Milner was in the team to close down the defenders and be close to Carrick and it started off working well. But after about 15 minutes he decided he'd had enough and we were able to play it around without trouble
12
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 29
- Clean sheets
- 8
- Goals
- 4
- Assists
- 0
- Yellow cards
- 3
- Red cards
- 1
-
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Good summary. I'm just looking to the future what it might be like when he can deliver a full 90 minutes of solid play with the improving understanding of the other defenders. And maybe with a more defensively accomplished player than Valencia next to him.
Has as many league goals as Danny Welbeck and Falcao.
I thought Milner played it perfectly for the first 15 minutes. Good thing that he fecked off and did his own thing after that, because I thought they were going to reduce us to passing slowly among the back four at one point early in the match.
Chelsea 1:0 Man Utd
Always looks awkward when running with the ball but defended well enough today and tried to show leadership across the line
Really? I didn't think that at all. Smalling and McNair looked very confident running the ball out to me. Maybe looked a little lost with what to do with it when Chelsea let them run really far forward, but that's not particularly surprising or a problem.
Defensively there were some impressive Varane-esque shows of his pace too. Caught Drogba at full sprint a few times when it looked like he was only at three quarters pace.
Smalling was solid...
McNair is a ready back up..
we are stocked up well for CB.
McNair is a ready back up..
we are stocked up well for CB.
Good game from both he and McNair but really they saw too much of the ball. Couldn't break Chelsea's walls.
Haven't seen a replay - could he have done more to stop the goal?
Played very well today, as did McNair.
I don't understand why he shits himself in the opposition half when he's actually quite good in the ball. It's almost like he thinks to himself "Oh feck. I'm past the halfway line. PANIC!!!!"
His positioning wasn't impressive.
They let him have the ball today and he couldn't/wasn't able to take real advantage of it. Expected though, his on ball ability is a still work in progress though one that is improving exponentially based on this season.
Solid defender though. Won every header against a (past it) Drogba without having to even jump.
Solid defender though. Won every header against a (past it) Drogba without having to even jump.
He was marking Oscar tight at the time, so probably no. Valencia needed to close the gap to Smalling IMO, but it's easy to say I suppose.
I didn't say he lacked confidence, just that he looks awkward running with it, like it's not natural for him, unlike say McNair who is very smooth when running with it. Not a criticism, just an observation as I think Smalling is more a traditional CB than a ball playing one but is doing his best to fit with what LvG demands even if it's not his natural game.
did well
Oh right, fair enough. I thought awkward implied a lack of confidence. Can't say I've noticed that myself.
One thing I'd like to see him change: when he steps out of defence with the ball it's fantastic but he then often negates it by playing a sideways or backwards pass.
It's great though that we have start to see him step out more often.
It's great though that we have start to see him step out more often.
Paddy McNair out performed him.
I know we all want our younger English players to do well, but if we go into next season with Smalling as the main defender we won't win the league.
I know we all want our younger English players to do well, but if we go into next season with Smalling as the main defender we won't win the league.
That was the hesitant and unsure version of him today, an eyesore at times. Look out for the decisive and precise version, a damn right treat really.
Wonder what game some people were watching, I really do.
He was excellent. Why is McNair having a good game a slight on Smalling? They can both deliver good performance, which is what happened.
He was excellent. Why is McNair having a good game a slight on Smalling? They can both deliver good performance, which is what happened.
You know why
Their goal was primarily just the fact that Hazard is the best player in the league and showed why. Could we have defended better? In hindsight, sure, but there was no blindingly obvious defensive error.
Overall another good game from him.
Overall another good game from him.
Was class and composed, which has become the norm this season for him, cant wait for next seasons developments now.
I remember thinking if Valencia was stood a yard further infield he'd have blocked Hazard's path through on goal. Also don't like how he gave up once hazard was goal side. Paying the price for not having an actual defender in defence.
Showing signs of finally fulfilling his potential for me. Feel like we've been here before with him but hope he can see it through now and become the player I think he can.
Smalling, Jones, Rojo, a new CB and McNair will do me fine for our group of centre halves next season.
Smalling, Jones, Rojo, a new CB and McNair will do me fine for our group of centre halves next season.
On the ball, yeah. Neither really had anything to do defensively and when they did they both were more than competent.
Yeah I did notice that he seemed to just start ballwatching as though he were simply bedazzled by the beauty that is Eden Hazard.
Still, there was no way Valencia (or anyone else) would have caught Hazard once he had reached that point - we would more than likely have just given away a penalty. Herrera should have done better at tracking his run initially - and (this was pointed out in the HT analysis) could have simply checked Hazard off the ball to prevent the situation developing. It may have been noticed by the ref, but either way I think giving away a FK would have been a better option for us.
Of course Herrera was playing an unfamiliar position so perhaps wasnt quite clued up to execute a professional foul in that circumstance, but there you go.
Smalling was excellent on Saturday, not sure what some others were watching.
Everton 3:0 Man Utd
He's been excellent today, despite the score.
Terrific defender, would be great with Hummels next to him.
Been very good.
Only player who has played well today, I'd say.
MOTM in a 3-0 defeat - that's nice...
Let down massively by Valencia these months.
Defending on his own today.
He needs to stop appealing for offside. Seen it other games where he takes his eye off the play to appeal. What is the point?
Pretty much. He's just such a complete defender, and I can't think of any attackers he struggle against.
One man defence today