Pally Backs Tevez For United

Gary Pallister reckons defenders all over the country have nightmares caused by the prospect of playing against a Manchester United team including Carlos Tevez.

As we have reported, one of the most protracted transfer sagas of the summer is edging towards completion - and these developments are not welcomed by Premiership defenders, according to Pally.

'Those sorts of players are a nightmare for defenders,' the Manchester Evening News quotes the man who's been a cornerstone of Sir Alex's first successful sides, until 1998.

'He is a free spirit who will go and find himself any place on a football park. As a centre-half, you want centre-forwards who will play up against you. You hate players like Tevez or Peter Beardsley who play off a front man and are difficult to pick up.

'Tevez is liable to turn up anywhere - left side, right side, through the middle - and make things happen. He is a nightmare to mark, because you are never sure whether it is your job or a midfield player's job.

'He is an extremely talented individual, and obviously has the temperament as well, because last season we saw him produce his very best form despite all the hoo-hah surrounding him with his transfer saga and whether he was playing legally. Somehow, he managed to put all that to one side and produce man-of-the-match performances.

'We also know there is no problem with him adapting to the physical side of the Premier League, which some foreign players have had. If you watch Argentinian football, you know that there is no quarter asked for or given.

'It is a tough place to learn your trade and a player of his ability will have been kicked from pillar to post wherever he has played, because he will always be targeted.'

Well, he's got the toughness to cope with it I think - and though I hadn't been keen on Tevez before the transfer started to materialise, I've now got used to the idea of having him in the team and would hate if we didn't get him.

And anyway, cheers, Pally! Good to hear from you.