I would rather have him around as if we have an injury or two and we have to Jones or Rojo and also Rojo's disciplinary record isn't very good with 22 cards in 73 appearences.
Smalling / on loan to Roma 1 year
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Looks like I am one of the few who puts Jones ahead of Smalling. He's a better passer than Smalling, esp. when looking for a long pass. He can also play in the midfield, which is a boon given our current midfield situation. Plus (and this is probably a small point), Smalling gets very handsy while defending - which, given VAR, is dangerous.
The only thing I think we lose with Smalling, is aerial ability. I feel a lot more assured when Smalling goes up for a header than when Jones does.
I'm guessing that a 20 start season would be slightly less taxing on Jones injury wise, since he will be starting behind Maguire and Lindelof. If Ole is around next season, I think we will get another solid defender, and get rid of Rojo and Bailly, so that Jones can be 4th choice.
The only thing I think we lose with Smalling, is aerial ability. I feel a lot more assured when Smalling goes up for a header than when Jones does.
I'm guessing that a 20 start season would be slightly less taxing on Jones injury wise, since he will be starting behind Maguire and Lindelof. If Ole is around next season, I think we will get another solid defender, and get rid of Rojo and Bailly, so that Jones can be 4th choice.
100% this, word for word.
Probably too soon for him, but it's AS Roma v Lazio on Sunday(17:00), now that would be a Baptism of Fire.
Might be because we were asking for 26 million pounds for him.
This stinks of the Glazers trying to get as much off the wage bill to maximise profit margins, especially since we are missing out on the CL money.
Wtf after lindelof disaster start to the season I was hoping we would see him and maguire teamed up
What are the odds on him scoring more goals then Sanchez over there?
I'd genuinely take that betAccording to the MEN he's close to a move to Serie A too, no name of the club.
The problem with jones, other than the injuries, obviously, is that he's barely six feet tall. That's pretty short for a centre back who isn't Baresi quality. Obviously if you're shorter than the forwards you're up against then they'll likely beat you in the air on a regular basis. You can't really coach somebody to be taller.
Really hoping this is true as I thought this was the summer he would definitely be off but I thought a similar thing last summer. I've heard Juve were interested as a replacement for Cancelo, also heard Inter were interested but sources weren't reliable so can only hope he goes soon.
hopefully he gets lost on the way and that's the last we ever see of him (can he sneak Jones into his luggage and lose that en route too?)
Would have preferred to see Rojo /Jones/ Bailly leave first but as other people pointed out no one is probably interested in those and we have too many defenders.
Not amazing but probably the best we can get...anything to help our defence is welcome
I presume that it's down to them being so fecking shite there were no takers but it seems questionable at the very least to get rid of Smalling ahead of other 3 injury prone CBs.
No moaning about how United is losing the English identity
This is dumb.
Jones and Rojo being our backup options baffles me (or maybe doesn't)
Way to turn my head from thinking this was a good piece of news for once.
Can't disagree with you, seeing as it's pure conjecture. But believable conjecture.
At the same time though, getting rid of a CB when we have too many means that I don't care if the Glazers make more money in the process. He was surplus to requirements and has been sent away. Win-win.
Would have prefer Rojo to leave but getting rid of one surplus CB is a start. Bailly/Jones & Tuanzebe as back ups until next summer. Next summer buy a world class cb and keep Lindelof + Tuanzebe as back up options?
Now just find clubs crazy enough to buy Sanchez, Mata, Matic, Jones, Bailly and Darmian...
Now just find clubs crazy enough to buy Sanchez, Mata, Matic, Jones, Bailly and Darmian...
There’s no way Ole would rather Jones and Rojo over Smalling, he’s a far better player. Seems like they’d have been fecked off too if there were any takers, which there clearly wasn’t.
The way I see it is that Jones/Rojo were pretty happy to stick around. Smalling didn't want a backup role, because he felt he was good enough to be a first teamer.
And of course, no one were ready to take Jones/Rojo off our hands. Smalling at least was a decent player.
Big mistake. Solskjaer's gonna regret this big time when the defenders get injured one after another and when it finally dawns on everyone that Tuanzebe isn't good enough to walk into the side.
But then Smalling is way too good not to be playing so I can understand why he would want to jump the ship and join a club where he's probably gonna be appreciated by the fans.
But then Smalling is way too good not to be playing so I can understand why he would want to jump the ship and join a club where he's probably gonna be appreciated by the fans.
This is a suprise, would have expected it to be Rojo to be the first one out of the door. I guess Rojo offers the benefit of being a natural LCB and can cover LB, especially with Shaw out, so might have decided to keep him, or that no one wants him....
I think, if fit, Jones is the pick of the three of them. Not that he’s particularly great.
Smalling just doesn’t have the ball playing chops to cut it.
If Maguire isn’t injured, we don’t need to rotate him apart from some visibly shite opposition. As such, we only need to rotate 1 CB. We may easily offload Rojo as well now, in addition to Smalling, and be absolutely fine
Smalling is shit. Always has been and shining in a time of mediocrity means nothing.
They want Lovren AND our Mike?
Does it really @Ole90+3?
FOUR senior central defenders and Darmian haven't even made a matchday squad yet and getting rid of one is "Glazers trying to get as much off the wage bill to maximise profit margins"... come one people ffs.
Quite clearly Smalling wants this and rightfully so, it's a smart move for everyone.
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Ok.....would have been the last defender out of Jones/Rojo/Darmian Id have got rid of but guess no takers for the others.
Anyway wish him well, its an interesting move for him personally to say the least.
Anyway wish him well, its an interesting move for him personally to say the least.
Good riddance. It's a sign of our mediocre years that Smalling lasted as long as he did.
Wes Brown was a better center back and was never a starter for us in his preferred position for as long as Smalling got.
Wes Brown was a better center back and was never a starter for us in his preferred position for as long as Smalling got.
I'm glad it's a loan with no option to buy. He's a solid defender, and I'd rather have him as back up. Hope we can get rid of the others.
Hope he has a great season.
Hope he has a great season.
A bit silly thing to do. Even at his worst he would be a solid third defender for us.
I would have preferred to offload Jones and Rojo instead of him to be honest but it would have probably not been that easy. We still have too many center backs though so hopefully we find a buyer (or a loan partner) for Rojo. I don't have much hopes getting rid of Jones.
Maguire, Lindelof, Bailly and Tuanzebe should be our center half rotation.
Maguire, Lindelof, Bailly and Tuanzebe should be our center half rotation.
I thought this was some joke and checked their league goals, Smalling scored 4 since Sanchez signed, Sanchez scored 3.
That would be a great outcome for all parties.
Shareholders get the same proportion of turnovers, it changes nothing for them.
Color me wrong. I was certain that he'd end up back in the XI. While I don't agree, same as when Southgate has ignored him because the weak defensive but, more ball playing defenders tend to give up crucial goals, credit to both that they have picture in their mind of what they want from their CBs and are going to stick to them.
He'll do well there I think.
He'll do well there I think.
Smalling, Jones and Rojo should all be gone.
In absence of the understandable lack of interest in either Jones or Rojo, I'm glad Smalling is finally fecking off from this club.
This is positive people, we're finally getting something done about our awful defenders.
In absence of the understandable lack of interest in either Jones or Rojo, I'm glad Smalling is finally fecking off from this club.
This is positive people, we're finally getting something done about our awful defenders.
Well this is a very random one. Wouldn't have expected that one. In an ideal world I would move Rojo or Jones, even Bailly, a longtime before Smalling. But one's injured and I guess no one wants the other two for cost it would take. All four could move on and I wouldn't shed a tear though so I can't say I'm disappointed, I'm just surprised it looks like Smalling is the first out the door.
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