Rossa
Full Member
When the feck was he garbage as a CB? What a ridiculous post!Thing is, his progression has been from garbage to good. Agree with your post, he still has to improve to be considered a top defender.
When the feck was he garbage as a CB? What a ridiculous post!Thing is, his progression has been from garbage to good. Agree with your post, he still has to improve to be considered a top defender.
I've never really viewed him as garbage, to be honest. Always thought he had plenty of potential that he struggle to fulfill for a long period. He's went from sometimes good to very good, in my eyes. He's now got to make that step up and try to reach a world class level.Thing is, his progression has been from garbage to good. Agree with your post, he still has to improve to be considered a top defender.
Not even easy trying to position yourself correctly when the other centre back can't even judge the bounce of a ball. Smalling can never assume that Blind wins a header, because even though his stats are quite decent, he mistimes so many bounces that he loses them without an opponent present. Subsequently, Smalling is forces to play both sides at CB whilst having to cover for Darmian/Young who are both all over the place positionally.He looks a bit at sea when he plays a high pressure, attacking side. Sometimes he's a bit off positionally as well.
He does look half knackered is what I think. He needs a rest, but as someone pointed out above, we can't give him one.I thought he was a bit off the pace again. But Liverpool playing without a striker helped
@Rossa Should have worded it better. I was taking into consideration his constant knack of picking up injuries when I rated him as "garbage". I've always felt that he's been decent for us. I'm just not convinced he's a top class defender, just yet.I've never really viewed him as garbage, to be honest. Always thought he had plenty of potential that he struggle to fulfill for a long period. He's went from sometimes good to very good, in my eyes. He's now got to make that step up and try to reach a world class level.
Very true. If Rio was off the boil there was always Vidic and vice versa. Also, they had a solid Neville and world class Evra as fullbacks, rarely injured. The extent Smalling has to cover for the right back is ridiculous - isn't that normally what midfielders do? I'd much rather he stays in the box.Think he's just lost a bit of focus. It is still worth remembering how young he still is for a Cb, so he's still approaching his peak in terms of consistency.
Secondly, if he's off his game it's so clearly noticeable because those around him aren't good enough. I reckon, the likes of Rio and Vidic also had slight off patches individually that were barely noticeable because the rest of the unit was very competent.
Well then you definitely worded that wrongly if that is what you meant?@Rossa Should have worded it better. I was taking into consideration his constant knack of picking up injuries when I rated him as "garbage". I've always felt that he's been decent for us. I'm just not convinced he's a top class defender, just yet.
I feel as if Blind is actually a good partner for Smalling. I think their differential skill set compliments each other really well. People are still expecting Blind to give way, at some point, but he's still going and is far from a weak spot in our defense.Well then you definitely worded that wrongly if that is what you meant?
Agree that he struggled with form through injuries and being shunted out wide, but as a centre back, he has been mostly very solid. He needs a top class defender next to him. Blind struggles with any type of player. Rio had Vidic who struggled with pacy players, so he would cover for him (also, you had the rocket that was Evra next to Vidic), and Vidic would take the biggest brute off Rio's hands. Smalling has to take on all of them, and he can't trust Blind not to get skinned by any attacker, and thus Smalling has to cover his position and Blind's - I can't see that Blind's defenders can't see that.
What a load of drivvle, whenever he has been played at centre back he has looked the business bar a handful of games. Right back I will give you but I hope you don't need telling that he isn't a RB.Thing is, his progression has been from garbage to good. Agree with your post, he still has to improve to be considered a top defender.
I've already owned up to my mistake, don't expect another one.What a load of drivvle, whenever he has been played at centre back he has looked the business bar a handful of games. Right back I will give you but I hope you don't need telling that he isn't a RB.
It's the fellaini part, he leaves his central partner complete on their own.I'm standing behind what I said after the Newcastle game - He looks much shakier without Schewinsteiger or Carrick in front of him. The Schneiderlin/Fellaini partnership doesn't offer anything like the same cover, so too much is asked of him.
I don't agree. Blind is repeatedly making mistakes that midfielders do, such as mistiming the bounce of the ball, which isn't that dangerous if you play in midfield, but it's very hazardous in defense. Smalling has to cover that so often that it is no wonder that Smalling tries to go for all headers - there is just no telling with Blind. He is of course a very good passer, but too slow, too weak, too small to play as a centre back.I feel as if Blind is actually a good partner for Smalling. I think their differential skill set compliments each other really well. People are still expecting Blind to give way, at some point, but he's still going and is far from a weak spot in our defense.
The bolded part is the essence: he has to play as two centre backs and fullback. No wonder he sometimes run as much as our midfielders. He has been superb this season, and without him and his athleticism we would have struggled immensely at the back. Our positioning at the back today was shocking. Darmian in particular was all over the place in the first half.I'm standing behind what I said after the Newcastle game - He looks much shakier without Schewinsteiger or Carrick in front of him. The Schneiderlin/Fellaini partnership doesn't offer anything like the same cover, so too much is asked of him.
Listed at 1m80; lots of legendary CBs have been less than that. His problems are a lack strength to win duels, and his defensive positioning which is sometimes very naïve. The pace thing is also an issue, but specifically to our (normally) pretty high defensive line under LVG.I don't agree. Blind is repeatedly making mistakes that midfielders do, such as mistiming the bounce of the ball, which isn't that dangerous if you play in midfield, but it's very hazardous in defense. Smalling has to cover that so often that it is no wonder that Smalling tries to go for all headers - there is just no telling with Blind. He is of course a very good passer, but too slow, too weak, too small to play as a centre back.
I'd say it's the lack of a proper ball player in front of him which makes him panic. There is just no outlet.I'm standing behind what I said after the Newcastle game - He looks much shakier without Schewinsteiger or Carrick in front of him. The Schneiderlin/Fellaini partnership doesn't offer anything like the same cover, so too much is asked of him.
I think that's fair too, but you're talking about when we're on the ball. I was talking about when the opposition are on the ball and attacking.I'd say it's the lack of a proper ball player in front of him which makes him panic. There is just no outlet.
With Carrick, you might not have the ground covered, but if you give him the ball you know 99 times out of 10 it's going into the feet of a forward player if we're playing from the back. With Schneiderlin, it's probably going to Young or Darmian.
Thing is, the quality CBs who were listed at 1.80m, were all very athletic; fast, strong, great in the air. Blind has neither of those, and therefore at the defending aspect, Smalling can't trust him and needs to cover for him as well as trying to keep his position. Also, the number of times he lets the ball bounce over him is getting ridiculous.Listed at 1m80; lots of legendary CBs have been less than that. His problems are a lack strength to win duels, and his defensive positioning which is sometimes very naïve. The pace thing is also an issue, but specifically to our (normally) pretty high defensive line under LVG.
Pretty much like every single premier league defender.For fecks sake, he is always pulling at someone's shirt when defending corners. So risky, and cost us against Newcastle.
Skrtl says hello. Every defender does that.For fecks sake, he is always pulling at someone's shirt when defending corners. So risky, and cost us against Newcastle.
It happens at all levels of football, it's hard to believe anyways who's played or watched football for any extended period of time hasn't realised that yet.Skrtl says hello. Every defender does that.
It was over the top, but it was a free kick the other way around. The Newcastle player looked to rip his head off. On another note, Smalling looks the only defender likely to win a challenge.It happens at all levels of football, it's hard to believe anyways who's played or watched football for any extended period of time hasn't realised that yet.
Something like Newcastle was over the top though - where he took the man down.
Actually think Blind's been doing better than him lately.If he has a proper partner in defence, he wouldn't have to do everything. Blind is not a central defender.
On today's performance Smalling is a ballon d'or contender whilst Blind is a contender for best championship defender, don't let his passing fool you into thinking he's good at defendingActually think Blind's been doing better than him lately.