OK, I've been a bit disappointed with this guy so far. However, I listened to Cotterill's opinion of him and he reckons he's just what we want. He said Smith hasn't played for a very long time and it will take a while to get a 16stone player really match sharp and fit. If Cotterill says Smith can 'play' then I believe him. Cotterill's done brilliantly, far beyond my hopes and I'm glad to be proved wrong. Let's give Matt Smith a chance and see where he is in January and not judge after 1 game. Like some idiot did with an unfit Wade Elliott.
It will be a lot harder for Matt Smith to settle in and find form than it did for Wade Elliott. Smith comes in at a time where goals aren't a problem and the 2 in front of him are on form and are our first team starters. Elliott came in when we had a few injures in the middle and we needed someone with experience to help the team. So he had the chance to improve by playing each week. I feel Smith will only get a handful of starts and will have to show us what he's made of with sub appearances, which apparently he is no good from. I hope he can find some form but he'll find it hard to push Agard or Wilbraham out of the team so long as they aren't injured or needing rest.
My understanding is, he is a not a prolific goal scorer but a creator of chances for others, a ramrod who takes on central defenders and beats bloody hell out of them but does frequently score when the odds are down. Is this a fair description?
Seen him twice, I don't like judging players too early but when Wilbraham came on he did more in 5 minutes then he did in 70+.
Tbh I thought he done ok on Saturday. He got on the end of a few balls and gave their defenders something to think about. Nothing spectacular but I wouldn't be writing him off just yet.
As said in another post,wilbs is head and shoulders above smith on what i saw on Saturday. Agree with you wilbs did more in the game,he had more purpose.
I agree to. Smith had a couple of chances that I would have expected him to bury on Saturday- Wilbs looked a different class when he came on- The game had been going nowhere until then- Having 3 games in 6 days, I can see why Wilbs might have been rested but the game changed when he came on- Mind, I still reckon that what really changed the game was Crawley bringing on Harrold. It really would the crowd up and seemed to get us playing!
'I agree with every word' - You Dorset boys know your stuff. 'He's only played about 70 mins?' - Plank !
Cheers To be serious - the guy needs a few games to bring up his fitness level. I did notice that when we scored Saturday he sprinted down the touchline and was in the pile of players on top of Ayling - so like his attitude
'He's only played about 70 mins?' - Plank Ok, 68 mins in the league and 69 in the JPT, at least thats about 50 mins longer than it took you to declare Wade Elliot as shocking rubbish...
He clearly needs game time. And clearly SC and Burt must believe that he will have something that will benefit BCFC when he is match fit.
