Manchester United centre-back pairing Phil Jones and Chris Smalling did not have the best of nights against Wolves yesterday evening.
Jones failed to win an aerial duel with Raul Jimenez before Smalling inadvertently put through his own net for the winning goal.
Fans on Twitter don’t believe either player is up to the task of playing for a team challenging at the top of the Premier League:
Both must be dropped! #MUFC need to reinforce it backline with quality that is consistent. #Manutd need defenders that can live up to what Rio + Vidic accomplished and also which can make Van Dijk look amature. #MUFC #GGMU
— Semere B. Assefa (@SeminyI) 3 April 2019
Not good enough to be squad players for a team in man ud standard , these 2 won’t make Barca or Juve , or Madrid or City team c . They shld be playing for Burnley , that is where they belong .
— Charles Montana (@CharlesMontana6) 2 April 2019
They don’t even have merit as footballers. Totally and utterly inept!!
Those two still playing regularly for MUFC in 2019 is a perfect example of everything that is wrong at our club— Matthew Cutliffe (@MatthewCutliff2) 2 April 2019
Please ask the Manager how many of United’s team tonight would start for Man City, Liverpool, Barca, Real Madrid, Bayern or Juventus. 2 or 3 players max. This is Manchester United’s problem and it needs sorting urgently this May. Get it done! #MUFC pic.twitter.com/5K60vyrh5R
— Digital Jerseys (@Fasn_Designs) 2 April 2019
All new contracts. Madness
— Liam Oliver Rescorla ? (@RescorlaLiam) 3 April 2019
Smalling has been our most consistent defender in the post Sir Alex era, and fittest. I dont think he actually makes that many mistakes. I’d absolutely keep him on even if we buy 2 new cbs.
— Sarah Horrocks (@mercurialblonde) 3 April 2019
They are more like West Ham squad members
— Ciaran Duffy (@CiaranDuffy3) 3 April 2019
Smalling and Jones are not even close to Manchester United standard….. check your history!
— Pete McGroovy (@Pmuggerud) 3 April 2019
Neither deserved new contracts. Not good enough for United I’ve been saying that since 2012 yet they’re still here. Shows how far we’ve fallen
— Ole’s at the wheel! (@guvnor12) 3 April 2019
How have they stayed at the club for so long?
— K. (@UnitedKSJ) 2 April 2019
To be fair, Smalling has had a pretty consistent season while Jones has once again been ravaged by injury and illness. You also have to consider that United were playing with ten men after Ashley Young was sent off.
Still, as many pundits have already alluded to, United’s backline has to improve if they want to be challenging for titles once again. The two goals conceded last night means they have let in 43 in 32 league games this campaign.
It is one of the major reasons why the Manchester club will be looking to target a top-class centre-back in the summer.
