izec
Full Member
Smalling or Rojo
Would also love Bailly to go, but injured
Would also love Bailly to go, but injured
That would be a stupid move in our part, strengthening a rival on what they lack off. He's our best CB in terms of man marking: Hazard, Kane, Suarez, etc. I don't see any of our other CBs can do that.hearing rumours of Smalling to Arsenal for £35m (I presume we are paying them that to take him away)
There is no reality in which selling Smalling for 35m is a stupid move. There is no way this story is true but if it was then I will pay for the movers.That would be a stupid move in our part, strengthening a rival on what they lack off. He's our best CB in terms of man marking: Hazard, Kane, Suarez, etc.
Smalling to Arsenal would make some sense to me. He could do a job for them.hearing rumours of Smalling to Arsenal for £35m (I presume we are paying them that to take him away)
Smalling has not been frozen out completely and he still needs to stay fit, but him getting zero minutes in the last 2 proper matches is a big hintTrue ... but he played in the behind the closed doors friendly ... so a little bit of a mystery.
A poster on another thread suggested perhaps Jones might cover as a central defensive midfielder - which sounds quite intriguing.
He & Jones played in the behind closed doors game on Monday.looks like Smalling is being pushed out - no minutes at all in last 2 preseason matches
Jones took on Ronaldo for example.That would be a stupid move in our part, strengthening a rival on what they lack off. He's our best CB in terms of man marking: Hazard, Kane, Suarez, etc. I don't see any of our other CBs can do that.
If Jones did that constantly against others, yeh you can claim that, but he isn't.Jones took on Ronaldo for example.
But with him it's always going to be about the unreliability of when he is available to play and what form he is in.
Very true. I think Jones played there for Blackburn as well with great success.Jones played DM several times under Fergie but I dont think it has happened for years now
Rojo and Jones are good only for medical experiments.Very true. I think Jones played there for Blackburn as well with great success.
I am quite intrigued by it because of Ole's penchant to follow/ adopt certain Sir Alex principles. He played Ronny Johnsen and tried Ferdinand in that position before Jones. Perhaps Ole is considering it as an option. Last season Pep played Stones there as a sub in a couple of games so maybe a tactic to close up a tight game.
It seems rather strange keeping so many CBs so near the transfer window closing date unless Smalling and Jones can cover if needed at right back but how suitable they are for that athletic role now is unclear. I guess we will know soon enough.
Lindelof being good enough is still far from proven, don't see how he could be given the terrible nature of his first season and the horrendous defensive performance last season.I'd be delighted if Smalling or Jones left.
I'd be happy if Rojo left.
I'd be ok if Bailly left.
Only Lindelof has shown he is good enough. Tuanzebe gets a free pass because of his age.
Lindelof looked for large parts of last season like the best CB we have had since Rio and Vidic left. That's not saying much, but still. Rojo and especially Bailly have had spells where they looked like they could be our best CB and (again Bailly especially) could develop into a genuine top class player. There's still a glimmer of hope.Lindelof being good enough is still far from proven, don't see how he could be given the terrible nature of his first season and the horrendous defensive performance last season.
Not too long ago that Rojo/Bailly had periods of being claimed to clearly be our best CB, based on very little. Smalling and Jones are both far more proven players than those 2.
I think you are greatly overrating Lindelof's performances. He was ok but he has obvious flaws in how he deals with physically superior players, can be far too passive in his defensive style and despite being good on the ball he often goes into his shell and takes little responsibility on the ball when the pressure is on. I think over the last few years it has been far too easy to put the majority of the blame on Smalling and Jones and pretend that with them gone that Lindelof/Bailly and Rojo will suddenly be reborn as different players.Lindelof looked for large parts of last season like the best CB we have had since Rio and Vidic left. That's not saying much, but still. Rojo and especially Bailly have had spells where they looked like they could be our best CB and (again Bailly especially) could develop into a genuine top class player. There's still a glimmer of hope.
All Smalling and Jones have proven is that they are not good enough and never will be. There is no point persisting with them and hoping they'll become anything else.
Jebus. That's a maverick suggestion.Maguire
Smalling had the least minutes of all of them in preseason - even Darmian features in the closed door friendly so that was just like a general training sessionHe & Jones played in the behind closed doors game on Monday.
There's nothing to suggest that Smalling is being pushed out, we took 6 CB's on tour and they all needed minutes to get fit.
I think Rojo was most at risk of leaving, but Bailly's injury has scuppered that and now it doesn't look like any of them will leave.
It’s more likely that they all had a minutes quota to hit, and Ole wanted them to hit it with some sports science data analytics to back the reasoning.Smalling had the least minutes of all of them in preseason - even Darmian features in the closed door friendly so that was just like a general training session
Pushed out might be too strong but he's clearly at the bottom of the pecking order, I'm sure that Ole has the same issue as Southgate when it comes to Smalling