This. In one on one situations today Smalling was superb. He is clearly a level above any other centre half at the club. Much like Rafael things Smalling did when he was younger have made a lot of people think he's not up to it. They stick with the impressions they had of him under Moyes or whatever, when in fact over 2014/15 he was one of our best players.
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's rock solid.
He was good under Moyes too, probably our best defender that season. It's just his stint at RB that's skewed peoples opinion of him.
That was a proper good performance from him but I think it's quite clear now he's the best CB United has at the moment.
To be fair I've gave him praise when he's deserved it, likewise I've criticised when he's deserved it. What I don't like is those who feel they have to criticise a certain player to praise another (if that makes sense)Getsme on the #SmallingPlusOne train?
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He is our best CB and has been so for the last two years. We need a partner for him though, i still think Otamendi would be great, but LvG may feel that he needs a ball playing defender.
His ability seems to be continually overlooked.
Our defense is no where near as bad as is made out, fullbacks are fantastic and Smalling is a beast, even if we don't sign another centre back it's pretty solid.
Our defense is no where near as bad as is made out, fullbacks are fantastic and Smalling is a beast, even if we don't sign another centre back it's pretty solid.
his future looks bright, just needs to avoid injuries...
What a solid performance from the lad, consistency is key.
Get Stones beside him and we're sorted for many years.
England too.
England too.
Thank christ he started after all the worrying during pre-season. He's a rock at the back. More of the same this season please!
The best defender at the club. The right side of our defence looks rock solid right now.
He is a very good player. I still get the feeling van Gaal isn't convinced by him though - hope I'm wrong and he does't get dropped when Jones is fit again.
two words: PROPER POCKETRY
I've been in the Smalling plus one camp for a while and it is performances like that which explain why. I felt he was our best defender last season and even though it's early doors he was definite man of the match for me today. I don't like him being partnered with Blind but Rojo / Evans / Jones next to him don't fill me with confidence either.
Motm. Masterclass in tackling.
Yep, great pace, height and strength. MOTM today for me.
Well at least we know LvG isn't completely insane. Or at least not all the time.
Our best defender. Just hoping we could get another top CB to play alongside mike.
Why is that?
He look really well today. Strong, reliable and concentrated.
Add a new CB to play alongside him, and we could really get a great partnership
Add a new CB to play alongside him, and we could really get a great partnership
Solid tackler, that red card from previous season made him focus more on his timing and he's looking fit and calm now.
Risked a penalty few times today but managed to reach the ball cleanly. Made no doubts for the ref in his decisions which is a sign of promise.
Risked a penalty few times today but managed to reach the ball cleanly. Made no doubts for the ref in his decisions which is a sign of promise.
So Jones was injured. Scary how LVG could have had him on the bench today.
Literally every neutral I talk to thinks he's shit too 
. It's hilarious... Class defender.
. It's hilarious... Class defender.I had no clue this was even a debate. Leaps and bounds Uniteds best defender. I take comfort whenever he plays.
Debatable, Darmain was fantastic today.
Surprised and pleased by his performance but the real test will be against top forwards and he cant do it alone all season.
Anyone find a GIF of that Chadli tackle then?
Exactly, LvG seems to have forgotten how good Smalling was last season post-City.
My motm then. Darmian was a close second.
Great performance defensively. If he could keep possession of the ball better he'd be a far better player.
Darmian was MOTM for me though.
Darmian was MOTM for me though.
Definitely nuts to think if it wasn't for Jones injury, Smalling would be on the bench and Jones/Blind would have started. Smalling needs to be one of our starting CB whenever available. Showed signs of leadership as well with him obviously being the director at the back.
He deserves a quality partner though, doesn't he? Otamendi where art thou?
Yeah there wasn't to much between them.
If he stays fit and if LVG continues to play him (not sure which is the bigger if?) then virtually all the lingering doubts often expressed about Smalling will be gone by the end of the season.
The presence of Darmian will lighten his workload and allow him to fully focus on doing just his own job which should help as well.
A largely solid game, more than acceptable passing for the most part and always in the right place to snuff out danger in a composed fashion. Just edged MOM based on a few standout interventions towards the end.
The presence of Darmian will lighten his workload and allow him to fully focus on doing just his own job which should help as well.
A largely solid game, more than acceptable passing for the most part and always in the right place to snuff out danger in a composed fashion. Just edged MOM based on a few standout interventions towards the end.
His voice still cracks me up.
Looked total class today.
Rock solid today. Did he just get the start because of the injury to Jones?
Seriously, is there still anyone that doesn't think he's by far and away our best defender?
He's just a beast of a defender.
He's just a beast of a defender.
Probably his best performance to date.
I have to say I'm slightly surprised by how much praise he's getting. I haven't watched the match back since I got home but his passing didn't seem great to me today and it often invited pressure on Romero and the others around him. He did alright other than that, especially towards the end, but I had concerns. I'll watch the highlights later to be sure though.
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