Mike Smalling

Best defender in the league? I think so. His turnaround has been pretty phenomenal tbf. Wouldn't swap him for anyone in this league

Loving the aggression he's bringing nowadays. Just monstering players the second it looks like they might even touch the ball

Agreed, gave him loads over the last year or so on here - as did most - and he's proving us wrong.

Must have missed out the genesis of the Mike thing - what's that about?

Originally Posted by dunk

Loving the aggression he's bringing nowadays. Just monstering players the second it looks like they might even touch the ball

Yeah he's a beast. Seems like Van Gaal has filled him with confidence. I always believed in him to my credit!

Originally Posted by armchair

Yeah he's a beast. Seems like Van Gaal has filled him with confidence. I always believed in him to my credit!

I was always a fan, feared he was gone late in the Moyes era/early last season. Confidence destroyed, never to return. Absolutely delighted to be wrong

Originally Posted by My Name is Keith

Agreed, gave him loads over the last year or so on here - as did most - and he's proving us wrong.

Must have missed out the genesis of the Mike thing - what's that about?

LvG called him Mike Smalling in a press conference pre-season

Originally Posted by dunk

I was always a fan, feared he was gone late in the Moyes era/early last season. Confidence destroyed, never to return. Absolutely delighted to be wrong

I love the whole back 5 tbh.

Originally Posted by armchair

I love the whole back 5 tbh.

Him and Blind are a decent contrast. It'll be interesting to see them come up against a genuine front 2, if they ever do. The full backs are awesome and DdG is DdG.

Would've happily kneecapped him after the Derby last year.

£#%&!ed about too much by Fergie and Moyes playing at full back. Centre halves need to learn their trade early on. You can get away with playing young strikers out on the wing because their game tends to be so much more instinctive whereas top centre halves benefit from years of readig games and developing anticipation of what the oppositions next move will be.

He's stopped trying to be the new Rio and is using his own strengths to physically dominate opposing centre forwards. If he can improve his distribution from the back a little then he'll do just fine for me.

Originally Posted by dunk

Him and Blind are a decent contrast. It'll be interesting to see them come up against a genuine front 2, if they ever do. The full backs are awesome and DdG is DdG.

Yep works great. Smalling beasting and blind kind of playing sweeper. Shaw is another monster and Darmian is like some sort of football terminator.

When he had that run next to Vidic in the 10-11 season he looked like a top class defender in the making, we never really saw that level from him again consistently. He's that player again now and more, I can't believe this is Chris Smalling were watching, he's absolutely dominating.

if we could just get everton to swap stones for the new duncan edwards, we'll be sorted.

Originally Posted by armchair

I love the whole back 5 tbh.

mf options looking pretty good too - just need the pointy end sorting out and we're competing at the top again.

Originally Posted by jem

if we could just get everton to swap stones for the new duncan edwards, we'll be sorted.

Swap him for Rojo..

Buy Barclay.

Find another couple of wide attackers and hope Januzaj, Wilson and Pereira come good

My German friend reckons that if Januzaj doesn't come good after a season with Tuchel, he never will. Said he was good yesterday too

Originally Posted by dunk

Swap him for Rojo..

Buy Barclay.

Find another couple of wide attackers and hope Januzaj, Wilson and Pereira come good

not sure if you mean ross barkley or paddy barclay.

issi rojo is bad dunk :shakehead:

Originally Posted by jem

not sure if you mean ross barkley or paddy barclay.

issi rojo is bad dunk :shakehead:

Paddy, obv

Barkley. I'm blaming my phone

Just picking on Rojo because I know you like him. I can't even remember what he looks like on a football pitch

Originally Posted by jem

if we could just get everton to swap stones for the new duncan edwards, we'll be sorted.

Yep. Darmers-Smalling-Stones-Shaw is the dream.

he was motm for me yesterday.

Don't need two old fashioned cbs these days so him and blind is fine.

Originally Posted by Jack Duckworth

he was motm for me yesterday.

Not sure if it was dedicated to you personally but he was good.

If his distribution was better I'd be more than happy. Fear he'll lose his place when Jones is fit.