ManchesterYoda
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- Nov 26, 2016
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I would start with Maguire LCB and Smalling RCB. Defending is the priority.
There are now seven CBs in the team. It is impossible to give match time to everybody. Two of them must go. I think there is a chance Smalling will be sold. Maybe Leicester want him.I dont think we'd get as much as in the past for Smalling because of his age. I dont think he'd be signed by a "top club" either since the only 2 we have in the PL atm are Liverpool and City.
Arsenal and Chelsea would take him for sure imo
I don’t think we benefit from signing him full time much either which is why we enquired about a loan. I like him but I’d prefer ya investing transfers into long term players like we have with Kean and Gbamin.Everton loan turned down.
I reckon we’d accept transfers for him and Rojo. We don’t benefit from loaning him.
Bailly is already out what 6 months? Rojo and Jones are not fit enough to be regular back ups, that leaves us with 4 proper defenders which is not bad to have as a squad. Smalling will get gamesIf Tuanzebe stays, and i hope he does, Smalling will find it very hard to get in to the team (save for injuries).
Tuanzebe, Maguire and Lindelof are all very similar types of player, Smalling won't have any trouble getting in the team. The player I think should be sweating over his long term future is Lindelof, Tuanzebe has a very similar skill set plus the athleticism that Lindelof lacks.If Tuanzebe stays, and i hope he does, Smalling will find it very hard to get in to the team (save for injuries).
Smalling isn't a ball playing defender and he's not comfortable on the ball, if Ole wants to stick to his philosophy Smalling won't get much game time unless there's an injury crisis.Tuanzebe, Maguire and Lindelof are all very similar types of player, Smalling won't have any trouble getting in the team. The player I think should be sweating over his long term future is Lindelof, Tuanzebe has a very similar skill set plus the athleticism that Lindelof lacks.
All true, but I bet we miss him if we sell him.Smalling isn't a ball playing defender and he's not comfortable on the ball, if Ole wants to stick to his philosophy Smalling won't get much game time unless there's an injury crisis.
What is the attribute that Smalling has in your eyes that the others don't in combination. Say Maguire+Lindelof.Tuanzebe, Maguire and Lindelof are all very similar types of player, Smalling won't have any trouble getting in the team. The player I think should be sweating over his long term future is Lindelof, Tuanzebe has a very similar skill set plus the athleticism that Lindelof lacks.
Even though i don't rate Smallig i tend to agree now. For all his faults, Smalling can stay fit, and that is more then you can say about all our CD bar Lindelof (and now Maguire).All true, but I bet we miss him if we sell him.
Pace is a pretty big one.What is the attribute that Smalling has in your eyes that the others don't in combination. Say Maguire+Lindelof.
Well obviously Pace. Also, What does the Lindelhof / Maguire combo have that a Smalling / Maguire combo doesn't in your opinion?What is the attribute that Smalling has in your eyes that the others don't in combination. Say Maguire+Lindelof.
I think it's much better to have 2 ball playing CD then just one. It helps the build up play a lot and it makes it harder for the opposition to press since both defenders are comfortable in passing.Well obviously Pace. Also, What does the Lindelhof / Maguire combo have that a Smalling / Maguire combo doesn't in your opinion?
Agreed, but it also helps having at least one CB with pace and Smalling is much better in the air. If you purely look at it from a partnership then Smalling + Maguire ticks more boxes than Lidelhof / Maguire.I think it's much better to have 2 ball playing CD then just one. It helps the build up play a lot and it makes it harder for the opposition to press since both defenders are comfortable in passing.
Let me say how i see it then. We don't have great attacking fullbacks, like Liverpool has, but what we do have is very, very good defensive fullbacks with good pace. I think that rather then having our BF bomb forward, we will play with more akin to "inverted FB". Maguire/Lindelof will surge in midfield with their good passing (and even dribbling) abilities while one/ or both fullback stay back for cover. The issue of pace is then sorted while making use of as much passing ability as the squad allows.Agreed, but it also helps having at least one CB with pace and Smalling is much better in the air. If you purely look at it from a partnership then Smalling + Maguire ticks more boxes than Lidelhof / Maguire.
The only thing I see that Lindelhof has that Smalling doesn't is ability on the ball.... Even then I think Lidelhof is way overrated in that regards with Maguire being far superior.
Smalling + Maguire would be awesome in my opinion. I think at some point in the season Smalling will get his chance and will once again become first choice (next to Maguire).
Let me say how i see it then. We don't have great attacking fullbacks, like Liverpool has, but what we do have is very, very good defensive fullbacks with good pace. I think that rather then having our BF bomb forward, we will play with more akin to "inverted FB". Maguire/Lindelof will surge in midfield with their good passing (and even dribbling) abilities while one/ or both fullback stay back for cover. The issue of pace is then sorted while making use of as much passing ability as the squad allows.
I also think that Lindelofs defensive ability is underrated by some. He has improved a lot in the last year and his stats show it. There is a reason he has been a main stay in the team even during preseason while Smalling was not.
But nobody to cover his mistakesPeople keep on saying SMalling will thrive playing along with Maguire. In fact I think Lindelof will thrive playing with someone who is equally good with the ball and can lead the back.
Axel will be there don't worry about that. If that also doesn't work we always a back up in Smalling.But nobody to cover his mistakes
Bailly + anyone is not a partnership anyone will ever get to see in more than a handful games. The lad's been here 3 years. There's no ifs and buts with him any more. He struggles to stay fit and is a massive liability when he plays. End of story.Maguire and a fully fit/in form Bailly would be some partnership.
But I don't think you will ever see it.
Fully agree. Always injured, when he plays he looks nervous. Regressed a lotBailly + anyone is not a partnership anyone will ever get to see in more than a handful games. The lad's been here 3 years. He struggles to stay fit and is a massive liability when he plays.
Everyone still believing in him, might as well also believe in Cleverly and Darron Gibson suddenly becoming world class.
I used to be very harsh on Smalling but i agree now that we should keep him. I agree with you that in certain games his defensive abilities (that are good) will be valuable. My one concern about playing him against the top teams is that those teams are also very good at pressing, and this is one area where being a good ball playing CD is very important IMO. But like you say, in certain situations where we have to defend deep and defend for our lives, a combination of Smalling and Maguire could be the way to go.To be honest, I kind of agree with you against the cannon fodder teams where we (should) have 70% of the ball and are trying to break a team down. Against many teams though (The top 8) or even some of the lower teams that can hit you on the break (Bournemouth) then you need that pace.
I also think you might be surprised how far forwards our full backs play this year. Especially Wan. I might be wrong but I expect his starting position to be very high up the pitch.
Either way, I'd absolutely 100% keep Smalling. Even if Ole wants Lindelhof as the first choice, Smalling offers something our other CB's don't in that he's quick, great in the air and a proper defender. Against a team like City where I still expect us to sit back and hit them on the counter, Smalling is still the way to go.
It will probably be Maguire that runs forward and tries key passes and Lindelof covering potential mistakes.But nobody to cover his mistakes
Yeah I'd like to see more of Tuanazebe, he had less problems defending in pre-season than Lindelof did. Obviously needs to play a lot more competitive games to see if hes just as good, but it wouldnt surprise meAxel will be there don't worry about that. If that also doesn't work we always a back up in Smalling.
It's because of his injuries imo that he looks that way and as soon as he gets confidence he gets injured again. I really feel for him as i think he has tremendous talent but will never be able to fulfil it. It's a shame really.Fully agree. Always injured, when he plays he looks nervous. Regressed a lot
I highly doubt that the plan was to buy Maguire for him to partner up with Smalling. Smalling is good at defending and often gets good stats but the whole team suffers when he plays. That is my personal opinion.Smalling + Maguire would be awesome in my opinion. I think at some point in the season Smalling will get his chance and will once again become first choice (next to Maguire).
Maguire is actually a great partner for Smalling in theory. Does all the more flashy stuff running with the ball while Smalling can plug the holes he leaves behind when a move breaks down. Has very good pace to cover him also.I highly doubt that the plan was to buy Maguire for him to partner up with Smalling. Smalling is good at defending and often gets good stats but the whole team suffers when he plays. That is my personal opinion.
Why do I see this comment pops up all the timeNot his biggest fan but selling or loaning him but keeping Rojo and Jones would be a shambolic decision.
Yes obviously. Because what do you do when Lindelof has his 3rd poor start to a season in a row? You go back to who you can count on.Why do I see this comment pops up all the time
If no one has shown any concrete interest in buying Jones or Rojo, but there are clubs willing to offer reasonable money for Smalling, should we keep them all simply because we need to get rid of the other two first
IMO yes, because Smalling, whilst flawed, is infinitely more reliable than those two. If we go deep in the Europa League and other cups, we could be playing 60 odd games this season. Maguire and Lindelof is the 1st choice pair I presume, but it's not enough for all comps. Smalling is adequate back up to those and is more likely to even challenge for starting spots in big games than Rojo and Jones.Why do I see this comment pops up all the time
If no one has shown any concrete interest in buying Jones or Rojo, but there are clubs willing to offer reasonable money for Smalling, should we keep them all simply because we need to get rid of the other two first