This could be the end of Smalling, who knows. Jose surely didnt appreciate the saga when he didnt want to play. So one of our CB must surely be leaving in the summer latest
Victor Lindelöf
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Isn't that compulsory with Swedes?
I don't like it. Is this guy the best defender that £38m can buy? 
And should we really be splurging on him when we're going to have to spend big on a Carrick replacement and possibly a striker/winger soon?
We're possibly missing out on CL money and Adidas money, and we don't have unlimited spending power.
And should we really be splurging on him when we're going to have to spend big on a Carrick replacement and possibly a striker/winger soon?
We're possibly missing out on CL money and Adidas money, and we don't have unlimited spending power.
So I imagine he along with Bailly would be your CB pairing for a good few years.
What do you think of that?
What do you think of that?
Would you rather add £10 million and buy John Stones?I don't like it. Is this guy the best defender that £38m can buy?
I guess we'll be good at dealing with fast, tricky forwards, but will struggle with big, physical #9s.
My only apprehensions arise due to the fact that the Portuguese league have given the Premier League center-backs like Luiz and Mangala who in their time their were highly rated and were potential world beaters. And look at them today.
I'm more excited about the possibility of us signing their right back Semedo! He's mint.
I'm more excited about the possibility of us signing their right back Semedo! He's mint.
Eusebio as well.
Smalling and maybe even Jones are gone.
I think the 4 will be Bailly, Rojo, Lindelof and Blind. Not bad.
Jones won't leave before Blind.
Yeah not only is he playing well but Jose praised his commitment publicly after he started vs Arsenal with very little training. I get the feeling Jose likes big Phil.
What makes you say that? Blind can play in a number of positions and is handy to have as an option. Jones is injury prone but he might be convincing Jose with these performances lately. So maybe he thinks he can turn him into a John Terry type, I dunno.
I think he's one injury away from getting canned though.
Blind will be backup LB (or first choice depending on Shaw). Rojo Smalling Bailly Jones for CB. Valencia and lindelof for RB.
Darmian to move on this window
Darmian to move on this window
Looks like we're interested in a different RB so Lindelof would be a CB.
Jose loves a January transfer doesnt he.
For sure. Bailly, Jones, and Rojo have all played better than him this season. I know Smalling was injured in the Chelsea game, but in other games he wasn't incredibly impressive - just dependable.
The other three have been immense for us and have had consistent standout performances.
I trust Mourinho with this transfer, especially given his history in signing CBs (look at the last CB we signed, turned out alright!).
What dont you like about it exactly?I don't like it. Is this guy the best defender that £38m can buy?
And should we really be splurging on him when we're going to have to spend big on a Carrick replacement and possibly a striker/winger soon?
We're possibly missing out on CL money and Adidas money, and we don't have unlimited spending power.
This guy can play DM by the way, I wouldnt rule him out helping out there.
I have a hunch Smalling might move on. So it will be Rojo, Baily, Jones and Lindelof for our centre back options.
okayUnited need homegrown/english players, I still imagine Rojo would be sold before Smalling.
Dont like this one bit, especially if it means one of Smalling or Jones going.
Is it completely out of the question that we keep all of our CBs?
Totally....
If that's the main pairing for a good few years then it probably will have worked out well.
I fully trust Mourinho when it comes to signing defenders. No one here had heard of Bailly in the summer but he's almost universally regarded as our best CB now. Smalling has had enough chances and some shocking performances.
It's also given us the likes of Carvalho.
I trust Jose when it comes to centre backs, he gets it right most of the time.
Thanks, seems useful as an insight. Good to hear he's mentally strong and composed. Sounds a bit like Bailly.
Every United-fan should look at his decisions in the last two goals of the match (2-3 and 3-3). First a handball that leads to a penalty, and second a total marking-miss that makes it a draw instead of a win for Benfica. If you're buying Lindelöf, you get one of the biggest defensive talents, a fast defender who can both pass and hold the ball, but not a complete player. You also buy a defender that needs to play a lot to be able to become a complete world class-player.
For all those saying he can play as a DM or a RB, i am also a bit skeptical. (He have never played as a DM and only good as a RB in U-21 Euros). Lindelöf is fast and has great ball control for being a central defender, but is really nothing special if you see him as a DM or a RB. He may be able to become one, but isnt even near the quality that real DM and RBs have who is also finished players, unlike Lindelöf.
I'm skeptical when it comes to Portuguese sources but Mourinho knows his stuff when it comes to CBs. I think there is a space for LCB because only Rojo plays there naturally and Smalling in particular looks half as assured there. Jones played there when we had our five good games in 14/15 but his best position seems to be RCB, along with Bailly and Smalling.
I like how our CB's are shaping up, considering all the problems we've had over the years, I'm happy with this bunch:
Lindelof
Bailly
Rojo
Jones
Smalling
Blind
Lindelof
Bailly
Rojo
Jones
Smalling
Blind
Good thing the club isn't strapped for cash.
My favorite transfers are the ones that come out of nowhere. Either that, or I'm really out of the loop.
My favorite transfers are the ones that come out of nowhere. Either that, or I'm really out of the loop.
I have a feeling Mourinho will start to shape our defence something similar to;
New LB
Lindelof
Jones
Bailly
New LB
Lindelof
Jones
Bailly
Can't see him being anything other than a CB in the long-term. A capable makeshift RB, but lacks certain attributes on the ball to be first choice.
Sounds like the new Ivanovic.
Only individual highlights I could find
With what Jones, Smalling and Rojo have shown wouldn't Southampton take a player plus cash for any of these three with us getting Virgil Van Dijk?
I think it makes sense
Schneiderlin, Bastian and Depay are goners. They will probably be closely followed by Darmian and Fellaini who might leave in Summer. We'll probably add Lindelof with Semedo following. So here's my thought
GK: DDG, Romero, some dude
Comment: not much to add to it
DR: Valencia Semedo
DC: Lindelof, Bailly, Smalling, Jones
DL: Shaw, Rojo
Defence Comment: a multi use defence which can be pretty attacking minded with Shaw and Semedo/Valencia causing havoc on the flanks only to close itself shut with a 4 6ft defenders at the back ie Lindelof, Smalling, Bailly and Rojo. This will allow Mourinho to change plans on a minute notice and without the need of the Belgian clumbsy in CM.
DLP: Carrick, Blind, ???
Box to box, Herrera, ???
AMC: Pogba, Mata
Mid comment: CM remains our achillees heel. I can see Mourinho, giving a final year contract to Carrick. Having said that I believe he'll be searching for a replacement for him. Meanwhile Blind will act as cover for him. The Dutch is a poor man's Carrick. With the defence sorted, Mou will be tempted to let Fellaini go, possibly adding a box to box midfielder like Cambiasso was once was. Upfront Pogba and Mata will allow the Portuguese to swift from 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1 quite easily
AML: Martial, Young, Rashford
AMR: Mkhitaryan, Lingard
Flanks: I cant see Mourinho adding a winger for the time being. He might sign him someone in summer but not for now. If he does he would probably go for some young winger who wouldn't mind sitting on the bench for some time. Players like Guedes or Leon Bailey
STK: Ibra, new striker
Stk: I can see Mourinho getting a striker especially if Rooney leaves
Schneiderlin, Bastian and Depay are goners. They will probably be closely followed by Darmian and Fellaini who might leave in Summer. We'll probably add Lindelof with Semedo following. So here's my thought
GK: DDG, Romero, some dude
Comment: not much to add to it
DR: Valencia Semedo
DC: Lindelof, Bailly, Smalling, Jones
DL: Shaw, Rojo
Defence Comment: a multi use defence which can be pretty attacking minded with Shaw and Semedo/Valencia causing havoc on the flanks only to close itself shut with a 4 6ft defenders at the back ie Lindelof, Smalling, Bailly and Rojo. This will allow Mourinho to change plans on a minute notice and without the need of the Belgian clumbsy in CM.
DLP: Carrick, Blind, ???
Box to box, Herrera, ???
AMC: Pogba, Mata
Mid comment: CM remains our achillees heel. I can see Mourinho, giving a final year contract to Carrick. Having said that I believe he'll be searching for a replacement for him. Meanwhile Blind will act as cover for him. The Dutch is a poor man's Carrick. With the defence sorted, Mou will be tempted to let Fellaini go, possibly adding a box to box midfielder like Cambiasso was once was. Upfront Pogba and Mata will allow the Portuguese to swift from 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1 quite easily
AML: Martial, Young, Rashford
AMR: Mkhitaryan, Lingard
Flanks: I cant see Mourinho adding a winger for the time being. He might sign him someone in summer but not for now. If he does he would probably go for some young winger who wouldn't mind sitting on the bench for some time. Players like Guedes or Leon Bailey
STK: Ibra, new striker
Stk: I can see Mourinho getting a striker especially if Rooney leaves
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