26 May 2016 14:57:45
Here's a question for everyone. If we sign a new CB, who do you partner him with? Smalling or Blind? I assume the majority of posters will opt for Smalling and to his credit, he started the season like a beast. However as the season went on he looked like Bambi on ice when he had the ball at his feet and his sending off in the FA cup final was a throw back to his sending off against City. Such poor decision making and for a big lad, he isn't dominant in the air. I personally think Blind is a fantastic player, his reading of the game, his positioning, his passing and his composure on the ball. I think he is like Carrick in the sense that people will not give him credit or appreciate him until he is in the twighlight of his career. For me Blind ran a close 2nd behind DDG for player of the season. If we can get a Vidic type player alongside Blind I think that would be great. Never heard of this new boy Manolas? Not really sure about Varane, know there is hype but not quite made it at Real? Is Benatia an option now Hummels has gone to Bayern? Be good to know peoples thoughts and if most opt for Smalling, what happens to Blind?


1.) 26 May 2016
26 May 2016 15:14:09
I totally agree I would get a top class proper defender who does the ugly stuff well and partner them with blind. He is perfect for defense his reading of the game and distribution of the ball is superb smalling is a liability.


2.) 26 May 2016
26 May 2016 15:24:23
Smalling had a bad ending to the season. Very error prone, and his use of his hands leading to bad fouls and yellows give the impression that he panics when he sees danger. That is the last quality you want to see in a defender on the big stage. And for a guy who can win almost every defensive header on a long ball forward, he NEVER seems to score on a header, never.


3.) 26 May 2016
26 May 2016 15:32:44
Blind is not a centre back and is not good enough in midfield either. Good range but too ponderous.

Everyone forgets that he was slated when he played in midfield for being too pedestrian and negative with his passing.

He is a utility man at best.

Smalling is good enough to sit on the bench. We need a new pairing.


4.) 26 May 2016
26 May 2016 15:34:16
For me blind is not good enough to be a starting at utd, not in cm let alone defense, what we need is 2 good cbs, who first and foremost can actually defend without needing the whole team covering for you. If they are good passers that is an added bonus not a requisite, i would rather we bought two of manolas, varane, marquinhos, even stones as i think martinez had the same effect on stones that van gaal had on our attackers. We should get rid of both jones and rojo, while smalling reverts to being a backup.


Blind for me is a mf, someone who can a very good squad player and is very versatile, we should get rid of both carrick and bastian, sign a good mf as a replacement while blind replaces the other position.


5.) 26 May 2016
26 May 2016 15:38:31
I do agree that I've been far more impressed with Blinds play at the back than I have been with Smallings. Who inspite of his greatly improved form still gets caught out of position far too often and doesn't have the technique to be a top level centre back. A friend of mine once called Smalling a poor mans Mertesacker.

I think we really do need two new CB's but if we were to just sign one, say Manolas then I would pair him with Fosu-Mensah.


6.) 26 May 2016
26 May 2016 15:56:56
I would go with Manolas 100%, for me he has every quality I would want in a CB, and then partner him with smalling. Not having to worry about covering for blind would hopefully improve his game no end. I would definitely keep Blind as utility player though, him on the bench is cover for 3 positions.


7.) 26 May 2016
26 May 2016 16:03:26
Let's nother fkrget that Smalling won the players award so he didn't do too badly. Will Mourinho and his coaches improve him. definitely. Would he improve with a leader next to him definitely.
He has the rest to be a top player. that said if they bring in Benatia and Godin I would be extatic. Unrealistic I know!


8.) 26 May 2016
26 May 2016 16:05:42
Agreed Ports. That's why I want us to buy 2 cb's and get rid of Jones and mcnair. Smalling to be used as backup. He's not a good cb.


9.) 26 May 2016
26 May 2016 16:10:42
Personally we need two top centre back to complement Smalling

Manolas and Varane fit the bill, imagine having Shaw, Manolas, Varane and Smalling as your defence

I think we may need a left back depending on CBJ and Rojo situation, I get Fabio Coentrao, can do a job and be available for around 10 million

CB with have only one decent one called Smalling, Phil Jones is too much a liability and Blind is a dependable squad player but not a starter

With the RB I hope we give Varela a chance and Darmain, we should be ok their.


10.) 26 May 2016
26 May 2016 16:56:51
I think we could be seeing mcnair in cdm. He's got pace, height and a shot in him. that's where he'll be playing in france and i expect Mourinho to play him cdm come pre season.


11.) 26 May 2016
26 May 2016 17:18:22
I think at this point it should be noted that for a cm (or lb) to play CB all season and do as well as blind has done should be applauded to be honest. And that there is even a consideration that he could be first choice cb next season is testament to that. Imo he should not be first choice anything with us next season (agreed with most others he's a great versatile sub), but to stand up to prem players with power and pace like he's done has surprised the hell out of me.


12.) 26 May 2016
26 May 2016 17:31:41
Who are all of you? Blind is a complete liability all season, and Smalling, outside of a few rough matches towards the end, was one of the best CBs on the planet all season and should be our CB for the next half decade or more. Seriously there are times when I wonder if people on this site even watch United matches, and if they do, how they could possibly come to the insane conclusions that I see here. I love my fellow United supporters but man, bashing smalling, praising blind and thinking mcnair is the answer over smalling? There are numerous posters on this site that I am convinced know NOTHING about football. Just baffled at the ridiculous statements from common posters. If its not an overreaction its a completely distorted view of performance levels.


13.) 26 May 2016
26 May 2016 17:51:41
The overreaction part of this is the best bit kg.


14.) 26 May 2016
26 May 2016 18:17:55
KG just summed himself up in his own post, quality 😂😂.


15.) 26 May 2016
26 May 2016 15:48:01
To be fair Blind has done relatively well given that he is not a CB and Smalling played well early in the season BUT LVG knew they were our weak link and as such protected them. There was almost always 2 sitting CM's in front of them who were not given licence to get forward. We also had 60-70% possession in most matches. its easy to look good as a CB when the opposition don't have the ball.

Smalling has all the physical attributes but is poor positionally and in the air, this leads to him making last ditch tackles that either look great or give away free kicks and get him booked/ sent off.

Blind is good positionally and comfortable on the ball but lacks pace, aerial ability and strength against big forwards.

We need a solid CB pairing so our midfielders can push up and create more chances.

Manolas and Varane for me, Smalling as 3rd choice and Blind a utility squad player who can cover CB LB and CM.