MOTM? Are you having a laugh?
Was ok. Shaky a couple of times.
Was ok. Shaky a couple of times.
How good is Chris Smalling?
- Thread starter Plechazunga
- Start date
Hes just having the evans season. It happens to all young players where they have a season where they dont quite match their previous talent. For me I think his issue is coping with the reality that he is now a genuine comtemder for first choice so probably feels a bit more pressure on his game.
But he'll come to terms with it and become a much better player. Barring injuries he'll be englands best CB for the next 5 or so years.
But he'll come to terms with it and become a much better player. Barring injuries he'll be englands best CB for the next 5 or so years.
Personally I think that will be Mr Jones.
Imagine if in 5 years time, United would have reverted to 3 at the back 
3-5-2 or so.
Jones-Smalling-Evans
Rafael - CM - CM - CM - Fabio
CF - CF
Won't happen of course, but it would be quite funny if that occurs due to the constant questions on who will pair who regarding Evans, Smalling and Jones in a few years' time or so.
3-5-2 or so.Jones-Smalling-Evans
Rafael - CM - CM - CM - Fabio
CF - CF
Won't happen of course, but it would be quite funny if that occurs due to the constant questions on who will pair who regarding Evans, Smalling and Jones in a few years' time or so.Nah i still dont think hes tall enough to be a top top CB, will probably get shuffled around too often and become oshea on roids
He's not having "the Evans season", he's been largely excellent when he's played.
He had a poor match yesterday though. It doesn't equate to him having a below par season.
Maybe excellent* is what he means by "The Evans Season"...
*He probably doesn't.
*He probably doesn't.
I think that he is referring to the season where his passing stats are reduced by a very concerning 2 percentile points.
Well played.His passing was really poor again and his footwork while tacking for the goal was a disaster after being caught slightly too deep.
What did people make of him today ?
What did people make of him today ?
He's been poor for a while now, not sure whether he's rusty or what.
See my earlier post which people tried to write off
Rusty would be it i'd say. Needs starts preferably in the league. The necessary intensity might wake him up a bit.
He's not having an 'Evans season', Jonny was getting bullied, Chris just has a few flaws to iron out.
Not worried. He's playing shag all games so he's not going to have that consistency. Was OK today and IMO not his fault for the goal.
I definitely think he is. Even when Evans had his bad season there was nothing majorly wrong with his game it was just all mental. There is a massive difference mentally between being able to come in and out and impress and then being a genuine contender at CB and the responsibilities it brings.
Both have struggled with it, but as Evans has shown, it doesn't mean you're a bad player and you can get over eventually. It's a simple case of their games stopping being natural and overthinking which puts you into panic mode or making a mistake.
He'll be a top CB he's just a couple of seasons off.
Jonny's issues were down to a lack of faith in himself. Once he made a decision as to how best to deal with physical threats he made progress. Chris is just inexperienced, it's not overthinking or anything with Chris it's just a question of honing his skill and gaining that experience.
He is a bit raw in some areas. Needs to sharpen up if he is to be a starter for us and England in the future.
Similar to Jones, i guess.
Similar to Jones, i guess.
He's just showing he's mortal at the moment. Didn't feel like it up until now, but I suppose he never was going to go through this period without having some sort of dip.
That's not to say that he's been bad, though. Was decent today for the most part, where as someone like Evans during his bad patch was a real liability defensively.
That's not to say that he's been bad, though. Was decent today for the most part, where as someone like Evans during his bad patch was a real liability defensively.
Apart from in our last two F.A Cup games, where he was excellent, or against Southampton where he was decent (his last 3 starts crazily enough) ... but hey, why miss an oppotunity to re-write history aye?
Not his best game, but he still had some good moments. It certainly wasn't a disaster or anything. He's not the best with the ball at his feet, I'm sure most people see that, but his actually defensive skill-set/potential surely shouldn't be in question.
He had to be substituted against Southampton. Don't get how he was decent, tbf ?
... Because being substituted automatically means you had a poor game?
That was the game where people had a pop at him for shit passing, but defensively he was decent, which is generally how I judge him at this point. Regardless, even if he wasn't up to your standard in that game, I don't see how anyone could criticise him for either the Fulham or West Ham games.
That was the game where people had a pop at him for shit passing, but defensively he was decent, which is generally how I judge him at this point. Regardless, even if he wasn't up to your standard in that game, I don't see how anyone could criticise him for either the Fulham or West Ham games.
True. I still feel more confident with him than with Evans, who sadly is still a candidate to mess up big time. What I like about Vidic and Smalling is that they are both amazing in the air, Vidic is the no-nonsense tackler and Smalling has terrific pace - there was this one incident early in the first half when a Reading player was chasing the ball down their left wing and I thought "f*** no" and Smalling just speeded to the ball in front of him. Jones also has that about him, but is more like Vidic in other aspects of the game.
Smalling has world class potential about him, but he does look a bit clumsy with the ball at times.
I'm not sure about that, as it looks like Evans has generally eliminated feck-ups from his game in 2013. Whilst I don't think Smalling has been bad, Evans is in the better form and desrves to be starting in the big games he's been starting in.
I know he has pretty much eliminated them, but that is the lingering sensation in me that there is the odd chance that he may feck-up. He is starting to win me over though, and in terms of distributing the ball, Evans is head and shoulders above the other CBs bar Rio (who is at least up there).
Evans also seems to have worked on his pace and strength, but isn't yet close to Smalling there, imo.
That's really not Evans' problem, it's yours.
Just wanted to show his goals allowed average while playing CB, only .01 worse than Vidic who lead the team.
Of course a lot more goes into a defensive performance than just the CBs, but I think this stat is a helpful guide. Smalling didn't play as many difficult fixtures as some others, as well, but I still think he's a very promising CB, and I hope he stays at United for years to come.
GOALS ALLOWED AVERAGE
G=Games
GA=Goals Allowed
GAA=Goals Allowed Average
GG=Goals in each Games
Of course a lot more goes into a defensive performance than just the CBs, but I think this stat is a helpful guide. Smalling didn't play as many difficult fixtures as some others, as well, but I still think he's a very promising CB, and I hope he stays at United for years to come.
GOALS ALLOWED AVERAGE
Code:
| [U]Center Backs[/U] | [U]G[/U] | [U]GA[/U] | [U][B]GAA[/B][/U] | [U]GG[/U] |
| Nemanja [b]VIDIC[/b] | 22 | 18 | [B]0.82[/B] | 1,2,2,0,0,1,0,2,1,1,1,0,1,0,0,2,0,0,0,2,1,1 |
| Chris [B]SMALLING[/B] | 12 | 10 | [B]0.83[/B] | 1,2,1,0,1,1,0,1,1,1,0,1 |
| Jonny [B]EVANS[/B] | 28 | 35 | [B]1.25[/B] | 0,1,3,1,0,2,2,2,1,1,1,0,3,2,1,3,0,0,2,0,0,1,0,2,0,1,1,5 |
| Michael [b]CARRICK[/b] | 4 | 5 | [B]1.25[/B] | 1,2,2,0 |
| Rio [B]FERDINAND[/B] | 31 | 39 | [B]1.26[/B] | 2,0,1,3,1,0,2,2,1,2,1,1,3,2,1,3,0,1,1,0,1,0,2,2,0,1,2,0,2,1,1 |
| Phil [B]JONES[/B] | 6 | 8 | [B]1.33[/B] | 0,0,1,2,0,5 |
| Scott [B]WOOTTON[/B] | 3 | 7 | [B]2.33[/B] | 1,5,1 |
| Michael [B]KEANE[/B] | 2 | 6 | [B]3.00[/B] | 1,5 |GA=Goals Allowed
GAA=Goals Allowed Average
GG=Goals in each Games
To the naked eye, Smalling looked pretty good this season, though not outstanding. Okay, that's ambiguous and not of much help. So what am I really trying to say is that he didn't improve that much this season, which was marred by injuries, but I really do think he's ready to take the heaviest of the heavy lifting over for Rio.
He has a somewhat ungainly style about him, but he reads the game well and doesn't commit Evanesque bonehead plays. Confident, but not cocky. His future is bright.
He has a somewhat ungainly style about him, but he reads the game well and doesn't commit Evanesque bonehead plays. Confident, but not cocky. His future is bright.
Hugely talented defender. Needs to stop getting injured.
His injuries are really annoying. He was excellent in his first season with us, still remember those excellent performances against Chelsea. I hope he will avoid them in the future.
He's quality. Reminds me of the greatest human ever - Phil Jones.
Should give him the "new Phil Jones" tag.
Should give him the "new Phil Jones" tag.
Doesn't look in the slightest ungainly to me - quick, elegant and powerful are the adjectives that spring to mind.
Smalling is one of the biggest CB talents out there today. Partly because there aren't any great CB's around which is evident when Vidic is probably the best one around. Vidic of today is of course some levels worse than Vidic in his prime.
Hear here!
defending wise, he is superb for his age and experience. he reads the game very well. and he is exceptional in the air also.
the only concern about smalling is his passing. he can be a bit erratic at times. he needs to improve his distribution if he wants to be recognize as a world class defender.
the only concern about smalling is his passing. he can be a bit erratic at times. he needs to improve his distribution if he wants to be recognize as a world class defender.
He's very good with his passing IMO. The issues he had this season were more confidence related than anything to do with his ability.
I would even say Smalling moves in Rio-esque manner, which is a compliment.
If anyone is ungainly it's Jones, which isn't a criticism of his ability before the serially outraged jump in (I learned I have to spell that out for them), it's a comment on his running style.
I fully agree with this. I can remember countless people praising him for his passing and calmness on the ball, in his first season. He just needs a long run of games.