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True to a certain extent, but we had 3 centre backs and none of them were that convincing. Also, I'm pretty sure Martial and Lingard did their fair share of defensive work. I think the former even tracked back and helped Young out a few times.Arsenal dominated the midfield and often only matic from midfield was defending. The defenders cant do everything.
Yeah, I think we got outnumbered in midfield. Ozil, Ramsey, Alexis were all over us in midfield. Maybe if we played with 2 top centre backs who actually could defend to a high level, we'd have been able to have an extra midfielder.All I will say is it starts in the midfield. It didn't look like we had one. Every time Arsenal got the ball, they just passed up in to our area, there was no presence in the midfield from a defensive perspective. This meant the box was extremely congested and is the reason why we saw so much fumbling about and confusion in the box.
We went into the match with a gameplan and it worked.True to a certain extent, but we had 3 centre backs and none of them were that convincing. Also, I'm pretty sure Martial and Lingard did their fair share of defensive work. I think the former even tracked back and helped Young out a few times.
Yeah, I think we got outnumbered in midfield. Ozil, Ramsey, Alexis were all over us in midfield. Maybe if we played with 2 top centre backs who actually could defend to a high level, we'd have been able to have an extra midfielder.
Wow. Now I’ve seen it all. Great to hear Jaybomb!Usually I hate seeing his name on the team sheet but I have to admit he’s been good recently. Mourinho sets the defence up magnificently. That defensive display yesterday was outstanding. Everyone involved deserves a round of applause especially the main man De Gea.
But how long will it last? That’s the question. I still feel him and Jones have brain farts in them and it looks like Lindelof has too. Which is worrying.Wow. Now I’ve seen it all. Great to hear Jaybomb!
Rojo has looked a liability his last two games, especially the Arsenal one (and he did give away a stupid penalty against Watford) and I don't think match fitness is an excuse. Not surprising you're blind to that but for once you've given Smalling some due propsBut how long will it last? That’s the question. I still feel him and Jones have brain farts in them and it looks like Lindelof has too. Which is worrying.
But I trust Mourinho to set them up perfectly. I’m thoroughly convinced he would have Lovren and Moreno as good defenders.
I don't agree that Smalling has been a liability. Instead I think he is our most reliable defender who makes the least mistakes. To me, the brain farts mentioned often come down to two incidents in all these years. All defenders make mistakes.But how long will it last? That’s the question. I still feel him and Jones have brain farts in them and it looks like Lindelof has too. Which is worrying.
But I trust Mourinho to set them up perfectly. I’m thoroughly convinced he would have Lovren and Moreno as good defenders.
Smalling is often poor at defending crosses. And he has an awful habit of shirt pulling and losing his marker at times. He’s also the least technically gifted defender we have so you could argue we’re always at a slight disadvantage whenever we play him due to his poor ball playing abilities and general awkwardness on the ball.I don't agree that Smalling has been a liability. Instead I think he is our most reliable defender who makes the least mistakes. To me, the brain farts mentioned often come down to two incidents in all these years. All defenders make mistakes.
Lovren and Moreno? You took that a litt far, mate!
Probably the best defender in the league against crosses.Smalling is often poor at defending crosses. And he has an awful habit of shirt pulling and losing his marker at times. He’s also the least technically gifted defender we have so you could argue we’re always at a slight disadvantage whenever we play him due to his poor ball playing abilities and general awkwardness on the ball.
Lindelof’s weakness seems to be low crosses, oddly enough.
Rojo and Bailly are our strongest partnership on paper, in my book.
Really, Smalling not good at dealing with crosses?Smalling is often poor at defending crosses. And he has an awful habit of shirt pulling and losing his marker at times. He’s also the least technically gifted defender we have so you could argue we’re always at a slight disadvantage whenever we play him due to his poor ball playing abilities and general awkwardness on the ball.
Lindelof’s weakness seems to be low crosses, oddly enough.
Rojo and Bailly are our strongest partnership on paper, in my book.
He’s good at Ariel duels but not at crosses. He loses his marker too much for my liking.Really, Smalling not good at dealing with crosses?
Also, how often has Smalling’s poor passing or so called poor technique cost us goals like it did twice for Arsenal?
Simply have to disagree here. Smalling is vital for clearing crosses, and he's the only one who gets some power behind his clearances as well. Look at Matic and Rojo's clearances against Arsenal - shambolic. Jones isn't very good at that either. Smalling is our best no-nonsense defender, and I think few would agree that he deals poorly with crosses.He’s good at Ariel duels but not at crosses. He loses his marker too much for my liking.
Agree completely - everyone does it, but for some reason, United supporters are criticising our own player for doing it. It's not like he is penalised a lot for it either.The shirt pulling criticism is a bit overboard and tiresome as well. Its not like he's the only one doing it. Just against Watford, Prodl was managing to pull off tugging two of our players shirts at the same time on their attacking corners to give them free headers.
He been around for 7 seasons or more and his only given one pen away from tugging at people's shirtsAgree completely - everyone does it, but for some reason, United supporters are criticising our own player for doing it. It's not like he is penalised a lot for it either.
This. What's the problem it he's not penalised for it?Agree completely - everyone does it, but for some reason, United supporters are criticising our own player for doing it. It's not like he is penalised a lot for it either.
Fully agree on the Rojo bit. Even on the double save I felt he got turned too easily rushing in. Defenders like this often get outsmarted by talented/crafty attackers.Posters fearing Smalling making errors while at the same time having total faith in Rojo is a strange one for me. Rojo has his strengths but his propensity for Rafael style launching tackles does not exactly scream composed defender.
4-5 months of good play in his Utd career should not make Rojo an immediate choice. Bailly and Jones would be the pair for me, think they are our 2 best, in a 3 Rojo can play left side for balance but he still has a lot to prove.
There are many myths concerning Smalling. One is that he receives too many red cards, especially in big games. Stats will tell you that is simply untrue. As you said, he is punished once for shirt pulling. Perhaps those arguments can be laid to rest? Where exactly is he a liability?He been around for 7 seasons or more and his only given one pen away from tugging at people's shirts
Maybe there's a moral story somewhere? I really have no idea.This. What's the problem it he's not penalised for it?
Nah.Maybe there's a moral story somewhere? I really have no idea.
It’s baffling. Now he is also poor at dealing with crosses. It’s nice to make things up:Nah.
In the second half. And he improved his play. He’s at his best when aggressive,which is opposite what I thought he would be when he came to the club.Is it just me or was he super aggressive today?
He was, as he should. He is a physical monster and it's nice watching him destroy attackers in duels.Is it just me or was he super aggressive today?
I don't know if it's coincidence, but he normally is when he plays next to Blind. Maybe he feels like he has to be the calm one when playing with Bailly, Rojo or Jones, but when he's with Blind it's often like he just takes it upon himself to physically dominate everything.Is it just me or was he super aggressive today?
That was Smalling? Nice, that was a pretty good passWon the ball back a number of times when they cleared to keep the pressure on. Also fizzed a great pass into Pogba for Lukaku's goal. Good display.
The Smalling myths continue.
I don't feel like you watched the game. Out of him and Rojo he was the only one with any composure in his passing and he played some nice balls forward as well. But you know, don't let perception with your ocular devices get in the way of preconceived ideas.Such poor distribution. I dream of a world where he plays a pass in front of a player as opposed to playing it to the wide players back foot every. single. time.
José has spent £250m and we still rely on this fool as a centre back. The mind boggles. Wouldnt make any other top 10 teams defence and that’s saying something. Even Southgate has the measure of him.
