DJ_21
Evens winner of 'Odds or Evens 2022/2023'
Why’s he retired from France at age 29? I mean it’s good for us. All his focus will now be on club football. France have decent young players coming through anyway.
Kind of agree with that. Wonder if that is part of some negotiation between the clubs and older players. Zlatan retired at the same time he signed for United (and then made a comeback some years later).A few years ago it would have been seen as a very disrespectful move to retire from international football. It's now completely accepted as a normal thing to do and I I'm not sure I'm on board with that. Especially when Varane still has a clear role to play as a leader for the next generation.
I don't blame players at all, they are forced to make these decisions by greedy organizations stockpiling games at international and club levels to make as much money as they can.
Aged like milkIncredibly knee-jerk. He gave us what we need when he came in, fair play to him.
We are equally crap with him though. He is poor on the ball, over commits a lot of the time. Can see him starting against Liverpool and making silly mistakes again, and get injured.
Some gold hereOne thing I find interesting about Varane is the misconception that he's this rolls royce style defender when he's anything but. He's quick and calm and hence gives that impression. But he's actually really average on the ball by modern CB standards.
He does have a ungainly gait and posture, which probably doesn't help on the naked eye but yes he does seem to be moving a bit more cautiously imo. Not that he was all about high intensity sprints and getting touch tight anyways.Did anyone else notice the way he was running at times today? He looked like he was limping and running half-speed when in fact sprinting. Got me seriously worried, but haven't seen anything about it.
We can easily rest Varane as I would be comfortable with Harry alongside Lisandro.With Casemiro missing now do we dare rest Varane in any of the upcoming games so he's fit for the cup final?
Yes, totally. He’s a wonderful player, such a smart defender. I’m so delighted when watching the partnership between him and Licha. What a transformation from last year!He doesn’t get much respect from the English football watching masses does he? Apart from United fans obviously. Be very interested to see if he makes any team of year lineups at the end, for me he’s easily a top 5 CB in the league and has as good a claim as anyone to be the best.
The best defenders often go unnoticed by the regular fan. Blood an thunder defender always make the highlight reels so get the most coverage. It was the reason you had loads of non-united fans saying Vidic (as good as he was) was better than Rio at the time. It was clear as day to anyone that watched united on the regular that Rio was the superior player. He shepherded attackers down blind alleys and broke down attacks before they even started.He doesn’t get much respect from the English football watching masses does he? Apart from United fans obviously. Be very interested to see if he makes any team of year lineups at the end, for me he’s easily a top 5 CB in the league and has as good a claim as anyone to be the best.
I'd hardly go that far. Maybe Rio after his back injury when he was still very good, but 06/07 and especially 07/08 Rio were a completely different level. That's not being too disparaging on Varane, as 07/08 Rio is probably the best defender in PL history.He has been as solid as Rio ever was.
He is the best in the league for my money, especially when you consider his pedigree.He doesn’t get much respect from the English football watching masses does he? Apart from United fans obviously. Be very interested to see if he makes any team of year lineups at the end, for me he’s easily a top 5 CB in the league and has as good a claim as anyone to be the best.
He's not really played that much.Bad night for Varane. Needs a rest.
Or they're blocking passing lanes to any other rather than Fred. We all saw what happened when Fred received the ball, and in the midst of action this game...Very much felt like Armas had seen something in his time at United with Varane and they set up to target him tonight. Varane look baffled as to where to pass the ball every time he received it. They stood off him, closed off his passing channels, and he looked to have no composure or vision to find a non-immediate pass.
Very much felt like Armas had seen something in his time at United with Varane and they set up to target him tonight. Varane look baffled as to where to pass the ball every time he received it. They stood off him, closed off his passing channels, and he looked to have no composure or vision to find a non-immediate pass.
Agreed. I thought Varane was 'fine' on the ball; he could have been more adventurous but it's understandable as they were pressing almost one on one. It's more of a problem on ETH and the team set up because apart from Fred, Shaw and Dalot, no one else was dropping deep or fast enough for us to progress the ball. That improved in the 2nd half of course when we increased our tempo.Or they're blocking passing lanes to any other rather than Fred. We all saw what happened when Fred received the ball, and in the midst of action this game...