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Right, its just that you only noted his ability in the air. Thats what I didnt like, because its almost as if someone saw a picture of Smalling saw he was 6'4 and assumed he was good at clearing the ball in the air and not much else. That idea would be false.But my point is that Southgate seems to prefer players who are more comfortable with the ball at their feet. I never said Smalling couldn't read the game well or intercept the ball, and I never said he was anything other than "good" in the air, not "great" or "amazing".
And when they came back Smalling kept them out of the team because he performed better than themThanks to injuries to our quality defenders.
I have and see our players out of position defensively all the time and our CBs or keeper having to bail out our fullbacks, DM and wingers on a regular basis. Maybe you should watch us play and actually watch the team shape and who is where when teams attack us.Because every player on the pitch is asked to drop deep and defend and we have the best keeper in the world. It’s like you’ve never seen us play!
We will continue to try to find better players, but its not easy to get someone who defends as well as Smalling but is good on the ball. So the idea that we sell him or replace him in the lineup first out of our CBs, which is what plenty of people suggest, doesn't make any sense.Two of those have tried to upgrade and he never fully established himself under the other.
It doesn't have to be either he's rubbish and we should get rid, or he's the best defender in the league. Hes somewhere in between and has cemented his place in the team through consistency. It doesn't mean we shouldn't keep trying to find someone better.
Highly unlikely. It is a stylistic choice. If they were just picking the best English CB's regardless of style of play then he has a good shout to go, but given the stye/philosophy Southgate is attempting to create it is far more likely he just goes with a young player whom he feels can be developed.Only just found out he's not included in the World Cup squad for England, feel sorry for him. Maybe he still goes to Russia replacing an injured CB.
Yep. England out againCahill, a man in serious decline kept Smalling out of the World Cup squad.
That’s all you need to know.
Fair enough, though since he was just mentioned in the post above, where does Cahill fit in regarding Southgate’s style/philosophy?Highly unlikely. It is a stylistic choice. If they were just picking the best English CB's regardless of style of play then he has a good shout to go, but given the stye/philosophy Southgate is attempting to create it is far more likely he just goes with a young player whom he feels can be developed.
Like having a target-man striker who is one of the best goalscorers/threats in the league but has no place in the squad because you want to play a passing game.
Cahill is better on the ball than Smalling, or at least does not look as awkward. You could make an argument that name checking Smalling publicly on a weakness forced Southgate into a corner, if he did end up picking him then he looks weak, lacking conviction.Fair enough, though since he was just mentioned in the post above, where does Cahill fit in regarding Southgate’s style/philosophy?
I think you will find it’s the CBs and admittedly full backs that are most often out of position. Lindelof is the worst at this but Smalling isn’t much better.I have and see our players out of position defensively all the time and our CBs or keeper having to bail out our fullbacks, DM and wingers on a regular basis. Maybe you should watch us play and actually watch the team shape and who is where when teams attack us.
City also have a sweeper keeper who is just as comfortable with the ball at his feet as any outfield player.I think you will find it’s the CBs and admittedly full backs that are most often out of position. Lindelof is the worst at this but Smalling isn’t much better.
If you don’t think we sit deep, I’d suggest you watch City, there defence pushes out to the half way line when playing dross.
We played a highline with LVG and for most of that it was Smalling and Blind even Jones when he was fit. DeGea agreed does now seem really reluctant to come off his line but he used to do it quite often.City also have a sweeper keeper who is just as comfortable with the ball at his feet as any outfield player.
DDG is pretty much rooted to his line, he’s comfortable with his feet but he’s no sweeper keeper - and that’s fine because he’s still the best in the world.
Plus our fullbacks are absolute dross.
I just think people need some perspective, we can’t expect to have a high back line when our keeper isn’t going to push up with them, and our fullbacks are a pair of retired wingers.
I've already looked at it week after week. Young, Valencia and Matic are out of position plenty of the time. Occasionally it'll be Jones and over the course of the season it's been Smalling a minimal amount of times. Despite rarely being out of position, he's stolen in to intercept passes more than any of our other players - so he's taken chances where he might get caught out, but has done so the least because he's been successful pinching the ball. Bailly has done the same.I think you will find it’s the CBs and admittedly full backs that are most often out of position. Lindelof is the worst at this but Smalling isn’t much better.
If you don’t think we sit deep, I’d suggest you watch City, there defence pushes out to the half way line when playing dross.
I was referencing the fact that you stated we don’t sit deep in every match. My point is compared to city and even against the lower teams we do. IMO we are far too deep and I believe this is partly(not completely) due to the fact that the midfielders have to drop deep to pick up the ball as our defenders have limited ability to bring the ball out of defence.I've already looked at it week after week. Young, Valencia and Matic are out of position plenty of the time. Occasionally it'll be Jones and over the course of the season it's been Smalling a minimal amount of times. Despite rarely being out of position, he's stolen in to intercept passes more than any of our other players - so he's taken chances where he might get caught out, but has done so the least because he's been successful pinching the ball. Bailly has done the same.
Nobody has said our CBs arent playing the ball around deeper than City. Why do you say something random like that?
No you werent referencing that because I never said that. If I did, you'd be able to quote me.I was referencing the fact that you stated we don’t sit deep in every match. My point is compared to city and even against the lower teams we do. IMO we are far too deep and I believe this is partly(not completely) due to the fact that the midfielders have to drop deep to pick up the ball as our defenders have limited ability to bring the ball out of defence.
Even if thats plan A, it makes no sense not to have the best out and out defender in the squad.In defence of Southgate.
He has an idea and he's sticking to it. He wants defenders who are good with the ball and if there is one thing Smalling is really not good at it's his work with the ball. To me he looks awkward whenever he was the ball for any period of time in a game.
Why are we applauding a person that stick to an idea that many think it's dumb? And it's not like he has a track record to prove his idea had bring him any success.I agree with both sides. Southgate is the first English manager in a while who seems to have a clear idea what he wants. He should stick to that. Plan B's, however, are underrated. If they're in anyway successful at this tournament, I can't believe that Smalling's attributes won't at some stage be needed.
Some clown will find an excuse to criticise him. Smalling and Alderweireld has to be the partnership moving forward; he’s been paired with chaotic chimps since Blind.Fair play to him, he did really well.
Matic was much betterBest player on the pitch yet he has a summer off
In that plan of his he's still picking Cahill over Smalling. I think Smalling has been the best defender in the league this season.I agree with both sides. Southgate is the first English manager in a while who seems to have a clear idea what he wants. He should stick to that. Plan B's, however, are underrated. If they're in anyway successful at this tournament, I can't believe that Smalling's attributes won't at some stage be needed.
