How good is Chris Smalling?

Rossa said:
Huh? Aren't they both CBs? So, Rio is the better CB than Cleverley, but Cleverley is the better player because he is more versatile? Please do explain...
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It's not impossible for someone to be a better player than someone but be inferior in a set position, esp when said player can operate in various positions.
 
At fault for the first and third goal IMO.
 
Shocking game today.
 
Yeah he's looked terrible recently. Injuries havent done him favors and neither have the lack of games and constant position swapping.

He's struggled to hit the highs of his first season when he gave a lot of standout performances.
 
Wanted to bump this thread too, but I guess it's still preseason. What strikes me the most is him just watching the attacker coming at him and doing nothing to stop him.
No one looked too good, but I am bit worried for Smalling, I wouldn't be surprised seeing him end up as our fifth choice CB behind Jones.
 
His thread deserves a bump tonight. For his first game of the season, and in his less favoured position, I thought he was very, very good tonight. Strong defensively, showed some good touches, and actually looked like he could play intricate football at times. Deserves to start against City based on that performance.
 
Yep - really good performance from Smalling, and it's no coincidence that Valencia looked better with a strongly performing right back.
 
Annihilate Now! said:
His thread deserves a bump tonight. For his first game of the season, and in his less favoured position, I thought he was very, very good tonight. Strong defensively, showed some good touches, and actually looked like he could play intricate football at times. Deserves to start against City based on that performance.
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While defensively he's excellent I just cannot agree with the rest. His passing is so cumbersome and his threat from the right is virtually non-existant. Also thought he was partly at fault for the first goal.
 
marjen said:
While defensively he's excellent I just cannot agree with the rest. His passing is so cumbersome and his threat from the right is virtually non-existant. Also thought he was partly at fault for the first goal.
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There was nothing terrible with his passing tonight. It's usually an easy and justified stick to beat him with, but it would be unfair to do so based on this performance.
 
Annihilate Now! said:
His thread deserves a bump tonight. For his first game of the season, and in his less favoured position, I thought he was very, very good tonight. Strong defensively, showed some good touches, and actually looked like he could play intricate football at times. Deserves to start against City based on that performance.
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Yep, I think height and defensive stability will be key factors in that game. Providing he's fit he should start.
 
Considering it was his 1st game this season he was very solid, but he is still a centre-back playing at fullback and United do lack that extra attacking threat when Rafael is not there. It was still good for Smalling though to get some game time.
 
psychdelicblues said:
He trained this week. Maybe next week against Liverpool in the Carling Cup.
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Against City?

As for Smalling, while he is good defensively, his attacking prowess (for a RB) still lacks quite a lot. He is quite erratic while running down the right flank in the attack, and I don't think his crossing is as good as well. Against physical, taller teams, he can be a decent option, but I think we can all agree that his best position is a CB.
 
coolredwine said:
Against City?

As for Smalling, while he is good defensively, his attacking prowess (for a RB) still lacks quite a lot. He is quite erratic while running down the right flank in the attack, and I don't think his crossing is as good as well. Against physical, taller teams, he can be a decent option, but I think we can all agree that his best position is a CB.
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No doubt. Considering, however, that this was his first match this season and played RB, that was one very solid performance. Some people were starting to write him off, but I think he proved yesterday that should not be the case. He's so quick for such a big guy and really is a great tackler. I think his passing was better yesterday too.
 
Rossa said:
No doubt. Considering, however, that this was his first match this season and played RB, that was one very solid performance. Some people were starting to write him off, but I think he proved yesterday that should not be the case. He's so quick for such a big guy and really is a great tackler. I think his passing was better yesterday too.
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Which do work in his favour when playing at RB.

But then, he is just a makeshift RB. Will be back in the middle when Rafael is back.
 
He's excellent and will become an exceptional CB. I've always been more impressed by Smalling than Jones, though the hype is especially around the latter, but I may be missing something.
 
Impressive display last night but my only negative is his passing is not up to scratch, he just seems to give the ball away especially when he plays at RB.
 
Rooney in Paris said:
He's excellent and will become an exceptional CB. I've always been more impressed by Smalling than Jones, though the hype is especially around the latter, but I may be missing something.
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Jones will be a great in my opinion, but Smalling stands out as the better player today. We really have three fantastic young centre backs who would have been first choice pretty much else where.
 
Did better than jones usually does at right back. Needs to improve on the ball though. Even at centre back he generally looks clumsy (apart from early on in his united career).
 
Rossa said:
Two weeks ago everyone, including me, would argue that Jones is a better fullback than Smalling
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I have never argued that. I dislike Jones at RB immensely. I've been in the Fabio thread saying that we should play him over Jones and Smalling when Rafael is not available. Jones is the least natural of all of our options in that position.
 
Feed Me said:
I was taking this season into account only, to be honest. It's certainly not a help to Valencia's form when Jones is playing behind him.
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Even when fabio played well the other day, Valencia was shit. He's been crap due his being crap really. He'd hardly had a lack of opportunities to hurt teams. And I don't think smalling was any better than fabio the other day. If anything fabio was better on the ball.
 
Feed Me said:
I have never argued that. I dislike Jones at RB immensely. I've been in the Fabio thread saying that we should play him over Jones and Smalling when Rafael is not available. Jones is the least natural of all of our options in that position.
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Then you are far too sensible, my good man. I think Jones has been OK in the RB position in the past, slightly better in attack than Smalling, imo. I also think that Fabio should play ahead of both. Leverkusen's height may have sealed the decision for Smalling.
 
amolbhatia100 said:
Even when fabio played well the other day, Valencia was shit. He's been crap due his being crap really. He'd hardly had a lack of opportunities to hurt teams. And I don't think smalling was any better than fabio the other day. If anything fabio was better on the ball.
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I don't disagree - Valencia has been well below par for ages now. But I feel my general point stands. Wingers like Valencia are reliant on quality overlapping fullbacks generating additional space for them to play in, and also to link-up with. It's an inexact point, but I'd wager Valencia's better form during his lean spell will have coincided with having Rafael behind him.
 
Rossa said:
Then you are far too sensible, my good man. I think Jones has been OK in the RB position in the past, slightly better in attack than Smalling, imo. I also think that Fabio should play ahead of both. Leverkusen's height may have sealed the decision for Smalling.
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Yep - it was mentioned in commentary that Leverkusen are a robust side, so I think it was natural to go for Smalling's height. As it happens, he produced a more assured performance than Jones has for a while.
 
Feed Me said:
Yep - it was mentioned in commentary that Leverkusen are a robust side, so I think it was natural to go for Smalling's height. As it happens, he produced a more assured performance than Jones has for a while.
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Actually their wide players Son and Sam are fairly small but pretty fast. Considering that he really did and excellent job defensively and of course his height helped with set pieces.
 
NoLogo said:
Actually their wide players Son and Sam are fairly small but pretty fast. Considering that he really did and excellent job defensively and of course his height helped with set pieces.
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Yeah, but Smalling rarely ever loses for pace - I remember him keeping up with Agbonlahor (just ask Ivanovic how hard that is), so he won't have any problems there. What we lose with Smalling is the attacking threat of Rafael.
 
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