I would have taken him tbh. Not to start but if we play Iceland he would have been very useful.
He’s a penalty waiting to happen under VAR, just because a couple of refs were slack yesterday doesn’t mean all will be.
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
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He’s a penalty waiting to happen under VAR, just because a couple of refs were slack yesterday doesn’t mean all will be.
lol are you serious? so he can give away 4 penalties per game due to VAR, what a great game plan.
How many penalties did he give away last season in the games that we used VAR in? How many penalties have VAR given so far in this tournament for far worse than what Smalling has done? How many penalties has Smalling given away for grabbing throughout his career?
The idea that Smalling is a walking liability with the VAR is massively overblown on this forum. Much like most of the criticisms of him are.
The referees seem to be ignoring most of what's happening during set pieces , it's weird that you bring that up
Walker and Maguire are not good enough and its a joke that they are preferred to Jones and Smalling
The England ref was shite with their decision making and use of VAR, it won't last.
He is a massive liability and only those with serious tinted specs can't seem to see it, he's constantly tangling with players or shirt pulling and the officials are slowly getting wise to it.
Such a liability that he never costs us. Thats my kind of liability
Which officials? When?
Tangling with players is part of being a defender, you can't defend without touching and getting physical with the oppositions attackers.
As for shirt pulling all defenders do it to some extent, i can't remember Smalling ever giving away a penalty due to shirt pulling other than one against i think Newcastle a few years back. It's not like he's giving them away every other week.
So a defender is criticized because he's constantly "tangling with players". He/she makes it sound like that's a negative thing to do for centerback.
He/she's easily forgot on how Smalling put Hazard and Kane in his pocket. A massive liability indeed.
He/she's easily forgot on how Smalling put Hazard and Kane in his pocket. A massive liability indeed.
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Smalling gets way too much shit, he even gets criticised for few people's assumptions and predictions.
Some even criticized him for Jones and others mistakes and OGs saying he makes everyone around him nervous. Not to forget the pathetic use of shots on target and shots against with and without smalling without context.
Every CB grabs attackers shirt, it's not new. Italian CBs are master at it and they used VAR for whole season and barely awarded any penalties for shirt pulling. If they do, then it will be raining penalties and also fouls as attackers grab defenders shirt too.
Some even criticized him for Jones and others mistakes and OGs saying he makes everyone around him nervous. Not to forget the pathetic use of shots on target and shots against with and without smalling without context.
Every CB grabs attackers shirt, it's not new. Italian CBs are master at it and they used VAR for whole season and barely awarded any penalties for shirt pulling. If they do, then it will be raining penalties and also fouls as attackers grab defenders shirt too.
We are perched upon the eye of the transition from:
"But the ball might come near him in attack, therefore shit. Get rid." to "but if VAR comes along he might pull some shirts in the box, therefore shit. Get rid."
"But the ball might come near him in attack, therefore shit. Get rid." to "but if VAR comes along he might pull some shirts in the box, therefore shit. Get rid."
Bet he was a massive liability when he silenced Kane and Salah twice each this season. I'll be saying it.
Yep, as seen by all the penalties he's been giving away, and all the penalties all these other defenders are giving away for similar or far worse.
Ever wonder if maybe you are the one with 'tinted specs'? Seeing as you are the one dealing with what you think will happen, and we're the ones dealing with what has actually been happing (ie. nothing)? Hey, I actually agree he probably will give away another one or two penalties for it. One or two penalties throughout the rest of his career. Which will be more than made up for by the goals we don't concede when he's playing because at the moment he is still our best defender.
This.
If the officials wanted to they could award 10+ fouls at every set piece. Everyone is grappling, but some Utd fans chose to make out that Smalling is an exceptional offender in this regard. He is really not, but I suppose it supports the agenda.
Southgate is looking more a spoofer by the day every time hackers like Jones and Cahill attempt to play out from the back (not to mention the vastly overrated Stones) and using that as rationale to not bring Smalling. Dier is abysmal, of course, and that doesn’t help his defence with passing options so limited, but you wouldn’t think this back three are trying to implement a specific playing style whatsoever.
He's better than Jones. It's not even worth debating.
He’s not and the England manager (who’s not doing a bad job) doesn’t think so either.
Southgate's a moron.
And Fellaini having a field day out there...
Basically everything that was being mentioned. Against a strong team in possession or a team with aerial nuisance up front, it can easily be England undoing.
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Perhaps you should contact the FA next time the job comes up.
I'm not English but I'll do it for a laugh if you grow up by then.
Ok.
National team managers arent always right... Low leaving Sané home wasnt the best of decisions either.
My point is they know more than joe public (or i’d like to think so).
So expalin why lvg and jose have him starting virtually every game hes fit
Mainly injuries/lack of match fitness.
Balls. When everyone was fit smalling still played and will continue to play
Sorry are you on the medical staff? I happen to know that even at the start of the season Jones had an injury on his ankle but was still selected ahead of Smalling.
Jones has been given reassurances that he will be first choice next season and will be rewarded with a new contract in December, if he stays fit and plays well. If Smalling is his partner I have no idea but I’d like to think once bailly is fit he would fill that role.
I’m not going to go into how I know and I don’t care if I’m classed as a ‘ITK’ All I can say is I have no reason to make it up.
Is this some anti-José brigade thing? Now that Fellaini is likely to sign a new contract, we suddenly hear Jones of all people is promised a new contract and the reassurance of being first choice CB. I mean, the state of this club amiright?
No not at all, I’m a big Jose fan. Personally think the fellaini extension makes a lot of sense. Next season we will see our team perform like a Jose (Chelsea of old) team.Is this some anti-José brigade thing? Now that Fellaini is likely to sign a new contract, we suddenly hear Jones of all people is promised a new contract and the reassurance of being first choice CB. I mean, the state of this club amiright?
Signing Fellaini is ridiculous even though I've always been more patient with him than most. Enough is enough tho. I like José too. So you have it on good authority that Jones will get a new contract, and be first choice? Do you know if he gets to captain the team too? Would make sense if you think about his talent, his reliability and all the games where he has displayed his undeniable top level quality.
Increased wages, first-choice, captain, 5 more years. Phil jones. Pipe-dream.
Seriously, this stuff is highly unlikely man. I have never seen the man have a totally flawless performance at the highest level. It always seems to be the "oh what could have been" when i watch him. He never actually impresses enough, in the same way i expect other Man Utd players to show a high level consistently, realistically he won't live up to his earlier hype or even be good enough at all. Judging only from what i see on the pitch
Sorry, forgot i was in the Smalling thread. You can quote me in the Jones thread if you want to respond.
Increased wages, first-choice, captain, 5 more years. Phil jones. Pipe-dream.
Seriously, this stuff is highly unlikely man. I have never seen the man have a totally flawless performance at the highest level. It always seems to be the "oh what could have been" when i watch him. He never actually impresses enough, in the same way i expect other Man Utd players to show a high level consistently, realistically he won't live up to his earlier hype or even be good enough at all. Judging only from what i see on the pitch
Sorry, forgot i was in the Smalling thread. You can quote me in the Jones thread if you want to respond.
Sorry, I have no idea about the captaincy or any other player(s) tbh.
I do appreciate your concerns surrounding Jones but personally I believe him to be a far better all round player than Smalling.
He’s the best defender England have, I think it’s crazy he didn’t even make the squad.
Allright then. In my view, the only things Jones has over Smalling is better composure with the ball at his feet, and a quicker body turn. I think if Smalling wasn't so cautious in his approach and played a little looser he wouldn't be worse than Jones at passing either. They used to have similar ability on the ball when younger, just that Smalling has become so god damn cautious with his passing. Which in truth can also be said about all of our defenders since LVG days.
Jones has more potential than Smalling (he’s a lot younger) and has been involved in all our best runs of looking solid defensively in the last couple of seasons. He looked different class when we were all raving about “Rojones” and you’d expect more consistency and better decision making as he hits his late twenties. The injuries thing is impossible to ignore though.
As for Smalling, we can’t expect much more from him. He’s proven himself to be a very solid defender when he’s on form but he always seems like he has the potential for a horror show in him and his (lack of) ability on the ball is a massive concern for a team with aspirations of winning major trophies.
As for Smalling, we can’t expect much more from him. He’s proven himself to be a very solid defender when he’s on form but he always seems like he has the potential for a horror show in him and his (lack of) ability on the ball is a massive concern for a team with aspirations of winning major trophies.
I’m glad he’s not at the World Cup. As a neutral I think England have been fairly pleasing on the eye generally and I just find Smallings attempts at receiving and passing a football painful to watch. He will refuse to attempt a greater than 1/10 difficulty of pass and that is a massive hindrance for any top team that wants to move the ball up the pitch quickly. I’m more a fan of Jones as he atleast has some bollocks but he’s fairly limited on the ball too tbh. Stones ability on the ball makes him the right pick in the centre and the other defenders in he squad are all more comfortable on the ball than Smalling to play in the positions to the side of him
No chance of that new contract happening then.
I certainly didn't perceive Jones to be a different class CB in that run. He was just fit and didn't make big mistakes, Rojo however did put in a few great performances at that time. But i'll see and have another look, do you remember who we were playing or when the "rojones" run was?
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