The whole discussion on penalties and fouls that he could have committed is quite something. How agenda driven can you be when you spout that continually, considering he has given away one penalty due to shirt pulling? Also, people go on about how we need a defender like VVD with great composure who does not commit silly fouls. Does anyone else remember the red card he should have had or the penalty against City? How many similar penalties have Smalling given away? Quite few actually.
I think Smalling is the perfect example of "the grass is greener on the other side". He isn't a "sexy" footballer with great passing and composure. He looks slightly gangly and clumsy even. In the past, posters would even say that he was slow. Then there is talk about how his technique will cost us. Has it? If it has, has it cost us more than any other defender cost their teams?
What I will hold against him is his ball playing ability. His passing is a little slow, and just that little bit too safe, often passing slightly behind his target. There are better players in the world, but not that many that are better at just defending. He's actually a rather clever defender with good anticipation, and contrary to most would say, his composure is pretty darn good. As for his shirt grabbing - he gets away with it, he's ours, so I don't care. He's not much worse than Chiellini, for instance.