This is a big question he must answer this season. Had good and bad moments but he must get consistent now. Definately worth giving him a chance under LvG. Hope we judge him good enough for United after the season.
How good is Chris Smalling?
- Thread starter Plechazunga
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Smalling wants central role
http://www.teamtalk.com/manchester-...e-back-role-for-Manchester-United-and-England
http://www.teamtalk.com/manchester-...e-back-role-for-Manchester-United-and-England
Natural defender, his distribution lets him down at times. Like at lot of the younger players, they dont play often enough to be settled and to build their experience and confidence. I think he should start this season and hopefully sign an experience CB to guide him and Jones. We may see them both in a 3.....
playing at RB is certainly damaging his reputation. put him at CB and he is one consistent performer there. agrees that his distribution needs some working but defensively he is solid.
I like his confidence in the comments in the interview above, huge season for him and Jones I feel.
Big season for him, in terms of his future here I feel.
Was always a big fan...Always thought he'd make it to be the best (Still think Jones i below him)
But last season, he was not one bit impressive and seemed to regress. His drinking habit and his house parties didn't help.
With the exception of Nani and Welbeck, he is the one player I am desperate to make a big impact here. Would love nowt more
Was always a big fan...Always thought he'd make it to be the best (Still think Jones i below him)
But last season, he was not one bit impressive and seemed to regress. His drinking habit and his house parties didn't help.
With the exception of Nani and Welbeck, he is the one player I am desperate to make a big impact here. Would love nowt more
Agreed.
He has used the word 'cement' four times withing 4 sentences. Sell him!
Delighted to see him get the captains armband after Cleverley was removed. He was already playing well, but he seemed even more vocal and authorative after he got the armband, even tackling his own player at one point, but if I recall it was Ashley Young so it was probably for the best. Definitely our best player in the 2nd half in my opinion
He stood out in the second half and was probably our best performer - in a defense otherwise consisting of Keane, Blackett, Shaw and Young, Smalling had a lot of work to do and he put in an absolute shift with some key tackles.
My criticism was going to be that with 3 CBs you need one to push forward a bit, but again with the inexperience in that back line I can see why he had to stay back. Looking forward to seeing him with Jones and Evans.
I am even more pleased as I signed him 2 days ago in our fantasy football league for an absolute bargain price - could be an immense buy for next season!
My criticism was going to be that with 3 CBs you need one to push forward a bit, but again with the inexperience in that back line I can see why he had to stay back. Looking forward to seeing him with Jones and Evans.
I am even more pleased as I signed him 2 days ago in our fantasy football league for an absolute bargain price - could be an immense buy for next season!
Best CB we have.
He did very well today.
Very good. 
Sliding tackles and air challenges - Very solid. Also his pace is surprisingly good.
He's sososososo much more comfortable as the middle cb of the 3. Put jones on the right and Evans on the left, and We will have a good foundation.
He was excellent tonight, made some important last ditch tackles and read the cut backs nicely too.
I really don't understand how people don't rate him!
He was excellent tonight, made some important last ditch tackles and read the cut backs nicely too.
I really don't understand how people don't rate him!
Not just Smalling. Michael Keane also did very well today and it was an unlucky penalty. To be honest I won't worry for the centre back if we are going to play 4 in the back. Evans is experienced enough. Smalling age is should the age of getting first team chance. Michael Keane looks very promising
Great performance in the second half from Smalling today, both on and off the ball.
Looked good. Well pleased with that. Our best player in the second half, I thought.
I can genuinely say that I've always liked Smalling and have seen him play some really good games for us already including today's. He's still got areas of his game that need working on but as long as he plays at CB, he's good enough to be a regular for us.
I still think we another centre back to be safe if we're playing this 3 with 2 wing backs, but I thought he was good today. A lot of my friends who are opposition fans don't rate him that highly because they've seen him shunted to full back due to Rafael being made of glass. I think also because he won't make the montage worthy sliding challenge very often like Jones it doesn't always get noticed how well he plays. His distribution clearly needs work, but he's got the ABC of defending down and rarely makes mistakes. Hope he finally gets his chance to shine centrally now Ferdinand and Vidic have gone.
He was a boss on the pitch today. Oh man, watching him defend was an absolute joy. Even though we conceded two goals in the end, none of those are Smalling's fault in any way. He was our best player in the 2nd half and probably our best player beside Rooney for the whole match.
I think the fact that he became captain made him even better. He was very authoritative in his performance and oozed so much confidence. He was a real leader for us at the back, and he went a long way to prove any of the doubters among our fanbase (hopefully).
I think the fact that he became captain made him even better. He was very authoritative in his performance and oozed so much confidence. He was a real leader for us at the back, and he went a long way to prove any of the doubters among our fanbase (hopefully).
There was a marked improvement in his distribution today as well, nice and crisp into feet of the front men when he was bringing the ball out. Good to see him improving that aspect.
he's class, when he is playing as a CB that is.
He's better than a lot of people rate him and is our best CB behind Evans. Also, he should never be put at RB ever again. If he gets consistent game-time at CB and avoids injuries he'll turn into a class player.
Ive always thought he is an excellent CB but a rubbish RB. As others have suggested, with Evans as a LCB, Jones as a RCB and Smalling in the middle we could actually have a really good setup there, with Rafael and Shaw as Wingbacks and De Gea in goal, very strong young defense that can last us for years.
Some of the journos, e.g. Jamie Jackson's piece today in the Grauniad, seem to have an agenda against him. Not sure how many of these bad vibes are coming from trying to read Van Gaal's mind, though. Hopefully they actually watched yesterday's game.
Why people praising him for Roma's match i just don't get. He does have strength and ability, but his positioning is often dreadful. I remember when Roma's forward did the overhead kick that ended hitting the post, it was Smalling that could not deal with him. And then there was a cross from the left. Smalling was in our 6-yard box defending god knows what, because there weren't any Romas' players there. In fact Roma's forward dropped a bit deep and got the ball near penalty spot and had a clear shot from the area, that went wide, while Smalling was stuck close to the keeper completely out of position.
And he caught out like that again and again, he needs to watch not only the ball, but actually a players around him as well. His awareness need to improve.
And he caught out like that again and again, he needs to watch not only the ball, but actually a players around him as well. His awareness need to improve.
Jamie jackson makes some awful assumptions
Didn't see this game, but this is exactly what troubled me about him last season - his spatial awareness often disappears. Even if it's just 1, 2 or 3 times a game, these are essentially errors that great players on great teams will punish when it matters most. Added to the fact his distribution is sub par, I think this is Smalling's last season at United unless he make dramatic improvement. I can't see Van Gaal sticking with him for another 2 years if he doesn't improve this season.
First of all the cross took a dodgy deflection which made it sit up in his path, he was "dealing" with him as he was goal side, Borriello is a big bastard and he had his back to goal, I don't really see what more Smalling could have done apart from foul him or try and head Boriello's foot. Sometimes you can't win every ball, sure he isn't perfect but he is the best we currently have.
In just his 2nd match of the pre-season, I would expect him to have some sloppiness at this point in terms of positioning and awareness of players around him. The fact that he only made two such mistakes can be attributed to pre-season exertions + the conditions playing a part. Other than this, he was very good.
Now, if he did this in the middle of the season where 3 points was important, then you have the right to criticise him. However, he's much more improved on this side of the game and is constantly improving on it.
Looks like someone has a bit of an agenda here.
For the overhead kick there wasnt much he could do except what he did - try to put pressure on the Roma player, but not sufficient enough for him to go down and risk giving away a penalty. The initial cross should have been dealt with better.
He (and the other CBs) are playing a completely new system for a manager who has been at the club all of about 2 weeks, and you are complaining that there are times where the players arent showing 100% refined spatial awareness? Going to a back 3 is a big change and the players have to adjust to it. The preseason results so far have been very promising - for all people say about Galaxy, we have regularly lacked a cutting edge in front of goal and so to convert 7 goals is still an achievement. Roma are a good team and we played with a lot of youngsters, in only our 2nd game with LVGs formation/tactics - getting a win there is an excellent result as far as im concerned.
Smalling was one of the stand out players of the second half. He made some fantastic blocks and tackles and was largely solid, even though he was in a somewhat unfamiliar role, with very inexperienced defenders alongside him (Keane, Blackett, Shaw and Young as the other defenders...).
The narrative has been written. Up to Chris to smash it to pieces. Play him at centre half every week and don't attempt to ruin him like Ferguson did and he will do that I'm sure.
The worst hack on the United circuit. Poor writer to boot.
I think he will have a good season. It's time Smalling, Jones and Evans all show they have the ability to be starting centre backs for us.
Smalling justs needs to have a run of games at centre back and I'm sure we will see the quality he has. If Smalling and Jones can form a good partnership, it will be good news for England- they will have a young stable partnership for a long time.
Smalling justs needs to have a run of games at centre back and I'm sure we will see the quality he has. If Smalling and Jones can form a good partnership, it will be good news for England- they will have a young stable partnership for a long time.
I am not talking about his pre-season games only, i also took into account his performances over the last two years. His positioning and switching-off has been a regular feature. Not only for United, but also for England.
I rate him overall, but a lot of guys here just think about him as a sort of charity project. I mean a lot of folks think he still young, he just need to get an experience, he will improve over time, etc. I am not against keeping him, but i am against turning him into Anderson ver. 2. United if we want to win again need to be much more ruthless with players.
Smalling is 24, he will be 25 this year. Hummels is 25 now. But if you look at how they control the space, position themselves it basically looks like Smalling is 19 and Hummels is 30. It's that big of a gap.
But if he is kept as a cover and content in that Brown-like role, maybe he will do good. The good thing about him is that he can give you a great match occasionally and usually against good opposition.
The only agenda i have is for United to do better. I just don't like to be an apologist, if a player does bad or under-performs, i point out.
As i wrote just above, Smalling is 24 already, soon to be 25. He is not a player that is developing anymore, not a youngster. He either has what it takes to be a main player at United or he has not. My assessment of Smalling's game was not based n Roma's match. If you will read my post one more time and carefully, you will get that i was pointing out to episodes in Roma's match to highlight Smalling shortcoming that he demonstrated consistently in the last 2-3 years.
As for Smalling, i do rate him, as can be easily verified in CB pairing thread or many others, possibly even this one. But while i do believe he can do it here, i also think this year is somewhat his last chance or very close. Because if he can't establish himself now, he either need to accept cover/bench duty or go. And i don;t see any tragedy in letting him go, to be honest. Because for example De Vrij who is 2-3 years younger does not exactly look worse, he costs just like 6-7M and his wages are probably much less. So there are options in the market.
Comparing Hummels to Smalling and their ages and how good they are as centerbacks is not a very good argument. Smalling has hardly had a chance to get the consistent run of games as a centerback. Maybe he never will but, I think that most people see that Smalling has the potential to be a top defender given a chance at what should be his natural position.
Saying that Smalling can't develop because he is 24 is plain false. Maybe he can't make huge leaps in his ability but, then again he doesn't need to make huge improvements, a few small things here and there could very well come even at a ripe old age of 24.
Saying that Smalling can't develop because he is 24 is plain false. Maybe he can't make huge leaps in his ability but, then again he doesn't need to make huge improvements, a few small things here and there could very well come even at a ripe old age of 24.
That is Hummels main strength, reading the game and positioning. Where he has lacked pace he has made up for this by excellent positioning. For Smalling though he has lightening pace, so he has not had to rely on positioning and reading all his life. Sure you can argue that isn't really a good thing, but like usually fast strikers lack technique, fast defenders generally lack those skills too.
Smalling right now suits our decision to play a high defensive line, where as Hummels like Vidic would not be comfortable playing that way. Unfortunately you can't have the best of both worlds.