Jones and Smalling seem to be the worst pairing of CBs in our squad, which is so odd as both are English. I'd be content if they stay on as squad options, but they should never be together in the first 11.
Smalling and Jones
- Thread starter podurban2
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When the rumours of Arsenal's interest were floating about in late January and I suggested it might be a good move on our part, all of a sudden people were telling me Smalling is our best defender and worth as much as Virgil van Dijk.
If Jose sells two center backs, buys a partner for Bailly and leaves the remaining two as cover, we'll be making progress.
Given that TFM is developing as a right back at Palace and Tuanzebe I think has come on to play in midfield for Villa (right?) they might be cover for those positions next season.
If Jose sells two center backs, buys a partner for Bailly and leaves the remaining two as cover, we'll be making progress.
Given that TFM is developing as a right back at Palace and Tuanzebe I think has come on to play in midfield for Villa (right?) they might be cover for those positions next season.
McDonnell is probably the only Journo worth listening to regards United at the Mirror.
One of the biggest reasons to keep Jose is so no new manager is fooled into giving these two a fresh chance as a CB pairing before they're shipped out
Reckon both are only still around because our past 3 managers haven't stayed long enough to realise they're sabotaging their tenures playing this pair
Reckon both are only still around because our past 3 managers haven't stayed long enough to realise they're sabotaging their tenures playing this pair
I would be very surprised if Smalling is still here next season.
Smalling is the common denominator in all of our poor defensive partnerships.
The only player Smalling formed a good partnership with was Blind who is a very good ball player. That is all you need to know about him.
The only player Smalling formed a good partnership with was Blind who is a very good ball player. That is all you need to know about him.
They hurt our build up and our transitional play, we can't even get out of gear 1 because of them. Alexis, Martial, Lingard have to drop 20/30 yards deeper knowing that these tools cannot pass.
Our defensive mindset ever since SAF retired has blinded our fans to the true ability of Smalling and Jones. People who defend them pointing to our defensive record this season and in prior seasons under LVG need to look at how we've been set up as a unit which in-turn has protected them a great deal in the past. Our defensive record has been good, not because of them but inspite of them. When you have your team set up to stop the opposition even CBs from a midtable team would do fine.
Smalling wouldn't even make the bench at PSG, Madrid, Bayern or Barca and these are the teams we're trying to compete against. He needs to be shipped out pronto and so we can actually evolve as a team by giving someone competent a squad place who won't brick it as soon as he sees the ball being passed to him.
Smalling wouldn't even make the bench at PSG, Madrid, Bayern or Barca and these are the teams we're trying to compete against. He needs to be shipped out pronto and so we can actually evolve as a team by giving someone competent a squad place who won't brick it as soon as he sees the ball being passed to him.
Would be amazing to be finally rid of those two clueless orcs.
Feck them off to Brighton or West Brom where they belong.
Ricardo Carvalho
John Terry
Walter Samuel
Lucio
Sergio Ramos
Pepe
Those are some seriously good defenders; that were heavily influenced by Mourinho himself to become the players they are.
If you are a centre back and are still not at the highest level under Mourinho then you will never be at that level. He knows how to maximize centre backs.
John Terry
Walter Samuel
Lucio
Sergio Ramos
Pepe
Those are some seriously good defenders; that were heavily influenced by Mourinho himself to become the players they are.
If you are a centre back and are still not at the highest level under Mourinho then you will never be at that level. He knows how to maximize centre backs.
I don't know about Jones, I think we should keep him.Yes he has his mistakes but he is a good player, at least against the bottom teams.He can be useful in cups.
Smalling will most probably leave and I hope we get a minimum of 35-40 million pounds for him.
Keane was sold for 30 million pounds and he's just a kid with potential.Smalling has been a full International for years and he's just turned 28 which is young for a CB.
In fact a total defensive remodeling is needed.Two FBs, atleast 1 CB.
Sell Blind, Rojo, Smalling for 75-80 mill and replace them with a top player + maybe De Vrij on a free.
FBs can probably wait, but if we are not going to make any attacking signings, I really hope we make some full back signings.
Smalling will most probably leave and I hope we get a minimum of 35-40 million pounds for him.
Keane was sold for 30 million pounds and he's just a kid with potential.Smalling has been a full International for years and he's just turned 28 which is young for a CB.
In fact a total defensive remodeling is needed.Two FBs, atleast 1 CB.
Sell Blind, Rojo, Smalling for 75-80 mill and replace them with a top player + maybe De Vrij on a free.
FBs can probably wait, but if we are not going to make any attacking signings, I really hope we make some full back signings.
If we want to reduce hoof ball / long ball , reduce the importance of maroune fellaini
we have to ship them out especially smalling.
I don't care how good they are at tackling , aerial duel , 1 on 1 or whatever it is
Good footballing team have a great defender who knows what to do with the ball in their feet
we have to ship them out especially smalling.
I don't care how good they are at tackling , aerial duel , 1 on 1 or whatever it is
Good footballing team have a great defender who knows what to do with the ball in their feet
Club having no direction/vision or long term plan.
Not exactly true though, is it? They were both seen as promising young CBs when we signed them.
We are playing 2 wingers at RB and LB with two average CB's. An overworked CDM paired with an attacking midfielder in the middle of the pitch with a striker upfront that is woefully off form. We also have a 7 foot Swedish pensioner on the bench eating up the wage bill. There are problems all over the pitch.
Fair enough but they have had how many years to grow into world class players or the level required for Man United. The chop and changing of managers from Moyes to Van Gaal and now Mourninhi has not helped that growth either. You need stability for players and a team to flourish and United is far from a stable club imo.
This is true, but their signing came during the very stable SAF era.
I find it puzzling that our central defenders always take the heat when we don't score goals and - the goal our opponents score come from a freekick 30 yards from goal where our central midfielders completely leave a guy alone 10 yards from goal. Smalling didn't have a good game, but Jones was one of our best players.
I'm certain at least one of them will be gone in the summer, most likely Smalling. He'll go to Arsenal or another English club but we have to accept that. We'll still have four CBs so im not sure if Mourinho would want to bring in a new one. I really hope Bailly gets back we need to finalize our lineup at the back before deciding to buy/sell in the summer.
United are so inept we will probably end up extending their contracts.
I'd take his word, he knows a thing or two about creating nervousness and tension in the box.
Manager's fault for playing them together. Think most fans know they bring out the worst qualities in each other, yet Jose still persisted with this.
And Pogba is knowhere to be seen. Its a buggers muddle. Defenders who arent comfortable on the ball and cant pass, pressing opposition, and no midfield to help.
- Both of them have won 27 tackles in 3429 mins whereas Vertonghen alone has won 10 more in less minutes otamendi alone has 34
- Both have them have made 1300 forward passes in same minutes, vertonghen has 1342, otamendi has 1806
- Joel Matip has outperformed both of them easily
- So have skinrar, Benatia, Umtiti, stones etc.
Year 5 and hundreds of millions of £’s post Sir Alex, and our back 4 consists of Valencia, Ashley Young, Smalling, and Phil Jones.
It’s actually quite hilarious.
It’s actually quite hilarious.
It's absolutely mind boggling
This is the 7th season they've been together at United and we are still freaking discussing if they are a possible pairing. Are we still expecting them to be stalwarts at the back in the "future"? Nonsense.
To regain our prominence in the league and Europe we will need to address our back 4. Valencia has done what's been asked of him, but having such turnover at centre-back and Young playing on the left is just not good enough. All the money the club spends and we have no Ramos, no Pique, no Vidic
Jones I would keep but Smalling, deary me no. Every time me and the lad watch the game there is tension in our house as you know a mistake, a pull in the box a clumsy trip is a matter of minutes away. Top teams need top defenders with good technique and ability. Smalling excels at nothing. He is uncomfortable and akward bringing the ball out. The ball bounces off his head more than he attacks it with any conviction or technique.
Our transfer strategy has been appalling.
Even Mourinho has pissed away money on Lindelof. He's just as useless as Smalling and Jones.
Smalling and Jones togther have always looked dodgy, some players just don't work well together and Jones and Smalling have always come under that category.
I don't really understand why Rojo isn't partnering Jones, their partnership last season was great. But I suppose Rojo is coming back from a similar injury to Zlatan its gonna take a while for him to be back to the level he was before(if he ever gets their as it was a very serious injury that some players never fully recover)
Its a shame we spent 30 million on Lindelof when he isnt as good as any of the centre backs we have already.
I don't really understand why Rojo isn't partnering Jones, their partnership last season was great. But I suppose Rojo is coming back from a similar injury to Zlatan its gonna take a while for him to be back to the level he was before(if he ever gets their as it was a very serious injury that some players never fully recover)
Its a shame we spent 30 million on Lindelof when he isnt as good as any of the centre backs we have already.
The fact that we went out and spent 30 million on a CB whose nowhere near the first team and frankly doesn't look good enough. Forcing us to play Jones and Smalling together who've not looked good enough since Sir Alex was in charge is one of the most legitimate criticisms of Mourinho out there.
Lindelof is still very young for a defender and I think there is actually a pretty good chance that he'll turn into a very solid CB in a few years with the right coaching. However, the obvious problem with this is that Mourinho isn't a manager who really coaches player.
I'm a 100% behind Mourinho but I think Lindelof is one of his biggest mistakes as of yet.
Lindelof is still very young for a defender and I think there is actually a pretty good chance that he'll turn into a very solid CB in a few years with the right coaching. However, the obvious problem with this is that Mourinho isn't a manager who really coaches player.
I'm a 100% behind Mourinho but I think Lindelof is one of his biggest mistakes as of yet.
What happened to Rojo? Is he not fit?
Only because of an injury and stupid team selection. The back four should be Valencia, Bailly, Rojo, Shaw.
Which if you look at it like that, doesn’t seem too bad.
They are also chosen by JM, might be wrong but when it comes to certain types of games, if he has an option, he picks those with most experience, those who done it before, those with PL medals.
I'd rather have Smith and Jones at the back...
Ah the medals - that jones ad smalling picked up as squad players when Rio and Vidic were still in our team!!
I thought they were the pairing for England for years like Terry and Ferdinand but they lost the last two away games with the two together.
The thread title sounds like a really dodgy 80s sketch show , with the really unfunny hosts “Smalling and Jones”
They’re both decent players, but should not be played together. Imo we should probably sell one in the summer, preferably Smalling, I’d have Tuanzabe or TFM ahead of him for cover for sure. I think Lindelöf will come good for us, but what we really need is a fit Bailly.
I think Lindelof will come good. Only 23 and fantastic on the ball. Aside from his preseason and nightmare debut he really hasn't been that bad.
Lindelof is great on the ball but lacks any kind of physicality needed in this league. His anticipation is great because he's amassed a lot of blocks but he really needs to improve in many areas. I hope he does. He wasn't just bad for his debut, he's looked shaky in most of the domestic games he's played in, including his last start against Yeovil. He's looked decent in slower CL games.