[el3mel]

He is. You say 5 years but we have bought 3 cbs in that time and he always ends up first choice as the rest have been awful. The same will happen this summer unless we buy two cbs. Either that or just gamble on Tuanzebe and a new signing.

That speaks poor about our CBS signings rather than good about Smalling himself. He's not bad but extremely overrated and his defenders see no wrong about him at all.

Will always give Southgate massive credit for growing up a pair and taking a decision not many managers will take under the heavy pressure from English media and United fans but he decided to stick to what's best for the football he wants England to play.

 

[Oldyella]

That speaks poor about our CBS signings rather than good about Smalling himself. He's not bad but extremely overrated and his defenders see no wrong about him at all.

Will always give Southgate massive credit for growing up a pair and taking a decision not many managers will take under the heavy pressure from English media and United fans but he decided to stick to what's best for the football he wants England to play.

Even his most ardent defenders can see his faults. It's just judging if they out way his benefits. Atm they do. Better signings and he will make way and it's probably about time we got a cb signing right.

 

[Siddharth]

All our problems start with our defence. We need a reset there this summer.

 

[Ekeke]

He isn't our best CB, but the very fact its even up for debate shows why we miles away from being a top team. Smalling has had a million chances, and like Jones, Rojo and Bailly he isn't good enough.

He obviously is considering he's the only CB we have that won player's player of the year and Rooney suggested he's a top 3 CB in the world. Wheres Jones, Rojo, Bailly or Lindelof's accomplishments? Where are the quotes from teammates that suggest they are among the best in the world?

Nowhere.

 

[Keeps It tidy]

He obviously is considering he's the only CB we have that won player's player of the year and Rooney suggested he's a top 3 CB in the world. Wheres Jones, Rojo, Bailly or Lindelof's accomplishments? Where are the quotes from teammates that suggest they are among the best in the world?

Nowhere.

That was years ago. Valencia has won players' player of the year as well.

 

[Ekeke]

That was years ago. Valencia has won players' player of the year as well.

Valencia doesnt play. Smalling plays almost every game he's fit for. One of the first names on the teamsheet

I will say that Smalling isnt as good as he was last season. But one season ago isnt very long

 

[Based Adnan]

Yep. Pretty shit. I've not seen a performance that mind bendingly bad from him for the last five years, even with how much of a clusterfeck that defence was and Jones going off injured. It was one of those 1/10 all-round individual performances that people hyperbolize in here every week when he passes a ball into touch. Still waiting for that proper partner and two actual fullbacks. I'm beginning to think we'll never see it before he retires.

He's definitely not leadership material. Despite cellotaping our defence together for the last five years it is really odd not to see him emerge as a proper leader.

Yep, the fact he's been here for 9 years and has been a mainstay in our defense post Fergie yet has not emerged as a leader is quite telling. The fact that Ole gave a mute in De Gea the armband when Young isn't playing says it all. You've got players who have been here a couple of seasons being more vocal and commanding than a player who's verging on a testimonial.

 

[Cabin Clown]

He's done that in the last 3 games and we've conceded 8 goals. I think we all hope that experiment is over.

Seen you always posting about Smalling ya miserable yolk. You haven't a clue pal. 8 goals yeah but what exactly was his fault? He should have gotten closer to Coutinho against Barca. That's about it. No player is perfect but as the team goes he's been one of our better players. Sick of the nit-picking moany people on here. Give credit where it's due.

 

[JoaquinJoaquin]

He obviously is considering he's the only CB we have that won player's player of the year and Rooney suggested he's a top 3 CB in the world. Wheres Jones, Rojo, Bailly or Lindelof's accomplishments? Where are the quotes from teammates that suggest they are among the best in the world?

Nowhere.

Something he won years ago doesn't mean they are immune forever, and Rooney was also convinced he wasn't finished at the top level when his legs had clearly gone, so I'm not taking his word as gospel with all due respect.

He isn't good enough, wrap it up however way you want. The Smalling / Jones clown show has gone on far too long and under 4 managers it has exposed itself. It must end now.

 

[Ekeke]

Something he won years ago doesn't mean they are immune forever, and Rooney was also convinced he wasn't finished at the top level when his legs had clearly gone, so I'm not taking his word as gospel with all due respect.

He isn't good enough, wrap it up however way you want. The Smalling / Jones clown show has gone on far too long and under 4 managers it has exposed itself. It must end now.

Theres a difference between your personal bias to yourself and how you rate another player.

 

[JoaquinJoaquin]

Theres a difference between your personal bias to yourself and how you rate another player.

Rooney was always going to big up his team mates, why wouldn't he? Everyone would pretty much do the same. Doesn't mean it's a gospel opinion. Smalling can't even get in the England team, which says it all.

 

[Ekeke]

Rooney was always going to big up his team mates, why wouldn't he? Everyone would pretty much do the same. Doesn't mean it's a gospel opinion. Smalling can't even get in the England team, which says it all.

Great.

So where are the other CBs he suggested are top 3 in the world since he's going to big up all his teammates?

England's defense is crap and fell apart against Croatia and any other half decent team. They were skewing rash clearances like Bailly, not these composed ball playing CBs they were talked about being. Not against good teams anyway, only against the poor teams who never put pressure on them

 

[Based Adnan]

Imagine taking Rooney saying Smalling is a top 3 CB in the world seriously

 

[Ekeke]

Imagine taking Rooney saying Smalling is a top 3 CB in the world seriously

Yeah, its just the opinion of someone who knows much more about football than you.

Imagine taking something you said seriously

 

[RedSky]

You partner Jones and Smalling together and you expect to be in trouble. They're a bad partnership, that's been clear for years and it's not suddenly going to change.

 

[Based Adnan]

Yeah, its just the opinion of someone who knows much more about football than you.

Imagine taking something you said seriously

So you genuinely think Smalling was/is a top 3 cb in the world? Just because Rooney said it?

I'm sorry but that is fecking hilarious. Wow.

 

[Ekeke]

So you genuinely think Smalling was/is a top 3 cb in the world? Just because Rooney said it?

I'm sorry but that is fecking hilarious. Wow.

I think he was a really strong CB at his best defensively. No frills, but defensively one of the best in the league. And he had his 2nd best season last season so it wasnt long ago.

So tell me again why your opinion is better than Wayne Rooney's? I mean, you named yourself after Januzaj who didnt make it here.

 

[JoaquinJoaquin]

Great.

So where are the other CBs he suggested are top 3 in the world since he's going to big up all his teammates?

England's defense is crap and fell apart against Croatia and any other half decent team. They were skewing rash clearances like Bailly, not these composed ball playing CBs they were talked about being. Not against good teams anyway, only against the poor teams who never put pressure on them

You say England's defence is crap and Smalling can't get near the team, so go figure.

 

[Ekeke]

You say England's defence is crap and Smalling can't get near the team, so go figure.

Because he's a good defender and England clearly dont want those.

 

[FootyGirl88]

Because he's a good defender and England clearly dont want those.

But England are coping just fine without him, this is the best they've looked in years.

 

[Ekeke]

But England are coping just fine without him, this is the best they've looked in years.

Against easy teams sure. I mean... kinda. They still didnt score goals from open play. Just set pieces.

Who did they beat that they wouldnt have expected to before?

Against Croatia and the good teams the defense was embarrassing for one that had been talked about as ball playing.

 

[JoaquinJoaquin]

Because he's a good defender and England clearly dont want those.

So, England are picking bad defenders on purpose?

Or maybe you can just face facts, that Smalling is an average defender who isn't at the top level.

 

[Ekeke]

So, England are picking bad defenders on purpose?

Or maybe you can just face facts, that Smalling is an average defender who isn't at the top level.

If he wasnt why would he be our most picked CB in our big matches and why is he our only CB who has played more games in the champions league than the amount of goals conceded in those games?

England are spinning a narrative, out with the old style of defenders we're going to build from the back and play better football.

Only it didnt really happen, England got by with a few goals from set pieces nothing to do with play from the back. In fact we struggled in general play to get a goal. But the CBs did contribute with goals, something Smalling is actually better than Maguire or Stones at with their club record. And when we played some decent teams who pressed our CBs they were as wobbly as United's.

If you want to fall for that story then go ahead. You're free to believe whatever you want. I'll stick to whats actually happening on the pitch

 

[Mcking]

You say England's defence is crap and Smalling can't get near the team, so go figure.

Maybe it is personal. Smalling once rejected Southgate for Hodgson.

 

[Sylar]

Against easy teams sure. I mean... kinda. They still didnt score goals from open play. Just set pieces.

Who did they beat that they wouldnt have expected to before?

Against Croatia and the good teams the defense was embarrassing for one that had been talked about as ball playing.

.I mean, Spain in Spain is a good example. And they also beat Croatia and drew with Croatia too. For what Southgate and England want to do smalling isn't good enough.

Given this is a smalling thread, if we ignore all other players and assess smalling, the thing that most agree with is that smalling isn't good enough to be a United starting Cb. If he starts next season or is a key figure next season we won't be challenging for the title

 

[Ekeke]

.I mean, Spain in Spain is a good example. And they also beat Croatia and drew with Croatia too. For what Southgate and England want to do smalling isn't good enough.

Given this is a smalling thread, if we ignore all other players and assess smalling, the thing that most agree with is that smalling isn't good enough to be a United starting Cb. If he starts next season or is a key figure next season we won't be challenging for the title

Yeah we beat Spain with long balls up the pitch not playing it out from the back. The keeper smashed it long and the forwards had some great interplay that caught a poorly performing Spanish side (at least defensively) asleep and the England forwards were pretty electric and made the most of it.

But dont tell me that we played the ball out from the back because we didnt.

 

[JoaquinJoaquin]

Maybe it is personal. Smalling once rejected Southgate for Hodgson.

Could be, but Southgate doesn't seem that type of guy. Probably more to do with the fact other cbs are better.

 

[JoaquinJoaquin]

If he wasnt why would he be our most picked CB in our big matches and why is he our only CB who has played more games in the champions league than the amount of goals conceded in those games?

England are spinning a narrative, out with the old style of defenders we're going to build from the back and play better football.

Only it didnt really happen, England got by with a few goals from set pieces nothing to do with play from the back. In fact we struggled in general play to get a goal. But the CBs did contribute with goals, something Smalling is actually better than Maguire or Stones at with their club record. And when we played some decent teams who pressed our CBs they were as wobbly as United's.

If you want to fall for that story then go ahead. You're free to believe whatever you want. I'll stick to whats actually happening on the pitch

The fact he has played so much is one of the reasons we are in decline. He is one of the 8-9 bang average players we have who should not start for a big team. When my Everton supporting friends wouldn't even want him for their club it says it all really.

It's not a narrative with England, the best players are in the squad. Smalling is not one of them, like it or not.

 

[Sylar]

Yeah we beat Spain with long balls up the pitch not playing it out from the back. The keeper smashed it long and the forwards had some great interplay that caught a poorly performing Spanish side (at least defensively) asleep and the England forwards were pretty electric and made the most of it.

But dont tell me that we played the ball out from the back because we didnt.

Just look at our first goal Vs spain. Cos of the ability of England at the back it brings Spain to press meaning Pickford can pass it kane in our own half with 7 players taken out of the game

In fact here it is


Sure second is a punt down but that comes from Spain trying to chase the game due to being behind.

 

[Ekeke]

The fact he has played so much is one of the reasons we are in decline. He is one of the 8-9 bang average players we have who should not start for a big team. When my Everton supporting friends wouldn't even want him for their club it says it all really.

It's not a narrative with England, the best players are in the squad. Smalling is not one of them, like it or not.

Everton eh. Lukaku won 10 headers against them. We didnt score from those though.

But because Smalling lost a header to Calvert-Lewin he gets blamed. And I saw posts about Everton's defense being better than ours and that their CBs are better.

They might have been for 1 game, but they lost a bunch more headers than Smalling did.

Smalling isnt the reason we're in decline. Not having another CB as good as him playing next to him might be.

 

[Oldyella]

I don't get why the England thing keeps getting dragged up. Seriously who gives a shit about England? Southgate has decided he wants to pick certain players and that's totally up to him, but should have nothing to do with Utd.

We aren't rushing out to sign Keane or Tarkowski just because they play for England, just like we didn't drop Andy Cole when he wasn't getting picked or Paul Scholes or Michael Carrick.

Judge Smalling on what is best for Utd, stop dragging up England. We knew De Gea was the better keeper but didn't jettison him when Casillas was still getting picked for Spain.

 

[Mcking]

Could be, but Southgate doesn't seem that type of guy. Probably more to do with the fact other cbs are better.

He picks Dunk, Jones and Tarkowski.

 

[tomaldinho1]

Everton eh. Lukaku won 10 headers against them. We didnt score from those though.

But because Smalling lost a header to Calvert-Lewin he gets blamed. And I saw posts about Everton's defense being better than ours and that their CBs are better.

They might have been for 1 game, but they lost a bunch more headers than Smalling did.

Smalling isnt the reason we're in decline. Not having another CB as good as him playing next to him might be.

A return to stone age football would be 2 x Chris Smallings next to each other.

Two Smallings would be perfect in Leicester's title winning setup, probably done well at Moyes' Everton and would be first choices for Rafa's Newcastle. I don't even dislike him but he's not top level (which is a squad problem not just him) and I pray we don't try to play like the above teams.

 

[Ekeke]

A return to stone age football would be 2 x Chris Smallings next to each other.

Two Smallings would be perfect in Leicester's title winning setup, probably done well at Moyes' Everton and would be first choices for Rafa's Newcastle. I don't even dislike him but he's not top level (which is a squad problem not just him) and I pray we don't try to play like the above teams.

I didnt say 2 Smallings. Just someone as good at defending as Smalling. Hopefully they'd be better on the ball too because Smalling needs someone better than him on the ball next to him

 

[laughtersassassin]

He has some attributes that at times make him good at defending. But he has more attributes that make him very very poor at football.

His body shape when passing might be up there with the worst in professional football. He along with the fact we own no one else is a major reason we cannot build from the back.

 

[Sylar]

I didnt say 2 Smallings. Just someone as good at defending as Smalling. Hopefully they'd be better on the ball too because Smalling needs someone better than him on the ball next to him

At 29 and having been here almost 10 years, if he still needs somebody better than him it says more about him (having somebody as good as him at defending won't see us win the league)
You either accept that or try find reasons to not

 

[tomaldinho1]

I didnt say 2 Smallings. Just someone as good at defending as Smalling. Hopefully they'd be better on the ball too because Smalling needs someone better than him on the ball next to him

Thank goodness.

I really don't want us to think Smalling is the level we need though. He's solid at all the physical parts of the game, as an out and out defender he's great but we shouldn't play a deep line and we shouldn't want to build a CB partnership around a very limited CB (no matter how good they are at the basic parts of defending). This kind of depends on what Ole wants to do tactically but I do think we'd be making a huge mistake if we don't look to partner Lindelof with a more technical CB moving forwards.

 

[Sunny Jim]

Point is, he is still our best defender. That speaks volume about the rest

 

[Sylar]

Point is, he is still our best defender. That speaks volume about the rest

And if he's still seen as our best defender next season were in trouble

 

[R'hllor]

There is one thing he does which makes my blood boil , his famous move

C
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