James Ducker: United prepared to listen to offers for Smalling

soapythecat said:
Smelling and Jones are both average players who have shown potential in stages but nothing consistent. We can't keep hoping that both will stay fit long enough to prove people like me wrong, because the past few seasons will show that just isn't the case.
If we really do want to improve and be consistent in the top 4 and start challenging again, these two need to be nowhere near the squad.
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Very immature lol
 
Jones is a better defender than Smalling.
Jones is more injury prone than Smalling.

So you're kinda stuck between a rock and a hard place when choosing which one to let go of the two.

I think in any case, Bailly and Rojo have proved a strong enough partnership to be our first choice CBs. We do need two reliable back-ups that are not injury prone. Blind, Smalling and Jones do not satisfy any of those criteria to be our back-up CBs. And I'm not convinced Michael Keane satisfies those either.
 
I have been in the Smalling plus one camp in the past, but do think he's regressed this season and is probably the CB most likely to be moved on, if only as we might get a decent price for him whereas Jones we wouldnt. Personally I would move them both on, simply as I think the squad needs freshening up, but Keane doesnt fill me with confidence, hes no better than either of them.
 
Shady said:
Still think he is better than Jones.
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Nah, he's not.

Jones is a rock. He just gets a bad time of it because of his funny faces and injuries.

When he plays, we barely concede chances. He is such a solid defender.
 
He's had a good shot, he's not established himself, it's only fair to move him on. I'm not confident Keane is the defender we need but that's another conversation. Personally I'd want to throw silly money at Bonnuci and Juve (or an equivalent)- we need someone of that calibre, world class, a proven winner and experienced. Hopefully we can move Jones on too and give Taunzebe the 4th spot.
 
I would be fine with Smalling leaving but to replace him with Keane would be hugely underwhelming and probably not even an upgrade at all.
 
About time. He's been here for ages and still isn't reliable.

Hopefully he gets rid of Jones aswell.

Two unreliable average defenders.
 
If we bring in Keane I doubt he'd be our only addition at CB.....

I'd hope so anyway
 
Jones is more injury prone but looks the slightly more composed of the 2, this season Smalling's defending has reminded me of this.
 
unitedbhoy said:
There's not that much between Varane and Smalling. Varane is similar in the fact he hasn't progressed as expected over the past 2 seasons.
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At least when Varane passes the ball he doesn't look like Frankenstein having a seizure...
 
Find this really bizarre. Is Keane honestly better than Smalling? The latter has struggled this season, but performed at a much higher level last year than Keane has this year. I think we're way to quick to dismiss Smalling, despite the general consensus lavishing praise on him last year. Now he's instantly turned into public enemy number one.

He's a better defender than Jones and more reliable in terms of injuries. Jones should be the one going not Mike.
 
buckooo1978 said:
If we bring in Keane I doubt he'd be our only addition at CB.....

I'd hope so anyway
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I wouldn't be too worried if our 4 centre backs next seaso were Bailly, Rojo, Keane and Tunzabe.

The full back positions are in need of more work. We need proper left back. No Darmian or Blind there next season.

Also another right back.
 
TonyMarshall said:
I wouldn't be too worried if our 4 centre backs next seaso were Bailly, Rojo, Keane and Tunzabe.

The full back positions are in need of more work. We need proper left back. No Darmian or Blind there next season.

Also another right back.
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Plus a new goalkeeper, a couple of midfielders and a few attacking options. Easy.
 
Good.

Start with him and move the rest of the dead wood on.
 
Finally. He had one good half a season, and that's about it for the team. Without knowing whether Rojo is going to bounce back, we need a solid partner for Bailly.
 
Failed massively this season. Wont miss him. Sell Jones too and get a quality CB in alongside Keane
 
How many more seasons do Jones/Smalling deserve?...They are totally unreliable and looking at their careers so far, the only thing you can say is...they have a good month or two in then every season, the rest of the time they are either injured or playing like the mid-table club United are becoming!

Move them both on and try something new!
 
Mourinho moving from man marking to zonal hit Smalling the worst I think, his positional sense has not been up to it this season.
 
Won't miss Smalling one bit, but surely we can do better than Keane as a replacement. Considering that Rojo has had maybe ~6 months of good performances in his time with us and is injured for the first few months of next season, I would like to see us target a starting XI quality player.
 
Smalling reads the game better and has better composure albeit crappy passing capabilities. Jones throws himself about. Committed.


If given the choice to sell one or the other -- Jones for me.
 
1. Don't want Keane...
2. Wouldn't mind seeing Smalling sold
3. Wouldn't mind seeing Jones sold
4. Would leave us kind of short of defenders though...
 
I think when the both of them didn't play through the injury that time when Mourinho called them out on it was the final straw for Jones and Smalling. It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest If both leave this summer
 
rocks13 said:
Or a manager who's naturally conservative in big games away from home.

Again though, you seem to be straying from the perceived wisdom found in the CAF. Our big away games weren't what defined our season, it was the inability to win home games against the likes of Hull, Stoke, West Brom, Burnley, Bouremouth, West Ham etc. Games in which we rarely conceded but missed lots of chances. I'm struggling to see how replacing Jones and Smalling with 2 new centre-backs would really influence these results. Unless you're planning to get Sergio Ramos who scores more than most of our forwards.
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I don't disagree with that analysis - the lack of goals has cost us more than Jones/Smalling's injuries/ineptitude. One goal away from home all season vs a top 6 side is an appalling record though and I think it will recquire fixes at both ends to remedy the situation.
 
TonyMarshall said:
I wouldn't be too worried if our 4 centre backs next seaso were Bailly, Rojo, Keane and Tunzabe.

The full back positions are in need of more work. We need proper left back. No Darmian or Blind there next season.

Also another right back.
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hmmm not sure about that

Bailly has missed a lot of games through injury too - God knows when Rojo will be back, being a CB at Manchester United is a world away from playing somewhere like Burnley in terms of pressure/expectation and Tuanzebe has played 3 competitive games I think ..

far too many potential issues there....we need more quality with Rojo/Keane and Tuanzebe to provide the depth
 
Good. He will soon be 28 and I don't think he'll ever be world class. Should be able to get £18m+
 
Brilliant bit of news for a mentally fragile player to hear, just before he's likely to play in the biggest match for the club in many years.

Just brilliant. :rolleyes:
 
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