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2018-19 Performances

View full 2018-19 profile

6.1 Season Average Rating
Appearances
40
Clean sheets
8
Goals
1
Assists
1
Yellow cards
3
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Am I the only one who thinks he would be a great fit if we play 3 at the back and not so good when we play 2 at the back.

2 years after his signing, I still haven't seen anything from him that Blind couldn't offer us.
 
MadDogg said:
Debatable. During the Lindelof-Smalling combo that we've used most of this season, Lindelof was only better for a period of three matches (Juventus, Everton and Bournemouth). Smalling was better the rest of the time. Actually there may have been another match more recently that Lindelof shaded him, but can't remember the exact match. He did do fairly well against Cardiff and Huddersfield in these last few matches too. Obviously he's been one of our best two though, which is the key thing.
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I'd say Jones performed better than him against Cardiff and Huddersfield too. Even Bailly was having a better game yesterday until the stupid challenges.
He's arguably being the most consistent, but he has barely performed better than his partner in any game this season.
 
bond19821982 said:
Am I the only one who thinks he would be a great fit if we play 3 at the back and not so good when we play 2 at the back.

2 years after his signing, I still haven't seen anything from him that Blind couldn't offer us.
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In theory yes, but in practice we'll have to see how he does under Ole. There wasnt much difference with him in a back 3 under Mourinho but in theory thats 2 other CBs to take care of most of the defending
 
MadDogg said:
Debatable. During the Lindelof-Smalling combo that we've used most of this season, Lindelof was only better for a period of three matches (Juventus, Everton and Bournemouth). Smalling was better the rest of the time. Actually there may have been another match more recently that Lindelof shaded him, but can't remember the exact match. He did do fairly well against Cardiff and Huddersfield in these last few matches too. Obviously he's been one of our best two though, which is the key thing.
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Definitely debatable, but I think Lindelof has been slightly better because of what he has shown in the last matches, where he finally cut through and advanced with the ball. That dimension has been lacking at United. He is also ok at playing both left and right which is a big plus. The big problem is that they are both best to the right.
 
He's not the answer. I'm adamant that our best option for a back 2, is Smalling +a new signing (as long as that signing is top class).

Smalling is by far our least 'arse-ish' CB. The others are all far more error prone than Smalling, Lindelof included. He's just an 'alright' defender, not what a club of our calibre should be settling for.
 
I think Lindelof has had a nice start to the season and would love to find that pairing with a faster stronger Bailly. It seems we may be alternating between those 2 and smalling and Jones over the next month.
 
Alabaster Codify7 said:
He's not the answer. I'm adamant that our best option for a back 2, is Smalling +a new signing (as long as that signing is top class).

Smalling is by far our least 'arse-ish' CB. The others are all far more error prone than Smalling, Lindelof included. He's just an 'alright' defender, not what a club of our calibre should be settling for.
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I think it comes down to what type of football the team want to play. The Mourinho type we saw was rather successful last season: Smalling definitely. A more attacking football with big possession: you need at least one CB with Lindelof’s attributes. If it is not him, it must be someone else similar, can’t have two Smallings in the centre. That is probably the reason why Smalling watched the World Cup on his tv, despite the fact that he had a great season from a defensive POV.
 
Eugenius said:
It's a core competency of being a CB. You have your CBs marking the best headers at a corner (ie Ake yesterday). If Herrera was bad at passing he'd get criticised. Same way you'd criticise Lukaku for not holding the ball up properly.

He's also not small. He's 6'2 - tall enough. Just bad at judging the ball in the air and not a good leap on him (similar reasons why Lukaku rarely wins flick ons for example).
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Being good at heading counts for diddly squat if the team isn't organized. We have one of the tallest squads in the league and have continually struggled with high balls and set peices thought-out this season - whether Lindelof is playing or not. That's not to say he's incredible in the air, it's certainly one of the weaker aspects of his game, but there are mitigating circumstances.

Being a monster in the air isn't a prerequisite for a centreback any more; those days have past. Being decent in the air is enough on the proviso the team has other players who are great in the air. Partner him with someone who has that as a strength and they should compliment one another.
 
Mcking said:
I'd say Jones performed better than him against Cardiff and Huddersfield too. Even Bailly was having a better game yesterday until the stupid challenges.
He's arguably being the most consistent, but he has barely performed better than his partner in any game this season.
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I gave Lindelof the edge against Cardiff. Jones was definitely better against Huddersfield.
 
roonster09 said:
There is a pattern on this forum, few posters who defend Smalling no matter what, have a go at Lindelof (and other CBs too) for some weird reasons.

It's very obvious that Lindelof is good on the ball and in the last 3 games, everyone passed the ball really well, that doesn't mean Smalling can't and it's attack on Smalling. Right now he is injured and under Van Gaal Smalling showed he has decent passing range. So don't understand why Smalling fans gets so defensive when any CB is praised.
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Lindelof actually smashed the ball into Shaw at one point though. Its not like I made it up. Me and my dad thought it was quite funny at the time. I wasn't really having a go at him, but whatever. Maybe you have a point and if so I do agree its not very healthy to put someone else down just because you like someone else. I would say it is idiotic thinking. Not sure you are right about that though.

I like Lindelof. However, I don't think Lindelof had a particular good game compared to the last 2. It has been refreshing moments from him so far but I haven't been impressed with his defensive work if I'm really honest so I have my doubts. I prefer my CB's to be more dominant. I also think Blind was a better passer than him and had some great defensive performances despite his lack of physique and I've yet to see that real defensive tenacity from Lindelof.
 
MadDogg said:
Debatable. During the Lindelof-Smalling combo that we've used most of this season, Lindelof was only better for a period of three matches (Juventus, Everton and Bournemouth). Smalling was better the rest of the time. Actually there may have been another match more recently that Lindelof shaded him, but can't remember the exact match. He did do fairly well against Cardiff and Huddersfield in these last few matches too. Obviously he's been one of our best two though, which is the key thing.


Jones is decent enough and comfortably our second best in the air, he's just not amazing.

Smalling - fantastic
Jones - decent
Rojo - below average
Bailly and Lindelof - terrible
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Jones has a bit of a little man syndrome where he seems to challenge for everything. If he was a bit smarter with headers he would challenge for he would be pretty good.
 
MadDogg said:
I gave Lindelof the edge against Cardiff. Jones was definitely better against Huddersfield.
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Jones did most of the defending against Cardiff, and more than matched him with the ball. I'd say Jones was even much better than Lindelof against Cardiff than he was against Huddersfield.
 
If I said Ronny Johnsen would everyone have been happier? :lol:
 
SCP said:
He wasn't necessarly top for them. Think Garay, Luisão or David Luiz were better than him, but @André Dominguez might have a more informed opinion than me. I am not the kind of guy who likes Benfica players anyway.
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He was a good player for us, mainly when in possession. His transfer to Man Utd was actuallu surprising because everyone would agree that he wasn't fully developed and still had a lot of experience to gain.
If he gets confidence and manager gives him the freedom to start the play from the back he will give us quality possession.

Despite being swedish, he still lacks agression levels :D
 
A player that divides opinions but I think he's a piece in the jigsaw if the 'the' piece. Its not like we haven't seen these type of players here previous especially when he had Jaap in place. It's funny cause we have had to sign 5 CB with different attributes when in the distant past Jaap and Rio had the lot, and it didn't really matter who played along side of them....
 
Newcastle 0:2 Man Utd
Rondon who?

Fecking bossed that tonight did Victor

MOTM
 
For me this was Lindelof's best game I can remember defensively because the Juventus game was blown out of proportion.

I've pointed out where I feel Lindelof has come up short and when Jones has been better in recent weeks, but today Jones was the shakier one defensively and Lindelof stepped up and took more responsibility as the main man at the back. He even won 7 headers today which is a minor miracle for Lindelof. That was the most of our team. In fact the most of any player on the pitch. Perhaps we need to test him for performance enhancing drugs.

On the ball he had 1 great piece of play around 50 minutes where he rode a challenge and played a nice pass. I was slightly dissappointed that he didnt do more going forward today as this is the type of match where you'd want CB's adding a bit more to attacking play if possible and other than that 1 great piece of play Lindelof really didnt add much.

So not perfect but still a good performance and if he played like that every week we wouldnt necessarily need to spend £60 million+ on a CB. But its 1 game. So I'll see how he does following it up.
 
Thought he was excellent today. He reads it defensively very well and managed Rondon comfortably, who is as hard as anyone to deal with in this league physically. Rashford made he difference but Lindelof was my motm.
 
Yep - I'm now a fan :drool:

Get him and Smalling together sooner rather than later please
 
MOTM for me. Unlucky not to have an assist with that long ball.
 
MOTM tonight for me. Very good in all aspects, even in a shocking turn, aerially. His gradual increase in assertiveness this season is the sign of how far he has come, the passive version was never going to make it at Utd, this Vic, might.
 
Feeling vindicated. Not bad for someone who cant head the ball and no strength or speed...
 
Looks a different player since Mourinho left. Had pretty much written him off but starting to look like player he was at Benfica.
 
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