I would be beyond pissed off if Smalling was included in any deal for Vermaelen. Essentially, a downgrade.
Thomas Vermaelen
- Thread starter Santos J
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So so true. Nice try though Barney.
It's not true at all.
Has this been mentioned? That would be mad, Smalling is your best CB.
He isn't.
I'll have Smalling any day.
Smalling for me is our best centre back.
The people who don't rate him see he plays crap as right back and think he is poor. Put Vidic and Rio right back and see how they'd do. He needs a run of games as centre back.
The people who don't rate him see he plays crap as right back and think he is poor. Put Vidic and Rio right back and see how they'd do. He needs a run of games as centre back.
John Cross is reporting Arsenal's interest in him in that Mirror article.
I completely agree though. Koscielny and Mertesacker have formed a formidable partnership at the back, but the two of them along with Vermaelen are in their late twenties and can't be expected to maintain the same standard they've set. They ideally need a young centre back, as there will be a natural transition in their defence soon - well Sagna has left.
We just need to play Smalling on a consistent basis at centre back and stop using him as right back cover. He is our most inherently talented and intelligent defender in my eyes, it's just his distribution and ability on the ball that are his main weaknesses. He's also a player who van Gaal would prefer to work on and eradicate those deficiencies in his game IMO, as he also advocates giving young(ish) players an opportunity.
Exactly. The same people who suggest we sign this emerging talent and that one and then question why they don't perform when we continuously play them out of position. Both Smalling and Jones should have developed at a faster rate than they have, but hopefully that won't be an issue now we have a manager with a great track record with young players.
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That's Evans but Smalling is very good.
I do rate him, but that doesn't make him better than Evans overall. There's more to being our best centre-half than being a good defender.
I don't particularly rate him and it has nothing to do with his performances at right back. He's poor on the ball and wastes possession a daft amount for a defender. And he tends to switch off and gets caught flat footed an awful lot for a guy of his height. I'd still put him ahead of Jones as a centreback though.
Why would it change anything regarding the Shaw deal?
We haven't sold Smalling have we...
He plays well defensively but in no way he is better than Evans overall. Smalling is good at man marking and interceptions but he is piss poor in passing. He gives away possession far too easily.
Can we pay them an extra million to take Cleverley off our hands, please? I wouldn't imagine we'd ever sanction Smalling being part of a deal, that would be completely retarded.
Are you talking about simple passing to his fellow defenders and defensive midfielders? Or long passing? Defenders should be judged first and foremost on how they defend.
If Vermalen was to come here, I honestly wouldn't start him over Smalling and Evans - the two centre backs I'd have as my first choice pairing. That said, I doubt we'll buy him to sit on the bench.
Defenders should be judged first and foremost on how they defend , yes. United defenders should be judged on overall play and how they can contribute as a team, no? What's the point of gaining back possession and giving it away the next minute?
There seems to be an obsession with ball playing centre backs nowadays. At the end of the day, defenders are there to defend, and like you said, should be judged on that. Anything else is a bonus, in my opinion. Neither Rio or Vidic were anything special on the ball. I also think people exaggerate a bit when it comes to Smalling's ability on the ball.
Nonsense. That's old thinking. The top tier teams all employ players in every position who are comfortable on the ball. Attack starts with defence.
We'd be mad to include Smalling as part of this crappy deal.
Smalling still has too many lapses in concentration to be "our best CB" to be honest, Evans game to game is probably the most reliable and experienced and Jones if he can ever stay fit has the potential to eclipse both by a distance.
Pepe and Ramos are the same, yet they are considered some of the best in the world.
He would be more than welcome @ OT just so i can see his bird in crowd 
I don't want this guy at OT. Whats happened to the class CBs in world football? SMDH
Rio we never anything special on the ball? Seriously?
Rio was a class act, one of the best centre backs with the ball at ha feet you could find. Think you're clouded by the lump it up the
field disease he caught in his last 2 seasons.
He'd easily start in our current team if he can play at his best.
He was our best out and out CB last season. On the ball is the only problem he has
I know.I wonder why people think he cost 30 million......because he was good at winning headers!
Rio was known for his composure and for being able to bring the ball out of defence better than the other English CBs. After a few years he didn't bring it out much
If Vermaelen's going we should have a stab at unsettlng Nastasic, bout time we took something from them blue twerps.
There is potential that we will see four CBs in the lineup one day if we end up getting this guy:
Smalling - Jones - Evans - Vermaelen
...which brings me to a horrible thought: Maybe we are signing him as backup at CB and Evra's competition at LB.
Smalling - Jones - Evans - Vermaelen
...which brings me to a horrible thought: Maybe we are signing him as backup at CB and Evra's competition at LB.
I think he can do better under LvG too. He isn't as shite a player as people make him look like. Mentally he seems a bit fragile and goes in shell quickly so need a coach who can inspire him better. Doesn't mean he will suddenly become a Xavi because of it, but can be lot better asset than he currently is.
There is potential that we will see four CBs in the lineup one day if we end up getting this guy:
Smalling - Jones - Evans - Vermaelen
...which brings me to a horrible thought: Maybe we are signing him as backup at CB and Evra's competition at LB.
I think slightly more likely is that we might go to the 3 at the back Netherlands are using, and even though Evans Smalling and Jones would look like a fairly good 3 to start with, we'd need cover and competition for them. Vermaelen is good on the ball with more composure than all but Evans so in that would it could make sense
Not a chance we include Smalling in any deal. Most likely included by Arsenals PR man John Cross to appease Arsenal fans.
Cleverley can leave with my blessing. He is not good enough for Arsenal though so obviously its bollocks as I cannot see Wenger being interested in the slightest. His technique, one touch passing and eye for a killer pass are all severely lacking. Even at his best and I've been watching him since the reserves he seems more an Aston Villa/Stoke type player - I know he has been shocking of late due to confidence but he is way overrated when he is confident and that's because he is English.
Not a top 4 team player imo (or top 7)
Not a top 4 team player imo (or top 7
)Is this really happening?. Bit of a nothing signing really.
some say a proven and experienced PL Player, some get angry about that transfer.
Both are right, if we get Vermaelen and are being told this is the replacement for Vidic, then I'd get angry too. If they say we get him as a cheap backup and replacement for the 2nd defender we lost in Rio and a world class defender is still to come I'd be really happy for max £10m.
So wait and see if they really believe another injury prone defender can solve our defensive issues
Both are right, if we get Vermaelen and are being told this is the replacement for Vidic, then I'd get angry too. If they say we get him as a cheap backup and replacement for the 2nd defender we lost in Rio and a world class defender is still to come I'd be really happy for max £10m.
So wait and see if they really believe another injury prone defender can solve our defensive issues
Arsenal aren't in a position of power here with Tommy only having a year left, they won't want to lose him on a free like Sagna. They can't really demand Smalling who is our best defender. T clev they can have.
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