what a load of bollocks
12
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 36
- Clean sheets
- 18
- Goals
- 2
- Assists
- 2
- Yellow cards
- 0
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Good post.
Blackburn 1:2 Man Utd
Thought he was poor for the goal, both him and Rojo made out to look like idiots, altough I was more disappointed with Smalling's reaction, he was too slow to react.
Did well for rest of the game though. How many games in a row has he started now? Jose obviously doesn't rate him and will sell him as soon as possible.
Did well for rest of the game though. How many games in a row has he started now? Jose obviously doesn't rate him and will sell him as soon as possible.
Lost Graham for their goal but was ok after that.
Yeah it was really slow reactions from Smalling but I don't think he expected Rojo to get rinsed like that. Some finish from Graham though
He was asleep for the goal, really poor. Was decent besides that though, especially towards the end.
I blame Smalling moreso. Rojo came out into a position he shouldnt have been, but was there cos he had to go with the player. But was just beaten by a great pass. Smalling however was asleep and not awake (and should be on his toes all the time)
He was decent, but Im hoping he doesnt play against Chelsea in the FA Cup.
Switched off for the goal. Rojo should of done better though, but Smalling has to anticipate that.
Is it me or does he look a little slower, a little less athletic? His strength used to be one on one. You'd nearly always back him. Nowadays I don't.
He also lacks that confidence and the authority the very best defenders have. You can win a league with Smalling but I'm not sure he's good enough to do the business against the very best in ECL.
He also lacks that confidence and the authority the very best defenders have. You can win a league with Smalling but I'm not sure he's good enough to do the business against the very best in ECL.
He is assigned a new role recently as a sweeper. The team today definitely were asked to play slower and on second gear, which for someone who thrive on physical attributes like Smalling, it's not ideal.
Smalling's tendency to drop deeper and be one man offside trap is worrying. Has been happening quite few times already even in games where he was solid all round & couldn't cover for his own issue.
Look at this goal. The criticism is not when the pass was played to the scorer, but at the very beginning of the play when Rojo (then Carrick, who was poor & sluggish in the first half) was pulled off, shouldn't Smalling try keeping the defensive shape and stay compact? He just kept back pedalling until too late.
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I like him a lot and he seems a decent lad, but imho it's now pretty rare to watch him play and not see him make a pretty big error that could easily lead to us conceding. It's a shame given the early promise, but I think we just need a better centre half in there. If he's willing to be a squad player then great.
He does look like hes lost a yard or two. I'm not sure if its because hes still getting over his injury or that we dont play as compact as we did with LvG so hes more exposed but he hasnt been good this season.
Also he always seems to have that one moment in games where he loses his man or doesnt ever read where the ball might go. I think it was against MB where everyone in OT could tell you where that flick on was going to go but he was stood ball watching.
Yeah agree.
I don't want to sound too critical but looking a few steps ahead I don't see him being the centre back when we become a real force in Europe.
The years haven't added the authority I expected.
We've got too many of those. I'd rather keep Jones as a squad option than Smalling. If Wenger wants him, he can have him.
He was immense at the end when he won something like 4 straight headers back to back. Mourinho really doesn't rate him 
Yes he should have been.
Just like Rojo attempted 4 tackles on Emnes and failed each time, he should have only committed if he could get there.
Yeah, Jones is really reliable for a squad player, great idea.
No need to be snidey.
I should expand on my post lest someone else decides to pass a sarcastic remark.
Quality wise, injuries not withstanding, I'd rather take Jones as a third centre back than Smalling. He commits fewer mistakes and is better on the ball. He can even do a job in defensive midfielder as a sole destroyer. It's not a knock on Smalling. I just prefer Jones.
Apart from his few months run of form, he was always making more mistakes than Smalling, so I disagree anyway. He actually made few mistakes in his second stint this year anyway, then had an excellent game only to end up injured again.
But his injury record alone is enough to never believe him to be a good squad player, he simply isn't reliable to stay fit, and is injured whenever we need him. Last night is another example, we could use a CB to rest Smalling who played pretty much every game since he's back, but Jones is not there.
I still get the feeling he makes at least an error per game and he's often nervous and panicky. His judgement when to stand off and when to commit is questionable. I don't like him as a starter.
Rojo, Jones and Smalling are all squad players as it stands, not one of them is good enough or fit enough to be a starter for most games and challenging for trophies.
Smalling will get you good games with regular errors here and there. His game yesterday was a good representative normal performance over the course of the season
Smalling will get you good games with regular errors here and there. His game yesterday was a good representative normal performance over the course of the season
pretty much agree with this. Smalling will be gone in the summer I feel.
it's just a feeling then, he hasn't made a single significant error since coming back just last game against bburn.
I agree with the second part though, he should be more decisive and showed he can be last season, just need to get his confidence back and will be great again, despite that mistake he seemed very good again. If we want to improve we might wanna sell Jones who is injury prone and sign someone world class but I still believe that any of the four can step up and make our defense great again, it's not going to be Vidic-Ferdinand but our defensive record looks good lately, mistakes happen to better defenders. I wonder what Barcelona fans thing about Pique and co after that heavy defeat agains PSG, they make mistakes too and are considered worldies...
Smalling will be here next season. Maybe under a different manager he might get sold but, he is our best defender in the air and he defends very well one on one, is quick and strong - all the traits Mourinho seems to want over the constant calls for ball playing wizard CB. Started the season as first choice and unless he gets injured, it looks very much like he will finish the season the same.
Should / could have done better for the goal but, then so should a few other players but, he was solid throughout and strong in the end when needed. Same as on Thursday when Baily started of real shaky.
Should / could have done better for the goal but, then so should a few other players but, he was solid throughout and strong in the end when needed. Same as on Thursday when Baily started of real shaky.
St. Etienne 0:1 Man Utd
He's on a very nice run of form indeed. Been our best CB for a good few games now.
Distribution was awful as is often the case but solid enough on the basics.
His distribution wasn't awful by any means, actually it's nothing worse than any of our cbs recently, but hey, it's Smalling.
Been fantastic for a good few games now. Reminding us why he's still our best defender.
Should be interesting to see if Rojo partners him following Bailly's performance today.
I would beg to differ and place the bulk of the blame on Rojo who was seriously ineffective and left for dead before a very clever ball through that caught Smalling on his heels. Credit the pass more than fault Smalling
Yeah, I think Jose might well choose that option, not that Bailly was bad (other than the rash tackles) by the same token I wouldn't be surprised to see Smalling & Bailly start again.
People still talking about selling him. Bizarre.
If he didn't look like he had the tics, he would be regarded as a much better player. He looks so uncomfortable at times, as if his heart rate is going through the roof, but his actual performances would say otherwise. He's an ugly defender, but I much prefer his no nonsense approach to that of the aesthetic Stones, for instance.
Looks to be our best CB in terms of actual defending atm.
Looks to be our best CB in terms of actual defending atm.
We have 7 clean sheets in his last 10 starts, playing with different partners(including the keepers too) all over the defence.
One poor reaction for the goal in the FA cup was enough for people to start doubting him again. Not the best defender ever, but the undeserved criticism he gets for some things is ridiculous. I have seen just one or two posters admitting they were wrong for criticising him so much.
One poor reaction for the goal in the FA cup was enough for people to start doubting him again. Not the best defender ever, but the undeserved criticism he gets for some things is ridiculous. I have seen just one or two posters admitting they were wrong for criticising him so much.
I am starting to really dislike Smalling. I have no problems with his no nonsense defending but he just looks so clumsy with the ball. Unless it's a 5 yard pass forward or a side pass to the other defender, he just doesn't know to play with the ball. Ridiculously surprising at this level of football. You just know he's gonna lose the ball if he attempts anything else. In all his years at the club, I doubt he has completed a single decent long ball but that doesn't stop him from hoofing it nowhere all the time. No world class team would want to have a player like him in their squad. Being comfortable with the ball under slight pressure is bare minimum you'd expect from any professional footballer. Compare him to Bailly or Blind who are so composed and brilliant with the ball for a defender. If only we could combine player abilities somehow.
As a defender, he doesn't even pose too much threat during set pieces. I had so much expectations from Jones and Smalling but they've been nothing short of disappointing. I would sell them both once we get hold of better CBs.
As a defender, he doesn't even pose too much threat during set pieces. I had so much expectations from Jones and Smalling but they've been nothing short of disappointing. I would sell them both once we get hold of better CBs.
That's gotta be it. He looks crap, and sometimes that's all some people need to judge a player.
Also, if it was him who got sent off tonight, I bet none of his doubters would question the ref.
Entire post is agenda driven, but the bolded part says it all. Our only defender, apart from Blind, who has scored any goals(2 in all comp), gets criticised for lacking goal threat. Rojo, Jones, Bailly, Darmian, Valencia, Shaw, Young, are all on 0 goals this season in all competitions. Yet for some reason Smalling is the only one criticised for lack of goals.
Last year also, Smalling had 3 goals, Rojo, Jones, Valencia, Shaw all had 0, and Darmian and Young had 1 each.
But yeah, let's blame Smalling.
I know I'm going to get stick for this but for me he was man of the match. Didn't put a foot wrong all night.
I thought he played well as a defender. My gripe will always be distribution for him. But then again, he did come up from non league right? So maybe that was never a worry in terms of coaching and it was always a case of safety first, when in doubt, etc. He does like to get the ball, and do a whole 180 degree turn to pass it to the keeper to get rid of instead of being confident himself (or the times he runs into space, and then... turns back to pass it).
Maybe its a confidence thing?
Anyway, a good solid game I thought from him.
Maybe its a confidence thing?
Anyway, a good solid game I thought from him.
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