Most overrated player in English football

[gerrygowsjockstrap]

Van Persie - cheating, dirty bastard. I can't stand the ugly bastard.

 

[denislawsbackheel]

Peter Crouch
If he can play for England so can I

 

[Damocles]

Sorry, but last season he was at Fulham, and people were tipping him for big things.

I thought he was pretty shit at Fulham. He made high profile mistakes - most notably against Chelsea, and had a few other brainfarts.

To call him overrated is mental though; he's one of the best young CBs in the league. To step up and do so well in the games he's played is amazing.

I must admit, over the months that you have come here, I've come to respect your opinion on footy, even if you are a glory hunting rag :)

However, whilst I don't think that Smalling is shit, I'm yet to be convinced. I haven't seen him have a good game next to anyone but Vidic and it makes me wonder if Vidic is hand holding him a bit thus making him look good. Can you think of many examples to the contrary?

 

[Mr_Blue]

glen johnson and darren bent..wtf there both just shite!

 

[Viva Rivaldo]

I must admit, over the months that you have come here, I've come to respect your opinion on footy, even if you are a glory hunting rag :)

However, whilst I don't think that Smalling is shit, I'm yet to be convinced. I haven't seen him have a good game next to anyone but Vidic and it makes me wonder if Vidic is hand holding him a bit thus making him look good. Can you think of many examples to the contrary?

I can't, largely because I'd agree with you. Other than early appearances in the CC ... 1with Ferdinand where he scored and did alright generally, he hasnt had any stand-out performances when he's been away from Vidic. He was poor against Liverpool, but didn't have any particularly big fuck-ups.

Partnered with Brown in a few games this season, he's been the one holding more than the hand of his senior colleague; and alongside Jevans...don't particularly see the chemistry in that partnership. Ferdinand's injuries this season have been great for Smalling, as he fills the void of a good on the ball, reasonably fast, physical centre-half, and dovetails fantastically well with Vidic. Where you say he holds his hand; I'm glad of that. He's still developing, and requires constant supervision, especially against the biggest teams.

However, I don't think he'd look bad without the hand-holding; his qualities that Vidic doesnt have are what makes him look great. His fantastic reading of the game, for someone that young, means that he never has to lunge in as much as Vidic does, and while I love seeing Nemanja completely clusterfuck an opponent (legally), I much prefer it when one of them reads the play, positions himself better, and does away with the need of having to make a Hollywood 'recovery' tackle in the first place.

His passing and dribbling also set him apart from other young centre-halves, in my opinion. Though I'm not claiming him a Lucio reincarnation, he's capable of taking the ball round opponents, should the situation ever demand it, and he can competently play crossfield balls with half-decent accuracy, provided he's not under too much pressure. My particular favourite of his attacking qualities, however, is the way he picks the perfect opportunities to go forward - again, indicative of an old, wise head on his shoulders. He's rarely caught out of position, but on the occasions he has been - ie. goal against Wolves; he had learned from his mistakes, and the mistakes look like they don't affect his form.

An instance that you'd have been familiar with regarding my point about him picking when to get forward was in the derby, late in the second half. You had us hemmed in briefly, while the game was end-to-end, Nani got the ball on the flank and took on [Richards?] around the halfway line. It looked like there was nowhere to go, then Smalling came storming through the middle, providing the perfect outlet. He'd have been clean through if Nani had passed the fucking ball, and, like a few million United fans, Smalling responded by giving him a right good bollocking.

So, he hasn't really been great with anyone other than Vidic, but my disclaimers are that he's young, was initially signed as fourth choice at best, looks like a proper stoner and...who wouldn't look better with Vidic next to them?

 

[Villan10]

Can't believe Downing ever gets mentioned. Unbelievable, he's our best player!

 

[Viva Rivaldo]

Can't believe Downing ever gets mentioned. Unbelievable, he's our best player!

With respect, that says more about your squad than it does the quality of Downing.

 

[blueprint]

I must admit, over the months that you have come here, I've come to respect your opinion on footy, even if you are a glory hunting rag :)

However, whilst I don't think that Smalling is shit, I'm yet to be convinced. I haven't seen him have a good game next to anyone but Vidic and it makes me wonder if Vidic is hand holding him a bit thus making him look good. Can you think of many examples to the contrary?

I can't, largely because I'd agree with you. Other than early appearances in the CC ... 1with Ferdinand where he scored and did alright generally, he hasnt had any stand-out performances when he's been away from Vidic. He was poor against Liverpool, but didn't have any particularly big fuck-ups.

Partnered with Brown in a few games this season, he's been the one holding more than the hand of his senior colleague; and alongside Jevans...don't particularly see the chemistry in that partnership. Ferdinand's injuries this season have been great for Smalling, as he fills the void of a good on the ball, reasonably fast, physical centre-half, and dovetails fantastically well with Vidic. Where you say he holds his hand; I'm glad of that. He's still developing, and requires constant supervision, especially against the biggest teams.

However, I don't think he'd look bad without the hand-holding; his qualities that Vidic doesnt have are what makes him look great. His fantastic reading of the game, for someone that young, means that he never has to lunge in as much as Vidic does, and while I love seeing Nemanja completely clusterfuck an opponent (legally), I much prefer it when one of them reads the play, positions himself better, and does away with the need of having to make a Hollywood 'recovery' tackle in the first place.

His passing and dribbling also set him apart from other young centre-halves, in my opinion. Though I'm not claiming him a Lucio reincarnation, he's capable of taking the ball round opponents, should the situation ever demand it, and he can competently play crossfield balls with half-decent accuracy, provided he's not under too much pressure. My particular favourite of his attacking qualities, however, is the way he picks the perfect opportunities to go forward - again, indicative of an old, wise head on his shoulders. He's rarely caught out of position, but on the occasions he has been - ie. goal against Wolves; he had learned from his mistakes, and the mistakes look like they don't affect his form.

An instance that you'd have been familiar with regarding my point about him picking when to get forward was in the derby, late in the second half. You had us hemmed in briefly, while the game was end-to-end, Nani got the ball on the flank and took on [Richards?] around the halfway line. It looked like there was nowhere to go, then Smalling came storming through the middle, providing the perfect outlet. He'd have been clean through if Nani had passed the fucking ball, and, like a few million United fans, Smalling responded by giving him a right good bollocking.

So, he hasn't really been great with anyone other than Vidic, but my disclaimers are that he's young, was initially signed as fourth choice at best, looks like a proper stoner and...who wouldn't look better with Vidic next to them?

Truly if Vidic is in a non-United club I believe he would have been sendoff and suspended umpteen times for his 'thuggery' and your quote would have been

seeing Nemanja completely clusterfuck an opponent (illegally).

Getting away SCOT free from carded for rugby tackles shirt tugging elbows jabbing doesn't mean that Vidic 'thuggery' was LEGAL. Since when have we been specious with words like LEGAL & LUCKY.
Actually Smalling makes Vidic role, bonne cop bad cop, a tandem role that can only be hoisted effectively by Fergies Club & its sycophants. All other clubs need not apply. Do I need to elaborate?
Just imagine, United actual standing, if Vidic & Neville were carded legally!

 

[Viva Rivaldo]

While I admit that Vidic does sometimes get away with some rather heavy-handed tackles, singling him out in a league where many others do it isn't completely fair.

Nothing at all is made of Essien being a completely dirty cnut - par example; the same day that Rooney was caught saying a naughty word, Essien escaped a card for a two footed dropkick that Bruce Lee would have been proud of. Is anything made of it? No. They gloss over it on MOTD as well. Whereas a few tackles from Vidic (that were in no way as bad) are singled out for 'analysis'.

Last night - early on, Essien takes out Rooney after the ball goes. Nothing happened. If it was Vidic, there'd be a witch-hunt on this website, with a lot of people (like you) proclaiming how we get away with everything, and how Vidic is immune to the law.

 

[blueprint]

While I admit that Vidic does sometimes get away with some rather heavy-handed tackles, singling him out in a league where many others do it isn't completely fair.

Nothing at all is made of Essien being a completely dirty cnut - par example; the same day that Rooney was caught saying a naughty word, Essien escaped a card for a two footed dropkick that Bruce Lee would have been proud of. Is anything made of it? No. They gloss over it on MOTD as well. Whereas a few tackles from Vidic (that were in no way as bad) are singled out for 'analysis'.

Last night - early on, Essien takes out Rooney after the ball goes. Nothing happened. If it was Vidic, there'd be a witch-hunt on this website, with a lot of people (like you) proclaiming how we get away with everything, and how Vidic is immune to the law.

I hear you but Rio/Vidic did work on Torres and Drogba (face scrubbed?) too. Anyways bottom line is the Spanish Ref did a 'Webb' job and I suppose he got it right except for the Ramires Penalty and by right Evra should be sendoff. No? Remember this referee was the one that denied a Drogba goal when Buffon scooped his shot behind the goal line. True to form the official, behind the goal, was not called to action. But will we now get another just to watch for penalty infringement?