Smalling has completed 89.2% of his passes this season - that's just behind Mata and Carrick and just ahead of Blind. He is by no means poor on the ball.
35
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 17
- Clean sheets
- 9
- Goals
- 0
- Assists
- 0
- Yellow cards
- 1
Smalling has completed 89.2% of his passes this season - that's just behind Mata and Carrick and just ahead of Blind. He is by no means poor on the ball.
You can't compare a CB with midfielders. So many basic passes. Rio usually averaged in the high 90s. 82% is actually a bit shit with the amount of time we spend passing it around the back.
Mind you, just checked Jones and Rojo's stats vs West Ham. Atrocious. I've a horrible feeling all our centre-backs can't pass water since Rio and Vidic left. Would explain a lot.
It's 89.2, not 82.
Vidic wasn't really the greatest passer of the ball. Usually you'd have one who was the great passer and in our case back then it was Rio.
Oh right. That's pretty much standard for a CB. Even in a 442. Probably expect higher considering we've played three at the back so much.
Evans eh?..deary me....
Evans, we had so much hope. But he's beyond saving. Everything he does, turns out bad.
Just checked Rio's pass completion was around the 90% mark in the league for United. Vidic a little lower. About 85%.
Increased to 89% since he joined Inter. Do they play three at the back?
Increased to 89% since he joined Inter. Do they play three at the back?
Sorry, but that's simply wrong. I'll use 2007-8 as an example (because I found some stats for it on Soccerlens.com). Scholes led the league with 89.6%; Rio led defenders with 84.8%. From a different source (ManUtd24): In 2009-10 Rio only made 13 appearances - his completion rate was 80%. Finally for 2010-11 (rationalfootball.wordpress.com) his rate was 80.1%.
Completely different to the stats I saw. See above. Was looking at his last few seasons. Not sure why you chose the ones you did.
Stats, schmats. I guess the point here is that you can't use the fact that a CB manages ninety point whatever pass completion in a match as an indication that he's good on the ball. Unless a CB attempts loads of long passes, he will have deceptively good passing stats in terms of pure percentage. If he doesn't, he's an utter liability (which Jones, for instance, was the other day - and his percentage reflects this).
Smalling is not good on the ball in any meaningful sense. Not that I care, really. As long as he can defend properly, that'll do - just team him up with the right man.
Anyway, Evans. Yes. I guess he needs to go unless he improves dramatically. Shame, as he did look very promising at one point.
Smalling is not good on the ball in any meaningful sense. Not that I care, really. As long as he can defend properly, that'll do - just team him up with the right man.
Anyway, Evans. Yes. I guess he needs to go unless he improves dramatically. Shame, as he did look very promising at one point.
Its no surprise Smalling has high pass completion rates, the amount our defenders dick about with it at the back passing to eachother under little pressure or going back to De Gea to hoof long. Having said that his ability on the ball is far better this season now that he's playing more central. He doesn't have much of a range and can't play an incisive pass but when he keeps it simple he's fine. I think he knows that himself and so atleast theres no delusions of grandeur. Bearing this in mind, we need to have a good ball playing defender alongside him to make up for it so we can get the ball moving upfield quicker, which means Rojo is his best partner.
Lolzssz
So, 89.2 not too shabby huh?
The way we play? Wouldn't expect any less from a CB.
The high 90s 
The high 90s
Indeed!
Smalling is third in pass completion in the league for centre backs this season, behind Skrtyl and Terry. Marquinhos is first in Europe with 92.4%. FWIW I don't think there are any great all playing centre backs in England at the moment. Smalling is almost identical with Jagielka for pass completion so that tells you all you need to know. The problem with Smalling is him rifling in passes too hard, statistically those will be counted complete.
Edit
@Still ill
@Pogue Mahone 's man John Stones has a pass completion rate of 92.7% in the league so he is the standard.
Edit
@Still ill
@Pogue Mahone 's man John Stones has a pass completion rate of 92.7% in the league so he is the standard.
Our lads can only aspire to the silky passing of Martin 'Platini' Skrtel. Really? Martin Skrtel?
This is the worry with Smalling. It may not matter that much to the fans about his inability to pass, but it matters to the man that picks the team. As I’ve said in previous posts, I don’t think he rates Smalling because of it.
I was constantly high in the 90s
Aye, that's a fair point. To my thinking you can pair up someone like Smalling with a silkier partner - and that should work, provided Smalling is good enough as a pure defender. But LVG may indeed think differently.
Thing is, though: LVG can't spend any more time assessing his players, trying to teach philosophy to dunderheads or waiting for Smalling to magically become a ball player.
If he needs to bring in a different brand of player, then do it. In my opinion he should have brought in stop-gap defenders this window if our current selection is so poor it's forcing his hand when it comes to tactics and formations. It's an unacceptable situation for a club of our stature if the manager is stuck with players he cannot use properly.
A liability. Hopefully we get rid in the summmer.
Yes. Fine might be the wrong word to use but looking at the game knowing the result he was okay. Wasn't brilliant nor was he awful. Passing was shoddy as noticed by having the worst passing accuracy bar Jones.
Smalling has been our best passer this season among the CBs lol! Good thing to criticize him on something he's actually improved on. He's passed better than your boy Evans
Will you please feck up with your silly little comments. Are you 12? seriously. Smalling can't pass for shit, I don't care what stats you use to back it up it's common knowledge. Best passer, do you actually watch games?
I think he's made up his mind, I think he sees it as Rojo + 1, with that one currently being Jones, or who ever is fit at the time.
I was surprised he didn't bring someone in at January, not because there was better players available, simply because of our horrendous injury record at the back.
Fvck up with my silly little comments? I speak the truth. I watch every game. Smalling's passing has improved a lot this season, you won't even fvcking admit that. 'I don't care about stats' LOL.
You're fecking childish with you immature little remarks, seriously just grow the feck up.
You get upset very easily don't you? I don't take you seriously no matter how hard you try to come across as a mature and fair poster. You have it in for Smalling because he's a threat to Evans. You say you don't care about stats but it seems you only don't care for them when they don't suit your argument. Im not childish, im realistic and you can't stand it. You have no integrity in this debate
An example of you using stats to defend your boy Evans and now you don't care about stats when it comes to a player you don't rate. Laughable.
Do jog on you silly little boy.
You're livid! I've destroyed you and your nothing response says it all. Take it easy my man haha.
You've destroyed me? Well that confirms it for me then.
I noticed I've called you childish before thanks to the quote you posted, it seems you still haven't matured enough to have an adult conversation with.
...and you have no integrity in this debate. I've proved it for all to see. The rest of it is just me fecking with you for shits and giggles and you take it to heart. Take it easy.
Ladies, ladies. Listen up, I can settle all for you and you can put away your guccis..........
Both Evans and Smalling are mediocre CBs, not good enough for United. Evans especially.
Both Evans and Smalling are mediocre CBs, not good enough for United. Evans especially.
fecking hell
integrity, Jesus wept.Well, this thread has taken a turn for the worse...like Evans's form this season.
Given the players we are being linked with I'd say you're spot on. It seems a Jones and Rojo is the preferred option at the moment, I'd imagine it will be those 2 + 2 brought in.