Many critics of Manchester United think that their current malaise is due to a substandard defence.
But everyone with an ounce of footy savvy would be quicker to point to the midfield as the major culprit for a dearth of fluid quality football at Manchester United this term.
Nevertheless the defence may well see an overhaul in the next year or so. We haven’t seen better centre backs in The Premier League than Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. Manchester United fans will hope that they have a couple of years left in them because they are going to be an extremely tough act to follow.
The same can be said of the wonderful Patrice Evra. It’s one of football’s worst kept secrets that David Moyes wants to buy a new left back. For us, Evra can still do the business, but he can’t go on forever.
The sports media is abuzz today with reports that, following on from the protracted pursuit of Leighton Baines, Manchester United have a new full back target.
I’m looking at The Guardian which states that:
Manchester United are looking at St Etienne left-back Faouzi Ghoulam
As with the centre backs whoever comes in at left back will have mighty boots to fill. Sir Fergie recently stated that Denis Irwin would be in his dream team. It’s true that he had a wand of a left-foot to go with his all round solidity. But we would have to take Evra over the Irishman for pure ‘swashbuckle.’ Evra has epitomised everything good about Manchester United during their most successful period ever.
That is to say, he’s all about winning, but he’s also great to watch. A truly top player.
Back to Faouzi Ghoulam. He was born in France but is of African descent and plays for Algeria. Like Evra, he has a huge family, which means nothing but we thought we’d offer you a different fact from the other rags. He’s a big lad (6ft 1in) with a big throw, a decent left foot and a good engine.
He’s been at St.Etienne since he was a kid and has made 64 appearances for the senior side since he made his debut in 2010 – still just 22, he has the same sort of progressive, buccaneering style as Evra, which suits Manchester United.
Let’s see him in action and you can form your own opinions. Manchester United fans, should the club buy a youngster to succeed Evra or go for a player of experience, like Baines?
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