[Walters_19_MuFc]

That Diaby guy for Brugge must've had nightmares about Smalling yesterday. That said, I can imagine most players who come up against him do. *cough* Harry Kane *cough*.

Had another super performance yesterday.

 

[Green_Red]

really starting to step into Rio's boots

 

[Escobar]

As I already said last season, it should be Smalling plus one

 

[bosnian_red]

Was brilliant yesterday, swept everything up without a problem, pushed their forward around and didn't give him a sniff... God I hope he stays fit. He really has it in him to become the undisputed best defender in the country and one of the best in the world, just needs to stay fit. Can say the exact same about Shaw.

 

[Unlikely lad]

I've got a good feeling about this season; I feel we'll turn out to be a well oiled machine not really over-reliant on a single player... Except Smalling Really need him to stay fit

 

[wiz4231]

Beast mode...he's no Xavi but his passing anit bad as people make out

 

[jb8521]

He's been very good since the 2nd half of last season but this season he seems to have realized just how big and strong he actually is. Men against boys is a phrase which gets used a lot but there have been times this season where he actually genuinely looked like an adult playing against children the way people have been just bouncing off him

 

[Mali_Zeus]

His every move tells his full of confidence right now. What I really like is his positioning and anticipating. Opposing player gets a pass but Smalling is already there and takes a ball of him in a second cause of his great positioning and anticipating where the pass will go. Or he presses so good attacking player is left with very few options with the ball.

 

[#07]

That Diaby guy for Brugge must've had nightmares about Smalling yesterday. That said, I can imagine most players who come up against him do. *cough* Harry Kane *cough*.

Had another super performance yesterday.

Think Harry Kane's still in his back pocket mate. Kane's probably pretty good friends with Rudy Gestede now since the two of them spent so much time there.

 

[Loublaze]

Think Harry Kane's still in his back pocket mate. Kane's probably pretty good friends with Rudy Gestede now since the two of them spent so much time there.

 

[ghagua]

I just have a smile on my face every time i watch Smalling play. He is showing up all the feckers who were making jokes about him, especially the media. He will make mistakes during the season, but any defender will make mistakes, no matter how good they are.

 

[Riz]

The guys like a octopus when a striker tries to hold the ball up, he simply wraps his legs around and knocks it away. Watching him ease people off the ball the same way the school captain does to the chess club fill ins at house football was brilliant.

 

[criticalanalysis]

Beast mode...he's no Xavi but his passing anit bad as people make out

Lmao, how many times did he put that striker on his ass with a gentle shove. Beast.

I like that he isn't afraid to the play the ball forward and inbwetwen the lines i.e between two players rather than just going square.

Also since LVG has come in, it's obvious he's been told to play with the ball more and he's shown more than a few times, that if there's space to maraud forward (when the strikers shepherd you to run past them into the 'danger' space through the middle) he will take it. Muppet mode but it's Lucio/Silva esque. It's a bit greedy to wish but I hope he can develop his forward game a bit where he will go box to box. That would be utter brilliant to see him deliver the final ball/have a go in the in/near the box himself.

 

[LeChuck]

Been saying it for years that the lad is class and our best defender. I still think he can add another level to his game.

 

[Brightonian]

Three games in, he's been comfortably our best player. Flawless, really. I was surprised to see Memphis rated higher than him for the Brugge game - two great goals, yes, but he wasted good chances too, whereas you could go back over Smalling's performance with hindsight and still struggle to spot anything he could have done better.

 

[Raoul]

Fantastic form so far. Looking forward to seeing how he fares against the likes of Benteke, Costa, and Aguero.

 

[Walrus]

He's been very good since the 2nd half of last season but this season he seems to have realized just how big and strong he actually is. Men against boys is a phrase which gets used a lot but there have been times this season where he actually genuinely looked like an adult playing against children the way people have been just bouncing off him

Yeah, I have noticed the British media (finally) beginning to actually realise that the lad is a good defender. Even now it seems more like reluctant praise - "starting to show signs of becoming a solid PL defender" for instance.

 

[ZDwyr]

Three games in, he's been comfortably our best player. Flawless, really. I was surprised to see Memphis rated higher than him for the Brugge game - two great goals, yes, but he wasted good chances too, whereas you could go back over Smalling's performance with hindsight and still struggle to spot anything he could have done better.

Probably the yellow card was his only blemish.

 

[Welsh Wonder]

Lmao, how many times did he put that striker on his ass with a gentle shove. Beast.

I like that he isn't afraid to the play the ball forward and inbwetwen the lines i.e between two players rather than just going square.

Also since LVG has come in, it's obvious he's been told to play with the ball more and he's shown more than a few times, that if there's space to maraud forward (when the strikers shepherd you to run past them into the 'danger' space through the middle) he will take it. Muppet mode but it's Lucio/Silva esque. It's a bit greedy to wish but I hope he can develop his forward game a bit where he will go box to box. That would be utter brilliant to see him deliver the final ball/have a go in the in/near the box himself.

First ever box to box centre back? Feck it, why not.

 

[criticalanalysis]

First ever box to box centre back? Feck it, why not.

This would be waaaaaay further down the line (with Smalling needing to improve a lot on that end) but having a defender, who's comfortable with bringing the ball out past the half way line would be a massive help to the team if we are being pressed by a very good team.

 

[SteveW]

Three games in, he's been comfortably our best player. Flawless, really. I was surprised to see Memphis rated higher than him for the Brugge game - two great goals, yes, but he wasted good chances too, whereas you could go back over Smalling's performance with hindsight and still struggle to spot anything he could have done better.

Missed probably our easiest chance of the night. That said, he was outstanding again

 

[FC Ronaldo]

This run of form is like the English Boateng. Long may it last!

 

[Unlikely lad]

Love it when he goes on those runs.

 

[OnlyTwoDaSilvas]

The back four has looked a little more vulnerable today than the previous 3 games. He seems to be holding it all together though. Enormous presence. His passing has been great too.

 

[Devil may care]

Had his best game on the ball for ages today, passed it well. Interested to see his pass accuracy stats.

 

[Rooney in Paris]

Excellent again today, such an excellent defender.

 

[paulscholes18]

Great game again from him, is there a team who he wouldn't start for?

 

[ZDwyr]

Some good passing. Got my MOTM. If he wasn't that then he was in the top 2 or 3 anyway. Another good game.

 

[Raw]

Consistently been our best defender. If only that header went in!

 

[Isotope]

Consistently been our best defender. If only that header went in!

I might wake up the whole neighborhood when that header was blocked in the line.

Anyway, he's cruising his way up to become United captain.

 

[Skills]

Almost won it for us at the other. Such a special, special talent.

 

[Trizy]

He's gotten so good and dominant in defending where the entire pub is cheering for his every move/tackle/header like Fellaini vs Valencia last year (when Old Trafford was out of line) but not sarcastically.

He makes playing CB look easy, dare I say like a prime Rio

 

[DWelbz19]

Anyway, he's cruising his way up to become United captain.

Bin Rooney and Captain Chris will roam free

 

[Snow]

This run of form is like the English Boateng. Long may it last!

A bit weird comparing him to a player that's younger than him.

 

[FC Ronaldo]

A bit weird comparing him to a player that's younger than him.

A bit weird focusing on age when everything else makes sense.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

A woman on fancam called him 'Smalldini'.

 

[Wicked_Badger]

He's really approaching that Rio/Vidic level isn't he? The games towards the end of last season & beginning of this have been excellent. Hasn't put a foot wrong.

It's been a while since I've seen a United defence under pressure during games & had confidence that one of them will just 'sort it out' so to speak.

Genuinely nice bloke too by all accounts. Hope he continues his rise in prominence.

 

[Snow]

A bit weird focusing on age when everything else makes sense.

No. It was a weird comparison. Comparing a player that everyone watches every week to a younger player in a different league that most people watch few times a year. Comparisons are made so it's easier to understand what you're talking about.

 

[Ish]

A bit weird comparing him to a player that's younger than him.

Boating is a year older than Smalling, no?

 

[OnlyTwoDaSilvas]

One of our most important players, if not the most important. Dread to think of him getting injured. We have no one who can replicate his dominance.