No. He just intercepted the ball from a counter, it is completely normal in such a situation to dwell on it just a second to calm everyone down while we regain our shape. A lot of defenders do that, and it isn't that hard to do just keep calm for a second and not to make a sloppy quick pass. To say he HAS to manoeuvre his body to be able to make such a simple pass is what's really ridiculous, as its obvious why he did it. He is an overly cautious defender especially with the ball at his feet, as he knows thats his weakness, but lets not go too overboard and claim he actually can't effortlessly make that pass quicker without the context of being cautious in a professional game.
Smalling signs new contract
- Thread starter RonaldoVII
- Start date
It's a damn shame and indicative of where the club is, but we had to do it. He's a mid table level defender and in times of old would have been shipped out long ago, but he's the only one we've got who can stay fit and consistent.
I didn’t miss the point, I said he’s awkward and gangly. But he still makes the correct decision.
Make fun of him when he makes a mistake, sure. But for the way he looks is just pointless.
hopefully this means Jones and Rojo are off
dependable squad defender is our Mike
dependable squad defender is our Mike
He didnt cause he actually got clubs vying for his service. Smailing?
Pleased we've signed him up on a new contract. He's better that what Everton, Wolves and West Ham have got and should help us maintain our lead above them and land 6th or even 5th if one of the elites have a bad run or injury crisis.
Just another symbol of the mediocrity
This was a no brainer really. He’s our current first choice centre back and it’s simply delusional to suggest the club should just let his contract expire in the Summer. Even if we got in two new CBs, he’d still be 3rd choice at worst next season.
If, by some miracle, he’s fallen lower down the pecking order by Summer 2020 and we do want to then sell, I don’t see him as a player who would be difficult to move on. We’d still be able to recoup a reasonable fee for him at that point.
If, by some miracle, he’s fallen lower down the pecking order by Summer 2020 and we do want to then sell, I don’t see him as a player who would be difficult to move on. We’d still be able to recoup a reasonable fee for him at that point.
Do you guys really think it's realistic that we would take 10 or 12 first team players and just let them leave on a free ? Do you see how unrealistic that view of football is? Does it happen anywhere ?
Can't believe another 4-year contract. I just hope the idea is him being a useful squad player going forward.
I don't disagree with the management part. Our budget is £150m/season. We cannot buy defenders for 100m and not address other areas. That's why we cannot just release all our defenders and replace them with new ones.
One of the most awkward defenders on the ball. Still probably the most reliable CB at the club, which just makes you want to cry.
Football is a contact sport. The key is being smart enough to know when to let go, and I'd say Smalling is very very smart if he is always grappling - as you have led us to believe - yet gives away few penalties.
It's Smalling. And your comment was that Ronaldo would stay with us out of loyalty while others, Smalling included are only with us because of money. Believe it or not, we could have offered Ronaldo more as well, but we didnt, because he didnt want to stay so dont hold him up as some kind of patron St of loyalty. We were even a decent fecking side then.
I didnt say ronie was loyal. I said if the situation is ronaldo staying with us for a decade when he can practically choose any teams he wants to play for then yes it's loyalty. Smailing staying with for 10 years is no brainer for him.
Injured again.
Seems a recurring theme whenever we hand a new contract to a player.
Seems a recurring theme whenever we hand a new contract to a player.
I've personally never seen a defender at any level of football need to "get round" the ball so awkwardly like that.
Let's hope he plays well today. With Lindelöf and Darmian either side of him I'm more than a bit worried.
He ain’t playing pal.
He wasn't 100 fit anyway as he was nursing a knock and apparently agreed to take a pain killer for this game.
Didnt he fracture his foot a few games ago? I wasnt even expecting him to be in the teamselection tbf
He got injured last minute. Bailly is in.
Couldn't make this sh!t up.
Imagine going to Anfield with Bailly who I can barely remember last playing, Lindelöf, and Darmian as a combo.
This is going to be a dreadful watch
Only just seen this as stayed away for a couple of days. We are officially running a charity. Chris Smalling, an average Premier League CB. As a club we get everything we deserve. Fellaini, now Smalling. Jones and Young up next and next season we will still be lining up with these guys in the first team
Read the first few pages of this thread and cannot believe there are United fans who welcome this news. Should be nowhere near this club. Has not improved in 8+ years, can't pass a ball and plays like a coward when put under any pressure, not to mention he is often injured. People who say he is a good back up are deluded, we used to have Wes Brown as a backup and he was 4 times the player Smalling is.
Edit: WTF
he is actually injured now as I type this, bloody joke.
Edit: WTF
he is actually injured now as I type this, bloody joke.At least it's not Phil Jones.
Yes!
It's hard to disagree with this
Domt worry he will be next. You couldnt make it up with these guys. Sign new contract, injured in the warm up. Open letter to the board and Ed. F*ck off Smalling, Jones, Young, Valencia, Darmian, Rojo, Fellaini and Lukaku. Oh and the manager too
He has been injured a few games but played through them with injectionsRead the first few pages of this thread and cannot believe there are United fans who welcome this news. Should be nowhere near this club. Has not improved in 8+ years, can't pass a ball and plays like a coward when put under any pressure, not to mention he is often injured. People who say he is a good back up are deluded, we used to have Wes Brown as a backup and he was 4 times the player Smalling is.
Edit: WTF
United-mentality that. If you don't think he has improved in his 8 years you are delusional. Him and DDG have been the only consistently overall good performers in the back 5 since SAF left. Archiving that literally proves he has improved, since he wasn't before. There are others in the squad that didn't do the job that he has done, if he hadn't done it then we would be a lot worse off than we are at the moment. Ignoring that is just...And I loved Wes Brown for his defending as much as I do with Smalling but the latter has surpassed him now. Wes Brown was sadly too injury prone to claim a starting spot and he made a lot more mistakes than Smalling has.
At Man United a player of his caliber should be one of the worst at the club. But currently he is probably our best defender.
Shame.
Shame.
He can only use one foot. He pulls shirts every game. Sadly this is the standard of player that reflects our position and capability. Defies belief to give a new contract.
The whole defence are not good enough.
The whole defence are not good enough.
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This is a joke
He apparently holds back our attack.
Another terrible performance from Smalling, we cant start attacks with him in the side and completely to blame for all 3 goals.
Wouldnt have made any difference
You are right, but that is only because he would be playing with an injury. If he was fit for this game, we probably could have shut the game down at 1-1 and we would have a lot more opportunities to counter as well.
I actually believe you think that is funny.Yeah for sure
And Jose would start playing offensive football with a new CB.