NoLookPasser
Full Member
- Joined
- Oct 24, 2016
- Messages
- 283
Physicality is the only reason why he starts most of the matches under Mourinho. Unless, we upgrade on him and Jones, we are never going to challenge for the title.
Exactly. It's actually a tough decision who deserves to play alongside "the new guy" but we sure as shit need someone else in the mix.I agree, the Caf seems to be split into sects that favour one of the 4 CB's we have, but I think looking at it overall it should be clear we lack a true top class CB to lead this defense, they are all foot soldiers, none of them are Generals, and whichever got picked to be the main partner would likely flourish with someone calm and composed next to them.
I would be glad just to stop paying him wages if he goes for less. He should not play for us again. Today his mistakes only cost us a single goal and not the game.We should take anything above 20m for him.
It might even be a CB that gets a few groans here, but it will be someone with some composure and grit I think, as far as who deserves to be the partner, I'd say this season Rojo has made the strongest showing to stake a ciaim at first crack.Exactly. It's actually a tough decision who deserves to play alongside "the new guy" but we sure as shit need someone else in the mix.
Varane would be a huge upgrade on Smalling in terms of on the ball ability but he makes at least as many defensive mistakes as Smalling. I'd personally argue he makes more. Don't really think he'd be much of a leader either.I think we might get Varane since DeGea is going the other way.
And I hope so too. I have no bias against Bailly or Smalling. I just gives dues and blames based on what I see. Smalling fecked up today, no doubt. But he was good up until and after that point.It doesn't, but it also doesn't measure individual bias either. Besides Bailly's what.. 5 years younger than Smalling, and playing his first season in the Prem?
My personal opinion, but Bailly will be a much better defender at 27 than Smalling is now.
Pretty much this. Jones' attempt on making a clearance was pathetic, and I'm being kind. He was also beaten fairly easily too many times today. Bailly's performance was a roller coaster; some parts were very good, but he also made some silly decisions. Today, it looked like Bailly and Valencia struggled a little to find a rhythm.When people are criticising him for that goal, I hope they're not just stopping there. All of our defence were culpable for their goal. It was a calamitous effort from each one of them. Nobody cleared the ball properly or even bothered to organise the defence. They all stopped, watched and dawdled. Smalling made a cock up of that hacked clearance which cannot be excused totally but others should shoulder the blame too. That's the point here.
As a wider point, it's clear that he's not in the same form that he was last season under Louis and has regressed a bit with Jose. He's still a good option for us but he's got an uphill battle ahead to become a mainstay for the next 2 years in Mourinho's team.
When we were forced to defend as much as we were, it is only natural that our defenders will be beaten once or twice. And although the attempt of making a clearance prior to the goal was awful, the ball basically fell right to him. If one of our strikers had been unable to convert that to a goal, we wouldn't think half as bad of it as people are blaming Smalling now. The important part is, we won and the mistake wasn't costly. As you said, it was a collective meltdown towards the end. I don't think Mourinho's tactics worked either; there were simply too many defenders, and they pretty much got in each others way. Perhaps Jones should have been pushed in front of the defense when Rojo came on?He didn't mark Boro players after a long throw in in another instance; beaten by Negredo (nutmegged?)... Not shaming him alone. Bailly couldn't head a ball & had trouble with deciding what to do with the ball half the time. Jones throwing himself everywhere. Rojo kicking the ball aimlessly. Young didn't bother move up and be an outlet... Basically collectively a mess defensively. No leadership, no structure at the end. It;s like Leceister game couple season ago mk II
Four certainly were one or two too many.Also it looks like the players (CBs) dont like playing with 2 more. Whenever we had 2 center backs, their performances seemed a lot more composed. Too many cooks I think.
There's no point doing good things for major parts of a game but then fecking everything up by making costly mistakes. I can assemble an aeroplane perfectly but if I installed the engine wrongly and it comes off mid flight and people die, nobody would be letting me off, citing how good a job i did on the plane itself.I would argue having bad positioning, which Bailly was cuplable of quite a few times today (easily 5 by my count, even Jose had a go at him), is far far worse for a central defender.
Smalling is as safe as they come, from being transfered out, this summer. He actually has been our best centre back this season, whatever his weaknesses. You'd have to replace the whole rest of the CB line before you even get to look at him.
Alderwiereld did the same thing today, what exactly is your point? We won the game, he still had a good game as well despite the mistake.There's no point doing good things for major parts of a game but then fecking everything up by making costly mistakes. I can assemble an aeroplane perfectly but if I installed the engine wrongly and it comes off mid flight and people die, nobody would be letting me off, citing how good a job i did on the plane itself.
I'd give Bailly time, something both Jones and Smalling have gotten plenty of. We'd do well to get a top class non project centre back and cutting our losses on either Jones, Smalling or both.
My point is, we'd do well to get a top quality centre back to start games for us.Alderwiereld did the same thing today, what exactly is your point? We won the game, he still had a good game as well despite the mistake.
We have oneMy point is, we'd do well to get a top quality centre back to start games for us.
Serious question: Who?We have one
Fellaini is much more competent on the ball.He's basically a pacey Fellaini.
Fellaini is better with the ball at his feet.
Of course he is. One's a midfielder that received top level training and development from the age of 8, while the other is a CB that was playing non league football until he was 19. The fact that you can ignore this and still criticize Smalling for his ball skills, while not minding that Fellaini is poor on the ball himself, baffles me.He's basically a pacey Fellaini.
Fellaini is better with the ball at his feet.
Agree, even though he flatters to deceive at times I have never really rated him.He isnt a footballer. He is big and fast. Can't kick a ball and has mistakes in him every game. Him being captain sometimes baffles me, he can't communicate normally but in games he never gets things done.. He never steps in and takes control and never sticks up for his players or team. This squad hasnt got any character without Zlatan or Pogba..
Rojo has been by a significant distance our best CB this season. Jones has been quite good until a month or so ago, but he is still a liability giving cheap free kicks often. Bailly started good but his performances have dropped after African Cup. And Smalling has been mediocre.All our CBs are around the same level and all have different flaws. That's bad for Mike, cause he's 28. I can't decide who I'd rather keep between him and Jones. He probably just shades it.