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Ihaters
Player Valuation: £35m
We've bought in a top goal scorer in Lukaku and our second most expensive ever player, and Barry on loan and Fellaini is the only first team player of note that we've got rid of... we've got less points than this stage last season despite having these additions, so I would say yes, we quite possibly have missed him.
mkrudden
Player Valuation: £40m
No mate, never xxx
mkrudden
Player Valuation: £40m
Question - where would you seem him lining up for us with the current squad we have? lets pretend we had cash before we sold him and therefore we already had barry and mccarthy
genuinely interested...
I dont think he fitted the system, I agree with what your saying, if anything you would play him behind the striker, but then with the beast up top, we dont need him there either, plus, Ross Barks, so overall we did well to get rid and we got silly money for him as well, 27.5m, CHRIST. I always thought he was a cracking player, but hes quite unique.
mkrudden
Player Valuation: £40m
Yeah absolutely, and I that he has to be credited for being a large part of our success last year. We built our tactics around his unorthodox style. Hes obviously a very good player mate, and there are those who have seemingly forgotten just how good he was for us.
The difference between him and Baines though, for me, is that you could throw LB into ANY side in the league and you'd get the same qualities and standard of play. Left Back, Left-Wing-Back, Even LM, and I think youd get performances of a consistent high level. You dont have to build a side around him, look at England this week as an example. He came in and quietly produced 2 brilliant performances.
So yeah, my only point is that for Utd, its a simple swap of an aged LB for a younger, in-his-prime one. Utd have got teething problems with Felli because, as you put it, hes a unique type of player
The difference between him and Baines though, for me, is that you could throw LB into ANY side in the league and you'd get the same qualities and standard of play. Left Back, Left-Wing-Back, Even LM, and I think youd get performances of a consistent high level. You dont have to build a side around him, look at England this week as an example. He came in and quietly produced 2 brilliant performances.
So yeah, my only point is that for Utd, its a simple swap of an aged LB for a younger, in-his-prime one. Utd have got teething problems with Felli because, as you put it, hes a unique type of player
Ihaters
Player Valuation: £35m
If we had him, then I would suspect as a CM, the guy can trap a ball anywhere near him at any height and pass it on, just like Martinez likes.
He's hard to run past, makes tackles and is a very good DM, he also scores goals when going the other way and adds to the general attacking play.
Yep CM between Barry and Barkley for me. Having said that, we are lucky that Martinez plays in a way that would only utilise half of his strengths because that certainly diminishes the effect of not having him, and bringing in some quality replacements certainly hasn't hurt either.
There's loads of Fellaini v things..
Here's one against Yaya Toure...
He gets smashed for passes but over 79% is still decent , but other than that its nearly all Fellaini:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...a-Toure-Manchester-derby-midfield-battle.html
Im quite worried about the lack of new contract.
Not sure which side to blame, but can only imagine if theres not a contract signed before Jan, its likely hes gone.
Not sure which side to blame, but can only imagine if theres not a contract signed before Jan, its likely hes gone.
Ihaters
Player Valuation: £35m
For the first time, I actually think Baines may leave us, never had that feeling before. I suspect he'll go in the summer though.
mkrudden
Player Valuation: £40m
I agree, and good luck to him, the sexy little b@$t@rd
Steve Wigan
Player Valuation: £35m
The strong counter attacks from Poland were in the space left when Baines was forward, either taking a corner or getting to the by line. The cover was non existent...Baines has never been covered properly when going forward for England. A better team than Poland would take advantage of this. If England can sort out the cover(that is...someone drops back when Baines goes forward) Baines is worth a start in every game, but until they do this, if they ever do, Cole needs to play against the top teams. It is not Baines fault, the cover for him has never been there for England in the way that Distin covers him for Everton....and you are right about Gerrard, who was always out of position when he was supposed to be playing on the left ahead of Baines.
I suspect Baines has been offered a contract but has left his options open -but do not forget he is still under contact anyway =contracts mean nothing if the player decides to go then we just have to get top money! Unt may be lower than us come December and out of the champions league group!
T
tsdoddy
Guest
Everton boss Roberto Martinez admits speculation over Leighton Baines' future is inevitable and has hailed him as one of the world's most complete footballers.
Baines was instrumental in helping England qualify for the World Cup this week with impressive performances against Montenegro and Poland and has made a strong case to be first-choice left-back in Roy Hodgson's side ahead of Ashley Cole.
The 28-year-old was strongly linked with a move to Manchester United in the summer and a number of other top clubs are thought to be monitoring his situation with the full-back entering the final 18 months of his contract at Goodison Park.
Martinez is not worried about Baines' contract situation or the constant speculation linking the former Wigan man with a move away.
"You're not going to stop the rumours and the talk; that comes with a player performing so well," said Martinez. "You are always going to get that. So I'm not concerned about that.
"As a manager, the only thing that concerns me is to see Leighton enjoying his football and being consistent with his performances."
But when asked if the player's contract could become an issue if not resolved by next summer, Martinez added: "It could be because you don't want assets to be devalued.
"I'm conscious that we'll never get away from that debate, the rumours and the speculation but I see that as a compliment.
"No-one would talk about a player who is not playing well or enjoying his football and that's the last thing I want.
"But we don't need the money and you can't replace a player like Leighton Baines so to get an extra £5m, an extra £7m makes no difference."
"You can look throughout world football and you won't find many footballers as complete as Leighton."
Roberto Martinez on Leighton Baines
Martinez insists he would not swap Baines for any other full-back in the world, feeling his all-round game is as good as anyone in the game.
"You can look throughout world football and you won't find many footballers as complete as Leighton," added Martinez.
"You have outstanding attackers but they find it difficult to defend or you've got outstanding defenders who find it difficult to get into in the final third.
"Then you've got players who are good at both but don't have the dynamism, the energy or the stamina to get up and down. Leighton covers everything.
"He's someone who can take the free kicks, in fact all of the dead ball situations with the quality that he has, he gets into the final third with a real threat, his timing and decision-making are always really good.
"Defensively he's as good a left-back as you're going to get and he now brings that sense of experience and maturity in his performances.
"He's in the peak of his career."
Baines was instrumental in helping England qualify for the World Cup this week with impressive performances against Montenegro and Poland and has made a strong case to be first-choice left-back in Roy Hodgson's side ahead of Ashley Cole.
The 28-year-old was strongly linked with a move to Manchester United in the summer and a number of other top clubs are thought to be monitoring his situation with the full-back entering the final 18 months of his contract at Goodison Park.
Martinez is not worried about Baines' contract situation or the constant speculation linking the former Wigan man with a move away.
"You're not going to stop the rumours and the talk; that comes with a player performing so well," said Martinez. "You are always going to get that. So I'm not concerned about that.
"As a manager, the only thing that concerns me is to see Leighton enjoying his football and being consistent with his performances."
But when asked if the player's contract could become an issue if not resolved by next summer, Martinez added: "It could be because you don't want assets to be devalued.
"I'm conscious that we'll never get away from that debate, the rumours and the speculation but I see that as a compliment.
"No-one would talk about a player who is not playing well or enjoying his football and that's the last thing I want.
"But we don't need the money and you can't replace a player like Leighton Baines so to get an extra £5m, an extra £7m makes no difference."
"You can look throughout world football and you won't find many footballers as complete as Leighton."
Roberto Martinez on Leighton Baines
Martinez insists he would not swap Baines for any other full-back in the world, feeling his all-round game is as good as anyone in the game.
"You can look throughout world football and you won't find many footballers as complete as Leighton," added Martinez.
"You have outstanding attackers but they find it difficult to defend or you've got outstanding defenders who find it difficult to get into in the final third.
"Then you've got players who are good at both but don't have the dynamism, the energy or the stamina to get up and down. Leighton covers everything.
"He's someone who can take the free kicks, in fact all of the dead ball situations with the quality that he has, he gets into the final third with a real threat, his timing and decision-making are always really good.
"Defensively he's as good a left-back as you're going to get and he now brings that sense of experience and maturity in his performances.
"He's in the peak of his career."
zebedee
Player Valuation: £8m
This line sums it up. Good luck to him. He's been a true joy to watch and grow over the seasons. If he think he needs a fresh challenge we can't begrudge that.
But what really grates on me it rollocks the papers talk about if he were at a bigger club he would surpassed Cole years ago... In my eye's he's turned into that player over the last couple of sessions which can be equally great for club and country.
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