He was all over the show. Not just a poor moment or shaky game, but seemed to completely lose control and focus. He's been playing better recently. We have a lot of players can do that but also do this though, on and off forever.
I'm not going to single him out tonight as there were many bad performances and a few that were worse. But if you feel he had a decent game then fair enough.A decent one?
Yes because players never have bad games eventually, ever. Look what happened to muppet favorite Alderweireld against Liverpool. Same shit.I remember people readying to attack me when I suggested that he's due one of these performances eventually.
I think both Smalling and Lindelof were decent under the circumstances that we for some reason had Fred as a DM alone in front of them and McTominay + Pogba in attacking midfield.I'm not going to single him out tonight as there were many bad performances and a few that were worse. But if you feel he had a decent game then fair enough.
And leave us with Jones/Rojo etc? Or are you wanting us to buy 3/4 new centre backs along with however many other first XI players?Some say he is our best defender. He is one of the biggest pretenders. Been here close to 10 years and yet he is just an average defender. He is our martin skrtel. Sooner he leaves the better for us
A pretender? He is the only brave one out of that bunch and our most consistent performer in our backline last 6 years. One game where he second guessed himself a lot doesn't really change that does it.Some say he is our best defender. He is one of the biggest pretenders. Been here close to 10 years and yet he is just an average defender. He is our martin skrtel. Sooner he leaves the better for us
Alderweireld played magnificently v Liverpool though and is a level above Smalling.Yes because players never have bad games eventually, ever. Look what happened to muppet favorite Alderweireld against Liverpool. Same shit.
That was Alderweireld best game in a while, and scored an own goal while this was Smalling worst game in a while and scored an own goal. Still wasn't a lot between the two performances either, which is frightening to me if people still think Alderweireld is better. He'll get torn to shreds on this forum the second he has signed the paper and beyond.Alderweireld played magnificently v Liverpool though and is a level above Smalling.
Alderweireld is technically miles better, he is a better footballer and also a better reader of the game. Only thing Smalling has over him is height tbh. Literally no neutral fan in the world would take Smalling over Alderweireld.That was Alderweireld best game in a while, and scored an own goal while this was Smalling worst game in a while and scored an own goal. Still wasn't a lot between the two performances either, which is frightening to me if people still think Alderweireld is better. He'll get torn to shreds on this forum the second he has signed the paper and beyond.
Best solution, buy a quality cb and pair him with lindelof and sell jones/rojo and keep smalling/bailly as back up. Smalling is better than jones/rojo but that does not say much, does it.And leave us with Jones/Rojo etc? Or are you wanting us to buy 3/4 new centre backs along with however many other first XI players?
You keep dreaming if you think next season won't be Smalling plus one yet again. If he's getting more minutes than the other options, and frankly every CB that has played at United since Rio and Vidic left, what makes you think buying one world class CB will change that?Where are the Smalling supporters tonight? Still think he’s top class? Still think we can win the league with him?
Keep dreaming.
Its still stupid of some posters to think players won't have bad games or make mistakes. If Alderweireld was here and cost United a goal in a game they lost he'd be getting stick left right and center.Alderweireld played magnificently v Liverpool though and is a level above Smalling.
True. He is a much composed player than Smalling though. When Smalling is bad he is really bad and panic ensues.Its still stupid of some posters to think players won't have bad games or make mistakes. If Alderweireld was here and cost United a goal in a game they lost he'd be getting stick left right and center.
Fellaini left United already, wrong threadChris Smalling reminds me of Donald Trump. They have so much in common.
1. How they got key positions in the biggest institutions of the world will always be a mystery.
2. They're both not fit for the position.
3. They both have a bunch of misguided deluded followers who think they're the best thing ever.
4. No matter what they do, you can't say a bad word about them without their followers jumping down your throat.
5. They're a laughing stock to the rest of the free world.
6. They're an embarrassment to their respective organisations.
6. They wouldn't get a top position in any other major organisation (well Trump might, I guess).
7. Doesn't look like we'll ever be shot of them any time soon.
8. They both make me want to hurt somebody!
I could go on.
right on cue...Fellaini left United already, wrong thread
And look at all our accomplishments since. A few tinpot trophies. We haven’t come close to winning the league since Rio and Vidic left but apparently you don’t think it’s any coincidence that it’s always “Smalling plus one” that could be the problem.You keep dreaming if you think next season won't be Smalling plus one yet again. If he's getting more minutes than the other options, and frankly every CB that has played at United since Rio and Vidic left, what makes you think buying one world class CB will change that?
I don't waste timeright on cue...
Hmm, why are these managers still playing these 'crap' players? Didn't United sign Rojo, Bailly and Lindelof to improve our defense? Its so short sighted of you to only mention Shaw's contributions in attack.And look at all our accomplishments since. A few tinpot trophies. We haven’t come close to winning the league since Rio and Vidic left but apparently you don’t think it’s any coincidence that it’s always “Smalling plus one” that could be the problem.
I said it once and I’ll say it again. It’s not the manager. Its these crap players playing week in, week out that costs us matches. I’m talking about Smalling, Young, Jones and I’m putting Shaw into that category now. 5 assists in 5 seasons, meanwhile Robertson and Arnold are having a competition about who can get the most assists THIS SEASON between them. And Robertson himself is already on 8. Does that not speak volumes to you?
Saying to me “You’re dreaming if you don’t think it won’t be Smalling plus one next season” doesn’t change the fact that it’s a fecking terrible idea. As soon as I saw Solskjær smiling beside Smalling and Jones with their shiny new 2022 contracts, I kissed any chance of signing a Genuine world class CB like Koulibaly or Varane goodbye. The glory days won’t return until this obvious deadwood is cut and Woodward starts signing key top class replacements (NOTE: NOT SHIRT SELLERS LIKE BALE AND SANCHEZ). Genuine squad improvements. Guys like Neves, Doucoure, Gueye, Lozano, Zaha, Pereira, Ake... that lot would walk into our side but because none of them are shirt sellers, they won’t be considered. It’s not “profitable” or marketable to spend big money on full backs or defensive midfielders.
David fecking Luiz won a Premier League as a starter. Smalling has never came close to achieving that feat. I’m also willing to bet the majority of the worlds top managers would choose the former over the latter. But this isn’t about Luiz... it’s about Smalling. So stick to the topic at hand.I don't waste time
Hmm, why are these managers still playing these 'crap' players? Didn't United sign Rojo, Bailly and Lindelof to improve our defense? Its so short sighted of you to only mention Shaw's contributions in attack.
Does the number of assists he has take away from his overall contribution? Shaw has been one of if not United's best outfield player this season. Its easy for people like you to drool over players like the ones you've mentioned but in reality if all of them were that good they'd all be playing for bigger teams already. Some of them never will (again).
The minute players like that are purchased, they are seen in a different light all of a sudden, people start to see their weaknesses week in week out and they begin calling them out. That's when you see if they can handle the pressure of playing for a much bigger club. Many fail. You're the same poster who thinks David fvcking Luiz is better than Smalling though.
Shaw has had a great season. He's had more consistent 7 and up out of 10 performances than the others you've mentioned (he's the highest rated player on match days on this forum), so yes he's arguably been our best player this season IMO and you clearly don't have a clue if you think he hasn't been based on assists alone.David fecking Luiz won a Premier League as a starter. Smalling has never came close to achieving that feat. I’m also willing to bet the majority of the worlds top managers would choose the former over the latter. But this isn’t about Luiz... it’s about Smalling. So stick to the topic at hand.
The fact that you say Shaw is United’s best outfield player this season sums up my point. Better than Lindelöf, Rashford and Pogba? Get a grip. If you honestly think he’s our best player with his 5 assists in 5 seasons then it makes no sense for you to be content with him as a starter.
Then again you repeatedly jump to Smalling’s aid time after time, whenever he’s shown up.
Yeah, Southgate is the answerI hope we will get a manager like Southgate
Please don't go on.Chris Smalling reminds me of Donald Trump. They have so much in common.
1. How they got key positions in the biggest institutions of the world will always be a mystery.
2. They're both not fit for the position.
3. They both have a bunch of misguided deluded followers who think they're the best thing ever.
4. No matter what they do, you can't say a bad word about them without their followers jumping down your throat.
5. They're a laughing stock to the rest of the free world.
6. They're an embarrassment to their respective organisations.
6. They wouldn't get a top position in any other major organisation (well Trump might, I guess).
7. Doesn't look like we'll ever be shot of them any time soon.
8. They both make me want to hurt somebody!
I could go on.
Yup, it's really been long. A testament to Smalling's class and consistency I would say. He is arguably the only one among our players - alongside one or two others perhaps - that manage to maintain a very high level over a long period of time. By his standards, he was poor against Wolves, but I expect him to be back with a bang against Barcelona. Even top defenders occassionally have unconvincing performances as Smalling showed against Wolves. Good thing that we have him playing for us.Wow what a long wait to bring the knives out, how long have you lot been holding this in. "He has this performance in him" because your favorite cb's don't have a bad game a few times a season.
I must say Alderweireld has really struggled this season. Yes som nice long balls that we don’t see from Smalling, but he has not been a very reliable defender.Alderweireld is technically miles better, he is a better footballer and also a better reader of the game. Only thing Smalling has over him is height tbh. Literally no neutral fan in the world would take Smalling over Alderweireld.
Smalling has done decently though so I see no problem with him been a part of our squad going forward.
Nope. A manager that has enough balls to ignore the fans and media and pin such players for good is.Yeah, Southgate is the answer
It would make sense if you were talking about Pogba or some other big name player, but you are talking about fecking Smalling who is literally one of the kost criticised players around.Nope. A manager that has enough balls to ignore the fans and media and pin such players for good is.
Not true though. He has die hard fans here more than you actually believe.It would make sense if you were talking about Pogba or some other big name player, but you are talking about fecking Smalling who is literally one of the kost criticised players around.