Hope I never have to rake your lawn...
Smalling has completed 89.2% of his passes this season - that's just behind Mata and Carrick and just ahead of Blind. He is by no means poor on the ball.He does end up doing that often, though. The difference between the two is that Evans seems to have trouble dealing with long balls at times and gets nervous and goes through terrible spells (remember the West Ham cup game?), whereas Smalling is almost always good defensively and just not so good on the ball.
Evans' slumps would be fine at a position like winger, but at CB it's more important you have a high floor than a high ceiling. He was excellent at times, especially during our streak where we didn't concede when Van Der Sar was around.
You can't compare a CB with midfielders. So many basic passes. Rio usually averaged in the high 90s. 82% is actually a bit shit with the amount of time we spend passing it around the back.Smalling has completed 89.2% of his passes this season - that's just behind Mata and Carrick and just ahead of Blind. He is by no means poor on the ball.
It's 89.2, not 82.You can't compare a CB with midfielders. So many basic passes. Rio usually averaged in the high 90s. 82% is actually a bit shit with the amount of time we spend passing it around the back.
Vidic wasn't really the greatest passer of the ball. Usually you'd have one who was the great passer and in our case back then it was Rio.Mind you, just checked Jones and Rojo's stats vs West Ham. Atrocious. I've a horrible feeling all our centre-backs can't pass water since Rio and Vidic left. Would explain a lot.
Oh right. That's pretty much standard for a CB. Even in a 442. Probably expect higher considering we've played three at the back so much.It's 89.2, not 82.
Sorry, but that's simply wrong. I'll use 2007-8 as an example (because I found some stats for it on Soccerlens.com). Scholes led the league with 89.6%; Rio led defenders with 84.8%. From a different source (ManUtd24): In 2009-10 Rio only made 13 appearances - his completion rate was 80%. Finally for 2010-11 (rationalfootball.wordpress.com) his rate was 80.1%.You can't compare a CB with midfielders. So many basic passes. Rio usually averaged in the high 90s. 82% is actually a bit shit with the amount of time we spend passing it around the back.
82% or 89.2????You can't compare a CB with midfielders. So many basic passes. Rio usually averaged in the high 90s. 82% is actually a bit shit with the amount of time we spend passing it around the back.
So, 89.2 not too shabby huh?Lolzssz
The way we play? Wouldn't expect any less from a CB.So, 89.2 not too shabby huh?
Indeed!The high 90s
This is the worry with Smalling. It may not matter that much to the fans about his inability to pass, but it matters to the man that picks the team. As I’ve said in previous posts, I don’t think he rates Smalling because of it.Stats, schmats. I guess the point here is that you can't use the fact that a CB manages ninety point whatever pass completion in a match as an indication that he's good on the ball. Unless a CB attempts loads of long passes, he will have deceptively good passing stats in terms of pure percentage. If he doesn't, he's an utter liability (which Jones, for instance, was the other day - and his percentage reflects this).
Smalling is not good on the ball in any meaningful sense. Not that I care, really. As long as he can defend properly, that'll do - just team him up with the right man.
Anyway, Evans. Yes. I guess he needs to go unless he improves dramatically. Shame, as he did look very promising at one point.
I was constantly high in the 90sIndeed!
Aye, that's a fair point. To my thinking you can pair up someone like Smalling with a silkier partner - and that should work, provided Smalling is good enough as a pure defender. But LVG may indeed think differently.This is the worry with Smalling. It may not matter that much to the fans about his inability to pass, but it matters to the man that picks the team. As I’ve said in previous posts, I don’t think he rates Smalling because of it.
Yes. Fine might be the wrong word to use but looking at the game knowing the result he was okay. Wasn't brilliant nor was he awful. Passing was shoddy as noticed by having the worst passing accuracy bar Jones.Fine?
What game were you watching? He was far from fine.
You smoked that good ish ehI was constantly high in the 90s
Smalling has been our best passer this season among the CBs lol! Good thing to criticize him on something he's actually improved on. He's passed better than your boy EvansThis is the worry with Smalling. It may not matter that much to the fans about his inability to pass, but it matters to the man that picks the team. As I’ve said in previous posts, I don’t think he rates Smalling because of it.
Will you please feck up with your silly little comments. Are you 12? seriously. Smalling can't pass for shit, I don't care what stats you use to back it up it's common knowledge. Best passer, do you actually watch games?Smalling has been our best passer this season among the CBs lol! Good thing to criticize him on something he's actually improved on. He's passed better than your boy Evans
I think he's made up his mind, I think he sees it as Rojo + 1, with that one currently being Jones, or who ever is fit at the time.Aye, that's a fair point. To my thinking you can pair up someone like Smalling with a silkier partner - and that should work, provided Smalling is good enough as a pure defender. But LVG may indeed think differently.
Thing is, though: LVG can't spend any more time assessing his players, trying to teach philosophy to dunderheads or waiting for Smalling to magically become a ball player.
If he needs to bring in a different brand of player, then do it. In my opinion he should have brought in stop-gap defenders this window if our current selection is so poor it's forcing his hand when it comes to tactics and formations. It's an unacceptable situation for a club of our stature if the manager is stuck with players he cannot use properly.
Fvck up with my silly little comments? I speak the truth. I watch every game. Smalling's passing has improved a lot this season, you won't even fvcking admit that. 'I don't care about stats' LOL.Will you please feck up with your silly little comments. Are you 12? seriously. Smalling can't pass for shit, I don't care what stats you use to back it up it's common knowledge. Best passer, do you actually watch games?
.
You're fecking childish with you immature little remarks, seriously just grow the feck up.Fvck up with my silly little comments? I speak the truth. I watch every game. Smalling's passing has improved a lot this season, you won't even fvcking admit that. 'I don't care about stats' LOL.
You get upset very easily don't you? I don't take you seriously no matter how hard you try to come across as a mature and fair poster. You have it in for Smalling because he's a threat to Evans. You say you don't care about stats but it seems you only don't care for them when they don't suit your argument. Im not childish, im realistic and you can't stand it. You have no integrity in this debateYou're fecking childish with you immature little remarks, seriously just grow the feck up.
An example of you using stats to defend your boy Evans and now you don't care about stats when it comes to a player you don't rate. Laughable.What's his and my nationality got to do with it, the fact you have had to resort to childish remarks indicates that you are so blinkered in your view that you can't think straight.
Last season stats, considering the shit season we had.
http://www.squawka.com/comparison-matrix#premier_league/2013/2014/jonny_evans/126/64/574/0/p|premier_league/2013/2014/gary_cahill/126/64/451/0/p|premier_league/2013/2014/john_terry/126/64/72/0/p|premier_league/2013/2014/phil_jones/126/64/89/0/p#defence_score/total_forward_passes/interceptions/blocks/successful_passes/key_passes/pass_completion/successful_take_ons_%/tackles_lost/tackles_won/aerial_duels_won_%/errors_leading_to_goal/fouls_suffered#avg
Do jog on you silly little boy.You get upset very easily don't you? I don't take you seriously no matter how hard you try to come across as a mature and fair poster. You have it in for Smalling because he's a threat to Evans. You say you don't care about stats but it seems you only don't care for them when they don't suit your argument. Im not childish, im realistic and you can't stand it. You have no integrity in this debate
An example of you using stats to defend your boy Evans and now you don't care about stats when it comes to a player you don't rate. Laughable.
You're livid! I've destroyed you and your nothing response says it all. Take it easy my man haha.Do jog on you silly little boy.
You've destroyed me? Well that confirms it for me then.You're livid! I've destroyed you and your nothing response says it all. Take it easy my man haha.
...and you have no integrity in this debate. I've proved it for all to see. The rest of it is just me fecking with you for shits and giggles and you take it to heart. Take it easy.You've destroyed me? Well that confirms it for me then.
I noticed I've called you childish before thanks to the quote you posted, it seems you still haven't matured enough to have an adult conversation with.
fecking hell integrity, Jesus wept....and you have no integrity in this debate. I've proved it for all to see. The rest of it is just me fecking with you for shits and giggles and you take it to heart. Take it easy.