[mu77]

Personally, I think Smalling is rated far higher in here than he is outside the Caf. This isn’t a dig by the way, I feel he has played slightly above average this season, which is something when you consider our defensive woes this season.

However, I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if he was the first player out the door in the summer (No I don’t think he or any of our CB’s should be sold) He doesn’t seem to be suited to a LVG team, I wasn’t surprised at all that he was dropped, my only surprise was we went three at the back again.

above average for crap is still crap. none of the three , joni evans , phil gurning man jones , nor mr smalling i presume , should be in the side next year.

they should be at mid table teams which is where united will be if they stay. sell them for funds to buy one good cb.

 

[Amar__]

So, van Gaal says he is injured for tomorrow. I think this is the first time I am glad he is injured, because that probably means van Gaal didn't pick him last week just because he was injured, and not because he thought Evans, Jones or Rojo are better.

 

[DWelbz19]

Ffs

 

[Getsme]

So, van Gaal says he is injured for tomorrow. I think this is the first time I am glad he is injured, because that probably means van Gaal didn't pick him last week just because he was injured, and not because he thought Evans, Jones or Rojo are better.

What?

 

[Count Orduck]

He'll be sold in the summer, along with Evans. I think LvG might keep Jones around for another year.

 

[sizzling sausages]

What?

Amar is glad Smalling was probably on the bench last week only because of injury, and not because Van Gaal rates the others more than Smalling.

He'll be sold in the summer, along with Evans. I think LvG might keep Jones around for another year.

Yeah, starting to think this too tbh. I'd be disappointed as I do think Smalling is really good when fit.

 

[Getsme]

Amar is glad Smalling was probably on the bench last week only because of injury, and not because Van Gaal rates the others more than Smalling.

Yeah, starting to think this too tbh. I'd be disappointed as I do think Smalling is really good when fit.

It could be repeated 100 times and I'd still have no idea how he can be glad a player is injured.

 

[Sam]

So he WAS injured last week?

God this is confusing.

 

[MancunianAngels]

Bad news that.

A back 4 of Rafael, Smalling, Rojo, Shaw has the potential to at least be top 4 standard.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

So he WAS injured last week?

God this is confusing.

If in doubt, assume all our defenders are injured. That way you'll usually be fairly close to the truth.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

So, van Gaal says he is injured for tomorrow. I think this is the first time I am glad he is injured, because that probably means van Gaal didn't pick him last week just because he was injured, and not because he thought Evans, Jones or Rojo are better.

Umm.. That makes no sense at all. Why would he have been on the bench last week if he was sufficiently injured at the time to keep him out of our squad a week later?

 

[Barca84]

He'll be sold in the summer, along with Evans. I think LvG might keep Jones around for another year.

Increasingly looking that way. I said before the start of the season, to much derision, that Evans Jones and Smalling would all be out the door by next year. In hindsight a tad extreme but I reckon Jones will get a stay of execution for another year purely on the basis that we can't safely ship out 3 centre backs at once.

We are so past the point of no return with the above and Rafael.

 

[Varun]

It could be repeated 100 times and I'd still have no idea how he can be glad a player is injured.

Its quite simply. He's not literally happy Smalling's injured. Just that it confirms Evans started ahead of him because of injury and not because Van Gaal rates him higher which is a relief.

 

[Getsme]

Its quite simply. He's not literally happy Smalling's injured. Just that it confirms Evans started ahead of him because of injury and not because Van Gaal rates him higher which is a relief.

It confirms nothing.

 

[Varun]

It confirms nothing.

Yeah, bad choice of word there. Doesnt confirm anything but Smalling being on the bench was a sign he was fit when he could have been injured even then. That said, as Pogue pointed out, weird that he made the bench then and is out now totally. Or was it a last minute change where the 2 were swapped? I dont even remember with all the shite that goes on with us and injuries.

 

[Skills]

Yeah, bad choice of word there. Doesnt confirm anything but Smalling being on the bench was a sign he was fit when he could have been injured even then. That said, as Pogue pointed out, weird that he made the bench then and is out now totally. Or was it a last minute change where the 2 were swapped? I dont even remember with all the shite that goes on with us and injuries.

Smalling was in the initial starting line up. Then it was changed. Sometime earlier in the week a story came out that it was because the kit man fecked up.

 

[Sassy Colin]

Yeah, bad choice of word there. Doesnt confirm anything but Smalling being on the bench was a sign he was fit when he could have been injured even then. That said, as Pogue pointed out, weird that he made the bench then and is out now totally. Or was it a last minute change where the 2 were swapped? I dont even remember with all the shite that goes on with us and injuries.

If Smalling was originally in the starting 11, and 18 man squad, then if he became injured he was, in effect, 'substituted' before the start of the match. Evans goes in to the starting 11 and Smalling sits the game out on the bench, but is not actually fit to play.

 

[Getsme]

Yeah, bad choice of word there. Doesnt confirm anything but Smalling being on the bench was a sign he was fit when he could have been injured even then. That said, as Pogue pointed out, weird that he made the bench then and is out now totally. Or was it a last minute change where the 2 were swapped? I dont even remember with all the shite that goes on with us and injuries.

Indeed, to me everything suggests that LVG has no idea what his best backline is, having Smalling and Evans out is a burden as it leaves us with no experienced CBs to call on when Jones gets injured, it's something we need to sort out fast. .
I feel the only one defender he trusts at this moment in time is Rojo, and its easy to understand why, although he is as capable as any as making a mistake but he is also the only player who has a viable excuse.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

So he was injured in the warm-up. Definitely possible for a man of such rugged health.

 

[Getsme]

Smalling was in the initial starting line up. Then it was changed. Sometime earlier in the week a story came out that it was because the kit man fecked up.

Do you really believe that?

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Indeed, to me everything suggests that LVG has no idea what his best backline is, having Smalling and Evans out is a burden as it leaves us with no experienced CBs to call on when Jones gets injured, it's something we need to sort out fast. .
I feel the only one defender he trusts at this moment in time is Rojo, and its easy to understand why, although he is as capable as any as making a mistake but he is also the only player who has a viable excuse.

A trust not shared by many fans.

I hate three at the back as much as the next man but the injury prone bunch of eejits Van Gaal is having to constantly rotate in and out of the team does make me have a bit of sympathy for his safety first approach.

 

[Getsme]

So he was injured in the warm-up. Definitely possible for a man of such rugged health.

Then why have him on the bench?

 

[Getsme]

A trust not shared by many fans.

I hate three at the back as much as the next man but the injury prone bunch of eejits Van Gaal is having to constantly rotate in and out of the team does make me have a bit of sympathy for his safety first approach.

Indeed.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Then why have him on the bench?

If he's in the match-day squad, where else would he sit? Not as though you can get someone else in to take his place.

 

[KeninDC]

Classic: Smalling injured himself in warm-ups, and the injured player's replacement (Evans) injured himself in the game.

 

[Varun]

Smalling was in the initial starting line up. Then it was changed. Sometime earlier in the week a story came out that it was because the kit man fecked up.

If Smalling was originally in the starting 11, and 18 man squad, then if he became injured he was, in effect, 'substituted' before the start of the match. Evans goes in to the starting 11 and Smalling sits the game out on the bench, but is not actually fit to play.

Cheers. Makes sense now why he was on the bench and completely out now.

Indeed, to me everything suggests that LVG has no idea what his best backline is, having Smalling and Evans out is a burden as it leaves us with no experienced CBs to call on when Jones gets injured, it's something we need to sort out fast. .
I feel the only one defender he trusts at this moment in time is Rojo, and its easy to understand why, although he is as capable as any as making a mistake but he is also the only player who has a viable excuse.

I think Rojo and Smalling are definitely the top 2 choices. The 3rd would be Jones but all 3 are barely fit together.

For all the hue and cry about the 3-5-2, I cant see it changing till the summer when we buy another CB.

 

[Skills]

Do you really believe that?

The kit-man story? Not really. I think he got injured in the warm up.

 

[Getsme]

If he's in the match-day squad, where else would he sit? Not as though you can get someone else in to take his place.

Are you sure? I've always assumed you could. Thats a complete guess though.
However there was no mention of him getting injured in the warm up . I think it's a simple case of a player being dropped to the bech.

 

[Sam]

If in doubt, assume all our defenders are injured. That way you'll usually be fairly close to the truth.

Sounds about right

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Are you sure? I've always assumed you could. Thats a complete guess though.
However there was no mention of him getting injured in the warm up . I think it's a simple case of a player being dropped to the bech.

You know I'm not actually 100% sure. I think that you submit a match-day squad in advance and cannot change it on the day. Could be wrong though.

Didn't someone else get injured in a warm-up earlier this season? (no great surprise with the bunch of fairies in our squad!) If I could remember the incident I could check whether they made the bench or not.

 

[jojose]

Indeed, to me everything suggests that LVG has no idea what his best backline is, having Smalling and Evans out is a burden as it leaves us with no experienced CBs to call on when Jones gets injured, it's something we need to sort out fast. .
I feel the only one defender he trusts at this moment in time is Rojo, and its easy to understand why, although he is as capable as any as making a mistake but he is also the only player who has a viable excuse.

Why is Rojo allowed an excuse??? What is his excuse??? I have read some bizaare posts in my short time here but jesus........what are you talking about?

 

[bosnian_red]

You know I'm not actually 100% sure. I think that you submit a match-day squad in advance and cannot change it on the day. Could be wrong though.

Didn't someone else get injured in a warm-up earlier this season? (no great surprise with the bunch of fairies in our squad!) If I could remember the incident I could check whether they made the bench or not.

Think there are usually a few back up players there in case of an injury, and then someone gets drafted into the squad?

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Why is Rojo allowed an excuse??? What is his excuse??? I have read some bizaare posts in my short time here but jesus........what are you talking about?

Surely you can work out what he means?

 

[Getsme]

Why is Rojo allowed an excuse??? What is his excuse??? I have read some bizaare posts in my short time here but jesus........what are you talking about?

Lets me see, first season in a new team, in a new league in a different country and can't speak English.

 

[jojose]

Lets me see, first season in a new team, in a new league in a different country and can't speak English.

team mates, league, location and language has got absolutley nothing to do with passing the ball to the opposition or any other individual mistake.

 

[kps88]

team mates, league, location and language has got absolutley nothing to do with passing the ball to the opposition or any other individual mistake.

Of course it does. They're humans, not robots.

 

[jojose]

Of course it does. They're humans, not robots.

ok then...so when if Falcao misses a sitter it because he's playing in a new team, in a new country.
Perhaps Di Maria's god awful corners and free kicks can be attributed to him not speaking english??

What a load of rubbish

 

[Getsme]

team mates, league, location and language has got absolutley nothing to do with passing the ball to the opposition or any other individual mistake.

And you think my post was bizzare?

 

[kps88]

ok then...so when if Falcao misses a sitter it because he's playing in a new team, in a new country.
Perhaps Di Maria's god awful corners and free kicks can be attributed to him not speaking english??

What a load of rubbish

I can tell you're going to be a sterling addition to the United forums.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

ok then...so when if Falcao misses a sitter it because he's playing in a new team, in a new country.
Perhaps Di Maria's god awful corners and free kicks can be attributed to him not speaking english??

What a load of rubbish

Have you watched much football over the years?

Have you ever noticed that some new signings find life a bit tricky in the first few months in a new league, then improve a lot in second and subsequent seasons?

Have you heard of a left back called Patrice Evra? A central defender called Nemanja Vidic?

Is any of this ringing any bells at all?