MikeKing
Full Member
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2017
- Messages
- 5,126
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- Bournemouth
I think he is imperious defensively and against the likes of Mbappe, Kane, Vardy, Salah, Richardlison and Messi you need someone to knock their bones out of their nose. The fact is, even if we're able to play out from the back, win the midfield battle, keep the ball and then create chances against 10 players sitting deep, even with all that, we're still vulnerable to counter attacks with our lack of pace. Quality teams like Madrid will crush us on the break, they adapt by letting us have the ball, press our midfielders while our CB's ponder on the ball and give nothing to our attackers. We need someone that can hold their own defensively against top level forwards.
Especially in cup games where you want to win every game Smalling would offer solidity, pace, strength, leadership, aggressiveness etc. I've always admired his way of winning the ball aggressively staying in the pocket and he does it quickly. He does this and give the ball quickly to someone else, preferably to someone who wont lose the ball immediately and can either recycle possession or play a quick creative pass to instantly turn defence into attack. If you have someone like Verratti for instance then having a player like Smalling makes a lot of sense.
Honestly, I like that we're being trained to be calm enough on the ball to make the right choices without wasting the ball, but I'm not of the opinion that our CB's should spend as much time on the ball as they are currently doing. Sure get on the ball, but please pass it to the midfielders quicker instead of pondering on the ball without any pressure. It's a byproduct of CB's getting cute on the ball when there is no risk, and I don't by into it. Just defend first, get the ball first and then play.
Especially in cup games where you want to win every game Smalling would offer solidity, pace, strength, leadership, aggressiveness etc. I've always admired his way of winning the ball aggressively staying in the pocket and he does it quickly. He does this and give the ball quickly to someone else, preferably to someone who wont lose the ball immediately and can either recycle possession or play a quick creative pass to instantly turn defence into attack. If you have someone like Verratti for instance then having a player like Smalling makes a lot of sense.
Honestly, I like that we're being trained to be calm enough on the ball to make the right choices without wasting the ball, but I'm not of the opinion that our CB's should spend as much time on the ball as they are currently doing. Sure get on the ball, but please pass it to the midfielders quicker instead of pondering on the ball without any pressure. It's a byproduct of CB's getting cute on the ball when there is no risk, and I don't by into it. Just defend first, get the ball first and then play.