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Smith Vs Evans

Smith Vs Evans

I honestly think Hecky wanted Smith to be an impact sub for us. Come on for last 30 minutes and be a physical presence in both areas if needed.

As well as bringing in someone else like Gudjohnsen, Heggebo, McBurnie, Cannon etc. And that failure has ultimately cost us points.

However, as much as I don't think Smith is good enough to be a regular starter in the Championship, he is a miles better option than Evans would have been. Evans had failed to score a goal for us in over 2 years!
 
SF said:
He's a disruptive, annoyance in the air, not good, can't direct a header to save his life. At least he's bagged a few though.
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I disagree. It’s very hard to direct a header if you have a defender all over you, behind you, whilst you’re on the stretch. Often the role of a target man is to just get first contact, then it’s on everyone else to pick up the seconds.

Plus, he directed his header pretty well on Friday night, which led to our goal.
 
OB1 said:
That being said, some heavy revisionism going on with Ched last year. He was literally making up the numbers but not surprising our fanbase look back wistfully. Passion merchant at the end
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I'd argue that for 3 of the 5 seasons Evans played for us, he was basically just making up the numbers. It's literally just because he was passionate that people like him, just like you say. Outside of his good season and a half; the man ran like the tin man and was often nowhere near the ball to be able to impact play. The only time he'd be useful was from set pieces.
 
One thing I will say, I swear our fans just don't like target men. When was the last time that we had a target man that was widely liked?
 
Bodney Rewes said:
One thing I will say, I swear our fans just don't like target men. When was the last time that we had a target man that was widely liked?
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It’s because it’s very easy to label someone a Donkey if they don’t have any pace.

At first, when folk wanted to sound legitimate, they started saying Smudge doesn’t win enough in the air. A quick look at the stats showed that was absolute nonsense, and that he’s very effective in that aspect.

So now people have just resorted to calling him a Donkey.
 
Doyler said:
I disagree. It’s very hard to direct a header if you have a defender all over you, behind you, whilst you’re on the stretch. Often the role of a target man is to just get first contact, then it’s on everyone else to pick up the seconds.

Plus, he directed his header pretty well on Friday night, which led to our goal.
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It's not easy no, but that's what differentiates the good from the average ones, and Smith is average at best. As an all-round player he's not a patch on pre-spinal injury Evans, who is the recent yardstick, and whenever he plays we turn into an eyesore to watch.

You obviously have a hard on for old school targetmen, and constantly defend 'Smudge' to the hilt, but I think you're in a small minority of people who think he's a good starting option at this level.
 
There is no way Smith was signed with the intention of starting much. Its Milly's ban, Jebbison's injuries and the failure to sign another option that have meant he has quite often.

He's miles better than Ched was in his last couple of seasons. Mental comparison.
 
Smith has probably played a lot more than was intended but with Keane and Jebbison injured plus Osmajic’s ban he’s been the only one available and to his credit has kept himself fit. He’s not an out and out goal scorer as his record suggests but has more to his game and you can’t fault his effort. I’d have replaced him with Jebbison at half time as he has more pace but when he, Jebbo did come on, he was responsible for their winning goal by not following Gudjohnsen, who he was marking. One of Smith’s advantages is his height in both penalty areas.
 
NG White said:
There is no way Smith was signed with the intention of starting much. Its Milly's ban, Jebbison's injuries and the failure to sign another option that have meant he has quite often.

He's miles better than Ched was in his last couple of seasons. Mental comparison.
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Yeah, the OP is bollocks, but Smith isn't half the player of pre-injury Ched. Being tall and winning largely aimless flick-ons, like Stockley, just isn't enough for me.

Your first paragraph is all true, but still doesn't mean we have to gloss over the fact that he's not a particularly good player at this level (although he's had a few decent performances), and it also doesn't mean we can't be annoyed he's having to play 90+ minutes frequently.

More than happy to bring him off the bench every week, but as ever, the owners have fucked over another manager with their bare minimum recruitment.
 
My only proper criticism of Smith is his first touch. What you do want from a target man is the ability to hold up the ball and bring players into play.

We do get up the pitch and win more second balls than we've done in a long time when we do go long as he's either winning the header or making it difficult for the defender not to get an easy clean header out. But we struggle playing it into his feet as his first touch is awful. I'd have him working on nothing but first touch in training because if he can improve that, it would make him extremely useful.

That still probably won't win over some people as he's not this amazing big man like McBurnie (who apparently wasn't prolific enough) but that's all that's needed for me and what I'd want from a target man to be a very useful squad option. As well as chipping in with some goals like he has been doing.
 
"My only proper criticism of Smith is his first touch. "


Sadly we have a few this could be aimed at, probably due to the level we shop at!
 
Walton said:
"My only proper criticism of Smith is his first touch. "


Sadly we have a few this could be aimed at, probably due to the level we shop at!
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Only really him and a McCann whose first touch I think often let's them down. Relatively speaking to the level we're at of course and the positions they're in.
 
SF said:
It's not easy no, but that's what differentiates the good from the average ones, and Smith is average at best. As an all-round player he's not a patch on pre-spinal injury Evans, who is the recent yardstick, and whenever he plays we turn into an eyesore to watch.

You obviously have a hard on for old school targetmen, and constantly defend 'Smudge' to the hilt, but I think you're in a small minority of people who think he's a good starting option at this level.
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Where have I said this? Because my view is the opposite - that he serves a purpose, but wouldn’t be a regular starter for any team with genuine Top 6 ambitions.

I also don’t have a hard on for old school targetmen, but when you have Lindsay and Storey in your back three, it’s wise to have someone up top who can deal with a long ball.

I’ll defend anyone subject to tinpot straw man analysis, not just old school targetmen.
 
Really don't rate Smith if I'm honest, how many times he gives the ball away is unreal. He was being carried on Friday night.
 
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