This...and that's how it should go. It was like the Fellaini/Herrera situation before.
12
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 29
- Clean sheets
- 8
- Goals
- 4
- Assists
- 0
- Yellow cards
- 3
- Red cards
- 1
Passive aggressive. Ok then.
Lost the battle! Lost his place! 
Everything is so black and white these days, I'd hardly say anyone in defense is guaranteed a place, maybe Rojo is the exception but all the rest have been changed regularly. I doubt Smalling not starting today has any great meaning on his future etc.
Everything is so black and white these days, I'd hardly say anyone in defense is guaranteed a place, maybe Rojo is the exception but all the rest have been changed regularly. I doubt Smalling not starting today has any great meaning on his future etc.
There are many more parameters than footballing ability taken into account for a coach to make a decision like this (as in terms of football there isn't a big gap between Smalling and Jones). Maybe LVG appreciates Jones' attitude or something else different. My point is that it's not a shocking decision because they're at the same level basically.
Some people do not want to accept it but, it just seems obvious that Van Gaal rates Jones over Smalling and that Jones/Rojo is his first choice CB pair.
West Ham 1:1 Man Utd
Sakho and Valencia are constantly getting the better of Jones/Rojo in one-on-ones with their pace and trickery. If only we had a defender adept at dealing with that sort of stuff...
A fair number of players have taken a while to get back into the team after being out with injuries this season. LVG seems to take things slow with them.
Having said that, Jones and Rojo seem to be his kind of CBs - wanting to make things happen and get forward, but not doing a convincing job defending their goalkeeper.
Having said that, Jones and Rojo seem to be his kind of CBs - wanting to make things happen and get forward, but not doing a convincing job defending their goalkeeper.
Yep
Explain how?
Man of the match today. Did nothing wrong.
Solid.
Should have started.
I dont remember West Ham having a single attack or chance after Solid Chris came on.
Seriously though, he should have started.
Seriously though, he should have started.
We suffered under long balls and free kicks all night. No doubt having Smalling and Fellaini in the team would have helped endlessly. Maybe Carroll not starting swung their decision, but I think Smalling is better on the ground and in the air than Jones anyway.
Never once said he was shit. Said numerous times that his form has been average over the last 18 months - when ive seen him. Admittedley thats not as much as your claiming
Without him in defence, we've no one to actually win headers... which - above everything else - should be a huge reason for his continued inclusion.
If LVG sells him to Arsenal I'll be livid.
Will go mental to see him get sold and then suddenly be able to stay fit.
I doubt Arsenal will want him now.
I'd still prefer him to Jones
Its Rojo plus one. Smalling's injury set him back because Jones did well in his place. Smalling will now get his chance either in the league game on Wednesday or in the FA cup next Monday. Evans is not favored.Lost the battle! Lost his place!
Everything is so black and white these days, I'd hardly say anyone in defense is guaranteed a place, maybe Rojo is the exception but all the rest have been changed regularly. I doubt Smalling not starting today has any great meaning on his future etc.
Will people finally accept that LVG currently sees him as fourth choice CB.
It's fecking ridiculous that he sees Jones and Evans ahead of Smalling. Simply baffling.
Evans was chosen ahead of him because of his ability to use his left foot...
It's baffling, but theres about 5 others baffling squad decisions he makes weekly so I've lost interest.
If Jones was injured or suspended I think Smalling would be more likely to replace him, not Evans.
Can't conclusively say he's 4th choice.
Can't conclusively say he's 4th choice.
I don't think Van Gaal necessarily rates Evans more than Smalling, he's just in ahead of him because he's more comfortable on that side than Smalling is. Jones is definitely ahead of him in the pecking order now though.
Great, we'll see Jones make brainfarts every week for several years.
Evans on the left is understandable. Jones ahead of Smalling I don't understand though. They are not even in the same category for me.
That's fair, however it wouldn't surprise me if he picked McNair over Smalling. I've said it before in here, but I dont think LVG rates Smalling for whatever reason.
Not only is he the best 1 on 1 defender we have, he is also the only one who takes charge of a situation. Jones and Evans feck about leaving it to each other. So disappointed.
It is starting to look that way, unfortunately.
I don't think he sees Evans ahead of Smalling. Smalling would be playing if he had a left foot.
our best defender can't get a game. Shocking.
Our best midfielder cant either.
And our best striker is playing in midfield.
#Philosophy
Jones is younger and much better on the ball. Been up and down this season (as has everyone) but definitely has more potential than Smalling.
Who do you think I was talking about?
This place, honestly. It's a fecking mad-house..:
I regard Herrera as our best all-round, central midfielder (note this is different to "attacking midfielder" or "defensive midfielder").
Blind and Carrick are DMs, good at what they do but limited. Di Maria is for me an attacking midfielder, not a true CM, and whilst I like Fellaini he is definitely not an all-rounder.
Smalling's the new Herrera.