Look at this gif, it's mesmeric, isn't it? Look how Lindelöf skips past the opposition and just goes for it. It's beautiful.
Attack the space!
2
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 47
- Clean sheets
- 19
- Goals
- 1
- Assists
- 1
- Yellow cards
- 6
- Status
Look at this gif, it's mesmeric, isn't it? Look how Lindelöf skips past the opposition and just goes for it. It's beautiful.
Attack the space!
Its the "Not Smalling or Jones" effect. Basically if you are a CB and have an okay game and you are not Smalling or Jones, you will be heralded as a top class CB.
Bailly had the same in his first season but he also played better that season than Lindelof did last season.
That's down to Smalling and Jones underwhelming for so long though. We're pretty desperate for a new hope - Bailly and Lindelof, being newer players, are praised in the hope that a good performance will be the start of a long run, displacing players who haven't stepped up to the standard of the central defenders we've been used to, such as Ferdinand, Vidic or Stam. It's why Rojo doesn't get that level of praise (that, and his general lack of good performances anyway).
Smalling was very solid the season before last. So thats clearly nonsense
Yes and no. Bailly had higher highs, but he also had lower lows. Even in his first season Bailly was all over the place. Started the season extremely well of course, then his form dropped off, picked up an injury, went to the ACON, came back from that in absolutely horrific form, had another one month or so of good form then got injured again if I recall correctly.
Sounds a lot like Lindelof who was poor, had 15 mostly good games and then dropped his form again
You really are on a mission to discredit any CB that isn't named Smalling.
No I just watch the defense closely. Smalling wasnt at his best either, unlike the previous season. Lindelof when you evaluate the entire season, was good for a small amount
Thought the same. Think he's a gem. Would give him a new contract if he has a good season. Barca seem to be sniffing around. Cant blame them. He is a more physically imposing Athletic version of Blind
The main reason I wanted us to key Koulibaily or Mguire this window was so Lindelof would move back to the right, I thought he was amazing when Ole first came in until Smalling came back and he was then shunted back to the left.
I think we have the best defensive back 4 and keeper next year. I'm not saying we have the best defence as someone like Liverpool's attacking prowess far out weighs ours and easily compensates or even that we will concede less goals than anyone else as teams don't even get near the goal against teams like City and Liverpool due to midfield cover and the press + possession. BUT if we are talking purely defensive drills, I think we have the best back five for keeping goals out.
I think we have the best defensive back 4 and keeper next year. I'm not saying we have the best defence as someone like Liverpool's attacking prowess far out weighs ours and easily compensates or even that we will concede less goals than anyone else as teams don't even get near the goal against teams like City and Liverpool due to midfield cover and the press + possession. BUT if we are talking purely defensive drills, I think we have the best back five for keeping goals out.
He was finally "very solid" in his eighth season at the club, and you wonder why people are frustrated with him?
Do you think Lindelof can play as a DM?
Wasnt his best season. That came under LVG
I'd say Lindelof was fairly decent all season. One small period of three games where he was very good in the first half of the season (Juventus, Everton and Bournemouth), and then quite good for most of the second half of the season. Even outside of those periods he was at least decent, rather than actually poor like what Bailly had been.
Smalling has been solid for the majority of the last five years. His best season (which is still by far the best season any of our defenders have had since Rio and Vidic came to an end) came under LVG. Last season was arguably his worst and he was still comfortably better than any of our other defenders other than Lindelof (and they were about the same level).
Really not getting the overwhelming optimism around this guy.
A talented player who can look very impressive but ridiculously fragile mentally.
A strong shoulder barge or a decent run past him & his head is gone; despite the new signings he & Shaw have a lot to prove imo.
A talented player who can look very impressive but ridiculously fragile mentally.
A strong shoulder barge or a decent run past him & his head is gone; despite the new signings he & Shaw have a lot to prove imo.
Aerially very weak. It's obvious to see.
I agree, I’m not 100% sold on him yet.
Pathetic defending on both goals. He’s scared of the ball. We’ve seen it before. Inexcusable.
Still not good enough. He did well to come back, but he still lacks that little extra. Too scared of aerial balls.
Are people really blaming him for the second? First one is all on Static. Will form a very solid partnership with Maguire.
When it's in the air. His aerial ability is a travesty.
The second goal can literally happen to any defender. No problem for me.
I'm only gonna say, very happy with Maguire arriving.
Some aspects are good, but still on the learning curve to be complete PL defender.
Some aspects are good, but still on the learning curve to be complete PL defender.
He has done very little to gain this level of admiration and trust from the fans. I just don't see it. Loses far too many physical challenges, be it aerially, battles of strength or in a footrace, generally far too passive in his overall defending and his much talked about ability on the ball rarely manifests itself when it actually matters.
Rotten performance, Smalling, Jones or Rojo would be slated endlessly for it.
Rotten performance, Smalling, Jones or Rojo would be slated endlessly for it.
Imagine blaming him for the 2nd goal. It wasn't even his man who won the header and he wasn't near it either. As for the first one it was clearly on Matic. People just looking for excuses.
He's just average all round with no outstanding attribute apart from his ability to stay fit compared to the others.
If we're casting Smalling aside (mistake in my opinion) then i'd rather see Tuanzebe get a chance to prove himself alongside Maguire.
If we're casting Smalling aside (mistake in my opinion) then i'd rather see Tuanzebe get a chance to prove himself alongside Maguire.
The knives are out after one average game. 
Thankfully the manager doesn't see all these errors people here are digging out. He is as certain as it gets to be first choice alongside Maguire this season.
I think the problem is that the knives were always out for the likes of Smalling and Jones 24/7, its about time the Lindelof expectations got dialled back down a bit.The knives are out after one average game.
Last season when his form improved I thought the hype was way over the top. He's not a poor defender by any means. He's actually pretty steady. But he's nowhere near the levels that some posters on here claim he is.
Don't think he will even be first choice for us the season after this. He's got way too many limitations to his game and now we have Slabhead we need a CB with more pace.
Smalling might even be a better partner for Maguire as he's got a recovery in him. Tuanzebe long term we got to hope is the gem we need.
Don't think he will even be first choice for us the season after this. He's got way too many limitations to his game and now we have Slabhead we need a CB with more pace.
Smalling might even be a better partner for Maguire as he's got a recovery in him. Tuanzebe long term we got to hope is the gem we need.
All come crawling out...
Agree 100%. It’s not enough to guarantee success but should be a very solid foundation for the team. For the first time in a long time.
This is his 3rd season for fecks sake, let's see how he does next to Maguire first. The players you mentioned have had almost 10 years to impress and showed plenty of times that cannot be relied if we want to be a top team again.
Ekeke and the rest of the Smalling disciples might be right. Smalling might end up in the starting lineup at this rate because Lindelof has been very mediocre during preseason especially defensively.
Silly suggestion time:
Could Tuanzebe play alongside Maguire, with Lindelof as the defensive midfielder...
I am sitting here thinking of any random way to get Matic out of the team. Help.
Could Tuanzebe play alongside Maguire, with Lindelof as the defensive midfielder...
I am sitting here thinking of any random way to get Matic out of the team. Help.
It is though. No centre back worth their salt ducks out of the way of a shot in any game.
The knives are out after one average game.
Vultures never went away and were always waiting for their moment....
We’ve always known he’s poor in the air. Look at all the games he’s been rated the absolute highest. All of them are against top opposition. He excels with the ball on the floor. Maguire will fill in the gaps for him.
He’s immaculate in his positioning and reading of the game with the ball on the floor.
He’s immaculate in his positioning and reading of the game with the ball on the floor.
I think people are being a bit harsh on him. Today was probably his worst match in the last 12 months, and he's been quite good this pre-season up until now.
It was actually noticeable that he improved significantly in the air over the course of last season. He's obviously never going to be a beast in the air, but before today he did seem to improve to the level needed where he's no longer a weakness in that aspect.
It was actually noticeable that he improved significantly in the air over the course of last season. He's obviously never going to be a beast in the air, but before today he did seem to improve to the level needed where he's no longer a weakness in that aspect.
- Status