Manchester United fans reacted with joy when the news that Everton were set to submit a bid for the player filtered through, but only a couple of days later, Toffees boss Roberto Martinez denied all links with the player, presumably because he had actually remembered how Evans ‘defends’.
Evans might not be on his way to Everton, but he should certainly be shipped out of Old Trafford, with his performances being so far from acceptable they actually make Chris Smalling look decent at times. With Louis van Gaal bringing in players left, right and centre, and axing the deadwood from the squad, this summer seems like the ideal chance to get rid of Evans.
Everton are not the only club who have been linked with the centre back, even Arsenal were thought to be sniffing round at one point, so it’s not like there are a shortage of takers for the player, who might be deemed not good enough by United standards (of teams gone by, not the last couple of years), but he could do a very good job for a mid-table Premier League side. Reunion with Wes Brown and John O’Shea at Sunderland anyone?
Evans has to be shown the door by United this summer, and here are three reasons why.
He just isn’t good enough
State the obvious much. Evans is not and never will be a top defender. In fact, at times he will probably fall short if wearing an Everton shirt. The expectation when you wear a Manchester United shirt is so much higher, and there is no room for error. Sadly for the defender, he, along with a couple of others in the squad make mistakes week in, week out.
Now with a manager like Louis van Gaal, that will not be tolerated, and not only did Evans disgrace himself with the spitting scandal last term, he also made too many errors, cost the side too many goals and did nothing to justify his place in the squad. When you have the likes of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling as your other options, Evans doesn’t seem too bad, but compare that to the players United and Van Gaal want to be bringing in.
Evans isn’t fit to shine the boots of a player like Sergio Ramos or Diego Godin.
United have revamped their midfield, the defence has to be next
If they want to be champions again that is.
Take a look at Chelsea’s side. They are rock solid at the back, and their success has been built on a foundation that at times, is nigh on impenetrable. Yes, they might be accused of being boring, and United fans will want to be far more expansive going forward, but at the end of the day, there is no use scoring two if you’re going to concede three.
During the Fergie era, United may have scored goals for fun at times, but they also had world class central defenders, and need to get back to the days of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic terrorising forwards and making sure that their goalkeeper was protected. Not left wide open.
The glory days might be a thing of the past at the minute, but they will return to Old Trafford – once they sort their starting line up out. Consider the struggles Evans has against Premier League opponents. Now imagine that in the Champions League against some of the elite players in Europe. Not something any United fan or manager Louis van Gaal would want to see – and for good reason.
United need to bring in one experienced defender and have youth
Tyler Blackett is one hell of a prospect, and needs game time if he is going to improve. Add to that the fact United already have a host of squad players in terms of their defence, and you really begin to see Evans is surplus to requirements. If Van Gaal does bring in a top defender, you can’t keep the likes of Jones, Smalling, Blackett and Evans all on the bench or in a squad.
Evans has been handed chance after chance at United and has never really taken a game by the scruff of the neck or shown that he can lead a defence. Even playing Michael Carrick at the back would give fans less of a heart attack at times.
Van Gaal seems to enjoy chopping and changing his formation as well, and while someone like Sergio Ramos would have no problem with this, Evans struggles. Not to mention it is clear to see the defensive recruitments Van Gaal is bringing into the club are all firstly good defenders and secondly adaptable players depending on what system the side needs at the time.
Even someone like Smalling is more versatile and better placed to keep in the side as a squad player than Evans.
