[Rossa]

People have short memories. Smalling is a beast. My only concern is that both him and Bailly are aggressive and ball-oriented. We need one CB that can think strategically and cover up behind the other centre half that likes to stray and intercept.

I actually think that is smalling's biggest strength, but he had to do too much defending last year covering here and there.

 

[Donut]

He's too good not to be a starter, but it's unfair to drop either Bailly or Blind. I'd really like us to try Blind in midfield again.

 

[ZAGREB RED]

He may have to be patient as Blind deserves to keep his starting spot at the moment.

 

[Borys]

He's too good not to be a starter, but it's unfair to drop either Bailly or Blind. I'd really like us to try Blind in midfield again.

Yes please, this is our best option. Blind played higher at times yesterday, I want to see more.

 

[jeff jones]

having just watched the city stoke game i do worry about smalling with his shirt pulling in the box, lets just hope jose drops him if we get mike dean as ref..

 

[Skills]

He may have to be patient as Blind deserves to keep his starting spot at the moment.

I think he'll start next week, because I don't think there's any chance Mourinho is going into the City game with Bailly and Blind as his CB partnership. So he'll want him to get big minutes against Hull

 

[Sean_RedDevil]

Is it just me or has he really lost a lot of weight??

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[Devil may care]

What's he doing in Italy? Seeing that pen Shawcross gave away today I hope Chris cuts out the arm pulling in the box at set pieces as it seems they are finally clamping down on this.

 

[The United]

People talk about smalling coming in for blind as it is 100% thing.

I would not be surprised if smalling come in for bailly and rotate a bit. After all, they are very similar and you need different types of CBs to make the back line complete. How many of our CBs in the past were very similar to each other? I couldn't remember a single long term one all the way up to 90s.

Also, Bailly has time on his hand to develeop. It is not like we bought an established CB to play straight away.

 

[Blue always red]

Do not worry boys, it used to happen when Evans would come in for Rio or Vida and look like he was the part but when the other two would return you'd see the difference. Smaller will return and boss our defence.

 

[Sean_RedDevil]

What's he doing in Italy? Seeing that pen Shawcross gave away today I hope Chris cuts out the arm pulling in the box at set pieces as it seems they are finally clamping down on this.

The next training is on Tuesday.

 

[Bwuk]

I don't understand why people want to put him straight back in.

We've looked great defensively, and because both our centre backs are so comfortable with the ball we haven't had to have someone deep to take the ball off of them.

I think Jose will agree with me to be honest, think he'll still be on the bench against Hull.

 

[DWelbz19]

He'll be on the bench because he isn't fully match fit as he came back into pre-season injured. Shane Long of all players caused Blind issues from crosses. Even with Fellaini and Pogba in the side, they alone cannot compensate for the backline's inability to deal with crosses.

 

[Rozay]

No change.

#SmallingPlusOne

 

[Pogue Mahone]

If it ain't broke...

I'm all for a bit of rotation in the attacking positions but the back four defend as a unit and the more games they play together the better.

 

[SteveW]

Blind is doing well but I feel Bailly and Smalling could be unbeatable. Two lightening fast, powerful, natural defenders. Having them there would give Shaw and Valencia so much licence to bomb forward. I can't wait to see them as a partnership.

 

[Escobar]

The next training is on Tuesday.

How come? We played on Friday - I thought there was only 1 day off

 

[Minimalist]

Makes much more logical sense for him to swap with Bailly than Blind. Let's just see what happens.

 

[villain]

Smalling and Bailly, with Blind ahead of them, and Pogba & Fellaini/Herrera in a 3-man midfield would be fantastic.

 

[Black Adder]

Finally we have some real competiton for places in defence, someone like Smalling can't just get back into starting eleven, that's really nice to see!

 

[marukomu]

The refs have seemed a little stricter at corners so far. Smalling is forever grabbing and pulling opponents and will likely give away a lot of penalties. I always worry when he plays and we have a wanker of a ref.

 

[LawCharltonBest]

I can't wait to see Smalling back. I think he is going to fit Mourinho's team perfectly. And he'll likely compliment Bailly well.

On a side note, we should at least score more than one from a corner this season with Smalling, Bailly, Pogba, Fellaini and Zlatan likely to be up for them

 

[Brightonian]

The refs have seemed a little stricter at corners so far. Smalling is forever grabbing and pulling opponents and will likely give away a lot of penalties. I always worry when he plays and we have a wanker of a ref.

He's not stupid. He didn't used to do it when he was younger. Like most top defenders with a bit of experience, he does it because he's allowed to. If the refs are making it clear that they won't tolerate it, he won't do it unless absolute necessary.

 

[Adisa]

Has a fight on his hands.

 

[saivet]

He does, but he will get his chance. Just have to wait and see whether he takes it.

 

[SwansonsTache]

He was our undisputed first choice CB going into the season, right now I wouldn't bench either of the two playing for him.

Don't think he will start against City either, Blind's anticipation and intelligence will be needed against the techno midgets always running the channels.

 

[BennyBlanco]

Don't want him anywhere near the pitch for us while this crack down on holding in the box is in effect, captain grapple himself would have more issues than most, bring him back in a month or two when the clampdown has largely been forgotten.

 

[carlosp]

 

[edcunited1878]

Can see Mourinho putting Bailly in a deep holding position like he did was Zouma and David Luiz if/when the time comes. The triangle defense of Smalling, Blind and Bailly would be interesting and fun to see. Felliani, Blind and Bailly practically played as sweepers the last 10 to 15 minutes when Hull cleared their lines, then the ball was recycled back into attack.

 

[Feed Me]

Feel a bit for Smalling, but his form started to tail off towards the end of last season, culminating in a really poor red card in the cup final. He can have no complaints being on the bench as things stand - Bailly and Blind have been absolutely superb.

 

[Distracted Steward]

It's not knee jerk to say Smalling--as excellent as he was most of last season--faces real competition for a starting spot. He has it in him to edge out Blind or Bailly, but it's going to take his best. They've been superb.

 

[Rossa]

He is sorely needed at the back. Blind is very good against lesser opponents, but we need someone who is faster, more athletic and stronger than Blind in these matches. Hangeland, in the Norwegian studio, said Blind could do two things for the first goal - either attack the ball or follow the run, but he did neither.

Also, if we want to continue with a two man midfield, we need our defense to sit high up the pitch. With Smalling and Bailly in the centre and Shaw and Valencia on the sides, we can afford to sit plenty high, but with Blind the fast players will target him time and time again.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

As great as Bailey and Blind have been in the first three games, today we did miss Smalling. The first goal came as a result of Bailey deciding not to challenge Inheachio and Blind taking too long to decide how to react. Smalling is great in those aerial situations.

 

[Kag]

He's still our best defender.

 

[Yagami]

I still hope to see him form a good partnership with Bailly, with Blind as our DM in a midfield 3.

 

[Rossa]

I still hope to see him form a good partnership with Bailly, with Blind as our DM in a midfield 3.

Our midfield should consist of Herrera and Pogba and then the third one should be up for grabs, but Fellaini is continuing playing well.

 

[Yagami]

Our midfield should consist of Herrera and Pogba and then the third one should be up for grabs, but Fellaini is continuing playing well.

I'm of the opinion that, as of right now, our midfield should consist of Pogba and the other two places should be up for grabs. As well as Fellaini is playing, I'd like to see a three of Blind, Pogba & Herrera/Mkhi.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

As great as Bailey and Blind have been in the first three games, today we did miss Smalling. The first goal came as a result of Bailey deciding not to challenge Inheachio and Blind taking too long to decide how to react. Smalling is great in those aerial situations.

We weren't great aerially at the back today at all... Smalling would have been a massive difference IMO.

 

[Rossa]

I'm of the opinion that, as of right now, our midfield should consist of Pogba and the other two places should be up for grabs. As well as Fellaini is playing, I'd like to see a three of Blind, Pogba & Herrera/Mkhi.

Tbf, Pogba should fight for his place as well; he hasn't been that good. Herrera has been really good when he has played, and Fellaini has been our best midfielder thus far.

 

[Rossa]

We weren't great aerially at the back today at all... Smalling would have been a massive difference IMO.

Smalling is a proper defender - like Vidic said, he is an out and out defender. We need that!