Going by that performance it looks like he's going to offer or bring some much needed solidity at the back.
36
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 39
- Clean sheets
- 20
- Goals
- 1
- Assists
- 1
- Yellow cards
- 10
- Status
So this is what it's like to have an actual right back...
Very solid. Imagine if he had Vidic, Ferdinand and Evra as his partners...
Thought he was very good today. I think if we actually play with a proper right winger he can cause all sorts of problems and defends so well. His positioning and awareness was wonderful versus Spurs in his home opener.
You could see how much of an impact he was once he came off and Spurs were getting so much freedom down their left. Mata had to come back and help Valencia ffs.
If DDG leaves he will be probably be my new favourite player
Love the lad. Those Italians know how to defend.
Would have been MOTM if not for Smalling's catalog of tackles in the 2nd half. Great debut. Best of the new crop so far.
Impregnable.Very solid. Imagine if he had Vidic, Ferdinand and Evra as his partners...
Excellent showing. Love him already. Not afraid to get stuck in either.
He'll be player of the season, mark my words.
Not too early to say best right back in the league is it? In all seriousness, I think he will be before the season is done. Class.
Being substituted resulted in him getting the biggest applause of the day. Must have felt good to him
The Italian Gary Neville.
Van Gaal: "I like the performance especially of Darmian"
Good he agrees with us.
Good he agrees with us.
Excellent debut, what a class buy from us.
Don't understand how Milan voluntarily let him go.
Don't understand how Milan voluntarily let him go.
Darmian
So happy we've got him. Gonna be immense for us.
So happy we've got him. Gonna be immense for us.
Just as in pre season he looks a class act, superb defensively and open to overlap but it's difficult as Mata drifts inwards with the ball so often.
I think his passing and general footballing ability will go unnoticed because he's such an accomplished defender. He played some great balls forward today. Really happy with what I've seen so far today and in pre season.
So, so glad we got him instead of Clyne. We should have the fullback positions sown up for years to come now.
Ancelotti wanted to keep him, but he was fired in 2009. They sold most of their youngsters those years IIRC.
My MoM. He was imperial in defense and good going forward.
Give Smalling MOTM, but Darmian was very close. Defensively, I thought he was superb. He also got forward at the right time and put in a couple of decent crosses. I'm not sure Mata compliments down the right, though.
Great RB, very solid passer and defends with his brain. Looks like a real bargain at £15m.
MOTM for me.
MOTM for me, glad to have a solid right back. This boy looks a player but still early days.
He highlighted even more just how horrible Valencia is. He came off and we looked shaky at the right. Super debut!
Excellent, my MOTM.
And me
Superb. As soon as he left the field it was open season for Spurs down our right.
Excellent performance, an actual RB.
Good debut. Especially convincing with his defensive work. Looking forward to seeing more from him.
From the BBC match report. Think they watched a different match.
Pleasantly surprised by how he played, wasn't expecting him to be as composed as he was, best of the debutants for me
I really like him. Very impressive debut. Please stay fit all season.
Milan has gone bonkers for very long now.
Yup. It was very stupid of them to focus on veterans rather than developing youth too.
He's one of those satisfying players that isn't going to behave like an idiot every couple of games. Solid, reliable and clearly very, very good at his job.
Early days but he looks a proper right back. His injury record looks very promising too.
Was very good again, looks like we may have an absolute gem at a bargain price.
- Status