Jose Fonte

Do not want, he's a Cahill-esque signing. If we can't sign a top and experienced CB to partner and nurture Bailly/Smalling, we shouldn't do it at all.
He is better than Rojo, of course, and he is better than injured Jones but I would rather wait for him to do a Smalling or for one of our youngsters to take his place.
 
Cantona'sCollar said:
That is fair. Fonte is miles ahead of either one of those two right now, so it makes sense. As long as TFM is played this season - I think he's ready for regular first team football.
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Yeah and if not hes on the cusp. Probably at a point where he'll only improve if he gets it.
 
Jig1234 said:
Hope we seal this move. Good stop gap. Premier League proven. He would slot right in at Utd. I hope we sign him and sell Rojo/Jones.

Smalling, Bailly, Blind & Fonte. Very strong CB line.
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Yes I like that, and I reckon we'll end up keeping Rojo, meaning either him or Blind will be back up at LB, so the odd one out would be Jones..
 
Are we even strongly linked with him? I see a lot of talk from fans but nothing really concrete.
 
we're not getting Bonucci, and we aren't going to splash the cash on any ne CB for the remainder of the window (already have Bailly for 30mil)

so Fonte fits the bill
 
harms said:
Do not want, he's a Cahill-esque signing. If we can't sign a top and experienced CB to partner and nurture Bailly/Smalling, we shouldn't do it at all.
He is better than Rojo, of course, and he is better than injured Jones but I would rather wait for him to do a Smalling or for one of our youngsters to take his place.
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He's 32 nearly 33, he'd just be a gap stop.
 
He's a solid defender but I don't see the point. I'd rather give the minutes to TFM who looks a player than to a stop gap. Our squad is solid enough where even if TFM or Bailly for that matter have an adjusting period, it shouldn't make that big of a deal. No different to how Fergie could get away with throwing in youth or average players because he'd have at least 6 players in his starting XI that could do the business and win the game for us.
 
I'm certainly in favour of some experience in the backline and he's a very solid player.

Jones and Rojo are shite and injury prone.
Smalling is nowhere near as good as people on here think he is.
Bailly is inexperienced and Blind lacks the physical presence to be a CB long term.

Get him in for a cheap fee and have a few solid years whilst we blood TFM or whoever.
 
Unless Rojo is being frozen out of the squad I don't see the point. Jones will be injured so there's that.
 
matherto said:
I'm certainly in favour of some experience in the backline and he's a very solid player.

Jones and Rojo are shite and injury prone.
Smalling is nowhere near as good as people on here think he is.
Bailly is inexperienced and Blind lacks the physical presence to be a CB long term.

Get him in for a cheap fee and have a few solid years whilst we blood TFM or whoever.
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That's it
 
matherto said:
I'm certainly in favour of some experience in the backline and he's a very solid player.

Jones and Rojo are shite and injury prone.
Smalling is nowhere near as good as people on here think he is.
Bailly is inexperienced and Blind lacks the physical presence to be a CB long term.

Get him in for a cheap fee and have a few solid years whilst we blood TFM or whoever.
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So you feel Fonte is better than Smalling?
 
manutddjw said:
He's a solid defender but I don't see the point. I'd rather give the minutes to TFM who looks a player than to a stop gap. Our squad is solid enough where even if TFM or Bailly for that matter have an adjusting period, it shouldn't make that big of a deal. No different to how Fergie could get away with throwing in youth or average players because he'd have at least 6 players in his starting XI that could do the business and win the game for us.
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That's right. If Mensah needs to fill in the chances are he'd be excellent anyway, just like against Watford last season. Your understanding of list management and development is on the money.
 


Saw this in the transfer tweets club, if he is willing to talk about the club in public there must have been some sort of talks
 
NK86 said:
So you feel Fonte is better than Smalling?
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I would say that all three of Fonte, Smalling and Blind are around the same level and so it would be a fair fight (together with Bailly who so far has looked fantastic) between them for the two CB positions. Jones and Rojo must be sold though it looks likely that we'll keep Rojo as LB backup (would have preferred Blind and then CBJ in that position before him).
 
NK86 said:
So you feel Fonte is better than Smalling?
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I'd agree, smalling is a good player but we overrate him a hell of a lot on here.

Fonte is easily on par with smalling if not a little better. Having an experienced defender for so cheap wouldn't hurt the club at all.
 
We should send Smalling the other way, obviously according to redcafe he's shite.
 
dannyrhinos89 said:
I'd agree, smalling is a good player but we overrate him a hell of a lot on here.

Fonte is easily on par with smalling if not a little better. Having an experienced defender for so cheap wouldn't hurt the club at all.
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I don't agree. Smalling is ahead of Fonte and would be my first choice along with Bailly/Blind. The last couple of couple of last season seems to have blinded people to Smalling's ability. He was an absolute rock for us for the majority of last season. A dip in form does not mean Fonte is better than him.
 
Zoo said:
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Just came to post that. Interesting little low level saga developing. I probably would rather have had Williams, but this would be a smart signing for United or Arsenal
 
The point of this signing is to get some experience and reliability at the back without paying too much for it aka a stop gap.

People need to stop saong TFM and Jones or some other youngster can fit that profile, they cant because they are not experienced and JM really wants someone with experience. In case of Jones it is also a matter of being injurred all the time.

I am tired of Jones becoming the new Ando, great potential but always injurred and when he can play doesnt look good at all. Rojo is also not good enough to be a serious option at the back for us. TFM best position is CDM or RB, we should not try to shove him in CB.

In terms of CB options that leaves us with Bailly, Smalling, Blind and Tuanzebe. That is a very young crop of defenders that lack some experience. Blind is not a natural CB and will likely be a cover for several positions aswell. So all in all it is a bit lightweight for a JM type of defence.

Fonte would solve alot of problems short term and for 8 million he would be a good signing for us.
 
Didn't realise he played in the Euro 2016 final. Kept three clean sheets in 4 knockout games.
 
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According to the ESPN notification I received, it seems he is keen on United.
 
He'd be a very good signing and would not get into the way of Smalling and Bailly development. He'd be our best defender this season too.
 
Giant Midget said:
Would he be first choice, then?
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I think he's fourth (Bailly, Smalling, Blind…), maximum. With the likes of these in front of him, I can see him only as a security backup for when the others are unavailable. That's why I don't feel United really needs him. But perhaps Mourinho doesn't really trust Rojo enough. Or maybe it's just pushing for a Mendes deal.
 
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