decent Premier League CBs can't carry the ball forward like Jonny does. Nor can they ghost past players either. They're just that decent. Jonny is better than that. He may not world class but he's very good already. He's a young defender too at 24. More than enough time to iron out his mistakes. Him and Smalling are both progressing very well.
How good is Chris Smalling?
- Thread starter Plechazunga
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decent Premier League CBs can't carry the ball forward like Jonny does. Nor can they ghost past players either. They're just that decent. Jonny is better than that. He may not world class but he's very good already. He's a young defender too at 24. More than enough time to iron out his mistakes. Him and Smalling are both progressing very well.
From
...to...
in 3/4 seasons. As gooDevil said, which ever scout picked up out deserves a massive amount of credit. I actually remember him scoring an own goal that basically secured Chelsea a win on route to their last title
Didn't he get MOtM in that game despite the own goal?
This. I can understand people who prefer Chris as our CB but to say it's not even close or some similar bullshit that has been spouted in this thread is pure idiocy.
Agreed. For me, Evans shades it. But whatever your personal opinion, they're clearly pretty close.
I've always been a massive fan of Evans, as you can see from this thread. I hope to see him at the heart of our defence for the next decade.
But for me Smalling shades it. With his combination of ability, physical attributes and seemingly a very level head, injuries permitting I just can't see him becoming anything other than one of the best centre-halves in the world.
This post reads oddly like a political speech.
But for me Smalling shades it. With his combination of ability, physical attributes and seemingly a very level head, injuries permitting I just can't see him becoming anything other than one of the best centre-halves in the world.
This post reads oddly like a political speech.
We have four outstanding CBs and one (Jones) for whom the jury is still out.
If on any given match day Evans turn up on the squad sheet, I'd have no qualms whatsoever.
If on any given match day Evans turn up on the squad sheet, I'd have no qualms whatsoever.
Another good game from Smalling last night. Its a good feeling to have a couple of very good young CB in Smalling and Evans who are already proving that they can cut it at this level. Hopefully Jones can do the same when he gets his chances as well.
In time I think that Smalling will be a better defender than Evans. But for now I think that they are close, with Evans being slightly ahead of him. Anyway, in three years there is a high chance that they will be playing together as our first center backs.
I think Smalling is better, and probably our best overall right now. Evans 'knows' how to defend, but for me he simply doesn't have the physical attributes to be as good as Smalling. The fact that he is much bigger, stronger and faster than him is what gives him the edge over Jonny for me. But yea, as I said, if none of that stuff mattered at all, Evans would be as good as any defender out there.
Sorry, what? Rio has been in ridiculous form over the last few games. Definitely still gets up for the big games. Reads the game really well. When you put out a combination in central defense you have one CB attacking the ball playing with Rio who reads play and intercepts any cut backs.
That and Smalling was sublime and is a talent there is no doubt about that. I feel he is more in the Rio blueprint. Fast, agile and intelligent.
I don't see what you guys see in Evans, he looks like the new Shawcross to me - ie decent midtable CB. Smalling looks like the new Ferdinand.
Evans makes too many mistakes...too many off days. Agree with pete...Smalling will be our best CB in a couple of years.
Evans has been our best CB since Vidic was injured. I like Smalling more and in time he will be better than Evans, but right now Evans is the better defender. Last year (don't know how many times you have watched United) Evans was great, definitely one of the best CB in England. The problem is that journalists don't like him that much (similar to De Gea and Rafael) and if he makes a mistake he then will be criticized a lot, forgetting how good he has been in last 2-3 months.
sorry but evans is definitely better than just being a midtable player. he is still prone to odd mistakes but apart from a period where he struggled quite badly a couple of seasons ago, he has been very fine for us.
his distribution moving the ball forward at CB is perhaps the best in the PL at the moment.
his distribution moving the ball forward at CB is perhaps the best in the PL at the moment.
Who needs it though? He isn't STRONG and TALL, so he is shit.
But not as BIG.
Where's this idea coming from that Evans is physically weak? He's not a beast like Smalling, but he's 6 foot 2 and a tough lad.
The main physical attribute he's lacking is pace, but that's not crucial in a centre-half.
The main physical attribute he's lacking is pace, but that's not crucial in a centre-half.
He makes too many mistakes.
that's actually the definition of Vermaelen and Koscielny.
People havent watched him or they've already made up their mind over him. He's been our best center half ths season but supposedly he makes too many mistakes or is physically weak.
Possible to do with his appearance. He has a really young soft which makes it hard to associate a tough player with. While Smalling may physically be bigger than Evans, Evans isn't a small weakling by any definition.
The thread reads _ 'how good is chris smalling'? - yet many people are doing a comparison of Evans and Smalling.
Smalling is a fantastic player and has made steady progress since joining us from Fulham. He certainly looks like he styles his play on Rio Ferdinand, i think he reads the game well and is composed on the ball. Provided he stays injury free he can become a top player for Manchester United.
Smalling is a fantastic player and has made steady progress since joining us from Fulham. He certainly looks like he styles his play on Rio Ferdinand, i think he reads the game well and is composed on the ball. Provided he stays injury free he can become a top player for Manchester United.
Evans is good and definitely not mid table.
He is not one of the top 5 or 7 defenders in the world but comes in the next level of defenders where you have defenders who make mistakes sometimes.
He is not one of the top 5 or 7 defenders in the world but comes in the next level of defenders where you have defenders who make mistakes sometimes.
For all his strength, Smalling was a bit pathetic when he came up against Benteke.Strength is overrated, balance is more important
He was just back from injury. So he got pwnd once, he outmuscled him later in the game when he got properly pissed off. What amused me was that you could see that Smalling was clearly holding back in the first half; he even lost a run to Benteke; then in the second half when he got more into the game he properly outpaced the same player. Besides, Benteke is a beast of a man, so I have no problem with Smalling losing that one once in a while. Vidic would lose duels to Drogba once in a while too.
Yep, Smalling at full fitness rarely loses to anyone, not for pace or power. The guy is a physical monster. Next time he comes up against Benteke I'd expect it to be a one sided contest. When Smalling plays I'm confident he'll play well, he's just such a great player.
I agree that he did better in the second half, my point was that strength is useless if the player isn't using it properly (with balance).Smalling is a great talent and will keep on improving
Just one of those players that just gets defending. How it comes natural to him is fascinating considering where he came from. You rarely see such a progression in 2-3 years time. Says everything about what this kid has in this locker. Smalling could become a tall man's Cannavaro.
Carrick is also that kind of height but doesn't look a centre-half either. Evans isn't a physically imposing man. Your typical good/top striker will either be : Physically stronger than Evans (if he's that kind of striker) or faster than him, if he's that kind.
So yea, on a mere physical level, the Carrol's will bully him, and the Aguero's will leave him. That's the only 'problem' basically. Smalling doesn't have physical weaknesses, and there is a very good chance he will be both stronger and faster than any striker he faces, which is always a good place to start before you even consider how well they 'know' how to defend. Smalling also 'knows' how to defend too, so he is better in my view.
You're talking about Jonny "Drogba in my pocket" Evans?
I've never looked at his name on the teamsheet and been worried. I have done with a few other players at times.
Always plays well and will be a star here.
Always plays well and will be a star here.
No, I meant Jonny 'Oh shit, it's Carlton fecking Cole' Evans.
I think it's similar to that Koscielny argument. For me, he's decent at best, yet he's held in high regard among Arsenal fans.
Not watched him this season then?
I think that's a very good comparison actually, in terms of individual players.
Tbf I'd wager you don't watch him enough then. He has way, way more to him than Ryan has or had.
Shawcross is a brute, if anything Evans is the complete opposite as a CB. He's always looked lightyears ahead of Shawcross and is obviously a very good defender.
Whether or not he's top notch is a different question. I think in two years time we'll not be discussing whether or not Evans is good enough - but how good he is compared with the best in the world in that position.
Pete's problem is that of a person who rarely watches a player playing for another team. First impressions last, and it takes a while to admit being wrong about a rival team's player.
Took me a while to admit that Song was becoming a good player for instance.
Whether or not he's top notch is a different question. I think in two years time we'll not be discussing whether or not Evans is good enough - but how good he is compared with the best in the world in that position.
Pete's problem is that of a person who rarely watches a player playing for another team. First impressions last, and it takes a while to admit being wrong about a rival team's player.
Took me a while to admit that Song was becoming a good player for instance.
funny how Vidic and Evans set the record for most consecutive clean sheets, but Evans got no credit for it. Even after leading Sunderland's defence to a Championship title.. they only lost 1 game after he arrived in January.. the lad is class.
Anyone see Evans' performance for NI against Portugal? Class.
Anyone see Evans' performance for NI against Portugal? Class.
To be fair the two players listed Carroll & Aguero didn't really cause Evans any problems this season, in fact Evans got injured in the first half v City and played brilliantly until he had to go off. On the other hand against Villa Smalling give away a goal after losing a physical clash quite badly in a situation where I think Evans would have defended much better and getting involved physically could have probably been avoided.
Both are fantastic young defenders but at this moment in time I would say Evans is way ahead of Smalling & is one of the best CB in the league.