Looks like we're looking to replace him with Keane. Bye bye sweet prince.
James Ducker: United prepared to listen to offers for Smalling
- Thread starter Paxi
- Start date
Looks like we're looking to replace him with Keane. Bye bye sweet prince.
Still think he is better than Jones.
Good move. I was a big fan of Smalling but I certainly think he's mentally weak. Always prone to a howler these days and not prepared to step up and lead from the back, despite being our most experienced centre half.
I'd move him on but keep Jones and add Keane. That would leave us with Rojo/Bailly Jones/Keane and Blind as a utility.
Think we'd be in good shape for next term.
I'd move him on but keep Jones and add Keane. That would leave us with Rojo/Bailly Jones/Keane and Blind as a utility.
Think we'd be in good shape for next term.
Keane is an awful defender.
FWIW I'd rather Jones myself. He's a better defender and a better all around footballer on his day than Smalling. He does tend to injure himself and other though.
If only jones could keep himself fit, but he can't so I'd rather sell jones.
If we are selling CBs then Jones should be first out the door.
not sure he's an awful defender but he's not much of an improvement on Smalling imo, nor will he be one of the best defenders in the world which is what we need to adding to the squad.
I'm not sure if Keane is better than Smalling. Is he in better form? Sure but Smalling as shown how capable he is, the injuries and Jose' comments have knocked him back this season.
Let's not forget Smalling last year played well, he was voted players player of the year also.
If anything get rid of Jones he just can't stay fit for more than a couple of weeks and when he does play he's pretty average to say the least.
Let's not forget Smalling last year played well, he was voted players player of the year also.
If anything get rid of Jones he just can't stay fit for more than a couple of weeks and when he does play he's pretty average to say the least.
I think we should consider finding someone better that Smalling. It's crazy but it might just work.
I don't think Smalling can be the main man in a defense but he has his uses. I'd keep him in the squad if we could over Jones.
Good news if true.
United are doing an open media day today (it's on Uefas website) so the stories from decent journalists coming out today are probably directly from the club
I'll definitely trust Jose on this. If there is one coach who knows a good defender it's Jose Mourinho. If he wants Smalling gone, then so be it.
Wouldn't be against Smalling at all, but not sure replacing him with Keane would be a good idea. Not much of an improvement, if any.
Whose going to carry Jones beyond the wall?
Chelsea could do a lot worse than replacing Cahill with Smalling.
I'd rather we sold Jones. A fit centre half is better than an unavailable one.
I imagine it's a choice between selling Smalling or selling Jones and Smalling will actually have people other than medical researchers bidding on him.
I'm sure Conte will have noticed his quality on the ball and calmness at the back and is preparing a bid as we speak.
I'll join the opinion that if one of Smalling/Jones is to go, we either give the spot to Tuanzebe or bring in a quality CB. Keane does not fit in that description. Don't see what he could offer that Smalling/Jones/Blind already don't.
There's not much between them to be honest. Jones is a bit more brave and has better control, but Smalling is less injury prone and better in the air.
I reckon it depends who we get the better offer for. That'll be the man to go most likely.
There's not much between them to be honest. Jones is a bit more brave and has better control, but Smalling is less injury prone and better in the air.
I reckon it depends who we get the better offer for. That'll be the man to go most likely.
Smalling's a better defender than him, by a considerable margin...and I don't think Smalling is good enough if you want to be as good as we apparently want to be.
We need to do better than Keane as our CB signing. Sell one of Smalling/Jones I'm not too fussed which tbh (although Smalling's ability to be fit surely gives him the nod, I rate Jones but he's a permacrock) and bring in a partner for Bailly as first choice.
If Burnley play hard ball over Keane, they won't get a single academy product from us for the rest of their existence.
Looks like choice was between offloading one of Smalling or Jones, not sure we can sell Jones considering his injury record.
Not sure relying on Jones even as a squad option is a good plan, he is just stay fit.
Not sure relying on Jones even as a squad option is a good plan, he is just stay fit.
Cahill isn't much better on the ball.
Keane is not an upgrade, really. He's probably on par with Smalling in general.
On topic though - I'd be happy to see the back of Smalling IF he's replaced well. Personally, I'd prefer Jones to leave not coz I rate Smalling any higher but Chris' level of fitness is slightly better.
The good news here is that Jose has finally had enough of mediocrity in the CB ranks and is going to address the issue ready for next season.
Smalling will end up going to someone like Everton, IMO. I could see a team of that level wanting to spend around £15million for him, same goes for Jones. That's about their level really.
On topic though - I'd be happy to see the back of Smalling IF he's replaced well. Personally, I'd prefer Jones to leave not coz I rate Smalling any higher but Chris' level of fitness is slightly better.
The good news here is that Jose has finally had enough of mediocrity in the CB ranks and is going to address the issue ready for next season.
Smalling will end up going to someone like Everton, IMO. I could see a team of that level wanting to spend around £15million for him, same goes for Jones. That's about their level really.
Just hope we get some decent money for him, he's still quite young and an England international.
Keane has a much better distribution than Smalling and in general he hasn't put a foot wrong this season. It will essentially be a £25 million punt on a player that already played for us.
Seems strange given how good people think we've been defensively this year that they seem to think our defenders are terrible and want rid of them.
He's not exactly Bonucci but he's competent enough, Smalling looks like he's passing the ball for the first time.
Smalling has been the only one of our defenders that has regressed under Jose. Rojo, Jones, Valencia, Darmian have all improved this season. Smalling has gone backwards, he looks like he's got a big mistake in him every time he plays.
Honestly, I think it'd be a huge risk to sell Smalling and keep Jones. Even if neither of them are going to be first choice, I just think Jones' injury record is too bad for him to ever reach the levels initially expected of him. Smalling may have hit what he is capable of under LVG, his potential limit. However, I still think he should be given another season as a back-up CB. I do think Jose rates him and his height adds a utility to our squad - when he's playing alright he is probably the best in the air in our squad defensively and seems to be the only one capable of scoring a goal from a set-piece.
I don't think we should be signing Keane either though - we need top quality. We don't even know how Rojo is going to be once he returns, that could be a career changer and he might not get anywhere the level of this season again. So again, to reiterate, we need to sign someone who is intended to partner Bailly as a starter IMO. Really, Kane is no better than Smalling, he just has more time on his side (but should replace Jones instead if it's a done deal).
What I'd like go go into next season with (in order of who should start):
Bailly
New CB
Rojo
Smalling
Keane/Jones
Blind/Young Players (Tuanzebe)
I don't think we should be signing Keane either though - we need top quality. We don't even know how Rojo is going to be once he returns, that could be a career changer and he might not get anywhere the level of this season again. So again, to reiterate, we need to sign someone who is intended to partner Bailly as a starter IMO. Really, Kane is no better than Smalling, he just has more time on his side (but should replace Jones instead if it's a done deal).
What I'd like go go into next season with (in order of who should start):
Bailly
New CB
Rojo
Smalling
Keane/Jones
Blind/Young Players (Tuanzebe)
Sell both Smalling and Jones, promote Axel and buy a top CB. Keane will not be much of an upgrade on Smalling tbh, well at least he is not injured much.
Would rather sell Jones than Smalling. The latter has had probably his worst season at the club, but Jones' overall reliability is minimal.
Both have shown to have the ability in glimpses. Smalling, because of his better injury record, has shown it over longer periods. If you delete this season from memory, then Smalling is a much better player than Jones, but if you include this season, it probably drags Smalling's overall rating down, and probably pushes Jones' up, as he did very well next to Rojo for a period of time.
He's have a few mares this season, but I do think Smalling is still a very good pure defender, it's just a shame his ball-playing is so erratic. He occasionally looks capable of good passes and good runs into midfield with the ball. Other times, he looks like a completely different player, tripping over his own feet and ballooning the ball out of the ground when under no pressure.
I do think Smalling will have a decent PL career if we let him go. I still think there is something about him worth keeping, even if it is not first choice. He has definitely had significantly more good games in a United shirt than bad IMO. Just not this season.
Both have shown to have the ability in glimpses. Smalling, because of his better injury record, has shown it over longer periods. If you delete this season from memory, then Smalling is a much better player than Jones, but if you include this season, it probably drags Smalling's overall rating down, and probably pushes Jones' up, as he did very well next to Rojo for a period of time.
He's have a few mares this season, but I do think Smalling is still a very good pure defender, it's just a shame his ball-playing is so erratic. He occasionally looks capable of good passes and good runs into midfield with the ball. Other times, he looks like a completely different player, tripping over his own feet and ballooning the ball out of the ground when under no pressure.
I do think Smalling will have a decent PL career if we let him go. I still think there is something about him worth keeping, even if it is not first choice. He has definitely had significantly more good games in a United shirt than bad IMO. Just not this season.
I hope he's just spelt Phil Jones really wrong.
This sounds too perfect to me
Perhaps they'll both go (admittedly this is probably too much to hope for).