Experience premiere league proven knows the club short term. If we play as many games as we did last year he will get a few games. Probably fitted right in with the lads and telling a few what it means to play for us. Don’t see anything wrong with that.
Jonny Evans set to sign a one year contract
- Thread starter Tom Van Persie
- Start date
Well we at least still have a prem winning player in our squad now that David's gone.
Don't see what's controversial about this. It's not like he's going to be the first name on the team sheet. He's experienced and a good pro who has impressed ETH enough to give him a one year deal as cover. It's a completely logical deal for both parties.
Imagine, first game of the season and he's on the bench with Maguire left out.
The way some people are talking is as if we signed him as our main CB 
Evidently fancies having him as a back up option more than Maguire then. Tbh even given his age I'd be more comfortable with Evans
I'd wager he won't get a single PL minute, he's probably on like 20k a week max
This would be my thinking too. Gives ETH a chance to invest somewhere else that's of more importance this time around and move the defensive decision back to next summer.
at this point im pretty sure evans would be 5th choice cb and maguire is now 6th choice. Writing is definitely on the wall now for all parties involved.
He'll get more minutes than Maguire.
Solid move by club management.
Fair enough. It seems like we can’t get anything through from the youth team at centre back for now, so it makes sense to get further cover in case we get a good bid for Maguire.
I honestly can’t see him playing that much if everyone’s fit. There’s probably some coaching or off-field opportunity with the club after the one year attached to it too.
If he has to play at any point, 
I don't think he's looked good in pre-season.
I don't think he's looked good in pre-season.
To be fair Evans is probably better on the ball, better at bringing the ball out and quicker than Maguire even at 34 years old so I’m more than happy with him signing a year long contract.
With Evans he’d be happy being 4th/5th choice, loves the club, is a leader, will be on low wages, fills a homegrown spot and won’t complain or think he’s too good to be a back up option.
With Evans he’d be happy being 4th/5th choice, loves the club, is a leader, will be on low wages, fills a homegrown spot and won’t complain or think he’s too good to be a back up option.
Spot on. If we had a promising CB on the cusp of breaking through who was 19-21 ish then I'd understand the criticism but we don't have any young CBs on the verge of the first team. And a promising young CB would cost anywhere in the region of 10 to 50 million plus wages, whereas the total expense for signing Jonny is I would guess more like 1, maybe 2 million for the season accounting for wages, bonuses, sign on fee, agent fee etc. Which is loose change for a club of United's size, but frees up funds for other additions. He'll be happy filling the bench, getting a few cup games or in the event of an injury crisis, whilst passing on his experience and being a good character around the team (which all ex-pros say is an invaluable asset to a successful team).
Knows the club, been in some big dressing rooms.
One of those decisions, alongside Chicherito who should have never been sold when they did
One of those decisions, alongside Chicherito who should have never been sold when they did
I don't mind the move but not as a replacement for Maguire. If an injury crisis hits, the idea of Evans being our 4th choice CB would be a bit concerning, given his injury record.
Maguire might not be great but him being available more often than not is valuable.
Get rid of Maguire and bring in a younger CB with potential to replace Varane would be ideal. Ultimately having Evans would also put us in a better negotiating position for buying said CB as we won't be as desperate.
Maguire might not be great but him being available more often than not is valuable.
Get rid of Maguire and bring in a younger CB with potential to replace Varane would be ideal. Ultimately having Evans would also put us in a better negotiating position for buying said CB as we won't be as desperate.
EtHs Blanc
Decent cheap option for one season. Will do a job until we can go out next season and pick up a hot prospect CB.
Sounds like a good idea as deep cover at the back there. Seems a good character and shouldn't be needed to play many minutes really. I imagine he'll be cheap too, which helps.
Sensible business.
Sensible business.
Sensible move.
Deadly.
Maguire is our 5th choice CB though. If we were playing Citeh at the weekend & Martinez were injured Shaw would start there.
It will be a great story when we win the PL
Stoked to (hopefully) have Jonny back! Certain he can contribute, off the pitch, but on it as well.
Everyone has taken this as done deal so i guess Belfast Telegraph are super reliable?
If this facilitates Maguire’s departure then I’m all for it.
I think he'll play more than people think. Not much, but he won't be insignificant. injuries for CBs seem to be quite common.
Are we absolutely sure that Lindelof and Bailly would be placed in front of him in the pecking order?
it may very well be Martinez--->Varane---> Shaw as CB---> Evans--->Lindelof--->Maguire--->Bailly*
how the hell is Bailly still here?
Are we absolutely sure that Lindelof and Bailly would be placed in front of him in the pecking order?
it may very well be Martinez--->Varane---> Shaw as CB---> Evans--->Lindelof--->Maguire--->Bailly*
how the hell is Bailly still here?
I am certain Victor is in front of Jonny.
I'd be pleased with Jonny back for a season. Hope it is true.
If he has to play at any point,
I don't think he's looked good in pre-season.
He hasn’t at all and anyone that thinks this is good deal obviously didn’t watch preseason games, he was caught out quite a lot. He looked slow and a yard behind everything. At most I can see him getting games in the early rounds of the cup but if it comes to point where we need him in the prem then we’re screwed.
it was obvious he was getting a contract though as soon as they announced he was training with us.
I was never his biggest fan when he played for us. Typically lacking in physical attributes even at the time he left, so I doubt that has improved much, and he was always prone to a proper brainfart. That being said, he was always a decent overall defender, and as a squad option, he was more solid than most. I was, however, never confident about him as a starter for the first XI. He's confident playing out from the back, and would probably be a decent fourth-fifth choice if he accepts that role.
Maybe we have not enough money to attract another potential starter (the fee maybe similar to Fofana or Gvardiol) for this position..
This is some emergency plan for 4 or 5th CB choice..
Since our starting left-back is our backup left-sided centre-back, you'd think Ten Hag would be more interested in Daley Blind, who's left-footed and two years younger than Evans. Maybe he passed on Blind because of his heart condition.
I'm not sure if it's a popular opinion but I think at his best he was bordering on world class. Looks quite past it now.
If the deal is with a view to him doing his coaching badges, being an experienced player around the reserves and a 5th or 6th choice backup then I'm all for it.
If the deal is with a view to him doing his coaching badges, being an experienced player around the reserves and a 5th or 6th choice backup then I'm all for it.
I have no problem with this - a good, honest pro
I hope so too as I think he's better than the current version of Evans.
but managers sometimes make choices that to the average Joe seem strange... who knows.
ETH clearly doesn't suffer fools gladly. If he thinks Evans will be useful around the squad I trust his judgement.