You can't miss what you never had - or something like that. Swings and roundabouts - or something along those lines. You can't teach an old dog to knit - or nothing like those.
It's not hard to get enticed by Untied these days
As excited as I am about Smalling and Jones as a partnership, I tihnk Arsenal fans have jsut as much to be excited
Wilshere-Ramsey CM partership could be devastating if both fulfil their potential. Man I wish Wilshere was a United player
I'm still recovering from the news of not signing Nobel Peace Prize winner Joey Barton.
Benzeguero.
My how people mocked us when we bought Smalling.
Wilshere-Ramsey CM partership could be devastating if both fulfil their potential. Man I wish Wilshere was a United player
===========
All Gooners are hoping that dynamic lives up to its potential.
Gonna be interesting to see who gets in the midfield when Wilshere is fit? Arteta is in the mix now & I'd imagine Wenger sees him as a "starter".
Jack - Song - Ramsey
as a trio is decent, but there's no natural puppet master in the mix, hence why (I think) Arteta was signed.
no natural puppet master
-----------
Wilshere controlled out midfield for most of last season.
My how people mocked us when we bought Smalling.
______________________________
Yh but opposing fans always mock rival signings
I think all us Untied fans could see his potential after he made a handful of appearances. Id like to see how many still question Smalling's ability. Hes a class act
no natural puppet master
________________________
Surely the hope is Ramsey becomes the 'puppet master' in the future?
Isnt he supposed to be a playmaker? Iv seen him play and his passing is very good and he has good vision and is a goal threat.
Yes I do. But there is no guarantee they would be as good here. They have the advantage of not being thrown in the deep end like our manager tends to do and playing with other strong experienced players really takes the weight off their shoulders. Other outfield players make the effort to close down and give more protection to the defence in uniteds team.
Honestly though, they do look good.
My how people mocked us when we bought Smalling.
-----------------------------
I think it was because the deal was struck days after a own goal on his debut gave Chelsea a 2-1 win over Fulham and for the amount that was paid for him (was it £12m?), eyebrows were always going to be raised. Still, he's proven his critics wrong and has started the season well as you say
comment by Benzeguero. (U5416)
posted 25 minutes ago
As excited as I am about Smalling and Jones as a partnership, I tihnk Arsenal fans have jsut as much to be excited
Wilshere-Ramsey CM partership could be devastating if both fulfil their potential. Man I wish Wilshere was a United player
------------------------------------
Pogba and Morrison could be equally as devastating. We'll just have to see how they all mature.
to be fair mate we have a fair few decent kids on our books already. im gutted that we didnt sign jones because he really is a ball playing centre half and will be a top top player. i wasnt sure on smalling but hes proved me wrong. looks like a younger rio.
but then we signed players like ramsey and ox who will most definitely be big players for us. oh and then there's young jack so i dont really mind.
comment by jamercfc (U5642)
posted 2 minutes ago
My how people mocked us when we bought Smalling.
-----------------------------
I think it was because the deal was struck days after a own goal on his debut gave Chelsea a 2-1 win over Fulham and for the amount that was paid for him (was it £12m?),
--------------------------------
It was more like 5/6m rising to 10m.
comment by homanahomana (U8703)
posted 9 minutes ago
Yes I do. But there is no guarantee they would be as good here. They have the advantage of not being thrown in the deep end like our manager tends to do and playing with other strong experienced players really takes the weight off their shoulders.
-----------------------------------------
Smalling made 23 appearances last season and Jones has already made 7 this season. Plus we have been playing with our least experienced line-up in years.
The great thing about Jones and Smalling is the fact they are english. That means they wont have hidden boyhood dreams of playing for Real, or get fed up of the english climate, or crave a paella etc.
I can honestly see them staying for at least a decade, even after Fergie retires. The same can't be said for De Gea, Fabio, Rafael etc.
I guess for Arsenal it's the same. Wilshere looks like he's Arsenal through and through, Ramsey alreayd turned us down and OX looks like a very good player.
I was reading today how United's youngsters have served a proper apprenticeship and are now being bought into a winning, confident team, as opposed to the likes of Carl Jenkinson at Arsenal who've rather been dropped into the deep end.
As pointed out by homanahomana, there's no guarantee that they would currently be looking as good at Arsenal as they do for you guys. Johan Djourou for example was immense for much of last season in the Premiership, yet on Tuesday night struggled against League 2 opposition.
I regret we didn't sign Jones in particular. Pretty sure he'll not be regretting his choice of destination so much though.
I tihnk Jones would've blossomed anywhere tbh. He already looked a class act at Blackurn, a leader despite only being 18 at the time.
Smalling definitely needed more careful nurturing though. His performances prior to joining us were pretty dire and he's not natuerally a very vocal, assertive player
We played him with Vidic a lot of the time and VDS behind him, giving him protection from midfield and game by game he improved. Fergie carefully chose which league and CL games to play him in for experience
Now he is good enough for England. Fergie has done very very well
Smalling's sh//t.
I am jealous of Jones though. He looks quality
Also I hope Arsenals midfield partnership will be Wilshere and Lansbury not Ramsey. He isn't good enough IMO.
comment by RonAlvinho (U6117)
posted 1 minute ago
Smalling's sh//t.
-------------------------------
Are you serious? I just cant believe that anyone actually believes that. He was pretty much faultless last season and has started well again this year. People seem to base their opinion of him on a few poor games for Fulham after the United deal went through.
What areas of his game do you think are lacking?
RonAlvinho (U6117)
Smalling's sh//t.
=========================================
Erm on what grounds do base that
I personally rate Smalling higher than Jones on current ability atm. When Rafael and Vidic return, and say Rio continues to pick up injuries, I reckon it'll be Smalling who comes in more often than Jones
He was faultless last season and him and Vidic kept clean sheets in all CL away games last season. Great partnerhsip
RED666
I would've loved to ZEEEEEEEE Jones at Arsenal.
It was agreed that Smalling would first talk to Sir Alex. "He was in no mood to let Smalling out of his sights until he had agreed to go to United, and that is what happened.''
--------
So basically Fergie forced Smalling to join Utd?
Sign in if you want to comment
Do you guys regret missing out?
Page 1 of 4
posted on 22/9/11
You can't miss what you never had - or something like that. Swings and roundabouts - or something along those lines. You can't teach an old dog to knit - or nothing like those.
posted on 22/9/11
nope.
posted on 22/9/11
It's not hard to get enticed by Untied these days
posted on 22/9/11
As excited as I am about Smalling and Jones as a partnership, I tihnk Arsenal fans have jsut as much to be excited
Wilshere-Ramsey CM partership could be devastating if both fulfil their potential. Man I wish Wilshere was a United player
posted on 22/9/11
I'm still recovering from the news of not signing Nobel Peace Prize winner Joey Barton.
posted on 22/9/11
Benzeguero.
My how people mocked us when we bought Smalling.
posted on 22/9/11
Wilshere-Ramsey CM partership could be devastating if both fulfil their potential. Man I wish Wilshere was a United player
===========
All Gooners are hoping that dynamic lives up to its potential.
Gonna be interesting to see who gets in the midfield when Wilshere is fit? Arteta is in the mix now & I'd imagine Wenger sees him as a "starter".
Jack - Song - Ramsey
as a trio is decent, but there's no natural puppet master in the mix, hence why (I think) Arteta was signed.
posted on 22/9/11
no natural puppet master
-----------
Wilshere controlled out midfield for most of last season.
posted on 22/9/11
My how people mocked us when we bought Smalling.
______________________________
Yh but opposing fans always mock rival signings
I think all us Untied fans could see his potential after he made a handful of appearances. Id like to see how many still question Smalling's ability. Hes a class act
posted on 22/9/11
no natural puppet master
________________________
Surely the hope is Ramsey becomes the 'puppet master' in the future?
Isnt he supposed to be a playmaker? Iv seen him play and his passing is very good and he has good vision and is a goal threat.
posted on 22/9/11
Yes I do. But there is no guarantee they would be as good here. They have the advantage of not being thrown in the deep end like our manager tends to do and playing with other strong experienced players really takes the weight off their shoulders. Other outfield players make the effort to close down and give more protection to the defence in uniteds team.
Honestly though, they do look good.
posted on 22/9/11
My how people mocked us when we bought Smalling.
-----------------------------
I think it was because the deal was struck days after a own goal on his debut gave Chelsea a 2-1 win over Fulham and for the amount that was paid for him (was it £12m?), eyebrows were always going to be raised. Still, he's proven his critics wrong and has started the season well as you say
posted on 22/9/11
comment by Benzeguero. (U5416)
posted 25 minutes ago
As excited as I am about Smalling and Jones as a partnership, I tihnk Arsenal fans have jsut as much to be excited
Wilshere-Ramsey CM partership could be devastating if both fulfil their potential. Man I wish Wilshere was a United player
------------------------------------
Pogba and Morrison could be equally as devastating. We'll just have to see how they all mature.
posted on 22/9/11
to be fair mate we have a fair few decent kids on our books already. im gutted that we didnt sign jones because he really is a ball playing centre half and will be a top top player. i wasnt sure on smalling but hes proved me wrong. looks like a younger rio.
but then we signed players like ramsey and ox who will most definitely be big players for us. oh and then there's young jack so i dont really mind.
posted on 22/9/11
comment by jamercfc (U5642)
posted 2 minutes ago
My how people mocked us when we bought Smalling.
-----------------------------
I think it was because the deal was struck days after a own goal on his debut gave Chelsea a 2-1 win over Fulham and for the amount that was paid for him (was it £12m?),
--------------------------------
It was more like 5/6m rising to 10m.
posted on 22/9/11
comment by homanahomana (U8703)
posted 9 minutes ago
Yes I do. But there is no guarantee they would be as good here. They have the advantage of not being thrown in the deep end like our manager tends to do and playing with other strong experienced players really takes the weight off their shoulders.
-----------------------------------------
Smalling made 23 appearances last season and Jones has already made 7 this season. Plus we have been playing with our least experienced line-up in years.
posted on 22/9/11
The great thing about Jones and Smalling is the fact they are english. That means they wont have hidden boyhood dreams of playing for Real, or get fed up of the english climate, or crave a paella etc.
I can honestly see them staying for at least a decade, even after Fergie retires. The same can't be said for De Gea, Fabio, Rafael etc.
I guess for Arsenal it's the same. Wilshere looks like he's Arsenal through and through, Ramsey alreayd turned us down and OX looks like a very good player.
posted on 22/9/11
I was reading today how United's youngsters have served a proper apprenticeship and are now being bought into a winning, confident team, as opposed to the likes of Carl Jenkinson at Arsenal who've rather been dropped into the deep end.
As pointed out by homanahomana, there's no guarantee that they would currently be looking as good at Arsenal as they do for you guys. Johan Djourou for example was immense for much of last season in the Premiership, yet on Tuesday night struggled against League 2 opposition.
I regret we didn't sign Jones in particular. Pretty sure he'll not be regretting his choice of destination so much though.
posted on 22/9/11
I tihnk Jones would've blossomed anywhere tbh. He already looked a class act at Blackurn, a leader despite only being 18 at the time.
Smalling definitely needed more careful nurturing though. His performances prior to joining us were pretty dire and he's not natuerally a very vocal, assertive player
We played him with Vidic a lot of the time and VDS behind him, giving him protection from midfield and game by game he improved. Fergie carefully chose which league and CL games to play him in for experience
Now he is good enough for England. Fergie has done very very well
posted on 22/9/11
Smalling's sh//t.
I am jealous of Jones though. He looks quality
Also I hope Arsenals midfield partnership will be Wilshere and Lansbury not Ramsey. He isn't good enough IMO.
posted on 22/9/11
comment by RonAlvinho (U6117)
posted 1 minute ago
Smalling's sh//t.
-------------------------------
Are you serious? I just cant believe that anyone actually believes that. He was pretty much faultless last season and has started well again this year. People seem to base their opinion of him on a few poor games for Fulham after the United deal went through.
What areas of his game do you think are lacking?
posted on 22/9/11
RonAlvinho (U6117)
Smalling's sh//t.
=========================================
Erm on what grounds do base that
posted on 22/9/11
I personally rate Smalling higher than Jones on current ability atm. When Rafael and Vidic return, and say Rio continues to pick up injuries, I reckon it'll be Smalling who comes in more often than Jones
He was faultless last season and him and Vidic kept clean sheets in all CL away games last season. Great partnerhsip
posted on 22/9/11
RED666
I would've loved to ZEEEEEEEE Jones at Arsenal.
posted on 22/9/11
It was agreed that Smalling would first talk to Sir Alex. "He was in no mood to let Smalling out of his sights until he had agreed to go to United, and that is what happened.''
--------
So basically Fergie forced Smalling to join Utd?
Page 1 of 4