Manchester United have won the race to sign Fulham defender, Chris Smalling.
The 20-year-old defender is believed to be worth in the region on £7m and will move to United in the summer, seeing out the rest of the season in the capital.
A club spokesperson said: “Manchester United has agreed terms for the transfer of Chris Smalling from Fulham. Chris has agreed personal terms with the club and will join for the beginning of the 2010/2011 campaign. He will remain at Fulham until the end of the current season.”
Arsenal were amongst the clubs keen on signing him, although Wenger claimed on Friday that there was no truth to the rumours. He confessed today that they were intersted though and were trying hard to get him to sign for Arsenal.
“As long as the player has not signed anywhere it is not the end of it,” Wenger said earlier on today. “Let’s see what happens there. We will not come out on what we are doing exactly but as you [reporters] say it has come out on television but that doesn’t mean it is true. So let’s see. If we have anything more to tell you we will let you know.”
United had a bid for the player accepted this afternoon and the signing has been made official earlier this evening, according to Sky Sports.
Smalling has risen quickly to be where he is now, playing for Maidstone United’s youth team in the Ryman Youth League at the start of the 07-08 season.
After graduating to the first team, Gareth Southgate wined and dined Smalling in the North East in a bid to get him to join Middlesbrough, but a letter he wrote to Fulham, asking them for a trial, saw Chris offered the chance to sign for the Premiership team. He was given a go in a Fulham Reserves game before after 15 minutes, the onlooking Roy Hodgson declared he had seen enough to offer him a professional contract.
Interestingly, Hodgson rejected the chance to sign free agent Sol Campbell, who has just been welcomed back at Arsenal in their 3-1 defeat against Stoke, because he didn’t want to block the path of Smalling.
“He was offered to us, of course, when he was thinking of leaving Portsmouth, like every other club I imagine,” said Hodgson. “But we’ve got a player here called Chris Smalling, who is 19 years of age and is a current England Under 21 international. I think he’s got a very bright future.”
The 6′ 4″ defender made his England U20 début last April, before making his U21 début in August when he was still 19-years-old.
But he wasn’t always pencilled in for being an England international. Whilst playing for non-League Maidstone, Smalling was narrowing down his options for university, where he planned to take on a Business and Management degree.
Man Utd News 24/7
possibly
No definetly. Check out every major media outlet. He has agreed terms.
mate he hasnt even had a medical, he is playin for fulham right now do you think he just popped out an hour to sign for manchester united, weve heard it all before with ramsey and mikel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvtRtNt2q1g
any chance he can play on sunday that would win the psychological advantage
arsene wenger – difference is wenger has admited defeat in this battle that united offered more money
i dont no wat to believe but id rather spend 8 mill on someone we need like a whole new midfield as its shit(apart from valencia)and another striker,plus a goalkeeper…am i bein to negitive here?
well he’s just switched off and let crouch into score!!
This is simply not the truth. He is likely to sign for you but as we have seen with Ramsey, just because you put it on your official website does not mean it is a done deal.
Arsenal have had a bid accepted. The decision will now rest with the player.
well firstly the report says he will john in the summer and even so i doubt the ‘capture’ of someone who’s played two league games is going to be a huge psychological blow to anyone just yet
RTNK wenger said united have offered more money then half hour later it comes up fulham accept arsenal bid,wenger didnt admit anything, the basic moral of his message was nothings final
mattythered
your right about uniteds midfield been shit
scholes crap
fletcher-only picked cause he’s scottish
anderson-waste of money
nani-crap
valencia-world class
tosic- i dont care if he’s young and will play football for another 13 years he’s not up to it now …fuck him
oberton-see tosic
carrick-whats he ever won
giggs-O.L.D.
I will say that if you add up the people Arsenal could have signed if Arsene wasn’t such a penny pinchers, eg: Ribery Xabi Alonso etc he needs to stop this, it’s not his money. That being said I don’t know enough about Smalling, obviously he’s rated if both clubs are after him. Just more money to add to that oversized debt of yours.
mattythered – you are a complete idiot, so you are saying carrick and especially fletcher our best CM player are shit. I have not been nani’s biggest admirer but seeing him play on RW he gives me hope again. so instead of coming up with complete retarded statements like a plastic spastic glory huneter really watch united before judging you idiot.
welbz19
how was the smalling switching off? twat!
arsene wenger – a united statement said the player had agreed terms with the club, difference is with ramsey united agreed a fee with cardiff I think he will be heading to united and vidic will be moved on in the summer.
what me a twat or him? im confused at why u think either of us could be a twat!
The statements seem pretty definitive to me…so congrats to u guys. I don’t know much about the guy at all, but if Wenger was after him he must be great.
Does this mean the beginning of the basement bargains
You moderated my post. Fair play. But it’s nice to see you added that little bit of Arsenal class to your post be at least having a grammatically correct title.
I can’t wait to see the Smalling decision. It will be funny when you find out he has chosen Arsenal. He is an Arsenal fan.
from Fulham site:
Fulham can confirm that it has reached an agreement with Manchester United for the transfer of Central Defender Chris Smalling.
Should a successful medical be completed and final terms agreed the player will join Sir Alex Ferguson’s team at the start of the 2010/2011 season, staying at Fulham for the remainder of the current season.
so… would be great if they stick to it but I guess alot can happen in few months. Would be better to sign him now and loan him back. At least it would be 100% he is United’s.
iv readlots, i read it all about ramsey as well, when the guy tells the world he has chose united then fair enough, but again we will see
So vidic may be off to Real and we replace him with a guy from Fulham whos played one game,cant get my head round this,so much for Chiellini
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1246234/Chris-Smalling-completes-switch-Manchester-United-Arsenal-lose-Fulham-defender.html
newsflash
reported sighting of Owen Hargreaves,Shergar and Lord Lucan heading out of the Bermuda triangle
How does this make it final?
i’m not rubbishing the claims but as far as i’m concerned i dont see much concrete evidence to show we have signed him… and i hardly see it as a pyschological blow to wenger.. watchin him play and he’s not doing too bad for a 20 year old against what the media have dubbed the best strike pairing after chelskis lol..
off topic but i really think carrick has gone as far as he can in terms of developing, great player on his day but suffers from stage fright too much what would you think about offering spuds carrick + plus maybe 5-8mil for modric or maybe foster + 10mil
@ the gunners, our website reported that we agreed terms with Cardiff which we did, and it now reports we agreed deal with the player..
Arsenal all the way – I moderated your post because you called us all mugs. Is that the Arsenal class you were referring to…?
Ramsey was a United fan, what difference does it make? Wenger got a private jet for Ramsey and his parents whilst we sent out Nev to show him around the training camp. We didn’t make it hard for him to pick Arsenal. I’m sure he is very happy with his decision. Who needs trophies when you play for a club that wins nothing but has a brilliant business plan?
Not impressed from what ive seen of him in the first half against spuds should of done better for their goal
I got home, turned on the Spurs game and the very first thing I saw was him ball watching while Crouch moved two yards behind him and scored… Not a good start!!
scott the red you sound unhappy ramsey chose arsenal mate
plus scott you would also love a business plan
Arsenal have had a bid accepted for Smalling.
@ Arseanal all the way
was ramsey not a Man Utd fan as a youngster?
You can ‘t really use that old chestnutt to secure a player’s signature.
Geez, transfers have certainly become a complicated issue nowdays.
That’ll be Vidic away then.
yip.
they are complicated costas, but unless a deal is signed its not complete, even sometimes its signed and then shit still happens, with greatest respect this could turn embarrasing for you lot and a million reporters
I will try and clear this up for you all.
Fulham rejected Arsenal’s 1st offer, but accepted United’s
At around 4pm United released a statement to say that Smalling had agreed terms and had signed for United.
Arsenal then made a 2nd offer, which Fulham accepted and they have been given permission to speak to Smalling.
United have now revised their earlier statement and say pending a medical and the agreement of final terms, Smalling would sign for United and be loaned back to Fulham until the end of the season.
If, and it is a big if, Arsenal can convince Smalling that his future lies with Arsenal, then he will join Arsenal instead of United.
If not, he will sign for United as is expected.
Hope that helps
Topcat where your info from
@arsene wenger
After a few transfer hicups, I am ready for anything, lol. It’s just funny how many people you have to go through to buy a player nowdays. What happened to Fergie sweet talking Howard Wilkinson into selling Cantona for 1.2 million?:P
I know hindsight is 20/20 and all that… And, just to appease all of our Gunner chums on here today, IF we have in fact signed this lad, does anyone else feel kinda sick that we sold Pique for 3 mil and then sign this lad for 8?!?! That is, to put it mildly, fucking retarded
costas, these days the game is the last thing discussed in these meetings as well i bet
@arsene wenger
I think it was done over a phone conversation! That was the beauty of it. Now you have Gary Neville giving tours of the stadium and it’s still not good enough! If Gary ever gave me a tour of OT, I would sign up even as a toilet cleaner!
Pique needed first team football and he wasn’t going to get that at Utd. Of course, had we foreseen the injury problems we’re having, he would have been very valuable to us at the mo.
@Costas, WTF are u talking about? I have no idea what that last comment meant…please clear up!
Yeah that was the problem with Pique. We couldn’t guarantee him first team action, but 6 months later, Brown and Rio were having serious injury problems. Barcelona still got a bargain though. We should have asked for Eto!
lmao costas, i can imagine gary to ramsey …sign here or fuckoff ya bastad
I’m with you, costas!
Drew – by the time this lad joins us, it will have been 2 years since we sold Pique. As I’ve said many times on here, United didn’t have the option to keep Evans AND Pique. They were both far too low down in the pecking order and Evans was talking seriously about leaving. Pique is a great player but we made the right decision in keeping Evans, who could potentially spend his entire career with us, whilst Pique would have always wanted to leave for Spain at some point.
We got £5m for Pique. And a large chunk of the £7m for this lad I imagine will be based on appearances/trophies, so if we do end up paying £7m for him, he will have been worth it.
@arsene wenger
Lol, come on now. Nev is a real charming guy! Unless you are Scouce. Or Tevez…
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA liverpool 0 wolves 0
COSTA
Leeds contacted Mancherter united a number of times about buying back Irwin each time it was shot down by alex ferguson as in ring edward ask him he asks the manager and its a yes or no… after one too many phone calls Alex Ferguson said to Martin Edwards why would i sell one of my best players thats like them selling Cantona if they ask about Irwin you ask about Cantona.
`
Thats the story I heard from Sir Alex on a Manchester United Dinner in City West in 2008
i bet he was charming, even bought little ram a cornetto,ungrateful little shit lol
Yeah I guess you’re right… I’ll stop bitching now.
Smalling is due at Carrington at 11am to complete a medical.
Unless he gets hijacked by Wenger and Gazidis tonight .. on the way out from the wrong end of the 7 Sisters… he will offically sign for Utd by close of play tommorow.
Good luck to the lad.
Guys forget about Smalling and concentrate on what’s important: IT’ THEIR YEAR!
@GHTT
Thanks for the story. That’s how it happened then. I always thought that Fergie and Wilkinson agreed on it over the phone. I must have heard wrong.
Breaking news! Arsenal have made a bid for the premiership trophy. Liverpool are also said to be interested and richard scudamore is considering both offers. Man utd today signed the premier league trophy on a three year deal, the premier league trophy give an interveiw saying that old trafford felt like home.
sorry but off the point -
GET IN WOLVES hahahahahahhaahah
RAFA MUST STAY!!!
I hope this doesn’t go”Garry Cook” for us
costa
sorry mate i should have finished the story about how the deal was finished
i was just telling the part of the story about how easy a deal was done
when Edward said to Leeds about Cantona the said we’ll have to call you back then Wilkinson rang the Future Knight and they sorted it out there and then
Was Cantona not booted out of Leeds because he was nobbing Chapmans wife?
Leslie Ash?
while Im teling tails of days gone by Remember Kegan going all rafa before rafa went bonkers about the future knight saying Leeds only turn up and play well against United to prove a point but dont really give a shit about the rest of the games
Leeds lost 3 nil and still havent got a win since they…………………….. Turned up against United
Cant say I know much about him. He’s looked an alright player on the few occasions that I have seen him. must have something in him since Arsene and Sir Alex want him
Good luck to the lad if he signs for us, Evans-Smalling partnership in the future then?
@GHTT
Sorry for interrupting you, lol. Now the story sounds more familiar!
I would lie if I said that i didn’t see the Leeds thing coming. They lived for that game for 6 years. Now it’s back to the misery.
offf
sorry for this but i want to tell you:
i really really miss to sing the song:
he runs on the left
he runs onthe right
tha boy ronaldo
makes englan looks shite
so we should sing this for the same rythm:
he scores from the left,
he scores from the right,
that boy wayne rooney,
makes all of as pride
i would really really love to sing this. if anyone of you have a better idea you tell, but please sing this.
glory glory man united,
LOVE UNITED,
HATE GLAZERS
Roy Hodgson just said he (Smalling) is on his way for a medical tomorrow. Hodgson spoke really well just now about Smalling and United, what a great man, I like Roy Hodgson and Fulham as well, they all ways try to play good football even at Old Trafford.
NEWSFLASH
Lord Lucan and Shergar have indeed been spotted surfing on a lake in Scotland with the Loch ness monster,however sightings of Owen Hargreaves have been put down as hoaxes.
for fucks sake why are people sounding so fuckin happy about this smalling bloke he could be anything
Off topic a bit i know but I have just read this.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/333103-anti-glazer-protests-show-manchester-united-fans-ugly-side?
I have weighed in my opinion as Jon Smith. Get in about this moron!
He supports Arsenal and is a gooner. Arsenal have matched Man IOU bid of £8m.
Don’t fuckin want him. £8 MILLION on that.
Hodgson said Arsenal never bid for him. Hmmm
I don’t believe there’s been a bid made by Arsenal, now that I think about it.
Smalling will compete with Evans, Vidic, Rio who are all miles ahead of him and not that old.
At Arsenal, with Gallas aging, he’s slot right in(if he’s any good) and play for his favorite team.
Still, 8 million for someone who has barely played?!?! Ridiculous
@ elbarillo
that article is some heap of shit alright.
Didn’t see it meself but apparently Hodgson just told Sky that we’ve been tracking Smalling for a while and the guy is on his way to United tomorrow. Hodgson hasn’t had any offer from Arsenal at all. Message to Wenger from Hodgson and Fergie: FUCK YOU, VINEGAR FACE!
another transfer:
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11667_5887329,00.html?
It seems that Tosic is going to Germany
Good luck to the Cologne lads getting the Britney Spears chant going. All together now: “I’m addicted to you, don’t you know that you’re Tosic!”
Fred, how is it a “fuck you” if Arsenal never bid? 8 million for a nobody? No thanks, I rather we save that for a striker.
I’m surprised Man IOU can afford £8m
I’m surprised United aren’t buying a CM of some sort or a LW.
Will Rio be available for Citeh match now that he’s charged by the FA?
The good thing is that Sir Alex never makes mistakes with defenders!!!!!!!!!!
Anybody remember bad signing with defenders???
I don’t!! So you can be sure he will be world class as good as Vida,Evra,Evans, Pique, Heinze, Silvestr,Stam,Hening,Johnsen etc..
Pat, it’s a “fuck you” because Wenger was on TV earlier claiming that United’s bid was irrelevant and Smalling could still sign for Arsenal. This was obviously news to Roy Hodgson, who has confirmed that Smalling is on his way to United. You fellas will have to stick with the Campbell/Silvestre dream ticket for the time being.
Good signing by Sir Alex imho .. the playing style is much alike Rio .. so we’ve got that area covered now .. United til i die ..
Fred, who the fuck is Smalling tbh. Did you watch Campbell against Stoke? I don’t think he put a foot wrong and saved Arsenal single handedly when it was still 1-0 for Stoke.
Wenger always fucks around with the media in the market. He never put in a fucking bid. Also, this comes from SkySports, never confirmed on Arsenal.com
Also, SkySports were the only ones reporting Arsenal bid was accepted.
Smokescreen for a striker? Thats certainly what we need atm, not a defender who has made 2 app. for Fulham (who play a deep line).
He was caught ball watching today for Crouch’s goal.
@hurr
Yes he will be available. The hearing is on the 28th and I think it will take a while until they come to a decision. Hopefully, we will also have him for the trip to the Emirates.
Prunier?
Costas, new rules say it has to be done within a week, I think. So decision will be made Thursday or Saturday.
Thats just what I THINK.
@Pat
Oh, I see. It’s been a while since one of our players has been charged, so I didn’t know about the new rule. I mean, there was the Evra thing, but that was completely different. So, from what I undestand, the only way he can play at the Emirates, is if he requests a personal hearing? I don’t see him avoiding the 3 match ban.
Pat, Wenger confirmed Arsenal’s interest in Smalling today and also said Arsenal were not after a striker. I don’t think it’s a smokescreen tbh.
Costas & Hurr, from what I understand if Rio accepts guilt he will miss City, Arsenal and Portsmouth. If he contests it he is free to play City but could miss Arsenal, Portsmouth and Villa.
@Fred
I saw on Skysports that he has until Wednesday at 6pm to respond. If he doesn’t, I guess that means an automatic 3 match ban. Wow, the whole process has surely sped up. I don’t see any other option than for him to appeal. And hopefully that will allow him to play against Arsenal. After that, I am not too worried because Vidic is expected to return.
If both Hodgson and Fergie rate him then I think the lad must have something to his game.
Fred, interested and wanting him are 2 different things. He didn’t even make a bid.
If Rio appeals and loses, I think he may even get a 4 match ban. Not sure about that one though.
Wenger ruled out Arshavin last winter as well. He is the most unpredictable man in the market and its soo annoying.
Maybe he’s waiting for West Ham to finalize McCarthy deal or Everton to get Hunterlaar.
Cole or Saha to Arsenal. I’d take Saha tbh. He’s been injury free this season and is one the the best forwards in the league imo
I’d take Saha back too. Michael Owen FFS.
Think you’e right about the ban being extended to four games if they deem his appeal to be “frivolous.”
@ Pat…..
LMAO….Campbell was great against Stoke, yeah right. He was taken to the cleaners everytime Fuller ran at him. He even got taken apart in the third division for Notts county and out of embarassment left the club because it was not what he signed up for!!
Arsenal to play Campbell against us at the weekend FTW!!!
Oh and Wenger has been chasing this kid since he was at Maidstoen and so were Chelsea and a few others!!
He obviously got a lot more sense then that idiot, whats his name Aaron Ramsey (brilliant footballer tho!)
I think we will see Vidic leave at the end of the season i’m afraid, this signing is for much more than potential, its a replacement!
@ Biku
William Prunier, remember him?
I know what you mean though, Fergie has a pretty good track record with defenders.
Safe to say that Rio has put us in an unenviable spot. Having to choose which is the lesser of the two evils.
Another thing that could be a risk is that Rio and Vidic will probably play together for the first time in 4 months at Milan.
Rewind, another one fooled by the bias.
Stoke weren’t better than us, however much you want that to be true. We didn’t deserve to win, but neither did Stoke. Campbell won all his headers and Fuller did fuck all tbh. Stoke didn’t create from open play until Arsenal went for the win(rather lose than draw with our injuries!) Everything they had was from throw-ins and its a crime that the ref never told them to hurry up. Whenever Arsenal were on top, these cunts would spend minutes on end wiping the fucking ball! A keeper/any other player would get a yellow for timewasting! Effectively, Delap could have seen 10 yellows!
Fabianski error gifted him the 1st goal and our 3rd choice LB was at fault for the 2nd(still can’t see where he was even after the replays).
Campbell had a very good game against Stoke and was probably the best defender on show. I suggest you watch the game again.
rewind, common sense points to Arsenal. Not that we’re the better club(not giving any opinions here cause they would be bias),but that he’d get to play more imo.
Gallas is getting old and Smalling, if he turns out good, would replace him.
United have a great foursome of CBs now and Smalling is the least likely to play.
Not sure about Ramsey. he goes for the Hollywood pass too often and he was, along with Traore, largely to blame for Stoke’s 2nd goal
Off topic: great result for the dippers tonight, 0-0 at Wolves. IT’S ON!
Scott – off topic I know, but how’s about bagging an interview with either Jim O’Neill (Goldman Sachs dude) or Paul Marshall (hedge fund honcho), both mad keen United fans and vocally anti-Glazer. Mucho kudos if you can pull that off.
Check out Marshall’s piece in the Telegraph about a plan for fans to buy out the Glazers:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/7073203/Manchester-United-fans-should-buy-the-club-says-hedge-fund-star-Paul-Marshall.html?state=target#postacomment&postingId=7080665
As for Smalling – looks very capable. Irrespective of the financial position of the club, identifying talent at an early age should form the majority of recruitment. The prices for top quality established players are too inflated. Even if United had a billion in the bank I’d still prefer the ‘recruit young and raw and then nurture’ policy.
TBF Pat, it’s looking likely that the good old Glazers are going to cash in on Vidic this summer. Also, with Rio’s persisitent injury problems, Smalling could find himself playing a lot next season.
http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,13320_5887509,00.html
@Vader
I agree 100% sell pique and buy this lad for 8 million=fuckin stupid, I watched the Fulham and Spurs game today and nothing I saw from Smalling made me think wow this lad has the talent to be a United player. Let Arsenal have him.
all i know about this guy is the Own goal against Chelsea? Is he that good of a talent?
Everyones on his back already. Whatever happened to getting behind your players?
Smalling must have something if the likes of Hodgson,Ferguson,Wenger see something in him? Hodgson refused to buy Sol Campbell because of Smalling and calls him a gem. Wengers been tracking him and we have managed to get him have a little faith!
Also did any of you even watch the Fulham-Chelsea game? Smalling dealt with Drogba very well and the own goal wasnt really horrific it could happen to anybody
As for Pique. Evans is someone whose guranteed to stay with us for the majority of his career, Pique would be demanding his dream move to Barca within 2-3 seasons
2-3 seasons of a good player or a decade?
I organized a threesome the other day. There were a couple of no shows but it was still a great night.
I don’t know what people are on about with Smalling ‘ball-watching’, he didn’t do anything wrong all game
Pat – Why would we want a left winger and a central midfielder? We have Scholes who shits on anyone you have. Fletch who bully’s your soft little southerners . Carrick. Giggs can play there . Oh and Anderson who usually has Cesc in his arse pocket. Worry about your own team pal. You know the ones that ain’t won anything for 5 years.
As for all the other gooners saying United can’t afford him, grow up and change the record. Don’t see you splashing the cash but merely going for the likes of fucking Sol who made Fuller look like Rooney on Sunday. Also how’s about a new keeper? Or a ball winner? An enforcer? A winger as Walcott is class. A striker perhaps? Fucking arrogant Arsenal fans.
david – get behind the lad for fuck sake.
Why do fans insist on bitching and moaning all the time. What did you say when we brought in an unknown Vidic?
Where the fuck has the price of 8 million come from. It seems to be getting inflated on every post. Sickens me that people are complaining before he even plays a single minute for us. Also he wasn’t ball watching for the first goal. The keeper royally fucked up and Riise left Modric free. Anyway even if he did make a mistake or two tonight is that any reason to write him off?
King Eric, you said it mang! 100% agree!!
Fuck all this HYPOTHETICAL shit!
Arsenal fans you can hurry back to your boring sites now… please… yes…, even you Pat & Arsene Wenger! IT’S FOOKING DERBY DAY!!!!!!!!!!
COME ON UNITED!!!!!!!!!!
wow, liverpool are up to 5th now in é league. real threat. with é fanstatic rate they are going at é moment, i seriously see them nick é title if they could just draw all their remaining games 0-0, provided of course é other teams dont play any more games.
this is their year.
@Devilisred
To me Liverpool already out of title race. They just struggle to get champion league slot.
Regarding smalling transfer, whatever it is I hope he will sign for us. Maybe will be a great partner for evans or ferdinand after vidic leaving us this summer.
I thank God i’m a United fan.i just cant picture myself supporting “these other teams”! Jeez, i could die with jealousy. The more i read their posts the more pity i feel for them. I’m proud 2 be a Red.
@soccerguy
é different between united & loserpool:
we Believe
they Fantasies.
Smallings signing shows that Vida is off in the summer.it’s kinda of precautionary just in case he does a Ronnie. That said i still maintain that we should get behind our “latest acquisition” coz it has captured the intrest of three of the oldest & most experienced managers in the league( fergie,wenger & roy).we shouldn’t dismiss a young U-21 for an ordinary error! Let’s show some faith in our gaffer & believe that when he finally gets in, SAF will mould him to end up just like Vida & or Rio.
Am I the only one that thinks this is actually a good signing? He’s a good player.. Imagine if we had him during our defense injury plague..
He’s a good young player, sure he switched off and let crouch score.. but then again that was the only time he LET crouch touch the ball..
We need back-up defenders at the moment, this is how I see our back four in the following seasons: Starter (Back up)
Rafael Rio Vidic Evra
(Brown) (Smalling) (Evans) (Fabio)
I agree, dont think Vida will be with us next season.
I doubt anyone on here has seen enough of this kid to judge whether he’s good or not – so just leave that till you see him play in the shirt…
BUT surely he’s not a replacement for Vida? He’s just a kid. If Vidic is sold they will need to buy a player of that level who is world class and has proper International experience…
What happened with Vidic really? Everyone is so convinced he’s leaving. I would be gutted to see him leave. He’s such a great player for us and plays with such determination. I don’t think we should sell him to Barca or Real. I hate the idea of us becoming some sort of feeder club for those two.
He looks fried.
ttp://www.riofutblog.com/2010/01/vasco-swoop-for-man-utds-anderson.html
Anderson in brazil?????????
Blame it on RIO!!!!!
@king eric
he was caught ball watching! Doesn’t matter who fucked up in the build up to the goal, it was still the man he was marking that put the ball in the net! That’s not to say that he won’t become a good player, seen him against Chelsea and he barely gave drogba a kick!
It was the first chance many people had to see him in action and one of the first things they see is him losing his man and letting him into score! So it’s pretty obvious that people are gonna comment on this, as I did and got called a twat for my troubles!
yeah.. saw the chelsea game.. Not a good first impression, 7 million is WAYY over priced! Wouldn’t rate this defender more than 2 million. If i’m wrong, he turns out to be a United legend, {not likely}.. i will accept it.
I don’t know wyhy people keeping saying Vidic is out in the summer. Was it because some trash talk in Marca? Or the Mirror? Let go the Ronaldo obssession, because differently we all knew Ronaldo wanted to go to Madrid for a long time.
Vidic never said or let be hinted that he wanted out or could be out.
Smalling could really help us not to use O’Shea in the back, or even Brown. Should develop just fine.
7 fucking million!!!!!!!!!!!! if the club is struggling for money, how in the name of jesus did fergie pull this one off?? i’ve seen this kid play 3 times, twice for fulham and once for englands u21s and though he looks alright there is no way in hell that he is worth 7 mill.
If saf thinks this kid is worth 7 million, then im ok wiv that.
happy united has bought a defender,but i cant understand y are they loaning back him.we are already struggling with defenders so y not keep him.
He could struggle to acclimatise half way through the season like Vidic did and all the wonderful “loyal” United fans would shit all over him and shatter his confidence I suppose?
Makes me sick how some people react. lads not even signed for us and they are already on his back
@ Gotta hate tiny tears Said,January 26th, 2010 @21:53 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1246234/Chris-Smalling-completes-switch-Manchester-United-Arsenal-lose-Fulham-defender.html
That is mad reporting.
The headline says Smalling completes the switch but the very first line says Man U are nearing completion. That is not the same thing.
I would suggest that Fulham have agreed with both clubs and he will now decide, probably by listening to both parties. Prior to his switch I thought Ramsey was certain to go to United. Let’s just wait and see. Obviously whoever gets him will think he is the best thing ever whilst the ‘losers’ will think him to be an overpriced pile of poo.
The Times today claimed the fee was £12m. Sky Sports apparently claimed the fee is £16m rising to £21m! Then again, SSN were desperately trying to claim he was still going to sign for Arsenal yesterday so who knows what their agenda is…?
I’ve sussed Sky’s agenda. At the press conference the other day, their man James Cooper was asking more bullshit questions about Tevez and Neville and Fergie gave him a bollocking, said Sky were trying to stoke up controversy by showing the Neville incident over and over again. Sky were apparently then temporarily barred from Carrington.
So it seems Cooper and Sky have been doing all they can to get on Fergie’s nerves with this Samlling transfer, first claiming that Arsenal were going to snatch him at the 11th hour, then after that didn’t happen they are mischievously exaggerating the transfer fee. Apparently it is £7.2m, not the £21m their “man in the know” James Cooper had claimed. Arseholes.
He has not signed for Man U yet. Arsenal have had an offer accepted and their CEO is talking to him. No terms have been agreed with Arsenal yet.
The lad is a Gooner and is holding out for them, but will jump at the chance of United should the Arsenal deal collapse.
IMHO, Never say never. If our scouting network n SAF / other coaches see something in the kid, that means the talent is there. Ability wise, time and training will tell. 1/2 match doesnt prove anything. He might even be worth 30 mil in 5-6 years time. lol
Vida to go in the summer for 25million to pay for Glazer’s next intrest payment then?
LUGH
Christ the English transfer market is hyperinflated. You mancs are welcome to him for that price. Arsenal have more pressing issues than centre backs at the moment.
08.17 Defender Chris Smalling was at Old Trafford on Wednesday night amid widespread reports he has completed a £12million move to Manchester United before being loaned back to Fulham for the remainder of the season.
Taken from SkySports site, can’t be right surely?
Sounds about right to me, Altonian. Not sure aout the £12m part though, as BBWB pointed out, Sky talk out of their arses quite a lot.