No way, Ferdinand was very competent on the ball. Vidic not so much but his passing was definitely better than Smallin
Thomas Vermaelen
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No way, Ferdinand was very competent on the ball. Vidic not so much but his passing was definitely better than Smallin
Smalling will go nowhere. And Rio was one of the best ball playing centre backs of all time.
For the first time this window anxiously waiting for, "He is not in our plans" line from Woody.
He's a worse David Luiz, better on the ball than defending it.
Even the more impressive, offensive side of his game is streaky, he's had 2 really good goalscoring seasons for Arsenal in 09-10 he got 7 league goals and in 11-12 he got 6 league goals which are fantastic contributions. However in 10-11 he got 0 goals with injuries limiting him to 5 league games. The season before last and last season, he scored 0 goals in each league season.
At the back he's as error prone as Jones.
Even the more impressive, offensive side of his game is streaky, he's had 2 really good goalscoring seasons for Arsenal in 09-10 he got 7 league goals and in 11-12 he got 6 league goals which are fantastic contributions. However in 10-11 he got 0 goals with injuries limiting him to 5 league games. The season before last and last season, he scored 0 goals in each league season.
At the back he's as error prone as Jones.
Because he can also play as LB, although it's his secondary position. I'm worried by the delay in the Shaw deal, I guess Southampton lingers on to raise the price if he has good games in World Cup, even thou he is behind Baines...
lol, no way we are swapping Cleverley and Vermaelen.
He spends most of his time slagging off Smalling when England play so I doubt it. Probably just his usual bollocks to make a story.
Anyway, thankfully it's looking like this could just be a nothing story. Hope so, Vermaelen is wank.
An alternative to Shaw isn't going to be a centre back who can 'do a job' at left back, if the Shaw deal doesn't happen we'll be after another left back.
Maybe we want to play a 3 man defence next season.
Maybe it was Arsenal or his agent who leaked this in a hope that it might drum up a bit of interest in him?
That would be Evans. Nonetheless, getting rid of Smalling would be idiotic.
That's what we are all hoping for, but given that our 'solution' for central midfield positions were Scholes coming back (he did a great job to be fair, especially at his age..), Fellaini, and rotation of Giggs, Cleverley, Fletcher who has a seious health issues and Carrick who is nearing end of his career, at least at the top level, until we actually sign Shaw, I am more than worried ... Hopefully we get the stuff done right this time..
It really wouldn't be Evans.
Evans has been the best CB at the club for a while, he is just never fit (or hardly fit)
Evans has been quality and the most consistent CB for us for at least 3 years. Who do you think is better?
Well no, that would have been Vidic, no matter how past his peak he was last season.
Smalling.
I really don't rate Evans, never have, and think he is bizarrely over-rated on here. Perhaps due to the fact that he's never fit, and is one of those players that gets rated higher in absence.
Last season Evans certainly wasn't more secure at the back than Smalling. Miles better on the ball.
With Vidic gone I don't think it's much of a debate that Evans is our best CB. He and Vidic were the best pairing and I always thought Evans was right up there with him in quality.
Agreed. Whenever he's had an actual run at the position (and unlike Jones and Smalling, that's happened a fair few times over the last few years) he's been very good indeed. His ability with the ball at his feet is a particular strength.
That said, I think both Jones and Smalling will win rapid improvements in their reputations if they get regular CB game time next season. I basically rate all three of our CBs very highly.
If we didn't get anyone new in, I'd want Jones-Evans as our first choice partnership. Evans is the most experienced and currently the best, Jones has the most potential, and their different strengths are the most complementary. But in that scenario Smalling would also get loads of games - most top clubs basically have three 'first-choice' CBs in rotation.
Agreed. Evans' passing ability is one of my favorite things about him, the amount of long balls he completes is quite impressive. That, and he reads the game very well I find. I too rate all 3 of them, and Evans is certainly the strongest. Though I will disagree with you because I would prefer Smalling over Jones to pair with Evans. Although Jones and Smalling are so close in ability with one another that I frankly don't think it would matter which one would be in the starting pairing. Nonetheless, they both have bright futures ahead of them if they can stay fit and get a good run of games.
I hope we keep Jones, Evans, Smalling and Cleverley. I would be really disappointed if we sell anyone out of those 4 without seeing what LvG can get out of them. I rate all highly, but at the same time all need to step up now and I am hopeful under the right management and coaching they will.
I think it's unlikely, but if you saw the way the Dutch centre-backs played vs Spain, with their aggressive positioning and continuous pressing, you can see why Van Gaal might want Vermaelen. Personally I think he's overley rash, but that may well be what Van Gaal is looking for.
Martins Indi isnt aggressive and he plays him
He can provide cover at left back as well can't he? Decent signing for the right price, and if he does well then even better. I don't think he will cost more than €10m
Put it this way, I'd rather have a good defending centre back who's not that great on the ball, than a average centre back who's good on the ball. Rio and Vidic's partnership first and foremost, was solid because of their great defensive attributes. Vidic was a no nonsense defender, who certainly did improve his ability on the ball, just like i'm hoping Smalling will, and Rio was the more assured defender.
I personally think a partnership of Smalling and Evans would compliment each other very well. Hopefully Smalling's ability on the ball can improve under Van Gaal, because he's a great defender, in my opinion.
Evans had one great season three seasons ago but has more meh than solid since then. Blame it on injuries if you like but even he's been fit he's always good for at least massive boner every game. But once he sorts himself out he'll be very good.
Vermaelen would give us a bit if depth we could use.
Vermaelen would give us a bit if depth we could use.
I didn't say he is. Indi and de Vrij were aggressive with their positioning vs Spain though, a high line and constantly stepping out of defence to close down and press Silva and Iniesta when they moved inside.
Joleon Lescott was a better CB than Vermaelen, he's available for free
Was a solid member of the Manchester City side that won the league. Vermaelen has never been solid let alone successful
If Dortmund will keep Hummels then Verminator is decent plan B but only if price won't reach above 15 million mark with bonuses.
Still this deal sound like a bit of a shocker but ESPN UK is confirming Telegraph's exclusive. I wonder what Ogden thinks about this one...
Still this deal sound like a bit of a shocker but ESPN UK is confirming Telegraph's exclusive. I wonder what Ogden thinks about this one...
Ogden said in his piece this morning that we are pursuing Vermaelen.
In that case this deal is very on, however Verm will definitely not come to this club as a 100% starter.
This would be such a shit signing, and we all know it.
No thats only if it was Moyes. for LvG we have diff rules..........
Thats the problem. Its 100% starters we are lacking in an already bulging squad of mediocrity.
I wouldnt think its a case of Vermaelen or Hummels - there is very much a case for having both.
Its the Ashley Young of defenders
Pre injury Vermaelen had goals in him ala Koeman and was a defensive stalwart to match. Since then however...he's been more like smalling or jones....
If we get him cheap, it could be good for us.
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