It was never going to be easy for Phil Jones and Chris Smalling to live up to what had gone before them at Manchester United.
Signed as promising youngsters, the pair had the near-impossible task of following on from Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand – arguably the greatest central defensive pairing in United’s history.
In a post-Ferguson era where the club have failed to match the kind of successes enjoyed by their legendary manager, fingers have often been pointed at Jones and Smalling.
Smalling, despite performing brilliantly for much of Louis van Gaal’s era, has often been accused of lacking composure, whereas Phil Jones has been widely mocked for his knack of picking up injuries and for, well… pulling silly faces.
With United said to be interested in bringing in another defender this summer, it’s been suggested that such a move could spell the end for one of the pair. Now, with the news that United have agreed a deal for Benfica’s Victor Lindelöf, it seems time at Old Trafford may be up for one – possibly both – of them.
When one piece of footage of Lindelöf, on international duty for Sweden, started doing the rounds on social media, it didn’t take long before some United fans were poking fun at the pair.
Taken during a game against European Champions Portugal, we see Lindelöf escape the attention of a couple of opponents with a Zidane-esque pirouette…
Going to enjoy having "the Iceman" at Manchester United for years to come 🇸🇪 pic.twitter.com/LUaSqVq1Bq
— Adam (@AdamJoseph____) June 11, 2017
Prompting this response…
https://twitter.com/TheManUtdWay/status/873813712288796672
You don't see Smalling or Jones doing this on the ball. #Lindelof https://t.co/qiam1Sp7ei
— Hesham Bilal-Hafiz (@hesham786) June 10, 2017
https://twitter.com/Jak_T7/status/873673566885171200
Smalling would step on his own foot and jones wild do the same but get injured for 3 months
— Toni (@UtdToni) June 10, 2017
Although one fancy bit of skill doesn’t necessarily confirm that Lindelöf is better defensively than Jones or Smalling, it was clear that some United fans already felt it was an upgrade.
https://twitter.com/ConnorWaughman/status/872536821791588355
And of course, there had to be some reference made to Phil Jones’ gurning face, didn’t there?
https://twitter.com/I_is_Zlatan/status/873641370573041665
When Phil Jones hears that Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign Victor Lindelof pic.twitter.com/FqgjfPZJQb
— Gurms © (@GurmeetK_) June 10, 2017
