Ok Smalling lovers: if he hadn’t played for us these last few years, would you be clamouring for us to sign him (based on how he’s done)?
I wouldn't tbh. We currently need Smalling more than Ozil, with Bailly out injured and Lindelof playing much better in the league in a back 3. In the summer, Ozil will/should be free, so if we want him then, we won't need to trade Smalling for him.
What kind of logic is this? We have signed him for 10 Million and he is already part of the squad, so why would anyone even bother to answer or think in that way? We paid 10 Million 8 years ago and he is worth the fee already.
So many ManUtd fans wanted to pay 25 Million for Keane, so if Smalling was playing for some other team and was linked with us, many wouldn't have said no as squad player.
IIRC some here wanted to sign fecking Lovren too.
That is surely looking at the thing arseways. It's the nature of the modern football fan, at least a fan of the top clubs to be constantly looking to their neighbours cow, as the man said. Constantly looking at shiny new players.
You build a team by adding quality to a stable base. Whether you like it or not, our defence has been the one constant over the last few seasons, and Smalling has had a big role to play in that.
I hate change for the sake of change. It's not up to us to tell you why we should keep him, it's up to you to show why we should get rid.
I wouldn't want us to sign him, as he's not very good on the ball. But, also because he'd cost us £40m+ in this current market, as he'd be a vital player in a mid-table team. Leicester are reportedly quoting £50m for Maguire, so there's nothing to suggest clubs wouldn't command at least £40m for Smalling.
Actually it's not up to anyone on this forum.
Smalling is fine defensively but is poor on the ball. Everyoe knows this. Whilst I would love us to sign a world class defender to partner Bailly next season, I don't know who would be available and we have other priorities.
One things for sure, we have too many CBs. Jones, Rojo, Smalling, Lindelof, Bailly, Tuanzebe and the likes of Fosu-Mensah & Blind.
Worth as much as VVD, no problem.
Jones has played 1615 mins this season in all comps compared to Smalling's 1906 according to whoscored. Do you always make up stats to try and win arguments? Far more minutes indeed! Smalling has clocked more game time than any of our CBs this season.
Smalling is not poor on the ball. It's got to be one of the biggest misconception by United fans. He's no Gerard Pique, but I think calling him poor with the ball at his feet is extremely harsh. He does the simple things well, which is all I can ask for from a CB. Anything else is a bonus in my view.
What does that have to do with the price of tea in China?
Jose rates him, he's not going anywhere.
No. But it was only a couple seasons ago he was blossoming into a really top defender. Sure he’s not reclaimed those heights but we don’t have the depth at the midpoint of the season to get rid unless the offer was huge.
If he’s not wanted, replace in the summer.
I'd want us to sign him. He's an excellent defender. Considering how our full backs like to attack I think we need at least one all out beast of a defender at the back. He's fast enough to deal with counter attacks and brilliant in the air. And he's got plenty of experience.
Been our best centre half over a 5 year period. Had a bad 12 / 18 months in during that time, but has been our most consistent CB this year. Must be worth £70m based on other transfers!
People clamoured for Lindelof before we were linked with him. I wouldn't say that fans clamouring for another player is necessary an indication he's better than what we have.
As for Smalling, if he played for another team like he has done for us? Yes most probably. Which of our other defenders would you be clamouring for more, based off of their performances for us?
Out of all the EPL defenders, the only one I really like that doesn't play for us is Harry Maguire.
Smalling is our best defender and has been for a while. I still remember his great performance against Marseille in his first season (10/11) away in France and thinking that Sir Alex found a real bargain there. We have the best defensive record in the league for the past 3 seasons (Chris is a significant reason for that) and there is no need to disrupt it.
If we only had Jones, Rojo, Bailly, Lindelof, and Blind as our CB, and Smalling performed like he's been in the last few years for Arsenal; I'd be all over his signing.
The first 3 probably have a permanent parking spot near our medical center, thus we are left with Lindelof and Blind as the ever present.
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Swap him for Micky. That would be immense.
He and Jones formed a superb partnership for a while until Jones’ injury woes struck. They are both immensely talented. I’d hate to lose either personally as the experience they have in the PL can’t be replaced that easily, and not by simply by buying what we perceive as brilliant foreign imports .
We’ve seen how long it’s taken for Lindelhof to get to grips with the PL.
The likes of Bailly and Tuanzebe will soon become our CB stalwarts but in the meantime let’s not devalue the contribution Smalling and Jones have made to our defensive stability
We’ve seen how long it’s taken for Lindelhof to get to grips with the PL.
The likes of Bailly and Tuanzebe will soon become our CB stalwarts but in the meantime let’s not devalue the contribution Smalling and Jones have made to our defensive stability
he's 3rd choice behind Bailly and Jones I think
I think Lindelof would need to be more established and we'd need to be signing another top CB for this rumour to have legs
I think Lindelof would need to be more established and we'd need to be signing another top CB for this rumour to have legs
If we needed someone who would come in and just be a beast defensively, then likely yes. Especially if we felt that we need someone who could take command of high balls, considering Jones is the only other one who can really be classed as decent in that regard.
Over the last few years Smalling has comfortably outperformed every one of our other defenders both in terms of consistency and in terms of peak level. You can argue that the reasons for that are purely because of injuries - it doesn't matter. Injuries and the ability to stay fit come into play when making these decisions, and he has been by far our best at that (which is a sad indictment on the others, considering Smalling himself gets injured more than we'd like). I also mentioned 'peak level' regarding that half a season where he was monstrous. None of our others have matched that. Of course, unfortunately Smalling himself hasn't matched that again either. But if we, as outsiders, saw another defender in the league performing to that level you better believe we'd all be interested in him. But even his average level over the last few seasons would do the job.
Lindelof is the one who should go sadly.
All four senior CB's are considerably better and Tuanzabe has far higher potential and imo is already better.
TFM can do a good job at CB as well and is still very young.
All four senior CB's are considerably better and Tuanzabe has far higher potential and imo is already better.
TFM can do a good job at CB as well and is still very young.
Why?
Er...what?
Personally think it was a waste of money signing Lindelof as we had Jones, Smalling, Bailly, Rojo, Blind and Tuanzebe and I think Smalling is first choice back up to Jones/Bailly and has shown to play well alongside both men.
Lindeloff is back up for Valencia as well as a ball playing CB.
Sell him to Chelski... as a striker.
I think so too even though there is still a chance for Lindelöf to prove his worth. And probably the plan for this season was to play 3-5-2 so signing him makes some sense in that regard. But if it was up to me, i would sell him & Blind and loan Tuanzebe out to a PL team after signing De Vrij as our ball playing CB on a free from Lazio in the summer. We have more than enough quality and quantity at the back imo.
De Vrij is about to sign a new contract at Lazio but I don’t think we needed a centre back full stop last summer or to bring another in either. We had 6 in Jones, Bailly, Smalling, Rojo, Tuanzebe and Blind not to mention Warren, Poole and Williams in the youth team so centre back is the one area we DON’T need to strengthening.
For all the stick Jones and Smalling get because they’re not Rio/Vidic 2.0 we’ve consistently had the best defensive record over the past 3 or 4 years so if we get anyone in defensively then it’s a left back to rotate with Shaw so Young can rotate with Valencia on the right.
With Sanchez now signed I’d try and get Ozil in on a free in the summer then a world class central midfielder in the mould of Kroos/Verratti/Thiago then a quality left back which should then be enough quality and strength in depth to really push for the title and in the cups, we’re so nearly there in terms of what’s needed.
If we’re to get rid of/release players then Johnstone, Darmian, Borthwick-Jackson, Fellaini, Wilson and Zlatan will be enough with Carrick also retiring but definitely not Smalling as he’s a lot more valuable than some probably realise.
I was rewatching our FA Cup win today. What a fecking shambles he was 
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.shhhh, no no he's a 'beast'I was rewatching our FA Cup win today. What a fecking shambles he was
I was rewatching our FA Cup win today. What a fecking shambles he was
Try rewatching the EL cup final, and this
Bravo, sir!sell him to arsenal and hijack city's move for laporte
Bar his footballing skills I've always thought he was something else. His size combined with his pace is not something you see every day. He had an adjustment period under Mourinho, after LVG made him look better than he actually was. But he's doing fine now and I don't think Bailly or Rojo are going to push him out of the side just like that.
If he could stay fit you'd definitely want to keep him. I don't think there's room for both him and Jones though, we need more reliable center backs. Selling him in January would be crazy but I wouldn't mind getting an upgrade on him this summer.
There are 3 who should be sold before Smalling; and then there is Bailly who isn't much better and has a worse injury record. There is no clear cut upgrade that can be easily acquired. This isn't an era of top CB's like times back. What we can do if offload one of Rojo and Lindelof and get Giménez for free to improve upon our choices and hope for Bailly and Giménez are able to fulfill there potential in the next couple of years.
Why would you resign Micky?
While I wouldn’t be particularly upset if he was sold, we must keep him until we have some more reliable CBs. Too many of them have poor injury records and Smalling at least is fairly reliable when it comes to that.
Jones and Bailly are our best CBs, but you have to start wondering how often we will be able to actually get them on the pitch at the same time.
Jones and Bailly are our best CBs, but you have to start wondering how often we will be able to actually get them on the pitch at the same time.
Not interested in goals he scored against major rivals? Alrighty then