England's best centre half right now. Cahill and Jagielka cant hold a candle to Chris Smalling.
12
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 55
- Clean sheets
- 24
- Goals
- 2
- Assists
- 1
- Yellow cards
- 13
- Red cards
- 1
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
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He is, mixed them up. Doesn't change my point but would have changed my wording.
Would have been great if he had scored the winner. And so apt given his start to the season.
Yeah, no worries man. Just had me google them quick because I was sure Smalling was younger. But I was surprised it was only by a year.
He seems to be the only player who is bent on advancing the ball.
As Memphis was about to take the corner, I said to my brother that Smalling would head it in only for it to hit the bar
The player he promised to be in his first year seems to have finally arrived!
Good point, although Memphis' was easier. To have got up and got to a header first in the opposition's box means you've already done 50% of the hard work. Putting it in the net is only half the battle. Whereas all Memphis had to do to get his chance was... be there. So his was easier.
Anyway, we're quibbling over nothing - that mistake aside, he was perfect.
He's our best player.
No, seriously.
No, seriously.
After DDG, he's the only one who is putting quality performances week in and week out, he's set a very high standard for himself for this past year, compared to the likes of Rooney, Mata who can be quite anonimous often. Shaw, Carrick, Smalling are imo our most consistent players when fit, and consistent at a high level.
Brugge 0:4 Man Utd
First game all season he hasn't been in contention for our MOTM. Feels weird.
He should have been IMO. Did everything spot on and is clearly the leader at the back.
looks like fantastic four at the back so far, Smalling leading the line by example. People complaining about Smalling's technique - who complained about Vidic's technique which is most certainly inferior to Smalling's who can bring the ball out of defense like a king is also a beasty defender, dominant in the air and outsprints any player in the world.
I think we have world class defender on our hands but probably we already know it, the player just needs to stay fit and consistent which won't be a problem as it seems at all, with Darmian looking very consistent and another world class talent Shaw, the only piece of jigsaw missing looks like the left center back but so far Blind showed he deserves the spot even long term he's still only a back up in my eyes..
Also with Schneiderlin in front of them it's easier to defend..
I think we have world class defender on our hands but probably we already know it, the player just needs to stay fit and consistent which won't be a problem as it seems at all, with Darmian looking very consistent and another world class talent Shaw, the only piece of jigsaw missing looks like the left center back but so far Blind showed he deserves the spot even long term he's still only a back up in my eyes..
Also with Schneiderlin in front of them it's easier to defend..
Scared me a few times by half limping.
If he can stay fit...oh man... Since the start of this season every time he is near the ball i am 0% nervous. Love to see that in a defender.
Our player of the season so far, by far. I rate him as the best player at the club after DDG. He's been imperious since he was sent off versus City last season, and he has gone up several levels this season.
He's brilliant. Along with Shaw, they've been our two best players this season. He's really picked himself up since the arrival of LvG.
Does anyone know what the longest he's gone without an injury for is? Feels like this must be up there with his longest injury free run.
Running out of comments for him now to be honest. Exactly what we've come to expect - another top class performance.
Have to say? He did get caught out on some trough balls later in the first half, otherwise once again a rock.
12 games straight. More than Jones (10) and Evans (7) going back to 2012
Absolute titan. The balance in our defensive five is better than it's been since 2009.
Hopefully he just keeps doing what he's doing and stays injury free. Should be one of the first names on the teamsheet
What are the odds on an opposition player scoring against us before Christmas with Mike 'the beast mode' Smalling spearheading our defence?
That isn't saying much.
Very true, though. It's the first time since Rio & Vida were partners that we have a settled, organised back four that doesn't make the goalkeeper look like he is in some sort of defence vs attack training drill. Smalling is at the centre of that.
He's eating forwards alive, we need to put him in Carbonite between matches.
Was hard to really judge him considering the stream I had was pretty poor. Glad he did well again though.
Dominant yet again from Mike. He's been our best player this season so far, with Shaw a close second.
Looks like this could be a real breakout year for him.
Looks like this could be a real breakout year for him.
Defence and the defensive play by the rest of the team is looking good, if not really tested by a top team yet. Only slight weak spots are Blind in the air and occasional loss of focus from Romero but good to see a stable back four at last. Compare to last season's nonsense chopping and changing and back threes and injuries is huge.
Swansea 2:1 Man Utd
He was my MOTM, doing a hell of a lot work for 3 players today.
Did the job of two centre backs today. Blind was exposed, and they constantly went for that left channel. It's not a criticism to Blind, but when you've got a player like Gomis, you're going to do that. Smalling was sweeping up everything. His marking could have been better for the first goal, but getting back into shape on the counter is very difficult, and it's something we did do very well for nearly the whole game. The one time we didn't, they scored.
He's a beast really. Him and Shaw our 2 best players by far today
Couldn't do much more today - he had to do Blind's job whenever the ball was played to Gomis, and also had to cover for Darmian on occasion. He could have done better for the first goal, but I think he and Blind should share the blame on that one. The worrying thing is that it was Ayew vs 2. They seem to work well together, but I can't see it being very fruitful long term. He's been our best player this season alongside Shaw, but he'd benefit so much from having a real centre-back alongside him.
He was in beast mode at times today, especially when he would just take command and get across to help Blind (Darmian tucking in also helps and him and Smalling have a great understanding there).
Want to see more of him and Rojo tbh.
Want to see more of him and Rojo tbh.
Him and Shaw were our best IMO. They've been the standouts all season really.
Get Rojo alongside him and we'll be fine.
Rojo has so many mistakes in him.
This season.
How many mistakes he made last season.
Anyhow I might be in a minority but wasn't he at fault a bit for 2nd goal, he let Gomis run behind him and just watched the pass to him.
They said the same about Smalling......
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