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2014-15 Performances

View full 2014-15 profile

6.0 Season Average Rating
Appearances
29
Clean sheets
8
Goals
4
Assists
0
Yellow cards
3
Red cards
1
Goalfather said:
Smallin has been judged a bit harshly , in fact I think some of the criticism is a bit over the top. Both yellows were deserved but I understand why he was sucked in for the second one. Milner was not fully in contol of the ball and has seemingly pushed the ball to far. I think he thought he had a chance to win that 50/50 ball. Milner was just a bit quicker. A deserved yellow card but quite understandable!
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I think people are much more upset about the first yellow card.
 
RexHamilton said:
I have a question. I'm not defending Smalling here by the way, I think he was very foolish today but under what rule was the first booking? I'm not criticising the ref I genuinely don't know the rule. I mean it's not a dead ball. The Goalie has to get rid of the ball. Why does Smalling have to get out of his way. Why is he allowed have effectively a free kick just because he caught the ball?
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Under Law 12, you cannot prevent a keeper from releasing the ball from his hands. But the law doesn't seem to imply it's an automatic yellow.
 
Winrar said:
I think people are much more upset about the first yellow card.
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Even so, he knew he was on a yellow. Thus he should have known better than anyone that he had to be even more careful and be sure at 110% that he can make a play without risking another card.
 
I saw Balotelli do the same thing in the Newcastle game and he didn't get booked or even give a free kick away. Not that that really matters because it was dumb by Smalling. It's frustrating that he has done this because he really could have cemented his spot in the side. Hopefully he gets another chance.
 
Kakeru said:
Even so, he knew he was on a yellow. Thus he should have known better than anyone that he had to be even more careful and be sure at 110% that he can make a play without risking another card.
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Yep, it was really, really stupid of him. Something I'd expect Jones to do before Smalling.
 
People need to lay off Chris Smalling. Does any United fan really think he needs to be slagged off more after getting fair criticism but more so attacked nastily for what were two costly mistakes?

I feel sorry for the lad - all hyped up about the game, wanted to show how much he cared about the derby and make his presence felt and did that silly thing against Joe Hart. But the ref was an idiot and I question his motive behind the yellow card for that offence. He should have been ticked off, not shown the yellow.

If the ref had been consistent in the first half it might have been understandable but blatantly ignoring attacks on Van Persie under the guise of tackling was unforgiveable. In derbies usually the refs are even-handed and understand that there are going to be some rash challenges. But this jerk decided to make an example of Chris Smalling while Aguero's dangerous actions were yellow card offences.

United fans usually don't hate on their players,let's not do it with a young lad who would have benefited from a mentor such as Rio playing alongside him.

We miss Rio - as Paolo Maldini showed for years you don't need to keep up your youthful quickness if your footballing brain has that predictive ability. I note that when QPR didn't have him on the pitch against Liverpool they did two horrendous own goals. We should have kept Rio.
 
ryansgirl said:
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We miss Rio - as Paolo Maldini showed for years you don't need to keep up your youthful quickness if your footballing brain has that predictive ability. I note that when QPR didn't have him on the pitch against Liverpool they did two horrendous own goals. We should have kept Rio.
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What? QPR didn't have him on the pitch against Liverpool because they had dropped him due to how poor he has been. Leaving Ferdinand and Vidic go was definitely the right decision, trusting three injury prone players to stay fit for the full season was the mistake that the club made.
 
Only just found out that this guy cost 10 million quid. Unbelievable... what have your scouts been doing these past years?
 
Piratesoup said:
Only just found out that this guy cost 10 million quid. Unbelievable... what have your scouts been doing these past years?
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He can play. I think he's our best CB personally. One bad error (probably the only one he has ever made) doesn't change that.
 
I hope Van Gaal fines him his wages for the week he can't play for us, but then he goes straight back in the side.

He needs to understand how stupid that was and how it cost us the game, but there's no sense freezing him out for an extended period and LVG showing confidence in him might be what he needs to kick on for us.
 
sizzling sausages said:
What? QPR didn't have him on the pitch against Liverpool because they had dropped him due to how poor he has been. Leaving Ferdinand and Vidic go was definitely the right decision, trusting three injury prone players to stay fit for the full season was the mistake that the club made.
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Yes and in Rio's absence two QPR defenders, one of whom was veteran Richard Dunne, made atrocious schoolboy mistakes that gave Liverpool 2 goals and the match. One shocking own goal happens but then another comes along to gift a struggling, useless Liverpool points they couldn't have deserved less.

Rio was speedy until the last few years of his time at United but he always relied more on keeping calm and predicting accurately what was going to happen. Lack of experienced defenders who have done it all is United's problem at the moment and more so somebody like Rio who would mentor Smalling if he were still at United.
 
11101 said:
I hope Van Gaal fines him his wages for the week he can't play for us, but then he goes straight back in the side.

He needs to understand how stupid that was and how it cost us the game, but there's no sense freezing him out for an extended period and LVG showing confidence in him might be what he needs to kick on for us.
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I'd like Smalling to apologise to the fans and offer the fine himself. But yes, I'd like him to get back in the team.
 
Justin said:
Under Law 12, you cannot prevent a keeper from releasing the ball from his hands. But the law doesn't seem to imply it's an automatic yellow.
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He doesn't actually prevent the keeper releasing the ball is the thing.

If you are standing inside the box (which is illegal on a GK) trying to block the keepers kick then I can understand it being a foul (although the same sort of thing happens on virtually every FK)... If you are outside of the box then I fail to see how it is a foul. How far outside the box must you then be for it not to be considered a block?

Like the Balotelli one, he didn't get booked or penalised and rightly so for me. If you are outside of the box and not allowed inside, it isn't difficult for a keeper to avoid hitting the ball at you.
 
I really want to be measured in my response to Smalling but he was a complete idiot today. I won't argue he cost us the game, but such an argument would not be unreasonable.

For me, McNair has already shown he's the better defender, even if he drifted off Aguero on the goal.
 
People calling for him to never play for United again. Bit of an overreaction?
 
Sam said:
People calling for him to never play for United again. Bit of an overreaction?
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OTT, Rooney got sent off for a stupid tackle as well and they calling for his head, it all changed after a week as it usually does with fickle fans.
 
Didn't vidic score an OG in his first game.

The merits of Smalling aside, we're lacking a solid experienced back line.

Smalling and another solid CB could work... Rojo ain't a CB, shaw is young, and Valencia ain't a RB. What are we playing at?

We've got a McLaren F1 with space saver wheels.
 
Gannicus said:
I really want to be measured in my response to Smalling but he was a complete idiot today. I won't argue he cost us the game, but such an argument would not be unreasonable.

For me, McNair has already shown he's the better defender, even if he drifted off Aguero on the goal.
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Absolutely crazy. McNair, who has played three matches, has shown to be a better defender than Smalling? Someone who has international caps and CL experience.
 
Sam said:
People calling for him to never play for United again. Bit of an overreaction?
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Yes overreaction (because we probably need him if others are injured again)

But to be honest he's table position 6-10th place level (Everton, Southampton, Hull), too many times injured, brainless and not a LVG type of defender (He isn't good enough on the ball)
 
Just saw the game. Absolute stupidity. I was lost for words when I saw the second foul. You don't go lunging in like that when you're already on a yellow; especially one that could've been avoided in the first place. Result was up for grabs but he sealed it. Idiot.
 
First yellows was just stupid. He should have never been there or even looking to block the kick. Second yellow I can kinda understand as he was drawn in by the City players' poor touch. Not the brightest idea to be diving in though when you are already on a yellow. Understandably a few over the top reactions from some fans, as much of the blame for the lose falls on him, but he is still one of our better CB and probably deserves to be a starter based on his ability. I wouldn't mind seeing him get dropped for an extra game after his suspension is over to make a point, but after that he should be straight back in the team.
 
He's been fine/good this season, and similar with a higher performance ceiling last season. He does push boundaries sometimes but this bout of silliness should really be looked at in isolation. Shame, considering he'd been our best defender of late.
 
wiz4231 said:
OTT, Rooney got sent off for a stupid tackle as well and they calling for his head, it all changed after a week as it usually does with fickle fans.
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Rooney got sent off in the 76th minute or so and as stupid as that was, we were already leading and we did not lose points. This moron got himself sent off for 2 stupidly mind numbing cards within the span of 10 mins and before half time, costing us the game. Big difference between the two. I'm still fuming at the sight of his stupid face.
 
Wednesday at Stoke said:
Rooney got sent off in the 76th minute or so and as stupid as that was, we were already leading and we did not lose points. This moron got himself sent off for 2 stupidly mind numbing cards within the span of 10 mins and before half time, costing us the game. Big difference between the two. I'm still fuming at the sight of his stupid face.
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Rooney his tackle was so stupid, that it cost us/him 3 matches, just as stupid as Smalling his red card, the Rooney tackle is one of the dumbest I have seen.
 
Sammyjunn said:
Rooney his tackle was so stupid, that it cost us/him 3 matches, just as stupid as Smalling his red card, the Rooney tackle is one of the dumbest I have seen.
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Both were stupid and I just think this one was worse. Leaving your team short of a man for 60+ minutes of a derby game away is just a cardinal sin, no matter how anyone spins it.
 
Smalling has regressed after having done well in his first two seasons. Perhaps the riches and lifestyle has got to his head, and no longer seems to have the hunger and drive. Really needs a hard kick up the arse.
 
Ronnie O'Sullivan said:
Smalling has regressed after having done well in his first two seasons. Perhaps the riches and lifestyle has got to his head, and no longer seems to have the hunger and drive. Really needs a hard kick up the arse.
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I think it was obvious in the derby that Chris Smalling has hunger and drive.

He didn't make those two costly mistakes because he hasn't any drive or doesn't care - he made them because he cared a lot and was keen to make an impact. He did - in the worst way - but it's unfair to label his actions in the way you have.
 
Justin said:
Under Law 12, you cannot prevent a keeper from releasing the ball from his hands. But the law doesn't seem to imply it's an automatic yellow.
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Must also come under delaying the restart of play. Given keepers have an informal period of time in which they have to release the ball delaying it must be an infringement. Ungentlemanly conduct or something
 
Sammyjunn said:
Rooney his tackle was so stupid, that it cost us/him 3 matches, just as stupid as Smalling his red card, the Rooney tackle is one of the dumbest I have seen.
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No. It was clear what Rooney was trying to do he just got the timing wrong. It was an attempt to take one for the team gone wrong, and understandable too given how we'd been caught on the break the week before at Leicester. What Smalling did yesterday I just cannot understand. Still. Neither booking. One of the most pointless united sendings off surely. Idiot.
 
Some of the comments in here are asylum-worthy.

Smalling's ace, despite the idiocy of yesterday's bookings. Fairly pissed off with Oliver, too, for allowing Zabaleta a free pass on his identical challenge on van Persie not ten minutes beforehand.

Genuine lolz.
 
Buchan said:
Some of the comments in here are asylum-worthy.

Smalling's ace, despite the idiocy of yesterday's bookings. Fairly pissed off with Oliver, too, for allowing Zabaleta a free pass on his identical challenge on van Persie not ten minutes beforehand.

Genuine lolz.
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Well let me ask you a question, Do you honestly believe this 'ace' Smalling is at the level he should be by now? He joined the club in 2010, and while I think he has obviously got better with experience, he is no where near the level he should be at now. Jones is going exactly the same way, and we just cannot afford to carry these passengers any longer, If I was Van Gaal i'd keep one of Jones, Evans or Smalling as cover and get rid of the other 2. We need more reliability and to be truly honest, Accomplished defenders.
 
Would just like to add that I don't think it's fair to compare Smalling to Rooney or Vidic...the latter two have proven themselves over long and distinguished careers at the club and have led our team to trophies on numerous occasions. Smalling has been here for 4 years, and it's precisely because of his experience at the club and at the international level that more is expected out of him but he has not consistently delivered the goods, and on occasion even makes major mistakes.

Even against Chelsea, Smalling was getting caught out on several occasions. Not saying Smalling should be sacked because of his performance against City, but as a whole, I really don't think he is good enough to be leading our back line and don't think he ever will be (compare him at 24 to Rio or Vidic at 24).
 
Ronnie O'Sullivan said:
Smalling has regressed after having done well in his first two seasons. Perhaps the riches and lifestyle has got to his head, and no longer seems to have the hunger and drive. Really needs a hard kick up the arse.
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Or perhaps Ferguson decimated his confidence during the most crucial period of player development. Laughable management and I was saying this years back. To this day, I still can't believe the stupidity of such an intelligent to bloke to allow the very same thing he let happen to the midfield, happen to the defence. I'm losing faith in the developing youth argument. It's just bullshit. We're better off just buying ready made stars because the last few years suggest to me that we just aren't willing to give the imports the games they need to actually develop. I've said it before, but Raphael Varane snubbing us for Madrid is the best career move I've seen in a while and that is a sad reality. Rio would probably still be here and ahead of him now had Ferguson not packed in.
 
Smalling deserves all the stick he gets for what he did yesterday. Of course, this one game has feck all to do with how good he actually is and whether he does or does not have a future at United. Bit weird (but depressingly predictable) that so many have leaped from being angry at the red card to drawing far-reaching conclusions on his abilities as a footballer based on a couple of moments of madness.
 
I’m fed up with Smalling. He was ver very good during his second season with us playing as a right back, but since, he’s been awfull. Playing few games, being overrated by most in England, just because he’s English. He’s an absolute nightmare at the back, and will never be the next Rio Ferdinand.

The guys is in his 5th season with us and still considered as a rookie. But that’s only because we can’t trust him. He had a good game against Chelsea because Drogba didn’t offered much, but when Hazard came to him, he destroyed him…

We all know how a dumbass he’s when he enters a pitch, but yesterday was the culmination of it….He’s an athlete it’s true, he’s damn fast and his very good at defensive header, but with the ball, his intelligence, his positional… he’s such a clown.

To be fair with the rest of the group, the club and his own philosophy, Van Gaal should get rid of him rather than later. And it’s the same for Jones also. Those two have been touted as the next England captains, but only on FIFA.

LVG sacked Welbz and Clev without feeling because he thought at the time that they weren’t good enough for him, and they won’t be useful this season… What about Smalling and co? He should sell them and buy fit defenders even less “talented” because they’re not good enough to play for us

Mr Smalling, you’re a fool, good night haha
 
Mersault said:
I don't see a best defender at the club. That's the problem. I'd play Jones as much as possible (if that will ever amount to a good run, given his injury record) as he's probably got a higher ceiling for development.

But our best defender? We don't have one. We've got players who sometimes play well and sometimes play terrible. We really do not have a solid and reliable defender.
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I have to agree.
 
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