[criticalanalysis]

There’s no way Smalling should be dropped.

Let Lindelof form a partnership with Rojo/Bailly/Jones and let them be the future.

It's nothing to do with Smalling's performances, which have been good, it's about building for the future. Right now our future is basically, 'get everyone behind the ball, defend and when we get it, let the players decide themselves'. Without direction from Mourinho, Smalling's passing and composure on the ball will ALWAYS be go back to the keeper and go square.

He's not to blame, it's far wider than that but I don't feel losing his defensive nous would harm us in the long term if it meant trying to build it out from the back more.

 

[podurban2]

Kung Victor! I didn’t think he was good enough but he has shown he has the potential to be mint for us, very happy. I may dream of a Swedish captain one day.

 

[Charlie Foley]

He's improving. I know the defence needs to sort out its defending first and foremost and he was struggling with that earlier in the season but we saw today how much a bit of composure at the back can do for us. Also his actual defending is definitely improving, good against two tough teams this past week.

 

[prath92]

He was good. His passing was top class and did well defending. He has overtaken smalling and Rojo in the pecking order for me (which is as good as first as jones and bailly are always out)

 

[The Cat]

Rojo has to go at somepoint anyway. He's a clogger and a card on legs.

 

[It's B Rubble]

Jose sees Lindelof and Bailly as our future and I have no problems with that. Lindelof was better than Rojo against the quick city forwards and his distribution was decent. Keep starting him Jose, his rapid development is wonderful to watch.

 

[Strats]

My Motm alongside Matic. He was excellent when he came on. Not an easy game ti get subbed into.

 

[Ludvig nH]

Without a doubt our best defender in the last couple of games. Came in and where the only one with ideas playing it out from the back, muuuuuuuch needed without Pog and bad management rating Rojo over him at this point.

 

[Acole9]

I must've been watching something else, he gave a very sloppy ball away which nearly led to a goal and on another attacking move he was jogging rather than sprinting.

 

[haram]

Thought he did well, at least there is some sort of positive.

 

[MAME DIOUF 32]

I must've been watching something else, he gave a very sloppy ball away which nearly led to a goal and on another attacking move he was jogging rather than sprinting.

I thought he'd got injured when he played that pass, like his hamstring had gone. Maybe he momentarily got a foot caught in the turf.

 

[Sylar]

Hes done well for a long extended period now. Think Huddersfield was the last time he made a mistake.

 

[el3mel]

He looks completely settled here. Might as well finally try him with Bailly as a partnership when Bailly returns.

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

Rojo has to go at somepoint anyway. He's a clogger and a card on legs.

I wouldn't sell any center back because neither Bailly nor Jones can play a full season.

 

[Giggsy92]

Jumped ahead of Rojo in the pecking order for now at least. Not sure why Jose usually goes with him at RCB and Smalling at LCB, the other way round seems to make so much more sense to me.

 

[Loublaze]

I must've been watching something else, he gave a very sloppy ball away which nearly led to a goal and on another attacking move he was jogging rather than sprinting.

That was literally his only bad pay of the game and he was in some discomfort when he played that pass. He made some really good long passes out to the right. Much better than Rojo's aimless hoofs

 

[Bwuk]

Time for an extended run in the side.

 

[Nick7]

I must've been watching something else, he gave a very sloppy ball away which nearly led to a goal and on another attacking move he was jogging rather than sprinting.

That was literally the only thing he did wrong after coming on.

 

[Deawin]

I must've been watching something else, he gave a very sloppy ball away which nearly led to a goal and on another attacking move he was jogging rather than sprinting.

Soo you choose to pick the one mistake he made and the attack you points out him not sprinting is cause it clearly wasnt needed.

Solid game and his ability to build play from the back is going to be huge for us in the future, smart player.

 

[James Peril]

Such a shame that he needed so much time to toughen up and be ready for this task, I don't like that lack of mental toughness, but he is sitting at the table now for sure. You can clearly see the difference and importance between him and let's say Smalling, being able to play the ball over an opponent and hit our player, it really could create a good counter-attack for us on any given day. Still not very confident about his defensive skills or influence as a leader, for example today we did not defend very well at times and one of the stoppers need to be a leader for 90 minutes. We can say this and that about Lukaku not being able to defend properly, but a great defender would always talk to the other players and set us up properly. If Rio or Vidic played today, we wouldn't let in any of those goals.

The above was a hard way of saying that I like what I see, there is potential in there, but he really must become tougher and more a leader to reach the top. Bailly is much tougher but probably too hot-headed to become our defensive marshall, Lindelof clearly has the coolness to become one... let's see if he develops further.

 

[podurban2]

I must've been watching something else, he gave a very sloppy ball away which nearly led to a goal and on another attacking move he was jogging rather than sprinting.

He was covering the other attacker, Jesus or Sterling can’t remember. If he’d sprint he would have left the city player in the open. Weird critique.

 

[Bruno8]

He is improving and will definitely come good next season.

However its clear if the ictor/Eric partnership will work because they are both comfortable on the right side of the CB and none have played on Left side so far

 

[Nucks]

It's a pretty amazing turn around, he had an absolutely shocking start to his career, Huddersfield, but he's become, I think, our first choice along side Bailey.

 

[gajender]

It's a pretty amazing turn around, he had an absolutely shocking start to his career, Huddersfield, but he's become, I think, our first choice along side Bailey.

Bailly needs to stay fit before he can lay claim to being our first choice CB , I am afraid he is turning into another Phil Jones.

 

[Trizy]

My Motm alongside Matic. He was excellent when he came on. Not an easy game ti get subbed into.

Agreed. Matic was my motm but Vic not far behind. They were the only ones who didn't shit themselves, showed for the ball and tried keep it rather than hoof it.

 

[saik]

My MOTM. The only one in the team who had the composure to get his head up and look for a pass instead of hoofing aimlessly. Finally seems settled here after his initial troubles.

 

[SoCross]

Played well!

 

[Acole9]

Soo you choose to pick the one mistake he made and the attack you points out him not sprinting is cause it clearly wasnt needed.

Solid game and his ability to build play from the back is going to be huge for us in the future, smart player.

It may well have been needed there was only Smalling between the City attacker and our goal!

 

[Acole9]

He was covering the other attacker, Jesus or Sterling can’t remember. If he’d sprint he would have left the city player in the open. Weird critique.

He wasn't covering anyone. Smalling was on his own and he was jogging back watching.

 

[Rozay]

The trajectory on his long passes are exceptional.

Credit to him for improving, I still think he’s a bit too weak and slow, but who knows, he may actually be good enough to negate that. He would have to be expectionally good to make up for the fact that physically, he is no centre half. That said, he’s doing everything right now.

Still mad at the Huddersfield game though. City raised the bar that high, any dropped points are massive this season, and that was a massive, massive loss.

 

[JoaquinJoaquin]

Played well yet again and didn't hoof. Felt bad for him that he didn't get the start because he deserved it. Got to play on Wednesday.

 

[zenith]

Really love a player who manages to turn it around after a difficult start, be it vidic, evra or this guy. Him and baily would complement each other very well and ability to play out from the back is becoming increasingly crucial.

 

[Kevinb5555]

Time for an extended run in the side.

Definitely, his composure on the ball also allows us to play out from the back.

 

[M Bison]

Looked good and is a lot more composed on the ball than our other centre halves. Will hopefully encourage us to play a bit in future.

It goes against the point about Jose being a long-ball manager too having brought in a ball playing defender.

 

[Vault Dweller]

Fair play to Victor, he has turned it around. I thought he was very good when he came on yesterday and he definitely deserves an extended run in the side now.

 

[Deleted member 101472]

Jose really can spot a defender.

I had no idea he was so quick, he really does cover the ground fast

 

[Jacko21]

It's oddly satisfying how cleanly he strikes the ball.

 

[breakout67]

How has he turned into one of our best defenders? He's good 1v1 but is also very good with the ball.

 

[Deleted member 101472]

It's oddly satisfying how cleanly he strikes the ball.

Nothing odd about it, it’s how you identify someone clearly brilliant at passing the ball.

 

[Jacko21]

Nothing odd about it, it’s how you identify someone clearly brilliant at passing the ball.

I mean odd in the sense that it shouldn't be quite so satisfying watching a player pick a pass.