The apparent demise of Evra...

I think Evras lack of form is over talked. The WC knocked him back bit.... so it did to lots of players (inc Wayne). He's getting back to where he was and still is quality especially going forwards. United back4 as a unit is shaky atm not just on the left side due to so many injuries and perms.

But he is 30 and Fergie should decide if Fabio is the man or look elsewhere soonish.

Fryers looked good at Leeds. He is a LB by trade, he might get a few more games in the carling and FA cups if he continues to impress.

Ritchie deLaet was reserve team players of the year, has looked good nearly every time I have seen him, can play all across the back line and is fast and can make attacking forays.
Despite all the factors, it would seem the OT coaching staff do not have great confidence in him.

I don't think it was a sudden 'after the WC' thing with Evra. He had some poor performances by his standards in the 2009-10 season.

It's a bit early to conclude that his career is in terminal decline. I remember the period when Giggs had a bit of a dip and there was a lot of speculation that he was past his best. Maybe Evra will rediscover his mojo. At the same time, I'm sure the management is watching this area very closely and considering the options.

By the way, does anyone reckon Park could be converted into a very decent full back? He has the lungs and the tenacity, is very disciplined at fulfilling the tactical role he has been assigned, has positional intelligence that suggests he'd learn the ropes quickly, and would be great at supporting the winger. The 'defensive wide midfielder' role he has often played for United requires a lot of the same qualities as a full back. ...if Evra did become a liability, Fabio wasn't ready, and the budget wasn't there for a ready-made replacement, I could see Park as a credible and more attacking alternative to putting one of our young centre backs at left back. Genius theory or load of old tosh?

Against Basle Evra never got tight to his man and you'd often see him jogging back when they were on the attack. Too mnay times Jones had to come across the cover him and leave holes in the middle. The quality of the right wingers crosses was mentioned numerous times on commentary and no wonder, he had all the time in the world to pick up a man as Evra was nowhere.

At his age I'd hope he's not physically tired so it must be a mental thing. But then again surely Sir Alex will have noticed this and had a word already as its been going on a while. But then again, perhaps it is physical with the faster tempo we are playing from the start of this season he can't support the front players and run the line and get back to fulfill his defensive duties. These should be his top priority.

I’m pretty sure Park has played at full back for South Korea on occasion and I have no doubt he could do a decent job there – the only concern would be his height and that he doesn’t have much of a left foot and with a right footed player at left wing we really need someone who can overlap and cross from the outside

full backs usually are little guys

aquantumofsolskjaer

Valid remarks (especially the left foot point). I'd see him as a temporary solution more than anything: a kind of John O'Shea for the current team.

He may not be as natural a left back as Evra, but you can't imagine him simply jogging back when the opposition counter attacked, can you? And although he isn't as tricky on the ball as Evra, I could see him finishing off the odd move (as he does from midfield) whereas Evra gets into attacking positions but doesn't have much of the goal scoring knack.

full backs usually are little guys

---
I would say they used to be but in the modern game you either need a great leap (which Evra has) or the experience of playing in that position your whole life (like Gary Neville and Lee Dixon) I would hate to see how a Park vs Crouch at the far post would turn out - but then its horses for courses so say if we needed him to play against Barca that threat wouldn't be the same.

I agree you can't fault Parks work ethic and he is genuinely one of my favourite players - considering how popular he is in his country to be so modest and quiet is quite refreshing but then i think its kind of a cultural thing. Also as you say Evras end product and finishing in the final third leaves a lot to be desired - even more so considering he was originally a winger! but then I suppose thats probably why they moved him to left back!

Of course, Fergie is probably grooming Giggs as the long-term successor to Evra.