I reckon that went without saying.
Playing alongside a ball playing CB brings out the best in him and said ball playing CB. They compliment eachother very well. It was the same with Blind.
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Playing alongside a ball playing CB brings out the best in him and said ball playing CB. They compliment eachother very well. It was the same with Blind.
Was he just played through with injury under our previous manager, hence why he looked out of sorts at times.
Since then, it seemed he took some time out, got himself fit and has been a beast since. And not just in terms of defending, hes been a great CB overall.
Since then, it seemed he took some time out, got himself fit and has been a beast since. And not just in terms of defending, hes been a great CB overall.
We can not disregard the fact all our players have suffered under Mourinho. Especially those in the ballpark of being poor on the ball. Yes, we played to the strength of physical players but it also made the weaknesses of a few our players more pronounced. You can see how the system has benefitted most of our players and Smalling is not an exception. Players are showing up for the ball, and we play the ball quicker from side to side. We are creating triangles which makes it easier for everyone to follow those patterns. You don't have to be a creative genius as a CB in this setup you only need to make simple passes and if there is room for a forward pass you make it. Smalling is good enough on the ball to fit in with that philosophy.
It is a weakness he has that can be worked around in a fluent way. In certain games the tactic may be too different to what he can offer, but thats ok. Would Pogba have been the perfect player for yesterdays win? Probably not. Should we drop him in games like that? Probably not, but if we are sure in a certain tactic he is not suited to is going to get us a win, then the team comes first. Same applies with Smalling.
He is such an amazing defender. He is always switched on and rarely ever makes even the tiniest defensive errors. I doubt there is any defender that is as dominant as him, yet makes less errors - that would be the perfect defender. I wish he was younger, we'd have a top partnership for years to come.
I think games like yesterday are made for him. Sort of a backs to the wall effort I think he excels the most out of all our defenders. The one critique ive always had of him was the games when opposition sits back.
The most important thing was that during the moments where we looked panicky and they were all over us, such as after we scored the pen, he would always be rock solid and repel all the high balls thrown into the box. The guy never panics.
Would have, but didn’t. Playing could have, would have, should have isn’t factual. Stick to facts it’ll help you in the long term...
Cheers for that but credit where credit is due. He has been outstanding.
Try reading through the thread [you know, in case there have been developments in conversation..] before replying, it'll help you in the long term.
This.Some idiot was arguing that Southgate himself was a better defender than Smalling. feck off
I personally don't give a shit he's not in the England squad. I'd rather Smalling stays fit & healthy for us.
Southgate was a bang average defender and is a bang average manager, who's opinion means feck all.
He does. I sort of agree. But, I actually think he has shown to be very important in certain other games where opposition sits back as well. I'm going to dumb it down a bit but typically there is two types of teams we face that are sitting back against us. You have the smaller European sides which usually have quick technical players up top waiting for the counter attack. Smalling has been an absolute boss in these types of games every time. You can pretty much just play a high line and push a lot of people forward because almost every clearance from the opposition will end up in close proximity of Smalling who will either dominate the striker to win the ball and eliminate all hold up play, or sniff out danger and make sure we keep possession and our attacking shape, without really having to commit too many players back.
Then you have the Burnley, Newcastle etc. type teams. Usually lining up with strong players to aim the ball at when clearing the ball. Barnes, Vokes, Mitrovic, Carroll, Rondon etc. Sometimes tricky players and teams to come up against because they are so physical. Even if you predict what they are going to do, and you know how to stop them, if you don't have players that can physically compete against them in duels you have a big chance of conceding an unlucky goal out of nothing against these teams. Again, here Smalling is very valuable.
I'm sure there is other instances and examples of games where we have dominated with the ball where we have had not a lot of creativity and urge to move forward, and Smalling is no solution to this problem. I think it is too easy to blame that on one player in particular, he is not the reason we are attacking now, but neither the reason we didn't manage to do that under Mourinho and LVG (as some like to claim).
PSG yesterday were very good at playing out from the back but ultimately we took advantage of the tactic and made a goal out of nothing. They kept playing out from the back and while it is sort of refreshing and exiting to watch as a spectator it is not the be all end all for winning a game of football.
This game was a prime example. We had a defensive masterclass and yet probably were about as attacking as them, without playing out from the back at all.
Had a mini digression there, but back to the point, I'm of the opinion that Smalling should not play in games where we need every player on the pitch to be exceptional on the ball while we have no worries about the attacking players of the other team. And In other tougher games too, where if it seems more important to us to have two Lindelofs playing the ball out as a specific tactic, we should do that, if we think its the right set up to win that game.
For those who still blame Smalling for the PSG's goal.
When the ball was passed to Mbappe, Bailly was clearly half a yard behind Smalling and everyone else. Smalling was above Mbappe, and he would have been offsided had Bailly not been there.
Not gonna comment about Bailly since we all seem to reach a consensus about his performance long ago.
I would like to save you guys some time re-watching the clip by posting the screenshot, but can't do it yet.
When the ball was passed to Mbappe, Bailly was clearly half a yard behind Smalling and everyone else. Smalling was above Mbappe, and he would have been offsided had Bailly not been there.
Not gonna comment about Bailly since we all seem to reach a consensus about his performance long ago.
I would like to save you guys some time re-watching the clip by posting the screenshot, but can't do it yet.
Smalling and Lindelof did their job there (and Smalling almost blocked Mbappe's pass). As you said, Bailly fecked up there.
Smalldini. Watching the highlights again I remember I just felt so calm with Smalling in there, rarely ever gets beaten in a 1 on 1 and most of the time clears danger. Must be a nightmare to attack against.
Would love to see a video of his performance against PSG but there's not one on Youtube as yet. He was outstanding.
At one point Mbappe seems to be screaming at him. Probably 'leave me alone' or something. Smalling is a nightmare to come up against, gets in your head. Ask Kane etc.Hahaha great spot that. Reminds me of Herrera on Hazard following him like a shadow.There is this clip of the penalty. Watch Smalling in the back just harassing Mbappe for no reason
Mbappe is top right in this clip on his own, he’s the number 7.There is this clip of the penalty. Watch Smalling in the back just harassing Mbappe for no reason
Could it be Alves instead?
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I think so, he wears number 13 and was subbed for Cavani moments later looking pissed off.
He did. Love itReally was a fantastic performance. Pretty much a magnet to every ball into the box.
Smaldini
You've been heard!
I gave him a 10 out of 10 which was probably a bit too high (got carried with the emotion of it all) but I still say that was his best performance in a United shirt and he's had some good ones down the years. To dominate the player who terrorised us in the first leg is very impressive.
Arsenal 2:0 Man Utd
Good again. People are talking about buying someone to pair with Lindelof, yet Smalling's still the man in that defence as he has been for the last 4 years
Not much to pick from but don't think we had a better player today. Him, Young and Shaw did what they could against a strong attack.
Actually had a decent game.
Along with Shaw our best player again.
He was very good, won all his one v one challenges, and given Lindelof struggling badly Arsenal still created very little. Pen and poor mistake from the keeper, not much else.
He is really fast.. keeps up with Auba (yeah whatever his name is) pretty easy.
Played well, with Lindelof struggling against Aubameyang he kept the score respectable.
Bossed it. In great form since coming back from his injury. He had good form prior to that too thought, in my opinion. Has to be draining to work so hard defensively only to concede two crappy goals from a dive penalty and a windy long shot.
Thought he was one of the only players that did their job well enough. Was really trying to win those headers in their box as well flattened Kolasinac a few times.
flattened Kolasinac a few times.There was a period earlier in the season when he looked a little laboured in his movement, slower, less agile. Over that now, looks in great nick.
My MotM. Another good striker in his pocket also.Thought he was one of the only players that did their job well enough. Was really trying to win those headers in their box as well
He was not great but not bad either.
Shaw and Smalling had good games. He is quick, barely loses a foot race.
Lindelof was poor today which didn't help the team to settle.
Lindelof was poor today which didn't help the team to settle.
Pretty sure you are talking about when he played with a minor injury for a while under Mourinho? He was playing alright but I agree he looked different his movement and turning.
Was that when he was playing with a broken toe during the end of Mourinho's reign? As soon as Ole came in he was taken out for two months so he could actually heal.
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