Absolutely fecking stupid to give away a FK like this, I knew the second the FK was awarded they'd score. His positional sense is terrible at right-back, I really have no idea what Moyes is thinking putting him out there consistently. He should play CB, and nothing else.
How good is Chris Smalling?
- Thread starter Plechazunga
- Start date
To be fair its out of necessity rather than choice. We have nobody else to play in that spot. Not sure where Fabio has gone?
Fabio is alive, Valencia has also proven useful there. Moyes might of had eyes on Cardiff's set piece ability but previous matches suggest Smalling would've been first choice when Rafael is out anyway.
He's not a RB and that hasn't changed.
The sad thing is that we do have two excellent right backs but moyes hates one for some reason.
Poor game for him with the ball today. He is a really good defender, but he just kills all attacking threat around him at times. We should stop playing him at RB and just rotate him at CB instead.
Worst passing percentage of any player on the pitch today.
Gash today, not a RB though.
A fine CB.
A fine CB.
I've seen a lot of people say that his passing is dreadful. It's not the best I've ever seen, but it's not terrible either. Thing is, it's a different kettle of fish having to be on the ball in the full back position as opposed to centre half. At right back, there's greater emphasis on playing attacking balls and generally you're tighter to the line and under more pressure. At centre half, providing you have a midfielder that's prepared to show for the ball, you always have an easy option. It's why someone like Vidic, who isn't great on the ball, can still do a good job of keeping it.
We need to end this odd fixation with picking centre halves at right back purely for their height. No other top sides really do it.
We need to end this odd fixation with picking centre halves at right back purely for their height. No other top sides really do it.
Isn't Valencia better at RB than Smalling ? It's not like Cardiff had giants to compete against in the air either.
He's definitely not a right back and it was a silly free kick to give away but I thought he was one of our better players on the night.
Sick of seeing him at RB. I'd like to say he was selected just because Cardiff are great at set pieces but we all know that's not true.
I dont think its fair to blame him for giving away the free kick. We should have been able to defend the free kick.
Agreed.
Yes we should have defended the free kick but it was a stupid one to give away.
Should've been Valencia at right back yesterday with Nani or Kagawa playing on the wing
Or why not use Fabio, who is a fullback, in that position? Some of the line-ups are baffling. Admittedly, Smalling won lots of headers that Fabio probably wouldn't have, but I think we would've worked much, much better as a team with him on the pitch.
Smalling's a good centre-half and a decent full back.
Injury to Rafael has forced us to play him/Jones at RB - they've both done a steady job.
Injury to Rafael has forced us to play him/Jones at RB - they've both done a steady job.
Kagawa's out injured. I don't think it's all that fair to play a winger in a RB spot, whereas defender playing in defender's position ( awful logic here, I know ) seems a bit less stupid. Smalling was sound defensively but God, when he's about to pass the ball you just want to close your eyes.
The tackle was so stupid. I'm struggling to get over this draw.. 
Was wondering how long it would take for the promote Varela/Janko post. Only read this page though so perhaps I missed it
Defensively he really is a beast isn't he? Regularly comes out on top in one on ones with the attacker, very occasionally getting beat.
He's clearly not a right back, but his defensive ability is clear for all to see. Looking forward to seeing more of him in the middle, hopefully sooner rather then later.
He's clearly not a right back, but his defensive ability is clear for all to see. Looking forward to seeing more of him in the middle, hopefully sooner rather then later.
He looked good as a full back tonight but that was largely down to Leverkusen's left hand side being non-existent.
He was fantastic tonight.
But i still hope Rafael comes back.
But i still hope Rafael comes back.
This. With Ferdinand increasingly worrying me, DEFINITELY sooner rather than later.
I still don't get why he does not get a chance in the middle. He is excellent there when he plays, and has a strong argument for being our best and most reliable option outside the Rio/Vidic partnership.
As for his performances at RB, they are no worse than if say, Vidic, played at full-back. I don't blame him one bit, and has performed well for a natural centre-half in that role. Anyway, he would be the first name on the teamsheet for me in whatever next CB pairing we build, but he never seems to get a proper look-in there.
As for his performances at RB, they are no worse than if say, Vidic, played at full-back. I don't blame him one bit, and has performed well for a natural centre-half in that role. Anyway, he would be the first name on the teamsheet for me in whatever next CB pairing we build, but he never seems to get a proper look-in there.
Ideally the future CB partnership will be Smalling-Evans with Jones as a DM of sorts. It's unfortunate that we have 3 talented CBs vying for 2 spots, and CB is a position where you need a stable partnership to form a good understanding a la Rio and Vidic. Hence why the best scenario would be Jones molded into a CM.
We should always play him alongside Evans whenever Vidic is injured.
Fabio should play as a full back if Rafael isn't available. Jones isn't an option as of now as a full back/CB due to all our midfielders bar Giggs every fourth game and Carrick when fit are dogshite.
Fabio should play as a full back if Rafael isn't available. Jones isn't an option as of now as a full back/CB due to all our midfielders bar Giggs every fourth game and Carrick when fit are dogshite.
Pleased to see him score as I fell he is doing a 'good' job at RB but where the hell is Rafael. Smalling isn't a RB. Doing quite well though, especially defensively.
The best I've seen him at RB for United I think. He wasn't hugely tested defensively, but was good going forwards. Though Leverkusen's defending was bemusing, and I have no idea why they gave our right hand side so much time and space. Valencia had all the time in the world at times, and Smalling managed to attack down there as well.
I still don't like him at RB though. Especially not in the Premier League, where the game is played with a lot more width. He won't get time and space like that in a league game.
I still don't like him at RB though. Especially not in the Premier League, where the game is played with a lot more width. He won't get time and space like that in a league game.
Was good yesterday but he needs to improve on his passing.
He's like a wall. Noone can get past him. It's amusing how he keeps getting the better of attacking players. Going forward he still has to improve but he's becoming better. I love Rafael but the way Smalling is playing means he has a big fight to win back his place. I hope he starts there against Spurs.
He does if he wants to play at RB. However, as I said, he's better on the ball than Vidic, for example, who is an excellent centre-half whose deficiencies will be equally highlighted if he was shifted to full-back.
There is nothing wrong with Vida's passing in fact it is very good, you rarely see him give the ball in difficult situations, something Smalling will develop over the years.
Well it's fairly unambitious in my view. Smalling playing at RB makes attacking passes. Vidic, when under any sort of pressure, generally just kicks it out for a throw-in.
Same problems again. I love his enthusiasm and I respect his work at right back, but he shouldn't play there. He gets turned too easily, his passing is average, and he doesn't underlap or overlap. I really wish Fábio was given a chance - he has already proven to be good back up.
I'm sure it's great to get him some game time, I still believe he can be a long term solution at CB, but it's a bit painful at this moment watching him play FB.
We gave Wes Brown a whole season at RB and he couldn't cross for shit to start the year, but by the end he was pretty decent, even assisted Ronaldo's goal in the CL final win in Moscow.
But I don't think Smalling will get enough games there to turn him into a decent crossers who overlaps his winger, this season anyway.
We gave Wes Brown a whole season at RB and he couldn't cross for shit to start the year, but by the end he was pretty decent, even assisted Ronaldo's goal in the CL final win in Moscow.
But I don't think Smalling will get enough games there to turn him into a decent crossers who overlaps his winger, this season anyway.
Eh? He's been pretty good there on the most part? He's no Rafael attacking wise but he's been solid the last few games in particular and gives us more aerial presence from set pieces.
He's decent overall, poor going forward but good defensively..
In terms of team balance this is a problem since we're not creating much from open play. We're dependant on our full backs contributing .
In terms of team balance this is a problem since we're not creating much from open play. We're dependant on our full backs contributing .