Confounded by his stupidity in a crucial top flight clash, Twitter reacted with all sorts of Chris Smalling red card jokes – and we’ve collected the best from Manchester City’s 1-0 win against a United side reduced to 10 men at the Etihad on Sunday.
The Manchester United defender managed to stay on the field for just 39 minutes of the derby and was labelled “stupid” by manager Louis van Gaal after receiving 2 yellow cards for relatively needless fouls.
The initial booking came as the young England international prevented City goalkeeper Joe Hart from taking a drop kick, while the second was awarded as a consequence of his disastrously late tackle on James Milner not long after.
Dismayed by what they had just seen, many fans whipped out their best Chris Smalling red card jokes to poke fun at the player’s apparent lack of intelligence following his dismissal.
Is Smalling a footballer or did he go to the wrong address on trials day, thinking he was auditioning as the back end of a donkey?
— ManUnitedWorld (@ManUnitedWorld) November 2, 2014
I want to know Smalling's IQ score. Probably negative.
— FG (@FunnyGooner) November 2, 2014
Terrible news for United fans as they're reminded that Chris Smalling is still at their club.
— SundayLeagueHipster (@HipsterManager) November 2, 2014
0 – Chris Smalling has the same number of brain cells as he made clean tackles this afternoon. Slide.
— OptaJoke (@OptaJoke) November 2, 2014
Strange thing is – no kidding – coaching staff at #MUFC reckon Chris Smalling has more "football intelligence" than Phil Jones
— Daniel Taylor (@DTguardian) November 2, 2014
Only possible explanation is that Chris Smalling forgot to Sky+ 'Songs of Praise'
— Sam Wallace (@SamWallaceIndy) November 2, 2014
The face Chris Smalling will see at half time pic.twitter.com/RBkTlyvZJF
— The True Geordie (@TrueGeordieNUFC) November 2, 2014
That was a suicide tackle by Chris Smalling pic.twitter.com/KHdqPkgHGc
— Footy Humour (@FootyHumour) November 2, 2014
MIchael Oliver's report to the league will have "Smalling booked for brainlessness" twice.
— Shaka Hislop (@ShakaHislop) November 2, 2014
Chris Smalling's thoughts as he made that tackle. pic.twitter.com/bp7puBIJK6
— Footy Humour (@FootyHumour) November 2, 2014
Louis van Gaal and Chris Smalling at half time. http://t.co/7tMX4GXKeL
— Football Vines (@Vine_Football) November 2, 2014
A Cone (Retweet) | Chris Smalling (Fav) pic.twitter.com/3fDRVAAsKo
— Footy Humour (@FootyHumour) November 2, 2014
Hard to believe that not so long ago Chris Smalling was playing for Maidstone. Actually no, no it's not pic.twitter.com/qfcT8XbBLs
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) November 2, 2014
Bae: Come over
Smalling: Nah, I'm playing in the Manchester Derby
Bae: But I'm home alone
Smalling: pic.twitter.com/TlMyeemrZu
— SirAlexWay.Com (@SirAlexWay) November 2, 2014
Do you want Smalling, @tonyfernandes?
— Aysha Ridzuan (@ayshardzn) November 2, 2014
Predictably, Chris Smalling's Wikipedia page was updated… pic.twitter.com/vsmrzjD32X
— Coral (@Coral) November 2, 2014
SUMMARY: Chris Smalling's Manchester Derby performance in one vine.
https://t.co/YQEBhAB08h
— BBC Sporf (@BBCSporf) November 2, 2014