Keep, if he wants to stay, but I doubt he does now, so it doesn't matter. As said above, he's better than Bailly, Jones and Rojo, so selling him them seems a bit dumb to me.
I’m certainly not advocating that Smalling is brought back as first choice mate. But if it’s the 85 minute in a cup final that we are winning 1-0 and it’s a choice between bringing Smalling, Jones, Rojo or Bailly on to tighten things up, I know who my choice would be.A top class defender in today's game needs to be able to do both.
If you want a defender who can just defend, you end up with AWB. We need to be more forward thinking. If our players can't play out from the ball, they will get pressed by the opposition in every game and this will lead to more defensive mistakes and we will concede more.
Not really. People have a misconception it was down to him winning his spot back each time, in reality he was the only one able to stay fit. Other than Blind the first player to come in who was able to stay fit replaced him in the team. Rojo was a permacrock from Day 1 and Bailly did replace him initially until he too became a chronic injury.Should never have been loaned in the first place. He and Maguire would have made an excellent partnership. Before Maguire came in, everytime we brought a centre half in, he has still established himself as the best one at the club, and our best spell has been with Smalling plus another. Right up until the end of last season, and then we let our best defender go!
Fair enough, sorry if I misinterpreted that. I've always personally preferred Smalling over both Rojo and Jones anyway, although in my mind none of them should be here for much longer. I can't make my mind up regarding Bailly but he doesn't look like he's worth keeping for too long either.I’m certainly not advocating that Smalling is brought back as first choice mate. But if it’s the 85 minute in a cup final that we are winning 1-0 and it’s a choice between bringing Smalling, Jones, Rojo or Bailly on to tighten things up, I know who my choice would be.
Sounds like you are describing Maguire at United, although his passing is much better.Sell and don’t even think about it.
Poor at passing, okay but not great at defending, and hasn’t set the world in fire while at Roma. He is not the solution to anything.
Not in this team. Our centre backs have a lot of touches, and we've seen in recent matches that we still need to improve against teams that press us high up the pitch. Playing a centre back who is pretty poor with the ball at his feet is not going to help that at all.The main job for a CB is not concede goals. If they are good with the ball and passing too. Then its a plus plus
Tuanzabe is absolutely no use to us if he cant stay fit, no matter how talented the kid isTuanzebe has 2 times the ceiling of Smalling. From the few times I've seen him, he just looks like a massive talent, but sadly could end up becoming a wasted talent like Jones.
In regards to Williams, I think he'll develop like Gary Neville in that Neville looked bang average to start out with for 2 seasons, but he had a special elite mentality that leaders have to become the best, and I think Williams may have a similar mentality despite looking average a lot of the time in this moment.
Southgate has about 10 central defenders he will pick before Smalling. The likes of Michael Keane, Tyrone Mings, Tarkowski, Ben Mee etc and Southgate has a strong reputation for building a solid defenses.
In the modern game, I just dont think this is true any more. For one thing, there are so many pressing teams around that good passing is good defending for a CB. The press is the first line of attack and good passing is the best way to counter it. For another thing, most teams build from the back, not from midfield these days. If your CB can't pass effectively into midfield, the whole attack suffers. To my mind you need players who can pass as well as they defend to be a top team.The main job for a CB is not concede goals. If they are good with the ball and passing too. Then its a plus plus. So before Maguire came. Clearly Smalling was best as defending. Smalling was best with the defensive work. Even not the best defender with the offensive and creative work. But again, its not their main job. One of the CM can help with play from the deep. All players can make available. You dont need to play from CB to midfield and midfield to attack all the time. Dont limit your football style. Keep it simple, direct, free and and effective. When its right to play long ball play long ball. When its rigth to play short play short. Do it was it right here and there.
So we cant all blame the build up on CB and full back. Central midfield players should be the most creative players on the pitch. Its theirs main job.
Compare to Vidic. Vidic wasnt good with the ball too. But he was a beast at defending. So if some CB are world class at defending, but above average and under the best with ball playing. Buy him. You dont need a Xavi as CB.
I havent seen Smalling play this season. But i know what i will buy if i m looking after a new CB. No need for a top ball playing CB.
One.Served us well over the years but never reached the levels Fergie hoped he would. We have at least 2 CBs markedly better than him now. He should remain in the past.
Agreed, and neither Bailly nor Tuanzebe has proven to be an upgrade over Smalling, even though both of them have potential not least Tuanzebe.Very close to signing for Roma.
Id have kept him as it doesn’t look like we are going to sign a CB. Lindelof isn’t good enough and Bailly & Tuanzebe are too injury prone
No disrespect to Jones, but I don’t think we can seriously still think of him as an option
I think we will regret this and have another CB crisis by November
The state of this post.Get rid
Cannot bear the thought of watch him in a United shirt again.
It's two, at least in this team.One.
And even if we say it’s two, I think he would have stayed last year if it wasn’t for the fact we can’t get rid of Bailly, Rojo and Jones, and he was the only one that had any value to anyone else.
Sell.Seen a lot of people suggest we should keep him. Premier league proven, suitable partner for Maguire or Lindelof and arguably our best defender but can't play out from the back. Keep or sell?
Problem is no one wants them, been trying to sell Rojo for 5 years. You even forgot about Bailly, so crap he’s forgettable.Maguire
LIndelöf
Smalling
In that order.
Therefore, Rojo and Jones should be sold first if there are any takers.
Aye, you're right. I forgot about Bailly. Not a fan of him either.Problem is no one wants them, been trying to sell Rojo for 5 years. You even forgot about Bailly, so crap he’s forgettable.
Smalling is either our second best or third best CB.