Smalling and Jones

[Swift Football]

They always have some good performances together but overall , i am not changing my opinion. They are not good enough for us. Also against spurs it was not that good. First 30 minutes they were bad. First goal was full backs mistake but they were also nowhere there. One didn't put pressure on eriksen and other could and should clear that cross. After that goal jones lost kane after the cross, who missed open goal.
I would keep smalling but jones should go.

The first goal we conceded, Young was pressing high so it was on Jones to cover LB area but he dint anticipate it at all.

And his marking of kane after some time was just poor. Jones always has this casual moments, luckily kane dint score that time.

To be fair, I don’t particularly rate any of those partnerships as anything special, Smalling and jones included. If the two of them had better distribution and better full backs beside them they’d be among the elite pairings, assuming they were consistent enough.

Maybe if we have better centrebacks , our fullbacks will also look better. So it's mutual.

I'm very happy with them. Play proper full-backs on both flanks and let them have a little bit more protection from CM too and then judge them. They may not be good enough as ball-playing defenders but certainly are as pure defenders. Add Bailly and Rojo who built a fantastic partnership with Jones and was great until the injury last season into the mix and we are good to go. We don't need more centre backs now; what we need is 2 full-backs (RB & LB), 2 CMs and a RW imo.

Our team setup is very organised and our mids usually give adequate cover. I dont think we can afford to give anymore cover to our CBs , that way our CMs cannot contribute much in the attack. We need players who can hold their own in their positions.

 

[extincti fugax hominum]

Our team setup is very organised and our mids usually give adequate cover. I dont think we can afford to give anymore cover to our CBs , that way our CMs cannot contribute much in the attack. We need players who can hold their own in their positions.

If we switch to 4-3-3 from 4-2-3-1, then we can very much afford it imo. And not by just being defensively better or having more defensive-minded players in CM but also controlling the ball better and passing it with more fluidity, pace and purpose. That's why i want a number 6 like Verratti who can play the deep-lying midfielder/regista role and control the tempo.