Rado_N
Yaaas Broncos!
So good he managed to make a pass after being taken off.
Smalling is just a different player to Evans. If we want to rest Rio then Smalling will play. If we want to rest/replace Vidic then Evans will play. I'd say they are both tied for 3rd choice CB.Proof if needed that Smalling's actually not ahead of Evans?
yeah, i didn't understand the substitution either.Great to see him playing like we expect him to. Good performance overall. Was surprised to see him taken off - was that tactical, or was he carrying a knock?
So Evans is more like Vidic than Smalling? Or vice-versa? I'm not so sure about that. Evans' reading of the game is his biggest strength and likewise with Rio, likewise with aerial strength for Vidic/Smalling. And Vidic's biggest strength is Evans' biggest weakness.Smalling is just a different player to Evans. If we want to rest Rio then Smalling will play. If we want to rest/replace Vidic then Evans will play. I'd say they are both tied for 3rd choice CB.
noticed that tooSo good he managed to make a pass after being taken off.
Smalling is more like Rio IMO. Very comfortable on the ball. I agree about Vidic vs Evans in that they aren't similar. But I think Vidic's reading of the game is underrated because he is perceived as quite an aggressive player.So Evans is more like Vidic than Smalling? Or vice-versa? I'm not so sure about that. Evans' reading of the game is his biggest strength and likewise with Rio, likewise with aerial strength for Vidic/Smalling. And Vidic's biggest strength is Evans' biggest weakness.
They're obviously differing stylistically but I'm not sure it's very clear-cut who's more like who, so if anything I think it'll generally come down to who's the better individual defender (because Rio and Vidic are adaptable enough to play with either) or more suited to that game, and it's a pretty simple decision to play Evans in the big games given his record in them and Smalling's inexperience.
For me, Evans is more like Rio and Smalling is more like Vidic. However, every single one of them are completely different defenders, so its difficult to compare. Smalling is aerially dominant ala Vidic, which is their biggest strengths, but arguably shows more composure similar to Rio that will only improve. Because its so impressive for his age, its highlighted more than his aerial dominance.Smalling is more like Rio IMO. Very comfortable on the ball. I agree about Vidic vs Evans in that they aren't similar. But I think Vidic's reading of the game is underrated because he is perceived as quite an aggressive player.
Smalling has done well in most games he's played in. I wouldn't have any qualms about putting him in a big match at all. He's showing great maturity. I still think Evans and Smalling are tied as 3rd choice CB and it just depends on who the opposition forwards are that would determine who'd start.
Great thing is we have a huge variety in our choice of CBs.