We've only just started recovering from the last internation break and now there's another? Let's hope we hit the ground running after this one and Mkhitaryan finds some confidence and form for Armenia if they have some games.
International Squads for Nov International Break | Martial, Young get called up while Smalling axed
- Thread starter Damien
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
Can we feck this Yes Man off already. Any self-respecting manager doesn't make these types of comments public, it's a matter between you, Smalling and Mourinho and not the tabloids or the fans.
Have some fecking confidence in your ability to keep the job on merit, and stop peddling yourself to the fans, the FA and the media trying to get people who'll fight your corner when we inevitably have a shit World Cup.
Spineless, clueless, boring cnut.
Have some fecking confidence in your ability to keep the job on merit, and stop peddling yourself to the fans, the FA and the media trying to get people who'll fight your corner when we inevitably have a shit World Cup.
Spineless, clueless, boring cnut.
Smalling has height, good physique, is fearless and is very good at clearing the ball. These are abilities suited to a defense sitting low, in balance and forcing the opposition to cross or something similar.
What he is not the best at is: ballhandling, positioning, passing over 10 meter, and heading accuracy(seriously, horrible.). Abilities suited to a CB playing for a team trying to attack, retaining possession, pressing and with a high defensive line.
Under Van Gaal we were seldom caught on the counter. He got away way to often(luckily for us) for almost ripping the shirt of the opposition. And his passes were short and simple(Even Hibbert could have played those). This cautious playingstyle and add DDG into the mix might be a factor for why we conceded so few goals? He played well under Van Gaal, and was in very good form, but this is mainly due to the way we defended.
As for his contributions in the present day Man United: I agree that he certainly has his uses when Mourinho in some matches play the way he does. And when we deploy a defensive tactic, sitting low and mainly defending against crosses i would prefer him over the likes of Stones, Maguire, Koscielny etc. But aren't these defensive tactics quite similar to how Tony Pulis/West Brom likes to play?
Smalling out - 5 clean sheets since the last international break.
Stones in - 0 clean sheets since the last international break.
Hart in - Shipped 8 goals since the last international break.
Southgate, you complete and utter twat!
Stones in - 0 clean sheets since the last international break.
Hart in - Shipped 8 goals since the last international break.
Southgate, you complete and utter twat!
This belief that Smalling cannot play out of the back is the biggest joke of the year.
How many fecking full backs do England need, Rose, Bertrand, Young, Delph, Walker and Trippier. I suppose Delph could be used as midfield cover too but it's still a ridiculous amount to call up.
Replace Winks with Lallana and Young with Rose, and that´s who I got. Then it´s most important for Southgate to finally get the players to work as hard for England as they do for their clubs, especially defensively. All these guys are in red-hot form, but the effort just seems different For England and that´s when a fairly ball-orientated, talented, but offensive team can get killed. These guys need to bust their asses like they do for their clubs.
With the current squad manager, tactics and skills may be contributing factor to the lack of success, but the main reason is effort. A TEAM can also look like a loose group of individuals, cause the players don´t work hard enough for each other, not just because the players are set up incorrectly on the field.
Lol at people here saying Maguire and Cahill are good with the ball at their feet. I mean Maguire looks even more awkward on the ball than Smalling, and mostly anyone that presses Cahill is at least guaranteed a throw-in.
Could be worse try being an American when it comes to national team squads.
Tammy Abraham has Nigeria trying to woo him into switching. Plus the alternative is Mr Reliable Daniel Sturridge who doesn't even start for his club any more. Abraham is also that option that you can hit long late on.
Im trying to imagine a France front three of
Mbappe-Griezmann-Martial
That's actually scary.
Mbappe-Griezmann-Martial
That's actually scary.
The Smalling decision is everything that is wrong with the England team. He's their best CB, most natural defender by far.
They are trying to be something they are not, they will end up with average CB's but who can play the ball slightly better than Smalling, but will end up hoofing it anyway as when the going gets tough they will be too scared to take risks.
They are trying to be something they are not, they will end up with average CB's but who can play the ball slightly better than Smalling, but will end up hoofing it anyway as when the going gets tough they will be too scared to take risks.
Who on here has said Cahill is good with the ball at his feet?
Pleased for Tammy and Cheeks. Would be great to see them both get a few minutes.
@Revan, sort of.
Disappointing that Smalling hasn't been called up as he's played really well. Happy for Martial - I want to see him and Fekir together 
Does anyone have the Spain squad?
Does anyone have the Spain squad?
Tomorrow.Disappointing that Smalling hasn't been called up as he's played really well. Happy for Martial - I want to see him and Fekir together
Does anyone have the Spain squad?
Southgate's comments are a disgrace and he's made himself even more of a fool by picking Joe Hart considering City got rid of him because he couldn't play from the back. Also after the qualification campaign where I didn't see England play from the back, now Southgate wants to start playing tika taka 
Exactly, he seems to be reasonable in his passing and no worse than any other England defender.
Ah, thanks. I was looking all over so that was a waste of time. I'm hoping Jonathan Viera's called up again.
To be fair, it was clear that Southgate wanted to play a progressive, technical style with England from day one when he built the team around Jordan Henderson.
He’s clearly the worst of the group in contention for me. It isn’t just his passing it is how long it takes him to control the ball and get it out of his feet. Smalling even knows his limitations and plays it frustratingly safe all the time. I can’t believe you can watch United and not see that Jones is comfortably better than Smalling with the ball at his feet in controlling it, passing it and stepping out with it.
Do you really think Pep would pay £50m for Smalling? I bet he wouldn’t even take him on a free.
Not sure about anybody else, but I couldn't give less of a feck about international football if I tried. The players always do the job for their clubs, but come international they shit the bed, always the way.
Have to disagree. Smalling is a good defender and has been playing well for us. His passing is ok but is Cahill's better for example? He should be picked for defensive abilities which means he should be in the squad. Playing it safe doesn't mean he is useless with the ball. I mean people are carrying off like he passes like a Sunday league player and since when do England play possession football? No Pep wouldn't pay £50m for Stones but he is not worth that either and City pay inflated prices so that argument is worthless. Jones is having an excellent season. Clearly Jones and Stones are more comfortable on the ball but Smalling is not as bad as people have made out.
Lets just bring Shelvey back and play them together.
We have to agree to disagree. I think Smalling is a good CB who is particularly excellent in the air but he offers nothing on the ball. I wouldn’t object to him being in the England squad and think Southgate was careless to talk about him like that. I don’t think him not being in the squad is a great injustice though.
That is harsh for Smalling. He’s been good so far this season and excelllent the last month. Also what more does Southgate want. He brings the ball out and passes it to a more capable person without aimlessly losing it.
Guess England’s loss is our gain but then damn it Ashley Young.. great for Martial as well I guess, wonder if Dembele was fit if he’d have gotten called up. Would be interested to see he and Mbappe in a forward line.
Guess England’s loss is our gain but then damn it Ashley Young.. great for Martial as well I guess, wonder if Dembele was fit if he’d have gotten called up. Would be interested to see he and Mbappe in a forward line.
If you’re going to drop Smalling, surely you have to drop Cahill first. Kudos for Southgate for trying something new with England, something a lot of people have been complaining about.
Good decision on Young and Abraham call ups specifically..
Smalling really isnt that bad on the ball but he isnt adventurous with it at all.
Amazed at the Smalling decision. Not so much the reason of needing to be better on the ball as that's his main criticism from our fans. However, he's been excellent since coming into the side again this season and if your plan is to play with wing backs, you're going to have three CB's. If your other two can play the ball out well enough, why drop arguably the best actual defender and the one who is going to be best in the air? Even if he is on the bench or there to be used against 'bigger' more direct teams, he's very useful.
Southgate is a joke but we knew that anyway. Smalling was in the 3 to be voted our player of the month and doesn't get called up! Hopefully that means we'll have at least one fit defender after the international break...
Gomez should never be picked ahead of Smalling.
Well after the international break we will have Smalling and Rojo fit , if any other CB come back injured. Cloud - Silver lining scenario.
But I think it is way out of order of Southgate to give reasons for Smalling omission. What happens when others are crocked and he has to Call Smalling back, " Err, Mike, rest of CB's are injured ,do u mind coming back just this instance even though your ball carrying skills are Zero?".
But I think it is way out of order of Southgate to give reasons for Smalling omission. What happens when others are crocked and he has to Call Smalling back, " Err, Mike, rest of CB's are injured ,do u mind coming back just this instance even though your ball carrying skills are Zero?".
Dropping him from the squad entirely is bad enough, publicly humiliating the lad is going to far. Awful statement to release in the media.
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On a more positive note, its nice to see Young get a call up. He's been excellent at LB/LWB for us of late and deserves some recognition for his efforts. Think he will start him as well, can't think of anyone better in the role seeing Rose is still out injured.
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On a more positive note, its nice to see Young get a call up. He's been excellent at LB/LWB for us of late and deserves some recognition for his efforts. Think he will start him as well, can't think of anyone better in the role seeing Rose is still out injured.
Why do you hate him so much?
feck, I'd be embarrassed to post shit like this.
The comments and the timing about dropping Smalling are awful. But let's not forget Mourinho start it, when he commented he joked with the player himself he would be crazy to put him distributing play from the back, after the Europa League final. Actually, he complimented himself about allowing Sánchez to have the ball, which is curious considering Pochettino played him against Real Madrid but left him out against us. People are surprised Smalling plays as the central centerback in a back three for us, supposedly it should be one with more passing technique there… Maybe Southgate “thinks” likewise.
Who cares what Pep would do? Embarrassing stuff.
Tbh I think Smalling is a horrible footballer bailed out by being athletic.
Our best defender is a horrible footballer, good grief.