They showed interesting signs of improvement in that tournament and the Nations League right after
Smalling is ok but not good enough for EnglandSmalling signs new contract
- Thread starter RonaldoVII
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Smalling is ok but not good enough for EnglandThey showed interesting signs of improvement in that tournament and the Nations League right after
So they won nothing and lost to the first decent teams they played against and then beat Spain in the nations league.
Great news. The only shame is that it's only 4 years. Should have been at least 6 years with a further 1 year option.
Much better than anything accomplished during when he was playing. Even a blind man can see that
United have won plenty with him playing
I find it amusing that Smalling was omitted for his inability to build from the back, yet England created nothing from general play in the World Cup and their greatest strength by a long way was "cross it to the big man" from set pieces.
You're right. I was just teasing him tbh. Smallig is alright, not great and not terrible.
That's true tbh. United won't improve significantly as long as he is (among many others) a main feature in the team
Joking surely. He is average and should be playing for Everton or West Ham.
He is definitely not the best, but he shows he is red. I can see him giving his best all the time.
Yes, he made mistakes, he disappointed us, but that’s human.
Yes, he made mistakes, he disappointed us, but that’s human.
Just curious, who is in charge of wages offered? because it seems to make no sense. If these are the same guys, who handed Jose a contract extension in the middle of a season where we would win nothing - then the root of the problem is an inferior upper management who don't know how to control their expenditure.
I am no fan of Smalling would have liked to have him moved on but I can understand the logic behind his extension and no way we would have convinced him for two year extension he is still not 30 he could have left for free with Similar contract terms and longer contract for some mid table team in Pl without doubt ,but having said that he certainly should not be regular with us if we want to compete going forward along with few others.
Why would our best CB that was given a 4 year extention to his contract be playing for Everton or West Ham? In 2017 he was the best CB and one of the best players in the europa league final against Ajax. And then last season one of the best CBs in the league. This season he's been our best CB in a difficult time where his partners and even keeper havent been very good.
and we are midtable with Everton.
I’m satisfied with this. He’s been the best out of a bad bunch.
I don't know. It is nuts to be basically held in ransom by Chris Smalling.
Woodward obviously.
They also went out against Croatia to two man-to-man marking mistakes at the back as well. IIRC
I doubt any other top side would want to sign him really. Arsenal under Wenger were often linked when he was out of favour but I'd say that's Smalling's ceiling, challenging for the 4th place trophy. We need to upgrade on him in the first XI, or at least have a world class ball playing defender alongside him.
Despite having a world cup winning central midfielder and the goalkeeper most considered to be the best in the world.
Maybe its not everyone's fault, maybe there are a few of our better supporters who could be towards the top of the table if their teammates played as well as they do. Just a thought. You know, like last season
Yes he'd be a better CB than Arsenal have. Thats where we're at currently with our defense. We have 1 CB who is better than Arsenal's CBs.
Well that's the situation we find ourselves in I just hope we get our shit together soon enough and begin to move on from mediocrity starting from our manager to playing personnel who simply should not be part of this great Club.
I just think he's a penalty waiting to happen at every corner. I suppose he is one of our best players, but we really should be looking to improve on him.
Next season with VAR
If he was it would happen. It doesnt.
Smalling probably would have scored loads in that England team. They'd probably had been a much better team with him if you add in the fact he can defend very well, something the defenders that was picked could barely do.
Next season, we will get even closer to exposing another myth.
"Smalling's our best defender" A damning indictment of how shite our defence is. Last season, DDG faced more shots on target than any other GK in the league.
I suppose we had no real choice given the state of our other defenders. It does show what a mess we are in terms of recruitment when a defender as limited as Smalling holds the whip hand over the club in negotiations.
Two more years and it will be testimonial time, following in the footsteps of Dennis Irwin, G Neville and Rio among United defenders of the modern era.
Two more years and it will be testimonial time, following in the footsteps of Dennis Irwin, G Neville and Rio among United defenders of the modern era.
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Depends how the refs approach it. If he was at the World Cup he would have been in trouble because the refs were over-sensitive to stuff like that with the new technology. He should learn very quickly if he's punished for it though.
Why keep Lindelof and Bailly ahead of him? Unless we're supposed to sign 4 CBs.
It's 3 years. How different is that from 2 really that makes it 'nuts'?
Imagine strongly defending Chris Smalling.
I mean he's not great, but you have to start somewhere - I'd say he's the most consistent of what little we have. Just need to tie up Jones, should be able to get something done on a 4+1 for ~200k/w
Only if his name was Smallinkovic or Smallybaly he wouldn't get so much hate
Imagine needing to.
He's the best of an average bunch, and has been the most consistent defender in recent years. No one ought to be excited nor overly critical of this. It's easy to say he should be replaced, but let's keep hold of our better defenders first, ship out Jones and (possibly) Rojo/Bailly too and then improve on what we're left with. That may sound like too much of a coherent plan for the club at the moment but I'm trying to be optimistic.
He's no Ferdinand/Vidic but on the whole there's no way he's not our best CB. What should the club do? Sell our best CB and keep the other three? Now if it's too long a contract or s big bump up on his pay then I see reasons for complaint. But 3 years is pretty standard really.
Don't you think it is silly to say that Smalling is a penalty waiting to happen at every corner kick, when he's not exactly conceded many penalties from corners?
It's hard to say it was an incorrect decision because the team did well. I just found it amusing that Southgate made such a big deal out of being able to play from the back, yet the team wasn't in the slightest bit effective at it. 1980s Wimbledon created more from general play.
Yeah he is just happens to be the best of among a poor bunch. Considering brexit in mind, he is not really a bad choice for a backup. Helps with homegrown quota too. Hoping that Axel steps his game soon though.
3+1 is very different than 2
What myth is that exactly ? He could have conceded many pens in various games but he luckily didn't. Not saying he will concede with VAR but if the risk can be avoided altogether, it's better