Is Smalling the best defender in the league?

[Insanity]

Let's not go overboard, he is a damn good defender, who needs to stay fit and prove himself, still.

Also, it would be dangerous to get too emotionally attached as there is a strong possibility of him being replaced by someone who is half the defender but is better on the ball. Just in the pre-season, Phil Jones was ahead of him as our "RCB".

 

[Bebe]

How is it absurd when you only come up with two other names?

I only mentioned those two as (in my opinion) the best two centrebacks. That wasn't my personal list of EPL defenders better than Smalling.

I will say that the absurdity will fade if Smalling keeps up this level of play (and manages to avoid injury) for a significant period of time. He's been mostly excellent since the derby debacle last season.

 

[Loon]

Ask me at Christmas, after we've played some teams with decent attacking line-ups/form.

 

[Phil]

Amusing seeing people say that we're judging him after two games as if football has only existed since August 2015.

He's very good, I wouldn't swap him for any other defender in the league. I'm one of those twats that wanted him gone after the City sending off too.

Whether he is the best or not, I don't care. It'll take some pundits to start noticing his performances before your average fan would consider that as an accepted viewpoint.

 

[Varun]

Ask me at Christmas, after we've played some teams with decent attacking line-ups/form.

Have you forgotten last season? Especially after the Derby game as that's inched very deeply in every mind here to the extent that people don't even remember his performances before that game.

 

[ZDwyr]

People comparing him to Rio/Vidic are not really getting the point of the thread. Anyway, I think I would have him in the top three (going on the bast 12 months or so). He's definitely ahead of Kompany, who has been bad for a while now. I think he would be competing against Terry and Koscielny for the mantle of best defender and I can see arguments each way as to which one is the best. I would take ability on the ball into account though and that probably slips him below the other two.

From a pure defensive POV though I would have him about dead level with Terry though to be honest. Terry doesn't have the pace, but I'd say his positioning is better than Smalling's at this stage.

 

[ivaldo]

Imagine if he wasn't pissed about with playing right back for so long.

 

[Revan]

This thread (amongst other things) have convinced me that redcafe is as crazy as any other forum right there.

Would be dissapointed if this thread doesn't make RAWK/Bluemoon/arselmania/TheShedEnd.

 

[Kraftwerker]

It's a premature thread. But it's a consequence of there being very little top level centre back talent in in the Premier League.

The pick of the bunch is probably John fecking Terry, who is 34 and past his peak.

You look round the league and there's just a dearth of talent in that position. Most of the top teams have a decidedly soft centre.

So whilst he's not there yet the gap is smaller than most think and his main contenders are old and on the wane.

 

[Still ill]

One game at a time, folks. This is what most of us thought he would look like sooner or later. Imperative he gets an extended run. No tripping over cats or bumping into big Phil in the canteen. Above all, you have to hope that Louis likes what he'says seeing and leaves him the feck alone. Majestic so far.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

This thread (amongst other things) have convinced me that redcafe is as crazy as any other forum right there.

Would be dissapointed if this thread doesn't make RAWK/Bluemoon/arselmania/TheShedEnd.

So who is that much better?

 

[Revan]

So who is that much better?

Better, not neccesarily much better.

Terry and Koscielny for a start are better. Cahill had been playing in the level that Smalling played last year, for more than three years. Kompany before last year was better too (although last year he was quite shit, so worse than Smalling). Demichelis was as good as Smalling last year. I would say that Skrtel and Mertesacker were playing on his level too.

Regardless that people here are saying that it isn't based on the last two matches, it really is. I don't remember this thread being made last year, when Smalling was generally pointed to be the best of a bad bunch. He wasn't even a sure starter (although that to a degree is because of LVG), but when Jones is ahead of you in the pecking order, something is wrong. When the goalkeeper is the best player of the team for two years despite that the team concedes a lot of goals, again something is bad with that defense.

Anyway, would be interesting to see how many non-United fans would agree that Smalling is the best CB in the league. My prediction would be that the number would be roughly 0. We have a reputation of overrating our players (Rafael, Jones, Evans, Cleverley, Nani, Fletcher, Welbeck, Kagawa) in the past, we are doing it here.

For Smalling to be the best CB in the league, I would say that he has to play as the best CB in the league for at-least one season, probably more. At the moment he is a very good CB, in top 5 in the league (would be tempted to say that he may be even in top 3 - between him and Cahill), but not the best. When he becomes the best - contrarily to people beliefs here - he would be accepted as the best outside of this forum/United fans. For example, De Gea is regarded as the best keeper in the league even by most of Liverpool fans.

 

[RedOldBoy]

Does anybody agree with me that he is looking better also because his right flank is better covered by Darmian?

 

[Dyslexic Untied]

This thread (amongst other things) have convinced me that redcafe is as crazy as any other forum right there.

Would be dissapointed if this thread doesn't make RAWK/Bluemoon/arselmania/TheShedEnd.

It has made RAWK.

 

[sizzling sausages]

Does anybody agree with me that he is looking better also because his right flank is better covered by Darmian?

Definitely, it means he can stay in centre and concentrate on his own job instead of getting dragged out wide constantly.

 

[marukomu]

It has made RAWK.

Just saw that. They're having a good laugh about it.

 

[Dyslexic Untied]

Just saw that. They're having a good laugh about it.

We would probably do the same if the it was the other way around.

 

[Judas]

I just pray to all the gods he can stay fit, that's always been my biggest concern with him. He's always had the tools required to be a very good defender. It's his body that lets him down.

 

[villain]

I've been his biggest fan for years, and I wouldn't swap him for any other defender in the league.

But honestly, this thread is premature.

 

[Ricardo de la Vega]

Hes been solid since that stupid sending off against City last year. That's quite a long period now so showing some consistency. Helps that he's not being played at right back (I know - I love his height from right back also - but the guy is awful on the ball - he's a pretty poor technical footballer). Darmian shoring up the right back position helps him as well as others have said.

Best defender in the league?? Come on man.

 

[The United Irishman]

Has miles to go to be considered the best. Not for me but he has improved since the city game at the emptyhad, up until then he seemed to be prone to cock ups and brain farts and I didn't think there would be any way back for him under LVG but he's been in great form since.

The best in the league?....No chance. Seeing too many fans overrating some of our players (Smalling, Herrara, Darmian)and it can get a wee bit embarrassing. Lets give Darmian a full season, Herrara needs to improve dramatically yet can't do no wrong in some peoples eyes, and Smalling has had a good run of form over the last 6 or 7 months lets not get too carried away.

 

[Coxy]

By a couple you mean from last November onwards?

Nobody was saying he was the best then, it's only recently that some of you have started to say that.

 

[Ish]

I've been his biggest fan for years, and I wouldn't swap him for any other defender in the league.

But honestly, this thread is premature.

Second biggest

 

[Question234]

about 3rd best. koschieny and terry still better.

 

[Minimalist]

I've already made my view in this thread but I also have to agree with those who have questioned the thread.

It's a ridiculous suggestion and it makes the forum look just as bad as any other out there.

 

[villain]

Second biggest

I'll let you believe that

 

[Ish]

I'll let you believe that

much obliged

 

[ivaldo]

Ah yeah these Chelsea centrebacks are really showing Smalling how it's done. Bite?

 

[Oneunited26]

Well people used to overrate ledley king and woodgate, and look at the injury's they picked up. He is doing well, but would wait and see if he can avoid injury's in the way Rio used to do, during his run in the united team between 2002-08

 

[Rossa]

Better, not neccesarily much better.

Terry and Koscielny for a start are better. Cahill had been playing in the level that Smalling played last year, for more than three years. Kompany before last year was better too (although last year he was quite shit, so worse than Smalling). Demichelis was as good as Smalling last year. I would say that Skrtel and Mertesacker were playing on his level too.

Regardless that people here are saying that it isn't based on the last two matches, it really is. I don't remember this thread being made last year, when Smalling was generally pointed to be the best of a bad bunch. He wasn't even a sure starter (although that to a degree is because of LVG), but when Jones is ahead of you in the pecking order, something is wrong. When the goalkeeper is the best player of the team for two years despite that the team concedes a lot of goals, again something is bad with that defense.

Anyway, would be interesting to see how many non-United fans would agree that Smalling is the best CB in the league. My prediction would be that the number would be roughly 0. We have a reputation of overrating our players (Rafael, Jones, Evans, Cleverley, Nani, Fletcher, Welbeck, Kagawa) in the past, we are doing it here.

For Smalling to be the best CB in the league, I would say that he has to play as the best CB in the league for at-least one season, probably more. At the moment he is a very good CB, in top 5 in the league (would be tempted to say that he may be even in top 3 - between him and Cahill), but not the best. When he becomes the best - contrarily to people beliefs here - he would be accepted as the best outside of this forum/United fans. For example, De Gea is regarded as the best keeper in the league even by most of Liverpool fans.

You are talking a lot of sense, but tbf, Liverpool fans thought that Carragher was better than Rio and Skrtel better than Vidic. Lots of opposition fans never thought much about Rio.

 

[Rossa]

Well people used to overrate ledley king and woodgate, and look at the injury's they picked up. He is doing well, but would wait and see if he can avoid injury's in the way Rio used to do, during his run in the united team between 2002-08

King was incredibly talented. If he had avoided just 10% of those injuries he would have been immense; he never even trained football for the last couple of seasons.

 

[Organic Potatoes]

Ah yeah these Chelsea centrebacks are really showing Smalling how it's done. Bite?

Think we can rule Terry out of the debate for this season.

 

[Kag]

King was incredibly talented. If he had avoided just 10% of those injuries he would have been immense; he never even trained football for the last couple of seasons.

Yeah. Ledley King's career was a huge shame come the end. He was outstandingly talented.

 

[Havak]

I always expected (maybe more-so hoped) that he'd become the best defender at the club. He is definitely that now, and by some distance. You could see at the end of last season when he took the role on fully at last, becoming a real leader which was probably helped by managing to stay fit for what seemed like the longest period in his career at Old Trafford (though I could be wrong on this if someone with the stats wants to chime in). He very rarely gets beaten one on one, or done for pace, or even beaten in the air. He's taken all this from last season into this and IMO was MotM in both of our games so far.

There are a few City fans at my work, along with a couple of United fans who aren't really as knowledgeable about football that tell me Smalling in shite, but they're starting to see now why I rate him so much and was always telling them he'd be class. If he can stay fit, he'll have a big say in how many goals we concede this season.

Not sure if I can answer the topic's question with a yes.. But it's hard to say who is better right now. Kompany will still get his plaudits based on reputation which will be exacerbated by his two goals this season already.. Terry will have his usual fans etc. But at the moment, defensively, he's as good as anyone for my money.

 

[Rozay]

I can't speak highly enough of Smalling, but I think Koscielny is the best personally, followed by Smalling. Chris is unbeatable on the deck or in the air one on one, and has recovery pace just in case. Koscielny has all that too, plus great on the ball.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

I can't speak highly enough of Smalling, but I think Koscielny is the best personally, followed by Smalling. Chris is unbeatable on the deck or in the air one on one, and has recovery pace just in case. Koscielny has all that too, plus great on the ball.

Would be a tasty partnership.

 

[Brwned]

Regardless that people here are saying that it isn't based on the last two matches, it really is. I don't remember this thread being made last year, when Smalling was generally pointed to be the best of a bad bunch.

Absolute bollocks. People were full of praise for him last season.

Louis van Gaal said back in April: "Chris has improved and developed immensely during the short time that I have been at the club and has become an integral part of the first-team squad."

At the same time a lot of people echoed his thoughts and commented on his huge improvement last season:

Fantastic news, made my day.

Smalling is the potential captain in this team after Rooney IMO. Hopefully he will get passed those niggly injuries and really nail himself down as a top centre back like his ability deserves.

Since I think that City match at the start of the season he's been really solid and showing massive signs of improvement (about time)

If he can improve his fitness record then a partnering of him and hummels next season is the sex

Well done to him, he is having a very good season. Hopefully he stays clear of injures and take it up a level next season.

Brilliant. Completely agree with what LVG said - Smalling has improved a hell of a lot this season. Hopefully he can continue that and fulfil his potential.

Pleased he has signed a new contract, been really impressed with him this season. If he can put his injuries behind he could become a top CB for us.

Was doing well when he arrived then stuttered for 12-18 months, a few injuries also added to this dip, but he has been great this season since he came back from the City suspension. He is only 25 and is only going to improve, good to see we've tied him down for what should be his prime years.

Best in the league

If he can maintain his form and more importantly his fitness, then yeah.

Think he'll establish himself as the top CB in the league by the end of next season. Should've/Would've happened a lot earlier though because he was pretty much the complete package from when he joined the club as a 20/21 year old.

Absolutely delighted...he's looked like Rio Ferdinand in his prime on the pitch in the last month or two

Great news! He has been very good since his last injury and hopefully he can push on to be one of the best in the league.

Excellent. Our best CB by some distance, his improvement since the start of the season is really impressive.

Fantastic news, Smalling has been immense for us this season.

Long may it continue.

Chris Smalling will establish himself as one of Europe's best in two, maybe three years time. The man has everything you need to be a top defender - speed, strength, aerial power, touch and leadership. What he's lacking and developing right now is his sharpness in positioning and defensive organisation. He still comes a wee bit short there.

But, put him alongside someone like Hummels and let him learn true mastery in those exact arts mentioned. He'll flourish. All provided he stays fit for the most most bit.

Good news. I think it's safe to say he's the player who progressed the most this season. From that terrible performance against City at Etihad he's been rock solid pretty much.

The drastic improvement of Fellaini and Young has meant that Smalling's massive growth as a player this season has gone under the radar.

It looks like he's slowly turning into the beast of a CB we all once thought he would. Great news for the club.

He's better than Cahill's ever been.

 

[Moonred]

As things stand, it's Mangala. Am I doing this right?

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Smalling would have had Aguero in his pocket today. That's if he's got any room left.

 

[no.7]

All about opinions - I think he's average at best and his passing ability is on par with a Sunday league player