Couldn't have said it any better.
James Ducker: United prepared to listen to offers for Smalling
- Thread starter Paxi
- Start date
Couldn't have said it any better.
You should send your expert opinion to Jose before he makes the grave mistake of selling a "very good defender"
Smalling is a better defender than Keane, for one. He's still very good from a defensive point of view and one interrupted season hasn't blinded my (very good) memory of his time here at United when performing at centre half.
If Smalling leaves it is a cast iron certainty that next season there will be a thread created on this forum in which United supporters (probably some of the fickle lot that are now pretending he's always been terrible) will lament his sale and question why the hell we ever sold him as he turns out very well for another club.
Shiny new toy Bailly will no longer be as shiny - and will begin to receive overdue, widespread criticism for being unable to head the ball and generally being a bit of an idiot. Jones will get injured and Keane will just kinda be alright. Rojo, who knows?
But that's just my opinion.
If Smalling leaves it is a cast iron certainty that next season there will be a thread created on this forum in which United supporters (probably some of the fickle lot that are now pretending he's always been terrible) will lament his sale and question why the hell we ever sold him as he turns out very well for another club.
Shiny new toy Bailly will no longer be as shiny - and will begin to receive overdue, widespread criticism for being unable to head the ball and generally being a bit of an idiot. Jones will get injured and Keane will just kinda be alright. Rojo, who knows?
But that's just my opinion.
So just prior to our most important game of the season, someone itk has told this journo that we are listening to offers for one of the only 2 regular cbs we have available for selection for the final .
It may well end up true, most fans have probably pondered wether Jose rates him, but it just doesn't seem something that a club in our position would, or should be volunteering at this particular moment in time. Why release this type of info on a player 5 days before you may have to rely on him ?
Seems a bit odd to me . That said, I'm a bit of a sceptic when it comes to most journos tho.
It may well end up true, most fans have probably pondered wether Jose rates him, but it just doesn't seem something that a club in our position would, or should be volunteering at this particular moment in time. Why release this type of info on a player 5 days before you may have to rely on him ?
Seems a bit odd to me . That said, I'm a bit of a sceptic when it comes to most journos tho.
I would say that's very generous. He started his time with us looking absolutely full of potential, played really well for sustained periods and then, in the post-Fergie years, became quite patchy. He had a really six good months under LVG and, other than that, has been really inconsistent.
It'd be daft to suggest he was never good, or that he never looked like he'd become a really important player for us, but, IMHO, he's been an accident waiting to happen for the better part of 18 months. He's now been here almost 7 years. I would say that it's becoming apparent that his performances have been such that, after this summer, he'll be further from the first 11 than at any time since he arrived. That's pretty telling, I think.
Yes, but Keane is hardly the answer.
I don't think we'd be getting the best deal if we swapped Smalling for Keane.
Smallings an awful footballer. Hes quick and...... not much else.
Can't pass with either foot. I'd sell for more than £15m if we can find better alternatives.
I'd like to see our centre backs next season line up as Rojo, Bailly, new LCB signing, Jones and Tuanzebe and Fosu Mensah as cover.
Can't pass with either foot. I'd sell for more than £15m if we can find better alternatives.
I'd like to see our centre backs next season line up as Rojo, Bailly, new LCB signing, Jones and Tuanzebe and Fosu Mensah as cover.
He's a crystal palace level defender. Roy Hodgson always picked him for England no matter crap he was as Woy wanted to show what a genius talent spotter he was by discovering an England International at a non league club. Our defense has been frequently rock solid for the first time since Fergie quit ever since Smalling was dropped
Swapping an infamously soft defender for one who is happy to jump in where it hurts sounds good to me. Keane will be twice the defender Smalling ever was as he has balls which is the fundamental trait that all the best defenders must have
I'd take Smalling over Keane any day. Nothing in this
Running behind big names in defenders isn't always the guaranteed answer, too imo.
Look at City and how many defenders they bought, Mangala, Otamendi and Stones, all were great before joining them. All become crap once the wore the City shirt.
Defense signings aren't always about searching for known names and that's it.
Thankfully you're not the manager, and there is something in this because reputable sources are reporting it.
There are plenty of League 2 defenders who would do that. Doesn't make them good signings
You think we should sign Keane based on one decent season in a team that's set up to protect the defence? Typical knee jerk supporter
You're conveniently ignoring that Smalling was a part of that rock solid defense. When he was playing regularly from January to March we let in nine goals in 15 games.
Arsenal have wanted Smalling for years, hopefully they're still interested and we can get Sanchez in return 
I don't believe Smalling (or Jones for that matter) are good to start for Utd, but the bigger problem is their concerning injury records. This is why I want to get rid where otherwise I'd happy with them as squad options. In a period where we should've had 4 defenders, we were left with just Bailly and had to bring in Blind. Rojo doesn't have the best injury record, but his injury was contact mediated so he gets a bit of leeway. Jones is just reckless, and Smalling fragile.
I'm not sure Keane is the answer, but I'm fairly sure Smalling isn't. We have to see whether Jose places his faith in him, but either way I don't see how would be able to complain that he hasn't been given a fair chance here.
I'm not sure Keane is the answer, but I'm fairly sure Smalling isn't. We have to see whether Jose places his faith in him, but either way I don't see how would be able to complain that he hasn't been given a fair chance here.
100% agree.
Selling him for Michael Keane would be a ridiculous thing to do.
The way I see it we have 4 good defenders. Smalling, Jones, Bailly and Rojo with Bailly probably the best at present. In order to improve any signings that come in need to be better than what we have. Keane isn't even close.
As for which one would make way if we did sign a top defender it's a difficult choice. Smalling over the last 3 years has been way more important to us than Jones (injured) and Rojo (useless until recently) He's just suffering from the fact that most people in football seem to have the memory of goldfish. Based on form over a longer period it would probably be Rojo. Jones' fitness is a concern also.
Either way I think we should be able to watch it unfold without rewriting history and pretending Smalling has been a crap defender for us.
It's crazy to think that Smalling has won every domestic trophy going, gone to a champions league final, and will most likely start a europa league final next week but still, more often than not, looks like a player who's still getting used to playing for us. This is why this needs to happen.
The Johnny Evans comparison is a good one. They are both very good defenders just short of the standard we require. Both always look like they are chasing the game and fighting to stay ahead of the attackers, unlike a Rio/Vidic who stamped their authority on a game and basically said 'you come and beat me'. Smalling would be excellent buy for anyone outside the top of the table, where that style is the norm.
Hard to say about Keane but I don't see him being an upgrade.
Jones is a better defender than both but hes too injury prone and seems to lack concentration.
Hard to say about Keane but I don't see him being an upgrade.
Jones is a better defender than both but hes too injury prone and seems to lack concentration.
Never really liked Smalling, even when people were raving about him under Van Gaal. In the back of my mind, I always had doubts. I think he's a stiff. Someone like Keane is good in the air (as Smalling is supposed to be with his height) but is agile at the same time. In my considered opinion: Keane, the new guy, is much better than the boring, old, familiar guy, Smalling.
This season United have conceded 29 goals in 37 games. The best defence (Spurs) have conceded 25. 3rd best defence (Chelsea) 32
Last season joint best defences (United, Spurs) conceded 35, with joint 3rd best conceding 36
The year before that, the best defence (Chelsea) conceded 32, with the 2nd best (Southampton) conceding 33
So how many fewer goals do people expect us to concede if we swap Smalling for Michael Keane ?
Last season joint best defences (United, Spurs) conceded 35, with joint 3rd best conceding 36
The year before that, the best defence (Chelsea) conceded 32, with the 2nd best (Southampton) conceding 33
So how many fewer goals do people expect us to concede if we swap Smalling for Michael Keane ?
Disappointing, but expected. Mourinho has clearly lost faith in him early and he's now a bit of a punching bag for fans. Injuries (which have featured bizarre claims about inability to play through pain) have curtailed development and no doubt led to the player losing confidence. He probably needs the move if Mourinho still lacks faith in him, which would be silly - he's definitely good enough to start for us and if the replacement is Michael Keane...
26.
Hope you're not putting our defensive record down to Smalling's brilliance. He's bad at defending but he's even more shocking at every other aspect of the game.
We need to add quality without compromising on the squad depth. Smalling can be an excellent squad player if not a starter. Theres absolutely no need to sell him unless we're replacing him with a world class CB.
Smalling has all the physical characteristics, quick, heads it, tackles, good 1v1.
He's just always needed someone very reliable and dominant next door.
Shipping him for Keane would be a horrible decision
He's just always needed someone very reliable and dominant next door.
Shipping him for Keane would be a horrible decision
Won't be sad to see him go. He has the ball playing skills of a drunk baby elephant, plus none of the positional sense needed to play in a zonal marking system.
Age and mentality probably tipped it in Jones favour, both could have been out the door imo, and Jones perhaps should be considering he will injure himself watching tv, but atleast he doesn't shit his pants under pressure.
Mourinho doesn't like the weak minded.
Age and mentality probably tipped it in Jones favour, both could have been out the door imo, and Jones perhaps should be considering he will injure himself watching tv, but atleast he doesn't shit his pants under pressure.
Mourinho doesn't like the weak minded.
He's captained the team many times the past two years. Mourinho loves height and size integrated throughout his team. I'd be surprised and underwhelmed if Keane was a like for like change for Smalling.
Both Smalling and Jones should be out the door. We just can't afford to replace both in one window when there are so many other glaring gaps in the team that need filled.
Great news about Smalling if true. We could do sooo much better.....but not Keane.
He's actually quite good as a 1v1 defender, one of the better ones in the league.
He just has a bit of trouble kicking the ball, which is a bit of a problem.
I think our first choice next season will be Rojo/Bailly.
Nothing wrong with Keane as back up
If Keane was foreign and played in a foreign league, no one would even question this. He's been great in a team surrounded by mediocre players. Imagine how good a defence can be with players on the same level.
People need to stop shunting good players because they're not exotic - most here would rather pay for a foreign, "potential" young CB who might get destroyed in the league, than take proven players.
People need to stop shunting good players because they're not exotic - most here would rather pay for a foreign, "potential" young CB who might get destroyed in the league, than take proven players.
Agreed on all points.
The moment Rojo got injured and we have been forced to play Smalling, we've leaked goals.
The CFC game was one heck of a performance he put in.
The AFC game was not as bad, but was pretty bad.
The only time we concede more than 1 goal in a game, Smalling is generally involved.
I'd prefer Smalling as back up.
M.Keane is worth having as a squad player, if we can get him on a free. Burnley is his right level, I think.
I rate Smalling higher than Keane as a pure defender tbh. It's Jones who id swap for Keane due to injury status.
If we're going to lose these two I want better defenders in than just Keane.
If we're going to lose these two I want better defenders in than just Keane.
Im suprised to see so many people so confident in their assessment of Keane. How often do people watch Burnley for goodness sake
if we can sell Smalling for above 20 millions, lets sell him! but, I really hope we dont buy Keane. I'm still not convinced with him.
A partner for Bailey is needed but still not convinced on Keane. Smalling comes across as a defender who is just awkward for forwards to play against unfortunately he is also awkward when in possession of the ball. One central defender will leave and due to his number of injuries I always thought it would be Jones.