Idiotic from the staff to put him back on. He's just making people think someone is marked but was never going to be of use in that situation. Was always going to cost us. Did well while fit mind you, but I blame that on Mourinho and the staff, not Smalling himself.
12
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 45
- Clean sheets
- 20
- Goals
- 4
- Assists
- 0
- Yellow cards
- 4
- Status
Both?
Sad, agenda posting.
People blaming Smalling. The lads knew he was injured, why didn't someone step up and just take his position. Just don't get it. It's common sense.
Looked like Jones got him out of defence then he was ordered back. Who ordered him back?
He had a solid game up to that point. If he's decided to go back in there himself, then that is crazy.
He had a solid game up to that point. If he's decided to go back in there himself, then that is crazy.
You'd think he'd use his brains for a little bit and realise he shouldn't be playing in centre back when he could barely move. His team mates probably should've taken charge and moved him as well. No leadership at all. Jose deserves the biggest flak for that.
Wonderful insight. Please tell me more.
Even more ridiculous putting him back on when we have a man advantage anyway. Just play 10 v 10 and everyone mark someone.
Agenda? Grow up.
I dont know. But he usually gets things right, heres a reminder that hes human
Should have just stuck him on the left wing and dropped Herrera or Matic into defense. Horrible game management.
From you yeah.
Jokers have been waiting on this for a while. Strange how we go to pot defensively as soon as his groin starts affecting him. Easily the best CB at the club.
Exactly.
Why he didn't swap with Lindelof/Mkhi to just stand on the right side of the pitch we'll never know. Can't blame Smalling, every player always wants to play in that situation to not let the team down. Up to the coaching staff to make intelligent decisions.
Young doesnt track Maguire. DDG doesnt come 
Tried to be a hero and it costs us the game. Not totally his fault, he should have gone off but also he should have had a lot better advice from his teammates and got themselves organised properly. Lack of experience or whatever it was a shambles.
Yes Mr. Expert who played at the highest level tell it like it is
Not on the pitch with ten mins to go .Jones told him to move away he didn't .Mourinho can't do anything about that ? It's all on Smalling being an idiot and that cost us
We are going to struggle without him.
If you think it's smart to stay at CB with 10 mins to go whilst defending a lead and your unable to run properly, then I'm really not sure what more can be said.
He has two weaknesses - he stays on his line far too much for my liking both in terms of handling crosses, but also in terms of playing as a sweeper; I doubt he would have made the interception Schmeichel did today when Lukaku was through. DDG also needs to improve his distribution with his feet.
People blaming Smalling when DDG should take that easily - terrible goal keeping, but we can hardly blame him. Our attackers are to blame.
It actually didnt cost us at all. Maguire was on onside and would have been in there freely if Smalling wasnt there. Young didnt track him and DDG didnt come for the cross
Bingo. Also on Pogba as captain who should of told him to get out the way.
That’s all that needs to be said. I’m not surprised it’s taken you that long to forget his performances during the last 10 games in which he’s been fantastic for 10 minutes when he was injured.Wonderful insight. Please tell me more.
What?
You do know Smalling came off of the sideline, likely told by Mourinho to go back into defence?
The only one alert for their first goal, not sure what they hell was going on at the end there, no one took charge and he ended up in a role he should never have been in with a fecked up groin.
True Pogba should be taking charge. The manager picks the team and tactics but on the pitch he can do nothing when players make stupid decisions
It looked like he did leave the defence as per Jones' instruction, and then he returned. I'd be interested to know if he was ordered back or if he's gone back on his own accord.
We were wasteful infront of goal before that point, but the result falls on whoever has decided for Smalling to back into the centre of defence IMO.
He couldn't jump. If he wasn't on the pitch someone who could jump might have been there to win the header, maybe. Others at fault to as you say, but it was a mess.
Herrera for some unknown reason .
Was anyone running in there, seeing Smalling and then moving away? I dont see anyone. Young just switches off and he runs off him. None of the CBs are covering that area before Smalling walks back. Thats why he did it.
Don't understand why he went down with 1 and a bit to go. Just gave them chance to set up...?
Farcical performance today. The lack of awareness during his "defending" of the first goal let in was astounding, but he managed to crown it by playing through injury and losing the marking on his man, or at least creating enough confusing so no one would mark him, on that last goal. Admittedly, this one could be Joses fault, although if he was a big player, he would never be involved in such a farce. The Anti-Beckenbauer.
If one of Rojo, Jones, Bailly, Smalling or Lindelöf is to go, It should be this guy.
If one of Rojo, Jones, Bailly, Smalling or Lindelöf is to go, It should be this guy.
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Last 10 games, Lost vs Basel, conceded 2 vs Watford, saved by De Gea vs Arsenal, lost vs Chelsea, lost vs Man City, Drew vs Leicester City. But yeah rock solid vs CSKA, Benfica, Bournemouth and WBA
Stupid Smalling not becoming player-manager at the end and swapping positions with Lukaku at the end and playing as a striker in last 10 minutes.
At the most in that situation he should be just sitting in front of the CB pair, just heading away anything that drops short. An example of a real lack of leadership, from Mou, De Gea, Smalling, Jones, Pogba, Matic, someone has to make that call.
Easily the best CB? He’s up there but I don’t see how you can say he’s easily better than Bailly.
Can’t actually believe we conceded because he was injured. Unbelievably amateurish organisation. Could’ve put Pogba or Lukaku in defence for just 4 fecking minutes.
Really starting to doubt Jose now. I’ve backed him to the hilt but he just doesn’t deal with things very well.
Really starting to doubt Jose now. I’ve backed him to the hilt but he just doesn’t deal with things very well.
Southgate’s right,
Smalling’s shite.
Smalling’s shite.
- Status