Manchester United News 24/7Writer: Red Boy 
Date:Tuesday July 17 2012
Time: 4:40PM
UK time is: 09:35:48
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Centre Back Concerns
Circumstances have contrived whereby, with regards to the centre of our defence, we`re down to the bare-bones on our pre-season tour of South Africa.
Three of our four normal centre backs have remained in England to recuperate from injury. Nemanja Vidic is in the final stages of recovery after his bad knee injury, Jonny Evans continues to recover after a foot operation whilst Chris Smalling nurses his groin back to full health.
Throw into the mix the fact that another option, for centre back, Phil Jones, is on extended leave after the Euro 2012 tournament and it`s quite easy to see why Sir Alex Ferguson has taken a few youngsters along to partner the experienced Rio Ferdinand.
Joining the party are Frederic Veseli, Marnicj Vermijl, Scott Wootton and, off course, Tyler Blackett who we covered yesterday.
The tour remains a great opportunity for these lads to showcase their skills in a competitive environment, even though the fixtures carry that friendly tag, something Rio has latched onto with the following quote in the red-top press this morning,
"The games in pre-season are where you find your match sharpness."
"It`s important we don`t lose a game in pre-season, because we`re playing for Manchester United."
"You can`t pretend it doesn`t mean anything."
Indeed you can`t, there`s a reputation to uphold!
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Your Comments
Bollox they're just friendlies to raise the profile of the club and ensure players get match fit, can't a imagined too many people getting on a high horse if you lose during pre-season and if they do, more the fool them. What's concerning is the lack of fit defenders, something that has been a recurring issue every season we wouldn't be down to be bare bones if we invested in a couple of fullbacks, then our CB's wouldn't have to cover the fullback position when it inevitably goes tits up there and then get injured because they're too young and playing too many games without rest. Let's put it this way, Rafael gets injured then Smalling has to cover at RB, Evra gets injured then Evans has to cover at LB leaving us with two injury prone CB's in Vidic and Ferdinand with Jones as the only back up for all of the CB/RB/LB/CDM positions. You buy back-up fullbacks and then the less concern when the injury prone players, Rafael, Vidic and Ferdinand, get injured and less pressure on the other players to cover for them and play too many games.
TheFamousNo7
Really could do with buying a LB at least bring in Baines might give Evra the kick up the backside he needs. Don't think he's been the player he was since the farce that was France in 2010. Still a good player but a shadow of his former self.
MotorMad
Can't say I disagree regarding Evra. He wasn't the best for getting back ASAP after an attack anyway but lately it seems to have gotten even worse with Young sometimes playing as the fullback whilst Evra strolls back or the flank left exposed completely. Even when his positioning is correct he can be quite lethargic and get walked past Either that or he fouls them with a poor mistimed tackle. The poor position I maintain is due to not having that commanding influence Vidic next to him telling him where his place is and what his priority his, he poor defending skills though is just down to him and his poor form.
TheFamousNo7
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