So... New Right Back/Defender?

[Garzilla]

I really hope we get him. Such potential.

[unitedfan]

I don't really want Micah Richards all that much. He's still a CB first, who can play RB. All he'd be is a much much better version of Wes Brown for us. His name might look good on paper at RB, but I feel that his type of athleticism is more suited to the CB role, and I don't like the idea of spending that amount of money to play a player in his second position.

i was doing some thinking today...

i still dont think a RB is a need... neville, hargreaves, brown, simpson, and others (oshea and even evra/silvestre) can all play there

BUT, i am now thinking that a winger is a necessity... i dont know why i thought otherwise before (i was of the opinion that only a striker was a necessity).

next season, ronaldo and park are the only two returning wingers that i "trust" as everyday performers. nani is too young... needs at least one more season. giggsy will continue his natural decline... hes NOT an every-day player anymore. he is still a tremendous asset, but i think that coming off the bench will suite him beautifully next season.

the problem is: i dont know who united should chase to be a 3rd option (and to compete with JSP for a starting11 spot). any ideas? i am thinking in the 10-15million range...

and for striker transfer options... who does everyone want to see at united? huntelaar sounds very nice, but i havent seen him play too much (probably only 3-5 times).

I totally and completely agree.

I see what you mean in calling Park an everyday performer, as he'll usually put in close to the best he can in any game, whereas these days Giggs can completely disappear at times, and on one of his many off-days, Nani's inexperience leads to some god-awful decision making that breaks down a lot of our own attacks. But still, even JSP, due to lack of technical abillity, I wouldn't want as first choice on the left wing throughout a season. In many games, it's a case of a willing spirit and an unable body (technically speaking), which still helps you out defensively but contributes little to our attack.

Which is why I share the opinion we could do with a winger. A top class winger, with a decent enough attitude to rotate, similar to the criteria for a striker, actually. Park, Nani and Giggs all have something valuable to offer in the squad, and that should be utilised, but I just feel another very good, consistent performer would help.

I'm actually quietly hoping for a double raid on the sinking ship that is Valencia. Silva and Villa would do nicely enough for me.

In any case, I'm seeing less and less nessecity for a RB, and with Neville staying on, I don't see SAF bolstering that area. He was clearly waiting for Neville to come back around, imo. Which would be why we missed out on Hutton and didn't pursue Bosingwa.

[Buddha14]

Sergio Ramos not an option?

[unitedfan]

He's probably Real Madrid's most valuable player, and they paid £20m to get him, so no.

[dukeofdavinci]

all good and valid points on rb, but again we tend to forget what happened last season.

ohh yes injuries, and all of my years as a red last season was the weirdest season in terms of injuries.in the 2nd half of that season we were practically losing a player per match wch ended up we only having 11 fit players for the rest of the remaining games wch some are big ones.

and if we fail to secure a rb for the new season it will spell trouble.gary is getting old, and wes is doing good but even he will need a break, while simpson is still lacking experience.so we need at least 1 more player in the mold of what vidic was when he came to us.yes we have owen but at the same time he is cm, so if we need him there but we are short on the back it wil put a hole in either position.so the viable option is to have another rb as how we have the extra men in mid-field.

[MUFC]

I honestly dont think we need a right back, if you have to attacking full backs it can leave your team exposed. The way our defence is at the moment, its very composed. Wes Brown has had a great season, he has never let us down when hes played.

Gazza is back next season as well, you got those Brazilian kids coming through and Simpson is the other option with obviously the player of the moment Hargreaves also a fantastic right sided player. We do not need a right back.

[dukeofdavinci]

you got those Brazilian kids coming through

i dont think they will even feature for a bench place next season.it might take them at least 2 full season.wth simpson it was just the same only these past 2 season we have seen him in wth the 1st team.

we still need to buy an experienced defender just to make sure we dont get choked when injury setbacks came upon us.

[NJ10]

I think only one of the Brazilian twins is a RB, the other is a left back. I think its Rafael who is the right back, and Fabio is considered to be the most promising of the pair.

[MUFC]

Yeah i heard that too but about bloody 10 years ago now it seems lol...These lot were meant to be coming a few years back, cant believe it taken so long.

[unitedfan]

They are back, aren't they? They're training with the youth side, but inelegible to play til they both turn 18, this summer.

Besides, there's too much hype around them. There's no way either will feature in the league next season, They've got some catching up to do in the Youth side. They're just an addition to those ranks for now.

If Evans steps up, and Silvestre stays, we're set at the back. If either of those aren't at United next season, then we'l need a defender. Even then, it wouldn't have to be a RB.

[skeeta]

I wouldnt be suprised if Ferguson has gone goo goo eyes for Daniel Alves.

[dukeofdavinci]

wth pique off, we do need a defender.

if either rio, or vida cant play brown is certainly to be pushed in the center and even if we did have gazza back we will still need a 3rd player just in case to back up brown and gazza.

[unitedfan]

Neville///Brown
Ferdinand///Evans
Vidic///Silvestre
Evra///O'Shea

Although I do see your point. Should either CBs get injured, we start looking a lot thinner. Although with versatile players such as Hargreaves, we can overcome such situations. To me, it really depends on the quality of Evans and the fitness of Silvestre (and Neville, for that matter).

Besides, if all you wanted was a 3rd choice RB, who'l hardly play a game, we have Simpson.

But as we often build big after successes, it may be that any thinning area will get strengthened, even if we could survive without strengthening.

[kyan]

The futures of Silvestre and Evans are still in the balance though, Keane wants to keep Evans, and Bordeaux want Silvestre, and neither player seems opposed to their respective moves...

Also out of curiosity, does anyone know much about Cathcart? He came close to making his debut season before last in the period when we were forced to play Fletcher and Richardson in defence when everyone was injured but got injured and hasn't featured in the squad since....

[usamu]

Originally Posted by kyan

The futures of Silvestre and Evans are still in the balance though, Keane wants to keep Evans, and Bordeaux want Silvestre, and neither player seems opposed to their respective moves...

After the sale of Pique, Evans is going nowhere.

I don't think we really need another defender. We have Rio, Vidic, Brown, and Evans to play CB, even if Silvestre is sold, and O'Shea can play there in an injury crisis. At RB, we have Brown, Neville, and Simpson, plus Hargreaves if needed. Then we have Evra and O'Shea at LB, and Evans as played LB for Northern Ireland. That's pretty good depth if you ask me. The only purchase I can see is an attacking RB if Neville is done and Fergie doesn't think Simpson is good enough.