Monster.
How good is Chris Smalling?
- Thread starter Plechazunga
- Start date
Defensively he was spot on all game.
Best defender at the club. Simple as that.
He's absolutely magnificent at central defender stuff. I just wish we didn't have to play him at full back. He's not a full back.
Great defender. Terrible footballer.
Fantastic performance at the back and a bit improved going forward in the last couple of weeks. Would love to see how well he and Jones can do at CB as a pairing
Wonderful challenge on Ramsey I think it was in the second half, when Arsenal looked closest to cutting us open.
Defensively, he's utterly incredible. Always has been. So good.
He's a beast as a defender. Want to see him be given a chance at CB.
Cant attack. Good in defence.
Looked really composed even when Arsenal turned up the pressure. Beforehand i said i'd have played Valencia at RB but he did very well.
Great performance from Chris today and a shame he couln not take that chance!
Was brilliant today, although I still can't wait for Rafael to get back. He's not very good going forward but defensively was a monster today.
Boy he can't attack. But boy can he defend. Outstanding at the back today. Imperious, even.
He was the MOTM for me.
Totally justified the decision to play him at RB. He was a rock.
Robbed off the MOTM award due to his name not being Wayne Rooney.
He was magnificent! One of my favourite United players. Defended brilliantly.
Beast at the back, pants going forward. If the opportunity is there he is definitely going to make it here as far as I'm concerned.
Monster defensively but on the ball below average and needs to improve this.
He's really very good at defending.
The rest of it doesn't really matter because he's going to end up at centreback.
The rest of it doesn't really matter because he's going to end up at centreback.
He was excellent defensively, came up with several vital interceptions when Arsenal exerted significant pressure in the second half.
Fantastic defender.. can't cross.. can't score.. not great as passing either.. but he knows how to defend.
With Evans and Jones, we have quite a trio for the years to come
With Evans and Jones, we have quite a trio for the years to come
Offensively he isn't Rafa but defensively .... He was just perfect, that intervention on Giroud 
I don't care, he's joint MOTM for me. An absolute beast at everything that a CB should do. It says so much about his ability and performance that he was more prominent than Jones in the box in the second half even though Jones was actually the CB and Smalling the RB.
Should stop mucking about and just play him in CB. He'll be a beast for us there. I love Jones' commitment, but Smalling is just plain better at everything that a CB should do.
Should stop mucking about and just play him in CB. He'll be a beast for us there. I love Jones' commitment, but Smalling is just plain better at everything that a CB should do.
Just a beast of a defender. The awareness, speed of thought and strength were terrific. He actually did better today at RB than I expected. Not his best position but he can definitely do a good job there. Didn't allow himself to get caught out once.
Him, Jones and Evans were all incredible today.
Completely agree. In terms of actual defending, he's superior in almost every facet. I have so much confidence in both Smalling and Jones. Always have. All they need is game time and the chance to develop and grow in confidence. Spunking money on 'replacements' for Rio and Vidic when we have the likes of Smalling and Jones waiting in the wings would be a crime.
I think this game can actually be the making of our young defenders. Evans is a cert to be one of the mainstays from now on due to his ability to pick a pass and move the ball from CB, but Jones and Smalling really came into their own tonight in different ways. Out of the 2, I think Smalling is more ready as a CB, especially since we have a guy like Evans who can somewhat alleviate Smalling's deficiencies in passing. Jones can do a top job there himself, but he's more versatile and in a way, that's always going to hinder him nailing down a full-time spot.
It's a good problem to have though, and between Evans-Jones-Smalling I don't think we can ask for more in terms of our future options at CB. That's the position sorted for the next 10 years between the 3 of them.
Would be even better at Centreback IMO. Forcing him to make forays up the pitch isn't the most ideal thing. However, he was an absolute wall today and never beaten for pace either.
He was fantastic in 2nd half. At RB he is bit wasted, so I am hoping we have Varela or Fabio coming up to speed to be backup for Rafael. Fabio can do job at either flanks and will be kind of like for like replacement for Rafael at RB in short term at least. This way, we can give Smalling more games at CB and he can gain more experience in that position.
Steel wall in defence, and surprisingly speedy on that run for the ball he made, sadly has a useless cross, but that shouldn't normally matter for a CB.
I think he should be first on the team sheet at centre half.
I'm sure we all wish Fabio's the primary backup for Rafael mate.
But fair game to Smalling, he did a top job today. Owned 2 positions. Tried to bomb down the flank when we had control of the game in the first half, and got his head to everything central even though he was at RB for the second. Got in the way of whatever Arsenal tried to pull off when they sieged our box too. Massive game.
One of his best games for us, he properly looked like a Man Utd centre-back today. His usual defensive intelligence but with some much-needed aggression. Our centre-backs were outstanding.
Defensively great. Offensively not so much.
Yes, fantastic game today as RB no doubt. Just saying he is better as CB so hopefully gets more games there.
Brilliant performance. Strong as fox and read the game excellently.
This. But then again he's a centre half.