The Manchester United Thread

steveorobbo said:
I know we've bought lindelof for a big fee but sure why everyone is thinking he's gonna be starting games. He's done nothing in pre season to think he's going in the team west ham or not. Surely off games so far the back 2 that are fit and played the best are Bailly and Jones. First game is key and need to get off with a win. Start off with players in form. Got a league cup game coming soon. Start lindelof in that. But going off pre season, he shouldn't be starting games yet.

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Why the **** would you start Jones??? What has done like.. ever... to be ahead of Smalling?

I don't get United fans overlooking Smalling.. much better than Jones and much more consistent. Even though he isn't exactly the opitomy of consistency he still peforms usually more often than not, was decent enough against Madrid and was great against Ajax in our last meaningful games.

Having said all this I'd still go with Lindelof and Bailly, Lindelof has been harshly treated in preseason and has done decent. Playing in an unexpected formation and in the wrong position (he should be the central CB in a back 3 with his passing ability, like Bonucci done for Juventus).
 
Yep I would go with Lindelöf and Bailly. Need to get them gelled and no better way than at home first game, and a fairly easy start to the season. The only reason they didn't start the Cup and more pre season friendlies together, was because Mou knew Bailly would be banned.
 
Theatre of dreams said:
Yep I would go with Lindelöf and Bailly. Need to get them gelled and no better way than at home first game, and a fairly easy start to the season. The only reason they didn't start the Cup and more pre season friendlies together, was because Mou knew Bailly would be banned.
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Yeh but I don't think it is an easy game! West Ham are going to be one of the better teams in PL this year outside of the usual top 6 IMO.

Got good transfers in with Chicharito, that guy from Stoke etc.

Plus a physical team and a decent manager, I really hope we can start this season well though. Going to be a real good test for us to see where we are at going into this season.
 
I don't think shutting a defender out of the team would get get the same response/have the same effect as shutting an attacking player out. They're different species, a defender is likely to have no physicality issues (otherwise it'd be a questionable buy), just needs to adjust to the pace and style of the league, and the only way that's going to happen is to play. With Mkhitaryan it was more physical issues, needed to beef up, and add more defensive work rate.

Lindelof will start tomorrow, and will be Jose's first choice more times than not, barring catastrophic performances.
 
zzeezzy said:
Why the **** would you start Jones??? What has done like.. ever... to be ahead of Smalling?

I don't get United fans overlooking Smalling.. much better than Jones and much more consistent. Even though he isn't exactly the opitomy of consistency he still peforms usually more often than not, was decent enough against Madrid and was great against Ajax in our last meaningful games.
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This, Smalling > Jones. Smalling has been very good more often than not imo!
 
Bujakaa said:
Think the best one was Hart, will be big for them
But also cicharito and Arno will ve amazing
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They have made some good signings. But don't think they have massively improved. There defence is still Meh and Arn is far far to inconsistent. Hernandez most probs there best side but can't see them creating enough. Joe hart is joe hart was same in Italy last season.
 
This is what I got West Hams team to, not sure what formation or who's a keyplayer for them but something like this i'd guess, looks a bit scary but we should be able to get 3 points!

View attachment 86465
 
RedUnited said:
This is what I got West Hams team to, not sure what formation or who's a keyplayer for them but something like this i'd guess, looks a bit scary but we should be able to get 3 points!

View attachment 1124432
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Better than most outside the top 6 imo, although I think Ogbonna will defo be in that starting lineup over Reid.
 
Smalling & Jones is a toss of a coin. I'd say if it wasn't for constant injuries, Jones would be a level above. Smalling is solid at the basics, but is clumsy, prone to an error, and shaky on the ball. Jones a beast, but too brave/keen, can concede a penalty one second then clear a ball from the line with his nose the next.

Combine them together and cancel out the flaws, you'd have a fine CB. Sorta similar with Martial & Rashford, combine Rashford's work rate & running in behind with Martial's ice cool finishing, you'd have a golden boot winner.
 
RhQQ said:
Smalling & Jones is a toss of a coin. I'd say if it wasn't for constant injuries, Jones would be a level above. Smalling is solid at the basics, but is clumsy, prone to an error, and shaky on the ball. Jones a beast, but too brave/keen, can concede a penalty one second then clear a ball from the line with his nose the next.
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Not really a toss of a coin, Smalling has shown it a lot more often than Jones has. Whether injuries is a part of that or not, they've both had injuries so can't really use that.

Remember that season under LVG after christmas especially, Smalling was fantastic and then when Mourinho came in last season he had injurie which stalled him again. But he was good and very commanding in the final vs Ajax, especially in the air.

For me Jones hasn't really ever done anything of note at United, he's put in a good odd performance here and there. But never done it for an extended period of time like Smalling.

Plus I find Smalling to just be better generally, Jones looks like a donkey with 3 legs at times and I'd never describe him as a beast. Unless we're talking about beauty and the beast here!
 
Quite clear Mourinho trusts Smalling more in the bigger games as well, started vs Madrid and Ajax. A lot against the top 6 last season when available.
 
zzeezzy said:
Not really a toss of a coin, Smalling has shown it a lot more often than Jones has. Whether injuries is a part of that or not, they've both had injuries so can't really use that.

Remember that season under LVG after christmas especially, Smalling was fantastic and then when Mourinho came in last season he had injurie which stalled him again. But he was good and very commanding in the final vs Ajax, especially in the air.

For me Jones hasn't really ever done anything of note at United, he's put in a good odd performance here and there. But never done it for an extended period of time like Smalling.

Plus I find Smalling to just be better generally, Jones looks like a donkey with 3 legs at times and I'd never describe him as a beast. Unless we're talking about beauty and the beast here!
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smalling definitely more of an athlete,jones never looks fit to me idk what it is about him.No doubt he has talent but i cant see himrealising it and certainly not at OT
 
djs1 said:
smalling definitely more of an athlete,jones never looks fit to me idk what it is about him.No doubt he has talent but i cant see himrealising it and certainly not at OT
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Jones looks more an more to be finishing he career under Pulis every season :p
 
Hypothetical but as Spurs seem to be on the brink of what I personally think would be one of the best buys of the summer in Ajax's Davidson-Sanchez for £35m, who is an absolute beast and has the potential to be one of the best in the world.

Should we of gone for him over Lindelof? Not any mark against Lindelof at all, but Davidson-Sanchez looks a monster and everyone thought he was bound for a Spanish giant like Barca this summer. Top business by Spurs if they get him.
 
Jones would've been as good, if not better, if he was consistently played in Smalling's limited CB role in LvG's system too. Smalling has shown more because his fitness allowed him to, so injuries did play a huge part. Listen, I was fooled into thinking he had turned into an excellent CB too, thinking LvG made some sort of miraculous progression with him, but I can admit I made a mistake and he's just a decent centre half who looked 10x better than he is by the protective, possession based system he was in.
 
zzeezzy said:
Hypothetical but as Spurs seem to be on the brink of what I personally think would be one of the best buys of the summer in Ajax's Davidson-Sanchez for £35m, who is an absolute beast and has the potential to be one of the best in the world.

Should we of gone for him over Lindelof? Not any mark against Lindelof at all, but Davidson-Sanchez looks a monster and everyone thought he was bound for a Spanish giant like Barca this summer. Top business by Spurs if they get him.
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I don't think Ajax wants to sell. Apparently they have already refused the first bid from Spurs and offerd Sanchez a new contract, altough his current contract is running until 2021. Ajax has plenty of cash in the bank at the moment, because of their sales this and last seasons. They even bought a Columbian RB. He said he joined because Sanchez convinced him Ajax is a good place to develop. However Sanchez really wants to play Champions League and Ajax is going to play in the Europa League at best again this season.

I'm really not sure if he will stay, 40m is alot. But Ajax has sold many defenders in the last transfer periods and are short on them to be fair.
 
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