How good is Chris Smalling?

Adam-Utd said:
He's physically better in every department. Height/jumping, Accel and outright speed, strength too. Evans makes up for it with good positioning, But smalling is definitely the better athlete IMO.
Click to expand...
Agreed but like I said heading is the only really significant one.

Also I agree that the stats are misleading. Smalling is clearly superior in that department.
 
Why isn't Smalling's pace significant Irwin? He has saved our ass countless times by being able to cut in front of some of the fastest players in the league. If it was Evans playing, they would get past him. Also, I think his strength also gives him a serious edge as Evans can still struggle a bit against strong strikers, whereas Smalling doesn't have that problem...
 
I think it's no suprise though that recently the triangle of Evans, Smalling and Jones has given us our most solid defensive performances. I would like to see the result's with those 3 in the team compared to when 1 of those are missing.
 
The strength only really cones into play in the air as far as a difference between them and that's covered in heading for me. I don't think there's as big a difference in pace as people make out either.
 
Smalling and Evans have been very good, and perhaps it's time that they become our first option. Currently, they are good enough to be contenders for CL play. With enough experience, I think they can become good enough for winning the league. I think Jones might be even better than Evans though, in time.
 
Irwinwastheking said:
The strength only really cones into play in the air as far as a difference between them and that's covered in heading for me. I don't think there's as big a difference in pace as people make out either.
Click to expand...

Nah, Smalling outmuscles people on the ground far more easily. An example of their difference in speed is when Smalling outpaced Sturridge for a loose ball, when minutes later Evans was in an identical situation and lost - there's quite a difference, but Evans runs much better with the ball. His superior technique and passing is what makes me put them almost on par; Smalling being better at defending and Evans at "playing football"
 
Adam-Utd said:
I think it's no suprise though that recently the triangle of Evans, Smalling and Jones has given us our most solid defensive performances. I would like to see the result's with those 3 in the team compared to when 1 of those are missing.
Click to expand...

I've been calling for the three of them to be given a run for awhile. There's nor much reason Vidic should get back in the team, and Fellaini can feck off if he thinks he deserves to start ahead of Jones.
 
Our central defenders will look even better when we get a midfield to shield them. Been hung out to dry to many times this season.
 
Will have to have a big game today, he will be put under pressure from Stoke, he has the attributes to deal with it, lets hope he continues his good form.
 
Adam-Utd said:
He's physically better in every department. Height/jumping, Accel and outright speed, strength too. Evans makes up for it with good positioning, But smalling is definitely the better athlete IMO.
Click to expand...

Smalling has just as good positioning
 
He seriously does suck at passing. Well he cant play play the simple ground passes, I dont know why he is attempting those long balls from deep.
 
Great half, stepping up, winning the ball back early, bringing it forward and playing it well.

His passing has looked a lot better lately I thought, despite the comment above this one.
 
He is playing well, but tbf he should in today's game, they are playing with Tankovic-reserve team player all alone up front(and still they scored, not his fault though).
 
I was expecting that response, and I totally understand, but I think it's easy for us to underestimate the job.

He's read it well, stepping infront of Fulhams players to keep us on the front foot, taking the ball forward and playing it well. Perhaps it's the state of our defenders in general this season that I'm impressed, but far too often we see our defenders pick the ball up and have no idea what to do with it.
 
Amar__ said:
He is playing well, but tbf he should in today's game, they are playing with Tankovic-reserve team player all alone up front(and still they scored, not his fault though).
Click to expand...

He is basically our only player looking like a class act out there. Tbf, all our players should be playing well today. Kudos to Chris for actually giving a f***.
 
I dont think so. Evans would be trying to do the same thing just 70% slower but more likely to find a pass that gives someone a yard or two of space to work from
 
If he can maintain this run of form he's on, I can see him as first choice. I've been really impressed with him this season at centre-back.
 
He's an absolute rock. People saying he's an overrated CB need their heads checked; he's one of the most natural defenders we have. He just needs to sort his passing out then he will be immense. Won't forget his full first season playing for us, he looked so composed for someone who had just played less than 10 games for Fulham and conference before that.
 
He is playing like 2 CB's, mainly running around cleaning up Vidic's constant mistakes.
 
Red Shorts said:
He's an absolute rock. People saying he's an overrated CB need their heads checked; he's one of the most natural defenders we have. He just needs to sort his passing out then he will be immense. Won't forget his full first season playing for us, he looked so composed for someone who had just played less than 10 games for Fulham and conference before that.
Click to expand...


Agreed
 
I just cant make my mind up about him.

He's improved into a very good defender and we need more players in our side with his attitude. Seems like one of the only few that really look like they are focused this season.

At the same time he is so poor in possession it hurts the whole side and has a negative effect on our style of play. By the time he has the ball under control and gets his head up the pass has been blocked and his option are all under pressure. Even when he strides forward he rarely finds a man in between the lines. Its a hindrance to his teammates.
 
Looked much better on the ball again today. I always maintained that he wasn't as bad on the ball as some of you make out. I remember when we signed him from Fulham his stand-out feature to me was his composure on the ball. Tonight he has looked confident playing the ball out from the back, switched play a few times and has driven forward with it. I have a feeling he will find himself at right back by the end of the night however.
 
I don't think his lack of ability in making possession is the biggest issue, but rather the lack of quality in our midfield which is forcing him to push up, or to make long passes he simply cannot do. Resolve our midfield issue and he wont need to do half of the shit he does to make possesion.
 
scorgasm said:
Looked much better on the ball again today. I always maintained that he wasn't as bad on the ball as some of you make out. I remember when we signed him from Fulham his stand-out feature to me was his composure on the ball. Tonight he has looked confident playing the ball out from the back, switched play a few times and has driven forward with it. I have a feeling he will find himself at right back by the end of the night however.
Click to expand...
Called it!
 
Not going to lie, in the past 2 matches Smalling has been our most accomplished CB. Brings the ball out really well when at CB but he goes to jelly at fullback.
 
Shame he's not at centre back in the second half.
 
I'm not worried about Vidic or Rio leaving. Smalling is at their level now, and is getting better.
 
Excellent defender but an awful footballer. Hope he can improve his possession on the ball.
 
He was very good at right back, he was against Arsenal at Old Trafford aswel actually despite some of his other performances there against lower teams.

Perhaps the frustration with him at right back is in games we are on the front foot and we are judging him on his crosses rather than how solid he is - similar to Jones last season. Against the good teams that's less of an issue.
 
shaggy said:
Excellent defender but an awful footballer. Hope he can improve his possession on the ball.
Click to expand...

But he was good today on the ball, would you admit? Good signs to see he played well against one of the top teams in the league in terms of his passing and movement with the ball.

As for his defending, didn't put a foot wrong since that block he made at the start.
 
Smalling should be first choice every game. And hopefully at CB 100% of the time.
 
He has had good runs of form before. I expect him to be inexplicably removed from the team soon enough.
 
Red Shorts said:
But he was good today on the ball, would you admit? Good signs to see he played well against one of the top teams in the league in terms of his passing and movement with the ball.

As for his defending, didn't put a foot wrong since that block he made at the start.
Click to expand...
Yep impressed me today actually on the ball. A lot better than he has been.
 
We need to get Varela/other full back and start playing him in the middle permanently.
 
Absolute beast. He had an excellent all round game today, and even looked decent attacking wise too. Best defender at the club for me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.