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10 Sep 2015 11:35:56
So what's happened with Smalling? So the media commentators pencilling him in with Stones as best England defensive partnership for years to come.

He seems to have matured as a player, ball distribution, awareness of others and just seems more confident.

Can we credit LvG/coaches for this?

If only Jones would fulfil his potential now too.

Agree5 Disagree0

10 Sep 2015 12:51:00
Where's bond when you need him? ;)

{Ed007's Note - I couldn't give a monkeys what any pundit says and I don't care about international football but as an outsider looking in Harry I'd say this to Wallace, every two years the English media hype up their players and their squad and at every tournament they're found out to be diddies.
It tells you more about the awful standard of players England is producing than anything else if pundits are saying that about Smalling, the Germans, Spanish and the good old Argies must be terrified of having to face Smalling for years to come - I mean Jesus wept, do people actually watch games or just see what a pundit says and decides 'See I must be right, that master tactician Ian Wright said the same as me.'
Why is it when a pundit praises a Utd player he's right but if he criticises Utd or a Utd player he must be wrong and doesn't know what he's talking about or he's a bitter etc?
How many games would Smalling have played if Utd had got any of their numerous CB targets in the summer? He'd have played in the LC and cover injuries - think of an English John O'Shea or the new Wes Brown when you see Smaling, a short-term stop gap until Utd get someone better in, which they tried all summer to do.}

10 Sep 2015 15:04:11
I think LVG and his coaching team have to take the credit. Faith has been put in him and he is performing well. I'd love Jones to sort himself out too but it just doesn't look like happening for him.

If it was me I'd look to get Stones in January and pair him up with Smalling. We would have 3 of the England back 4 for years to come in Stones, Smalling and Shaw. And if Stones is looking for a move then I could see us being interested. There would be no serious City interest, Wenger wouldn't pay the money, he wouldn't go to Liverpool and Chelsea have quite a few centre backs now so I'd see a fairly clear path to his signing if we wanted him.

10 Sep 2015 15:05:20
In fairness to Smalling I think he would of stayed in the side, we would only have signed one center back and he is currently the best the squad has to offer.

10 Sep 2015 14:53:53
Tbf when was the last time Smalling had a bad game ed? He's improved a lot, coming from someone who used to criticise him a fair bit. I think he current looks very assured.

{Ed007's Note - We've been through all this before with players like Cleverley and Welbeck, for years I said they weren't good enough for Utd and there was people on here saying they would be in the Utd and England team for years to come and looked how that worked out.
Utd aren't going to win any trophies under LvG and having players like Smalling isn't going to make any difference, they're part of the problem rather than any solution.
If Chris Smalling was playing for Stoke or Aston Villa would you be on here saying Utd should bust the bank for him and saying X pundit said he'll be playing for England for years and he won MOTM against Switzerland? Folk would just laugh at you.
I always find that gives you a realistic opinion of your own players, everyone is bias for their own team but just think to yourself, if he wasn't at Utd would I want them to sign him?
I doubt that there's many would want Smalling signed.}

10 Sep 2015 14:55:26
First Smalling - Jones, now Smalling -Stones. Smalling will fall out of favour soon as soon as a left centreback has a few good games the press will jump all over them and it'll be A N Other - Stones. Wasn't it going to be Chambers-Stones that were going to carry us to World Cup glory just after Brazil? I love our press.

10 Sep 2015 16:39:54
Sorry Ed, this is one I just cannot get on board with. Smalling is maturing into one of the best defenders in the league. Cleverly and Welbeck were constantly criticized, despite having a few good games occasionally. They also played in far fewer games consistently than Smalling has. He was a solid defender last year, and has been outstanding at the start of this season, arguably our best player, you could never have said that about Welbeck or Cleverly. I agree the standard of English players is declining, but to say Smalling is backup at best is pure nonsense.

{Ed007's Note - That's just babbling twaddle, you obviously didn't see the posters on here bigging up Cleverley and Welbeck season after season which is what I said. Do you really think it's a good thing that Smalling is arguably you're best player? I'd say it just shows again how far behind the current top clubs Utd are and how garbage they've actually been lately, I can't even remember the last Utd domestic game I enjoyed watching.
Would Smalling be playing for any of the other 3 of the top 4 in England last season, he wouldn't get in the Spurs or Southampton teams either and the Scousers probably see him as a bit of a diddy anyway, would he have been seen as a potential replacement to Ramos or Hummells if they had left their clubs?
As I said, we'll see where Smalling is in two years time (I'll say Everton or Aston Villa), hopefully by that time Utd have a manager who knows what he's doing.}

10 Sep 2015 17:16:52
Bond,

I usually agree with you, but anybody who has watched Chris Smalling play regularly in the last 9 months would struggle to agree with what you are saying. Just because you were right about Cleverley and Welbeck doesn't mean you are right about Smalling, and not sure Cleverley and Welbeck ever had 3 or 4 good games in a row never mind 6 months of good games, like No.7 said, when was his last mistake, because I can't think of any since the City game last November.

10 Sep 2015 17:25:10
I agree with cleverly and welbeck but I believe a bit harsh on smalling bond. He has seriously stepped up and I believe if he were to play with another top CB he would improve even more. But he has looked the part the past 10 months or so.

Forget about all the England crap, I never listen to that hype, nor do I listen to what any pundit has to say apart from Johnny Giles and Liam Brady, Oh and of course G Neville.

Your belief that LVG won't win anything is quite strong, going to be interesting to see how he gets on. His track record is quite good in terms of trophies so I'm still going to stay positive and with the belief he will win something within the next year or two. I'll hold my hands up if I'm completely wrong. I hope you will too

10 Sep 2015 18:48:05
Can't disagree about cleverly or welbeck but you couldn't be more wrong about smalling imo. To say he would get in the Spurs or Southampton team is a joke.

10 Sep 2015 20:29:27
I have literally no idea why I constantly see everyone slating Jones on here. It's as if I'm watching a different game to everyone else. For me he's quality and gives his all, the only problem is how often he's injured.

As far as Smalling is concerned, he's having a decent season so far by his standards, but I still think he's distinctly average and not United quality. All he's really done this season is the minimum that should be expected, nothing amazing or great, so no idea why people are suddenly raving about him.

10 Sep 2015 21:42:44
Ed said, 'diddies' :)

11 Sep 2015 01:36:36
Badger, sorry to disagree but I believe half of PJ's problems are that he's so "committed" that his mind wanders from positional sense, and he gets injured going in my tackles you shouldn't need to make.

11 Sep 2015 01:41:01
Ps Badger, I meant to close my disagreement on your PJ post with agreement on Smalling. IMO he had a slow start, is starting to look more comfortable but still has a way to go.

11 Sep 2015 05:21:02
When was Smalling's last mistake? In my opinion it was in the last game. He was marking nobody for the first goal. And he was expecting Romero to come out for the second goal instead of being more proactive by pressuring the attacker or trying to cut him off.

11 Sep 2015 06:15:39
Bond is bang on the money, Welbeck and Cleverley were both nowhere near good enough and Smalling albeit our best central defender at the moment is no Rio or Vidic and never will be.
A very good back up squad player at best.

11 Sep 2015 07:36:27
Ed007

I disagree with you on smalling.

BTW I was one of the very few who never rated cleverly or welbeck even when they were having a decent time on the pitch. Smalling barring injuries is a very good cb and n this market worth a lot of money. If we get someone like varrane/marquinos/stone next to him with shaw and darmian, i think we will see our trophy cabinets bulging again.

Jones I never rated either and don't believe he will ever be good enough and only a squad player at best. BTW i also don't think blackett or Mcnair are good enough unless they have an incredible development over the next few years.

Whilst we are on that subject wilson and Janusaj are borderline and the next 2 years they need to improve quite a bit from where they are to make it with us.

11 Sep 2015 16:09:45
Ed, Cleverly nor Welbeck had a good long run of form where they sometimes looked the best player on the pitch at times, just because Smalling plays for the same club it's exactly the same situation? Anyone who has watched him closely will realise he's becoming a defender more suited to a club like ours playing at the top level.







 

 

 
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