[André Dominguez]

I do think people tend to exaggerate. Yes, he's not a world beater, but neither team in the world has two CB's at the same level, there's always one who out-stands.

I do think our CB position is quite solved with Maguire now. We should focus on an anchor midfielder in order to provide cover to our defense. We are letting our defense exposed several times in a match.

 

[zenith]

He's probably not in the best form these days but his performances have been mostly adequate and we have so many more priorities to deal with

 

[11101]

I said it earlier mate, I think some people might have already decided he's not good enough and won't change their opinion.

There is a small but very vocal group of Smalling fans who go around trashing anybody who is here to replace him. Every central defender thread on here is a comparison of them vs. Smalling. It's been directed at others who tried like Bailly and Rojo in the past but now Lindelof has come in and actually replaced him they are in overdrive.

 

[Vault Dweller]

There is a small but very vocal group of Smalling fans who go around trashing anybody who is here to replace him. Every central defender thread on here is a comparison of them vs. Smalling. It's been directed at others who tried like Bailly and Rojo in the past but now Lindelof has come in and actually replaced him they are in overdrive.

I know what you mean.

 

[André Dominguez]

There is a small but very vocal group of Smalling fans who go around trashing anybody who is here to replace him. Every central defender thread on here is a comparison of them vs. Smalling. It's been directed at others who tried like Bailly and Rojo in the past but now Lindelof has come in and actually replaced him they are in overdrive.

Smalling honeymoon Roma phase will go, and people will start to realize his flaws. He's the same player who was doing howlers once a while last season.

 

[MikeKing]

It's more important because a defender might create a chance once every 5 games, and its not their job to do it. Others are in the team for that. It is their job to break a press or stretch the play out and they will have to do it multiple times per game. It's not related to creating chances at all, it is whether we control the tempo and direction of the game or the opposition does.

Which proves my point, so I do agree with you. It is on the same level of importance as being able to win the ball back in key positions to sustain our attacking pressure. You want your defenders to be able to defend so that your attackers don't have to run back every other minute. Defenders can break the press and build an attack but the attackers will have to take risks to create and will lose the ball, this is where we are. We could be much improved with someone that could step up early and win the ball against the lone striker etc. Just win the ball and give it to a midfielder to create. I think we're close to an agreement here.

In my case, we don't even need to start as many attacks from deep because we'll get the ball quicker being aggressive in defence and move the whole team higher up with the counter, win the ball back higher up the pitch and when teams sit deep against us we pick up those long balls. If we have someone that can contribute to that picture, I would greatly appreciate their attributes however undervalued because it leads to something I want to see.

 

[Still ill]

why because you're the authority?

Rojo is great in a humorous he's mental kind of way but he cant stay fit and if the recent game at Chelsea proved he's actually not as good a defender as Lindelof. Lindelof adapted to the 3 at the back perfectly, constantly providing AWB the RWB with protection whereas Rojo on the other side constantly left Williams the LWB hopelessly exposed being far too narrow

Rojo if he can stay fit if a good option for that 4th CB role but he's not challenging Lindelof for a first team place imo, Tuanzebe on the other hand...

What a smartarse reply. We're all entitled to express an opinion. No need for the condescension.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

Aware of the team's performance, though that's not really difficult thing to notice.

Rather this saying it as it is, than the usual bs "we promise will do better".

“I generally think there is one thing we need to get better at if we are going to get back to the level Manchester United should be at: that’s winning matches week in and week out.

“Sometimes it does not have to be neat, but you should win anyway.

“There’s been a bit of a problem. If we go into the matches against big clubs, we’re all connected, and we get results.

“Then a few days go by and we meet a slightly lower team, then we have to go in exactly the same way, not get comfortable.

“Those tendencies have existed even in these matches. We start well, play fast and get to positions – but then we stop with it after 20 minutes, complicate it and play poorly.”

 

[Based Adnan]

Thought he was good today. Let down by his two partners.

 

[BlahRules]

Thought he was good today. Let down by his two partners.

He let a man pass with ease to another player which led to the goal. Not good enough.

 

[mu4c_20le]

He's more reliable than Jones but thats about it.

 

[Based Adnan]

He let a man pass with ease to another player which led to the goal. Not good enough.

He's blocking off the near post whilst standing his man. It's not his job to commit and block the potential pass as he leaves the goal open. Lingard runs back and instead of going to the ball and blocking the pass he stands next to Lindelof.

 

[A-man]

As poor as everybody else in first half, but he had a good second half.

 

[Man-United]

Yeah, he was good today. One of our best players.

 

[Bobski]

Classic Lindelof for the equalizer, passive and weak, but it won't go down as a true error.

 

[BlahRules]

He's blocking off the near post whilst standing his man. It's not his job to commit and block the potential pass as he leaves the goal open. Lingard runs back and instead of going to the ball and blocking the pass he stands next to Lindelof.

Our standard has dropped if error is blamed on others and not Lindelof - His job is not let the attacker cross and least not be able to pass to another player with ease.

 

[Based Adnan]

Our standard has dropped if error is blamed on others and not Lindelof - His job is not let the attacker cross and least not be able to pass to another player with ease.

Please explain how Lindelof can block off the pass without leaving the near post open for a shot? Rewatch the goal.

 

[BainthaBrakk]

Very good today. SU mostly abused our left side, especially in the first half. Jones bad and Maguire even if he has quality in some actions is painfully slow.

 

[BlahRules]

Please explain how Lindelof can block off the pass without leaving the near post open for a shot? Rewatch the goal.

The near post is more difficult to score and DDG is likely to save it. Also it would taking a shot with his weaker foot.

 

[Based Adnan]

The near post is more difficult to score and DDG is likely to save it. Also it would taking a shot with his weaker foot.

De Gea isn't even at his near post, he's more central. In this situation a cross is always more preferable to a shot. If Lingard had a bit of awareness about him he would have blocked the crossing option but he stood next to Lindelof and did nothing.

Sounds like you're just trying to pin the goal on Lindelof.

 

[Anders80]

Unbelievable. Are some people actually trying to pin these goals on Lindelöf? Clearly they must have an agenda.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

He was bad today, why people still trying to be positive about his today’s performance. Poor first half, struggle to clear the ball, slightly better second half but showed his weakness for the 3rd goal, weak & bottled it.

 

[MikeKing]

He's blocking off the near post whilst standing his man. It's not his job to commit and block the potential pass as he leaves the goal open. Lingard runs back and instead of going to the ball and blocking the pass he stands next to Lindelof.

He could've just won the ball first though. Is that too much to ask from a CB? I don't think so. He half ass tried, failed and fell back again covering, afraid to commit ever again. It's what he does every game. I'm sick of it, horrible defender, decent footballer.

 

[Freak]

I really don’t like him. He’s not good enough.

 

[Based Adnan]

Done well today, well taken goal.

 

[Siviz]

You know Lindelof had a good game when this thread is dead quiet.

 

[Kostov]

Scored a goal, apart from that standard Lindelof performance. Pussies away from duels, when he gets into one, usually it's either a foul or he gets mauled by the attacker.

 

[Eugenius]

You know Lindelof had a good game when this thread is dead quiet.

He was OK. Looked like he lost Grealish for his chance just before his goal.

The issue I have with Lindelof is that his maximum level is a 7 out of 10 performance for a CB. He is just very average with some clear deficiencies in his game.

 

[A-man]

Weak first half but good second. Great goal.

Scored a goal, apart from that standard Lindelof performance. Pussies away from duels, when he gets into one, usually it's either a foul or he gets mauled by the attacker.

It feels like you just write random stuff without watching the games. I think he committed one foul in the whole game.

 

[11101]

Forget the goal, he did his main job well today. The most assured of our back four.

 

[MikeKing]

Sean first half but good second. Great goal.


It feels like you just write random stuff without watching the games. I think he committed one foul in the whole game.

I watched the same game as him. The shot from Trezeguet that DDG saved is a great example of Lindelof's soft approach to defending. It is a pattern with him now. Watch that situation and tell me what he does wrong, if you can't see it you'll never get why people are negative towards his style of defending. He Scored a good goal and good to see him celebrate, just a shame it only lasted for 3 minutes. Had a mixed game but a few terrible moments on the ball under minimal pressure, misplaced passes etc. General lack of authority and influence from his position.

 

[A-man]

I watched the same game as him. The shot from Trezeguet that DDG saved is a great example of Lindelof's soft approach to defending. It is a pattern with him now. Watch that situation and tell me what he does wrong, if you can't see it you'll never get why people are negative towards his style of defending. He Scored a good goal and good to see him celebrate, just a shame it only lasted for 3 minutes. Had a mixed game but a few terrible moments on the ball under minimal pressure, misplaced passes etc. General lack of authority and influence from his position.

I think his first half was poor, as for the whole defence. He had 2-3 misplaced long balls, and there was lack of communication at a few occasions. Second half was good and solid imo.

The shot you talk about, think he did exactly what you should do. Give him a very small angle, clear view for DDG, and cover in a way that forces him to shoot at the first post where DDG should save 10/10, and no risk for bounces on the defenders leg. I seriously think that is exactly what he wanted to do and has agreed with DDG. It’s not soft or passive defending. Trezeuget couldn’t have shot a better shot, yet it was an easy save for DDG.

 

[AltiUn]

Thought he was good today.

 

[MikeKing]

I think his first half was poor, as for the whole defence. He had 2-3 misplaced long balls, and there was lack of communication at a few occasions. Second half was good and solid imo.

The shot you talk about, think he did exactly what you should do. Give him a very small angle, clear view for DDG, and cover in a way that forces him to shoot at the first post where DDG should save 10/10, and no risk for bounces on the defenders leg. I seriously think that is exactly what he wanted to do and has agreed with DDG. It’s not soft or passive defending. Trezeuget couldn’t have shot a better shot, yet it was an easy save for DDG.

It was a surprisingly good shot, but theres better finishers and quicker dribblers out there and he doesn't change it up. I get the concept, but a defender should also be able to react if he has the chance to, so it doesn't always come to that. At some point one of those shots are going in the other corner or from a deflection. He wouldn't have blocked the other corner if the shot was placed, that was a completely free shot with no pressure or physical contact applied to offset him. There was plenty of chances to handle that situation proactively if he backed himself to do so. If he can't do it, then fair play for staying away from it but it's a sign of a bad defender as much as one who always over commits like Jones.

He needs to change it up. He also started the game off with a horrible blind short pass into the central space. He has a few of those man, surely you see that. I don't think it's too important in isolation if he clears the ball wide or something because at one point I want safety first from my defender but for a supposed ball-playing CB is is extraordinarily basic in this regard. I kinda get a Evans vibe with him, except SAF was ruthless with him while Ole is very nice.

 

[A-man]

It was a surprisingly good shot, but theres better finishers and quicker dribblers out there and he doesn't change it up. I get the concept, but a defender should also be able to react if he has the chance to, so it doesn't always come to that. At some point one of those shots are going in the other corner or from a deflection. He wouldn't have blocked the other corner if the shot was placed, that was a completely free shot with no pressure or physical contact applied to offset him. There was plenty of chances to handle that situation proactively if he backed himself to do so. If he can't do it, then fair play for staying away from it but it's a sign of a bad defender as much as one who always over commits like Jones.

He needs to change it up. He also started the game off with a horrible blind short pass into the central space. He has a few of those man, surely you see that. I don't think it's too important in isolation if he clears the ball wide or something because at one point I want safety first from my defender but for a supposed ball-playing CB is is extraordinarily basic in this regard. I kinda get a Evans vibe with him, except SAF was ruthless with him while Ole is very nice.

I agree he had some issues in first half and that there are some types of situations where he should, as you say, change it up, I just don’t think that shot was a good example of it. He is taking the man running diagonally in behind Maguire who is further up the pitch. Then I think he has full control. The angle is poor and he is far away from goal. It should be an easy save for DDG and better to stay calm and avoid being dribbled.

 

[MikeKing]

I agree he had some issues in first half and that there are some types of situations where he should, as you say, change it up, I just don’t think that shot was a good example of it. He is taking the man running diagonally in behind Maguire who is further up the pitch. Then I think he has full control. The angle is poor and he is far away from goal. It should be an easy save for DDG and better to stay calm and avoid being dribbled.

Maybe you are right.

 

[arthurka]

Poor first half his passing was not good out of the defence in the first half and was all over the place, very good second half and a great goal. But as a defensive unit he and Maguire are very far away from being a good pair.

 

[Ekeke]

Good to see a CB finally get on the scoresheet for us

 

[kundalini]

Scored a superb header. Not convinced by the rest of his performance. Twice gave the ball away cheaply in our half in the first half. One fierce challenge impressed me.

I would like to see him make far better use of his passing ability; every few matches he'll attempt a through-ball to Rashford, or find a player between the lines. And of course, win more physical battles.

 

[Litch]

Our CB must have some of the least defensive cover in the Prem. Not easy to look good under these circumstances