He was all over the show. Not just a poor moment or shaky game, but seemed to completely lose control and focus. He's been playing better recently. We have a lot of players can do that but also do this though, on and off forever.
12
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 34
- Clean sheets
- 8
- Goals
- 1
- Assists
- 0
- Yellow cards
- 2
- Status
I'm not going to single him out tonight as there were many bad performances and a few that were worse. But if you feel he had a decent game then fair enough.
Yes because players never have bad games eventually, ever. Look what happened to muppet favorite Alderweireld against Liverpool. Same shit.
I think both Smalling and Lindelof were decent under the circumstances that we for some reason had Fred as a DM alone in front of them and McTominay + Pogba in attacking midfield.
Fred pinched the ball a couple of times but certainly didnt protect the defense and neither did the other midfielders.
So it was Smalling and Lindelof dealing with things without the protection they normally get from Matic and Ander in front.
So under those circumstances yeah I'd say both CBs were decent. Not good. Not as good as normal. But decent enough and it was the tactics and players around them that let them down
Once again played more nice passes out of defence than Lindelof. It is weird people making out Smalling is a sunday league player on the ball, and Lindelof is some elevated midfielder playing out from the back. I didn't think Smalling had a good day defensively, a couple of shaky moments under pressure and sloppy and second guessing a lot. Not his assured self most of the game. Unlucky with the own goal, I think that was stupid from De Gea because Smalling went in for the tackle and all of a sudden De Gea was in his way, obviously Smalling had to retract his legs not to crush him, but his movement carried through. Very unlucky, but the whole situation should have been avoided.
I see the usual overreaction continues and the simplifying of all bad things United boils down to Smalling making his teammates nervous cause he is a non league baller.
I see the usual overreaction continues and the simplifying of all bad things United boils down to Smalling making his teammates nervous cause he is a non league baller.
Some say he is our best defender. He is one of the biggest pretenders. Been here close to 10 years and yet he is just an average defender. He is our martin skrtel. Sooner he leaves the better for us
And leave us with Jones/Rojo etc? Or are you wanting us to buy 3/4 new centre backs along with however many other first XI players?
A pretender? He is the only brave one out of that bunch and our most consistent performer in our backline last 6 years. One game where he second guessed himself a lot doesn't really change that does it.
Martin Skrtl, jeez. Handsy, was he? I've waited on that comparison mostly since the VAR argument became a popular thing to use against Smalling. Has died down a bit now though. But new ones keeps arising.
Alderweireld played magnificently v Liverpool though and is a level above Smalling.
That was Alderweireld best game in a while, and scored an own goal while this was Smalling worst game in a while and scored an own goal. Still wasn't a lot between the two performances either, which is frightening to me if people still think Alderweireld is better. He'll get torn to shreds on this forum the second he has signed the paper and beyond.
Alderweireld is technically miles better, he is a better footballer and also a better reader of the game. Only thing Smalling has over him is height tbh. Literally no neutral fan in the world would take Smalling over Alderweireld.
Smalling has done decently though so I see no problem with him been a part of our squad going forward.
Best solution, buy a quality cb and pair him with lindelof and sell jones/rojo and keep smalling/bailly as back up. Smalling is better than jones/rojo but that does not say much, does it.
Form is temporary , shite is permanent.
Where are the Smalling supporters tonight? Still think he’s top class? Still think we can win the league with him?
Keep dreaming.
Keep dreaming.
You keep dreaming if you think next season won't be Smalling plus one yet again. If he's getting more minutes than the other options, and frankly every CB that has played at United since Rio and Vidic left, what makes you think buying one world class CB will change that?
Its still stupid of some posters to think players won't have bad games or make mistakes. If Alderweireld was here and cost United a goal in a game they lost he'd be getting stick left right and center.
True. He is a much composed player than Smalling though. When Smalling is bad he is really bad and panic ensues.
Chris Smalling reminds me of Donald Trump. They have so much in common.
1. How they got key positions in the biggest institutions of the world will always be a mystery.
2. They're both not fit for the position.
3. They both have a bunch of misguided deluded followers who think they're the best thing ever.
4. No matter what they do, you can't say a bad word about them without their followers jumping down your throat.
5. They're a laughing stock to the rest of the free world.
6. They're an embarrassment to their respective organisations.
6. They wouldn't get a top position in any other major organisation (well Trump might, I guess).
7. Doesn't look like we'll ever be shot of them any time soon.
8. They both make me want to hurt somebody!
I could go on.
1. How they got key positions in the biggest institutions of the world will always be a mystery.
2. They're both not fit for the position.
3. They both have a bunch of misguided deluded followers who think they're the best thing ever.
4. No matter what they do, you can't say a bad word about them without their followers jumping down your throat.
5. They're a laughing stock to the rest of the free world.
6. They're an embarrassment to their respective organisations.
6. They wouldn't get a top position in any other major organisation (well Trump might, I guess).
7. Doesn't look like we'll ever be shot of them any time soon.
8. They both make me want to hurt somebody!
I could go on.
Fellaini left United already, wrong thread
I hope we will get a manager like Southgate at one point who will have enough balls to not care about fans/media and pin him for good. He's okayish for top 4 team but he will never be good enough to win the league as the defense leader and has too many problems that will hinder us from moving on to the modern game. Some fans are just getting used to mediocrity and defending average players.
Southgate had enough balls to drop him for good and focus on building a defense that can play with the ball instead of listening to the fans and media and take him blindly. We need someone who will take a decision like that.
The point we will decide it is enough being an irrelevant top 4 team and decide to challenge for the league, but we will have top upgrade on this lad and ignore the excuses and defense people will make for him.
Southgate had enough balls to drop him for good and focus on building a defense that can play with the ball instead of listening to the fans and media and take him blindly. We need someone who will take a decision like that.
The point we will decide it is enough being an irrelevant top 4 team and decide to challenge for the league, but we will have top upgrade on this lad and ignore the excuses and defense people will make for him.
right on cue...
And look at all our accomplishments since. A few tinpot trophies. We haven’t come close to winning the league since Rio and Vidic left but apparently you don’t think it’s any coincidence that it’s always “Smalling plus one” that could be the problem.
I said it once and I’ll say it again. It’s not the manager. Its these crap players playing week in, week out that costs us matches. I’m talking about Smalling, Young, Jones and I’m putting Shaw into that category now. 5 assists in 5 seasons, meanwhile Robertson and Arnold are having a competition about who can get the most assists THIS SEASON between them. And Robertson himself is already on 8. Does that not speak volumes to you?
Saying to me “You’re dreaming if you don’t think it won’t be Smalling plus one next season” doesn’t change the fact that it’s a fecking terrible idea. As soon as I saw Solskjær smiling beside Smalling and Jones with their shiny new 2022 contracts, I kissed any chance of signing a Genuine world class CB like Koulibaly or Varane goodbye. The glory days won’t return until this obvious deadwood is cut and Woodward starts signing key top class replacements (NOTE: NOT SHIRT SELLERS LIKE BALE AND SANCHEZ). Genuine squad improvements. Guys like Neves, Doucoure, Gueye, Lozano, Zaha, Pereira, Ake... that lot would walk into our side but because none of them are shirt sellers, they won’t be considered. It’s not “profitable” or marketable to spend big money on full backs or defensive midfielders.
I don't waste time
Hmm, why are these managers still playing these 'crap' players? Didn't United sign Rojo, Bailly and Lindelof to improve our defense? Its so short sighted of you to only mention Shaw's contributions in attack.
Does the number of assists he has take away from his overall contribution? Shaw has been one of if not United's best outfield player this season. Its easy for people like you to drool over players like the ones you've mentioned but in reality if all of them were that good they'd all be playing for bigger teams already. Some of them never will (again).
The minute players like that are purchased, they are seen in a different light all of a sudden, people start to see their weaknesses week in week out and they begin calling them out. That's when you see if they can handle the pressure of playing for a much bigger club. Many fail. You're the same poster who thinks David fvcking Luiz is better than Smalling though.
David fecking Luiz won a Premier League as a starter. Smalling has never came close to achieving that feat. I’m also willing to bet the majority of the worlds top managers would choose the former over the latter. But this isn’t about Luiz... it’s about Smalling. So stick to the topic at hand.
The fact that you say Shaw is United’s best outfield player this season sums up my point. Better than Lindelöf, Rashford and Pogba? Get a grip. If you honestly think he’s our best player with his 5 assists in 5 seasons then it makes no sense for you to be content with him as a starter.
Then again you repeatedly jump to Smalling’s aid time after time, whenever he’s shown up.
Shaw has had a great season. He's had more consistent 7 and up out of 10 performances than the others you've mentioned (he's the highest rated player on match days on this forum), so yes he's arguably been our best player this season IMO and you clearly don't have a clue if you think he hasn't been based on assists alone.
United's back line has been the least of the clubs major concerns until this season. Lindelof has been the in form CB this season, much like Bailly was in his first season here for long stretches, but Smalling is still the mainstay getting the most minutes and partnering everyone else. You will cry when he's partnering Varane, Koulibaly or which ever 'savior' or flavor of the month we sign at the back next season.
Wow what a long wait to bring the knives out, how long have you lot been holding this in. "He has this performance in him" because your favorite cb's don't have a bad game a few times a season.
Smallings followers. 
Don't make things up folks.
Don't make things up folks.
Please don't go on.
Yup, it's really been long. A testament to Smalling's class and consistency I would say. He is arguably the only one among our players - alongside one or two others perhaps - that manage to maintain a very high level over a long period of time. By his standards, he was poor against Wolves, but I expect him to be back with a bang against Barcelona. Even top defenders occassionally have unconvincing performances as Smalling showed against Wolves. Good thing that we have him playing for us.
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Smalling, Jones and Young have been renewed and should all be around 150k/w.
These guys should sit on the bench and only play cup games (and Europa league next season)
We have a team full of clowns and these clowns are captaining our team, having big wages and starting regularly games.
How poor we are since David Gill left
These guys should sit on the bench and only play cup games (and Europa league next season)
We have a team full of clowns and these clowns are captaining our team, having big wages and starting regularly games.
How poor we are since David Gill left
He had a poor game by his standards yesterday, but the critique he’s getting here now is not fair, as it was his first poor game in a long time. It was the same with Lindelof two weeks ago. He had 3 months of good games and then 1-2 less good to poor and haters crawled up from everywhere.
I must say Alderweireld has really struggled this season. Yes som nice long balls that we don’t see from Smalling, but he has not been a very reliable defender.
I still think Smalling and Lindelof have the potential to become one of the best CB pairs in the PL. Not saying it definitely will happen but the potential is there.
I must say Alderweireld has really struggled this season. Yes som nice long balls that we don’t see from Smalling, but he has not been a very reliable defender.
I still think Smalling and Lindelof have the potential to become one of the best CB pairs in the PL. Not saying it definitely will happen but the potential is there.
Yeah, Southgate is the answer
Nope. A manager that has enough balls to ignore the fans and media and pin such players for good is.
As back up he’s ok, maybe to come off the bench to close out a win, get his head on stuff. But pretty brain dead a lot of the time and for me, breeds nervousness through the team.
The less said about his hair the better. As the opposing striker I’d look at him and his pineapple head and it would give me extra motivation.
The less said about his hair the better. As the opposing striker I’d look at him and his pineapple head and it would give me extra motivation.
I'd say he was pretty good until we went down to 10 men, kind of lost his head a bit but so did the majority of the side. Wouldn't blame him too much for the own goal, he had to make some attempt to do something. Unfortunately there was no communication between him, Jones, and de Gea. If de Gea stays put we probably get away with it.
It would make sense if you were talking about Pogba or some other big name player, but you are talking about fecking Smalling who is literally one of the kost criticised players around.
Is Red Cafe like this all the time? Piss poor fans. Conceded an unlucky OG and people are tearing into him. Has been one of our best players since he came into the team. Had no protection tonight and wasn't that bad throughout the game.
Not true though. He has die hard fans here more than you actually believe.
Since Ole took over we've played 8 games without him and 7 with him.
7 games with him:
8 goals against
12 goals for
+4 goal difference
13 points out of 21 / 1.85 points per game
8 games without him:
6 goals against
20 goals for
+14 goal difference
22 points our of 24 / 2.75 points per game
It's been this way for years (some of these taken from @kundalini )
2017/18:
With: 24 goals conceded in 28 games / 0.85 per game
Without: 4 in 10 / 0.4 per game
2016/17:
With: 16 in 13 / 1.23 per game.
Without: 13 in 25 / 0.52 per game.
There is also the stat of shots conceded that @roonster09 posted last year, at a point around three quarters into the season.
With: 13.1 shots per game conceded / 12.1 shots per game for (i.e we have 12.1 shots per game)
Without: 8.1 against / 19.25 for
If all this was a run of a few games you could argue its the team, it's the opposition we play etc, but when its a consistent trend over multiple years? He is a great 1v1 defender, but the way we have to play to accommodate his shortcomings? It kills our ability to control games.
7 games with him:
8 goals against
12 goals for
+4 goal difference
13 points out of 21 / 1.85 points per game
8 games without him:
6 goals against
20 goals for
+14 goal difference
22 points our of 24 / 2.75 points per game
It's been this way for years (some of these taken from @kundalini )
2017/18:
With: 24 goals conceded in 28 games / 0.85 per game
Without: 4 in 10 / 0.4 per game
2016/17:
With: 16 in 13 / 1.23 per game.
Without: 13 in 25 / 0.52 per game.
There is also the stat of shots conceded that @roonster09 posted last year, at a point around three quarters into the season.
With: 13.1 shots per game conceded / 12.1 shots per game for (i.e we have 12.1 shots per game)
Without: 8.1 against / 19.25 for
If all this was a run of a few games you could argue its the team, it's the opposition we play etc, but when its a consistent trend over multiple years? He is a great 1v1 defender, but the way we have to play to accommodate his shortcomings? It kills our ability to control games.
Oh Smalling, what have you done? Suddenly the pests are all out of the woodwork.
- Status