How the hell are you STILL spelling his name wrong?!
Good Luck Mike Smallenbauer
- Thread starter Andy_Cole
- Start date
Better than Rojo, Jones and Bailly but overrated. Low football IQ, brainfart-prone and terrible positioning, adeus. 1 less not good enough player in the squad.
Phil Jones will be ready!
I can see why Smalling would want out, and I suppose a loan means he's leaving himself a window to come back netx summer, if it goes as appallingly for OGS as we all fear this season!!
But surely we'd have had the chance to sell him for a proper fee?
A one year loan seems a bit of a half a job.
But surely we'd have had the chance to sell him for a proper fee?
A one year loan seems a bit of a half a job.
Good luck to him. I once thought he was maturing into a real top defender but never really maintained that level. Maybe in different circumstances with more stability at the club he could have done so.
I respect him for knowing when it’s time and for taking a risk in a different league rather than playing it safe and picking up his wage at United.
I respect him for knowing when it’s time and for taking a risk in a different league rather than playing it safe and picking up his wage at United.
I've really struggled to understand the abuse he's received on the Caf. He was at his best for us under LvG, and thrived playing a high line next to Daley Blind. Nobody moaned about his limitations on the ball in those days; that only became a thing when Jose wanted the defence much deeper, which is the opposite of what I'd have expected.
Sure he always had his detractors (which player doesn't?) but the abuse reached ridiculous proportions following his being dropped from the England squad by The Great And Almighty Gareth Southgate. Being spurned by England used to be a badge of honour bestowed onto United players by the fans (Bruce, Scholes, Carrick etc.). Smalling is the only established one I can remember (i.e. not the likes of Cleverley) who has been pilloried for it
Sure he always had his detractors (which player doesn't?) but the abuse reached ridiculous proportions following his being dropped from the England squad by The Great And Almighty Gareth Southgate. Being spurned by England used to be a badge of honour bestowed onto United players by the fans (Bruce, Scholes, Carrick etc.). Smalling is the only established one I can remember (i.e. not the likes of Cleverley) who has been pilloried for it
I don’t hate Smalling, he was always committed, never complained publicly and was probably one of our standout performers under LvG.
Will always remember him fondly for the winner in the Derby under Jose
However, that being said, the lad was about as graceful as a giraffe roller-skating across greased up glass with the ball at his feet and also had “bottlers eyes” i.e. you could literally see the panic/fear in his eyes when a mistake was made or we were under the kosh
So good luck but let’s move on and not pretend it’s what we haven’t all been asking for
Will always remember him fondly for the winner in the Derby under Jose
However, that being said, the lad was about as graceful as a giraffe roller-skating across greased up glass with the ball at his feet and also had “bottlers eyes” i.e. you could literally see the panic/fear in his eyes when a mistake was made or we were under the kosh
So good luck but let’s move on and not pretend it’s what we haven’t all been asking for
He's a very good defender and reason he's gone before Jones, Bailly and Rojo is that he actually proved saleable. I didn't like seeing his name on the team sheet because of his technical limitations but this certainly puts the pressure on Lindelof to perform. I hope it doesn't prove 5o be a mistake.
So true
Hope he has a great season with Roma and that we're okay without him. Didnt think we would be okay without Ander and Smalling in the summer, lets see what happens
Also, Maguire needs to get 3+ league goals this season as Smalling was our only CB with a goal threat before he signed. He scored more goals for us from the defense than anyone bar Vidic who got 3 more (15).
More than Ferdinand, Brown, O'Shea, Silvestre, more than both Nevilles combined and so on.
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This is going to be one for the "Did he really play for them?" thread a couple of years down the line, a bit like Micah Richards at Fiorentina.
Good luck Chris and thanks for all the years of service.
Nowhere near as bad as some people make him out to be.
Nowhere near as bad as some people make him out to be.
Genuinely wish him the best for his career. I know it's only only on loan but it's time both the club and the player moved on.
Why? They arent very good. Much more his level than City were
Would have rather Rojo left than Smalling. If anyone had wanted Rojo.
Taking the period as a whole he's probably been our best outfield player post-saf
I'm a little surprised he's left as imo he should be 3rd choice cb at least but clearly Ole intends to use axel and Jones over him so it's for the best for his career
He's probably never quite been good enough but he's been one of the few who's given his all regardless of who the manager is. Wish him all the best
I'm a little surprised he's left as imo he should be 3rd choice cb at least but clearly Ole intends to use axel and Jones over him so it's for the best for his career
He's probably never quite been good enough but he's been one of the few who's given his all regardless of who the manager is. Wish him all the best
I hope he does well at Roma. Seems a nice bloke.
All the best Smalling - Always liked him as a player on and off the pitch
Good luck to him. Thanks for your services.
Decent defender but has one too many mistakes in him. We will however, definitely miss his ability in the air.
I like him, but he hasn't been good enough for ages. He's a player who will exponentially increase in reputation and ability (a) the longer he stays away (b) the more isolated gifs are posted of him doing something good in a Roma shirt, and (c) the more poor individual or team defensive performances we have over the course of the season. In every case it'll become "Never should have let him go, he was always our best defender".
I'd pretty much bet my house on this exact turn of events.
I'd pretty much bet my house on this exact turn of events.
I am certainly not alone in thinking he was absolutely good enough under LvG. Playing alongside Blind in a high line seemed to bring the best out of him. It’s a shame the full backs were no help; Shaw breaking his leg and Darmian turning out a dud.
I suppose Smalling was the safer choice, Jones probably would have clattered into the Colleseum.
the Three Mikes of 2010-13...
Only Carrick and Phelan remains.
Only Carrick and Phelan remains.
Great servant of the club! Although a Fergie regular he probably had his best season for us during the 2015/16 Van Gaal season. Also one of the few defenders who would score one when given the opportunity. Didn't he like score 3 similar goals vs city over the years?
He was a good savant in a weak era. He seems a good bloke so go luck to him.
Fazio started for them at the weekend, surely he'll be first choice there. So he should have a more memorable career there than Richards did.
Fair fecks to him (& Alexis too) for not settling with not playing and searching first team opportunity along with seperating themselves from this year's impending collapse. Good luck to both.
At least he won't bad mouth us in the way Big Fat Rom has
Will he get many games for them?
was a very good defender for us for a couple of seasons. Unfortunately for him, the requirements for a defender completely changed midway through his career and I think he just lost his confidence. I think he will be a regular at Roma pretty quickly as they only really have one good defender. Really hope he does well there.
Didn't look too happy there, did he?
Good luck Mike.
The best of a very bad bunch of defenders spanning the last decade, but still he was a good servant.
The best of a very bad bunch of defenders spanning the last decade, but still he was a good servant.
Surely he won't get thrown into the Lazio/Roma derby on Sunday?? Talk about baptism of fire!
He wouldn't have been my first choice to leave but I'm just pleased we finally recognise all the deadwood in the club has got to go. Smalling is nowhere near the quality we need and its amazing he's managed to cling on for so long.
Yup.
Still our third best defender IMO, but he needs to play every week to be his best and that wasn’t going to happen behind Lindelof/Maguire. In the event of an injury, we might be fecked now (just like in attack, and midfield, and on the wings...), but I’m excited to see if Tuanzebe takes his chance now.
We are playing Europa ... Letting players go and not replacing them when we will have more games to play this season - unless of course we are knocked out of the LC early. But still, its going to be a tough season.
Ole's made some huge fecking mistakes. I can't believe the players he's let go. Lukaku, Herrera our best midfielder after Pogba and now Smalling our best defender. Selling Lukaku I can live with, but he shouldn't have been one of the first players to leave. Not with the other absolute dross we have. It's a terrible fecking joke. I'm so fecking mad. But he keeps on playing Ashley Young and Jessie Lingard. Also playing Lindelof next to Maguire instead of Smalling is absolutely criminal. Lindelof is supposed to be a central defender and he can't even head a fecking ball.