QUOTE(SGSuser @ Oct 30 2013, 05:13 PM)
really hope fabio doesnt leave...personally dont see how he is behind buttner in the pecking order
Options for LB
Evra
Buttner
Fabio
Options for LM
Young
Giggs
Nani
Janu
Zaha
Buttner
I'm guessing it is a wait-and-see game for Young as he is under pressure to perform due to the rise of Janu, with Zaha hot on his heels.
With Nani and Valencia the two favorites for the right side, its all the more reason Young should step up because other than Giggs and himself on the left, Moyes doesn't have confirm starters with experience there. Let's say Young leaves in January/August and Giggs finally retires in August -- that would mean a huge gaping hole on the left if Janu and Zaha don't step-up -- which is why in my mind Moyes is playing it safe and keep everyone together first and sprinkle their starts here and there so everyone gets ball time but probably with the caveat of them proving themselves on the training ground or previous match.
I don't ever see Buttner transforming into a LM/LW ala Bale, an option and of course for overlapping ala Evra but never a true midfielder. Thus, looking at Buttners style of play he has the raw materials to be groomed to a player similar in style to Evra/Cafu (attacking LB) from what I see he is fine going forward but he doesn't spring back half as fast as Evra and his defending and ball holding should improve -- we have conceded goals before due to Evra getting caught in possession too high up the pitch.
Thus I foresee this is the future if we don't buy anyone and everyone continues to grow at their current pace:
LB
Buttner (starter)
Fabio
LM
Janu (starter)
Zaha
Nani
Buttner
Really depends on the development of Buttner, if he doesn't make the cut then he has to be happy with a backup role or leave. With heavy suggestions we're going after an establish LB as Evra wants to retire at Monaco that could be the case as I don't see Buttner having enough time to close the gap to Evra's level of performance within this season from the current form I'm witnessing. However, the ball is round and like circumstances where Rafael had to mature quickly to cement his position on the right, who knows what circumstances might play out that forces Fabio to start 10 games in a row and suddenly bloom.