Someone needs to post a match complication of him today. It would have been defence porn.
How good is Chris Smalling?
- Thread starter Plechazunga
- Start date
Has any club ever had 5 centre-backs of such quality at the same time?
Thought Jones had MOTM locked up but a couple of vital tackles and headers from Smalling in the last 15 swung it in his favour. Outstanding display.
Superb defender. He's not much going forward but he's a CB not a FB so cant really blame him for that.
That last ditch tackle
That last ditch tackle
I can't believe he was playing non-league football only a few years ago. What a huge step up it has been for him
F
To be fair, we've been a bit shit defensively of late so I'm not sure our quality is that high right now. Great display today by the lot of them though
His defensive display in the second half was excellent, he's not a RB though.
He may not be a fullback, but he's making one helluva case for himself still. That was a monstrous demonstration from him. He's a terrific defender and impossible to get past. There's been talk about quick players like Griezmann and Gibbs should give him some concern, but he outpaces them and outwits them time and time again. He was slightly better going forwards today also - that run where he was able to catch up with the ball
He's no Rafael going forwards though. MotM for me.
He's no Rafael going forwards though. MotM for me.
Individually, they are 5 outstanding centre-backs though.
Don't think so. You can't call jones am outstanding centre back given some of his performances for us which have been woeful. And rio has been a bit rubbish too. I'd say they we have outstanding ability at the centre back position.
OK, Rio, granted I'm talking more about at his best than the actual product he's produced recently. Thought that isn't to say he's necessarily past it - we've seen him written off before only to prove everybody wrong.
Jones is only a small step from being an absolute monster at CB.
Brilliant today (defending wise)
Lets be fair to him, although it breaks my heart to see such a fantastic CB playing at RB, he is putting in a decent shift and getting better as an understudy. I would really prefer to see him at CB though, and one of the first names on the team sheet every game.
This. Obviously not best at going forward but his defensive work today was very good.
Typical Smalling at RB, very good defensive work but offers absolutely nothing going forward.
Fantastic defensively but possibly cost us a couple of goals due to him being completely inept at attacking. Quite honestly I'd have done better than him at some of the horrific things he was doing coming forward.
Me and my mate during the game:
"Oh FFS Smalling why you're so fecking useless" (going forward)
"Shitttt great tackle!"
"Why can't you cross the damn ball?"
"Phenomenal header!"
"Smalling, the new Bebe"
Rinse and repeat. Frustrating with his contribution going forward, but defensively he showed why he's the next best choice when Rafael is out.
"Oh FFS Smalling why you're so fecking useless" (going forward)
"Shitttt great tackle!"
"Why can't you cross the damn ball?"
"Phenomenal header!"
"Smalling, the new Bebe"
Rinse and repeat. Frustrating with his contribution going forward, but defensively he showed why he's the next best choice when Rafael is out.
He may not be a fullback, but he's making one helluva case for himself still. That was a monstrous demonstration from him. He's a terrific defender and impossible to get past. There's been talk about quick players like Griezmann and Gibbs should give him some concern, but he outpaces them and outwits them time and time again. He was slightly better going forwards today also - that run where he was able to catch up with the ball
He's no Rafael going forwards though. MotM for me.
He's not making a case for himself as a fullback at all.
From a defensive point of view he is. As an attacking outlet he's far from it.
Manchester United have lost just one of the 29 Premier League games that Smalling has played in at Old Trafford - they have won 26 and drawn two.
You need both as a fullback, so for me he will never be one.
Fantastic in defense.
But today he set the world record for The Most Obvious Through-Ball to Kagawa.
But today he set the world record for The Most Obvious Through-Ball to Kagawa.
Well he's NOT a flipping full-back, is he? He's a centre-half. Magnificent today.
Exactly. He's not going to be a right back, he's filling in there when needed and doing a very good job. His crossing isn't great because as a centre halh he won't have practiced it as much as most potential full backs.
Correct. Would we expect Nemanja to be whipping wicked deliveries in between the keeper and centre-halves if it was him stuck out there?
Forget his attributes at going forward, that's a debate for another time but he was fantastic, did his job perfectly. Some of his tackling, reading passing lanes and winning headers, he was immense.
Still don't understand why Moyes prefers Jones at CB. Smalling is just ridiculously good when played in the center.
Because Jones is shite at defending crosses. Whenever he plays at right-back, he lets through at least 3 or 4 decent balls.
What United lose with Jones at CB, they more than make up with Smalling at RB.
What United lose with Jones at CB, they more than make up with Smalling at RB.
Yeah, Jones is a worse RB than Smalling in my opinion.
To be honest, I was hoping that he'd move Valencia to RB at a half-time, shift Smalling inside and leave Jones in the middle... but what Moyes chose to do worked fine, so doesn't really matter.
To be honest, I was hoping that he'd move Valencia to RB at a half-time, shift Smalling inside and leave Jones in the middle... but what Moyes chose to do worked fine, so doesn't really matter.
As a pure defender I think Smalling is the best out of our young ones. Evans and Rafael are better on the ball and and Jones is Jones but Smalling has this Vidic-esque knack of consistently being where he needs to be and making key tackles and key clearances.
Obviously his limitations on the ball compared to Rafael restrict his abilities going forward but he was a good fit today. What with Arsenal's offensive midfield 3 not being particularly width-orientated I think Smalling's obvious confidence defending more centrally was key, especially when Vidic came off and we needed to reshuffle the deck a bit, he coped brilliantly with the extra pressure that came with losing Jones from the midfield.
Obviously his limitations on the ball compared to Rafael restrict his abilities going forward but he was a good fit today. What with Arsenal's offensive midfield 3 not being particularly width-orientated I think Smalling's obvious confidence defending more centrally was key, especially when Vidic came off and we needed to reshuffle the deck a bit, he coped brilliantly with the extra pressure that came with losing Jones from the midfield.
I love Rio, and have a lot of respect for what his service, but I really think that Smalling (and Jones/Evans, but Smalling seems to be last choice currently for centre back) needs to be given as much opportunity as possible at CB to fully reach his potential. I've always thought he can be a top, top CB but seeing him today...wow.
Not a phenomenal stat considering how seldom we do lose at home. Should rather focus on the win ratio. Not that he has much to do with us scoring goals but there are few draws there as well.
Absolutely imperious today. Made a number of key tackles and interceptions, but I'm just always astounded by his aerial prowess. Of course, he has plenty of height which will only enhance his chances of winning a header, but he is so dominant and you fancy his chances of winning aerial duels against anyone.
I was saying to my dad and brother during the match, that he really should be more of a threat from set-pieces and corners in the opposition box. He is consistently dominant defensively and just needs to be a bit more imposing and have a bit more composure (as seen when he did have a goal-scoring opportunity).
Really pleased with the progress of not just Smalling, but Evans and Jones also in recent weeks.
I was saying to my dad and brother during the match, that he really should be more of a threat from set-pieces and corners in the opposition box. He is consistently dominant defensively and just needs to be a bit more imposing and have a bit more composure (as seen when he did have a goal-scoring opportunity).
Really pleased with the progress of not just Smalling, but Evans and Jones also in recent weeks.
His crossing is still horrible for someone who has any ambitions of being a right back. He's a top class defender but when he goes forward it's like watching Stevie Wonder trying to hit a pinata
I don't think he has any ambitions of being a right back to be fair. Not an attacking outlet in the slightest, but he has still been extremely impressive at right back defensively when played there, bar the odd game like City.
He resembles Brown at rb. They'll sooner go through their opponent with an incredible tackle than let them get past.
Sometimes feel like opposition fans underrate players such as Jones, Smalling and Kagawa who play better centrally but aren't always afforded the opportunity. Him, Jones and Evans were all incredible today.
Flawless defensively today.
this. although i thought he was okay going forward in the first half though. second half was all about his excellent defending. he is indeed a brilliant defender.
Does his job, makes Cazorla look like a girl all while posing for a photo. Respect.
