The way he took both Blind and the Wolfsburg out was just beautiful. That is heart of a player that wants to win.
The way he took both Blind and the Wolfsburg out was just beautiful. That is heart of a player that wants to win.
He's taken Blind out a few times this season. Not only does he have to fend off a big CF in the air, then Smalling just comes in and takes them both out. Poor DaleyThe way he took both Blind and the Wolfsburg out was just beautiful. That is heart of a player that wants to win.
This always bemused me.I am still waiting how can Jones improve if he can stay injury free for a long time. I think he is even bigger talent than Smalling.
Well it is just my opinion. I always liked Jones and he can be really rock at the back at times. Plus he is for a defender quite good on the ball which is very important in our team.This always bemused me.
Why is it the default opinion that Jones was always better or has greater potential than Smalling?
I've never bought it, and I'm the least surprised that Smalling is performing the way he is, it's been clear to me for years that he had it in him.
Has a rougher time with Smalling then any striker he's come up against this seasonHe's taken Blind out a few times this season. Not only does he have to fend off a big CF in the air, then Smalling just comes in and takes them both out. Poor Daley
I agree. Jones has never shown the same quality of Smalling, he's more of a gung ho defender and I think that style makes people think he's better than he actually is.This always bemused me.
Why is it the default opinion that Jones was always better or has greater potential than Smalling?
I've never bought it, and I'm the least surprised that Smalling is performing the way he is, it's been clear to me for years that he had it in him.
No it's fair enough that's your opinion I just wanted to know why you felt that Jones was better?Well it is just my opinion. I always liked Jones and he can be really rock at the back at times. Plus he is for a defender quite good on the ball which is very important in our team.
Precisely, Smalling has shown his quality before plenty of times he'd just be injured afterwards, I'm trying to think of genes where Jones has done the same for usI agree. Jones has never shown the same quality of Smalling, he's more of a gung ho defender and I think that style makes people think he's better than he actually is.
Smalling has actually shown dominance like this in periods before, he just usually ended up injured or shifted to fullback.
Jones is the new Duncan Ferguson and John Terry rolled up in one don't you know? Future United and England captain and all, the new English hope. He reminds people of old school English centerbacks so naturally he has the 'higher ceiling' by default.No it's fair enough that's your opinion I just wanted to know why you felt that Jones was better?
I've personally never seen him display anything Smalling hasn't and I can't remember a game he's dominated for us for quite some time. The only one that stands out was when he played for Blackburn at home
Precisely, Smalling has shown his quality before plenty of times he'd just be injured afterwards, I'm trying to think of genes where Jones has done the same for us
He is much better on the ball, better passer and is better in caring the ball from defense to attacking positions.No it's fair enough that's your opinion I just wanted to know why you felt that Jones was better?
I've personally never seen him display anything Smalling hasn't and I can't remember a game he's dominated for us for quite some time. The only one that stands out was when he played for Blackburn at home
Yeah big fan of Jones as well. Let's hope he can get a consistent run of games under his belt. He's got the lot, apart from being too rash but that can be worked on with a run of games.I am still waiting how can Jones improve if he can stay injury free for a long time. I think he is even bigger talent than Smalling.
Yep. Hard to believe we conceded three and I don't think our centre halves did much wrong.best player we had
Terrific second half performance when he nullified their attacks almost single handedly. In the first half, it looked like the Arsenal did everything they could to avoid him.Don't see why he was our best player. Don't remember him doing anything to stop the barrage.
The match was over by the second half. In the first they played around him as much as they were everyone else. Didn't see him intervening .Terrific second half performance when he nullified their attacks almost single handedly. In the first half, it looked like the Arsenal did everything they could to avoid him.
Neither did you, other than setting up every counter attack against usDon't see why he was our best player. Don't remember him doing anything to stop the barrage.
Totally agree, I said before the season the club badly needed a top CH. I think Smalling is the best there is ATM but still doesn't totally convince me.The over praising of Smalling annoys me about talking about him on here, he wasn’t great today, he wasn’t even good, he was as bad as the rest of them.
Smalling has been very good for around 12 months, I'd struggle to name many better centre backs in the league in that time. He'd benefit from having a specialist centre back next to him enormously rather than Blind out of position. Today it was obvious Wenger targeted Blind and there was not much Smalling could do in that situation in fairness, the midfield cover from Carrick and Schweinsteiger was non existent at times. Swansea did it in a slightly different way but also had success with Gomis bullying him. I was surprised Benteke didn't exploit that weakness in the backline when we played Liverpool at home too.Totally agree, I said before the season the club badly needed a top CH. I think Smalling is the best there is ATM but still doesn't totally convince me.
The jury is out on Jones and I don't think Rojo or Blind are the answer.
It's one thing not wanting to praise him after a match like this, it's true he didn't single-handedly stop all of the opposition's attacks (for once). But if you're not convinced by Smalling's performances over the last 12 months, I'm not sure what would - he's been outstanding.Totally agree, I said before the season the club badly needed a top CH. I think Smalling is the best there is ATM but still doesn't totally convince me.
The jury is out on Jones and I don't think Rojo or Blind are the answer.
Most of us know you don't rate Smalling. The basic praising annoyed you too last season when you kept bigging up your boy Evans. You also rate Jones higher than him. We knowThe over praising of Smalling annoys me when talking about him on here, he wasn’t great today, he wasn’t even good, he was as bad as the rest of them.
I don't rate Smalling, where have I said this? Also where was I bigging up Evans? But yes I do think Jones has a higher level of potential than him, so you got one out of three, well done.Most of us know you don't rate Smalling. The basic praising annoyed you too last season when you kept bigging up your boy Evans. You also rate Jones higher than him. We know
He is the defensive captain and I guess the 3rd choice captain. He has to take responsibility for defensive failures.Probably our best player in the second half. Don't think he was at fault individually in the first half but he has to take responsibility as part of the collective.
For sure. I agree with that.He is the defensive captain and I guess the 3rd choice captain. He has to take responsibility for defensive failures.
How many of his defenders is he meant to help/cover? He's spent the entire season covering for Blind in the middle and Darmian was playing well enough to cover Smalling. That right side combination has been one of the most functional parts of our team. Nobody was expecting Darmian to collapse like that.Broadly speaking I thought he done ok yesterday. That said, I'm disappointed he didn't get over and help darmian. It was clear he was having a tough time and I would have expected Smalling to get over and, for lack of a better phrase, roughed Sanchez up given half a chance just to give darmian a bit of time to get his head back in the game.