[Jonno]

About 12 months ago I said on here that he's probably put in about 5-10 excellent performances in his entire United career and said he simply isn't good enough and I'll never trust him.

I got slated for it, it was probably a bad time to post it as he had been having a good season. But he was still a poor player having a good season.

I'll never like him, he's simply not good enough. I can live with Jones, also not at a very high level, but he has actual ability and played very well earlier this season. I think we will stick with Jones, but Smalling.... when he's fit he plays at a poor level, he gets injured too easily, he's just not up to the standard.

You look at the difference between Smalling and Bailly. A man whos had top class coaching, facilities, management, international football.... and what has he done with it? Bailly looks leagues above Smalling.

We need more Bailly's in this team and as much as people love to criticise Mourinho on here, he's the one who identified the big hole in our CB position and filled it with an absolute monster. I expect he will plug more areas of the team this summer in this way.

 

[SirMattBugsby]

About 12 months ago I said on here that he's probably put in about 5-10 excellent performances in his entire United career and said he simply isn't good enough and I'll never trust him.

I got slated for it, it was probably a bad time to post it as he had been having a good season. But he was still a poor player having a good season.

I'll never like him, he's simply not good enough. I can live with Jones, also not at a very high level, but he has actual ability and played very well earlier this season. I think we will stick with Jones, but Smalling.... when he's fit he plays at a poor level, he gets injured too easily, he's just not up to the standard.

You look at the difference between Smalling and Bailly. A man whos had top class coaching, facilities, management, international football.... and what has he done with it? Bailly looks leagues above Smalling.

We need more Bailly's in this team and as much as people love to criticise Mourinho on here, he's the one who identified the big hole in our CB position and filled it with an absolute monster. I expect he will plug more areas of the team this summer in this way.

Rightly said. Bailly has turned out to be an upgrade over Smalling.

In fact, all CBs in our squad bring something to the table except Smalling. Bailly edges him physically, Jones and Rojo show more commitment, Blind is better in build-up and even Tuanzebe seems more composed on the ball.

My bet would be on him to leave this summer. There's no point keeping two injury-prone players (Jones and Smalling) as cover and Jones is the better defender imo.

 

[Z_Wolf]

When will people stop being surprised everytime they see a Smalling cock up? How many times does he have to prove he's incapable?

We've got a lot of deadwood but he's the worst of them all. Offers nothing any 6'4 championship CB can't.

 

[Sammyjunn]

He's been woeful this season just like Evans under LVG, but have to love the revisionism on here about his form under LvG, he was absolutely top class in his 1st 1.5 under LvG and it wasnt down to the ultra possession ball, he just manhandled a lot of attackers, added in goals, sometimes had to defend on his own as well. He was excellent and also solid for England when played. Form dropped off last year January and been really poor this season.

 

[SirMattBugsby]

He's been woeful this season just like Evans under LVG, but have to love the revisionism on here about his form under LvG, he was absolutely top class in his 1st 1.5 under LvG and it wasnt down to the ultra possession ball, he just manhandled a lot of attackers, added in goals, sometimes had to defend on his own as well. He was excellent and also solid for England when played. Form dropped off last year January and been really poor this season.

Yeah, but things have changed since then. Bailly has arrived, Rojo has become first-choice, Jones has had more starts(!) and his partner-in-crime Blind is not playing at CB as well. Even Tuanzebe looked a more mature player yesterday!

These factors along with the fact that he's not really rectifying his weaknesses. Still lacks composure and concentration, poor on the ball and keeps pulling shirts in the box. Time's up Mike.

 

[sunama]

You look at the difference between Smalling and Bailly. A man whos had top class coaching, facilities, management, international football.... and what has he done with it? Bailly looks leagues above Smalling.

That's quite damning.

 

[Sammyjunn]

Yeah, but things have changed since then. Bailly has arrived, Rojo has become first-choice, Jones has had more starts(!) and his partner-in-crime Blind is not playing at CB as well. Even Tuanzebe looked a more mature player yesterday!

These factors along with the fact that he's not really rectifying his weaknesses. Still lacks composure and concentration, poor on the ball and keeps pulling shirts in the box. Time's up Mike.

I agree! Probably should be sold but I just dont get the revisionism, he has had very good spells in his United career but this season has been very below-par.

 

[Sammyjunn]

That's quite damning.

Nah, Smalling played amateur-football until a "very high age", went from Maidstone to Manchester in no time. He probably has missed a lot of professional coaching in his younger years.

 

[Robbie Boy]

I agree! Probably should be sold but I just dont get the revisionism, he has had very good spells in his United career but this season has been very below-par.

Considering this is his 7th full season here and when everything is taken into consideration, he's generally been underwhelming considering he started his career looking like he was going to develop into a top talent. It's never really happened for him and I also think his form under LvG is wildly exaggerated on here: Was he good? Yes, he was. Was he as good as some on here like to make out? Nope, not for me.

He's been pretty atrocious this season and I feel his bad seasons most definitely outweigh his good ones. I would be happy enough to see him sold but would rather Jones go if only one is leaving, as his injury record is beyond a joke at this stage.

 

[devilish]

He'll be half decent if partnered by a top quality defender who does the thinking for him. I wouldn't sell him just yet. Mainly because we've got too many positions to strengthen. We need at least 1 top quality CB and Jones should be no 1 for the chopping board

 

[Z_Wolf]

He's been woeful this season just like Evans under LVG, but have to love the revisionism on here about his form under LvG, he was absolutely top class in his 1st 1.5 under LvG and it wasnt down to the ultra possession ball, he just manhandled a lot of attackers, added in goals, sometimes had to defend on his own as well. He was excellent and also solid for England when played. Form dropped off last year January and been really poor this season.

I thought he was just as bad back then too. Our team and tactics made it easy for him to look good doing nothing. He also got away with so many fouls under LVG. His idea of marking is to basically have a wrestling match with the striker.

 

[Revan]

Biggest problem with him is he hasnt pushed on. When he broke into our team, he looked really good next to a leader like Rio or Vidic. I was really expecting him to learn from them on how to be a leader at the back. But it seems like he hasnt improved. Hes not great on the ball either. He does that thing where he charges out about 15 yards, and negates that by turning around and passing back. Its really bizarre.

Hes 27 and for how long hes played, he really should be hitting his prime as a defender. But i dont think it will be with us.

He looked good next to them because he was so young and people appreciate young players (if Tuanzabe did what Smalling did yesterday we would be saying that he's young and will learn from his mistakes, instead of he is shit) and because both Rio and Vidic were good organizers, so Smalling hadn't even to think (which clearly isn't his strength) and just follow them.

He was very good in the first half of last season playing alongside Blind (who is a very intelligent player) until he started getting praised. And like most of English players, when he started getting praise, he became shit. We have seen this scenario happening all over again.

My patience with him is over. At this stage, I would prefer going with Rojo, Bailly, Blind, new CB and the two youngsters rather than having in the mix Smalling and Jones. Just get rid of them ASAP.

 

[Bwuk]

Would far rather Tuanzebe got played ahead of Jones or Smalling for the rest of the season. Neither are particularly good, and have let Jose down clearly from his comments about lack of availability.

Just get rid. Neither should of been here anywhere near as long as they have.

 

[SirMattBugsby]

I agree! Probably should be sold but I just dont get the revisionism, he has had very good spells in his United career but this season has been very below-par.

Agree about the revisionism. People can be pretty disloyal to their own views and it's pretty convenient on a forum where it's difficult to keep track.

I for one still think Smalling played very well last season and complemented Blind's qualities perfectly. Sadly Blind has also been out of favor at CB and Rojo, Jones are the type of defenders who'll get preference. He'll most likely need to improve his reading of the game to stand any chance.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

I think I've had my watershed moment with Smalling... I ranked him as our best centre back 2 years ago, but now I really wouldn't care if he was sold.

 

[Blind]

I still think Jose will be tempted to keep him, unless there's a generous bid from the likes of Pulis I think he'll stay as a squad option.

 

[Zoo]

He always comes back slowly from injury.

 

[Robbie Boy]

I still think Jose will be tempted to keep him, unless there's a generous bid from the likes of Pulis I think he'll stay as a squad option.

I think one of him and / or Jones will definitely be off. I couldn't really care which one it is but I would rather Jones goes if it's only one due to his ridiculous injury problems.

 

[Born2Lose]

He always comes back slowly from injury.

That's another reason he shouldn't be playing for a team with aspirations to win things.

 

[sunama]

We've got a lot of deadwood but he's the worst of them all. Offers nothing any 6'4 championship CB can't.

That's cruel...and I am no Smalling fan.
I'd say he is more suited to a side battling relegation, because in that set up where the team defends with 10 men, he is pretty good.
The problem happens when the midfield are focusing on attacking and he is being asked to defend. He just can't do it.
He is powerful in the air, though. He is probably our best header of the ball.

 

[sunama]

I think one of him and / or Jones will definitely be off. I couldn't really care which one it is but I would rather Jones goes if it's only one due to his ridiculous injury problems.

You think Jones can be sold?
Who would be dumb enough to pay any money for him?
Serious question.

 

[Robbie Boy]

You think Jones can be sold?
Who would be dumb enough to pay any money for him?
Serious question.

I'm sure we can mug someone off with him. Stoke were linked last season so I'm sure there would be some interest.

 

[Devil may care]

Got the nod ashead of Jones, not sure if that means Jose prefers him or he's just a bit fitter.

 

[3KDré]

Got the nod ashead of Jones, not sure if that means Jose prefers him or he's just a bit fitter.

Probably height and age playing a factor.

 

[Kag]

Got the nod ashead of Jones, not sure if that means Jose prefers him or he's just a bit fitter.

Smalling has been getting consistent minutes all season long and Mourinho trusts him. He'll start the final, do a good job and he'll still be here next season.

If we fail to win the final then it will be because we couldn't score more than once.

 

[el3mel]

Time for him to transform to Mike Smalling he was last season just for one game, need him to step up in the final ffs.

 

[Devil may care]

Smalling has been getting consistent minutes all season long and Mourinho trusts him. He'll start the final, do a good job and he'll still be here next season.

If we fail to win the final then it will be because we couldn't score more than once.

He's a liability back there a lot of the time, makes everyone around him nervous with his uncertainty anytime the ball is on the ground near him.

 

[Kag]

He's a liability back there a lot of the time, makes everyone around him nervous with his uncertainty anytime the ball is on the ground near him.

Nah, he's very good at defending. Demonstrated it aplenty. Hence we don't concede many goals. He's shite on the ball but that's part and parcel of his game, unfortunately. The only reason we ever look nervous in matches is when we try to see out the game after 16 minutes with a one goal lead.

 

[Litch]

Big couple of weeks for Smalling....

 

[Devil may care]

Nah, he's very good at defending. Demonstrated it aplenty. Hence we don't concede many goals. He's shite on the ball but that's part and parcel of his game, unfortunately. The only reason we ever look nervous in matches is when we try to see out the game after 16 minutes with a one goal lead.

I disagree, we often look at 6's and 7's with him in the back 4 as if it's not in the air he causes panic with his positioning and awful touch when we need to clear it calmly, he's not good enough to be a United starting CB IMO and will only survive because Jones is made of egg shells.

 

[BringNaniBack]

Mike Smalling will step up now. This season he's had one or two poor games and been injured after the previous 18 months of being an absolute rock for us and he has instantly been written off which is a little harsh.

 

[Zoo]

Smalling and Blind are our most experienced pairing. Got full confidence in them.

 

[izec]

I lost all confidence in Blind. Smalling needs a colossal performance in the final. Time to step up and show he is a man.

 

[Sylar]

If Blind is playing the final, it most likely should be with Smalling. Smalling probably played his best games in recent years next to Blind (well mostly last season).

 

[surf]

Smalling and Blind were fine last season as first choice pair. I'm not concerned.

 

[Rocksy]

Smalling was helped last season by the possession game in front of him and he was normally man to man under Van Gaal. He's good then because he can defend one-one-one running back towards goal and he's as fast as most forwards. Not sure he's as good marking zonally, which is poor given his age and experience. He'll be ok for one game I think, he's surely good enough as a fourth/fifth choice centre half, even at Man Utd. I'd go this way:

DDG

Valencia Smalling Blind Young

Ander Carrick Pogba

Lingard Rashford Martial


I think he'll go this way:

Romero

Valencia Smalling Blind Darmian

Fellaini Pogba

Lingard Herrera Mkhi

Rashford

 

[flappyjay]

Smalling was helped last season by the possession game in front of him and he was normally man to man with Van Gaal. He's good then because he can defend one-one-one running back towards goal and he's as fast as most forwards. Not sure he's as good marking zonally, which is poor given his age and experience. He'll be ok for one game I think, he's surely good enough as a fourth/fifth choice centre half, even at Man Utd. I'd go this way:

DDG

Valencia Smalling Blind Young

Ander Carrick Pogba

Lingard Rashford Martial


I think he'll go this way:

Romero

Valencia Smalling Blind Darmian

Fellaini Pogba

Lingard Herrera Mkhi

Rashford

Martial and Mata have three games to audition for a part and I can see Mata probably squeezing himself in

 

[Rocksy]

Forgot about Mata. I'd trust him over Mkhi. You think he's going 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 in the final?

 

[Hojoon]

Forgot about Mata. I'd trust him over Mkhi. You think he's going 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 in the final?

I think Fellaini, Herrera, and Pogba will start as the midfield three unless there's an injury. We started with two in midfield against Southampton in our last cup final and they were having a field day in the first half.

 

[red4ever 79]

Gonna be the same s*ite formation in the final. 3 cm's and 1 striker. meh