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2014-15 Performances


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6.0 Season Average Rating
Appearances
29
Clean sheets
8
Goals
4
Assists
0
Yellow cards
3
Red cards
1

surf

Full Member
Joined
May 30, 2007
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6,704
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In the wilderness
Smalling has huge potential as a centre back. For one thing, it is the position where, more than any other, physical abilities are important relative to technical ability. Ideally, a centre back is big, tall, strong, fast and a commanding header of the ball. Smalling is easily the best in the league in these aspects. He is also a natural defender and rock solid in one on ones, intervening in dangerous situations, and in making clearances. Where he falls down sometimes is concentration, positioning and distribution. As he learns the technical aspects he is going to get better and better. He is also becoming more confident and assertive on the pitch, a sign that he is developing the mentality to be a big player for a big club. He is set fair to be one of the big winners under van Gaal.
 

untitled_6899

Full Member
Joined
May 10, 2005
Messages
1,394
He has all the attributes to become a brilliant centre back but I feel the only thing that will hold him back is his distribution - it gets better when he is confident but at times it can be very erratic
 

ZDwyr

Full Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2014
Messages
7,318
armband for Chris on Saturday? would love that
I was thinking about this. If Carrick plays then he would get it I suppose. Not sure how van Gaal rates RvP in terms of leadership for us either, but he would probably get the nod if he starts too. Personally I will be thrilled if Smalling leads us out :drool:
 

m1y2

New Member
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Jan 26, 2014
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Prague
I was thinking about this. If Carrick plays then he would get it I suppose. Not sure how van Gaal rates RvP in terms of leadership for us either, but he would probably get the nod if he starts too. Personally I will be thrilled if Smalling leads us out :drool:
I think it was him who took the band after Rooney was subbed off against Toffies, RVP going on the pitch and giving the band to Chris so that makes RVP out of contention and only one who could were it ahead of him could be Carrick but as you said would be fantastic to see our team coming out of tunnel with Smalling wearing it ..
 

Loublaze

ATLien
Joined
Aug 30, 2009
Messages
16,593
Brilliant highlight video of Smalling's season. Needs to be updated at the end of the season

 

ZDwyr

Full Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2014
Messages
7,318
I think it was him who took the band after Rooney was subbed off against Toffies, RVP going on the pitch and giving the band to Chris so that makes RVP out of contention and only one who could were it ahead of him could be Carrick but as you said would be fantastic to see our team coming out of tunnel with Smalling wearing it ..
Completely forgot about that! You're right. Hopefully it is Smalling then.
 

OnlyTwoDaSilvas

Gullible
Joined
Feb 4, 2013
Messages
21,623
Location
The Mathews Bridge
His usual self today. His consistency since the Etihad brainfart has really been special. Just a shame he's plumped next to our globally renowned left-side-of-defence revolving door.
 

BennyBlanco

fixated with Shaw's bum
Joined
Jul 21, 2011
Messages
5,802
defending 10/10 today, passing though? sideways, sideways, sideways,
Steps into the space in midfield annnnnd...... passes it backwards to a teenage McNair to take responsibility.
 

Skills

Snitch
Joined
Jan 17, 2012
Messages
42,010
Did his job impeccably - which is pretty much normal for him now. We had them locked in their own half and it was a lot because of him, repeatedly winning everything that went anywhere near our backline and regaining possession.
 

Kag

Full Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2013
Messages
18,875
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United Kingdom
He's been dealing with two idiots to his left and right for three weeks now and conducted himself impeccably. A one man back line.
 

Skills

Snitch
Joined
Jan 17, 2012
Messages
42,010
defending 10/10 today, passing though? sideways, sideways, sideways,
Steps into the space in midfield annnnnd...... passes it backwards to a teenage McNair to take responsibility.
It would be dumb to make him step up and run into midfield and desert the defense because he's basically the only competent defender on the pitch for our team. Do you really want the likes of McNair and Valencia back defending a break? If so, see Everton's first goal last week.
 

DWelbz19

Correctly predicted Portugal to win Euro 2016
Joined
Oct 31, 2012
Messages
33,741
He's been dealing with two idiots to his left and right for three weeks now and conducted himself impeccably. A one man back line.
Yup. It did basically become a one man line when Young went LB and Falcao came on for McNair.
 

Getsme

Full Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2013
Messages
11,244
Played well today, I was impressed with his concentration level. He could easily have switched off today given that he was playing as the last man.
 

BennyBlanco

fixated with Shaw's bum
Joined
Jul 21, 2011
Messages
5,802
It would be dumb to make him step up and run into midfield and desert the defense because he's basically the only competent defender on the pitch for our team. Do you really want the likes of McNair and Valencia back defending a break? If so, see Everton's first goal last week.
The problem was I think perpetuated, we had no Carrick to dump our balls from the back to bring out into midfield.
Smalling continually passed possession to a young McNair to bring into midfield.
A small mark against him, but cant fault him for his defending at all.
 

OnlyTwoDaSilvas

Gullible
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Feb 4, 2013
Messages
21,623
Location
The Mathews Bridge
The problem was I think perpetuated, we had no Carrick to dump our balls from the back to bring out into midfield.
Smalling continually passed possession to a young McNair to bring into midfield.
A small mark against him, but cant fault him for his defending at all.
Even at McNair's age and inexperience, I think his technique at running with the ball is already much better than Smalling's. I think McNair is a much more gifted ball-player, so I don't have a problem with the more competent dribbler taking the ball out. I want to see us take more risks, but if anyone on the pitch is going to play it safe, I'd definitely rather it was Smalling.
 

BennyBlanco

fixated with Shaw's bum
Joined
Jul 21, 2011
Messages
5,802
Even at McNair's age and inexperience, I think his technique at running with the ball is already much better than Smalling's. I think McNair is a much more gifted ball-player, so I don't have a problem with the more competent dribbler taking the ball out. I want to see us take more risks, but if anyone on the pitch is going to play it safe, I'd definitely rather it was Smalling.
Yea, fair point.
 

Walrus

Oppressed White Male
Joined
Aug 25, 2008
Messages
11,156
The funny part was after we took McNair off and Big Chris was literally defending by himself.
 

Van Piorsing

Lost his light sabre
Joined
Feb 10, 2006
Messages
22,525
Location
Polska
He clearly need to score more goals because who will if not he ?

Stellar lad. Will be even better with more compact team around him.