I don't even think he's that bad at RB. He's solid defensively but he tries and fails to get forward successfully all to often. There are other defensive full backs who simply don't put themselves in a position to feck up offensively. I think he needs to do the same, even if that means a lack of overlapping runs.
How good is Chris Smalling?
- Thread starter Plechazunga
- Start date
I don't even think he's that bad at RB. He's solid defensively but he tries and fails to get forward successfully all to often. There are other defensive full backs who simply don't put themselves in a position to feck up offensively. I think he needs to do the same, even if that means a lack of overlapping runs.
I'm starting to think a RB is just as important, if not more, than a CB purchase this summer. A new RB would be like buying a CB anyway, as it would free Smalling to occasionally play in his proper position!
The only sort of positive I take from Smalling playing at right back is that his ball playing skills could improve thus making him a better defender. If we dont get a RB backup for next season and Van Gaal is the manager, we might see Varela play there because he likes to play players in their proper positions.
Smalling is getting dudded every time he plays at right back.
Makes me want to cry. I feel about Smalling playing at right back the same way that Mad Winger feels about Kagawa being played out wide.
Worst RB in the league at actually playing football. Might as well have 10 men.
I can't get my head around him at right back...3 managers now have ran with it - at least he had a degree of confidence under Fergie going forward
I think its just his pace that makes managers think he can be an asset at fullback, other than dealing with high balls obviously. The only other explaination is that he should get more confidence on the ball by playing in a fullback role, but it hasn't really worked out that way. I do think he's got slightly better in the position but its more like the improvement you'd like to see from playing there twice than playing there 15 times in the league alone this season...
Forcing him in at RB is starting to get tiresome. I don't know why both England and Man Utd are intent on hurting the Smalling-Jones combination, though Jones is a decent destroyed in midfield, but still. I'd prefer they just play 10 times a year in CB then 30 times all over the place to ultra varying success.
He would be great if he could pass, control the ball and run with the ball. Unfortunately he is awful at all three.
Forcing him at right back is beginning to have detrimental effects on his confidence really.
Playing him at right back is just mental. Would we have ever played Rio there, Or Vidic? How about Stam?....Feel sorry for the lad tbh.
He's a decent passer when he's in CB and has more time and options.
Once again, at right back, Smalling was defensively solid, but otherwise, was poor. I'm hoping that his is the last time he plays as a right back for Man. Utd. (at least), and that he gets much more regular match time as a central defender under our new manager.
He should not be a rb ever again. Why Varela didn't get a chance today is beyond me. With Giggs, Rio looks really solid though, so I guess he might stay for one more year? Smalling should and must be first name for one of the CB positions. Having pace for a centre back can be a curse, just ask Smalling and Verthongen!
Varela being kept back for the U21s game v Chelsea, although not sure where he stands as there have been no reports of him being involved in the first team squads.
Poor again today. I know right-back isn't his preferred position but the total lack of footballing skills that make him so bad there are also a huge hindrance at centre-back. He'd be absolutely outstanding for a team like West Ham where he'll only ever be asked to defend, maybe even somewhere like Chelsea with Mourinho's "solidity first" outlook, because his lack of ability on the ball wouldn't matter so much and he could thrive simply at how good he is at defending, but he's not good enough at the actual playing football part of the game for Man United. He's like an anti-Pique.
Vidic isn't exactly skilled footballer. And he's one of Manchester United and in the world best centre back. And I guess that's why he can't play as a right back since lack of footballing skills.
http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-F...gland-chance-against-Costa-Rica.aspx?pageNo=1
Shame that he wasn't picked for the other games. He could have done so much better than Jagielka.
Shame that he wasn't picked for the other games. He could have done so much better than Jagielka.
Agreed, hoping he's solid today. Really should have been he and Cahill for every game. He, Shaw and Jones looked really nervous in the first half vs Ecuador(?) but I think they should do better now. Our boys making England's back line. 
Hope we sign Shaw and make that actually happen! Smalling played very well in the England qualifiers, right? How was he as compared to Jagielka? Because I don't know why he couldn't take Jagielka's place. I havent seen the qualifiers. I have seen Smalling defend for us(and he is awesome) and saw Jagielka's poor performances in the World Cup finals and that makes me think Smalling could have done a better job.Agreed, hoping he's solid today. Really should have been he and Cahill for every game. He, Shaw and Jones looked really nervous in the first half vs Ecuador(?) but I think they should do better now. Our boys making England's back line.
I don't actually think he played many.
Smalling hasn't ever been particularly impressive for England, but Jones was actually good in the warm-up game they played together, despite getting panned in the media.
Been quite solid at the back today, reverting to his natural position. Hope this boosts his confidence going into next season.
How was he today?
Looked good to me. Very assertive and in control. Dealt with Joel Campbell fairly well, who has probably been the biggest threat in this group. Passing was okay, I think he grew into the game with it. Made a great cross field pass that led to a brilliant chance squandered by Sturridge.
Standard Chris Smalling performance for England today. Very solid and confident in his defending (couple of particularly good aggressive tackles to break up Costa Rica's midfield play), not good enough with his distribution.
Probably better overall than Jagielka has been, but then Costa Rica today didn't provide as much of a challenge as either Italy or Uruguay (/Suarez).
Probably better overall than Jagielka has been, but then Costa Rica today didn't provide as much of a challenge as either Italy or Uruguay (/Suarez).
I think he'd have been better in those games - he would have been tested solely on his pace, aerial presence and abilities in a one on one; traits he actually excels at. Today he was given at more time on the ball, which he isn't so good with.
Didn't put a foot wrong, in my opinion. Defended great as usual, showed some great touches and was a lot more assured on the ball.
Van Gaal can make this guy an absolute world class defender, he has all the attributes to be one. His distribution isn't good but it isn't as bad as people say. It has become a hype to say he is shite on the ball.
His best game for England. Was quality.
Yeah he was a bit shaky at the start but he grew into the game and was great towards the end, you feel that if he could only nail down a regular place as a CB he could go on to be a top defender for club and country in the future.
He's just built to defend.
Brilliant today I thought.
When he plays at CB he plays well, I'd be comfortable playing him week in week out tbh
When he plays at CB he plays well, I'd be comfortable playing him week in week out tbh
Needs to be a bit more accurate with his distribution but mainly needs a genuine run of games at CB.
He put in a storming double challenge towards the end, proper defending.
Absolutely majestic.
He has the potential to be top class.
A solid performance. Now we just need one more centre back to go along with Smalling and Evans.
I like when we have a combination of a tough guy with someone with nice ball skills ( Stam was both ).
Smalling could be our next tough guy.
I like when we have a combination of a tough guy with someone with nice ball skills ( Stam was both ).
Smalling could be our next tough guy.
Shouldn't play LCB as he doesn't have a left foot. Needs to be put as RCB.