Is Chris Smalling the best centre-back in England?

This topic contains 42 replies, has 21 voices, and was last updated by banjo_chuckers banjo_chuckers 8 years, 4 months ago.

Viewing 20 posts - 21 through 40 (of 43 total)
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  • #707254
    steveosnakeeye
    steveosnakeeye
    Participant
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    no

    #707290

    Ro Tab
    Participant
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    Never rated Smalling makes too many mistakes and also is often out of postion-he may be having a decent run now but all players do have a good run followed by bad runs-there is no realistic barometer to measure whose the best unless you are consistently GREAT as Messi or Ronaldo have proved to be over the years

    #707332
    Blueowner
    Blueowner
    Participant
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    Martial Arts I am quite aware that Terry, Cahill and especially Ivanovich have been terrible this season, in fact most of the Chelsea squad has been very bad including the manager, however how does that justify the ridiculous comment that Smalling could be the best center half in the world, not even close, wait for another 4 years before he can even be judged on that level. Guaranteed he want even get close to that status as you can see it already.

    #707335
    hatters
    hatters
    Participant
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    @Ro Tab. I am a United fan and I watch every minute of every game. Smalling used to make mistakes but the last mistake he made was the red card at the Etihad more than 18 months ago.

    I dare you to call out another error since then.

    #708001
    theMartial Art
    theMartial Art
    Spectator
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    blueowner – Ever since the Bayern Munuch game when Moyes was in charge is when Smalling first showed how could he can be, and since the City game last year he has become a consistent performer…..all can c dat! Future Man U captain……nowadays have no doubts at the back….anyone raising eyebrows should get hold of latest stats on teams with most clean sheets. Last season we were crying out for a leader at the back, and credit to both Smalling and our coaches, he has stepped up and is now a beast of a player. It’s as if he actually believes that he’s Mike Smalling and he’s forgotten everything that was holding Chris Smalling back.

    gjblues – Name the three HMs who are playing in front of Smalling? I’m waiting! The one team that plays with 3 HMs is Liverpool (Can, Milner and Lucas)

    #711655

    nine nine nine
    Moderator
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    Smalling probably is the best c/back on current form, but John Stones has the potential to be the best.

    It will be interesting to see where Stones goes next to further develop his career I can’t see him staying at Everton past the summer but neither can I see him at Chelsea but rumours abound now that both Real and Barca are interested as are United.

    #711667

    Sean the sailor
    Participant
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    Smalling is one of the strongest tacklers i have seen in the pl. He is fast, tough in the tackle and getting better on the ball. He is now starting to see read the game an awful better. I think he is a very good defender. Best at the moment in the pl.

    I still think stone has a lot to learn nine but he has everything in his locker to be a top player. I can see chelsea coming back in for him jan as well. Might take 40m to get him though which is crazy

    #711778

    Paxman
    Participant
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    Hatters – Yes you are right Utd currently have had the second most amount of possession in the Premier League this season so they don’t concede to many chances, but they have also created the least amount of chances in the Premier League, their conversion rate has been very high, but that may not always be the case, hence the reason people like Scholes and Keane have been criticising Van Genius.

    #711844

    nine nine nine
    Moderator
    • :

    sean, afternoon mate and congrats on the other night.

    As much as I recognise great potential in John Stones my view is that even at £30m he was too expensive and even at £40m I don’t think Martinez will want to sell to Chelsea.

    Personally I would go for Laporte at Bilbao at least he has a defined buy out clause which might be able to negotiated down a bit too and he’s young as well though their still seems to be an interest in Marquinhos.

    Based on our success in the summer transfer window though we will probably end up with Hoss from Bonanza.Lol!

    #711961

    Mancity Jim
    Moderator
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    Agree with Hatters, Otamendi has looked very good the last few games. But the season is long, let’s see how it pans out.

    #712018
    theMartial Art
    theMartial Art
    Spectator
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    999 – Full credit to Mike sorry Chris Smalling. As the improvement of him not only as a defender but also as a footballer has been there for everyone to see. It just goes to show that with hard work comes rich rewards. i hope he gets to rest this season for periods bcos England does need him the forms he is on, with others on similar form England might put on a show at Euro 2016 this summer. As for John Stones, performing with that calmness and with that know-how at such a young age is amazing. He is one of the best ball playing centre-halves in the PL and has gone to the next level this season. He has shown he is ready for any top team in Europe. I still think he will end up at Chelsea in the summer.

    Sean the sailor – Well said. I’m delighted Smalling is coming through as a top centre-half. His passing and on-ball ability is still a little suspect, but there has been a marked improvement there and he now steps in to midfield and has the confidence to drive forward with the ball.

    #712051
    Johnny Utah
    Johnny Utah
    Participant
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    Will he even get to the Euros? Stones, Cahill and Jagielka are ahead of him, Jones and Dier are more versatile. He will need to keep his form going, show it’s not just a temporary high.

    #712063
    theMartial Art
    theMartial Art
    Spectator
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    Jagielka and Cahill ahead of him? I’m not talking about AGE here, LOL

    #712066
    hatters
    hatters
    Participant
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    @paxman. Your point is valid I guess. The domination of the ball is patent for everyone to see but the likelihood is that the team will grow in confidence and risk taking moving forward. The chances we create, though, are always proper goal scoring chances. Only time will tell how we fare as the season wears on.

    @johnny utah. Surely you jest mate. Smalling is the first name on the teamsheet for Roy right now. Jagielka, Stones and Cahill?? Cumon mate, not a chance.

    @nine nine nine. I agree with you, Stones is definitely due a move at the end of the season and I think he will probably go to either Chelsea or Arsenal (if Wenger has any sense). I suspect United won’t be in for him because we have Smalling, Jones, Rojo, and McNair for the CB position – he would be a perfect United signing though. As for Barca and Madrid – they are not interested in players until they are fully developed.

    #712078
    wotspur
    wotspur
    Participant
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    Is he the best English CB , yes probably and him and Stones or Cahill should be England’s CB partnership for quite a while.
    The best partnership thou has got to be Jan Vertoghen and Toby Alderweild they mat play for Belgium, but different positions but for Spurs this season they’ve been immense, far,better as a Unit, than Koscielny and anyone lose they put alongside him

    #712108
    Johnny Utah
    Johnny Utah
    Participant
    • :

    Correct Wotspur, Smalling wouldn’t get in Spurs team at the moment.
    For England, Stones is the future. He has the potential to be Englands only world class footballer. He needs to start and Roy will want experience along side him. That means Cahill his most likely partner, then Jagielka, who he plays with, week in, week out.

    #712114
    hatters
    hatters
    Participant
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    @johnny utah. I am shocked and disappointed by your opinion.

    #712123
    Johnny Utah
    Johnny Utah
    Participant
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    Disappointed? Its only an opinion. Who knows what Roy will do.

    #712153
    theMartial Art
    theMartial Art
    Spectator
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    Johhny Utah – You need to try harder to convince us on your argument because if they’re all fit, I’m certain Smalling, Shaw and Rooney will be playing at Euro 2016. I bet my balls not money, LOL

    #712156
    Moss
    Moss
    Participant
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    For a long time I just couldn’t see why United had brought Smalling but since last season he has been coming on leaps and bounds, he is a solid defender now and a great asset to the club. When you look at what defenders are going for at the moment that £12 mill seems like shrewd business. Best in the league? that’s hard to say and will always be subjective but he is definitely one of the best.

    I think Stones has more potential and is more pleasing on the eye due to his ability to bring the ball out, but we will see how he does when he gets his big move.

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