He likes Lindelof. It doesnt matter what happens on the pitch, hes going to always defend him and try to make him sound as good as possible.
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He likes Lindelof. It doesnt matter what happens on the pitch, hes going to always defend him and try to make him sound as good as possible.
I do t why clean sheets suddenly is so important? Most important for defence must be conceded goals,or did I miss something? They have almost identical records from the last 7 matches in terms of conceded goals and points. No difference except two different levels in terms of matches imo.
I have never ever said Lindelof is better in the air. I don’t even know where that comes from. Where did I write that?
I like him. Also like Smalling. Probably many people on this forum who like United players.
Clean sheets obviously mean you need to score less goals to take all the points. Something very handy for low scoring sides like United
Yes United had easier matches in the past 7.
If we take out Partizan (the only part that makes our fixtures easier) we've conceded 5 in 6 matches and 1 clean sheet against Az Alkmaar. Everyone else has scored against us - Arsenal, Newcastle, Liverpool, Norwich and Chelsea's cup side
Everyone can expect to score a goal, so we need 1 for a point or 2 goals to take 3 points
You seriously think United has played easier matches than Roma???
As there is no difference in points over these matches I don’t see how the clean sheets were so important compared to few conceding goals.
Yes, purely because of the Partizan match. If you take that one out United have had slightly harder matches.
Ok then we don’t agree at all. But that’s ok
He is having very good season, very dominant CB.
Before Smalling was signed - 4 games - 7 goals conceded - 0 clean sheets
With Smalling - 6 games - 4 goals conceded - 3 clean sheets.
Among the CBs who played at least 5 games, he is 1st in headers won per game and his aerial duel percentage is 71, which is very good. He didn't lose a tackle in 6 league games + 1 Europa league game.
Before Smalling was signed - 4 games - 7 goals conceded - 0 clean sheets
With Smalling - 6 games - 4 goals conceded - 3 clean sheets.
Among the CBs who played at least 5 games, he is 1st in headers won per game and his aerial duel percentage is 71, which is very good. He didn't lose a tackle in 6 league games + 1 Europa league game.
Very happy for Smalling, he gets to play in slower league and he has been on of the better cbs.
One of the reasons why i dont hype up koulibaly because i know he would get exposed in the prem.
One of the reasons why i dont hype up koulibaly because i know he would get exposed in the prem.
Good to see he’s doing well there. It’s not surprising, he’s a very good old school defender. His problem was always when he was on the ball.
Yeah not surprising to see him doing well, he's always been a good defender - makes the odd mistake sure - but so do 99% of CB's these days.
He's still one of the top 4 English CBs for my money.
He's still one of the top 4 English CBs for my money.
Smalling is and has always been a much better header of the ball than Lindelof. His problem is playing the ball when it is on the ground. I also think he may be the better defender but that is not what managers are looking in the PL anymore.
Top defender. Like maguire but with pace.. Swap deal perhaps?
Seen there's an interview by him in The Athletic today. Not read it yet though.
You realize, Smalling is still a Man Utd player, just loaned to Italy?
That outstretched save with his foot off the goal line was as good as it gets... incredible, Smaldini the best cb in Serie A!
GIF? Only watched late in the second half. Not a lot to do but dominant when he got on it.
To me it looks like the manager brought him in to bring solidity at the back so he can afford his attacking players to press and create danger higher up the field. Even at the late stages, Roma players didn't rest going forward making it hard for Napoli to establish play.
Solid performance from him. His partner Cetin was making his debut and wasn't very good. He was at fault for the goal too.
Smalling has never had a problem defending against fast players. It’s Lindeloff and Maguire who struggle playing a high line when there’s a fast opponent about.
This loan is like letting Nani go to give the likes of an ageing Valencia and Lindgard a crack at the RW.
We are brilliant at dumping good players for nothing, and keeping dross forever.
We are brilliant at dumping good players for nothing, and keeping dross forever.
Thanks. Twitter guy is right, was a world class action. As important as a penalty save.
A very good win by us, Zaniolo looks brilliant but Smalling once again was a rock. I doubt we'll able to afford him if continues to play as he is but you should get a great price if you are to sell him next summer
I hope we recall him in January actually, you guys can have Jones or Bailly.
Trying to remember when any of our current CBs were in position to use their highly rated ball playing ability? If anything the garbage football we play now is better suited to the likes of Smalling than Lindelof. Again, a decision by the coaching staff and manager that stinks of being out of their depth.
Still Uniteds best defender yes i said it. Some of you are acting as if we are a Pep team that needs to have two ball playing center backs
Helped Roma defeat Napoli 2 - 1 despite his CB partner making a mistake for their goal and then getting sent off for two bookables. Played against Koulibaly and Manolas, two players that were suggested we sign for CB. Came out on top despite those circumstances. Also had a clearance off the line
Best central defender maybe, especially if one plays the kind of football we are doing now.
AWB is the best defender at the club if the position is taken into consideration. Shame that he is unproductive on the ball and going forward, which is basically what you want from your fullbacks in this day and age.
Glad Chris is doing well and is being appreciated by the Roma fans.
He was always professional, consistent, and our best defender while having a revolving door of awful centre back partners since Fergie left. Constantly got no credit and got the blame for others faults.
Enjoy Lindelof, Jones, Rojo and Bailey United fans.
He was always professional, consistent, and our best defender while having a revolving door of awful centre back partners since Fergie left. Constantly got no credit and got the blame for others faults.
Enjoy Lindelof, Jones, Rojo and Bailey United fans.
Mike Smalling was incredible under LVG. His best years were under Van Gaal.
Well done Ole. fecked that up too.
I actually want Roma to buy him off us. We will never play and trust him enough for the relationship to be worthwhile and I don't think he is what we need. He is an effective defender in that sense and will be great for Roma and maybe even Leicester in the EPL. I want more British players to play in Italy as I am curious to how they adapt. I am glad he is proving his worth and congrats to Roma fans on bagging and bargain
I don't know, he is still technically our player. There is not many CB's out there of his level that also brings the ball out. We just paid 80m for one, I'm not sure we can even afford to do it again with so many other areas needing fixing. I think we should hold our hands up, look at him in this new light without preexisting bias, and admit that a partnership of Smalling-Maguire would be our greatest option to immediately improve our defence without breaking the bank once again. At least for a couple of years while we wait to see if Tuanzebe improves. We can always sell Chris when a replacement is in our ranks, but we jumped the gun on Lindelof and need to own up to it.
Maguire is a living prove of how difficult it is to live as centerback, while babysitting Lindelof and Young. Just imagine if he doesn’t have AWB but Shaw.
True. Toying with the idea of bringing him back. Think about the balance of our team right now, with AWB there too that right side would be ridiculously strong and quick defensively. James could just stay wide ready to counter without having to use much energy on supporting his fullback. Left side with Maguire and Williams could afford to be extra attacking, giving Rashford much needed width and support out wide.
It would allow us to play a high line. Smalling can be aggressive and win the duels while Maguire instead can make himself available to his teammates as a ball-player. Definitely better conditions to keep possession, and sustain our attacks. Maguire can go on a run without pressure, knowing Smalling and Bissaka our two quickest best 1-1 defenders will be there to cover his ass if his adventure turned to shit.
Obviously this doesn't provide any sort of solution for our midfield, or attack or lack of good coaching and patterns of offensive play, but as far as attributes and balance is considered, this looks like a very good defence with the added potential to dominate in both ends, if we unlock Maguire's ability to contribute going forward.
Very happy for Smalling. He's an excellent defender.
Of course he's not terrific on the ball but I do believe Lindelof's quality on it gets overpaid. And Smalling is far better as a defender. So I'd definitely have rotated between them this season for those especially games where Lindelof is likely to get bullied.
Agreed. Maguire best attribute is him charging forward. The current setup is severely limiting his best attribute. He has to stay behind because he has to deal with every long balls, as none of the other 3 at the back is good on dealing with long ball.
Would love to see us take him back and partner him with Maguire. Think they'd be so solid. Can't for the life of me wonder why we got rid of our best defender and have the likes of Victor as first choice. Really pisses me off about the board.
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