Jonny Evans | 2011/12 Performances

[Sir Matt]

So, is he still alive? I haven't seen or heard anything about him all summer.

 

[FlawlessThaw]

Returned to training, but not soon enough for Monday

 

[Nate Dogg]

Is there a possibility he could be available this Saturday?

Can't bare to watch another game with Carrick as a CB!

 

[londonredmaniac]

Then use Wooton or Keane.

 

[Sarni]

Then use Wooton or Keane.

I don't think he can, he's just a caf member.

 

[Donut]

He started training not so long ago, so he's not totally fit. I'd still rather he plays than Carrick.

 

[BAMSOLA]

Love to see Wooton or Keane given a chance if not. Carrick needs to be given his place in CM to protect that back 4 correctly.

 

[Adam-Utd]

Im less worried about carrick in this game, the forwards are nowhere near as physical as evertons.

Petric and ruiz are more about pass / movement than brute force, that is something carrick is good at picking up.

Corners could still be an issue with hangeland around, but vidic should have him in the bag.

 

[thegregster]

Is there a possibility he could be available this Saturday?

Can't bare to watch another game with Carrick as a CB!

Jonny Evans could ease Manchester United's defensive crisis by returning to contention for Saturday's clash with Fulham at Old Trafford.

United manager Alex Ferguson will continue to be without Rio Ferdinand (groin), Phil Jones (back) and Chris Smalling (foot) for the visit of Martin Jol's team, but Northern Ireland centre-half Evans is understood to have an outside chance of partnering Nemanja Vidic at the heart of the defence.

Having undergone surgery to repair an ankle injury at the end of last season, Evans was unable to start pre-season training until early August, but the 24-year-old has since stepped up from light training and has been working with the first team for the past 10 days.

Monday's Premier League opener at Everton, which United lost 1-0, was judged to have been too early for Evans to make his comeback, forcing Ferguson to deploy midfielder Michael Carrick at centre-half alongside Vidic.

Evans is due to be named in Michael O'Neill's Northern Ireland squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Russia and Luxembourg, however, because of the expectation that he will return to action for United this weekend or next.

But while Ferguson is determined to inject stability to his back four as quickly as possible, Evans will not be risked if he displays any signs of being short of the necessary fitness in training over the next two days.

" (© Daily Telegraph, London)

- Mark Ogden

 

[Ramshock]

I hope he plays, that midfield without Carrick is brutal.

 

[prateik]

The backline with Carrick is brutal too..
Not his fault.. but Vidic kept getting dragged everywhere to challenge for the aerial ball because he was the only one who could.. It was a fecking mess.

 

[Nate Dogg]

It's time we started playing players in their rightful positions.

Rafael back at RB, Valencia at RM and Carrick back in a CM role!

 

[Carl]

I hope he plays, that midfield without Carrick is brutal.

At home it's fine. No need rushing Evans back for this IMO. I'm sure 2 of Scholes, Anderson, Cleverley, Kagawa or Giggs will be sufficient.

 

[Comsmit]

At home it's fine. No need rushing Evans back for this IMO. I'm sure 2 of Scholes, Anderson, Cleverley, Kagawa or Giggs will be sufficient.

A tad complacent I feel. Without Carrick's positional nous it could be an uncomfortable experience for United. Fulham's work in the centre against Norwich was impressive and in Dembele and Ruiz they have two players who can pick holes in a defensively suspect midfield.

A 2 from any of those players mentioned is just not balanced enough defensively......and I'm not sure it will just be a walk in the park either.

 

[Varun]

At home it's fine. No need rushing Evans back for this IMO. I'm sure 2 of Scholes, Anderson, Cleverley, Kagawa or Giggs will be sufficient.

I'd rather he played. Need Carrick back at CM.

 

[Carl]

A tad complacent I feel. Without Carrick's positional nous it could be an uncomfortable experience for United. Fulham's work in the centre against Norwich was impressive and in Dembele and Ruiz they have two players who can pick holes in a defensively suspect midfield.

A 2 from any of those players mentioned is just not balanced enough defensively......and I'm not sure it will just be a walk in the park either.

Of course it won't be easy but Fulham won't say the same way at OT as they did at him.

If there's no risk playing Evans then fine. If he's still a "doubt" though then I'd rather he isn't risked.

I'd rather he played. Need Carrick back at CM.

Of course I'd rather he played. But I'd also rather not risk Evans aggravating his injury. Jones, Smalling and Rio are all still weeks away.

 

[kouroux]

Carrick in midfield.United needs to beat teams with style at OT to send a psychological message to all the other teams.
Many disappointing results at OT last season

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I'm not worried about our midfield. Not at home.

We badly need a specialist CB alongside the understandably rusty Vidic though. If I had a choice between Evans or Carrick being fit for this game I'd choose Evans.

 

[paceme]

It's never OK to play a midfielder at centre back if you have one fit (unless you are Barca) it is, other than goalkeeper, the most specialized position on the pitch. Any half decent striker will give Carrick hell, I reckon having only having one centre back against Everton was the source of alot of our problems on Monday.

Start Evans if there is any chance he can start IMO

 

[Still ill]

So we're agreed then? Jonny in.

 

[Vibhas]

What about that Buttner lad? Chuck Paddy central, Buttner left and Carrick in CM?

At least we'd have a LB if Paddy got injured. But if Vidic got injured we'd be seriously damaged. No Specialist CB.

It's the position where we've got the most cover too, pretty much.

 

[Decotron]

Then use Wooton or Keane.

Id play Thorpe ahead of either...

 

[Dargonk]

What about that Buttner lad? Chuck Paddy central, Buttner left and Carrick in CM?

At least we'd have a LB if Paddy got injured. But if Vidic got injured we'd be seriously damaged. No Specialist CB.

It's the position where we've got the most cover too, pretty much.

Is buttner registered and available to play for this game? or will he only be available for the game after?

If Evans is back in training and just not match fit then I would still start him. He knows how to play the position unlike Carrick (or evra). If he can't last the full 90 minutes so be it and we take him off and either chuck Carrick back then or hopefully the game has already been won and we can bring on one of the youngsters for their debut

 

[LLMU]

Jonny should be alright tomorrow. We need to get a win at home.

 

[charleysurf]

Id play Thorpe ahead of either...

Damn right! Thorpe is young but obviously the pick of the bunch.

 

[Decotron]

Its no disrespect to them but Wotton isnt going to make it with us and Keane isnt a natural centre half imo.

 

[CassiusClaymore]

And to think this time last year for a lot of fans it was ABE (Anyone But Evans).

Now we're desperate to get him back.

 

[Jonno]

I think at OT if Evans is at risk of further injuring himself I would be content with Vidic/Carrick, we have to remember that we went to a bit of a fortress in Goodison Park. There aren't many tougher venues than Everton.

 

[apotheosis]

I think at OT if Evans is at risk of further injuring himself I would be content with Vidic/Carrick, we have to remember that we went to a bit of a fortress in Goodison Park. There aren't many tougher venues than Everton.

I wouldn't. Carrick simply has to be in midfield. I would rather a young inexperienced CB come in next to Vidic, with Carrick in front offering some protection, than Carrick at CB with no protection at all.

Why have 2 badly weakened areas when we can have a full strength midfield in front of a weakened defence?

 

[Wumminator]

Our midfield wouldn't be weakened that much with scholes/Anderson/cleverly/Kagawa playing in a three. Three of those players would be good enough easily.

 

[Maciej]

Did Ferguson say anything on him? That he's out?

If not, I expect him to start tomorrow - after that "I might try Evra at centre-back".

 

[Carl]

Did Ferguson say anything on him? That he's out?

If not, I expect him to start tomorrow - after that "I might try Evra at centre-back".

Haven't seen anything specifically about Evans. He did say it's the same injuries as Everton though.

He'll miss out I suspect. It's not like it was a minor injury. It was surgery. They won't risk it.

Carrick at CB.

 

[apotheosis]

Our midfield wouldn't be weakened that much with scholes/Anderson/cleverly/Kagawa playing in a three. Three of those players would be good enough easily.

It wouldn't be as defensively sure though Twig, as it would with Carrick in it. Let's not forget in your suggestion Kagawa would be the most advanced, and TC and Ando last year were unable to prevent on average, 19 shots per game upon our goal.

So i see your point, but i still think that defensively, considering our defence would already be weakened, we would be far too suspect through the middle against the powerful running of Dembele, and the elusive Ruiz.

At least with Carrick in midfield he offers some security for the back 4. A young specialist CB with a full strength midfield protecting him, must be preferable to having 2 defensively dubious areas.

 

[apotheosis]

Haven't seen anything specifically about Evans. He did say it's the same injuries as Everton though.

He'll miss out I suspect. It's not like it was a minor injury. It was surgery. They won't risk it.

Carrick at CB.

Why can't we just promote a youngster? Carrick at CB hardly ever works, and it affects our midfield as well as a result. It's not Carrick's fault, but it's just asking for trouble imo. He can hardly be brimming with confidence playing there after the Everton game.

I hope these stints at CB do not damage his confidence overall, when he moves back into midfield. He looked in such great form for England.

 

[Irwinwastheking]

If a player isn't ready then don't play him IMO, especially one who counts on confidence so much like Evans. If some of the kids are good enough then bring them up for a game.

 

[Carl]

Why can't we just promote a youngster? Carrick at CB hardly ever works, and it affects our midfield as well as a result. It's not Carrick's fault, but it's just asking for trouble imo. He can hardly be brimming with confidence playing there after the Everton game.

I hope these stints at CB do not damage his confidence overall, when he moves back into midfield. He looked in such great form for England.

Fergie obviously doesn't think Wooton is up to it.

 

[Wumminator]

I hope Evans is fit enough to start tomorrow.

 

[Nathan]

It doesnt look like Evans will be available, we need to ensure that the midfield do there jobs well and dont allow the defenders to be pressed into making mistakes. I know easier said than done.

All we need is for the entire team to maintain there defensive shape.

 

[Comsmit]

It wouldn't be as defensively sure though Twig, as it would with Carrick in it. Let's not forget in your suggestion Kagawa would be the most advanced, and TC and Ando last year were unable to prevent on average, 19 shots per game upon our goal.

So i see your point, but i still think that defensively, considering our defence would already be weakened, we would be far too suspect through the middle against the powerful running of Dembele, and the elusive Ruiz.

At least with Carrick in midfield he offers some security for the back 4. A young specialist CB with a full strength midfield protecting him, must be preferable to having 2 defensively dubious areas.

Agreed. No-one should underestimate Fulham...even at Old Trafford. Dembele and Ruiz are clever players who can cause discomfort to the opposition with time on the ball. If Carrick is to be a central defender then I would go with Scholes and Cleverley again simply to retain possession more effectively.

 

[Irwinwastheking]

Fulham are always game-raisers against us too.