Leighton Baines

[paulbefc]

I just love how people seem to gloss over the fact that a football club who could pretty much nick any left back in the world are after ours and yet, somehow it'd be OK to sell him if the price is right.

[Poor language removed] off, every single one of you...bunch of Kenwrights. Talking sh*t about ambition and completely ignoring the fact that we'd be selling one of the best in world football who, by all accounts, is also a good PERSON to have around this great club. Ignorant...

Gladly take a red card for this, I just don't give a [Poor language removed]...I'm tired of people making up bullsh*t excuses for this boards inaction.

I'd reject every offer as well, but there's no need for all that.

 

[paulbefc]

There are a few more pros to add to selling him:

It would be good business.
We might have seen the best of him.

Good business? How? We're a football club. We make money by winning matches. That's good business.

He's 28 ffs. As if we've seen then best of him. If we're talking about "might", every signing we make with the money "might" not be all that. Then we'd be f*cked.

 

[Julian Carax]

Good business? How? We're a football club. We make money by winning matches. That's good business.

He's 28 ffs. As if we've seen then best of him. If we're talking about "might", every signing we make with the money "might" not be all that. Then we'd be f*cked.

I was clutching at straws, very thin straws made from my tears.

We all love Baines.

But, if we did get a serious bid of £20million we should probably sell, we're skint our squad is about 13 players deep and selling Baines would help us out.

 

[kenada_blue]

I just love how people seem to gloss over the fact that a football club who could pretty much nick any left back in the world are after ours and yet, somehow it'd be OK to sell him if the price is right.

[Poor language removed] off, every single one of you...bunch of Kenwrights. Talking sh*t about ambition and completely ignoring the fact that we'd be selling one of the best in world football who, by all accounts, is also a good PERSON to have around this great club. Ignorant...

Gladly take a red card for this, I just don't give a [Poor language removed]...I'm tired of people making up bullsh*t excuses for this boards inaction.

If we had ambition and money, it would be a different story.

It's not and we've got no money. And some will say we've got an awesome chairman because we haven't done a Leeds etc

 

[HibbertsLeftFoot]

It's worth bearing in mind that Baines will probably be capable of playing at the highest level until he's in his mid 30s.

In terms of getting slower, the physical side of his game revolves more around his excellent stamina then outright pace. I can't think of many more athletic players than Baines. Never injured etc..

The technical side will remain pure boss.

 

[njligernj]

I'd like Baines to stay as much as anyone, but he's not the best LB in the world. Offensively he's certainly up there, but his defensive game, while above average, isn't 'world class'. The likes of Luis and Lahm have it all, while Marcelo is probably a better attacker. The difficulty we will have if/when he goes is in how we're to replace the creative loss, not the defensive.

I think he is better than "above average" defensively and that whole "he isn't good defensively" was addressed in this thread earlier.

However what you said is interesting because you consider him "above average" defensively yet do not think it will be difficult to replace his defensive talent. However if he's above average that means inherently it would be difficult to replace since the average player isn't as good as he is. Granted I do get your point and it would be MORE difficult to replace his creativity (he led the top leagues in chances created) but it would still be difficult to replace the defensive side.

I think that's a telling look at the rose-tinted glasses people have about the hypothetical players we're going to buy.

Odds are the players we get will be average. Some might be great and some might be bad ... others might just be average. That's what average means. That's why it's average. Replacing someone "above average" is quite hard.

People have paid 5m+ for LBs who aren't as good as Baines purely defensively.

However everyone imagines the players we'd get with the money will be amazing. It's just silly. Bird in the hand. Don't fix it if it isn't broken. We have a hard enough job as it is without gambling on replacing one of the few areas of our team which doesn't need fixing.

 

[toffeestillidie]

True, A certain player refused to come out for the second half this season, baines showed him his foot/ankle swelling at half time and told him to get his arse on the pitch. You may recall some comments from our manager in the paper about a certain players attitude.

Was this Kevin Mirallas? I remember Moyes coming out and saying something but I didn't know the other players felt that way too

 

[njligernj]

Say for arguments sake we sold Baines for 20 mil, replaced him with oviedo and spent the 20 mil on an outrageous striker who was gonna score us 20+ goals, are we really worse off as a team on the whole?

I stand by "almost certainly" because the 20 goal striker ... as much as people love to go on about it ... is very rare.

Let's say Kone (or a rebounding Jela or even Anichebe) gets us 13. So we are paying 20 million (or 15 million or so if you sub out Kone cost) for 7 extra goals (and let's throw in some extra chances and assists too).

So how likely is it we can get a 20 goal player for 20 million? Three players scored more than 20 last year: RVP, Suarez and Bale.

Benteke and Michu were close and they are every idiots "well why don't we just buy one of them eh?" go to player of the silly season. Meanwhile there is a giant mass grave of players who cost the same or more than Benteke and Michu and did sweet f all this season which everyone ignores because we're just *sure* to get the next Michu with our money.

As much as people like to have a go at Baines defensively these days I would take a lot of convincing to believe Oviedo just steps in as does equally well. We'd concede a couple of extra goals. So sub two from the 7 extra goals we just paid 20m for.

Baines led the top-flight teams in chances created. Put an average player on the team to replace him and we could lose a couple of goals from those lost chances.

In the end we are paying 20m for a couple of extra goals ... and that's the best case scenario. Good chance we just Andy Carroll it and the money is gone.

I'm not saying it's impossible but why would you take the risk?

 

[nigelcoyb]

I stand by "almost certainly" because the 20 goal striker ... as much as people love to go on about it ... is very rare.

Let's say Kone (or a rebounding Jela or even Anichebe) gets us 13. So we are paying 20 million (or 15 million or so if you sub out Kone cost) for 7 extra goals (and let's throw in some extra chances and assists too).

So how likely is it we can get a 20 goal player for 20 million? Three players scored more than 20 last year: RVP, Suarez and Bale.

Benteke and Michu were close and they are every idiots "well why don't we just buy one of them eh?" go to player of the silly season. Meanwhile there is a giant mass grave of players who cost the same or more than Benteke and Michu and did sweet f all this season which everyone ignores because we're just *sure* to get the next Michu with our money.

As much as people like to have a go at Baines defensively these days I would take a lot of convincing to believe Oviedo just steps in as does equally well. We'd concede a couple of extra goals. So sub two from the 7 extra goals we just paid 20m for.

Baines led the top-flight teams in chances created. Put an average player on the team to replace him and we could lose a couple of goals from those lost chances.

In the end we are paying 20m for a couple of extra goals ... and that's the best case scenario. Good chance we just Andy Carroll it and the money is gone.

I'm not saying it's impossible but why would you take the risk?

Suspect it's academic I simply can't believe Moyes hasn't had the ok from Baines on this.

We know Moyes doesn't do gambles.

The idea he'd risk his gonads making a public bid knowing ridicule would ensue should a trusted lieutenant tell him to shove united up his ginger ring beggars belief.

 

[kenada_blue]

RM has apparently been quoted as saying "Leighton is more than a player, he's an Everton icon".

We'll then....

 

[jaybeerex]

if he signs a new deal he can be an Everton Icon, 6 years at the club and then leaving for united hardly qualifies him as an Icon. Not being harsh and i wouldn't be surprised if he left mind.

 

[davek]

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...leighton-baines-d-day-defender-crunch-4861870

Baines D-day: Defender in crunch talks with Everton over switch to United


'Baines cost Everton £6m from Wigan in 2007 and after six years solid service at Goodison a profit of more than £10m is likely to persuade Kenwright not to stand in his way.'

"Solid service."

 

[TheFinnFan]

PLEASE LEIGHTON DONT GO!!!

 

[andybaker]

if he signs a new deal he can be an Everton Icon, 6 years at the club and then leaving for united hardly qualifies him as an Icon. Not being harsh and i wouldn't be surprised if he left mind.

Think he means more in terms of what Baines staying would mean to Everton...ie signalling our intent, being able to keep our best players etc etc

It would be massive! Weve never been able to keep a player once a top club genuinely came in for them before i dont think?

Him signing a contract would be immense. Without sounding like BK too much he is the best signing we could make this summer.

 

[Roztitute]

I just love how people seem to gloss over the fact that a football club who could pretty much nick any left back in the world are after ours and yet, somehow it'd be OK to sell him if the price is right.

[Poor language removed] off, every single one of you...bunch of Kenwrights. Talking sh*t about ambition and completely ignoring the fact that we'd be selling one of the best in world football who, by all accounts, is also a good PERSON to have around this great club. Ignorant...

Gladly take a red card for this, I just don't give a [Poor language removed]...I'm tired of people making up bullsh*t excuses for this boards inaction.

Is right. Fxcking give it to em GSG.