I hope so! I like that he’s so comfortable on the ball, still he needs a world class CB next to him.
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I hope so! I like that he’s so comfortable on the ball, still he needs a world class CB next to him.
Koulibaly or Skriniar would slot in perfectly alongside him!
Spot on. Haven't played nor haven't really understood it
Beast for quite a few games in a row. Coming into his stride. More of the same please, Victor.
Been playing well for weeks now. Incredibly hard to criticise him for a great goal from one of the greatest players of all time. Do you not remember Vidic getting murdered by Torres every time we played Liverpool? Or Rio’s brain fart against Bellamy in the 90th minute? Give the lad a break will you.
Said it before and I’ll say it again, he has all the attributes to be as good as Rio. Looked incredibly composed last night.
Said it before and I’ll say it again, he has all the attributes to be as good as Rio. Looked incredibly composed last night.
Excellent apart from the goal which tbf no one else would have scored
This Vidic and Torres myth is ridiculous. He made one real mistake in the 4-1 and that was more of a case of him being careless and trying to keep possession when he should have booted it like the no-nonsense defender he was 9 times out of 10. It wasn't some clever movement or technical ability that got Vidic, it was just someone closing him down.
He’s looking a lot more like a bad-ass in his facial expressions, just like he did when he had a buzz cut back in Benfica. That’s the Victor we want to see.
He's growing on me, I really like the guy.
I really like Lindelöf but Rio is a GOAT, so I think that might be a step too far
It's quite amusing really. One day a player is on the path to become a GOAT for MU, the other he is not even fit for Scunthorpe United...
Oh come on. Are you taking the piss? That's a ridiculous comment.
He was very good and cut out quite a few dangerous balls and put a stop to a few moments of danger. My only gripe would be a few times he was too deep when the others stepped up and he played a man on side. Think there were 2 or 3 occasions he did that but he managed to deal with his mistake so no big.
Glad people are starting to see that he has quality, hopefully it continues and he keeps progressing or getting back to where he was at Benfica.
Glad people are starting to see that he has quality, hopefully it continues and he keeps progressing or getting back to where he was at Benfica.
I've been consistent with him being a great defender in the making. Others however have been quite fickle but they're everywhere these days.
He's definitely improving but some of the comments in here are OTT, I would say he had a solid game apart from one lapse in concentration. Having just watched the game back I feel like we take a lot of Smalling's aerial wins/clearances (and his general physicality) for granted - near enough every set piece / corner is cleared by him, Lindelof just doesn't have this in his game.
Ronaldo was fairly quiet last night and at OT and I think that's largely down to Smalling winning the physical battle, and Lindelof covered a few times as well to give credit.
The goal is obviously world class but Lindelof's positioning was wrong to begin with (too deep), he then loses sight of Ronaldo and before he knows it he is chasing him. Not a massive error but as others have said in this thread, I would have expected other (more physical) defenders to have dealt with it better, he needs to be more physical - had he kept Ronaldo in touching distance he could have disturbed his run but Ronaldo ran through completely unchallenged. It's almost as if Ronaldo knew he wasn't having much joy vs Smalling so pulled onto Lindelof and got his goal.
The most promising part of his performance last night for me was there was a couple of times he was bringing the ball out of the back and finding the right pass, something he had a reputation for when we signed him but up until recently we haven't seen too much of it. Really like him as he comes across very well and there are have definitely been improvement but there is still a long way to go IMO.
Ronaldo was fairly quiet last night and at OT and I think that's largely down to Smalling winning the physical battle, and Lindelof covered a few times as well to give credit.
The goal is obviously world class but Lindelof's positioning was wrong to begin with (too deep), he then loses sight of Ronaldo and before he knows it he is chasing him. Not a massive error but as others have said in this thread, I would have expected other (more physical) defenders to have dealt with it better, he needs to be more physical - had he kept Ronaldo in touching distance he could have disturbed his run but Ronaldo ran through completely unchallenged. It's almost as if Ronaldo knew he wasn't having much joy vs Smalling so pulled onto Lindelof and got his goal.
The most promising part of his performance last night for me was there was a couple of times he was bringing the ball out of the back and finding the right pass, something he had a reputation for when we signed him but up until recently we haven't seen too much of it. Really like him as he comes across very well and there are have definitely been improvement but there is still a long way to go IMO.
Progress. All I'm looking for. From everyone. Keep it up, Victor.
The best and most fair assessment I’ve seen of him. He’s done alright, but needs to continue his development if he is to have a good career here.
He was too deep several times, was a little scared of being caught out, and as a result Juve got a lot of space and time on the ball. The commentator on Norwegian TV said as much a couple of times before the goal even, that he needed to be more aggressive and not show them so much respect.
Solid. Getting a good run of games too (with a consistent partner) which has to be helping.
Totally agree on the Smalling point.
Our other centre halves are very bad in the air. When Lindelof and Bailly were a partnership, we barely won a header back there.
The heading thing is clearly tactical. Every functioning defensive partnership works that way, one of them takes control of certain situations and the other backs off to cover. Even Rio and Vidic passed certain responsibilities to each other.
Ronaldo was quiet because Herrera was sitting deep on our right side to block him, nothing to do with Smalling really. In the second half Martial started to push further forward so more space was appearing on the left for them and Ronaldo moved over accordingly. It's already been said but there really isn't much Lindelof could have done for Ronaldo's goal. The positioning was fine at the start of the movement, he read what was coming and reacted well, he did everything he could possibly do. Ronaldo's run would have beaten any defender, it was the brief stutter and then the acceleration to get clear that makes it so great.
Agreed, but Rio was still good in the air and could outmuscle defenders. Lindelof really struggles in the air and with the physical side of the game. Honestly I've watched the game back and we really do take Smalling's clearances from corners for granted.
That is probably a fair assessment for Wednesday game, though on the occasions Smalling and Ronaldo came up against each other, Smalling came out on top - this was certainly the case for the home game too where he was kept quiet by Smalling's dominance in the air/strength in the tackle. One of the only times Ronaldo pulled onto Lindelof on Wednesday, he scored.
We will just have to agree to disagree on this. Lindelof needs to know where Ronaldo is, he takes his eye off him, starts running backwards and Ronaldo then runs past him. If he knows where he is and is closer to him he can use his body to make it difficult Ronaldo. He made it incredibly easy for him to just run through, of course it is still a world class goal but to say "he did everything he could possibly do" is generous IMO.
He's doing better, good on him. Still got things he needs to work on like all players. We know he's poor in the air, and I don't think he'll ever be dominant in that area, but that aspect certainly in big european games anyway isn't really a factor. Did you see the fear and panic the introduction of Fellaini caused in Juve's storied backline. At one set piece they'd 3 players marking him and these are legends of the game. As others have said, we bring in one genuine world class central defender and I think not only would Lindelof benefit, but all our centre backs would.
Just shows a lack of understanding of football. Unless Lindeloff was starting much deeper (in which case the ball would have never been played) you can't defend those balls, unless you foul the player. If you watch it back, most impressive thing for me is Ronaldo's stuttering run to keep him onside, he actually goes a bit early so adjusts his feet to stay right on Lindeloff's shoulder. The weight of pass & finish is then just world class.
That's part of Ronaldo's run though. He makes sure he is in a position where Lindelof can't look at the ball and him at the same time. Lindelof needs to look at the ball to see when to start his run, and that's the signal for Ronaldo to start his own run. The little stutter is what makes it special though, and just enough to get away from him completely. If Lindelof gets tighter it means breaking the line and going out of position, and Ronaldo is notorious for leaving defenders who get too close to him for dead, and if he drops any earlier Ronaldo peels off in behind Smalling and is in tons of space and played onside.
The only thing Lindelof could have done was purposely bodychecked Ronaldo's run, but that would have meant dropping deeper and breaking the offside trap.
Unfortunately it's just Ronaldo's expert movement/speed and an absolute guided missile of a pass that curled around Lindelof and onto Ronaldo's boot
On this occasion you've just got to say fair play that's a hell of a goal and move on.
Unfortunately it's just Ronaldo's expert movement/speed and an absolute guided missile of a pass that curled around Lindelof and onto Ronaldo's boot
On this occasion you've just got to say fair play that's a hell of a goal and move on.
Don't get criticism over Cristiano goal.
Sanchez had similar chance in first half from Matić pass which neither Bonucci or Chiellini read properly, and there's no need to explain how highly rated are both of them.
Sanchez had similar chance in first half from Matić pass which neither Bonucci or Chiellini read properly, and there's no need to explain how highly rated are both of them.
I don't think Lindelof can be judged for Ronaldo's goal. Maybe he could have reacted better to Ronaldo's run, but the precision of the pass along with the over the shoulder volley cannot be executed by anyone else in the world.
I like the progress he's showed over the last month or so but has a long way to go in 1v1's and aerial battles. I think someone like Alderweireld would complement him or Bailly well.
I like the progress he's showed over the last month or so but has a long way to go in 1v1's and aerial battles. I think someone like Alderweireld would complement him or Bailly well.
Again Smalling dealt with one in the first 10 mins. He didn't get caught the wrong side of Ronaldo, he stayed with him and this persuaded him to take the ball down rather than shoot. He then did some half hearted footwork and a lame shot that led to nothing.
So yes Lindelof could have defended the ball over the top. He just isnt as quick as Smalling and didnt deal with it as well.
Does anyone know where I can find individual highlights of his from the first Juve game at Old Trafford?
I don't think people bother making individual highlights of Lindelöf.
I mean he was our man of the match.
Still, you'd have to have a pretty darn boring life to might an individual touch video of our Vic.
Well there are some for other games he has played in, so I thought I'd ask.
Well there are some for other games he has played in, so I thought I'd ask.
Ah ok, fair enough, I guess he's got some scandy followers at least. Was excellent vs. Juve at home as you say, his best performance by a mile since joining United.
You could argue that Smalling got closer in that situation and therefore forced Ronaldo to take his touch, but I think another factor to include here is the slightly different angle from a 'worse' pass - and Ronaldo likely opting to use his stronger foot. Comparable to an extent.
Yeah exactly, carbon copy situation.
I think Lindelof is getting better but he still doesn't sense danger well. He's becoming a bit more physical (before he literally would let the attacker do anything) but isn't reading the ball in the air significantly better.
Smalling made that tackle because he spotted the run early and matched it. Lindelof didn't spot the run until it was too late. We conceded a similar goal in the super cup to Real Madrid where he got lost under the flight of the ball.
I think its down to speed/preperation for the pass and where Smalling gets himself. Lindelof is behind Ronaldo, Smalling is right next to him - more pressure, less likely to think he can get his shot away first time.
When I watch back the goal I swear there's a split of a second where Lindelof isnt running at full pace. Almost a hesitation looking at Ronaldo instead of the ball or thinking hes not going to make it. Either way he gets left in the dirt and Ronaldo has enough time and space to wait for the ball to come down and try to get good contact. If Lindelof is tight to him, side by side or stays goalside I'm pretty sure it doesnt happen. At least not like it did. Maybe Ronaldo takes the ball down with his first touch like the Smalling example in the first 8-10 mins. And maybe he still makes space and rockets a shot into the top corner. But yeah the volley he did score was defend able and we didn't defend it particularly well.
It was quite different actually. It was more of a floated pass that came from an angle and took him wide. He had to slow and wait for it to drop for him. For the goal he was able to sprint and hit it in his stride.
He does that because he has to check his run. If he goes too early he breaks the offside line and Ronaldo peels off to drop in totally free behind Smalling. It's Ronaldo who slows slightly and forces him to do it.
Man City 3:1 Man Utd
Got done by a simple wall pass for the Aguero goal. FFS.
I just can't see him as United materi. Hiding his face for the goal.
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