How good is Chris Smalling?
- Thread starter Plechazunga
- Start date
!I think him and Vidic is our current best CB pair. He's still a bit rough on edges (noticeably one occasion on 1st half), but really assuring throughout the game. It will be interesting to see him against the big boys: Chelsea next week.
His passing still irritates me. So many times he had a simple ball inside, but he'd only look towards either Vidic or Rafael and he has the ability to play the ball.
Every time we have a good game defensively someone comes up with that regarding the CB partnership we have that day.
Every time we have a good game defensively someone comes up with that regarding the CB partnership we have that day.
But this time it's true
Classy first half, finally his distribution is very good too.
Put him at CB and he will evolve into world class. Give him a run of games and we'll start discussing him and Varane again. That tackle
He does difficult things exceptionally well and then seems to have trouble with some basics.
Maybe Moyes can do for Smalling what Wenger has done for Koscielny - put him in a settled pairing with a good and more experienced senior partner.
He looks a bit clumsy, but I don't see him doing much wrong today. I really do like him at CB - I feel much more at ease with him there.
Would be class if he could pass or head to another team mate.
Wouldn't go that far he's pretty poor on the ball but an excellent young defender
He's the new improved Wes Brown. Doesnt look like he'll ever be that good on the ball, but his natural defending skills shine through enough for him to do a good job defending. Obviously Brown would have gone further if it wasnt for injuries and so Smalling should do the same with his better fitness
He really is terrible on the ball isn't he? I don't remember him being so poor when he first got here. Could be a confidence thing but he looks like he's never passed a ball in his life at times, like its alien to him.
He's been better on the ball today than Evans. I think Sunderland are very good at playing a high pressing game.
As much as I've prefered Smalling to Evans in general over the years, at this stage of his career Evans was vastly improving on the ball and has become good on it. I just don't see any improvement from Smalling. He tries stuff, like he's been practicing it all week, and it shanks off him
I'd be happy if he's as good as Brown.
He's very good at heading, if he can be more assertive he'll be fabulous at the back.
In the midst of the madness, it should be said that he was outstanding tonight. Another great game at centre back.
He really wasn't poor with the ball in that first half, he misplaced one or two passes in that time(including one hoofed ball).
He along with Kagawa did well. That's about it
He shanked one and it could've been very costly, the referee was rather generous.
Great in the air, but far to timid when the ball is in the ground. Needs to grow a pair and take charge at the back.
Been one of my favorite United players for years. Showed why today.
I think he's our best centerback right now. Should start every game for as long as he's fit.
I think he's our best centerback right now. Should start every game for as long as he's fit.
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Our best CB hands down
He was a rock at the back today. Didn't deserve to be on the losing side.
Cleared 24 balls out from the back (long balls and crosses into the box), Rafael and Evans 11 each. Won 5 balls in the air on top of that, same as Raf with Evans winning another 2. This was the very positive side of his performance
Absolutely outstanding. One of few who can take credit from tonight.
He had that one shaky moment, but other than that he was excellent. Like he usually is at centre back.
At times in matches he looks like he's still playing for Maidstone, other times he looks the best CB at the club. I can't work him out.
He's our best defender. His progress has been hampered I think. He needs to play weekly.
I know what you mean. He is very good in the air and very good in pure man-to-man situations. But I'm not sold on his overall game at all. I don't know what our optimal pairing back there is - or should be - at the moment. And that's a bit of a worry.
Fantastic tonight. The only player who was.
He was a fecking beast... Did not deserve to lose tonight.
Worked well with Januzaj for Hernandez's goal too!
So powerful and quick to clear the ball. At times he simply refused to be beaten aerially or on the ground. He needs to be given the opportunity to do that more often. He will develop as a top class centre back much faster.
Hopefully Moyes takes a hint and keeps him away from RB unless we have no other choice.
Hopefully Moyes takes a hint and keeps him away from RB unless we have no other choice.
If he can become a permanent fixture I'd argue that he should be in that England team this summer.
He won't be purely because of the mighty fall of Manchester United and this idea that Gary Cahill is a top quality player.
He won't be purely because of the mighty fall of Manchester United and this idea that Gary Cahill is a top quality player.
Carragher with pace. Not sure if that's a compliment or not.
He was a beast tonight yes.
But he must play better with the ball....his passing is sometimes so awful.
But he must play better with the ball....his passing is sometimes so awful.
Just not really that accurate a comparison given Smalling's aerial ability. That and his pace make him a completely different type of defender.