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Smalling and Jones
- Thread starter podurban2
- Start date
Bailly’s weakness is in aerial challenges. There’s a question mark about possibly being rash in the tackle, but his style of defending is aggressive in the Kompany, Vidic get in front of the attacker and steal the ball mode. So for me you just have to accept that is how he defends. He’s had an injury, so I would think he’s working on his deficiencies while he rehabs. Highlighting Smalling’s short falls is nothing to do with “not liking” him, because I’m not 12. He isn’t good enough. In his best season for us he was our best defender, but we still shipped goals for fun and it was in a team where we simply didn’t attack... ever.
That’s good for you but you’re not the only person I’m referring to when I say that. Personal bias is heavily apparent on this forum and is a part of human nature. Not being 12 doesn’t come in to it. Some are simply better at seeing past it than others.
We let in the least amount of goals in the league during his best season in 15/16. How is that possibly shipping goals for fun?
Personal bias will always come into opinions. In this case, Smalling has had 8 years of elite level coaching at an elite club and doesn’t really look a great deal better now, than when he started. So whether people have a bias against him or not, the evidence is that he’s not likely to get better from here on in, and he is currently a level below what we need.
I thought Smalling was better in Van Gaals first season. He wasn’t a permanent fixture, but he looked like he improved us whenever he played and he was starting to take a leadership role and direct things at the back. The 15/16 season he may have been better so I’ll defer to your opinion on that, as I find it difficult to recall a great deal of it. My abiding memory is that I didn’t enjoy watching united for the first time in 37 years. That, and also the final lingering memory of Smalling was his valiant attempt at losing us a cup final with a special blend of poor positioning, poor timing, and poor decision making that have punctuated his United career.
Last post for the day. I’d be in favour of moving Smalling on. He’s not the complete shambles some make him out to be, but for me, he hasn’t reached a high enough level to contribute enough to United.
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When will people realised that Smalling is 28 yo already. He's not some hot cold bloody youngster anymore ffs. At this age he should be able to lead the line, hold concentration himself instead we back to this conversation "Smalling Jones is not good enough" every fecking season for almost 7 years.
And Jones, it always comes to if situation with his injury. Its frustrating and infuriating when he got some good playing streak for a month he got injury for another 2 months. Rise and repeat everytime. But whats make it worse he always had tendency to do clumsy thing here and there.
By any means they are decent but not good enough to make it step to the next level. Soon they meet half deceny opponent they fall all over the place.
And Jones, it always comes to if situation with his injury. Its frustrating and infuriating when he got some good playing streak for a month he got injury for another 2 months. Rise and repeat everytime. But whats make it worse he always had tendency to do clumsy thing here and there.
By any means they are decent but not good enough to make it step to the next level. Soon they meet half deceny opponent they fall all over the place.
Should never be played together, seem to bring out the worst in each other and when played together you need a Matic in front of then at the top of his game to cover their frailties. Unfortunately in the Tottenham Matic had a real off day, the worst I have ever seen him play which left them exposed and you could clearly see they were all over the place, no composure and no communication between them.
That’s your opinion though. The evidence is that managers still select him regularly. I think people here are living in a world where other Centre backs don’t make mistakes. I’m not saying we can’t upgrade on him. Of course we can. But when it comes to centre backs that need to be moved on then on current evidence he’s behind Lindelof and Rojo.
Why either of them are still here I have no idea. They've never been the required standard. How much longer do we need reminding of it?
It also mystifies me why when players are constantly assessed on whether they are 'United players', Smalling and Jones have had a relatively easy ride on here. It was the same with Evans. There seems to be this infinite patience with our centre backs that doesn't apply to other positions.
Bailly in no time at all was already an upgrade. Jones especially has had years and still we're where we are.
It also mystifies me why when players are constantly assessed on whether they are 'United players', Smalling and Jones have had a relatively easy ride on here. It was the same with Evans. There seems to be this infinite patience with our centre backs that doesn't apply to other positions.
Bailly in no time at all was already an upgrade. Jones especially has had years and still we're where we are.
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They will never be world class, I'm done with them, maybe keep them as back up players but there is no way we could be compete against top teams in the champions league with these two in our starting XI, Jones is so injury prone and Smalling just not good enough against top teams, Sell them or keem them in the bench.
It was an opinion, but hey if you think 2, 32 year old full back isn't a problem go for it. Bailly Jones Smalling Linderof and Rojo a good pool? Just read the comments in here, most can't wait to get shot of at least 3 maybe 4
Back is back up, and hopefully doesn't pay the bills
The third most expensive signing in premiership history was a centre half (adjusted for inflation) and he wasn't signed by City.
The reason you do not concede is the same reason you struggle to score, your manager never wants to play against the better sides.
I’ve told you Shaw is the long term LB and we need to buy young RB cover, so why are you mentioning again that 2 32 year old full backs is a problem? I’ve already answered that and I’m sure the club will aim to resolve that in the summer. Mentioning their age is also lame, as Valencia at 32 is performaing very well, so age is just a strange thing to mention when you don’t comment on the performances.
People on her go mental after a defeat and want everyone sold. It was only 1 defeat and a poor defensive performance. Bailly is our best CB who will return and the end of the month and Jones is a very good CB who is likely to partner him. Jones had a terrible game v Spurs, but it happens, and they have very little protection for midfield. Yes I do think the likes of Smalling and Rojo are capable back ups and on the same level as the City back ups - Mangela (flop), Kompany (sick note), Stones (makes mistakes regularly).
Adjusting for inflation is absolutely pathetic and I’ll not even respond to that. Laporte, Mendy, Stones, Otamendi, Mangela, Danilo, Walker, Emerson cost how much? I probably missed 1 or 2 also.
They are Everton/Burnley material, not better than Keane/Jagielka or Mee/Tarkowski
That’s it
That’s it
That's just absurd. Only Jagielka that come closer to them out of those 4.
What’s the excuse now? They are garbage.
Not a brain cell between them. Useless the pair of them.
Is Rojo injured? Why is Smalling even playing?
The chuckle brothers
Absolute definition of insanity who these two. However none of our managers ever seem to learn for some strange reason.
You're not winning titles with these as your starting CBs.
These 2 can feck off in the summer. I've completely had it with them. They've been here 7 years and I've seen nothing to suggest they can form a partnership to win the league. Today is the final straw. I don't want to see either of them again. Lindelof and Rojo in until Bailly comes back so we can resume the Bailly/Rojo combo of last year.
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Looks like they have gifted two teams 6 points in the space of three games. Pathetic players.
Smalling just needs to go. I absolutely cannot stand that cnut.
Excuse? They are excellent against burnley or wba at OT. When they guard one attacker whole game without any pressure on them. Than people goes crazy how good they are, how dominant they are, etc... and those games are keeping them in squad.
Sick of them. They are not good enough and we must sell them. But we will not. They will be here next year. And year after that.
Jones is good, just injury prone. Emailing is injury prone and non league level on the ball. Opposition teams know that pressing him garuntees at least one decent chance every match.
I can't take another season of these two as our starting partnership.
I don't rate either of them and as a partnership I think they bring out the worst in each other.
I don't rate either of them and as a partnership I think they bring out the worst in each other.
Fecking Cannavaro and Nesta at the back....
Why pick them both? it seems like every time they play together we fecking lose.
Why pick them both? it seems like every time they play together we fecking lose.
Their deficiencies have often been masked by the fact we've got one of the world's best GK's and a strong defensive manager. As players they're decent backup options but they should be nowhere near the main starting pair for a side aspiring to win anything.
This is what Fergie left us with after 30 years of success, a stinkng pile of shit and no world class players. How he escaped all the criticism all these years I will never understand.
Should have left both of them at Yeovil, that's their level. I am really sick of them, stupid, brainless, useless.
Such a useless pairing.
No one among those who rates Smalling and Jones will willingly acknowledge that. In fact, they are better be De Gea off to Madrid and accept clown like Pickford or Butland. Madness. Just because they are the longest serving defender we had doesn't mean they are the best out there. Average at best.
We have to tolerate one more season of these clowns because we need to upgrade our FBs and CMs in the summer.
Smalling has been around long enough to get a testimonial, freaking madness that.
Smalling has been around long enough to get a testimonial, freaking madness that.
Err...what? Fergie left in 2013, having won the title. The side he left Moyes with had problems but we can't be continuing to point to that team a half-decade later - we've had three managers since then and yet our defence remains a long way off what it was in the Rio/Vidic era.
Just two of our many problems. What else can be said?
The Dud Couple
Smalling is a big clumsy liability. Also has the technical skills of a sunday league footballer.
Jones is marginally better.
Jones is marginally better.
How many times do I have to say it?
You know what, I’m fecking sick of saying it.
GET RID OF THEM.
You know what, I’m fecking sick of saying it.
GET RID OF THEM.
To be fair they were both young and promising when Fergie retired. Can't really blame him for the two of them not developing.