Statistically he's our best at playing from the back. 3 more passes on average than Lindelof and slightly more accurate too. Doesnt get any credit for it though and isnt on the ball as much as some CBs from other clubs
12
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- 4
- Assists
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- 4
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From Mourinho's perspective this is great news. Smalling who's played a lot this season gets and Eric Baily gets a proper rest after a season where he had a long term injury
Well, Smalling can enjoy a nice vacation with his beautiful wife. Feck Southgate, jelous ABU moron.
The FA sided with Kane on this one, shame.
No one bar United fans think this is a big deal.
He’s nowhere near as good as this forum makes out.
He’s nowhere near as good as this forum makes out.
He’s better than Cahill.
Cahill has went because he’s the only experienced one amongst them. England need a leader.
Well, biggest deal for non United fans are Wilshere and Shelvey not going to world cup so I wouldn't trust their opinion either.
Feel sorry for Smalling as he's a better defender than Stones/Maguire but his lack of ability to bring the ball forward has cost him.
Hopefully he has a hard look a himself and tries to improve this side of the game.
If he could become comfortable on the ball he'd be a fantastic all round defender.
Hopefully he has a hard look a himself and tries to improve this side of the game.
If he could become comfortable on the ball he'd be a fantastic all round defender.
You say that as if it's clear cut.
I'd say its quite close (I consider them both to be solid defenders). The difference being Cahill has experience in title winning teams.
I agree. Stones who couldn’t get a game at City shouldn’t be ahead of Smalling but Harry Maguire is better than Smalling.
This is Smalling’s fault anyways. He’s very awful in possession. I think Southgate has prioritised defenders who are comfortable in possession and this is why Smalling has found himself at the bottom of the barrel.
Looks like Southgate wants and prefers defenders more comfortable with the ball at their feet. Maguire, Stones, Jones and Cahill are all decent enough on the ball, as is Walker if Southgate chooses to go three at the back with him centrally again. Dier can also slot into defence and is capable of playing out from the back. One of Smalling's greatest weaknesses is that he's nervy and lacks confidence with the ball at his feet. Looks like being good in the air isn't enough for Southgate to think he has a place in the squad for him.
So all the United managers that relied on him wouldnt think this is strange?
You are right, Smalling has never won PL, FA Cup, Europa League, etc...
A gross misrepresentation of Smalling's skills. He also makes the joint most interceptions of all our players as he's the best reader of the game in our team. Also joint 3rd most interceptions from CBs in the Premier League, Van Diijk and Monreal are joint 1st, and then its Smalling, Bailly and Tomkins all the same amount per game.
Meanwhile he has 19th most Aerial battles and 16th most won Aerial battles per game of any CBs in the league. So while he does take care of most of the high balls against us, its not where he stands out the most in comparison to the other CBs and teams in the league. Its the game reading and taking the ball before his opponent receives it.
Feel bad for Mike. Considering who got the call, he deserves better. TBF, he probably had more than an inkling that he wasn't Southgate's cup of tea, but he's the best English central defender based on current form (which Southgate supposedly leans heavily on - current form). Yeah, most of those going are more dynamic with the ball, but that comes at a price (aka Stone's penchant to get caught out or make a bad pass). If anything, he should be ahead of Cahill & Jones, as I don't think their passing outweighs Smalling's better defense. Tarkowski gets a pass, as that is Southgate trying to blood a younger player.
At least we don't have to worry about Smalling needing extra rest in the beginning of training.
At least we don't have to worry about Smalling needing extra rest in the beginning of training.
It's obvious who has more pedigree at the top level and it's Cahill. Cahill was a guaranteed starter in two PL winning teams. If you want to talk about titles where the player wasn't important then Cahill also has the Champions League and has Smalling beat there as well.
Think he is a bit unlucky to be left out, Jones will probably come back from the WC injured and miss the start of the season and possibly some of the games in Russia after picking up an injury over there. Obviously I hope not though. Smaliing and Jones are both better defenders than Stones in terms of actually defending and I suspect Stones will be caught out trying to pass the ball out from the back if he plays.
Must be hard to take for Smalling to think that Walker, an attacking RB might start as a right sided CB in a back three while he didn't even make the cut.
Must be hard to take for Smalling to think that Walker, an attacking RB might start as a right sided CB in a back three while he didn't even make the cut.
Its' just Southgate not wanting to eat his own words.
Jones over Smalling though. Seems pretty unjust when you think about it.
Jones over Smalling though. Seems pretty unjust when you think about it.
Come on. 90 percent if managers would pick an experienced defender, off the back if a solid season than a rookie who can't get games for man city and another rookie at a mid table club. OK they might play the ball better but what about all the other attributes that Smalling wins hand down. Do they not count?
He was also a first choice in a team that finished tenth. And he isn't even 100% starter in a 5th placed team this year.
They both have similar PL and CL experience and Smalling is better player at the moment. It's absurd to even mention other defenders that are picked over him, I think Cahil is decent choice anyway.
Who? Van Gaal and Mourinho?
Mourinho has signed two CBs in two years and will probably sign another this year, clear he doesn’t really rate our current lot much.
Southgate makes out that his team won’t be playing the sort of tumescent drivel England always serve up, so very reliable players such as Smalling are ditched in favour of players who can ‘bring the ball out’ - whatever that actually means.
It’s not going to do you much good when Fellaini and Lukaku are banging in the headers when they play Belgium.
It’s not going to do you much good when Fellaini and Lukaku are banging in the headers when they play Belgium.
And Smalling doesn't?
Picked him over his expensive signing last summer. Yes, the managers went out looking for better than our CBs but who did they always end up playing and relying on? Chris Smalling.
feck England anyway, we all know they're not going anywhere at the WC. Good rest time for our best two CBs Bailly and Smalling. Jones can go there and take his 20 injections before each game coming off the bench
Or against a team who better them in possession and that defensive unit has no idea how to defend.
And why do you think he keeps buying CBS and will continue to do so this summer?
Our current lot aren’t up to scratch.
We bought Veron when we have Keane and Scholes.
He can buy 20 CBs this summer and if they fail to rise to the level he'll still resort to his most experienced CBs at the club of which Smalling is the most reliable and readily available
It's not necessary to replace Smalling! And it's not just purely ability wise either. Lindelof signing was clearly the result of Rojo's injury. Also as an different option, Smalling attribute better than many, even so called highly rated CBs out there, so it's not like Smalling is being pushed out the door.
Please tell me you aren’t comparing Smalling to Keane and Scholes ffs
You are making a statement that makes no sense. Which teams dont continue to sign players? None. They always try to improve.
We signed Veron when we had 2 world class CMs. Signing other CBs doesnt mean our current CBs arent good. Its because we're always looking to improve, and there are certain specific areas where we can improve on them.
But as you've seen, we spend plenty of money trying to find that improvement and it hasnt happened because it isnt as easy as you think it is. Smalling continues to outperform all the CBs you were happy we signed each summer. Its what he does.
This is what annoys me most about Southgate, in a nutshell:
- 'Bringing the ball out' none of our CBs can really do this well at all. Some are ok (Stones, maybe Dier) but compared to the Germans, Spanish, Brazilians, Dutch etc etc we're far less technically able so why try to implement this style. It's like West Ham deciding to play like City - they'd be torn apart by any of the top teams.
- 3 CBs + 2 WBs: Conte knows this system inside out and it was hugely successful last season. Southgate has zero experience but has seemingly decided this is the way to go? We'll be fine against the weaker teams but as soon as we come up against a good team we'll be exposed because only Cahill knows how to play that system (and even his experience is pretty limited).
Like when non United fans (and many United fans) always thought Carrick was useless.
Wouldn't swap him for any defender in that England squad.
Not his biggest fan, but looking at those CB's in the England squad it is criminal that he isn't going.
Southgate is insane. Good luck in the WC.
Jones is comfortable with the ball at his feet, Smalling isn't. That's the difference.
I thought Soutgate is a reasonable manager at least with some of his selections. Having not a pure defender who can actually defend is a bad mistake, crock Jones over him ffs
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