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Post by Monty on Dec 1, 2015 18:10:28 GMT
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Post by CaajScot on Dec 3, 2015 15:24:26 GMT
 02/12/2015 09:49, Report by Mark Froggatt
THE GREATEST: CHRIS SMALLING DECIDES
The second Manchester United player to tackle our quickfire feature is defender Chris Smalling, who provides great colour when providing answers for the greatest sportsman of all time, the greatest goal he's scored and the greatest player he's ever seen...
THE GREATEST...
Sportsman outside of football: There are lots to name, but I’m a big fan of Muhammad Ali. I have got a few pictures of his quotes around my house as well. He always backed himself. You can be overconfident, but he could back it up and he had that belief. That was somebody who was really at the top of his game. Player I've watched: I would have to say Paul Scholes. Once you have played with him close up, you can see that what he has is something that can’t be taught. He is a natural. He would receive the ball and know exactly what was around him. He'd know when to play a simple pass or wait for the opposition to come close and then pass at the right moment. It was something special to watch. Game I’ve been involved in: Maybe the City game at home [in February 2011], it was my first derby at the club. I knew at the start of the week that I was going to be playing so it was a case of getting ready for it all week. Wazza scored his bicycle kick to win it and that was a feeling that I will never forget. Goal I've scored: I think when I was young, in an Under-14s match, we were drawing 1-1 and I got the ball off the goalkeeper and literally dribbled up the pitch without a care in the world - it was as if I didn’t see anyone else! I took it past the whole team and stuck it in. It was a great moment. Place I’ve visited: Last summer I went to Peru. I have been on holiday previously and it's always been a case of just sitting on the beach but this time it was South America, walking through the jungle and climbing up high, visiting different cities. It was a special trip and a special few weeks. Away stadium I’ve played at: There are some special stadiums we've played on tour in America, but I would say Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena. That is a special one. Moment of my United career: I think it has to be the first league title in my first year [2010/11] and the fact that I was able to play so much and be a big part of it. The moment we won it is one that will stick with me forever and I want a lot more trophies. Where do I keep my medal? If I said that I might get mugged but I keep it close to me! www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Features/2015/Dec/The-greatest-feature-chris-smalling-on-his-admiration-for-Muhammad-Ali.aspx |
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Post by Stew on Dec 5, 2015 12:51:20 GMT
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Post by CaajScot on Dec 15, 2015 17:22:55 GMT
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Post by CaajScot on Dec 22, 2015 15:54:55 GMT
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Post by _ on Dec 27, 2015 8:47:23 GMT
Sadly he seems to be losing his way a bit over the last month.
I'm not saying he has been poor but he's not the same dominant player he was in the first 2/3 months. He needs to find beast mode again.
Funnily enough his downturn in form has coincided with Jones being partnered with him. What a shock that the clumsy foolish Jones is dragging Smalling down with him!
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Post by Stew on Dec 27, 2015 12:55:09 GMT
Sadly he seems to be losing his way a bit over the last month. I'm not saying he has been poor but he's not the same dominant player he was in the first 2/3 months. He needs to find beast mode again. Funnily enough his downturn in form has coincided with Jones being partnered with him. What a shock that the clumsy foolish Jones is dragging Smalling down with him! The defence as a whole (which is more or less Smalling) has had a downturn since Morgan has been left out. |
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Post by Coogie on Dec 27, 2015 13:07:12 GMT
Sadly he seems to be losing his way a bit over the last month. I'm not saying he has been poor but he's not the same dominant player he was in the first 2/3 months. He needs to find beast mode again. Funnily enough his downturn in form has coincided with Jones being partnered with him. What a shock that the clumsy foolish Jones is dragging Smalling down with him! I think this was bound to happen at some point.. He has been single handedly carrying that defence from the start of the season |
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Post by CaajScot on Dec 27, 2015 13:14:15 GMT
Sadly he seems to be losing his way a bit over the last month. I'm not saying he has been poor but he's not the same dominant player he was in the first 2/3 months. He needs to find beast mode again. Funnily enough his downturn in form has coincided with Jones being partnered with him. What a shock that the clumsy foolish Jones is dragging Smalling down with him! I think this was bound to happen at some point.. He has been single handedly carrying that defence from the start of the season And when captain potato head was out injured he was made captain. Potato head benched yesterday and Carrick is named captain? Must have knocked his confidence for six. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2015 15:06:00 GMT
I think this was bound to happen at some point.. He has been single handedly carrying that defence from the start of the season And when captain potato head was out injured he was made captain. Potato head benched yesterday and Carrick is named captain? Must have knocked his confidence for six. Carrick is vice-captain, don't think it will have knocked his confidence at all really, seeing Carrick and Fellaini ahead of him will have done though |
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Post by CaajScot on Dec 28, 2015 13:49:32 GMT
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Post by karthy on Dec 28, 2015 14:31:06 GMT
^^ can we have one of those today cos i think the strikers are missing their scoring boots .
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Post by _ on Dec 29, 2015 12:57:32 GMT
Sadly he seems to be losing his way a bit over the last month. I'm not saying he has been poor but he's not the same dominant player he was in the first 2/3 months. He needs to find beast mode again. Funnily enough his downturn in form has coincided with Jones being partnered with him. What a shock that the clumsy foolish Jones is dragging Smalling down with him! I think this was bound to happen at some point.. He has been single handedly carrying that defence from the start of the season Agreed but then to be considered world class you've got to keep up high levels for season after season. OK the odd drop here and there but on the whole it needs to be high standards most the time. That said he was back to his best yesterday. Funnily enough it coincided with Schneiderlin returning to the team and providing that cover in front! |
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Post by CaajScot on Dec 30, 2015 11:46:08 GMT
30/12/2015 08:00, Report by James Tuck
SMALLING: WE WILL COME BACK STRONGER IN 2016
Chris Smalling feels Manchester United’s performance against Chelsea on Monday will give the team plenty of heart heading into the New Year.
Though there were no goals to celebrate at Old Trafford, the Reds had much the better of the game against the reigning champions and were denied victory only by the woodwork and Blues goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who made a stunning point-blank save from Ander Herrera in the second half. After the disappointing defeat at Stoke City on Boxing Day, Monday's display was much improved and Louis van Gaal’s men will be encouraged ahead of the next encounter, at home to Swansea City on Saturday. Smalling said: "We caused Chelsea a lot of problems, which is a positive as they play with a back four that doesn’t really move and two defensive midfielders. To create the amount of chances we did is positive. "We tried our luck and people weren’t afraid to get their shots away – on another day they may well have gone in. The players will take a lot of confidence from the fact that we were getting into lots of good positions and causing them a few troubles. "It was difficult after Stoke for much to be said and it was all about turning our attentions to Chelsea. I think we were quite lucky that we had a game straight after Stoke for us to put it right. "We’ve rolled our sleeves up and worked hard on the training field and had to make sure that we regrouped. We stood up, showed we were the better team, but couldn’t quite get the win." Despite the encouraging signs against Guus Hiddink’s side, there was a nagging sense of frustration at the final whistle as the winless run was extended to eight games. Smalling wants to put that right by getting 2016 off to a positive start against the Swans and, after two games in three days, he hopes a few days’ recovery will aid the Reds’ quest. "We want to stick at the top end of the table and when you dominate games you need to win them," the defender added. "We’ll take some positives and make sure we come back stronger. "I think there are a good few of us who need some days’ recovery now after this period and, once we’ve done that, we can prepare for Saturday and come back to Old Trafford with the same energy and enthusiasm to keep driving and get that win." www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2015/Dec/chris-smalling-manchester-united-take-positives-chelsea-draw-into-swansea-city-game-new-year-2016.aspx
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Post by CaajScot on Jan 1, 2016 15:49:29 GMT
01/01/2016 09:00, Report by Mark Froggatt
SMALLING REVEALS UNITED'S JANUARY TARGET
Increasingly influential defender Chris Smalling has challenged Manchester United to be within touching distance of the Barclays Premier League summit by the end of January. The Reds slipped down the table to sixth place during a disappointing December in which only two points from a possible 15 were registered by Louis van Gaal’s team. However, given how unpredictable and inconsistent this season has been for all teams, Smalling is optimistic of getting back on track and has set the players a target to achieve within the next four weeks. Speaking to MUTV ahead of Saturday’s match against Swansea City at Old Trafford, Chris said: “It is a crazy league this season and, when you slip up as a team, you look at the scores and see two or three other teams who you’d expect to win slipping up as well. It is so competitive amongst the teams in the league, positions are always changing and there aren’t many points between teams. “You just need to be consistent and we need to get back to that, like we were earlier in the season when we were top. With any consistency in this league, you can shoot up the table and create a gap. “As I say, it wasn’t long ago when we were at the top. The league is that close – if you get three wins on the bounce then you can be within touching distance of the lead. Our aim is to get to the end of January and be within touching distance of the top. From there on, anything is possible.” United are currently without a win in eight matches across all competitions and, as such, are determined to get a positive result against Swansea. Smalling knows it will be far from easy against a side that has recorded three straight 2-1 wins over the Reds in the last two seasons. “They are a team that has progressed, although recently their form hasn’t been great, but over the years they have finished consistently in the top half and they’ve always had players who can hurt you,” he said. “We have found it to be a tough game and it’s often just a single goal that decides the game. “We won’t forget the game earlier in the season and the threats they caused. Obviously they will be looking for the win to get on a run, as we are on Saturday. But with us being the home team, we need to be on the front foot and start the game like we did against Chelsea. We need to prolong that for the whole match because I’m pretty sure most teams cannot handle that for 90 minutes.” www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2016/Jan/Chris-Smalling-sets-January-target-for-United.aspx
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