Patrice Evra | 2012/13 Performances

[sincher]

Has been a real leader in many games this season. Having the captaincy for much of the season has pushed him right on.

 

[Dargonk]

Good to hear he played well. Seems to be popping up in the box with headers fairly often this season.

 

[NinjaFletch]

Why the hell not? Evra has been brilliant in the RECENT PAST. This season is actually one of his best ever. His defending has improved dramatically and his offensive contributions have never been better. Don't know what more some of you ask for. He also worked his socks off today getting back into position after Welbeck lost the ball for the nth time!

Has it?

Or are you forgetting his defensive frailties in the midst of his goals and assists?

He was very good tonight though, made a quality sliding tackle from virtually behind somehow hooked it to himself and got back up in one movement at one point, was impressive.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

I know it's nothing new... but christ, Evra's vertical leap is absurd. He consistantly out jumps players who are 6ft+ and wins headers he shouldn't have any right to do so...

Then of course there's his prowess in the opposition box, which is just fantastic. There should be no corner/attacking free-kick that doesn't have Evra as one of the options attacking it now (you'd think that was a given, but there was a corner against Fulham on the weekend where Evra was defending outside the box whilst Nani was an attacking option from the corner... fecking Nani!)

 

[Rossa]

Has it?

Or are you forgetting his defensive frailties in the midst of his goals and assists?

He was very good tonight though, made a quality sliding tackle from virtually behind somehow hooked it to himself and got back up in one movement at one point, was impressive.

It has! His defensive frailities are hyped up by a lot of you. When he intercepts the ball and rushes into attack that is somehow not seen as a defensive duty. There were stats that showed that he was miles above other top LBs in terms of defending - clearances, blocks, interceptions, headers and so on. There is no doubt that he has been made a scapegoat for all that happens down the left. He tucks in and the winger goes for the block - that seems to be the way he is instructed to play as he and Kagawa were equal, but they clearly had the understanding to sort out their defensive duties.

Also, he is accused of not tracking back. I paid extra attention to that today, and he tracked back like a motherf***** today each time Welbeck lost the ball, which tended to be a few times. He has regained much of his pace and fitness that seemed to be lacking last year (explained by injuries by SAF).

Sure he gets skinned from time to time (not as often this year though), but name one modern fullback who doesn't? It would take a rather shit winger to not skin his fullback once or twice during a match. He gets caught out of position, sure, but that is part of his work as he is an attacking fullback. Complaining about those things is complaining about the position itself.

 

[jb8521]

I know it's nothing new... but christ, Evra's vertical leap is absurd. He consistantly out jumps players who are 6ft+ and wins headers he shouldn't have any right to do so...

Then of course there's his prowess in the opposition box, which is just fantastic. There should be no corner/attacking free-kick that doesn't have Evra as one of the options attacking it now (you'd think that was a given, but there was a corner against Fulham on the weekend where Evra was defending outside the box whilst Nani was an attacking option from the corner... fecking Nani!)

Its great that he's turned what was probably his main weakness in his early time here into one of his biggest strengths and shows what a determined character he is

 

[KingEric7]

I know it's nothing new... but christ, Evra's vertical leap is absurd. He consistantly out jumps players who are 6ft+ and wins headers he shouldn't have any right to do so...

Then of course there's his prowess in the opposition box, which is just fantastic. There should be no corner/attacking free-kick that doesn't have Evra as one of the options attacking it now (you'd think that was a given, but there was a corner against Fulham on the weekend where Evra was defending outside the box whilst Nani was an attacking option from the corner... fecking Nani!)

It really is. Pundits are only noticing it ever since he's started scoring, but it's always been like that. Makes you wonder why we've only decided this season to start coming up properly for set pieces on a consistent basis, but my memory of him in earlier seasons tells me that we just used to leave him back on the half way line because of his pace and his one on one ability. Also for his tendency to win the headers from clearances. Ahh, he's been an amazing all round player for us, we'll lose a lot when his time with us comes to an end.

 

[Amir]

With the quality of dead ball delivery we've had in recent years, there was no point going into the box anyway. Van Persie's made a huge difference there.

 

[LR7]

From @whoscored:

Patrice Evra: No player has scored more goals from set-piece situations (4) in the Premier League this season than Evra bit.ly/TlTWRe

When you also factor in that he nearly had two more with the Vidic goal against Liverpool almost being his, and Rooney's second against Southampton almost being his too its clear that he really has become a major set piece threat this season.

 

[LR7]

It has! His defensive frailities are hyped up by a lot of you. When he intercepts the ball and rushes into attack that is somehow not seen as a defensive duty. There were stats that showed that he was miles above other top LBs in terms of defending - clearances, blocks, interceptions, headers and so on. There is no doubt that he has been made a scapegoat for all that happens down the left. He tucks in and the winger goes for the block - that seems to be the way he is instructed to play as he and Kagawa were equal, but they clearly had the understanding to sort out their defensive duties.

Also, he is accused of not tracking back. I paid extra attention to that today, and he tracked back like a motherf***** today each time Welbeck lost the ball, which tended to be a few times. He has regained much of his pace and fitness that seemed to be lacking last year (explained by injuries by SAF).

Sure he gets skinned from time to time (not as often this year though), but name one modern fullback who doesn't? It would take a rather shit winger to not skin his fullback once or twice during a match. He gets caught out of position, sure, but that is part of his work as he is an attacking fullback. Complaining about those things is complaining about the position itself.

Good post.

I was at OT for the Southampton game and the second half was poor from most players but Evra was busting a gut to tackle and intercept at times. I remember saying to my Dad that Evra was the only one putting his body on the line. He doesn't get the credit he deserves at times.

 

[RedDevilCanuck]

Far post poacher. Incredible considering his height. But he can jump like an NBA player and he is fearless.

Good turnaround after 2 poor seasons.

 

[LR7]

Do we think the presence of Büttner (who had a very good start to his United career in that Wigan game) has kept Evra on his toes a bit this season? Not just goal-wise but his all round game seems to have improved. Sometimes competition does that.

 

[Platato]

It certainly played a part. We know SAF welcomes competition for places for that very reason.

 

[Shark]

Do we think the presence of Büttner (who had a very good start to his United career in that Wigan game) has kept Evra on his toes a bit this season? Not just goal-wise but his all round game seems to have improved. Sometimes competition does that.

I think that it's just a coincidence. He looked pretty good on the last game of last season vs Sunderland and might have just carried that into the new season. It probably played some part though.

Besides, I don't think that he was nearly as bad as people were saying last season.

 

[Summit]

From @whoscored:

Patrice Evra: No player has scored more goals from set-piece situations (4) in the Premier League this season than Evra bit.ly/TlTWRe

When you also factor in that he nearly had two more with the Vidic goal against Liverpool almost being his, and Rooney's second against Southampton almost being his too its clear that he really has become a major set piece threat this season.

I agree that he has really become a threat on set pieces. But Rooney’s goal the other day wasn’t taken from Evra. From what I remember, the ball Evra headed was across the goal, and was not going in.

 

[Rossa]

Good post.

I was at OT for the Southampton game and the second half was poor from most players but Evra was busting a gut to tackle and intercept at times. I remember saying to my Dad that Evra was the only one putting his body on the line. He doesn't get the credit he deserves at times.

No he doesn't! To me, he stands out as a leader by example. He busts his guts and gives everything he has in tackles, sprints and headers against players twice his size.

The arrival of Büttner may have had some effect, but Ferguson stated that last year Evra played with several minor injuries, which certainly hampered his fitness and made him considerably slower. He wasn't as shit as some would have it, but his lack of pace became apparant and players kept running at him - this season only Lennon (as usual) seems to get the better of him in the department. His leap is just majestic!

I think he has been one of our best players this season, and certainly one of the best fullbacks in the league!

 

[Rossa]

It seems that Evra agrees that the added competition of Büttner has improved his game.

 

[I'm always right]

Was Fabio not here last year?

It also begs the question, is Buttner better than Fabio?

 

[Rossa]

Was Fabio not here last year?

It also begs the question, is Buttner better than Fabio?

Fabio was certainly here, but he was out injured most of the time; therefore, he wasn't proper competition for Evra. From what I have seen, I think Fabio is a level or two above Büttner. More technical and reads the game better. Probably a bit quicker too.

 

[kouroux]

The offensive aspect of his game has improved a lot, better linking up, better crossing, assisting goals and of course scoring them

 

[Ruud10]

I'm not so sure Evra was so horrifying the previous two seasons as he's been made out to be by some. Yet there's no question he's worked himself into fantastic scoring opportunities and made the most of the chance's he created. Defensively, he looks about the same to me.

Recall that he played virtually every match the prior two seasons and that has take a toll on the legs when April arrives. I hope Fergie can squeeze in a few matches for Buttner over the next two months so Evra can be fresh and springy for our match with City on April 6 and any heavy lifting that may be required thereafter.

 

[blitz133w]

Evra may be having a good season. Great compared to the last two seasons. But that doesn't mean his criticism isn't justified. I've nothing to say about him but good things this season. But during the last year he was actually really bad. He may not have deserved to take the blame solely for some of the horrible performances of the whole team, but he was playing badly. Am usually the first one to take the side of any player when he's in a bad patch but Evra was having his worst time here. He was getting skinned by low level wingers and I remember he couldn't block any crosses at all. Apart from that his casual walk back to the defence. It's so good to see get his form back and play to his strengths. Credit to him for overcoming his bad patch

 

[Sandikan]

Whole hearted performance today, and pretty unlucky not to score.

Having a pretty good spell, and long may it continue

 

[NotoriousISSY]

I'm still unconvinced at his defensive positioning. You see Carrick back there, or the winger far too much. He can sniff out an attack and win his aerial duels, but in a 1v1 vs a half decent winger, I do fear the worst.

His attacking though, consistently brilliant this season. His leap is ridiculous, he hangs in the air so well for a small fella. It doesn't surprise me that his coaches as a younger player saw him as an attacking player, one of those who found his position as his career went on.

 

[kouroux]

He made two or three great interventions, specially the kung fu style one.Defensively he was really good yesterday

 

[Bebe]

I think he's been very good this year, especially in an attacking sense, but his positioning still lands us in trouble from time to time. Much better than the last two years, but not as good as his 2008-2010 form. Given his age, expecting him to return to that level is probably unreasonable.

Still one of my favorite united players, you can tell he truly cares about the club.

 

[Cantona07]

Fantastic going forward but positional play in defending is a big problem

 

[sdb4884]

Thought he was really good yesterday

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

he has been on fire

 

[gamma1]

Whole hearted performance today, and pretty unlucky not to score.

Having a pretty good spell, and long may it continue

I agree. Evra's had a great season so far and the dangerous attacking threat he provides in set piece situations has been strikingly apparent in several recent matches. I hope he maintains his current strong form for the remainder of the season. I think if he just works on his positioning during certain periods where there's sustained opposition pressure, then that would immensely contribute to a marked improvement in his overall defensive game which has been deemed to be suspect by most fans for the last 2-3 years.

 

[Forevergiggs]

I'm still unconvinced at his defensive positioning. You see Carrick back there, or the winger far too much. He can sniff out an attack and win his aerial duels, but in a 1v1 vs a half decent winger, I do fear the worst.

His attacking though, consistently brilliant this season. His leap is ridiculous, he hangs in the air so well for a small fella. It doesn't surprise me that his coaches as a younger player saw him as an attacking player, one of those who found his position as his career went on.

I'll have to agree with Issy on this one.

 

[yamo123x]

A real asset going forward although he can't cross the ball.
Great leap and v brave defender but once out of position I cant hack his jogging back into position. He had a few better games of late defensively but remains our weak point.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

I'm still unconvinced at his defensive positioning. You see Carrick back there, or the winger far too much. He can sniff out an attack and win his aerial duels, but in a 1v1 vs a half decent winger, I do fear the worst.

Of course you see a winger back there, we defend as a team, so our wingers always help our defenders when it comes to defending, that's the way it's always been. He's been top drawer defensively in these last couple of games, hasn't put a foot wrong.

A real asset going forward although he can't cross the ball.
Great leap and v brave defender but once out of position I cant hack his jogging back into position. He had a few better games of late defensively but remains our weak point.

I can't speak for yesterdays game, as it's harder to tell on TV, but against Southampton, as has been mentioned, he was legging it back into position...

 

[Adam-Utd]

A real asset going forward although he can't cross the ball.
Great leap and v brave defender but once out of position I cant hack his jogging back into position. He had a few better games of late defensively but remains our weak point.

If he stopped this alot of the fustration with him would go, quite a few times yesterday Evans had to come out of cb to cover for him, leaving our defence exposed.

I suppose though we can't expect him to bomb forward at every opportunity and
Then not run out of steam a few times, but perhaps when feeling tired he should hang back that little bit more.

 

[JakeC]

Stories in the rags that he was having it off with a page three model, in paris, boozed up, the day before he trained, this girl is an upcoming model, such bullshit. She says she didn't know he was married, piss off.

 

[Cevno]

Bloody hell, not a ideal time for this to come up.

 

[prateik]

Dont care

 

[JakeC]

To avoid the Sun getting the views.

Spoiler

Paris match ... Carla Howe joined Patrice Evra in his French hotel

PLAYBOY model Carla Howe has revealed how married Manchester United star Patrice Evra enticed her to Paris — then bedded her in his hotel.
Twin Carla said he pursued her for three months but never let on he had a family.
She said: “I thought we had something special.”

Curvy Carla Howe told how Evra was so desperate to bed her he started groping and talking dirty in a hotel lift.
The married United ace, 31, whisked the Playboy model back to his five-star suite after a boozy night clubbing in Paris.
Carla, 22, said the defender got stuck in as soon as the lift doors closed.
She added: “He grabbed my bottom and we were kissing passionately as the lift went up to the fourth floor.
“He couldn’t wait to get me into the room and was saying filthy things.
“He was obviously very turned on.”
Once in the French star’s room Carla went to the bathroom to freshen up. She emerged to find dad-of-one Evra naked.

She said: “He had stripped completely naked and was just standing there.”
Carla said they had sex for about an hour then fell asleep.
Evra had invited Carla to Paris for “a night out” while he was in the city waiting to play in last Wednesday’s international between France and Germany.
The invite came after he had spent three months wooing her with romantic texts and calls.
But once he had bedded her the romantic mood vanished.
Carla said when they woke in his room on Monday morning he simply handed her some cash — and said he had to go training.
She said: “It was 200 euros, enough for a cab and breakfast.”

The Sun revealed on Wednesday how Evra and United team-mate Anderson had been spotted in Paris partying with Carla and her twin sister Melissa.
Within hours of the pictures appearing, Evra was back in touch with Carla — warning that he was “in trouble”.
But for Carla the biggest shock was the discovery that Evra was a married dad.
Yesterday she told how Evra had pursued her relentlessly after their first meeting in November — phoning, texting and even sending intimate pictures of himself.
But in all that time he never once mentioned his wife Sandra, 30, or their six-year-old son Lenny back in Cheshire.
She said: “He’d ring and text me every day. He acted like a boyfriend and never said he was married. He’d say, ‘You are beautiful’ and ‘I must see you’.
“I loved him and I thought we had something special.
“It was all lies. I feel terrible for his wife because he was talking to me and messaging me dozens of times a day for months.
“He never once mentioned he was married, let alone had a child.

“I realise now he just wanted to sleep with me.”
Evra’s wife Sandra won’t be the only one furious over Carla’s revelations.
Both Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and France manager Didier Deschamps have made it clear they expect their players to behave like role models.
A veteran like Evra, who regularly captains United and has skippered France, is expected to set an example.
Carla yesterday told how Evra paid for her to travel to Paris by Eurostar last Sunday and arranged for a driver to be waiting to take her to the five-star Costes hotel.
There she found a room booked for her and sister Melissa, due to arrive on a later train. Their room was in Evra’s name.
As Carla stood in her room deciding what to wear that evening, Evra walked in.
She said: “He hugged me and sat down and watched as I tried on different outfits.
“He said I had nice legs and was very flirty.”
Carla joined Evra, United’s Brazilian star Anderson and their pals for dinner at the hotel.

Afterwards she went back to her room to change into a clubbing outfit and Evra went along.
She said: “Again, he was very flirty and touching me.”
By now Melissa had arrived and at 1.15am the group headed off to the Crystal Lounge nightclub.
They were ushered to a VIP table and over the next few hours Evra spent £20,000 on champagne.
But he ignored the bubbly and joined Carla drinking tequila, matching her glass for glass.
She said: “I only drink that because it is low in calories so he said he would do the same.
“He joked about it and said he would only have what I did, so we started downing shots.”
Evra became increasingly passionate — and made no effort to hide it.
Carla said: “I couldn’t believe it. He was touching my bottom and legs and we kissed repeatedly.”
Melissa, who once dated England soccer ace Ashley Cole, was equally surprised.
She said: “I couldn’t believe how open Evra was. He was all over my sister and didn’t care who saw.”

At 6am the group returned to the hotel. Evra and Carla headed off to his suite.
But Anderson’s efforts to woo Melissa had failed and she went back to her own room alone.
She said: “Anderson made it pretty obvious what he wanted from me from the word go but I wasn’t interested.”
Carla told how she first met Evra when she and twin Melissa were in a Mayfair nightclub in November.
She said: “I saw this man staring at me but I didn’t know who he was.
“One of his party came over and told me, ‘That guy there wants to talk to you. He is Patrice Evra, a footballer with Manchester United’.
“I honestly had never heard of him but he was at a VIP table and we were up for a laugh so me and my sister went over.”
Carla and Evra exchanged numbers — and he got in touch after checking out internet pictures of her modelling.
Soon he was ringing or texting daily.

She said: “I started to like him because he would send me lovely voice messages and write lovely things.
“Sometimes the messages would be saucy but most of the time he would just ring to chat. He was sweet.”
Evra, who earns £110,000 a week at Old Trafford, even called Carla in Los Angeles and grumbled about Britain and its weather.
He said: “I hope you are looking forward to coming back to the shi***** country in the world, cos it is so cold here.”
Evra also sent X-rated photos of himself. And he blew her a kiss in another picture, dressed in a bathrobe and wearing a distinctive necklace.
In photos taken in Paris, Carla can be seen wearing the same necklace.
Carla, a regular at the Playboy mansion in Los Angeles, said she now realises Evra’s behaviour should have rung alarm bells.
She said: “He was very nervous about being pictured with me. I just assumed it was because he was a footballer and wanted to keep his head down.
“That wasn’t the case — he just didn’t want to get caught.”

She told how Evra also invited her to the United Christmas party, then changed his mind without explanation.
Carla said: “As the date neared he got nervous and pulled out. I ignored him for a while after that.”
But Evra had not given up — and invited Carla to Paris.
She added: “At first I said no, because of what happened in Manchester. But his sweet messages continued and I gave in.”
Carla, previously linked with comic Russell Brand and rapper Snoop Dogg, is now distraught at falling for Evra’s charm.
She said: “I feel so bad about his family. I just don’t know how their marriage can work.
“But it is nothing to do with me. I don’t want to give advice.”
Fling will damage his image

EVRA’S romp could have severe repercussions — and wreck his chance of captaining France again.
John Terry lost the England captaincy following allegations of an affair with team-mate Wayne Bridge’s ex.
And French boss Didier Deschamps has warned he expects role models, saying: “I want players to have ideal behaviour.”
It could also damage Evra’s positive image as a man who has fronted UNICEF campaigns promoting safe sex.

 

[kps88]

Dont care

Same. Just hope it doesn't effect his performances on the pitch.

 

[SteveJ]

Aspiring model Trixy Silicone, 18, said: "I really loved...what's his name again? Patricia? That's a girl's name, innit? Anyway, I really loved him, for the whole of Tuesday, and thought he wasn't like those other blokes I've slept with...y'know...the army, navy etc. Now I'm on suicide watch and me mam's got a shitload of Nurofen for me headaches. I feel dead sorry for his wife, like; now, where's me cheque?"

Trixy received no payment for her tragic story. However, she is available for weddings, stag nights, children's parties, Bar Mitzvahs etc etc.

Yawn...