Ekeke
Full Member
We certainly far from perfect. We are not talking about CBs raking up assists but being able to progress the ball from defence to the midfield in most circumstances. Agree that sometimes you need long balls and not try to be too cute, which we are also too guilty of, without even having the ability to do so. We certainly need to strive for the ball playing ability of atleast Vidic and Rio (as a combo). Without that how can we develop into a world class team? Smalling is certainly not the answer there for us.
Vidic kept it simple himself and Rio cut out some of his "ball playing ability" after he got to United. He tried to dribble the ball into midfield in his first season and got robbed a few times and then we didnt see much of it after that. Obviously Rio's passing was obviously still levels above Smalling. Vidic's was similarish. I dont believe that a combination of Maguire and Smalling is much different to what Vidic and Rio had.