[Paul_Scholes18]

Roma is not doing great, but neither are we. Could have needed him, but it would be pretty much the same as we see now.
What we have needed have been improvements in attack mainly anyway.
Thus buying Maguire was stupid, but now when it is done we can't undo it.

Would still not shock me if Roma knocks us out of the EL if we face them. Smalling on a corner might be a good way to score against us too.

 

[A-man]

First real individual mistake in this period rather than projecting

I think he’s been and there has been a few mistakes lately, not only in the last match. He’s misjudged things, had poor timing, and not been as good and sharp as before Christmas. As mentioned above, the handball penalty is the most clear one.

 

[Ekeke]

I think he’s been and there has been a few mistakes lately, not only in the last match. He’s misjudged things, had poor timing, and not been as good and sharp as before Christmas. As mentioned above, the handball penalty is the most clear one.

Its a penalty but I dont believe that not knowing where the ball is after a block and turning into it is really a mistake, just bad luck

 

[yardieUnited]

Smallings positioning and awareness is simply not good enough for a top club which is another reason why I think Solskjaer got rid of him.

 

[A-man]

Its a penalty but I dont believe that not knowing where the ball is after a block and turning into it is really a mistake, just bad luck

To me it looked as he saw it and wanted to get rid of it and hit it like a reflex. But probably he did not know where the ball was, and the mistake was him flapping around his big arms.

 

[Bondi77]

Roma is not doing great, but neither are we. Could have needed him, but it would be pretty much the same as we see now.
What we have needed have been improvements in attack mainly anyway.
Thus buying Maguire was stupid, but now when it is done we can't undo it.

Would still not shock me if Roma knocks us out of the EL if we face them. Smalling on a corner might be a good way to score against us too.

Can a player play against his parent club in Europe, I cannot see that happening.

 

[Ekeke]

To me it looked as he saw it and wanted to get rid of it and hit it like a reflex. But probably he did not know where the ball was, and the mistake was him flapping around his big arms.

After he'd already hand balled it maybe, in a panic. But he didnt even know it was there till he made contact

 

[A-man]

Can a player play against his parent club in Europe, I cannot see that happening.

In PL it is forbidden. It is ok in CL or EL, as long as it is agreed in the contract. In Smalling’s case, I have no idea what it says in the contract.

 

[Moiraine]

That first goal was embarrassing. He is still a good defender though. Probably not the first choice but a good backup defender.

 

[RedPed]

So, AS Roma have now lost 4 and drawn 1 in their last five games in all comps, conceding 13 goals. Looks like Smalling has settled into his normal rhythm. Results need to pick up before the season ends.

 

[Paul_Scholes18]

So, AS Roma have now lost 4 and drawn 1 in their last five games in all comps, conceding 13 goals. Looks like Smalling has settled into his normal rhythm. Results need to pick up before the season ends.

I hhave not watched them much, but form on paper.

 

[Ekeke]

So, AS Roma have now lost 4 and drawn 1 in their last five games in all comps, conceding 13 goals. Looks like Smalling has settled into his normal rhythm. Results need to pick up before the season ends.

Mancini has been moved to DM in their last match which shows them identifying the problem. They've had 1 match with 2 experienced CBs, Smalling and Fazio, with Mancini at DM. They conceded 2 goals against a high scoring team in 4th place. So not a great start but you'll have to wait and see what happens in the coming weeks to see if that sorts it out. Their defense has been vulnerable the last couple of games for sure, but they also played Juventus, Lazio and Atalanta the 3 teams directly above them. So those results werent unexpected.

The big ones were Sassulo and Bologna scoring so many against them in 2 consecutive matches

I wonder how VVD would do in Roma's defense

 

[RedPed]

Mancini has been moved to DM in their last match which shows them identifying the problem. They've had 1 match with 2 experienced CBs, Smalling and Fazio, with Mancini at DM. They conceded 2 goals against a high scoring team in 4th place. So not a great start but you'll have to wait and see what happens in the coming weeks to see if that sorts it out. Their defense has been vulnerable the last couple of games for sure, but they also played Juventus, Lazio and Atalanta the 3 teams directly above them. So those results werent unexpected.

The big ones were Sassulo and Bologna scoring so many against them in 2 consecutive matches

I wonder how VVD would do in Roma's defense

What has van Dijk got to do with anything? When they were getting the good results at the beginning of the season, Smalling was taking all the plaudits. He was supposed to be making all the difference. So it's only right that he take some of the blame for the poor results. Like I said, after the new team bounce he's probably now found his level. I can't see the results getting any better myself.

 

[Ekeke]

What has van Dijk got to do with anything? When they were getting the good results at the beginning of the season, Smalling was taking all the plaudits. He was supposed to be making all the difference. So it's only right that he take some of the blame for the poor results. Like I said, after the new team bounce he's probably now found his level. I can't see the results getting any better myself.

Well no, he got a lot of credit here because he's our player. But the others were playing quite well too. Defending is a team responsibility.

If VVD was playing next to a fullback who made mistakes and gave up goalscoring chances every game he probably wouldnt be getting as much praise as he does. He's surrounded by good players. Drop him in a team where hes the only good defender and he wont do quite as well

Despite Roma not doing as well recently, he's still one of the best CBs in Serie A this season. Its just now he isnt the clear first choice

 

[RedPed]

Stats don't mean a thing and they're very subjective.

 

[Carl]

Stats don't mean a thing and they're very subjective.

They obviously mean something though. Otherwise it's a freakish coincidence that generally speaking the best players are regularly at the top of these stat tables.

 

[Ekeke]

Stats don't mean a thing and they're very subjective.

You mean like a weak version of opinions which are entirely subjective?

 

[Ekeke]

They obviously mean something though. Otherwise it's a freakish coincidence that generally speaking the best players are regularly at the top of these stat tables.

Yep. Its weird isnt it. Godin is top of the stats for CBs in Serie A, VVD is top of the stats for CBs in the premier league and has been multiple times, Upemacano in Germany, Varane in Spain... What a weird coincidence.

Now nobody is saying that stats alone determine who is the best. Its also very important for a CB to not make individual errors. And Smalling made 1 last week. But he hasnt made many and if you actually watch games even the top CBs make an error sometimes. Its all about how often it happens. It hasnt happened much with Smalling.

Also Inter are a better team than Roma, playing 3 CBs so Godin has more CBs to help take care of defensive responsibility at the back. But still, maybe he's now been better than Smalling. He has only played 11 matches though

 

[ghaliboy]

Looks like Smalling has settled into his normal rhythm.

Or having a temporary dip of form from his usual high standards.

 

[Ibi Dreams]

Stats don't mean a thing and they're very subjective.

I think you mean objective? Judging a player by eye is subjective, which is why I can say that Smalling is a good player and someone else can say he's absolutely terrible. Neither of us can argue with the objective, factual stats, though we can argue about how much meaning they have (I suppose that would be subjective)

 

[RedPed]

I think you mean objective? Judging a player by eye is subjective, which is why I can say that Smalling is a good player and someone else can say he's absolutely terrible. Neither of us can argue with the objective, factual stats, though we can argue about how much meaning they have (I suppose that would be subjective)

I know what the difference is between subjective and objective. You've actually made my point for me, so I don't get where you're coming from.

Smalling could play 30 2-metre safe passes to players in his own area and win 20 headers in non-threatening duels but lose his man once to concede a goal. One could not argue that his stats were impressive but portraying him as a quality defender based on that data would be purely subjective. You would have to analyse every single piece of his data to be objective as to whether every tackle, every pass, every aerial duel won had any bearing on the game.

You wouldn't call a team's top scorer prolific if he had 30 goals for the season and 25 of them were penalties, would you?

 

[Ekeke]

I know what the difference is between subjective and objective. You've actually made my point for me, so I don't get where you're coming from.

Smalling could play 30 2-metre safe passes to players in his own area and win 20 headers in non-threatening duels but lose his man once to concede a goal. One could not argue that his stats were impressive but portraying him as a quality defender based on that data would be purely subjective. You would have to analyse every single piece of his data to be objective as to whether every tackle, every pass, every aerial duel won had any bearing on the game.

You wouldn't call a team's top scorer prolific if he had 30 goals for the season and 25 of them were penalties, would you?

Yes, you would.

And a lot of the stuff you described can be narrowed down with stats. Not to miniscule and minute detail, but enough to know whether someone is actually good at something or not.

For example you wouldn't need to look at every single tackle a midfielder makes to work out whether he's good at tackling. You'd look at how many he makes in comparison to other midfielders, and how often someone tries to run past him with the ball. If players run past him with the ball more often than he tackles them, you don't need to look at every specific piece of footage to work out if hes a good tackler. The numbers themselves tell you that more often than not a player takes him on and goes past him.

The player I'm talking about is Fred. An example of a player who makes more tackles than times beaten by an opponent trying to take the ball past them might be Ander.

Despite this there were specific moments last season where Ander was beaten by a player. Of course a poster would note this and then claim he's not very good. Because he got beat, once. Despite the fact that he won the ball at a better ratio than most players. And thats what really matters, how often players do something, how much you can rely on them to do something over the course of a season. Not whether they look good doing something once or twice in a highlights video, suggesting they're a good tackler but in reality they make 1 tackle every 5 matches.

 

[Classical Mechanic]

Seems to think someone might have murdered his dog. He's gone up in my estimation anyway knowing that he's a massive dog lover.

 

[Rozay]

Seems to think someone might have murdered his dog. He's gone up in my estimation anyway knowing that he's a massive dog lover.

I’m a bigger Smalling fan than most, but he said ‘wouldn’t of’- and there is little in this world that enrages me more than ‘would of’, ‘could of’, ‘should of’!

Is there anyone out there who can just write ‘would have’ for heaven’s sake!?

 

[Sassy Colin]

Stats don't mean a thing and they're very subjective.

stats, by their very nature, are objective.

How can an absolute be subjective?

 

[Classical Mechanic]

I’m a bigger Smalling fan than most, but he said ‘wouldn’t of’- and there is little in this world that enrages me more than ‘would of’, ‘could of’, ‘should of’!

Is there anyone out there who can just write ‘would have’ for heaven’s sake!?

It's isn't great English all the way through the post really. He should have written 'wouldn't have'.

 

[arthurka]

Sad to hear about his dog..

 

[Catt]

Poor dog

 

[Ekeke]

Seems to think someone might have murdered his dog. He's gone up in my estimation anyway knowing that he's a massive dog lover.

Sad to lose a dog in the first place, but where is the information on him thinking someone murdered his dog?

 

[mu4c_20le]

Sad to lose a dog in the first place, but where is the information on him thinking someone murdered his dog?

All three of his dogs fell ill from rat poison, two survived. He suspects someone sprayed his yard.

 

[Ekeke]

All three of his dogs fell ill from rat poison, two survived. He suspects someone sprayed his yard.

Thats awful. I hope they catch whoever did it

 

[sglowrider]

Probably some Lazio Ultras.

 

[ShinjiNinja26]

What sort of Sick scumbag poisons a dog? Very sad. Hopefully they catch the cnut that did it although I highly doubt it.

 

[Yagami]

I can relate to him. I grew up being scared of dogs myself due to a bad experience.

If his dog was murdered I hope whoever did it is caught.

 

[NotThatSoph]

I’m a bigger Smalling fan than most, but he said ‘wouldn’t of’- and there is little in this world that enrages me more than ‘would of’, ‘could of’, ‘should of’!

Is there anyone out there who can just write ‘would have’ for heaven’s sake!?

It's isn't great English all the way through the post really. He should have written 'wouldn't have'.

Alternatively, Chris Smalling has been alive for a few years and isn't a filthy prescriptivist stuck in the past, and therefore knows that his usage is perfectly fine.

 

[RedSky]

what the feck

 

[Red_toad]

All three of his dogs fell ill from rat poison, two survived. He suspects someone sprayed his yard.

Jeez what a vile person to do such a thing!

 

[Classical Mechanic]

Alternatively, Chris Smalling has been alive for a few years and isn't a filthy prescriptivist stuck in the past, and therefore knows that his usage is perfectly fine.

Sounds like fake news to me.

 

[BigBebe]

https://www.skysports.com/football/...th-southgate-regrets-chris-smalling-criticism

So Gareth Southgate now says he was unfair on Chris Smalling when he made those comments when he dropped him from the England squad and that he would consider selecting him for the Euros.

I do think Smalling was treated badly by Southgate, at the time, John Stones was being hyped up like he was the new Beckenbauer and Smalling made out to be some sort of dinosaur. Well, we've seen how that has worked out.

I can't help thinking that Southgate's decision may have also undermined his standing at United. Personally I would have him any day over Lindelof but that's another story.

 

[flappyjay]

https://www.skysports.com/football/...th-southgate-regrets-chris-smalling-criticism

So Gareth Southgate now says he was unfair on Chris Smalling when he made those comments when he dropped him from the England squad and that he would consider selecting him for the Euros.

I do think Smalling was treated badly by Southgate, at the time, John Stones was being hyped up like he was the new Beckenbauer and Smalling made out to be some sort of dinosaur. Well, we've seen how that has worked out.

I can't help thinking that Southgate's decision may have also undermined his standing at United. Personally I would have him any day over Lindelof but that's another story.

Southgate should have been able to tell that Stones was shit though. If we could tell on Redcafe she should have been able. He and Ole are the same in that regard. 2 under qualified guys who got their dream jobs and made the popular decisions. Southgate dropping rooney and Smalling. Ole dropping Smalling and Lukaku. They both dropped the ball on the Smalling part, did well on the strikers in my opinion