That last 15 seconds perfectly encapsulated why I love big Mike.
12
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 55
- Clean sheets
- 24
- Goals
- 2
- Assists
- 1
- Yellow cards
- 13
- Red cards
- 1
- Status
Beast mode!
Incredible once again.
The level he has been performing at over the last 6-7 months is around the level of Rio Ferdinand in his prime in my opinion, if not even better.
Hopefully you're right, just a sneaky feeling I've got.
That is the highest praise I've ever heard about big Mike.
nearly shat myself when he landed awkward. Hes a fecking legend at the moment
For the love of God please stop.
To think Van Gaal was going to start with Jones and Blind at the start of the season.
Yeah was the biggest scare of the night. He's arguably our most important player at the moment - he glues our defence together single-handedly in the middle. We're fecked if he's out.
The poster must be higher than the praise because it's going completely overboard. Rio is United's greatest ever defender imo.
He's getting 7's and 8's by the caf week in week out. Rio's ceiling wasn't much higher than what we've seen of Smalling lately, but the challenge is to maintain this level for several seasons, which is something Rio did and is therefore considered a legend. If Smalling continues the way he has been playing over the last couple of months for 7-8 more years, I'm sure he'll be rated as highly as Rio.Chill out
He's been great, but lets not be ridiculous.
Becoming more and more one of the best centre backs in Europe. Future captain at this rate.
I hated his stupid red card against City last year but he's improved ten-fold since.
I hated his stupid red card against City last year but he's improved ten-fold since.
How was he better than Vidic?
Shit myself when he went down.
My favourite part was the last minute. Took control, engaged beast mode and took us over the line.
My favourite part was the last minute. Took control, engaged beast mode and took us over the line.
Unless Rooney manages to keep his place in the side for years to come, I think Smalling's nailed on. Strikes me as a leader, has been here for a while, and is developing into a crucial player for us.
Great performance, has to defend for both himself and blind a lot and really important goal as well. Hard to think how we will cope if he gets injured.
Imagine him with a really top class partner, Darmian and Shaw out wide and De Gea in goal.....
He needs to work on bending his legs when he lands. Otherwise a great performance.
Smalling has been sensational this season, coming off the back of a great end to last season. Since that red card against City actually, he's been incredible.
But let's calm down with the peak Rio comparisons. Rio Ferdinand at his best was the best defender in the world and the best i've ever seen at Old Trafford. As great as Smalling has been, he's not there yet.
But let's calm down with the peak Rio comparisons. Rio Ferdinand at his best was the best defender in the world and the best i've ever seen at Old Trafford. As great as Smalling has been, he's not there yet.
My MOTM, would have gone to Mata, but considering we were under the cosh for such a long period in the second half, had to give it to the big man.
Best defender in the league this season by a distance, add Jones beside him and we might have a solid pair for years. It's crazy how highly Jones is rated by opposition fans, he's only 23 too!
1man defence, he's not our best defender.. he's our best player now, fullstop.
What a player.
He was.How was he better than Vidic?
How was he better than Vidic?
I'd generally opt for Vidic out of the two myself, although a lot prefer Ferdinand. He was probably a better overall footballer than Vidic, to be fair.
BEAST MODE!
ITV deciding tonight that actually he was a bit shit, and always has an error in him 
Just give him the armband Louis! Another imperious performance, like most here a clenched my cheeks when he landed awkwardly.
Really it should be him or BFS as captain
Big Mike is an absolute colussus of a defender. Always has a goal in him, he is irreplaceable for us and worth gold at this moment.
our best defender by miles.
Been a beast since the name change
Big Mike mom for me
Mike was in beast mode once again tonight. He was colossal in those last 15 minutes chasing down every ball.
One of the best defenders in Europe.
Gif of the "right guys, I've decided the game is over" moment?
Just seen it. Ridiculous.ITV deciding tonight that actually he was a bit shit, and always has an error in him
He was a bit guilty of chasing the ball for their goal when the better choice would have been to hold his position but it was pretty much his only error and even then I doubt it would have made much difference as he was left 2v1. Very strange to pick him up on it considering it was the least of a few mistakes for the goal and he was so influential at every other point in the game.
- Status