In serious danger of being sold in the summer, assuming van Gaal will be ruthless and other centre-backs will be signed.
35
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 17
- Clean sheets
- 9
- Goals
- 0
- Assists
- 0
- Yellow cards
- 1
A bit unfair to shift all blame on Evans for their chance today. Not sure what he should have done other than let the ball go altogether. Meanwhile, their striker was left unattended between Smalling and McNair. I realize that chastising Evans is the new thing but there were many worse players out there today.
I thought he wasn't that bad today... until I saw that he gave away yet another big chance for the opposition.
That habit of his will cost us big time one day.
That habit of his will cost us big time one day.
It might be a danger to him for being sold, it's a danger to us when we play him.
What in Heaven's name was he thinking with that flip back today? Is he going to blame the wind like against Stoke?
What in Heaven's name was he thinking with that flip back today? Is he going to blame the wind like against Stoke?
It's getting boring, to be honest. That was a poor header but he needed a shout from Smalling if he was going to leave it. Plus he made one defensive header (cross from their left back) that was the best bit of defending in the game.
Smalling was fecking diabolical. Had an absolute nightmare playing in a back three. Just like every other centre half at the club.
Its because he's in such a poor position that he can only get a flick on it, and has no idea whether it'll help or hinder his team
How about some decisive defending like heading it out to touch or in any other direction that is not our box? Surely that isn't too hard, he was good apart from that though!
Jonny needs to pull himself together immediately. Louis won't put up with this shit for another season.
Wow really? I don't want to derail an Evans thread so feel free to quote this into the Smalling one, but diabolical is incredibly harsh imo. Easily our best CB today I'd have said, although perhaps that's not much of a compliment in itself.
Thought Smalling was fine, as was Evans really, other than that horrendous header. And McNair, other than his handball.
Dont' agree with that. You might argue he should have let the ball go but his position was okay in terms of watching that other guy who was coming into the box. Can see it in the gif thread. Now look at Smalling. Who is he marking?
How is it on Smalling to shout "Jonny dont be suicidal and flick the ball where you have no idea if its going to be closer to the keeper or an attacker" ?
Its not. You dont need a shout for the very basics of defending. I guess Smalling could have shouted "Evans, get in a decent position. I thought I heard once that you were good at reading play" like I did at my tv though
Its not. You dont need a shout for the very basics of defending. I guess Smalling could have shouted "Evans, get in a decent position. I thought I heard once that you were good at reading play" like I did at my tv though
There you go. Sums up the difference in how they're perceived. Smalling made a bunch of silly errors and couldn't pass water. The same performance from Evans would get him crucified.
As I thought. You've never played football. Other than computer simulations, anyway.
I was only referring to that incident when they got their chance. He had to stretch to get a touch on the ball. Therefore I've said that you might argue he should have let the ball go. But he never was in a position to head it clear. That is easy to see. Why don't you rather ask who Smalling is watching?
Word
That awful backpass that should've resulted in a Sterling goal
Being outmuscled and leaving Diouf through on goal
Heading it back to Yeovils striker who missed a sitter
These are all recent, Evans is lucky by the grace of God that none of them went in.
Nah mate that can't be true can it? Haven't you heard all our other centre backs are perfectly comfortable in a back 3 except for Evans, common knowledge apparently.
Back a few years
Correct but even he did stay on his feet let the ball fly past him and I suspect it still would have landed in a danger area he would still be criticized for standing up looking on.
From the second that ball was kicked Evans unfortunately found himself in an extremely tricky situation or two worlds he didn't have the time to think or figure out that he was more than likely going to get enough on the header that would have taken the ball away from danger. If he was another inch taller or the ball was an inch lower when he connected with it, it could have been a brilliant interception by him.
Smalling leaving a lad with an acre of space in the box is nothing new either but he has age on his side, 5 hundred odd days younger than Evans or something.
Correct but even he did stay on his feet let the ball fly past him and I suspect it still would have landed in a danger area he would still be criticized for standing up looking on.
From the second that ball was kicked Evans unfortunately found himself in an extremely tricky situation or two worlds he didn't have the time to think or figure out that he was more than likely going to get enough on the header that would have taken the ball away from danger. If he was another inch taller or the ball was an inch lower when he connected with it, it could have been a brilliant interception by him.
Smalling leaving a lad with an acre of space in the box is nothing new either but he has age on his side, 5 hundred odd days younger than Evans or something.
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I would rather ask why he was in a position where he had to stretch to deal with an aerial ball that he had time to watch. Smalling's position becomes irrelevant the moment Jonny deals effectively with that ball. He has got to get his act together and fast because he is not making the best of decisions currently.
and here comes Pogue, Jonny's biggest fan.
It's been said million times- Evans gives away one chance a game...no, in fact he creates one. It's been like that for ages.
Smalling has solid games in between poor ones.
Evans' reputation is actually based on something.
I've said my view on his errors on various occasions but in this case I don't think he deserves the stick. He was in a position to mark another player running into the box. He was about to track back with him when the cross came and he stretched for it. On hindsight, he probably shouldn't have but hardly a howler by him.
So far this season:
Back pass against MK Dons
Back pass against Burnley
Back pass against Liverpool
Completely out of position and then out muscled by Benteke.
Out muscled by Diouf against Stoke.
Flick on straight to Yeovil player.
That's in 11 games so far. Horrendous stuff.
Back pass against MK Dons
Back pass against Burnley
Back pass against Liverpool
Completely out of position and then out muscled by Benteke.
Out muscled by Diouf against Stoke.
Flick on straight to Yeovil player.
That's in 11 games so far. Horrendous stuff.
Honestly, I can't remember a single match this season where he didn't give at least one golden chance for the opposition. It's that bad.
What a great defensive line. Even the 19 year old knows what a line looks like...
Arguing over Evans and Smalling just feels pointless, people may scoff at oldschool Pally and Bruce but I'd take those two Ingurlish bruisers over any of the current turnips we have, I honestly cannot see any of them as a top CB that is required at every club with ambitions of winning their league and the CL, there's such a mix of weakness, fragility, idiocy and poor positioning between them that I've pretty much lost hope. someone get Leia and R2, I need to send a message.
Does he or does any of them for that matter? All I can see going on there is yet more evidence of how disorganized and clueless the defence is and has been since LvG took over. Thank feck the ball or cross didn't land in the direction of the lad strolling around whistling at the back post or he would have had then until next Christmas to figure out where he wanted to bury it.
If they were set up properly or in the system they were used too before all this 3 at the back and keep passing it back to them shite was introduced I think you'd see a big difference.
An old Laurent Blanc, was very intelligent and experienced.
He used his vast experience to help us, particularly in European games where we seemed to be struggling.
Like T.Sherringham, if you have intelligence on your side, speed and age count for little, because you can "think" 2 steps ahead of the younger, less experienced opponents.
A great example of this right now, is F.Lampard. Pelligrini did well to get Lampard.
Similarly, at Chelsea you have J.Terry, who is their best defender.
IMO, we need an older, experienced defender at the back, who can organise our defence.
He used his vast experience to help us, particularly in European games where we seemed to be struggling.
Like T.Sherringham, if you have intelligence on your side, speed and age count for little, because you can "think" 2 steps ahead of the younger, less experienced opponents.
A great example of this right now, is F.Lampard. Pelligrini did well to get Lampard.
Similarly, at Chelsea you have J.Terry, who is their best defender.
IMO, we need an older, experienced defender at the back, who can organise our defence.
I think it is high time for @Pogue Mahone to reconsider his devil's advocate act. I myself love to spot a ruby trying to sprout out among a heap of excrement, but occasionally, one has to recognize that it's turned out to be a shiny crock of dried cow menstruation...
You can't always win. For example, I shamed myself with my faith in Kagawa and it is time you stop trying to swim your way up through a waterfall...
Why is that waterfall part in bold. Strange stuff..
You can't always win. For example, I shamed myself with my faith in Kagawa and it is time you stop trying to swim your way up through a waterfall...
Why is that waterfall part in bold. Strange stuff..
It's been done.
Nice gif above, and can't really fault him much. It was just unfortunate it dropped to the Yeovil player.
Nice gif above, and can't really fault him much. It was just unfortunate it dropped to the Yeovil player.
Another bad performance, almost produced a very similar error to the one which led to a goal in the League Cup earlier in the season.
I've been very critical of Evans and don't think he's up to it.... But I also don't really think his mistake was anything more than bad luck today. Tried to get a head on it and was very unlucky it feel to their lad.
I'm not overly surprised to see people labeling that chance as a howler by Evans, when it wasn't really. If anything it could be viewed as poor communication by the CB's, but you can hardly put that chance fully on Evans. For me he simply couldn't get enough on it and it skimmed off his head, hardly his fault or a howler. I'd have greater concern over why the other two CB left the striker free in the box in the first place, or didn't provide a shout to let Evans know he didn't have to attempt to reach it.
Evans was rather solid today. Nothing great, but he was decent for the most part. Our second best CB out there behind Smalling who agains was only slightly above average himself. What today did show was that we need to move away from the three at the back. None of our CB really look comfortable in it and when we did make the switch, you could see some improvements.
Evans was rather solid today. Nothing great, but he was decent for the most part. Our second best CB out there behind Smalling who agains was only slightly above average himself. What today did show was that we need to move away from the three at the back. None of our CB really look comfortable in it and when we did make the switch, you could see some improvements.
To be rather solid against Yeovil is the least you'd expect of a United CB. Unfortunately, it's the most we can expect.
McNair gets a pass from me for a season or 2 given his age, but Smalling and Evans especially are simply not the quality of player one expects at United.
McNair gets a pass from me for a season or 2 given his age, but Smalling and Evans especially are simply not the quality of player one expects at United.
Anyone wanting to slate Evans for that header needs to take their agenda and do one. It's sheer bad luck.
Doesn't head it, there's a great chance that Yeovil player running forward gets it.
And he's not the scapegoat?
An accident waiting to happen. If he can't turn the form soon he should be sold