At £15 he sounds a bargain. I've got more than that in my pocket, maybe he'll come do my lawn. I think we need an imposing and experienced central defender (amongst other things) and could do worse. Though I would prefer to pay a bit more for Sakho, Liverpool are trying to flog him and he looked great for Palace (who have since lost BFS). Markovic/ Grosicki/ etc. I think there's players around who could improve our team who would come but we can only get a few as everyone is touting £20m odd for people. Ouch.
I will stump up a fiver but I want a share of any onselling costs. Actually think at 15million this wouldn't be a bad buy either.
Happily take him and Jones. Good age. I thought Mourinho would just keep him and Jones around in the background to support Bailly and Lindehof. I suppose they have Rojo and Blind too though. Smalling is the worst out of those 6 so I can see why he would go. Not very good with the ball at his feet. This is why him and Sakho aren't good enough for the top six. They are good enough for anyone outside that but not quite good enough to cut it at the top table.
Can't agree captain. Jones for me looked very good last year under Mourinho. He was first choice when he wasn't injured. Both him and Smalling made 18 appearances in a 38 game season for the second best defence in the league - they only conceded 29 goals last season in the league. There are clearly better centre halfs, I don't think anybody would dispute that. However there would not be many better centre halfs available to a newly promoted side. Indeed I'd be surprised if Smalling considered us an option. I think people are getting a bit delusional about our standing. They are spunking all over the average Rafa, thinking because he is here we will just get who we want. We are small fry and the sooner realism kicks in the better. At present we're heading straight back through the trap door. That is the reality. We have a manager who hasn't had a good season in ages, a championship squad, and we are yet to sign anyone. Signings can change all that of course, but then the reality will be different to what it is now. Its not Smalling that's ****, its our squad.
Mate I like you please remember that However It doesn't matter what you think or whether you agree tbh ha ha Unless it's a gunfight in which case I'll listen
Our current squad would definitely go down , so I'm going to leave it until I see who's come in and watched Pte season before predicting.
Agreed. If they sign 6 or 7 high quality players all could change. To be honest even 3 top notch players can transform any side. Kante left Leicester and they lost about 33% of their effectiveness overnight.
Yep, and all 33% went to Chelsea. It's fine lines. We could have a season where someone like Matt Ritchie or Jonjo Shelvey just click, where Isaac Hayden just suddenly storms it or where Mbemba plays out of his skin every week. They all have the capacity to do so (I'm talking top 5 or 6 aside). Look at Deeney or Ighalo, Vardy or Mahrez. Great one season, bang average the next. Harry Maguire came out of absolutely nowhere and is now a £17m CB. The lad Michael Keane would go for considerably more. It's such a fine balance.
I've had a feeling we might try and get Jones from Man Utd to be honest. Wouldn't have thought Smalling would be available.
So our current squad is no better at all than the one which just went down? Not sure. We've not got Townsend and Winjaldum now, but not missed anyone else. Gayle, Ritchie, Clark and Atsu have strengthened the team. Elliott and Darlow are OK and Dummett and Lascelles has come on well. It could be argued that we've a better 1st team now than 14 months ago. We may survive in the Prem as we are, just.
