Wes Brown

Red Sense

On high sight maybe we should have kept him, let's face it our defense including our GKs are not as clinical as before. Let's not discuss our midfield situation.

Maciek

Let's be honest, it was a good decision to sell him. For him and for us (Smalling, Jones, Evans).

We can't regret selling Brown just because our three centre-backs are injured and Rafael missed five months due to an injury.

Amir

Obviously the irony is he lasted 25 minutes against City on Sunday before getting injured. There's a good chance he would have just been added to our injured list had he been kept.

You can't just fill the team with more and more and more players just become someone may be injured. Over the last year and a half we brought in Jones and Smalling, wanted to use Fabio more and maybe finally make Rafael our number 1. Something had to give, someone had to go. Although I really didn't want O'Shea to leave.

el eric

I thought he was a bit of a liability whenever he played at centre half any time over the last 2 seasons. He was on big money and a long term contract at Sunderland seemed to suit both United and Wes

John O'Shea I would have kept though

RedLars

I agree with this, especially that we should have kept O'Shea. Many claimed when we sold him that it was a peculiar move, and in hindisght I'd say that those of us who did were right. We pretty much have to expect an injury crisis of ridiculous proportions every season.

Sir A1ex

Wtf is this?

"Oh high sight"?

Red Sense

Sorry typo I meant high site

cw1984

cw1984

In hindsight perhaps I shouldn't laugh because it would appear English isn't your first language

Reapersoul20

"high site"

MrMarcello

Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Sense View Post
On high sight maybe we should have kept him, let's face it our defense including our GKs are not as clinical as before. Let's not discuss our midfield situation.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sir A1ex View Post
Wtf is this?

"Oh high sight"?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Sense View Post
Sorry typo I meant high site

Don16

In hindsight,you look like a twatty student knob if you slag some lad off about his spelling even though English isn't his first language.

It was the right time for Wes to go, it would have been unfair with Rio, Vidic, Smalling, Jones and arguably Evans ahead of him in the pecking order

Varun_Utd

high sight(hindsight) being the keyword here. nobody anticipated the ridiculous number of injuries we've had.

devilish

And yet.....we've been having an injury crisis for the past 3 yrs.

In terms of injuries, defense is a vulnerable spot. Out of 7 defenders 3 of them are injury prone (Rio and the Da Silva twins)

Varun_Utd

Yes, but the versatility of the likes of jones and smalling meant we had adequate cover for every spot unless all of them got injured at once which is what happened.

devilish

First of all just because we play players in awkward positions that doesn't make them versatile. I wonder how much experience Jones/Smalling have as right back with other clubs. Secondly we're still talking about 7 players 3 of whom are injury prone. That is prone to leave the team a bit light in defense.

Actually I have yet to see one club abusing 'versatility' in the way we do. Rafael as CM, Carrick in defense, Smalling and Valencia at RB, Park as CM, Rooney in midfield etc. To be honest we used to do that in the team I played in a few years back but that was an amateur team.

Varun_Utd

Due to injuries. Its not as if SAF decided to play a Rafael- Park CM when he had 3 other CMs fit. His hand was forced. am amsued you'd argue otherwise.

Regarding the defence, Smalling and Jones are capable RBs. Jones more so than smalling who looks superb at CB already. Neither of them look awkward when played there. I agree with your point about the twins being very injury prone but in Jones and smalling + fryers we have adequate cover. Fabio himself being a backup LB to evra considered, we're very well covered.

Our problems have been at CB this season when it comes to injuries. There's absolutely nothing you can do when you have 5 CBs but all 4 of them get injured at the same time. I'd like you to name 1 squad in world football who could cope with that. Specially considering that neither of Smalling Evans or Vida are injury prone players.

devilish

Injuries have been forcing our hands quite regularly in the past few years hasn't it? And I've got my reserves regarding Smalling as right back to be honest.

In my opinion having just 5 defenders whom you can rely on in terms of injuries/experience is not good enough. Its time to assess all our players and see if its worth keeping all these injury prone players in especially considering that they tend to feck off with injury when we need them most.

Varun_Utd

Rafael is the first choice RB. Jones is very good there and fabio is more than capable of playing there too. No need to play smalling there because he looks a fantastic CB and should partner Vidic long term imo.

Now, 5 CBs of which 1 is injury prone is more than enough for me. Have more than that and you'd struggle to keep everyone happy. There are just 2 spots to fight for, one of which will always be Vida if fit.

devilish

On paper you're right. In practice 2 of the defenders you've mentioned struggle to start and end a game while the other one is needed in midfield, center back and in the future maybe even as forward, keeper and assistant manager.

Varun_Utd

Which 2? I've always thought of both smalling and evans being fit footballers. No injury concerns for either of them imo. Jones has done well at CM when he's played there but that doesnt change the fact that he is available as CB and plays most of his games there. Vida is another supremely fit player.

See, as it is, i dont think we need another CB. A full back, might be. The twins always seem injured and evra needs some competition/respite imo.

Our pressing concern should be CM, not CB for me. Enough strength in quality and numbers there as far as concerned.

devilish

Rafael and Fabio.

Varun_Utd

Our problem this year has been in putting up a fit CB pairing. The twins being injury prone has nothing to with it. Which is why i said signing a CB would be the wrong move.

I wont mind us signing a fullback. as i said, evra needs competition/respite. he aint getting that atm

Sean_RedDevil

Out for eight weeks.

One of my favourite players.........it's a shame with his injuries.

Fishbone

I woulda kept both Brown and O'Shea and seen them both retire playing for United...but I'm kinda sentimental like that.

Plechazunga

The winner is Wes Brown

Ramshock

I liked Wes but out of the both of them I would have kept O'Shea he would have helped us out a lot this year!

devilish

He was injury prone and at his 30s so things were meant to become worse. We've already have 3 injury prone defenders in the team. If we should have kept someone then that someone should have been OShea.

CnutOfAllCnuts

Does anyone know how many injury prone defenders we have?

CnutOfAllCnuts

Rio
Vidic
Evans
Smalling
Jones
Fabio
Rafael
Evra

That's 8 men.

Not 7.

gbgary

i'd take evra out of that list. he been pretty healthy overall...hasn't he?

Sean_RedDevil

I would say only Rio, Evans, Fabio and Rafael.