James Ducker: United prepared to listen to offers for Smalling

[King Eric 7]

Can someone post a summary? It's pay walled.

Lindeloff and Bailly will be the CB pairing of choice for Mourinho, given the fee he paid for the former.

Mourinho fell out with Smalling as he didn't play through the pain barrier. He is a fan of Jones due to his workrate and the fact that he now dives into tackles less often.

Article also states that Mourinho sees Rojo as an LB in the long term

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

Sorry but he's a big lumbering oaf of a defender with the technical ability of an ape. If what you say was anywhere close to being true Jose would never put him up for sale.

If he was any where near as hopeless as you claim he would never have been at United this long let alone an EPL player this long.

 

[K2K]

Not a Smalling fan.

But Jose chose to start him in the biggest game of the season ahead of Jones.

Surely that counts in his favour.

 

[Kag]

Ability wise I couldn't have any complaints; Smalling is a terrible defender. However Jones is made of glass which makes him next to useless.

You don't know very much about defending.

 

[Utdstar01]

Tbh he's regressed massively. He looked great times the season before last.

 

[King Eric 7]

Not a Smalling fan.

But Jose chose to start him in the biggest game of the season ahead of Jones.

Surely that counts in his favour.

Thought it was because he was match sharper than Jones, since both the crocks were coming back from injury and Smalling had more game time prior to that.

 

[dove]

Thought it was because he was match sharper than Jones, since both the crocks were coming back from injury and Smalling had more game time prior to that.

That's the thing, Smalling at least sometimes manages to be fit while Jones is always injured. I would keep Smalling just for that reason.

 

[K2K]

Thought it was because he was match sharper than Jones, since both the crocks were coming back from injury and Smalling had more game time prior to that.

Jones is a bigger crock though.

I would get rid of both, but not in the same Summer.

 

[C'est Moi Cantona]

Never a fan of Smalling, will be happy to see him go, & I hope we sell to Arsenal as a belated thank you for RVP..

 

[El Zoido]

Smalling should consider himself fortunate that he's had so many years at United. He's three years off a testimonial ffs. It's definitely time to move him on.

 

[Red_toad]

Lindeloff and Bailly will be the CB pairing of choice for Mourinho, given the fee he paid for the former.

Mourinho fell out with Smalling as he didn't play through the pain barrier. He is a fan of Jones due to his workrate and the fact that he now dives into tackles less often.

Article also states that Mourinho sees Rojo as an LB in the long term

He didn't fall out with him, Smalling recently spoke about those exact quotes. People putting 2 and 2 together yet again. When fit Smalling is pretty much a certain starter. Next season we'll have to see what happens. Lindeloff has to earn a starting place, he won't be gifted it just as he signed for a half decent fee.

 

[King Eric 7]

That's the thing, Smalling at least sometimes manages to be fit while Jones is always injured. I would keep Smalling just for that reason.

I'd sell Smalling for that reason - we can get more money for him. I don't think Jones will attract many buyers, so if we keep him and he has a better season fitness wise his value will increase.

Jones is a bigger crock though.

I would get rid of both, but not in the same Summer.

Yeah, Jones is a bigger crock I agree. I'd sell him first if only due to his value in the transfer market at this current time.

 

[King Eric 7]

He didn't fall out with him, Smalling recently spoke about those exact quotes. People putting 2 and 2 together yet again. When fit Smalling is pretty much a certain starter. Next season we'll have to see what happens. Lindeloff has to earn a starting place, he won't be gifted it just as he signed for a half decent fee.

Well this is a summary of the article and not my own thoughts. Maybe the Times journo is making it all up or maybe he has inside info. I don't really know.

 

[izec]

Well posters always say trust Mourinho when he buys a CB. Only fair to trust him too if he sells one, but the Smalling fanboys are out in full force. Just relax lads and let Mourinho handle it

 

[King Eric 7]

Well posters always say trust Mourinho when he buys a CB. Only fair to trust him too if he sells one, but the Smalling fanboys are out in full force. Just relax lads and let Mourinho handle it

Yes, those fanboys should keep their opinions about Smalling to themselves. What do they think this is, a blinking forum or something?

 

[BeforeKeanetherewasRobson]

Never a fan of Smalling, will be happy to see him go, & I hope we sell to Arsenal as a belated thank you for RVP..

Smalling should consider himself fortunate that he's had so many years at United. He's three years off a testimonial ffs. It's definitely time to move him on.

This (or rather, these)

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

Lindeloff and Bailly will be the CB pairing of choice for Mourinho, given the fee he paid for the former.

Mourinho fell out with Smalling as he didn't play through the pain barrier. He is a fan of Jones due to his workrate and the fact that he now dives into tackles less often.

Article also states that Mourinho sees Rojo as an LB in the long term

May be he means left cb in a back 3. I really hope so otherwise Rojo is quite shit at left back.

 

[RC89]

Ability wise I couldn't have any complaints; Smalling is a terrible defender. However Jones is made of glass which makes him next to useless.

That's just not true and very dramatic. He has his weaknesses and seems to only play well on the right side of defence. But let's not get carried away, out of the lot of our CB, he's still probably had the best season on LVG's last season.

 

[King Eric 7]

May be he means left cb in a back 3. I really hope so otherwise Rojo is quite shit at left back.

Article states:

Mourinho also sees Marcos Rojo as a long-term solution at left back, but he is out until the new year. Luke Shaw’s injury, which will keep him out for another three months or so, may have saved his United career. He will be given a second chance to impress when he returns while Mourinho will have been encouraged by Matteo Darmian’s performances towards the end of the season too.

Hope he's just plain wrong lol

 

[izec]

Yes, those fanboys should keep their opinions about Smalling to themselves. What do they think this is, a blinking forum or something?

Well no, i dont want any meltdowns. I also get shut down inmediately and should trust the manager with every decision he makes. I just want to remind everyone to trust Jose

 

[Leftback99]

I can't see Mourinho making the judgement to sell a centre back on a one in one out basis given our ridiculous injury record in that area, particularly the one who is comfortably the best one we have aerially, an attribute he clearly sees as important.

Also, haven't we learnt too often recently that shiny new signings (Depay, Darmian, Schneiderlin, Mkhitaryan, Shaw to name a few) don't necessarily hit the ground running and go straight into the starting line up, let alone stay there.

 

[The Mitcher]

Sorry but he's a big lumbering oaf of a defender with the technical ability of an ape. If what you say was anywhere close to being true Jose would never put him up for sale.

He's not the best with the ball, but he is not a lumbering oaf at all. if what you said were true, then why would Jose pick him over rojo, blind and jones when Smalling gained match fitness and start him in cup finals? Also there is no confirmation Smalling has been put up for sale, and if he has then its crazy for Mourinho to do so. Lindelof has question marks as to whether he can adapt to the league, you can have the talent but you have to adapt. And if we're going to put our faith in Jones who is injured constantly, Smalling less so over the last few seasons, then its also madness.

 

[edcunited1878]

If Jose chooses to selling Smalling, then we should expect Tuanzebe to be his like for like replacement.

Going into September, it'll be Bailly, Lindelof, Blind, Tuanzebe, Jones with Smalling sold and Rojo injured.

You can't rely on Jones and he's a disaster waiting to happen just as much as Smalling. But i can't really see Jose selling Smalling before Jones.

Smalling has been captain many times before the past couple of years. He's the first defender off the bench to protect a lead. Can put himself about on free kicks as well (see Europa League final, second goal).

The pairing of Blind and Smalling has been very good for the past two years and it's an option that suits United very well.

 

[The Mitcher]

Lindeloff and Bailly will be the CB pairing of choice for Mourinho, given the fee he paid for the former.

Mourinho fell out with Smalling as he didn't play through the pain barrier. He is a fan of Jones due to his workrate and the fact that he now dives into tackles less often.

Article also states that Mourinho sees Rojo as an LB in the long term

You don't have any source for that at all, why would Mourinho fall out with him but start him in cup finals? Also, Smalling DID play through the pain barrier and one can argue if there was an argument about him not wanting to do it, he was correct he was in the right as he was awful in that Chelsea game because of his broken toe.

 

[The United Irishman]

He didn't fall out with him, Smalling recently spoke about those exact quotes. People putting 2 and 2 together yet again. When fit Smalling is pretty much a certain starter. Next season we'll have to see what happens. Lindeloff has to earn a starting place, he won't be gifted it just as he signed for a half decent fee.

Do you remember when Mourinho signed an unknown guy called Eric Bailly last summer for around 30m? I seem to remember him going straight into the starting line-up. You really think United are going to spend that much on a CB and not expect him to be good enough to start? He'll be straight in mate.

 

[Kill 'em all]

You don't have any source for that at all, why would Mourinho fall out with him but start him in cup finals? Also, Smalling DID play through the pain barrier and one can argue if there was an argument about him not wanting to do it, he was correct he was in the right as he was awful in that Chelsea game because of his broken toe.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...o-chris-smalling-and-phil-jones-a7694181.html
https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...jose-mourinho-wrong-bravery-manchester-united

Mourinho even went as far to publicly criticize those players throughout this season, at one point even mentioning that he would make himself available if he had a similar injury. Was referring to Chris Smalling's broken toe when he said this.

 

[AndyJ1985]

He didn't fall out with him, Smalling recently spoke about those exact quotes. People putting 2 and 2 together yet again. When fit Smalling is pretty much a certain starter. Next season we'll have to see what happens. Lindeloff has to earn a starting place, he won't be gifted it just as he signed for a half decent fee.

Mourinho isn't buying players to be backup to the ones we're already have. He's buying first team players to overhaul the team.

 

[King Eric 7]

You don't have any source for that at all, why would Mourinho fall out with him but start him in cup finals? Also, Smalling DID play through the pain barrier and one can argue if there was an argument about him not wanting to do it, he was correct he was in the right as he was awful in that Chelsea game because of his broken toe.

It wasn't my own opinion. If you read the whole of my post, you would note that I am replying to someone who asked for a summary of the Times article. So what I posted was a summary of that article. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[DWelbz19]

I'm hoping this isn't true. It makes very little sense to sell Smalling.

 

[fellaini's barber]

That's fair enough but every other post seems to be someone who wants rid of Jones as well. Seems odd that while our problem has been scoring goals that people are keen to see such as overhaul of our centre-back options.

Don't know if you noticed defenders who can play football plays a very big role in the attacking play of any big team. I'm personally sick and tired of watching Jones and Smalling pass the ball sideways among themselves, finally to DDG who hoofs the ball out back to the opposition because the concept of passing out from the back is alien to our extremely limited defenders. You watch the likes of Real/Barca changing defence to attack with one simple pass forward then you watch us being camped in our box by the shittest of teams, because we have defenders constantly so panicky they just keep hoofing relentlessly, it's been going on even since Fergie's last year's. Apart from Bailly I don't mind any of our current defenders leaving tbh

 

[RedDevilCanuck]

An above average defender with world class physical attributes and below average ball skills.

He would get into any team in the PL except Spurs and Chelsea and City (only due to Pep's playing style). Not bad at all.

 

[Alabaster Codify7]

Very worried about Mourinho apparently seeing Rojo as a LB when he returns. He's the worst of all 4 of our senior options there (Shaw, Blind, Darmian as the other three), quite comfortably.

 

[DWelbz19]

Very worried about Mourinho apparently seeing Rojo as a LB when he returns. He's the worst of all 4 of our senior options there (Shaw, Blind, Darmian as the other three), quite comfortably.

Where is this from?

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

Smalling is not suddenly Titus Bramble. His distribution is poor, but he's not suddenly an awful defender. He's played 157 times for us and fans should be a bit more respectful about him.

Now I don't think he's top class, but we shouldn't necessarily be so keen to wish him out the door. Currently we have Bailly who has done very well, but has only played a season, a shiney new CB who has never played in the PL and has less than 50 first team games in a significantly weaker league. Rojo who has a serious injury, Jones who is always injured and Blind - who whilst steady is not a Jose type player.

So if Bailly or Lindelof aren't on form at the start of the season, Smalling could have a part to play. If he does go, I think he will do very well for someone else. I do however think one of Smalling or Jones will go, which is a shame as neither have fully fulfilled the potential we saw. Both good players, just not top class.

 

[Decomposing In Paris]

Any chance (as reported) that Smalling was the leak to the press in the dressing room during Moyes' & Van Gaal's time? That well seemed to get very dry around the time that his form fell off a cliff...

absolute speculation with no facts, could be considered a character assassination attempt, but I don't really mean it Chris.

 

[Jaxa]

Smelling and Jones are duds in this squad IMO. Get rid of them both.

Haven't you learned anything from this season ? Tbh both should be kept, at the very least 1,

You know someone will get injured, mayve even two then were screwed again and scraping through games playing LB's as CB's etc

 

[GrandJury]

Haven't you learned anything from this season ? Tbh both should be kept, at the very least 1,

You know someone will get injured, mayve even two then were screwed again and scraping through games playing LB's as CB's etc

I obviously think they should be replaced by transfers or bringing people through the ranks. That's not the same as selling players mid season.

 

[settembrini]

Going by what people are posting about that article it sounds like utter bollocks.

1. Mourinho likes Jones but wants to get rid of Smalling for not 'playing through the pain'.
Mourinho was publicly calling out both over this issue but the facts are that Smalling took pain killing injections to play for him and it was Smalling who he trusted to start the EL final.

2. Rojo is a long term solution at LB.
By the end of the season Mourinho had moved him to centre back and literally called him a 'bad left back' in a post match interview.

3. Getting injured again has saved Shaw's United career.
Because Mourinho likes injury prone players? Shaw started the season as first choice, ended it as fourth choice. If Rooney broke his ankle tomorrow Mourinho wouldn't suddenly consider him an important player who needed more chances.

 

[goin4glory]

Smalling is horrendous. Be glad to see him gone.

 

[RedPed]

As Randolph Duke shouted in the classic Trading Places:

"Sell!...Sell!...Sell!"