Based Adnan
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This thread is hilarious. Any criticism of Smalling and Ekeke is on it like a rash for the full 76 pages. Must be Smalling's mum.
And one of the few times he got close to defenders that aren't Smalling, he created the winner.I'm sure you can see the funny side of that statement. This is Messi we are talking about.
Aside from the head incident Messi actually only went near Smalling twice all game, and both times he got his pass away. He plays much deeper these days, we had Fred, McTominay and occasionally Shaw doubling up on him in midfield. Him being quiet had nothing to do with Smalling, they were rarely in the same area of the pitch.
Ah, that explains everything now.A nice interview with Chris Smalling - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0767mty
Highlights
- Talked about work he's doing with young people
- Discussed racism in football - gave a lot of praise to Danny Rose and Raheem Sterling for they things they've been speaking about - and the role that Raheem has taken in the fight against racism in football
- Talks about his dad passing away when he was 5(!) and how that influenced his life and the role his mum played in his up bringing
- Had done his A-Levels and was going to go to Uni when he got his trials with Fulham and Middlesbrough - so didn't feel the same "It's this or nothing" pressure on him at the time as he was happy going to Uni and playing non-league
- Both Fulham and Middlesbrough (ironically managed by Southgate at the time) wanted to sign him, but he went with Hodgson and Fulham
- Talked about what it was liking finding out United wanted him, and how he met with Fergie and Hodgson in a hotel room, with SAF wanting to know about him as a person/character.
- Has a picture of him meeting SAF and Bobby Charlton on his wall.
- Said that Young controls the dressing room music, and if not him then Pogba... David tries, but nobody likes his heavy metal stuff.
- Players do enjoy singing their own songs - admits to singing his own songs with mates, and says that Tony Martial loves his song.
- Messi elbow was an accident, which Messi acknowledge after the game when Chris apologised. Says Messi is one of if not the best player ever.
- Is going to be a father for the first time soon.
Deeper? He played as one of two forwards and running in behind our defense. Thats what caused problems for us. But he didnt run off Smalling's shoulderI'm sure you can see the funny side of that statement. This is Messi we are talking about.
Aside from the head incident Messi actually only went near Smalling twice all game, and both times he got his pass away. He plays much deeper these days, we had Fred, McTominay and occasionally Shaw doubling up on him in midfield. Him being quiet had nothing to do with Smalling, they were rarely in the same area of the pitch.
Barely got a kick.
Deeper? He played as one of two forwards and running in behind our defense. Thats what caused problems for us. But he didnt run off Smalling's shoulder
He was literally right up with Suarez, with Coutinho coming inside from the left
Here's Messi's latest matches showing his current form. Theres a match that stands out there.
Twice I can remember. You arent smarter than the detailsThat shows why you shouldn't rely on these stats websites so much.
He created the goal but because it nicked Shaw's arm it looks like he did nothing all game. Error #1.
Error #2 - he hasn't played as an advanced forward in years. He sits 30-40 yards out threading balls through for others. He literally ran in behind our defence once all game, when they scored. Watch his highlights below if you don't believe me. It looks like he's the most advanced on that heatmap simply because he doesn't move around much anymore.
Well that’s very interesting...A nice interview with Chris Smalling - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0767mty
- Both Fulham and Middlesbrough (ironically managed by Southgate at the time) wanted to sign him, but he went with Hodgson and Fulham
From a stats pov Messi had a really poor night. But still, McTominay was the only outfield player in United with better stats. The second best in United was Lindelof who had as much as 0.5 lower than Messi. So even on a bad day Messi was decent compared to United players stats.Here's Messi's latest matches showing his current form. Theres a match that stands out there.
Well he's the best player of all time. That's about as much you can hope for reallyFrom a stats pov Messi had a really poor night. But still, McTominay was the only outfield player in United with better stats. The second best in United was Lindelof who had as much as 0.5 lower than Messi. So even on a bad day Messi was decent compared to United players stats.
Just like Jones did with Messi twice, right? And you named Jones MOTM by mile.He was decent enough... But Jesus, you have to close Coutinho down when he's about to shoot, that's just basic
Yes exactly like Jones did, it's obviously a lot easier to shoot when you have time and space then it is when you don't.Another excellent performance as usual. I wonder when will some people realise he is quite good. Easily biggest contented for our player for the season.
Just like Jones did with Messi twice, right? And you named Jones MOTM by mile.
It was a ridiculous shot, and he had acres of space, if he closed him he would turn him easily. He risked and Coutinho scored his special that he does around 4 times in a season. It happens.
Good thing that Messi didn't score twice from the same situation then. Also, Coutinho had far more space than Messi did for both goals.Yes exactly like Jones did, it's obviously a lot easier to shoot when you have time and space then it is when you don't.
Messi scored twice because a) he's Messi and b) DDG should have saved one anyway.Good thing that Messi didn't score twice from the same situation then.
I don't want to repeat myself, but I am not sure you understood me. You are criticising Smalling for not closing down Coutinho when Coutinho had acres of space and could easily embarass Smalling when there was no one to cover soace nehind him, but are saying Jones was MOTM and not even mentioning that he had even tighter situations with Messi after which Messi scored two goals when he could have closed him down earlier, and actually had teammates around him to cover him.Messi scored twice because a) he's Messi and b) DDG should have saved one anyway.
If anything Jones didn't close down Messi quick enough for the first goal.
Or his plant protein powder supplierThis thread is hilarious. Any criticism of Smalling and Ekeke is on it like a rash for the full 76 pages. Must be Smalling's mum.
Jones attempted to close Messi down the second time? It was his pressure that made Messi put in a relatively poor shot?I don't want to repeat myself, but I am not sure you understood me. You are criticising Smalling for not closing down Coutinho when Coutinho had acres of space and could easily embarass Smalling when there was no one to cover soace nehind him, but are saying Jones was MOTM and not even mentioning that he had even tighter situations with Messi after which Messi scored two goals when he could have closed him down earlier, and actually had teammates around him to cover him.
It was a shit attempt I'll tell you that.Jones attempted to close Messi down the second time? It was his pressure that made Messi put in a relatively poor shot?
Nearly 30 and playing every match probably explains it. That one against Suarez, think Lindelof played a poor ball and Smalling just didn't find his usual acceleration, just ended up toeing it back to Dave?Does he look a little heavy legged? He barely beat Suarez in a foot race early in the first half. That would normally be mince meat for him. I noticed it against Wolves as well. He didn't move well, or like he normally does. Tired?
A few times tonight you could see it quite clearly.I think he is part of the problem too, we end up retreating so often when he gets the ball under a bit of pressure or turning the ball over when he has a semi difficult ball to control. As the game gets less physical and more press orientated we have play out from the back.
Well, once Smalling starts to retreat it ends up with De Gea which equals a turnover 7 times out of 10.A few times tonight you could see it quite clearly.
Barcelona playing out were lined up like:
Roberto - Pique - Lenglet - Alba
Martial - Rashford - Lingard
Rakitic - Busquets - Arthur
McTominay - Fred - Pogba
Messi - Suarez - Coutinho
Young - Jones - Smalling - Lindelof
We were lined up like this:
Lindelof - Smalling - Jones - Young
McTominay - Fred - Pogba
Coutinho - Suarez - Messi
Arthur - Busquets - Rakitic
Lingard - Rashford - Martial
Alba - Lenglet - Pique - Roberto
It would be much easier to show on a formation builder but even there it's quite obvious why we look so disjointed. Smalling is not the only reason but he is a big part of it.
Probably tired, but he is definately not as fast as he was, lost that extra yard of pace. It was already visible last year.Does he look a little heavy legged? He barely beat Suarez in a foot race early in the first half. That would normally be mince meat for him. I noticed it against Wolves as well. He didn't move well, or like he normally does. Tired?
Smalling is just one of seven players there. Obviously he is a big part of it, but so are the other seven players including the guys that are actually responsible for setting up the team.A few times tonight you could see it quite clearly.
Barcelona playing out were lined up like:
Roberto - Pique - Lenglet - Alba
Martial - Rashford - Lingard
Rakitic - Busquets - Arthur
McTominay - Fred - Pogba
Messi - Suarez - Coutinho
Young - Jones - Smalling - Lindelof
We were lined up like this:
Lindelof - Smalling - Jones - Young
McTominay - Fred - Pogba
Coutinho - Suarez - Messi
Arthur - Busquets - Rakitic
Lingard - Rashford - Martial
Alba - Lenglet - Pique - Roberto
It would be much easier to show on a formation builder but even there it's quite obvious why we look so disjointed. Smalling is not the only reason but he is a big part of it.
I think that is harsh. He had a very very good game but didn't have a perfect match, and a couple of other instances I think he maybe could have done a bit more, but that goal I don't have a problem with at all. If he had tried to close him down there he could very well be turned easily and sold himself short and you just know Coutinho could have went past him or played a through ball to Messi or Suarez to take advantage of it. All through the game the right decision would have been to stand by to anticipate, but luckily for Barca that specific shot happened to be just perfect at the right moment for him to get the space.Poor on the Coutinho goal but apart from that he was ok.
I knew either you are Ekeke would jump on me, I disagree with the bolded, the fact that type of performance is actually considered good, when him and Jones were average at best, both too error prone and both too poor on the ball, with the Coutinho goal he needs to get closer and bank on himself to stop him going past him, all he did was just allow him to get a shot off from the type of position we all know he's lethal from.I think that is harsh. He had a very very good game but didn't have a perfect match, and a couple of other instances I think he maybe could have done a bit more, but that goal I don't have a problem with at all. If he had tried to close him down there he could very well be turned easily and sold himself short and you just know Coutinho could have went past him or played a through ball to Messi or Suarez to take advantage of it. All through the game the right decision would have been to stand by to anticipate, but luckily for Barca that specific shot happened to be just perfect at the right moment for him to get the space.
That is very clever, and I appreciate that as I didn't mean to jump on you. If you consider my evaluations then I'm sure you'll see sense in what I said. If you think Jones and Smalling were comparable this match I don't have any further replies coming to you.I knew either you are Ekeke would jump on me, I disagree with the bolded, the fact that type of performance is actually considered good, when him and Jones were average at best, both too error prone and both too poor on the ball, with the Coutinho goal he needs to get closer and bank on himself to stop him going past him, all he did was just allow him to get a shot off from the type of position we all know he's lethal from.
I don't even know what you mean with the first line mate, you and Ekeke defend Smalling from every piece of criticism he gets, that's just a fact. I read what you said and no, I think you are wrong, he should have done more to stop Coutinho, a top CB would have IMO. If you thought Jones was worse than him tonight then fair enough, don't reply, my main point is neither are good enough and we'll continue to be nothing but a top 4 scrambling team that makes up the numbers in the CL, if we actually qualify to be in the competition.That is very clever, and I appreciate that as I didn't mean to jump on you. If you consider my evaluations then I'm sure you'll see sense in what I said. If you think Jones and Smalling were comparable this match I don't have any further replies coming to you.