I think there is a reason why Jose wanted a new experienced centre back even though he already had Smalling. He even mentioned in Sky Sports that Maguire is better than the option that we had. Ultimately, it's not just about who's better but it's about what they can offer into the team. Maguire offers something that Smalling can't offer, and those specific things are the ones we needed in modern defense nowdays.
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I fully agree with this. People say defending is always number one, but in being able to play through press is critical. I follow football in many leagues, and can easily say that press in the PL is super intense compared to other leagues. It is not enough to just clear the ball 20 times.
Some say Ole hasn’t implanted the football he wanted and it is possibly true. But many counterattack goals come from playing their way out. Many teams have tried to put pressure on United’s back line but given up because they’ve played their way through.
It would be awesome to have a player as Smalling as a backup, but imo, and in his opinion, he is too good for that.
Still worse than this season with Maguire. So what are you going to say next? Still against it because it doesn't suit your argument or will you change your mind now?
Our best stuff (football and results) under Ole last season came in the beginning when we had Jones and Lindelof as CBs and played a 433. The two were capable of doing triangles at the back. (saying that Jones has many times had a few run of games of looking good and showing that potential he was bought for before fckin up either mentally or by doing himself in with an injury - and then ruining his confidence all over again)
So, we conceded 28 goals in 2017/18, and now we're on 29 goals with 13 games to go.Still worse than this season with Maguire. So what are you going to say next? Still against it because it doesn't suit your argument or will you change your mind now?
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He's our main ball winner, meaning the team has to defend less. He doesnt need to organize and I wouldnt describe our defense as organized. I'd describe it as AWB being a defensive specialist who very few players have done well against and the rest are okay at defending
If we had Smalling/Maguire this season we'd probably be about 5/6pts better off. Lindelof has been poor and Smalling is quicker and a lot better in the air where we have struggled badly.
We would have been better off from corners both defensively and offensively in my opinion.
I think maguire would score more goals from corners just from the disruption Smalling would cause and vise versa.
Lindelof doesn't even jump.
Agreed.
Another thing that's underrated about Smalling is he has adapted constantly to his partner -
He played to bring the best partnership out of Blind. He played to bring the best partnership out of Lindelof (or nearly equal as this year's) & had even done it at a younger age to a decent level with players like Jones, Evans and Bailly.
I think Smalling could have adapted his game to get the best out of maguire if he needed to at all as maguire is good enough to adapt his game to Smalling's weaknesses.
Im sure he has adapted well to his partner in Rome as well as long as there is an element of consistency to it.
Yes, Jones was great during that period. But when Smalling was fit he automatically took Jones place.
I am not sure what goals that would have been avoided, probably one or two but can’t think of any specific. Overall there are only three teams with better defence records so far.
But there would also be some other goals conceded because of Smalling. I have seen him make costly mistakes lately, handball, misjudging situations, etc.
Then there are many matches which United have played their way out in a way I’ve never seen with Smalling, so overall game would suffer.
Fact is Smalling lack qualities of a modern day centre back,no doubt he is good in the air and generally more physically imposing than both Maguire and Lindelof but his struggles on the ball is a Big weakness,countless times this season we have seen united centre backs try to play out of the back under pressure a good example is against City that's what we should be looking forward to(progressive football) and not the hoof ball system we were playing with Smalling and mourinho
Quick question : Do u think Southgate would take him to the euros? If no,then why should we be considering bringing him back
Quick question : Do u think Southgate would take him to the euros? If no,then why should we be considering bringing him back
Yes, I've seen many teams try to play out from the back this season, lose the ball and that leads to a goal against them.
Just because the best players in the world can do something doesnt mean everyone should. Do you want to see Martial trying to play like he's Messi when he isnt, or Fred and Andreas trying to play like Xavi and Iniesta when they arent as talented and wont do it as well? No. Its even more catastrophic when a CB tries to do something more complicated than he needs to and gives the ball away in an attacking area.
Because he's better than what we have. I'm all for modernising our football and have been on about it repeatedly. However it cannot be at the expense of actually doing your job. Smalling is comfortably better than Lindelof as a defender and it's hardly as though Ole is capable of turning us into some possession dominant City or Barcelona type team that dominates the game and usually 'shields' average defenders. Given our lack of tactical nous and dominance we need a proper defender. And unlike Lindelof, Smalling is capable of dominating, of heading and of not being a complete pussy.
My point is if we feel Lindelof is'nt good enough we should be looking at bringing someone who is cause Smalling is'nt good enough either,playing out from the back isnt Smalling only weakness you know
Every CB has a weakness. Its not like VVD hasnt made a mistake before
Smalling is a very good out and out defender and makes for a good combination with someone who is good on the ball. That player has less defending to worry about and more freedom to show off their on the ball abilities. Smalling is also a hard combination to find, someone who is very tall and good in the air but also fast on the ground so he has the recovery pace to make up for someone else's mistake.
Maguire for example could get forward more freely like with his goal or when he was playing in a back 3 for England, knowing that Smalling is a dependable defender and can cover him if it doesnt work out. You don't have that from a 2nd ball player who isnt that great defending
I would say they have been “doing their job”. Only three teams with better defensive record. Of course it could be better, but it is clearly within “doing their job”. At least Smalling/Roma haven’t been doing a better job, despite the worse quality of the league.
Smalling would be good for rotation, but I don’t think having him as starter would improve things overall.
Many goals have come from individual mistakes, something Smalling , most likely, would not improve. It also seems as there have been less costly mistakes lately.
The only thing I could think of is that Smalling would be good at set pieces. On the other hand he makes many fouls per match and the number of setpieces would increase.
One important area for improvement is to further develop the ability to play through intense press. That would not be improved with Smalling, instead it would be worse.
So... try Smalling-Maguire combo next season?
We haven't sold Chris ryte.. and I doubt we're getting a new CB this summer since the focus I assume will be on striker and midfielder.
We haven't sold Chris ryte.. and I doubt we're getting a new CB this summer since the focus I assume will be on striker and midfielder.
Chris Smalling familia out hunting again I see
All that for clearing deadwood. Ole's getting the team back together. Smalling, Rojo, Sanchez,.
Selling Smalling isn't clearing deadwood though
Selling Bailly, Rojo, Jones, Darmian, Sanchez etc... is.Not every player is dead wood. The ones performing worse than the ones we let go of, thats the deadwood
I love this thread.
It goes in obvious circles
It goes in obvious circles
Oh nos - major blunder today for Bologna's first goal. Not sure what he was doing there.
Yep bad mistake, lost concentration for the first
Opposition defender had a great finish for the equalizer too
Playing quite well otherwise, I'd say. I can see why they are satisfies with him. Serie A is just perfect for him and his style. Can focus on defending.
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There he is, was wondering where 'the' Smalling was. He is so clumsy and weird at times. That first goal is unexplainable for a CB at this level.I think Van Djik did the same thing a few years back when he was at Celtic. Easy to explain. Misjudged an early ball and shielded it instead of clearing it, mistook the situation for one where the keeper comes out and collect the ball early.
Should have secured a deal with Roma earlier as we would have gotten a better fee. Woeful today.
Meh I've seen enough of him to know he is a class defender and a decent goal threat.
Lindelof loses headers and gets turned routinely. That would be passable but he produces a nice pass rarely.
Smalling is a better defender and more importantly a better partner for Harry and it is quite worrying that our management didnt know this.
Lindelof loses headers and gets turned routinely. That would be passable but he produces a nice pass rarely.
Smalling is a better defender and more importantly a better partner for Harry and it is quite worrying that our management didnt know this.
You should have seen the last ditch tackle Smalling made today on around 10 mins against Bologna. Was wonderful.
I don't know why Roma are using him on the left of the 2 CB's though as that's been one of his weaknesses for United.
He's done very well there considering. I dont think thats why he made the mistake for the first goal, just a brain fart that he doesnt have that often
He was never the same since the 70’s karaoke night incident....
Wayne dropped Chris Smalling on his head..
Taxi :/
Wayne dropped Chris Smalling on his head..
Taxi :/
Smalling has had a tough period now with many mistakes and poor decisions. He still makes many good things, but overall he has not been so good and not at the level required at United.
Good defender but probably does not have the skill set to play at a top club. Ole will talk him up as he does not have a bad word to say about anyone but it is plain to see Ole rates at least three CBs at the club in front of him so it will just come down to getting the highest price from Roma or another Italian club for him in the summer.
First real individual mistake in this period rather than projecting
He played handball in January
Turned into the ball not knowing where it is. Seen several other people handle in the box not knowing where it is and it wasnt given.
This mistake wasnt not knowing where the ball was, it was just a lack of concentration dealing with something pretty straight forward
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