Originally Posted by Amir

Paul Parker was already past his best when Neville took his place, his legs were gone. You just can't compare what happened in 1995 to 2008. Different team, different players. Back then, we had a gaping hole at right back. Currently, we do not have such a situation at center back. So saying that if Evans hasn't won a place at United he doesn't have half the talent Maldini has is, as Fergie would have it, absolute b*ll*cks.

Obviously there's no way to know how a player will do for United until he actually plays regularly for the team. But if you look at what Evans is doing at Sunderland (I focused on him against Chelsea a few weeks ago and he was brilliant) and what Pique did last season at Zaragoza, then you can't ignore the fact they have the sort of talent to make it at United. Whether they'll be able to handle the pressue of doing that is another thing, but the talent IS there. Maldini or not.