I remember way back when so many legends left at once. Obviously Fergie, but also Vidic, Rio, Evra.

In that first LVG season, Smalling was expected to step up. This wasn't a RB position along-side the best anymore, this was him, basically managing a whole load of under 21 and even under 18 defenders, in a back 3, in a completely new system, under a manager different to any this club has bad before, and you know what, after that red card against City, his performances improved vastly.

During the course of the 2015/16 season, he was immense IMO. He won countless challenges/headers, was actually really good at bringing the ball out from the back, and looked like a physical giant (when going to watch live), basically looked like he was maturing into the player we all thought he could be.

Now, up until the Chelsea game this season, I thought he was a solid starter along-side Bailly, however after the 4-0 defeat, he was dropped (I think) by the manager and it seems as though ever since we lost 4-0 to Chelsea, he has been getting so much criticism from fans.

I'm not sure what else has really caused us to 180 so much on this player, maybe besides the Chelsea game, can we have more context as to why people suddenly view him incapable of being our starting CB? What other reasons are there for this?

I get the feeling people think he has been out for ages because of not performing, but hasn't he been having pains in training? or something like that? Are we not simply seeing our CB returning to the team slowly, or do you now think Rojo/Jones are ahead of him?

Thanks :)