[Santiago_KinderBueno]

Can people see yet that the guys is passing the ball much better? We are a premier league team and we cannot have complete ball playing defenders everywhere.

In that problem; smalling arrives as the best you can get when adding collosul strength and a decent ability to find a pass.

 

[bugmat]

Yeah absolutely. Though that could've been because of Rio/Vidic? And our struggles to find a decent, fit, right back?

Fergie always did taht to give squad players games, especially young ones. He did it with Fletcher, Evans, O'Shea. even Wes Brown became a RB through playing out of position.

I've always rated Smalling above Jones so it's good to see he's proving it by most importantly staying fit and getting the game time he needed to keep developing.

 

[suheilsworld]

Been a monster for us and now country too. Can anyone post his highlights from the England game? Would love to see it.

 

[suheilsworld]

Also, it's high time Jones learns a thing or two from Mike!

 

[Ish]

Fergie always did taht to give squad players games, especially young ones. He did it with Fletcher, Evans, O'Shea. even Wes Brown became a RB through playing out of position.

I've always rated Smalling above Jones so it's good to see he's proving it by most importantly staying fit and getting the game time he needed to keep developing.

Yeah. agreed with that.

 

[ZDwyr]

Pleased to hear he did well again.

 

[wiz4231]

Glad to hear he played well again. Benteke will probably be his biggest test so far this season, I'm confident he can deal with him though.

Yeah, its Blind I'm worried about.

 

[Classical Mechanic]

Yeah, its Blind I'm worried about.

He is the meat in a Smalling - Shaw sandwich, he basically has nothing to do.

 

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

Amazing how far he's come in the last 12 months. If Jones could achieve a similar improvement our central defence would be sorted for years

 

[VanGaalEra]

Amazing how far he's come in the last 12 months. If Jones could achieve a similar improvement our central defence would be sorted for years

Touch wood, it's because Smalling has managed to stay fit for the past 6 months. I'm sure if Jones managed to stay fit for an increased period of time, you'd also see improvements in his game.

 

[LeChuck]

Our Mike was pretty beastly last night.

 

[Getsme]

In fairness to the lad he had been superb this season, if he can maintain his form and find a decent partner then we have the makings of a solid back four.

 

[Rozay]

To be fair, he just started to show form towards middle of last season and has continued this season.

Or 2010, depending on which way you look at it.

 

[Cassidy]

Amazing how far he's come in the last 12 months. If Jones could achieve a similar improvement our central defence would be sorted for years

Needs to stay fit, I'm sure he can improve if he does.

 

[Pexbo]

He is the meat in a Smalling - Shaw sandwich, he basically has nothing to do.

To an extent I actually agree with you and I'm fully in favour of him playing there.

The way I look at it is that we play a system that is in essence 3 defenders at the back. The way we set up to accommodate that is Darmian naturally covering inside for Smalling who operates as our only genuine centre back and covers Blind's space. Blind has the permission to carry the ball out and also the responsibility to cover Shaw who has license to press forward.


So as a unit we cover from right to left with Darmian, Smalling and then generally speaking either Blind or Shaw in the back line. The reason we can do this confidently is because of the cover provided by our 6, be it Schneiderlin or Carrick.

As a unit it's excellent and works very well and would be appreciated more if the front 4 were operating as well, with more dynamism and actually putting away chances.

 

[FC Ronaldo]

Player of the month nomination. Fully deserved.

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[YouOnlyLiveTwice]

Very deserved! Keep it up Mike

 

[prath92]

I doubt they will give it to a defender though. Gomis or someone will get it. Is he the only defender nominated? Who is our last winner by the way ?

 

[SirAF]

I doubt they will give it to a defender though. Gomis or someone will get it. Is he the only defender nominated? Who is our last winner by the way ?

Probably de Gea at one stage last season.

 

[Cassidy]

I doubt they will give it to a defender though. Gomis or someone will get it. Is he the only defender nominated? Who is our last winner by the way ?

I expect Mahrez will win it, but its good that Smalling has been nominated, hope he keeps it up. Looks like he can stake a claim to be the no1 English CB

 

[Cassidy]

To an extent I actually agree with you and I'm fully in favour of him playing there.

The way I look at it is that we play a system that is in essence 3 defenders at the back. The way we set up to accommodate that is Darmian naturally covering inside for Smalling who operates as our only genuine centre back and covers Blind's space. Blind has the permission to carry the ball out and also the responsibility to cover Shaw who has license to press forward.


So as a unit we cover from right to left with Darmian, Smalling and then generally speaking either Blind or Shaw in the back line. The reason we can do this confidently is because of the cover provided by our 6, be it Schneiderlin or Carrick.

As a unit it's excellent and works very well and would be appreciated more if the front 4 were operating as well, with more dynamism and actually putting away chances.

This is the key for me, for all the we don't create enough bollocks, I have seen so many chances fluffed.

 

[Bugzy]

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[sizzling sausages]

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But he's only been good for half a season!

Obviously stats aren't everything but this highlights that he's had two full seasons of good performances now. Even the other seasons weren't bad, he just didn't play that often and a lot of his games came at RB.

 

[Sammyjunn]

Dont think he was any less than Darmian tbf, he and Shaw have been our best players for a while in my opinion.

 

[Raw]

Smalling showed a lot of promise even in his first season. I think it was that 2-1 win v City with THAT Rooney goal where Smalling just dominated Tevez all game. Did annoy me when fans were screaming for him to get sold because of his performances at RB and his injury worries, I'm so glad we kept him.

 

[wr8_utd]

He had very good performances under Fergie as well. He's been immense since the City game last year.

 

[NoPace]

In fairness to the lad he had been superb this season, if he can maintain his form and find a decent partner then we have the makings of a solid back four.

---------Schneiderlin-----------
Shaw--LCB--Smalling-Darmian
-----------De Gea--------------

Looks very defensively solid and athletic, too.

We probably should have just paid for Otamendi or another good CB and tried to win every game 1-0 this year with our variation on parking the bus where we always have the ball.

 

[DWelbz19]

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Captain Chris can't be stopped

 

[Spielmacher]

Mike is going places here.

 

[Catt]

I get scared when this thread gets bumped.

 

[Pexbo]

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Captain Chris can't be stopped

My local paper always has reports on craft shows at near by village halls and the awards they hand out are clearly made up on the spot just to make sure anyone who turned up gets a trophy or certificate. "Best floral display without the use of an orange flower" or "best painting by a left handed female in the 54-57 age category".

I'm pretty sure the same thing is happening here.

 

[Kill 'em all]

He should get Mike on the back of his shirt.

 

[Spielmacher]

My local paper always has reports on craft shows at near by village halls and the awards they hand out are clearly made up on the spot just to make sure anyone who turned up gets a trophy or certificate. "Best floral display without the use of an orange flower" or "best painting by a left handed female in the 54-57 age category".

I'm pretty sure the same thing is happening here.

I'm pretty sure you've never heard of the Guiness World records book then, what do you think how they are able to fill that much pages? There's a whole lot of bullshit in there, and Chris certainly doesn't top that list.

 

[Bugzy]

Aw shucks his record has been matched.

 

[rednev]

The best CB in the league at the moment, IMO.

 

[DWelbz19]

He's bloody mega. Shame about that super freak goal, him and Blind emasculated Benteke for most of the game.

 

[Devil may care]

From now on this thread should just contain post after post of "BEAST" after each game.

 

[pseudo_canadian]

He's pretty spectacular, isn't he?

 

[NoPace]

Can people see yet that the guys is passing the ball much better? We are a premier league team and we cannot have complete ball playing defenders everywhere.

In that problem; smalling arrives as the best you can get when adding collosul strength and a decent ability to find a pass.

I love Smalling, but it is possible. Chelsea did it with Carvalho and Terry.

 

[ivaldo]

He seems to be permanently stuck in beast mode.