9 players who need to repair their stock in the 2018/19 Premier League season

#4 Chris Smalling (Manchester United)

Chris Smalling

Chris Smalling was reportedly on his way out of Manchester United in July. With just a week left in the transfer window, he was about to seal a move to Wolves, the newly promoted Championship conquerors. Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho public pursuit of a new centre-back only added more grist to that rumour mill. But as the move did not materialize the dominos stayed intact and Smalling remains a United player.

Smalling joined United from Fulham in 2010 and has played 289 times for Manchester United. He has won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, EFL Cup, and the Europa League during his 8-year spell at Old Trafford.

The 28-year-old, who did not make the cut for England at the World Cup, had an impressive 46 appearances for the Red Devils last time. A feat he gives his wife full credit for. His partner Sam, a former model, implored him to become a vegan. Taking up vegetarianism as a lifestyle choice the defender enjoyed his most successful season in terms of avoiding injuries.

Unfortunately, all the herbs and shrubs in the World cannot teach a person to pass a ball and that is Smalling’s anathema. As advertised by England coach Gareth Southgate, Smalling lacks composure and finesse on the football. This would not have been a problem with his long reach and quick turn of pace, except it is not 2012. It is 2018 and the world of football has undergone a sea change. As brutal as it sounds, the fact is that Smalling seems a misfit at United, especially when they are expected to rebuild their in-house brand of attacking flair.

But then again, after the Bailly-Lindelof horror-show at the Amex, there might still be some rope left for Smalling to munch on. He was decent against Spurs apart from a second-half blooper against a trailblazing Lucas Moura.