Sea-Cow
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- Nov 28, 2015
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Infuriating to watch him jog on those balls played in the channel between him and AWB. He is supposedly quick, but forwards beat him to that ball constantly.
I don't care as much about our 21-year old right back coming in to cover centrally, and making a mistake. After all he did what he is expected to do as it his style, and it works very often in his position, and in the box. He has bailed us out clearing the ball in a crowded box like that, and yeah its a mistake, a bad one even, but I get it and can defend it even.
What absolutely despise and can not defend in the situation is Lindelof. What you seem to miss is that its not just what he did on the clip in isolation, it is the pattern we're seeing in his style of defending and it is non existent. He makes clear mistakes sometimes, like loosing a duel it is not good, but I can defend it, what you just can't defend is when he doesn't even try. That pattern of backing off, pretending to be doing something while you're really not doing anything is NOT what defending is about. It's horrible to see, and honestly it pisses me off. What he did in that clip would be an excusable brain-fart in isolation, at most, but there is a clear pattern on why he ended up doing what he did. He does it a lot, he avoids confrontation.
Agreed, I don't think we need so many different players to start challenging, just 2 or 3. To win a title more quality is needed of course, but for now, a key thing that's really ruining us is lack of balance in many areas similar to what you described.I think Lindelof and Maguire partnership is an unbalanced partnership. Most of the times these days we over-complicate things based on stats and software analysis, and in doing that forget to do simpler things right. The defensive partnership we currently have looks imbalanced, that's why I think bringing back Smalling or a better defender in that mold will provide that balance to United's back two. Lindelof is a fantastic defender but pairing with MAguire doesn't serves the purpose, I think he will thrive in partnership with someone like Laporte or Ake, similarly Maguire needs somebody like Smalling or Demiral beside him. Even a fully fit Bailly will be a perfect partner for Maguire.
Finding the right balance to starting XI and squad is the most basic yet most difficult thing in football, even with greatest players in the team if the balance is lost in any area of the field, teams struggle to win, Barcelona of 2010, Real Madrid 2003/04 had some of the best players in the game but the teams were imbalanced.
That's why I think we desperately need to find a left footed right winger/ striker to cut in from right like Rashford does from left, also a deep lying play-maker who is also good with tackles and winning the balls to free-up McTominay and Pogba.
Rest we can add up later, but we need to first fix the imbalance in our start XI.
That's why I think getting Smalling back in January, buying Haaland in attack and somebody like Kalvin Phillips in midfield will really revive our team, then if we can afford, we can make a shrewd signing by getting Eriksen from Spurs.Agreed, I don't think we need so many different players to start challenging, just 2 or 3. To win a title more quality is needed of course, but for now, a key thing that's really ruining us is lack of balance in many areas similar to what you described.
Yup, I agree with Smalling and a DM, not sure Haaland is the right profile for a left-footed attacker since he's not really a winger. But yeah we definitely should have tried Smalling with Maguire; Lindelof and Maguire doesn't seem like the right balance.That's why I think getting Smalling back in January, buying Haaland in attack and somebody like Kalvin Phillips in midfield will really revive our team, then if we can afford, we can make a shrewd signing by getting Eriksen from Spurs.
We have a winner. He's this year scapegoat mostly from the Chris Smalling Fangirls who spam the thread with their fantasies and wet desires of seeing him back at Old Trafford. The defense is much improved than last year even with a much worse midfield, we aren't trailing 0-2 before the half, we aren't giving up set piece goals like last season, we aren't having Smalling shite in his pants for the first 30 minutes of every game with his panic defending, balls are getting cleared properly, DDG doesn't have to make 10 saves a game.Yeah guys let's blame Lindelöf for AWB failing to defend, and let's also blame Lindelöf for us not scoring.
Looking at goals scored we're at 13th place in the table.
Looking at least goals conceded we're at 5th place. Only Liverpool, Manchester City, Leicester City and Sheffield have conceded less than us. We only conceded 1 more goal than City and 2 more goals the Liverpool. But go on, let's blame Lindelöf for this too, because apparently that's not good enough.
Our problem is not in the defense. The problem is our non-existent goal scoring. That's why we don't win matches. We have scored 13 times. That's 21 goals less than City (!) and 12 less than Liverpool. But some cry babies keep coming here blaming Lindelöf for everything. He is not anywhere near our biggest problem right now.
So 1 game in his entire career, which is completely incorrect isn’t a fact? It’s your opinion that you’re choosing to ignore his games under anyone other than Ole.How many games he has played is not really a matter of opinion.
The defense is still a problem because usually when teams attack us or counterattack us, we concede a goal. It doesn't even take long, just a 15-minute spell of sustained pressure and that's it. Only Leicester and Chelsea failed to score against us in the league, and in those games we defended mainly in our own area.We have a winner. He's this year scapegoat mostly from the Chris Smalling Fangirls who spam the thread with their fantasies and wet desires of seeing him back at Old Trafford. The defense is much improved than last year even with a much worse midfield, we aren't trailing 0-2 before the half, we aren't giving up set piece goals like last season, we aren't having Smalling shite in his pants for the first 30 minutes of every game with his panic defending, balls are getting cleared properly, DDG doesn't have to make 10 saves a game.
It makes sense, but actually there are not many 1-0 losses. The only are against Bournemouth (goal 45 min) and Newcastle (goal 72 min).Also, our goals conceded stat is probably misleading since teams usually don't attack us for sustained periods to score many goals. They attack us to score 1, usually a counter or a brief period of pressure, then sit back.
Our defence should at least be able to help us weather those brief attacks, since we're usually not under the cosh for the full 90.
How many Premier league matches does Tuanzebe have as a starting CB?So 1 game in his entire career, which is completely incorrect isn’t a fact? It’s your opinion that you’re choosing to ignore his games under anyone other than Ole.
I agree the defence look better organised etc and it is ok to dislike Smalling but there is no need to insult him who actually is a United player who always give 100%, has devoted his career to his club and to my knowledge never have said a bad word about the club nor any of its players.We have a winner. He's this year scapegoat mostly from the Chris Smalling Fangirls who spam the thread with their fantasies and wet desires of seeing him back at Old Trafford. The defense is much improved than last year even with a much worse midfield, we aren't trailing 0-2 before the half, we aren't giving up set piece goals like last season, we aren't having Smalling shite in his pants for the first 30 minutes of every game with his panic defending, balls are getting cleared properly, DDG doesn't have to make 10 saves a game.
I don't know which bit of this you don't understand or seem to accept... he has started 4 league games in his entire career. Once as a CB. There is no question, debate, or opinion here. It's simply a fact.So 1 game in his entire career, which is completely incorrect isn’t a fact? It’s your opinion that you’re choosing to ignore his games under anyone other than Ole.
It's still the same concept, they score just as many as they need to draw or win, and the defence lets them do it every time.It makes sense, but actually there are not many 1-0 losses. The only are against Bournemouth (goal 45 min) and Newcastle (goal 72 min).
I understand what you mean but dont agree that it would make the amount of conceded goals midleading, as I expect that to happen in most matches between most teams. And also, there is no trend or anything that United concede 0-1 early in the matches.It's still the same concept, they score just as many as they need to draw or win, and the defence lets them do it every time.
We all say a few more goals and we would be up the table, well the same goes for clean sheets. Even worse is that we focused on defence this summer, so we should ideally be doing better defensively.
That's because like I said before, most teams we play are fine with a draw. If we score first, then they simply attack and get their equalizing goal, and the defence has only prevented that twice this season.I understand what you mean but dont agree that it would make the amount of conceded goals midleading, as I expect that to happen in most matches between most teams. And also, there is no trend or anything that United concede 0-1 early in the matches.
I don't know about others, but I'm saying that we shouldn't expect it, because the defence usually isn't reliable enough for that; especially with the way we want to play. The fact that they're put in that position is unfortunate though.Start badly at Utd these days and irrespective of what happens next, that will always be some people's point of reference. I can't believe that some are apportioning the blame on him and the defence. Are people realistically say that irrespective of us not scoring, we should then be being finishing games nil nil?
he played there for villa. Why can’t you accept that and under Van GaalI don't know which bit of this you don't understand or seem to accept... he has started 4 league games in his entire career. Once as a CB. There is no question, debate, or opinion here. It's simply a fact.
2 I believe, or maybe he was a sub. The question is how many first team games has he played at first team level and the answer is not 1.How many Premier league matches does Tuanzebe have as a starting CB?
That's rubbish, played his best game at left back and was one of the better players on the pitch. Also shown more composure and leadership than Lindelof, which we are sorely lacking.2 I believe, or maybe he was a sub. The question is how many first team games has he played at first team level and the answer is not 1.
Van Dijk's unreal season last season has got people believing that you need a perfect defender that never makes mistakes to become successful. Which is just not true.Ya'll swear we got the worst CB's in the league from the way you guys go at them. There is not one CB in this league that can go a game without making mistakes. Not one. Please relax.
Our CBs were already being held to that standard before VVD even came into the premier league, because people would compare what we have to Vidic and Ferdinand and talk down about players they didnt see as becoming as good.Van Dijk's unreal season last season has got people believing that you need a perfect defender that never makes mistakes to become successful. Which is just not true.
No defence generally is and were seen especially already even the teams at the top are conceding goals and have to score more than one to win. One goal especially if you are only scoring from a dead ball, it is very hard to win football matches. The defence is not the problem as in general we are not conceding many goals per game compared to the teams around the top....I don't know about others, but I'm saying that we shouldn't expect it, because the defence usually isn't reliable enough for that; especially with the way we want to play. The fact that they're put in that position is unfortunate though.
Did those teams splurge their entire budget on defense? Its supposed to be our strength. They spent on attacking players, thats supposed to be their strengthNo defence generally is and were seen especially already even the teams at the top are conceding goals and have to score more than one to win. One goal especially if you are only scoring from a dead ball, it is very hard to win football matches. The defence is not the problem as in general we are not conceding many goals per game compared to the teams around the top....
Agree. My family are Villa fans and they say Mings was equally as good as Tuanzebe. We think the problem is solved by bringing someone in but the decisions made by the manager if not the right ones, will always amount to the same outcome irrespective of who comes in.Ok, i like him a lot but i am not fanboy of him so i see some of his flaws and i am not saying that he is some kind of world class defender or something like that.
But two things about him this season are huge overreactions.
First that he is slow. On tests he was among our quicker players and in Liverpool game he proved that with catching Origi in wide space. Origi is not slow attacker but despite that, Lindelof was on par with him.
Second; i don't watch u23 and i didn't watch Villa last year. But to call for Tuanzebe who played 2 games on central defender position for us is too much. I understand Smalling fanboys. Those two defenders are similiar in quality but Tuanzebe? Come on, lets wait a bit. I like also what i saw in Tuanzebe but to want him in first 11 already?
I'm saying it is our strength but it's completely unrealistic in a very competitive league to not concede one goal in 90 mins. Nil - Nil is now a very unusual score in the prem. If Liverpool or Man City didn't score goals, they would have lost not drawn football matches this season. Just look at last weekend results...Did those teams splurge their entire budget on defense? Its supposed to be our strength. They spent on attacking players, thats supposed to be their strength
Its not unrealistic to get a clean sheet sometimes. Not every match. Smalling has managed it with Roma in 3 of the last 7 matches so I don't think its unreasonable to suggest that 2 clean sheets in 11 matches in the league this season is a disappointment especially given the huge sum of money we spent on our defense this summer.I'm saying it is our strength but it's completely unrealistic in a very competitive league to not concede one goal in 90 mins. Nil - Nil is now a very unusual score in the prem. If Liverpool or Man City didn't score goals, they would have lost not drawn football matches this season. Just look at last weekend results...
No body is talking about sometimes cause we already have had clean sheets 'sometimes' this season. Smalling plays a completely different league which is less competitive anyway so there is no comparison plus, unless Roma are only playing one at the back, you'll find the 'team' are not conceding. It's not just on Smalling. Have you seen how many goals those teams like Liverpool and City have scored more than us, it's easier to defend when the balls always in the other persons net.Its not unrealistic to get a clean sheet sometimes. Not every match. Smalling has managed it with Roma in 3 of the last 7 matches so I don't think its unreasonable to suggest that 2 clean sheets in 11 matches in the league this season is a disappointment especially given the huge sum of money we spent on our defense this summer.
I dont think our defense is our strength so far. Leicester, Sheffield United, Liverpool and City have all had stronger ones without spending £80 million on a CB
Yes 2 in 11. So barely anyNo body is talking about sometimes cause we already have had clean sheets 'sometimes' this season. Smalling plays a completely different league which is less competitive anyway so there is no comparison plus, unless Roma are only playing one at the back, you'll find the 'team' are not conceding. It's not just on Smalling. Have you seen how many goals they have scored more than us, it's easier to defend when the balls always in the other persons net.
Not sure why fans still use the same mathematical formula, that cost and worth do not equate in transfer. You paying more because the player is under contract than often his worth. You are paying more cause we are Man Utd.
Are you suggesting the Italian league is more competitive than the prem? I'm guessing 'sometimes' as you describe it is more than 2-11 then. You should have been more specific. Great to see that Smalling who the majority on here didn't see has Utd quality, not sure but given he went to Roma, not many in the Prem seem to think was any good either YET the competitive Italian league he's made such a difference that they are now 3rd. Roma should have signed Jones too then as maybe they'd have been top.....Yes 2 in 11. So barely any
What the hell are you talking about less competitive? He's playing for Roma not Juventus. They came 6th last season like we did... They're 3rd now with very good form since Smalling's debut
You are 6 years on this forum and you are still trying to talk with Ekeke about Smalling? Oh, mate...Are you suggesting the Italian league is more competitive than the prem? I'm guessing 'sometimes' as you describe it is more than 2-11 then. You should have been more specific. Great to see that Smalling who the majority on here didn't see has Utd quality, not sure but given he went to Roma, not many in the Prem seem to think was any good either YET the competitive Italian league he's made such a difference that they are now 3rd. Roma should have signed Jones too then as maybe they'd have been top.....
School boy error.....You are 6 years on this forum and you are still trying to talk with Ekeke about Smalling? Oh, mate...