I think we need a natural left back as backup/rotation with Evra. But I cannot see it personally.

Fergie will more than likely use Evans, Rafael, Smalling, Jones or Giggs as cover for Evra. When you take into account that when Vidic is back, 3 of those cb's will get reduced game time, so may be played there if needed.

Between Evans, Smalling, Jones, Rafael, Im sure we have the players to play the odd game at LB when Evra is in need of some rest

I just dont think spending £12mil+ on a guy who can only play LB would be money well spent

It's not just a case of covering Evra occasionally imo. What if Evra himself gets injured? Stranger things have happened. If we lose Evra like we lost Vidic it could seriously impact our season. We had loads of CBs who could cover for Vidic but we have literally no LBs to cover Evra.

A lot of fans aren't happy about having to play the likes of Jones and Smalling at RB let alone having to field makeshift fullbacks, left and right (none of them left footed apart from Giggs who can barely play 90 min let alone every week. And he can't bomb up and down the flank like Evra for even 45 min let alone 90).

Baines would be awesome to have as cover but, as everyone has said, the question is whether he would accept that. He might, considering that Evra is no spring chicken and is in need of a successor and not just cover. But that may just be wishful thinking.

The very same paper said United were buying him from Everton for a knock down 5m just two weeks or so ago in an online article. They can't even keep their wild guess stories consistent from week to week.

I just dont think spending £12mil+ on a guy who can only play LB would be money well spent
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Sorry I only just noticed this comment. What do you mean exactly? We spent £18m on De Gea and I doubt he'll ever play up front! What about Rio, Vidic, RVN, Scholes, Stam, Cole, etc? They only played one positon (apart from Scholes at the start of his careeer) and they were worth more than than when we signed them, regardless of what we paid, let alone in today's market. We're Man Utd, we can spend £12m on one position at today's prices! Especially a position on which we have spent only £5m in the last 6 years (Evra), £12m in the last 8 years (Evra + Heinze) and £16m in the last 13 years (Evra + Heinze + Silvestre). Apart from Irwin, have I missed anyone out in the last 20 years? That was a bit of a brain teaser...

If we aren't going to field CMs who like to cross the halfway line regularly then I'm all for strengthening the FBs tbh.

Yeah you missed Phil Neville whose agent we paid £45.99 to get him to sign his senior contract.

12 mill for a back up LB? You can't be serious

If we get Baines, i would be so happy.

12 million for a 28 year old left back who is only 2 years younger than Evra, no thanks !!!!

Baines is NOT a good defender but he is excellent going forward and freekicks.

We need a left back that can also defend

VCD I can only assume you are joking...

Baines is a very good defender. And he would replace Evra, who does look pretty worn out after all his services to us.

Thank you Who's Kissing Cameras. To suggest Baines is not a good defender is extremely short sighted.
Do you think Evra will leave or be told to fight for his place? He was our stand in captain after all. Maybe the United PR team have planted the Baines story so to make Evra get his act together? I say that as I can't see either settling for a place on the bench.

Ok Baines is an devent defender but it's his attacking play that people love. If he wasn't such a danger from corners and freekicks he wouldn't be rated so highly.

Plus he isn't exactly young at 28

"a decent" bloody iPhone ^^^

We need players in that 25-29 age bracket. Most of our players are either too old or too young.

Well if you think Baines is the one then fair enough, I'm not so sure but his freekicks and corners alone would be a good thing.

How about his blocking, his positioning, the fact that only 10 dribbles got past him in the whole season? Points to him being quite a good defender

Fair enough mate

Someone posted something on here earlier - may have been this thread - with Baines' stats compared to Ashley Cole. In almost all areas Baines came out on top.

Well It looks like I was wrong then.

But still at 28 I'd prefer a younger player.

quietly confident this will happen. baines is class and can take corners too. there's also reports linking evra with a move to psg, if not this summer then next, by which time fryers should be ready to step up and provide back up for baines.

I must admit i do think he has an awesome left foot, and his delivery is stunning !!

Could be our missing link when it comes to freekicks and corners cos at the moment they are dreadful !!

and twelve million would be steal in my opinion. glen johnson cost seventeen million and is half the player baines is.

and twelve million would be steal in my opinion. glen johnson cost seventeen million and is half the player baines is.

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Yes well using that logic, Baines would be cheap !

Johnson is truly a shocking defender, and just think he will be representing us at the Euro finals.