I did not want to post this in the Lindelof thread. I think that thread should be left alone for Lindelof's performances. There has been a debate ongoing since Smalling left for Italy with some of our posters rightly observing Smalling to be a better defender and giving good accounts why Smalling should be in the team ahead of Lindelof.
I'm in the camp who think they're both not to the standard required if we want to be successful and compete at the very top.
Smalling is a very good defender in the penalty area. I would argue way better than Lindelof in aggression, heading and basic defending. However, football tactics have changed over the last few years. We are now witnessing a possession based game with defending in blocks the new normal. The most successful teams are who's players hunt the ball down like hungry wolves when they lose possession. Forcing teams in possession to panic. Players who are quick and technical are now in demand.
It’s obvious today's defenders are very different from the mindset of those in the past. Heavyweights of the past such as Steve Bruce types would struggle to be successful in today's game. This is the reason players of Smalling's ilk are no longer an item with teams wanting to follow this type of football. Football is now so attack-minded full- backs often spend more time in the attacking half than tracking his runner defensively, the centre-half now needs to operate as a playmaker and start build-up playing out of the back.
Lindelof, I would argue is somewhat underwhelming at defending and decentish at best with the ball compared to Smalling. Smalling does not suit the style of play United coaches are trying to master. Smalling is not being pushed out due to his lack of defending abilities but the changes in the landscape in footballing tactics. Basically, we need to find an upgrade who is both good at defending and playing out from the back.
I'm in the camp who think they're both not to the standard required if we want to be successful and compete at the very top.
Smalling is a very good defender in the penalty area. I would argue way better than Lindelof in aggression, heading and basic defending. However, football tactics have changed over the last few years. We are now witnessing a possession based game with defending in blocks the new normal. The most successful teams are who's players hunt the ball down like hungry wolves when they lose possession. Forcing teams in possession to panic. Players who are quick and technical are now in demand.
It’s obvious today's defenders are very different from the mindset of those in the past. Heavyweights of the past such as Steve Bruce types would struggle to be successful in today's game. This is the reason players of Smalling's ilk are no longer an item with teams wanting to follow this type of football. Football is now so attack-minded full- backs often spend more time in the attacking half than tracking his runner defensively, the centre-half now needs to operate as a playmaker and start build-up playing out of the back.
Lindelof, I would argue is somewhat underwhelming at defending and decentish at best with the ball compared to Smalling. Smalling does not suit the style of play United coaches are trying to master. Smalling is not being pushed out due to his lack of defending abilities but the changes in the landscape in footballing tactics. Basically, we need to find an upgrade who is both good at defending and playing out from the back.
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