BLANC IS A LIABILITY

Last updated : 30 December 2002 By editor

‘Alex Ferguson, the best manager of all time, has stuck with Laurent Blanc at the heart of his Manchester United defence and it may cost United the title.

Blanc was axed for yesterday's victory over Birmingham, but he should have been ruthlessly ditched earlier.

His return to the first team on Boxing Day coincided with a 3-1 defeat at Middlesbrough.

The Frenchman missed seven games with a calf injury and while he was out the pace at the heart of United's defence was so much better. Take your pick from Rio Ferdinand, Mikael Silvestre, Wes Brown or John O'Shea. They all have speed off the mark to compensate for the way United play.

How many times have you seen United caught two-on-two at the back? Those younger players are better equipped than Blanc to deal with it. By playing with pace and holding a higher line at the back, you can pressure more. And if United do get caught, then pace can bail them out. To be fair, Blanc at his peak was one of the best footballing centre-halves the world has seen and United's youngsters have benefited from his experience.’