Burnley 0:1 Man Utd
Bobski
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Continuing as he did against Stoke. Just looks off his game at the moment, like a mistake is coming.
Yup.Good defender. But such a poor all round footballer. Really lacks composure on the ball.
very good today, usual nonsense posted here I see
When it's backs to wall and we're defending deep, Smalling is very good. The question is why is that happening and when we're not playing like that, does he contribute enough?First half he was Chris, second half he was Mike.
How can anyone accept what Ferguson, Moyes, Van Gaal and now Jose seem to disagree with? Just because some fans don’t rate him, really doesn’t mean jot. Until we have a defender who’s a patch on him in the air, he’ll be a regular in the side.He's a 2nd choice CB at best and that's nothing to be negative about but let's not accept this is good enough for Utd.
When he bossed games under Van Gaal, people then also proclaimed that it was only due to tactics, which made defenders look better than they were. We mostly played possession-based football with high-line defence. Being aggressive and on the front foot - intercepting using his physique made him boss games. Using his pace for recovery runs collecting balls in behind made him boss games.When it's backs to wall and we're defending deep, Smalling is very good. The question is why is that happening and when we're not playing like that, does he contribute enough?
Sums it up perfectly. Shaky first half, but absolutely great second half.First half he was Chris, second half he was Mike.
Persisting with these pointless stats to justify the glaring deficiencies that are even more important. He's adequate and improved second half and that's about it.Won 14 'aerial duels' today (averages 3.3 a game - the most in the squad).
Being the best header of a ball at the back is hardly pointless. You should know Mourinho sees the value in it, hence his obsession with tall playersPersisting with these pointless stats to justify the glaring deficiencies that are even more important. He's adequate and improved second half and that's about it.
It's not only his aerial play. He's actually the best man marker. It's extremely rare that he'll get dribbled or put on his arse and when he goes to ground he almost always gets the ball. He makes mistakes, like every player, but usually far less than the other CBs. And on top of his defending ability, his disciplinary as well as injury record is also the best out of our current crop by some way.He does a lot of good things defensively and his aerial play is second to none. But if we want to dominate and keep possession, we really need defenders who can play a ball to certain standards.
Wasn't the only player to make mistakes with the ball, but he just seems scared whenever he has it.
Keep him in the squad for certain games, but let's get Lindelof or Bailly in there to start with Phil.
Pretty much. I don't want to see our CBs spraying the ball around like Rojo and Bailly do at times. Carrying the ball out is fine though. But ideally they play quick passes to the FBs or CMs.When he bossed games under Van Gaal, people then also proclaimed that it was only due to tactics, which made defenders look better than they were. We mostly played possession-based football with high-line defence. Being aggressive and on the front foot - intercepting using his physique made him boss games. Using his pace for recovery runs collecting balls in behind made him boss games.
He posses more qualities than you portray here. Yeah, he is good in the box so he is being used like that, but he is not making the team play that way. If you watch games you will see he sets the line and is always quick to push the team up the field and out of the box. Playing beside the likes of Jones, Bailly, Rojo... Mourinho has opted to use Smalling's defensive versatility to make him the deepest one while his partners the most aggressive. That doesn't mean he only is good for clearing crosses. He has proven time and again he can play to a good level in a high line defence.
Btw, intercepting well and giving quick short passes to midfield on the break like Smalling and Jones did today is way more beneficial to our attack than playing hollywood-balls when in possession. That is just one way a well-resolved defensive situation can provide in an attacking sense without actually having defenders being midfielders.
He's absolutely great in the air, and his timing is brilliant. Also, why are not people on here praising his last ditch tackle that saved a certain goal, where he got his knee on the ball? He read the game brilliantly and covered the space where Jones should have been. I think Jones played brilliantly, but Smalling was also great in that second half. He was poor, even for his standards, with the ball in the first half and even gave the ball away a couple of times, which he very rarely does.Being the best header of a ball at the back is hardly pointless. You should know Mourinho sees the value in it, hence his obsession with tall players
Bang on with everything you saidHe's absolutely great in the air, and his timing is brilliant. Also, why are not people on here praising his last ditch tackle that saved a certain goal, where he got his knee on the ball? He read the game brilliantly and covered the space where Jones should have been. I think Jones played brilliantly, but Smalling was also great in that second half. He was poor, even for his standards, with the ball in the first half and even gave the ball away a couple of times, which he very rarely does.