It's almost a year since Louis van Gaal branded Chris Smalling 'stupid' but he's turned things around to become a fixture in the team.
Chris Smalling taking stupidity to new heights with that red card.... If Smalling doesn’t have stitches in his eyebrow the next time I see him, I’ll be disappointed..... That should be Chris Smalling’s United career over.
It’s almost a year since tweets like those flooded the internet.
Smalling had just been sent off against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in a manner that even Louis van Gaal, who doesn’t like criticising individuals in public, couldn’t defend.
“In the derby you have to be careful,” said the Dutchman.
“The second yellow card was stupid. You cannot do what he has done with the second yellow card. That is not very smart. What can I say?”
It was the word ‘stupid’ that inevitably made the headlines.
It also served to emphasise a common view that while Smalling had the right physical attributes he perhaps lacked the intelligence of a top-class centre-back.
But fast-forward 12 months and things are so different that this week Smalling was talked about as a possible England captain in Wayne Rooney’s absence.
Chris Smalling's derby red card in pictures
Not so long ago that kind of talk would have had most football fans doubled up with laughter. Instead, that was reserved for the player who will wear the armband against Estonia at Wembley, Gary Cahill.
The Chelsea defender’s questionable form this season has only highlighted how well Smalling has played.
Into his sixth season at Old Trafford he has finally won over the majority of fans.
When Roy Keane said he ‘wasn’t convinced’ by the 25-year-old earlier this season many supporters jumped to his defence.
Chris Smalling's season in numbers
Rio Ferdinand, who has seen his transition from Bambi on ice to rampaging bull up close, is more positive.
“This is a massive season for him," he said. "He just wants to defend, take players out the way, pushing players out of the way.
“It seems like he’s got it between his teeth, ‘I want to be the number one centre half at this club’. “The form he’s started this season in it seems like he’s gone about it in the right way.”
Last November wasn’t the first time that some fans were ready to call time on Smalling’s United career.
But his rehabilitation shows what is possible when young players are given time to develop.
Van Gaal said he first noticed it towards the end of last season when he named Smalling captain for United’s draw with Arsenal in May.
“I have watched and observed Chris Smalling,” said the Dutchman.
“I shall name a captain as a human being, not only a player who passes from A to B but how you deal with your players. I believe he has been a leader of our defence.”
It’s also no coincidence that he has found his best form during his longest run in the first team.
He has started each of United’s 13 games at centre-back this season – both his longest run in the team and his longest run in his preferred position.
It might have been different had Phil Jones not been injured during pre-season.
After being overlooked for each of United’s pre-season tour games in the United States, Smalling was thrown into the starting XI against Tottenham.
After an accomplished performance during which he kept Harry Kane in his back pocket, he hasn’t looked back.
His challenge now is to stay fit and hope that any one of the 20 different injuries his had since signing from Fulham in 2010 don’t resurface.
“The red card was disappointing but I rarely get yellows so hopefully it will never happen again,” said Smalling in the aftermath of last season’s derby defeat.
“It was very out of character for me and I just have to move on.” He has moved onwards and upwards.
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