Been linked with laporte as well but he's also young and left footed.

I think we need an older more experienced head who's going to organise the defence from start to finish.

comment by Pride of the North (U6803)
posted 1 minute ago
Been linked with laporte as well but he's also young and left footed.

I think we need an older more experienced head who's going to organise the defence from start to finish.
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Which is why I've asked who should United go for. All people keep doing is saynig United need an experienced defender without suggesting anyone!

How's Garay doing

Have you seen Dortmund or Spurs this season?

Hummels or Vertonghen have both looked $hit

Not convinced about Varane, Pepe and Ramos start ahead of him and they are both clowns

Vlaar or Shawcross if we get anyone for me. Hummels is wildly overrated and although he's a good player he's not a patch on how good Rio or Vida were for example at 25. No better than Smalling either in truth and painfully slow. Varane is talented but I think you're going overboard saying he's Rio mark 2. He's decent in an era of poor poor center halfs.

comment by M.U.D.D - Luke Shaw makes me throb with desire (U9612)
posted 5 minutes ago
Not convinced about Varane, Pepe and Ramos start ahead of him and they are both clowns
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I don't know why though, Varene is quick, reads the game well, he's composed and brave.

Only thing he is missing is experience imo, but playing for Madrid is as big as it gets and t doesn't appear to phase him.

Let's fave it, it wouldn't be the first time Madrid have fecked up.

Not convinced about Varane, Pepe and Ramos start ahead of him and they are both clowns
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I assume when you say clowns you are talking about their discipline because as defenders them 2 are actually good.

While watching the Bayern game against City I was looking at Boateng and its interesting how if you get an athletic and really quick defender who is comfortable with the ball at his feet and partner him with another Centerback who reads the game you easily have a great partnership.

It reminds me of a young athletic Kolo Toure partnered next to Sol Cambell.

Its hard to know what united require because I dont see how Varane is a huge upgrade on Smalling.You need someone experienced to partner next to your young athletic centerbacks be it Jones or Smalling.

Hummels is a good shout but he is a touch overated.

Winston Reid, nearly out of contract,good pace and in the air,int'l experience(nz!),a better option than Vlaar or Shawcross in my opinion and would surely jump at a move.

comment by M.U.D.D - Luke Shaw makes me throb with desire (U9612)
posted 19 minutes ago
Not convinced about Varane, Pepe and Ramos start ahead of him and they are both clowns
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I hate it when people say this. They're both actually very good defenders. Just because they're s doesn't mean they're bad defenders.

it is interesting that these 2 supposed clowns helped Real to the CL last season

i dont think we need an experienced head at the back, we just need someone who has the ability to organise and isnt afraid to do so.

As for Varane, Fantastic young CB and i'd be more than happy to have him at OT.

I think you should go after another dm rather than a centre back (depending on who is available). It's lack of protection as much as it is anything at the back and Blackett in particular I think has a real future.

Laporte at Bilbao is superb, only 21 but looks destined to be a star

posted 5 minutes ago
Not convinced about Varane, Pepe and Ramos start ahead of him and they are both clowns
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I don't know why though, Varene is quick, reads the game well, he's composed and brave.

Only thing he is missing is experience imo, but playing for Madrid is as big as it gets and t doesn't appear to phase him.

Let's fave it, it wouldn't be the first time Madrid have fecked up.
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Also Jose reckons he is the best young defender in the world which is high praise from Mourinho

Winston Reid and Ashley Williams are probably both as good as anything we have at the back for the PL, but if we are looking longer term and want ball playing CBs especially for Europe then Hummels, Laporte, Varane etc to be considered but will cost a pretty penny.
Also not convinced by Rojo and certainly don't want Vlaar or Shawcross. Still think Jones and Smalling if they could both stay fit could be our first choices possibly.

Laporte's buyout clause is 34 million apparently and as you guys know because of your expereince with Ander Herrera, Bilbao only really sell for buyout clauses. Varane's is 150 million so I doubt you'll match that

Shawcross for me. Experienced, solid, not injury prone. There really isn't much more you could look for in January. Even if we waited until Summer I'd be happy with that signing

Didn't we have a first option on Shawcross if he is ever sold ? Thought I had read that once.

wouldnt touch Shawcross with a bargepole.

melton

Why do you say that about Blackett rather than McNair?

I've been impressed with Blackett but he is far more error prone than McNair (from what we've seen for the first team anyway). McNair has been excellent, seems to have a better overall game than Blackett as a defender. Blackett seems to have incredible composure, sometimes too much, it's as if he's stoned.

I think they've both impressed but so far McNair has shown more promise. Interesting too that both didn't start out as CBs, Blackett as a LB and McNair as a CM.

McNair looks class.

comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 3 minutes ago
melton

Why do you say that about Blackett rather than McNair?

I've been impressed with Blackett but he is far more error prone than McNair (from what we've seen for the first team anyway). McNair has been excellent, seems to have a better overall game than Blackett as a defender. Blackett seems to have incredible composure, sometimes too much, it's as if he's stoned.

I think they've both impressed but so far McNair has shown more promise. Interesting too that both didn't start out as CBs, Blackett as a LB and McNair as a CM.
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I agree, McNair for me shows better reading of the game and less error prone...but it could be nerves as Blackett seems to grow into games but is a little casual at times. I always thought Keane and Thorpe were ahead of these two so strange in a way they have come through now.

What I like about McNair is that he can carry the ball out from the back, he isn't afraid to run into space.

Presumeably this is because he was previously an attacking midfielder.

I agree McNair has been good too, I just have a feeling in time he might turn into a bit more of a versatile player like Jones and be shifted further forward a bit. Blackett has all the attributes to be a fantastic central defender, I think with experience he could be brilliant.

melton

You could be right about Mcnair but I haven't seen Blackett show attributes that could make him into a better CB than McNair, I'd say it was the opposite. Although far from perfect McNair really is showing the signs to be a very good defender, positional sense, willing to put his body on the line, happy to bring the ball out, good in the air, seems to have great promise.

Blackett on the other hand just looks so easy on the ball but that has also led to mistakes when put under pressure.

Still, been massively impressed with both, always hard to know how well a player will take the step up from less competitive football, sometimes you've just got to throw them in the deep end.