Comments on: Smalling enjoying first-team run

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:36:03 +0000

I always find it interesting just how spectators can pick up how much effort a player’s putting in from a performance. He looked good to me against Basel and his development has been superb since we signed him. I’d say there’s a good chance that he’ll play against Roma given that we play Hull (on the Monday), Roma on the Thursday and then go to Manchester City, which will be a very tough game.

Giving youth players their head is always a difficult one. Only Coleman really went for it and look where those players are now. Green, Leacock, Rehman and Buari are hardly pulling up any trees.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:36:34 +0000

Ha ha, this thread gives the impression that I’m arguing with myself. While I do that regularly (at home and at work), Dan’s contributions have brightened up my day and I do hope he continues to comment.

By: Lighthouse

Lighthouse — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:54:56 +0000

I tend to side with Dan here. I think Dan is being overly critical when he says that Smalling is a few years away from being a Prem player. Ok a few years from being an in form Brede. But few are,including Brede. I think Smalling is improving with every game and looks a fine back up. Baird is clearly a good back up for Hughes.

You both make good points but Dan I think makes the better ones.

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Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:54:09 +0000

[...] Smalling enjoying first-team run — HammyEnd.com [...]

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:20:21 +0000

Interesting thoughts there Dan. I’d say that Smalling’s well ahead of say Zat Knight for his age in terms of development and first-team football’s the only place where he’ll improve (the sedate nature of reserve games makes it very difficult to know how players will cope when playing for the first team).

I should clarify I wasn’t suggesting that he should step into the team for Hughes or Hangeland but with Baird and him as back-up the defensive situation looks a lot more promising than it did. If Hangeland were to leave – and hopefully this morning’s reports make that unlikely – then I’d be putting Baird in unless/until we could attract a top quality replacement.

The point is that Smalling’s made a very impressive start (personally thought he was good in Sofia and solid against Basel) and hopefully some European games and maybe the FA Cup or the odd league game will give him a further taste of first team football.