Don't like him at all, but he played well.
Apart from the stupid tackle of course.
Apart from the stupid tackle of course.
12
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Unbelievable stupidity to dive in there.
I've defended him in the past but that was just so bad.
I've defended him in the past but that was just so bad.
Such a dumb tackle. Was just hoping he wouldn't do it as he was running up to it but you knew he was going for it. No way near it. Always has a mistake in him but he's better than post injury Rojo, Jones and Bailly so we have to make do.
Even the best defenders make mistakes or give away a penalty sometime... Smalling isnt even part of 'the best defenders club' so it was bound to happen. I still think he is the best pure defender we currently have
It was a stupid decision to dive, angle was against the attacker and it was on weaker foot. Apart from that he was decent.
Not sure what the hell he was thinking with the penalty. It's very unlike him to dive in like that in that situation.
There were a number of times in the match where I felt he was trying to be a bit more aggressive than normal to try to get us on the front foot (and it generally worked well), so the only thing I can think of is that that's what he was trying to do there. Stupid decision though.
Otherwise he did quite well. With Lindelof starting to look decent, the two of them may just lock down the spots for now.
There were a number of times in the match where I felt he was trying to be a bit more aggressive than normal to try to get us on the front foot (and it generally worked well), so the only thing I can think of is that that's what he was trying to do there. Stupid decision though.
Otherwise he did quite well. With Lindelof starting to look decent, the two of them may just lock down the spots for now.
The same can be said to a lot of our players and they seriously lacked football intelligence it's becoming very concerning, there is absolute no use playing your best game if you make costly mistakes
Shooking lack of awareness for the penalty. No way he should go in for a sliding tackle when he's that late.
The “he always has a mistake in him crowd”
I just don't understand the need to lunge himself like that. Very lucky not to be booked and sent off.
Give the keeper a chance to save it and if you are tackling, aim for the ball and not the opponent's shin
Give the keeper a chance to save it and if you are tackling, aim for the ball and not the opponent's shin
For a player of his age his lack of judgement at times is frightening. You just can’t trust that he will do what’s needed. He can go an hour looking commanding and then just go ‘pop.’
It reminds me of what Rio was like as a young player. The difference is Rio grew out of it, Smalling never has.
It reminds me of what Rio was like as a young player. The difference is Rio grew out of it, Smalling never has.
Rush of blood to the head is the only explanation. He usually tries to stay on his feet. He got it completely wrong this time
Merson-esque analytical skillsThe “he always has a mistake in him crowd”
Agreed it’s like Phil Jones possessed him, it’s not something he normally does just a brain fart of a decision.
I liked how aggressive he was being earlier and even coming out with the ball and starting moves, just that dive in.
Don't like to be negative after we have won but come on man...
Solid enough all game but the needless lunge was brainless and could have been costly.
The “he always has a mistake in him crowd”
I have said in the past, he is shite due to his inconsistency and decision making. He can tackle well, but when he is under pressure, he is more likely to make a mistake than make the right decision. This is even more shocking considering apparently he has the highest IQ in the team...
Absolutely mental challenge. Might be the worst he's done in a United shirt. I just have no idea what he was thinking. Even if you go to ground, don't swing your leg, just block the path between the ball and goal. BUt he should have stayed upright and pushed him wide.
He had a good game aside from that. His partnership with Lindelof is coming a long well, especially as Lindelof is improving quite rapidly in recent weeks too.
He had a good game aside from that. His partnership with Lindelof is coming a long well, especially as Lindelof is improving quite rapidly in recent weeks too.
Bad mistake today, but he is still by far our best CB at the moment.
Sad thing is, I do think he can be upgraded significantly. His technical ability is too limited and I think he will decline significantly as a CB once his athleticism begins to wane
Sad thing is, I do think he can be upgraded significantly. His technical ability is too limited and I think he will decline significantly as a CB once his athleticism begins to wane
Echoing above posts but he was fantastic apart from that challenge, I don't like how our players act once under pressure.
Here i am.The “he always has a mistake in him crowd”
. And he does. Proved it again today. That was amateur defending.In general solid game but....
I was about to say the same. Of all our cb's he is the one you wouldn't expect a sliding tackle in the box from.
Nearly cost us today. AGAIN.
There was absolutely no need to come sliding in like that but because Smalling, Young and Jones haven’t got a brain between them, we can always expect to be at a disadvantage whenever they’re on the field.
There was absolutely no need to come sliding in like that but because Smalling, Young and Jones haven’t got a brain between them, we can always expect to be at a disadvantage whenever they’re on the field.
Apart from that awful challenge, he done ok today but then again he should never of been in that position
More brains in a pork pie. He was so late, he almost missed the man let alone the ball.
As I said previously, he's definitely our best defender and should play ahead of everyone, but some treating him like world class or will be hard to upgrade on is baffling tbh. Very good defender, just not world class.
Such a dumb footballer
He's been playing well and with confidence lately but that was as daft as it comes, almost seemed complacent. Hopefully it doesn't knock his confidence and bring the old deer in the headlights player out.
How did he back himself to get on that one A little bit too confident for a minute there. I think thats what happened, wanted to impress with a great last ditch tackle to just amaze us. He didn't need to do that.
His first mistake this season.
A little bit too confident for a minute there. I think thats what happened, wanted to impress with a great last ditch tackle to just amaze us. He didn't need to do that.His first mistake this season.
Wouldn't worry about it as Chris never lets his performances get affected after making a mistake. He always just gets right back into it. It is why he is consistent and the others aren't. He'll probably score a goal next game to really confuse us.
Wtf was that tackle? Where do we go from here with this guy? An encouraging few weeks and then a complete brain fart.
He’s not a good defender but I still think he’s our best defender ... which pretty much sums up our issue atm
He's not world class, but I do think he is difficult to upgrade on, mostly because truly world class centre backs are not all that widespread. We've spent £70m on centre backs since Jose arrived and neither of them are better than Smalling. We tried to sign an upgrade on all our centre backs in the summer, and ultimately failed to get one, and it's debatable if Alderweireld and Maguire are even better than what we currently have.
He messed up, it happens. Van Dijk did the same tackle against City but he's still hailed as the best CB in the league.
Unfortunately defending isn't easy and mistiming a tackle against quick forwards can happen.
He played a great match apart from that, hasn't made a mistake in a long while tbh so he was due one.
Unfortunately defending isn't easy and mistiming a tackle against quick forwards can happen.
He played a great match apart from that, hasn't made a mistake in a long while tbh so he was due one.
He's a decent player, but not a leader and not world class. Says a lot about how we have fundamentally not recruited well defensively over the past few seasons when Smalling is getting 300 games for us. We've had some all time legends play for us at CB and Smalling is nowhere near that level, yet seems to be the best we've got right now.
Fine apart from the penalty.
True, but Liverpool spent £75 million on one centre back alone. Shows how important the position is and how we have under-invested in an area that has been an issue for several seasons now.
Not much to see here, in the penalty. Tried to correct for another player's error, was too late, maybe could have done better, maybe not. It happens to defenders. If you aren't there trying to correct the other player's error, you will have a 100% score in not causing penalties in such situations.
That kind of mistake is really out of character for him. Right now he’s so incredibly important to us and that won’t change until we bring in another commanding centre half.
Guys, it actually happened. That ‘mistake he has in him’ that has been spoken into existence for what seems like the last 50+ games or so has now finally occurred.
A mistake being magnified which clouded his uncredited overall good solid game.
Not sure if posters here have really played football or ever tried defending.
That Everton player is ready to pull the trigger, Smalling is nowhere near, after a terrible mistake by another player, the only way he could reach and possibly help save it is to nick tackle it, dive slide style. Credit for trying, not a good slide tbh, a gamble which fail.
Oh I'm sure if Smalling stayed on his ground and let the player shoot and we concede, the same thing - he'll be criticized for not doing anything.
"Smalling should've slide, why is he just standing his ground. Your job is to defend, you (insert insults here)."
Not sure if posters here have really played football or ever tried defending.
That Everton player is ready to pull the trigger, Smalling is nowhere near, after a terrible mistake by another player, the only way he could reach and possibly help save it is to nick tackle it, dive slide style. Credit for trying, not a good slide tbh, a gamble which fail.
Oh I'm sure if Smalling stayed on his ground and let the player shoot and we concede, the same thing - he'll be criticized for not doing anything.
"Smalling should've slide, why is he just standing his ground. Your job is to defend, you (insert insults here)."
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