- Joined
- Nov 14, 2012
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- 111
He is 31 and still has problem with positioning.
Chris is brilliant 1 on 1 but his positioning is not that good.
Chris is brilliant 1 on 1 but his positioning is not that good.
Ok mate. Relax. Take a deep breath. I wish Lindelof is as aggressive as you in this thread.
Pool defenders like Van Dijk gets away with far more. Although they are the VAR favorites.VAR will destroy Smalling. I've never seen a defender get away with so many infractions in the box, especially shirt tugging. All it would take is the opposition falling to the floor on a corner and if it went to video they would have no choice but to give a penalty. Sell and move forward. We should not be bringing back players that are barely good enough for a squad place in a mid table team.
Pretty sure they are using VAR in Italy and he has been fine. Another imaginary criticism people have of Smalling.VAR will destroy Smalling. I've never seen a defender get away with so many infractions in the box, especially shirt tugging. All it would take is the opposition falling to the floor on a corner and if it went to video they would have no choice but to give a penalty. Sell and move forward. We should not be bringing back players that are barely good enough for a squad place in a mid table team.
Why didn't he get destroyed by it in Italy, then?VAR will destroy Smalling. I've never seen a defender get away with so many infractions in the box, especially shirt tugging. All it would take is the opposition falling to the floor on a corner and if it went to video they would have no choice but to give a penalty. Sell and move forward. We should not be bringing back players that are barely good enough for a squad place in a mid table team.
We were hearing that for years and it never happened.VAR will destroy Smalling. I've never seen a defender get away with so many infractions in the box, especially shirt tugging. All it would take is the opposition falling to the floor on a corner and if it went to video they would have no choice but to give a penalty. Sell and move forward. We should not be bringing back players that are barely good enough for a squad place in a mid table team.
Shirt pulling is still rife - look at all the top defenders in the league. VAR also never overturns anything so unless the ref actually whistles for the foul, which they never do, it's unlikely to be any different to pre VAR days.VAR will destroy Smalling. I've never seen a defender get away with so many infractions in the box, especially shirt tugging. All it would take is the opposition falling to the floor on a corner and if it went to video they would have no choice but to give a penalty. Sell and move forward. We should not be bringing back players that are barely good enough for a squad place in a mid table team.
He played in England too when VAR was used (in cup games), surprisingly he wasn't destroyed. Thought finally that myth would be put to bed, but no, it will never die even after the season in Italy.Why didn't he get destroyed by it in Italy, then?
Its just one of the lazy arguments against him that gets thrown around ad nauseum.He played in England too when VAR was used (in cup games), surprisingly he wasn't destroyed. Thought finally that myth would be put to bed, but no, it will never die even after the season in Italy.
Interesting good comparison. Maguire and Blind.Smalling paired very well with Blind and Maguire has many of the same weaknesses Blind did in terms of pace and agility. Think Smalling and Maguire would be a great pairing, both immense in the air so crosses and set pieces will be helped massively. And Smallings pace will allow us to player higher line and press better, at the moment the front players are pressing and the defenders are still holding back probably worrying about leaving too much space for attackers to run into.
I find the love for Chris Smalling really odd. He's been okay for us, generally solid and far from our biggest problem since Fergie left, not a guy I have a problem with by any means. But after nearly 10 years at the club and after numerous spells in the first team, he's never nailed down a place. I can't help think that, if he really was this amazing natural defender that people make him out to be, he'd long since be a first team fixture for us. Instead, every time he's had a run in the team, we end the season trying to replace him in the transfer market.Another average player who's abilities are massively overestimated the longer they go without playing for us.
Don't think Ole wanted him to leave on loan. Sounds like it was Smalling who pushed for it when he learned he might be a back up. Fair play to the guy for wanting to actually play.Cant we just move on from this debate? Smalling doesnt feature or he wouldnt have gone on loan. It would be a backward step having him in and around the 1st team.
Smalling has been a decent player for us, but we need to move forwards not backwards. He's done ok in a much poorer league and people rave about him like he's suddenly become world class.
Smalling isnt the answer for us at CB and he never will be
+100My personal opinion is that Ole was drinking from the Southgate kool-aid. Smalling was discarded as a feasible partner for Maguire for a team wanting to play out the back. If you watch us earlier in the season, he was even setting us up for corners / free kicks in the exact same way as when Maguire plays for England. Yeah it was effective against lesser nations for England but, was not that effective when translated to United against PL teams.
Ole took a gamble last season that his preconceived pairing based on how he wanted to play was the way forward and didn't even want to try a partnership of Maguire / Smalling as secondary option. As far as Lindelof goes, I think he is very good on the ball but, his role has been consigned to ball recycler for the most part - something Smalling is more than capable of doing.
Reading that Vida interview recently, he talked about how it was kind of known that Rio was going to be one of the defacto CBs but, there wasn't a preconceived notion that Vida would be his partner. It was going to be fought out and through that a natural partnership was borne. We saw that happen with Smalling/Blind, they ended up working well together. Ole needs to approach this season at least with the idea that Smalling / Lindelof / Baily should have to at least fight it out to see if they can partner with Maguire. Unless we end up buying another absolute must starting CB as well.
Good points and I hope you are right regarding refs. I actually like Mike and he would be my preferred partner for Maguire, but anyone calling his shirt pulling a lazy, imagined issue that isn’t happening just hast been paying attention. My heart has been in my mouth numerous times and I’ve been amazed what he has got away with. It only takes this aspect of his game to take traction in the media and they’d fecking love to make a meal of it and then, of course, refs become compelled to act. I haven’t particularly noticed but I’m sure it’s rife throughout the PL but as ever, United always seem to be the special case. Possibly jumping to conclusions with concerns but to say it is not an issue with him is pure denial. Still, I’d be happy to have him back, at least until we improve on him - but we haven’t so far and along with Harry, is our best defender.Shirt pulling is still rife - look at all the top defenders in the league. VAR also never overturns anything so unless the ref actually whistles for the foul, which they never do, it's unlikely to be any different to pre VAR days.
You really do come to some odd conclusions...I believe when Smalling with us, he made more progressive passes than Lindelof did. It's not about his passing but it's actually about his inability of playing against high press team. On top of it, we are going to play him next to Bissaka who is also not very good to keep possession against high press. I'll still welcome him & everyone should welcome him if he comes back to our squad for next season. Although, I think Roma will come back with the same bid and we will accept it, Europa League is over for them.
That was on of the reasons he was let go in my opinion. VAR would have given so many penalties and free kicks around the box from him and Ole didnt want to take the risk, along with being able to bring the ball out from the back and successfully pass it on. Southgate also mentioned this when questioned why he had dropped Smalling from England.As a pure defender Smalling is probably the best we have on the books and his aerial strength, mobility and presence in the box were ideal for making up for De Gea's weaknesses in those departments. He did get away with murder with holding at set pieces though which he'd have to cut out sharpish with VAR about.
Ultimately though, to be a top centreback in an attacking team in an attacking league you need a level of ability on the ball which Smalling doesn't have. Still a good squad option to have though, but given that he's starting at a decent level in a more defensive league I wouldn't say it's in his interests to warm the bench here.
You are being too defensive when it's about Lindelof.You really do come to some odd conclusions...
That doesn't equal progressive, mate. It's genuinely baffling for anyone to have watched them both play and then claim Smalling is a more progressive passer. Did Lindelof hurt you in some way?You are being too defensive when it's about Lindelof.
It's the Lindelof agenda. Comparing stats in the PL to Serie A for passing. One of the slowest leagues, teams do not press.That doesn't equal progressive, mate. It's genuinely baffling for anyone to have watched them both play and then claim Smalling is a more progressive passer. Did Lindelof hurt you in some way?
The stats are from last season. But yes, the stats are very misleading looking at how the matches were actually played.It's the Lindelof agenda. Comparing stats in the PL to Serie A for passing. One of the slowest leagues, teams do not press.
More forward passes, less backward passes, more long balls & higher average passing length. If that's not more progressive passes, feel free to explain it to me.That doesn't equal progressive, mate. It's genuinely baffling for anyone to have watched them both play and then claim Smalling is a more progressive passer. Did Lindelof hurt you in some way?
Prove that you don't read.It's the Lindelof agenda. Comparing stats in the PL to Serie A for passing. One of the slowest leagues, teams do not press.
Thanks, got Friday eyes.Prove that you don't read.
Knock knock. Who's there? Context. Context who? The fact Lindelof created more opportunities and played more through balls should tell play more about progressiveness than how many forward passes they make. Maybe Lindelof should start collecting the ball an extra 5 yards deeper. Think how much progressive he'd become!More forward passes, less backward passes, more long balls & higher average passing length. If that's not more progressive passes, feel free to explain it to me.
You are being too defensive on this. Lindelof is better on the ball than Smalling, however being better is different to being perfect. There is aspect that Lindelof is worse at.
More forward passes, less backward passes, more long balls & higher average passing length. If that's not more progressive passes, feel free to explain it to me.
You are being too defensive on this. Lindelof is better on the ball than Smalling, however being better is different to being perfect. There is aspect that Lindelof is worse at.
It's not like 0 vs 0.05 ''through ball'' is any difference. But if that's how you want to describe it than I'll play along with.Knock knock. Who's there? Context. Context who? The fact Lindelof created more opportunities and played more through balls should tell play more about progressiveness than how many forward passes they make.
For someone who continuously claims you have no agenda against Lindelof, you are pop up frequently across various threads eager to tell everyone about Lindelof's weaknesses. It really is odd.