Jose Fonte

the unknown one. said:
I hope we can sign Fonte and Fabinho as a DM before the window closes.

It would really give us a strong competitive squad in all positions.
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Squad would be massively over stocked. Kids wouldn't get a look in. We certainly need to move on before we buy, hope to see Rojo go go plus maybe 2 others.
 
Red_toad said:
Squad would be massively over stocked. Kids wouldn't get a look in. We certainly need to move on before we buy, hope to see Rojo go go plus maybe 2 others.
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I agree with this. Quite happy if we went on with what we've got, the squad seems pretty well balanced.

If someone happens to go in the next week, then that might alter things but I'd be surprised if we brought more than one in, even if two leave.
 
Probably the best decision for all involved. It never really felt like it was on anyway.
 
Bringing a player in who's 33 would have been stupid any way. I'd rather we pay more to nail down a player that will play centre half for the next 4-5 years.
 
Oldest trick in the book. Agent links your name in the papers, threaten your going to leave so they double your wages, sign and sit pretty. Nice one Jose.
 
Adam-Utd said:
Oldest trick in the book. Agent links your name in the papers, threaten your going to leave so they double your wages, sign and sit pretty. Nice one Jose.
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Maybe that was Jose's plan all along; they share the same agent after all. He could just be doing Mendes a favour by getting Fonte a wage increase.
 
I'd have quite liked him here. Bailly looks like he'll be a big miss over the January period and I don't trust Rojo and Jones in the slightest, whether it be fitness or form. An injury to Smalling and then we're presented an issue.

We need reliable centre half cover, and Fonte looked up to the task.
 
Rojo seems destined to leave
Jones can hardly be relied upon
Smalling is becoming fairly injury prone
Bailey will be away for 3 week in Jan.

Signing for Fonte for 8m would be no a brainer. People keep on saying they would rather get a younger world class player. Who exactly is this player we can get between now and the 31st Aug??
 
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Honestly, if Jose can get Fellaini to take out the clumsiness out of his game(It looks like it), then I'm fairly excited about what he can do with Jones. I have always rated Jones highly, and maybe he needs a manager like Jose to get the best out of him.
 
KM said:
Honestly, if Jose can get Fellaini to take out the clumsiness out of his game(It looks like it), then I'm fairly excited about what he can do with Jones. I have always rated Jones highly, and maybe he needs a manager like Jose to get the best out of him.
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The problem is that he's injury prone (and he's not very good either but that's a minor issue)
 
Leftback99 said:
Because he's a liability (in my opinion).
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You could make such an argument for nearly every position - a couple of injuries away and we're playing (insert player name). Phil is a good player and if he stays, it will be because Mourinho believes he is capable of getting the job done.
 
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starman said:
Rojo seems destined to leave
Jones can hardly be relied upon
Smalling is becoming fairly injury prone
Bailey will be away for 3 week in Jan.

Signing for Fonte for 8m is no a brainer. People keep on saying they would rather get a younger world class player. Who exactly is this player we can get between now and the 31st Aug??
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I dont know, i am in favour of buying another CB, also Fonte would have been a nice option. Not easy getting good CB's in, look at Arsenal overpaying for Mustafi or Chelsea getting rejected in Italy twice already.

There is no world class option, but still some good defenders running around. Virgil wouldnt be too bad, looks better than Fonte or if we go the experience route, Miranda, that would be my favourite. Good, experienced, cheap and gettable.
 
devilish said:
The problem is that he's injury prone (and he's not very good either but that's a minor issue)
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Well the fact Jose hasn't let Jones leave till now is evidence that he thinks there is a player in Jones. I'm convinced of it too, that injury issue is something big though.
 
KM said:
Well the fact Jose hasn't let Jones leave till now is evidence that he thinks there is a player in Jones. I'm convinced of it too, that injury issue is something big though.
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There is ie a 5th choice CB behind Smalling, Bailly, Blind and Rojo. I agree to that assessment although I think that Jones should aim for a higher role possibly somewhere else. I still think that we would add a defender if we get rid of Rojo/Jones though.
 
starman said:
Rojo seems destined to leave
Jones can hardly be relied upon
Smalling is becoming fairly injury prone
Bailey will be away for 3 week in Jan.

Signing for Fonte for 8m would be no a brainer. People keep on saying they would rather get a younger world class player. Who exactly is this player we can get between now and the 31st Aug??
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I imagine if we wanted to chuck tons of money at the situation we could get
laporte (whatever his buy out fee is these days £60m?)
Tah (£25m probably but physically at least he could probably handle the PL from day one)
Sule (again probably £25m and looks like he is going to be a hell of a player)
Romagnoli (Apparently chelsea are after him for £30m so again probably cost a bomb)

That said Im perfectly happy with Bailly and Smalling as centrebacks with Blind capable of doing a job and Jones (when fit) a good option as well - oh and of course TFM is another option as well

And thats assuming Rojo goes

Fonte is a good player but Id sooner we focused on a right back id we are going to strengthen anywhere

Also those thinking Jones will go do they realistically think he is going to pass a medical? - more likley to injure himself again than pass
 
starman said:
Rojo seems destined to leave
Jones can hardly be relied upon
Smalling is becoming fairly injury prone
Bailey will be away for 3 week in Jan.

Signing for Fonte for 8m would be no a brainer. People keep on saying they would rather get a younger world class player. Who exactly is this player we can get between now and the 31st Aug??
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He is?
 
I think a lot of factors play their part on whether we’re adding a new CB or not. That include whether the club is able to find buyers for Rojo and Jones. Bailly’s immediate impact as CB + Blind’s ability to settle down in the CB role might have made Mou to reconsider his priorities for this year. We mustn’t forget that we’ve spend 157m this year and a 3rd choice CB might not be our first priority at this point.

Taking that route is a bit of a risk TBH. I am not that confident of Rojo’s ability as a centre back and I think it is reasonable to put doubt on Jones ability to remain fit. I think we should have kept CBJ TBH or at least gave him a half a season loan to have him back when Bailly plays for the AC. There again I can understand Mou’s point in postponing this issue for next year. By that time a lot of questions will be answered including if Blind is good enough as CB, if Bailly is good enough as a first teamer, if Jones can remain fit, if Rojo is good enough for us and if CBJ deserves a run in the first team. Next summer we might end up spending 50m on a CB or not spending anything (on a CB) at all.
 
devilish said:
I doubt we will struggle to meet that quota irrespective on whether Jones stays or leaves
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the FA is trying to make it 12 players (and you have to play for 3 years before turning 18 to qualify as homegrown - if that change comes in then we will struggle!)

As of now regulars in the first team squad
Johnson, Smalling, Jones, Shaw, Carrick, Young, Lingard, Rooney, Rashford,

If the changes dont come in then we are still going to need some english players given that over the next few years certainly carrick, probably young and potentially rooney / lingard may not be here - throw jones in the mix and we struggle - if the FA do make it 12 homegrown players and change the homegrown requirements then we will be paying (even more) crazy premiums for english players like jones
 
sun_tzu said:
the FA is trying to make it 12 players (and you have to play for 3 years before turning 18 to qualify as homegrown - if that change comes in then we will struggle!)

As of now regulars in the first team squad
Johnson, Smalling, Jones, Shaw, Carrick, Young, Lingard, Rooney, Rashford,

If the changes dont come in then we are still going to need some english players given that over the next few years certainly carrick, probably young and potentially rooney / lingard may not be here - throw jones in the mix and we struggle - if the FA do make it 12 homegrown players and change the homegrown requirements then we will be paying (even more) crazy premiums for english players like jones
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I doubt they would change the rules else there will be a revolt in the EPL. Very few clubs can achieve those quotas.

Even so, keeping an injury prone player isn't the answer. We either develop our own or we go and buy decent homegrown talent to at least able to be relied on as reserves.
 
Disappointing news.

I don't trust Jones to stay fit and build consistency and Rojo isn't good enough full stop. I thought we were overrated defensively in the second half of the season. The stats were good, but what I was watching told another story.

We've got the numbers, but I think we're light on actual talent in that area. Another CB would of really improved us.
 
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Never understood why we were linked with him in the first place.

In order for Fonte to play - we need to bench 2 out of Bailly, Blind and Smalling - all quality players. It will be difficult to pick 2 of those when they are all fit - in addition we still have Rojo and Jones as back-up. I like Fonte - but if we are gonna sign another cd he needs to be better than what we have - and he isn't. He might be there or thereabouts - but he lacks the pace to be better than Bailly and Smalling - and he lacks the qualities with the ball to be better than Blind.
 
devilish said:
I doubt they would change the rules else there will be a revolt in the EPL. Very few clubs can achieve those quotas.

Even so, keeping an injury prone player isn't the answer. We either develop our own or we go and buy decent homegrown talent to at least able to be relied on as reserves.
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It might come - but there will be a transition-period. Say for instance - from 2019/2020 you need 8 players - from 2021/2022 - 10 players and from 2023/2024 - 12 players. Something like that.
 
lysglimt said:
It might come - but there will be a transition-period. Say for instance - from 2019/2020 you need 8 players - from 2021/2022 - 10 players and from 2023/2024 - 12 players. Something like that.
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Still 3 years won't be enough especially since there's not many good quality homegrown talent around
 
OohAahMartial said:
Just goes to show Duncan Castles isn't the mouthpiece of Mourinho like he likes to think of himself as.
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Perhaps Mourinho really did/does want Fonte, but it depended on player sales and we've had trouble moving certain players on.
 
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