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smalling... man u bid accepted

Started by chez, January 26, 2010, 11:11:03 AM

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White Noise

He's not really been a Fulham player so, in a way, it doesn't hurt as much as it might have.

He also wasn't really a Maidstone player for long. He got kicked out by Millwall (was it?) and was thinking of giving up the game and going to University but got a break in non-league and stuck with it to see what would happen.

Both us and Maidstone got lucky. How much playing time would he really get in the next two seasons with H & H in place - more or less than at Man Utd?

He's a good lad and looks like the real deal but he may get injured or fall away in form as quickly as he rose.

We have come a long way under Roy but not so far yet that we can hope to compete with the top clubs in Europe on wages or prospects.

I am sure Roy is not doing it with glee.


dancrawford

Quote from: White Noise on January 26, 2010, 12:52:12 PM
Quote from: timmyg on January 26, 2010, 12:47:44 PM
Why would we accept this bid? We have absolutely NO cover in the center of defense.

Baird is good there and Matt Briggs is the new Smalling. I think Kallio can play there as well.


As good a prospect as he is, Briggs is a long way from Smalling's current level.

JBH

This is a funny situation for Fulham Fans, Smalling has done well when he has played in the 1st team but as someone posted earlier, he isn't really an established player at the club, so I have mixed feelings on the whole issue.

1.He has shown potential when he has played but he has only had 8 fist team outings thus far

2. We are not sure how he will develop even thought the early signs look good.

3. Roy brought him into the club for a pittance from Maidstone, so he may well have another gem up his sleeve (remember Hangerlands signing!)

4. If clubs like Arsenal and Man U are in for him his head may well have already been turned.

5. If we are offered silly money (which no doubt will include add-ons) the club will be stupid not too.

6. I don't want him to go and hope that this is just another SKY SPORTS RUMOUR but if he does it will be on our clubs terms and not the buying clubs.

Fingers crossed he stays, but my head is telling me he will leave, if not now then in the Summer.

:(


White Noise

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11670_5886515,00.html

Wenger still tracking Smalling

Gunners boss has not given up on Cottagers defender

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 26th January 2010   


It just looks like Manchester United offered more money than us, but as long as the player has not signed anywhere it is not the end of it.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is refusing to concede defeat in the race to sign Fulham starlet Chris Smalling.

The Cottagers are reported to have accepted a bid for the 20-year-old defender from reigning Premier League champions Manchester United.

It is also claimed that the Gunners saw an official approach for the England Under 21 international knocked back.

Wenger concedes that United have stolen the upper hand in the battle to secure Smalling's signature, but insists he will continue to pursue the youngster until a deal has been agreed.

"It just looks like Manchester United offered more money than us, but as long as the player has not signed anywhere it is not the end of it," said the Frenchman.

"Let's see what happens there.

"We will not come out on what we are doing exactly. It has come out [elsewhere], but that does not mean it is true. If we have anything more to tell you we will let you know."

Opportunity
Wenger has also played down speculation that he is chasing AC Milan striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, but admits Jack Wilshere appears destined to head out of the Emirates Stadium on loan before the winter transfer window slams shut.

"We have interest now from a few Premier League teams, it will be decided today (Tuesday) or tomorrow," Wenger said.

"Burnley is an opportunity. But, at the end of the day, Wilshere will have his word to say, because he needs to decide where he likes to go."

Arsenal saw their chances of landing a major trophy this season dented on Sunday when they crashed out of the FA Cup at the hands of Stoke, but Wenger has defended his decision to play an under-strength side at the Britannia Stadium and insists he has already forgotten about the 3-1 defeat.

He said: "I do what I feel is right and that's it.

"I have already forgotten Stoke, I did not know we even played at Stoke because I am focused on tomorrow. That is the most important thing."

LRCN

selling smalling would be such a short term view. 7 million now or 14 million in two seasons when he's an england/fulham regular. I'll be really really f*cked off if this happens, we are at the strongest point this club has ever been in and yet the management or chairman are still happy to let our best young players go. we'll spend it on another f*cking 31 year old anyway. god sake.

LRCN

oh, and I would take 8 million for hangeland now if it meant smalling stayed for another 3 or 4 years. unbelievable.


JBH

Quote from: Lork on January 26, 2010, 03:47:20 PM
selling smalling would be such a short term view. 7 million now or 14 million in two seasons when he's an england/fulham regular. I'll be really really f*cked off if this happens, we are at the strongest point this club has ever been in and yet the management or chairman are still happy to let our best young players go. we'll spend it on another f*cking 31 year old anyway. god sake.

I know where your coming from but in the current climate of debt in football, clubs like Fulham have to balance their books and if the money from a potential deal for Smalling helps keep the club stable then it will happen, I for one do not want to end up the same way as Pompey.

I have faith in RH so prwehaps we should trust his judgement on this one eh?

sylvain

I think it's quite astute on fulhams part.

Let's face it, if Smalling became a very good English Centre Back, starting week in week out for us, a "bigger" club would swoop in for him. This would be a real issue if he was an integral part of our defence and came, say, half way through a season. As it happens, he's not a starter for us and only gets games when Aaron or Brede can't play. Thus, I think currently we can deem him as "very useful" but we can afford to lose him.

If the £8m rumours are true we have managed to sell prior to him becoming a hit and being ripped out, got a good price and put all the risk with Man Utd for whetehr he develops into a quality player. I think its clever business - £40k to £8,000,000 within a year? I doubt even Branson expects that return.

Now, if we pick up another Young brede and a striker in this transfer window (looks like we could now afford someone pretty pricey to partner bobby) we have gained and not lost that much for this season or the forseeable.

LRCN

Quote from: JIMMYBULLARDSHAIRNET on January 26, 2010, 03:54:01 PM
Quote from: Lork on January 26, 2010, 03:47:20 PM
selling smalling would be such a short term view. 7 million now or 14 million in two seasons when he's an england/fulham regular. I'll be really really f*cked off if this happens, we are at the strongest point this club has ever been in and yet the management or chairman are still happy to let our best young players go. we'll spend it on another f*cking 31 year old anyway. god sake.

I know where your coming from but in the current climate of debt in football, clubs like Fulham have to balance their books and if the money from a potential deal for Smalling helps keep the club stable then it will happen, I for one do not want to end up the same way as Pompey.

I have faith in RH so prwehaps we should trust his judgement on this one eh?

we spent f*ck all in the summer anyway, what's there to balance out.


Yarden


JBH

Its pointless discussing Smalling anymore, the deal is done, he is a youngster with talent, we spent fcuk all on getting him and have cashed in after the lads head would have been turned by Man U (as Saha's was).
Roy will now spend the cash on a couple of players to bolster the squad.

Shame he is going but that's football!!

I won't wish the Greedy bsterd any luck because he is obviously going for the cash and will most probably spend 12 months warming their bench.

timmyg

I think this move speaks more about United than it does us.

I can't imagine their fans are too happy with this. Not because Smalling isn't good enough, but because they still haven't replaced Ronaldo.
"Not everybody's the perfect person in the world. I mean everyone kills people, murders people, steals from you, steals from me, whatever." -- Terrelle Pryor, on Michael Vick