The second quote 'He told me he's thinking about it', did that actually came out of Klopp's mouth or just some wind up merchant adding that to it?
Mats Hummels
- Thread starter Sied
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) and Imran (@Annihilate Now!) are here to discuss Amad saving our blushes in a win against Southampton as well as our now annual loss at home to Brighton. They discuss Amorim's post-match comments, revisit how mid-table we may or may not be, and discuss some transfer news.
Last season was the first in 4 years where he managed under 40 games, something Smalling has never done for us. His highest is 46, if we can get him to recapture his old form then it's worth the gamble. It's not as if we're spoilt for choice with top centre backs either.
If there's one team in which his lack of pace will not be an issue it's us. Smalling, Shaw and Valencia are all lightning fast.
Is there a gif or youtube link? So difficult to find highlights for bundesliga games.
He was fantastic at the World Cup FFS
And has been awful since then FFS
Cheers mate.
Gladbach's first, the full 30 seconds from kick-off to the goal:
http://streamable.com/k5ju
Gladbach's 2nd, Hummels tries and fails to win the ball deep in Gladbach's half and then watches a beautiful counterattack right through the big hole in Dortmund's defense that he left open by rushing forward like a maniac
http://streamable.com/d6sz
I hope it's allowed to post links to streamable, it's the only source that includes the build-up to both goals and it's quite interesting, in my opinion.
Smalling's been comfortably the better CB this season.
This is the only forum on the entire internet where people would seriously discuss Smalling being a better defender than Hummels.
Sure but this was Smalling's best season here and one of Hummels worst at Dortmund (who collectively had a pretty crap season anyway). I wouldn't necessarily read too much into just one season.
Wow great quality. Thanks mate. I think its a bit harsh to blame the first goal on him. Sure he could have done better but that pass was perfect and he slips, but wouldn't have made much of a difference even if he hadn't.
No name dropping of Manchester United then... What a surprise 
Silly season has come well early.
Yep
No surprise. Smalling is hilariously overrated on here.
The rest of the internet has the excuse of being ignorant due to not watching enough of Smalling. Not too surprising though as people here somehow thought Jonny Evans was a better CB just last summer and there's a few who think Jones/Rojo are better. A lot of people just don't 'get' defending because goals & assists aren't there to bail them out.
Look at this poll ffs.
https://www.redcafe.net/threads/who-is-our-best-central-defender.395108/
Smalling has done literally nothing of any note in his career to be considered one of the best CB's in the world. Hummels has been unquestionably one of the top 3 CB's in the world for the past 4/5 seasons and a starter for the German national team which is at the strongest it's ever been. I have zero interest in goals/assist as a way to grade defenders. Please explain what it is that you manage to "get" about defending that everyone else is missing? If your answer is that everyone else is simply ignorant then please just don't even respond as I have no intention of getting into such a ridiculous debate.
I think you'll struggle to find someone outside of Manchester United fans that agree with you on that one.
So he’s went for being one of, if not the best CB at the World Cup to having “lost it” within ¾ of the following season? So you don’t believe a player can lose a bit of confidence but still be World Class?
And for the record hes been nowhere near as bad as some on here would make you believe.
Not sure if serious.
Click on the picture and then click again on the English part.
Cheers lads
It is true, Smalling almost never gets caught out defensively this season, while Hummels almost has that every week. If you're basing it entirely on this season, it isnt ridiculous. Hummels has been in very poor form and Smalling has been in his best form ever.
And the massive overrating of Smalling continues.
As does your delusion (reference to the numerous Evans discussions), when will you say something rational about him? You can say a lot of things about Smalling, shit on the ball, stupid, clumsy, a lump bla bla bla, but pure defensively, he's nearly always excellent. Its the other attributes that make him a doubt.
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Delusion?
Smalling gets caught out of position as much as any other CB in our squad, believe it or not outside Redcafe he isn't very highly rated at all and going by selection for squad and Country he isn't there either.
As for his other attributes, why dismiss them? I could argue that Heskey was better than RVP if that was the case.
Just not true mate, your first part. Jones/Evans/Rojo get caught out of position much more often, the only think you have to do for that is just watch matches. And honestly I dont care what people out of redcafe think, those people dont nearly watch United matches as often as the most people do over here, and easily stick to an opinion, here on Redcafe its much more accurate l, for example people wanted him gone earlier in the season, but because he's improved and impressed, the majority wants him to be part of a new CB pairing..
Not saying Smalling is the better CB, only think discussed is their out and out defending, who's better in that aspect. And based on this season you could argue that Smalling is better in that aspect, no more is said.
I haven't missed a match this season and I've been to about 7 or 8 games. Further, the people I'm talking about are those that go to games.
I'm not saying he's a bad player, he's clearly not, but he's nowhere near World Class level as some of the posts on here would have you believe. Ask any fan and the extremely large majority would take Hummel's over Smalling every single time, including United fans..
Yeh you'd have to think his weaknesses would be well compensated. As for those 3 you've listed you could argue their distribution and leadership needs improving.. or compensating for by the 4th member of the back line.
When Smalling is weeks away from any injuries, he is defensively flawless. When Hummels is weeks away from any injuries, he is almost defensively flawless and on top of that plays like midfielder in defense.
Now when they comeback from injury, they are both terrible, and since they are always injured...
Now when they comeback from injury, they are both terrible, and since they are always injured...
These examples are worse than anything Smalling has done this season bar the City game.
Hummel would be maybe our 3rd best defender. Why are we still barking up this tree?
Behind?
I rate Smalling as being definitely better than him and Rojo is debatable as well. Hummels has been quite poor for some time and I don't think he would improve us.
No chance, he'd walk into our team and would be perfect for us. People read too much into Dortmunds current troubles, on his day he's a world class defender and we have the perfect set up for him to thrive in. And loads of Dortmund fans say he's been very good for a lot of the season, or as good as he could be given the mess of the rest of the team. Not at his best but has saved them countless times.