Jose Fonte

I think he's a great player, but I would rather give time to TFM or Tuanzebe. Blind, Smalling, Bailly, Rojo, Jones plus those two - surely someone other than just Smalling/Blind will be able to play well for most of the season.
 
More I think about it, the more I think we need another experienced Prem proven CB.
 
Cantona'sCollar said:
I think he's a great player, but I would rather give time to TFM or Tuanzebe. Blind, Smalling, Bailly, Rojo, Jones plus those two - surely someone other than just Smalling/Blind will be able to play well for most of the season.
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That's just quantity over quality. There's significant room for improvement.
 
He's been one of the most consistent CBs in the league. Experienced, tough CB who will bring leadership in the back line coming off a pretty good Euro campaign. For 8 million I'm all for it.
 
We definitely could do with another CB. Jones is a crock, there's an ACON this winter and we're pretty fecked if Smalling gets injured.

So why not bring another decent experienced defender in? Hes 32 so he won't block off the progress of Williams, Tuanzebe or Bailley. In fact, hes perfect to come in and partner and lead one of them when we rotate in the cups or if Smalling is injured.
 
AndyJ1985 said:
That's just quantity over quality. There's significant room for improvement.
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There is yeah, I only put Rojo and Jones in there because Mourinho supposedly wanting them out is only speculation for now - who knows how they will feature this season. Tuanzebe and TFM should be given chances in the first team this season, though.
 
For any CB we're linked with I ask myself "would they have helped us at Upton Park last season?" And the answer is usually yes.

I probably could've helped, so feint praise really.
 
IMO this shows that Jose still isn't sold on the idea of Smalling as his leader at the back. If the deal goes through, I won't be surprised if Fonte-Bailly becomes his first choice CB pairing.
 
AndyJ1985 said:
That's just quantity over quality. There's significant room for improvement.
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In what world are the likes of Fosu-Mensah and Tuanzebe considered simply 'quantity' before they are 'quality'?

Given the circumstance Fonte would be a needless stop gap. No ta.
 
MounchesterUtd said:
IMO this shows that Jose still isn't sold on the idea of Smalling as his leader at the back. If the deal goes through, I won't be surprised if Fonte-Bailly becomes his first choice CB pairing.
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You really think Jose rates Bailly above Smalling? An inexperienced young defender in a new league? Sure, he may establish himself as the better of the two but Jose seeing it that way already would be a little premature don't you think?
 
RC89 said:
You really think Jose rates Bailly above Smalling? An inexperienced young defender in a new league? Sure, he may establish himself as the better of the two but Jose seeing it that way already would be a little premature don't you think?
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My perspective is that Jose may see Fonte as the better leader at the back than Smalling, while Bailly is seen as the better at the battler role that he wants one of his CBs to take

You are right though, still too early to tell and Smalling has the experience and familiarity with the PL
 
MounchesterUtd said:
My perspective is that Jose may see Fonte as the better leader at the back than Smalling, while Bailly is seen as the better at the battler role that he wants one of his CBs to take

You are right though, still too early to tell and Smalling has the experience and familiarity with the PL
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I'm just hoping Fonte coming in means the end of Jones or Rojo. At worst we have a very reliable backup option should Bailly struggle or one of the CB need covering.
 
RC89 said:
I'm just hoping Fonte coming in means the end of Jones or Rojo. At worst we have a very reliable backup option should Bailly struggle or one of the CB need covering.
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Fonte has, realistically, two good years left so I'm also hoping either or both of Tuanzebe and Williams are integrated slowly starting with the Europa League fixtures this year. I also won't be surprised if Jose spends big for a CB either next or two summers from now depending on how Smalling further develops. I myself am not sure that Smalling is the CB to take United back to a Top 6 club in Europe.

Smalling - Bailly - Tuanzebe and/or Williams is a good crop of CBs, maybe invest in a young, excellent passer from the back ala Bonnucci and you're good to go in Europe.
 
The more i think about bailly's participation of ACON the more i'm sold about getting another experienced CB.
 
RedRover said:
Don't get that. Nothing wrong with a bit of experience. Throwing young lads in at centre half rarely works out well for anyone.
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How do centre halves ever get a shot then?

Revan said:
Not outside of this forum.
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Not sure about that, even the City fans that I have the pleasure of interacting with in everyday life rate Smalling as a defender.
 
RB and CB are the two obvious areas we can significantly improve so it wouldn't surprise me if we're looking.
 
MounchesterUtd said:
IMO this shows that Jose still isn't sold on the idea of Smalling as his leader at the back. If the deal goes through, I won't be surprised if Fonte-Bailly becomes his first choice CB pairing.
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I doubt it. It probably means he's not sure how Bailly will take to the league, something he's mentioned himself. Also, after the community shield game when he praised Bailly's performance he mentioned Smalling's absence in regards to Bailly acquitting himself well without him.
 
After the Pogba-saga... I wouldn't open my mouth if I was Philip bruyne or Duncan egghead
 
Harrisamo said:
In what world are the likes of Fosu-Mensah and Tuanzebe considered simply 'quantity' before they are 'quality'?

Given the circumstance Fonte would be a needless stop gap. No ta.
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They are not ready to fill in at such a critical position in the senior team. Right now we only have 3 CB's to be trusted, and Blind may need to deputize at fullback or DM depending upon our injury situation.

Fonte is experienced, probably wouldn't mind a pay raise, and is old enough to not block Axel's development. Similar to Zlatan vis a vis Rashford. A highly pragmatic signing.
 
Valencia - 30
Darmian - 26
Smalling - 26
Bailly - 22
Rojo - 26
Jones - 24
Blind - 26
Shaw - 21
CBJ - 19
TFM - 18

That's quite a young defense especially since two of them aren't really defenders (Blind and Valencia). They can do a decent job there but they certainly do not have the experience to lead a defence. Rojo plays like an 18 year old. He lack positioning, football brain and is often rash. Jones had been out of the defence for too much to be relied on and he hasn't built the neccessary experience to lead a defense and Darmian has yet to settle in the EPL especially since we changed his role (from WB to RB). Our defence rely heavily on Smalling's experience and leadership. If he's out then our defence will lack a leader. Jones-Bailly, Rojo-Bailly, Jones-Rojo, Bailly-Blind, Bailly-CBJ, Blind-Rojo, Blind-Jones do not inspire me with confidence.

Defences had always relied on leaders. The treble winning season had Stam, Irwin, Johnsen and Schmeichel. The 3rd CL squad had Gaz, VDS, Rio and Vidic. This defence lack leaders. Smalling can be a leader (hence why I mentioned him) but he's no Rio and Stam and DDG is no Schmeichel or VDS in terms of leadership
 
Drainy said:
Hopefully if we sign him it means Rojo has found a club.

I fear that it will be Blind who goes though
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Both Rojo and Blind featured in the Charity shield. The one who was left out was Jones
 
Very good signing if it happens

We could do with a PL proven leader CB to help out while Bailly settles and goes to the African CON. I've not watched Southampton consistently either, but every time I have seen Fonte, he has looked solid
 
Very underwhelming signing this. I'd rather keep Blind if the alternative is Jose Fonte.
 
Facing Southamptom next gameweek. Is this a way to unsettle their best defender?
 
There's a lot of names that on paper makes us look like we have cover BUT that's only on paper. Realistically there's only one CB in Chris. Chris has been superb but I'm always waiting for him to do something stupid? Furthermore, Chris doesn't have leadership qualities and to be he's a no.2 CB. Blind for me is not a CB and was put there as cover which we still haven't resolved that issue. Bailly is still young and untested in Prem; and the rest have either been constantly injured or generally pretty crap.
 
Not sure if this will happen or just gossip but I do like Fonte, premier league proven and he was very decent in the Euros. Not young, not stellar but in all honesty Rojo is dog shite and Jones is injury prone slightly, lesser shite and both undeserving of being at our club. I dont think Fosu-Mensah is ready to be a CB either so I would like this signing if we could pull it off as I feel Smalling has one too many brain farts in him and Bailly is pretty raw still so with Blind this would be a solid addition as there will be plenty of games this season.
 
Gopher Brown said:
Surely by now we're sick of buying players of dubious quality who add very little to the team.
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So we should just be buying superstars then?

You can't have a squad full of £50 million players. We need experienced cover over a long season whether it be him or another similar player.
 
Wait wait,i tho this thing about Jose Fonte was bullshit,dont tell me we are really for him
 
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