to a squad players’ wages.
Ronaldo leaving will be a huge blow, but maybe it will be similar to the Arsenal situation. After Henry left all the other players raised their game and the team became a lot more balanced.
In any case we should be identifying some replacements and ideally buy now because foreign players usually need a season to find their feet and there is no-one British who fits the bill.
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Grognard – all the way back in your comment no. 44, you asked me to feel free to elaborate on when I have watched Micah Richards play LB.
Well, I don’t think I need to do that, since I never stated that he has played that position. What I wrote was that we need someone who can cover the right back and in central defense, no mention of LB. And then I mentioned Micah Richards.
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What a feckin Legend is Eric Cantona!. He has come out and lambasted Ronaldo to the media, telling him that United is a great club, WINNERS, and they will keep on winning, with or without him. Reading between the lines, Eric is saying to Ronaldo who the feck do you think you are Ronaldo. United don’t need you to be great, they made you great, and will go on being a great club for long after you have gone. Eric, you Legend, still United thru and thru, United fans feckin love you mate!.
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When RVN played at Manchester United SAF decided to change the whole system so he would fit in to the team.
While RVN was scoring many goals we were not playing the United way. We may have won the EPL and FA Cup with him in the team but we never won the UCL with him in the team because that system was not suited to defeating the best in Europe.
I think at times we miss RVN but the guy did nothing but complain about how he was treated by SAF. Even after SAF spent a year at his bedside while he was recovering from the injury before he was brought to OT. I would hope SAF tries to sign Karim Benzema. He can hold the ball up and run at defenders and finsh well.
As for the mercenary CR7 he needs to clarify his future. He can not commit to a 5 year contract and then say he is deciding his future in a few days. His future was decided when he signed a 5 year contract. I am very dissappointed in his actions. I supported CR7 when he was being slated by everybody after the England Portugal game. Even when he came out and said he wanted to leave for Real Madrid after the tournament had finished. He owes it to the fans and to the club to come out and make a statement of where his priorities lie. If he digs his heels about a move then either sell him for £150 million (which Real Madrid will have to sell alot of shirts to get that back) or stick him in the stands for the next few years. I am running out of patience and sympathy for this lad.
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Tomas; Thanks for clearing that up and sorry if I misunderstood. Sometimes I just read these posts so quickly they don’t always register in my mind as they should.
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Grognard – no worries. Can’t say I’m not guilty of the same once in a while
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Sell Voldemort. Get Kaka (He can play on the wing surely not?) and proclaim him Harry Potter. I’m sure Kaka would want to join the European Champions and we can settle his transfer before the Euro cause his not involved. Better a talent who has the will then a baby footie genius who wants to fufill his mother’s dream. If his mother taught him how to play football by all means please her. You’re legal and ready to think by yourself! Messi is an option but Barca will demand an outrageous fee for Prince Caspian. Stay if you want. If you’re going, thanks for the cash.
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craig mc you got a link for that on ec7 i want to read that he is the shite what a legend. if ronaldo stays fans should sing ooh aah cantona instead of rs songs.
in his book ### said his favorite trip yet was palma de mallorka while they do have a mid table team barca is verry close. bring on the messiah
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