If he stays fit then it could make a massive difference to the teams trophy prospects. Would never have lost those 2 league games if he was available.
Smalling Watch
- Thread starter KM
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) was joined by comedian Ali Woods to look back at the best and worst moments of a rollercoaster season with the annual United Hour Awards.
Has Ten Hag been sacked yet? We're not sure and we hope not, but it's looking more likely as the days pass.
Who should replace him and why is it taking so long to make a decision?
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Great perfomance.
Probably still in the League Cup as well. Bah.
You see, I'm a bit flustered. I thought Evans had a decent game bar the penalty shenanigans and Smalling, one great header aside, looked really shaky throughout. His distribution was shite.
Then I read in the Evans thread that he was awful and then I come in here and people say Smalling had some sort of mythical beast-mode going on throughout.
Opinions, eh.
To me he looked like a player who's been, eh, injured for about 10 weeks.
Then I read in the Evans thread that he was awful and then I come in here and people say Smalling had some sort of mythical beast-mode going on throughout.
Opinions, eh.
To me he looked like a player who's been, eh, injured for about 10 weeks.
Looked like he'd never been out! There was one moment whereby I thought he could've closed down the attacker a bit quicker before he shot, but good apart from that.
He had a 98% pass completion rate from 59 passes, he attempted 5 long balls and 4 reached their target.
Fair enough, that's a lot higher than I would have guessed. I guess the couple of opportunities he had to simply play the ball into Anderson in space so we were off on the counter, but instead a) cleared it for a throw in and b) spanked it up the pitch must have made me think so.
It's really annoying that he insists on playing a slow ball slightly behind other players though, as if to "safe" the pass. It's not as noticeable when he's not rusty.
Definitely looked a bit rusty. Reacted slowly to a couple of situations and played others into trouble more than once. Great to have him back though.
How many defenders pick out great passes with their clearances?
All our players had trouble finding space and making passes before RVP came on. We had too many players being really profligate with possession tonight: Anderson and Nani were especially bad. Braga were well set for long periods and it made for a disjointed performance.
Like he'd never been away. Very good performance
My point was he shouldn't clear the ball while he's got acres of space and time to do something different. A couple of those was like watching womens football where the CB's do it all the time.
He's such a good player. 1st game of the season? No bother.
Nice to see him back and last the game. Was bricking it when he came off thinking he had re-injured himself
Still Rio's long term replacement. Class player
Did very well, especially with as winger as a full-back on his side for most of the game. Still looks very quick and composed. Hopefully he'll stay fit and mature into the top class centre back we know he can become.
Props to him, a bit shaky on some occasions but generaly had a good/great game (somewhere in between 
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Nice to know he's here for years to come
).Nice to know he's here for years to come
it is good to see him back on the field.
I'd stick my neck out and say this now. Smalling & J. Evans is gona be our new centreback paring for next 10 years. Smalling as Rio replacement for reading of game and Evans as the Vidic nutcase with a Beckenbauer moments of brilliance bringing ball out. P. Jones I think will be a beefier version of Philly Neville and shunted all over the defence and midfield without having a fixed position. Michael Keane will challenge as a backup.
I definitely saw some signs of rustiness in that first half. He wanted to be involved in everything and that's where he got a bit sloppy. But credit to him. He never hid and towards the end he was looking a lot more like his old self. Aerially he has dominant and he was anticipating danger very well.
It's great to have him back.
It's great to have him back.
Looked a bit sluggish to be fair; didn't have his usual pace yesterday, but will come good. He wins those headers that Evans would struggle with.
Could be very important him playing instead of Evans tomorrow, his ability in the air could be very important against Benteke.
Dont ever feel that Ferdinand or Evans are very aerially dominant, so hopefully we can keep a high line tomorrow and stop the crosses coming in early.
Dont ever feel that Ferdinand or Evans are very aerially dominant, so hopefully we can keep a high line tomorrow and stop the crosses coming in early.
Was a foul for me. Rio did the same against Benteke and got called up for it.
Aye, no idea why the ref saw it differently.
Not a foul, Smalling got caught out there and Benteke was positioned himself well enough to take advantage of Chris' over-eagerness.
Outmuscled for their first but other than that I thought he had a good game considering it's only his second game back. Made some important interceptions and generally did very well in the air.
Great to have him back.
Great to have him back.
Agreed. We won't see him get out-muscled like that too often again either.
Played very well I thought, a little naive on the goal though, but he's rusty in fairness.
Second start in six months. Was a little out of pace. But came back well and gave a good performance in second half.
I thought he was fantastic second half, especially when you consider his match fitness is nowhere near full.
Apart from the first goal where Benteke kinda destroyed him, he was fine.A very good performance for a guy who was out for a long time.Not easy to come back in two difficult away games.
Thought he was at fault for both goals but he's going to special a beast in the air.
Poor first half, excellent second half. Coming into form now. Great to have him back.
yep agree with all that. Made a Vidic-esque header near the end there where he faceplanted after clearing it.
The second half was amazing. Made more than up for his feck up for their goal.
He must have won every header in the second half.
He must have won every header in the second half.
Didn't need to commit himself to winning the ball for Villa's first goal but he probably got frustrated by not winning the first challenge against Benteke so went for a second and got caught out. Just a bit of inexperience/lack of match fitness but he was solid in the second.
It was never a foul, he bounced off Benteke. But he has been injured for a long period so you can cut him a bit of slack for some rustiness.
His aerial ability is immense. We need to start bringing him into the first XI just because of that if we don't have Vidic.
Don't know if he was at fault for the second, think Rio was left ball watching there.
Don't know if he was at fault for the second, think Rio was left ball watching there.
Agreed. Ferdinand led with his arm, Smalling just got out-muscled. Was a seriously impressive display of strength and balance from Benteke.
He was arguably at fault for both goals. Got torn a new one by Benteke for the first goal and fecked up the offside line for the second.
He will come good eventually though.
He will come good eventually though.
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