That's fair from anyone who doesn't rate him, and even his biggest fans don't care if he is replaced by better players, but only after we have finished replacing options that are worse than him. We cannot sell him befire selling players who are far worse than him, and he is our most reliable CB for years now, it's ridiculous.
Smalling signs new contract
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That's fair from anyone who doesn't rate him, and even his biggest fans don't care if he is replaced by better players, but only after we have finished replacing options that are worse than him. We cannot sell him befire selling players who are far worse than him, and he is our most reliable CB for years now, it's ridiculous.
Smalling has been our most consistent defender in the last 5 years, so deserves to remain with us. He is our best defender, contrary to what some people say about Bailly (who barely ever plays and played well for 3 months, when he first joined us).
Phil Jones is the one I want to ditch; if he gets a new contract, then we are well and truly rewarding mediocrity.
Phil Jones is the one I want to ditch; if he gets a new contract, then we are well and truly rewarding mediocrity.
You would have something like 72.7% or 74.2% pass accuracy if you keep passing the ball to the opponent.
1) He can play football and has won trophies. Where are yours?
2) Why are you worried about the value of a CB who we've had since he was a youngster and is now 29 and is still our best CB? The club are rightfully more concerned with keeping our best CB at the club, not how much you can sell him for on Football Manager. Clearly the club arent selling him.
3) Absolutely. We'd be mad to let one of our best players go for free.
4) Racist
Probably our most consistent defender. Fine as backup, but we should be looking to sign a top class centre back, and hopefully moving Jones and Rojo on.
I agree. I might not rate him but right now he is the last CB we should be showing the door to.
This is like when people wanted to get rid of the likes of Nani, Rafael, etc. before finding replacement, and then we replaced them with the likes of Memphis Depay and Darmian. Great times, just shows how fickle our fans(and our board) are. 5 years later, we still have worse options on the wing and fullback than Rafael and Nani. But as long as we got rid of them, eh? 
This is like when people wanted to get rid of the likes of Nani, Rafael, etc. before finding replacement, and then we replaced them with the likes of Memphis Depay and Darmian. Great times, just shows how fickle our fans(and our board) are. 5 years later, we still have worse options on the wing and fullback than Rafael and Nani. But as long as we got rid of them, eh?
Yep same old stuff
Jones made it to the world cup should he get a new contract then? You dont think the fact that southgate prefers younger players might have something to do with it?
But do you at least think Emery would aspire to have a centre back like Smalling? Otherwise what point were you making that they would pay £120k/week to have him on their books?
What was your answer to the Leno/Cech question? Or rather the answer is that Leno plays the ball out from the back. Like Emery tries to get his centre backs to do. Like Smalling can't.
He’s earned the contract tbf. I’ve been critical of him but he’s clearly the best of a bad bunch. And we can’t sell all our defenders.
Give a 2 year contract max if you are keeping a mediocre defender. Google reckon hes 29 as well. WTF is happening at this club?
That he's a better CB than any they have. So obviously he'd want to improve his defense. Its pretty simple
Smalling does something Arsenal's defenders cant also. Defend well
Ok well here's hoping you're right and they come in for him when we eventually try to shift him.
he isnt available hes our first choice CB
Erm get rid of the manager asap, sort the club out and then we would be able to make a decision either way come the summer? surely more logical... what if the next manager doesn't want him ala Southgate, or has his eyes set on bringing in a couple of CBs. This management debacle is causing unnecessary hassle in terms of not having a guiding authority who is best placed to make these calls with the long term in mind.
Meh. Don't particularly rate him but there are too many worse defenders in the squad for him to be sold now.
Our best CB right now. I hope I’m not still saying that next year/2 years
If the next manager doesnt want him at all then thats a bad sign that we havent improved on our current manager.
Mediocre at best, he'd be the best defender and a good player maybe even a legend at a club like West Ham.
However, he is a threat offensively when he uses his brain and good in the air and physical. Hes a solid back up.
However, he is a threat offensively when he uses his brain and good in the air and physical. Hes a solid back up.
Hopefully we sign a top CB and also bring Axel Tuanzebe back into the mix. I would rather see Axel ahead of Rojo or Jones right now.
The best out of a average to bad bunch.
Hopefully we'll finally see the back of Rojo and Jones though.
Be laughable if Jones got a Testimonial.
Hopefully we'll finally see the back of Rojo and Jones though.
Be laughable if Jones got a Testimonial.
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well pep let sanga, zableta, clincy, kolarov go on free in one summer and bought walker, mendy, danilo, and laporte the winter after. Last time I checked, it worked out pretty well.
He is bang average but our level now is also bang average,Jones will be next to sign a new deal and its all geared to prevent the glazers shelling out on transfer fees for as long as absolutely possible!
He's a pretty good defender in the purity of the role, he's just not good enough or confident enough on the ball. That doesn't mean he's not a good enough defender, and in the right system he can be very, very good. IMO Southgate made the wrong call in leaving him out of the World Cup squad, he's always useful for defending leads and his height can be important when defending late on in games. At least he has strengths, unlike Cahill and Jones.
If you're new to how things work in this side of Manchester, we cannot do that.
The only one that's worth keeping as a squad player. Four years is a bit much though.
Being best( and i don't think that he is even that) among average doesn't mean that you are good. He is not quality for club which want to win trophies. Really stupid decision to give him new contract.
He certainly isnt first team material but i do understand the club stance on renewing him. Average wages, good experience, good squad player, always on good terms with everyone and doesnt mind being benched. So why not keep him.
But certainly sell Jones.
But certainly sell Jones.
Won't win another league title handing out long contracts to average players.
We'd have to pay somebody to take him.
The shit weekend has started.
We've been shit for 5 years.
Plenty of negative comments on the man utd facebook about that announcement.
I think we are in danger ( if not already there ) of being in the same situation as city were, whereby we have a large number of players on our books on high wages who will be difficult to move out of the club should a new manager be appointed.
This is fine - he's our best centre back and most importantly, our only reliable one. Haven't looked at reported wages but I'm sure they're above what's expected knowing our recent history.
Jones, Rojo and potentially Bailly all could go by next summer - no point shipping the whole lot out. Smalling is perfectly fine as a future squad player (assuming we improve the back line).
Jones, Rojo and potentially Bailly all could go by next summer - no point shipping the whole lot out. Smalling is perfectly fine as a future squad player (assuming we improve the back line).
He’s probably our most consistent centre back but he’s prone to brain farts from time to time. I used to think he’d really improved under LVG until I realised that LVGs super defensive approach benefited him greatly and distorted his true quality.
The length of the contract is a bit excessive for me. Surely it would mean at least one of Jones or Rojo leaves this summer.
The length of the contract is a bit excessive for me. Surely it would mean at least one of Jones or Rojo leaves this summer.
Yes and his annual budget is a blank chequebook. Things don’t work that way at United....
I hope that's the last defender we are going to extend from the current lot
And would have been mid table without him