Leighton Baines

Status
Not open for further replies.
andybaker said:
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.
Click to expand...

our only world class player and fan favourite.
loosing him would be huge setback in every level.
how on earth could board explain if they were to sell him...

It would be crushing
 

Doesn't look like Martinez is prepared to let him go:

Roberto Martinez can't wait to start working with Everton 'icon' Leighton Baines.

Baines has been the subject of transfer speculation this summer with Manchester United reportedly interested in his services.

But new Everton manager Martinez has made it clear he sees the England left-back as a hugely important part of Everton's future.

Martinez said: "I think Leighton is more than a player, he is an icon.

“He represents a lot about our football club and I am really, really excited about Leighton."

Baines revealed last month his excitement about being part of a new era at Goodison Park and that sentiment is reciprocated by the Blues boss.

“This is a big season for him and for us as a club," continued Martinez.

"When you are the left-back of this football club, and the level that he has been reaching over the last few years consistently, it shows me that he is the best left-back in the country. I can’t wait to start working with him.”
Click to expand...

http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/2013/07/03/boss-on-baines
 
njligernj said:
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.
Click to expand...

njligernj said:
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?
Click to expand...

andybaker said:
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.
Click to expand...

it is getting depressing dealing with this idea that its exciting to have money in from transfers. there are so many examples of teams that have made this mistake and are below us in the league for the long term. investment would be great but the better teams who have money never make the mistake of buying in a load of players that may not work in areas where they are already strong. they make sure there are decent replacements coming through the ranks. I just assume Football Manager 2013 hasn't built in things like whether a player fits into the system, the character of the team, has a team got players who make the whole club tick with passion as well as creativity. sell Baines and you sell the one thing that has kept us above the pack.
 

Tubey said:
I wouldn't expect him to say anything else.
Click to expand...

A significant statement though.

I think for that to be on the OS (talking up keeping Baines) it means one of two things: either a) Baines has indicated he will sign up again for us (and Martinez is happy to try and sell others when and if he can this window to bring players in, so the board are happy with going with that); or b ) it's an attempt to talk up the price United will have to meet.

Let's hope it's the former. For once, because it's this particular player, I think we stand a chance of retaining him. We *need* to sell this window for one reason and another (unforgivably given the massive rise in revenue), but I think it'll come late in the window and not Baines.
 
We need to do everything we can to keep Baines. Saying that though he needs to sign a contract or we have to sell him now im afraid.

No point having a player of his quality go for peanuts next summer. While i think Kone isnt a bad signing for £5m, we as a football club cannot afford to lose £10M on a player because we allow him to enter the final 12 months of his contract.
 
davek said:
A significant statement though.

I think for that to be on the OS (talking up keeping Baines) it means one of two things: either a) Baines has indicated he will sign up again for us (and Martinez is happy to try and sell others when and if he can this window to bring players in, so the board are happy with going with that); or b ) it's an attempt to talk up the price United will have to meet.

Let's hope it's the former. For once, because it's this particular player, I think we stand a chance of retaining him. We *need* to sell this window for one reason and another (unforgivably given the massive rise in revenue), but I think it'll come late in the window and not Baines.
Click to expand...

Either way, it's the right type of noises to make. Played 'Berto
 
These latest quotes will make it all the more disappointing when he is sold for below market value in a few weeks.
 

andybaker said:
We need to do everything we can to keep Baines. Saying that though he needs to sign a contract or we have to sell him now im afraid.

No point having a player of his quality go for peanuts next summer. While i think Kone isnt a bad signing for £5m, we as a football club cannot afford to lose £10M on a player because we allow him to enter the final 12 months of his contract.
Click to expand...

I can see the sense in that, but I also take the view that it wouldn't be a disaster for us to keep hold of Baines for two more seasons and we have a world class attacking defender for that period.
 
How do you replace a player like Baines with his goals and assists and the points we accumulated via his boots?

Answer - You cannot.
 
I like how Martinez has actually said he is the best Left-back. Moyes sort of beat around the bush with the whole thing. Think Martinez' positivity will be highly noticeable in comparison with Moyes. Not something we've been used to from our last manager although I wouldn't argue against the fact he had great ambition and belief about the club, he kept his cards too close to his chest at times.
 

Status
Not open for further replies.

Welcome

Join Grand Old Team to get involved in the Everton discussion. Signing up is quick, easy, and completely free.

Register

Shop

Back
Top