Interesting
Smalling / on loan to Roma 1 year
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We're in for a ruff ride.
Much rather he was sold to be honest. Why loan him at the end of the summer where we could be forced to keep him after the loan?
Rather we got some cash as little as it may be and got him off the wage bill too. The same can go for Jones.
Rather for now keep Maguire, Lindelof, Tuanzebe, Rojo and Bailly.
Rojo and Bailly can be let go in the future if we sign able replacements.
Rather we got some cash as little as it may be and got him off the wage bill too. The same can go for Jones.
Rather for now keep Maguire, Lindelof, Tuanzebe, Rojo and Bailly.
Rojo and Bailly can be let go in the future if we sign able replacements.
But tying them down for even longer makes them unsellable. Jones and Rojos deals could have lapsed and let go for nothing to get them off the wage bill, and Smalling could've been kept as back up with Tuanzebe, at least for this season.
The whole 'nobody will buy them' angle doesn't work when we could have binned them off if not for new contracts.
I'm not surprised he'd rather go to Roma than Inter Milan, I've heard it's not for everyone.... sorry I'll get my coat.
Smalling would be 6th/7th choice at Inter.
I think Smalling is a much better player than he has been given credit for and will always defend him from some of the more pointless criticism.
However, this as a continuation of the theme of Ole's restructuring is logical. He got rid of guys like Fellaini and Lukaku, 2 others whose limitations influence the style of play but whose effectiveness made them attractive when results pressure came on. Ole is removing a temptation and is clearly looking to build something that can lead to a progressive style of play. You have to credit him, and at the same time reassess the goal for this season. This is true transition, something Mourinho had no stomach for, thus his fixation with older players and short term-ism. If the club are brave and don't panic when the inevitable bumps come then Ole's idealism might just be the start of something, at the very least we look to have a true plan in place for the first time since the early days of LVG.
I wish Smalling well, has matured into a good man, good for him to accept the challenge instead of sitting in the stands picking up his pay check.
However, this as a continuation of the theme of Ole's restructuring is logical. He got rid of guys like Fellaini and Lukaku, 2 others whose limitations influence the style of play but whose effectiveness made them attractive when results pressure came on. Ole is removing a temptation and is clearly looking to build something that can lead to a progressive style of play. You have to credit him, and at the same time reassess the goal for this season. This is true transition, something Mourinho had no stomach for, thus his fixation with older players and short term-ism. If the club are brave and don't panic when the inevitable bumps come then Ole's idealism might just be the start of something, at the very least we look to have a true plan in place for the first time since the early days of LVG.
I wish Smalling well, has matured into a good man, good for him to accept the challenge instead of sitting in the stands picking up his pay check.
No idea why he is the first one to leave out of all the unwanted defenders at the club.
Roma were looking for experienced and fit defender.
Because he is the only one who wants to leave for gametime
Because no one wants Jones or Bailly or Rojo
This seems weird to me, unless he really pushed for it. I think he's still our best backup centre back, and is more reliable in terms of fitness than Jones, Bailly and Rojo. We suddenly look like we could be in trouble if anything happens to Maguire or Lindelof, or even if one of them drops form (looking at Lindelof here).
I'm not sure why some people are lauding this as a sign of clearing out the "deadwood" when Smalling has always been a useful player and the players that will play instead of him have rarely ever been reliable. It's not helpful to clear out deadwood when you're left with even deader wood and end up wishing you'd kept the wood you threw away. I suppose it will be interesting how far up the pecking order Tuanzebe gets
Having said that I've always liked Smalling, wish him the best and think he'll do well if he goes there. Solid defender and seems like a good guy with a good attitude.
I'm not sure why some people are lauding this as a sign of clearing out the "deadwood" when Smalling has always been a useful player and the players that will play instead of him have rarely ever been reliable. It's not helpful to clear out deadwood when you're left with even deader wood and end up wishing you'd kept the wood you threw away. I suppose it will be interesting how far up the pecking order Tuanzebe gets
Having said that I've always liked Smalling, wish him the best and think he'll do well if he goes there. Solid defender and seems like a good guy with a good attitude.
Where are people getting this 'best backup CB' idea? Have you actually seen the guy play? He's an awful defender - error prone and can't pass the ball. Jones and Rojo need to be gone too. All crap.
I remember when people were glad we got rid of 'deadwood' Jonny Evans and Michael Keane for around £10m between them, we've been so much better for it.
We'll probably be wanting a new centre back by the end of the season if Tuanzebe doesn't step up.
We'll probably be wanting a new centre back by the end of the season if Tuanzebe doesn't step up.
That's a lot of bad defending for a supposedly good defender.
Probably because he has been the best of a very average group of CBs the past couple of seasons, so no surprise that Roma would prefer to have Mike to any of the others.
Managed to make a 10 year career at the club just by being a little less shite than our other CBs. Thank feck he's gone, hopefully it's a perm next summer.
I don't really get it. I could have understood it had it been a permanent deal, if we want to get rid of a centerhalf and he's the only one someone wants, but what's the great benefit of a loan deal? We lose our best backup at centerhalf - for me anyway - but still keep the player, who could be back next year. If he's ours, might as well keep him at the club.
He may well be sold next summer. Probably doesnt want to be our 4th choice CB. Maybe he will have some decent performances and someone will splash the cash
Was part of SAF, LVG and Jose's tenures. Capped 31 times by England. He's a good defender. Again, not a world beater and not as bad as many people think he was.
Scored some goals too for United.
He was part of Fergie's squad because he was still young and had a bit of potential. No chance Fergie would have persisted with Smalling as he turned out. Being a defender in LVG and Jose's United is no ringing endorsement neither is 31 caps in a era where England have been sorely lacking in quality CBs. Particularly after he's been dropped as soon as England transitioned into a more modern style of play. Has been obvious for years he's not good enough for us.
My guess is so that Ole isnt pressured by the fans/media to play Smalling when one of our CBs makes a cock up like happened this week. Out of sight, out of mind is maybe what they're hoping for. I wouldnt be surprised if its the other way around though
Is it really though? Would need to see a compilation of the bad moments of each of the great modern defenders to accurately judge it. Rather than compilations people with agendas have.
Agree with all of this.
OGS seems to be building towards a style of play that we can enjoy seeing grow and develop. Smalling was never going to be a true part of that so loaning him out, and putting him in the shop window (along with Sanchez) is the ideal move. Hopefully they perform well and can get sold on for a decent amount next summer.
Honestly this makes little sense, out of Rojo, Jones and him, he’s the only one who isn’t a crock.
I’m far from being his biggest fan but he’s a decent defender and could actually come useful against fast attackers.
I’m far from being his biggest fan but he’s a decent defender and could actually come useful against fast attackers.
Thats all you can come up with from 9 years of playing for us? 11 mistakes in 206 appearances for United. Of course that guy also snuck in things like him scoring an own goal on his debut for Fulham against Chelsea which would make it out of 10 years.
Lindelof and Bailly have made more than that in the past 2 seasons alone
We don't know what Fergie would have done because we don't know what David Gill or even more what Woodward would have done. Being a 3rd choice or 4th choice CB of Smalling's ilk isn't bad, as long as your first choice CBs are bang on better...which currently for United it's still debatable that Smalling or even Tuanzebe could slot in next to Maguire. So it took about 7 years for Smalling to be pushed aside at United now that he's 30/31. Not bad. Or it's just ineptitude at United.
So you're going to ignore the fact that he was United's Player's Player of the Year winner post-Fergie? I get it that United have been below standards since Fergie left, but he's been good compared to the lot that's been served up.
He was a good player for United. Aside from persisting with Valencia and Young for a few too seasons too much, United's issues the past 6/7 years have always been center midfield and getting the necessary amount of goals to challenge for the league or CL spot.
200+ United appearances in the league. Two PL titles. 60+ PL clean sheets. I mean I guess he's shit. And it's because DDG saved his ass all the time.
Answer on your question. Why would any club loan a player who will be injured all the time? You think that other clubs don't know the truth about Rojo ynd Jones?
Ok but noone has come in for Jones and probably won't given his injury record. Bailly is injured so he won't be leaving. There is some interest in Rojo and he might leave as well. Smalling is a good reliable player but we have way too many CBs and if Maguire and Lindelof are first choice and Tuanzebe first reserve it leaves a good reliable player with insufficient opportunities. So probably best all round to go on loan. Not to a bad club either. We can't do the same with Jones as understandably the interest isn't there.
I can believe this is happening. Over the moon.
The guy is a decent enough bloke, can defend well enough at times too. But my god whenever he had he ball it was like a hot potato - infuriating at the best of times. It was brutal when Southgate banished him from the England squad but was completely valid. He just isn’t goof enough with a football
Well said
I can see why some may be upset and/or confused that Smalling goes before Rojo, Bailly, or arguably Jones, but which club would want those three with their constant injury issues? I also think Smalling may have pushed for a move like this to revitalise his career. Gives him more chance of first team football and at the same time he is not standing in the way of the development of Tuanzebe.
I think this really speaks volumes for what Ole is trying to do. It's not like he's first in line to clear out. If Bailly hadn't picked up an injury, I could see him having been sold to a European club, as he might actually be fancied by some. If there is anyone doing their job at the club, they are presumably trying to shift Rojo and Darmian. Tricky to find an option for Jones as he is just far too injury prone. Best bet for him would have been a newly promoted club looking for experience I guess.
Good move for Smalling. Hope he does well there.
Tuanzebe has a huge opportunity now
Good move for Smalling. Hope he does well there.
Tuanzebe has a huge opportunity now
Well we had to start somewhere. On the plus side, any other defender who knows they suck more than Smalling knows their time is up.
If you search old threads regarding smalling, you will see he was a good defender for years but unfortunately all good defenders eventually run out of gas
I think we should have sold smalling and its the right time to part ways permanently so I'm bugged this is a loan.
I think we should have sold smalling and its the right time to part ways permanently so I'm bugged this is a loan.
Do you not think we have tried doing that? We're not sending him over there to get sharp for next season.
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