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MOTM for me personally. Him and Jones were rock solid.
We were pinned back because of him, and Jones. Neither of them have the ability to push us out when we're under pressure, they just retreat further towards our own goal and invite more pressure.He is a great defender to have when we are pinned back.
While it would be great to have the luxury of a ball playing CB with the vision of a Scholes/Carrick, I seriously doubt he and Jones were the reason our midfield didn't show up today.We were pinned back because of him, and Jones. Neither of them have the ability to push us out when we're under pressure, they just retreat further towards our own goal and invite more pressure.
Part of the reason the midfield didn't show up was because they were covering twice as much ground with our defence sat so deep.While it would be great to have the luxury of a ball playing CB with the vision of a Scholes/Carrick, I seriously doubt he and Jones were the reason our midfield didn't show up today.
Matic barely moved and Ander was a couple of yards in front of him. 2 DMs who never got forward.Part of the reason the midfield didn't show up was because they were covering twice as much ground with our defence sat so deep.
The centre backs dictate the positioning of the full backs and the DMs. If they're defending high and bringing the ball out, the others can move forward too.Matic barely moved and Ander was a couple of yards in front of him. 2 DMs who never got forward.
Par for the course every season for Mike.Had a misplaced long pass and a short pass after making a run out but looked like he was fouled by Troy Deeney as he made the last pass. Didn't do much else on the ball positive or negative. Was exposed all game because of poor defensive organisation in the team and terrible cover from the midfield but he defended very well and kept us in the game really. Young, Matic and Herrera were terrible and so he practically had to play 2-3 positions at the same time defensively.
This. Jones is also the same. If we tried to pass out from the back with this pair it will be panic stations. As long as they keep the fundamentals of their defending solid there's arguably no-one better suited to stopping the brute strikers of the league like Deeney, Mitrovic, Rondon.. etcHe is a great defender to have when we are pinned back.
More like multiple good games that don't get noticed, slightest mistake magnified beyond what they should be.Smalling has always been like this. One great game..then a few ordinary games and then he will have couple of bad games and the cycle restarts.
I agree with this, was about to reply him with this same post.More like multiple good games that don't get noticed, slightest mistake magnified beyond what they should be.
You're describing Jones there. Smalling is far more consistent and rarely has actual bad games.Smalling has always been like this. One great game..then a few ordinary games and then he will have couple of bad games and the cycle restarts.
A decent defender doesn't mark MBappe out of a matchHe's a very basic defender. Can defend decently and that's about it. Modern football asks for much more from a CB for a top club. What other elite club has a defender that lacks ability on the ball as much as Smalling? None.
Alexander Buttner once marked prime Arjen Robben out of a match and he was far from decent.A decent defender doesn't mark MBappe out of a match
Has Buttner put tons of PL RW into his pocket though? Smalling did it with PL strikers.Alexander Buttner once marked prime Arjen Robben out of a match and he was far from decent.
A decent defender is capable of very good games as well as stinkers which Smalling has shown time and time again
So what you're saying is Buttner has never marked MBappe out of a game. I didnt think he did, but thanks for clarifyingAlexander Buttner once marked prime Arjen Robben out of a match and he was far from decent.
A decent defender is capable of very good games as well as stinkers which Smalling has shown time and time again
How many times has Smalling kept players like Kane, Salah and Hazard silent?Alexander Buttner once marked prime Arjen Robben out of a match and he was far from decent.
A decent defender is capable of very good games as well as stinkers which Smalling has shown time and time again
The only people he cant keep silent are the failed footballers who post on here complaining about him.How many times has Smalling kept players like Kane, Salah and Hazard silent?
This is true. They are the real experts on here as wellThe only people he cant keep silent are the failed footballers who post on here complaining about him.
As opposed to the experts who think Chris Smalling is good enough to challenge for the league/CLThis is true. They are the real experts on here as well
Yes. All we need to know is something you just made upAs opposed to the experts who think Chris Smalling is good enough to challenge for the league/CL
If he was to leave us no other top club would be in for him, that's all you need to know
Ok then which top club do you think would be in for Chris Smalling if he were to leave?Yes. All we need to know is something you just made up
It depends on your definition of top club. But I would consider the top 6 in the Premier League among them and Arsenal are always linked with himOk then which top club do you think would be in for Chris Smalling if he were to leave?
You only have to look at Liverpool's midfield, or Matip/Lovren to see that you don't need 11 players of the level of Pele.As opposed to the experts who think Chris Smalling is good enough to challenge for the league/CL
If he was to leave us no other top club would be in for him, that's all you need to know
I consider a top team to be a team that expects to challenge for the league and do a deep run in the CL so I wouldn't include Arsenal in there.It depends on your definition of top club. But I would consider the top 6 in the Premier League among them and Arsenal are always linked with him