The local paper has interpreted Kit’s comments today about Matt Smith as, “Fulham will let Smith decide whether to stay at Bristol City”. I’m not sure that’s quite correct and indeed it looks more like trying to get a catchy headline. At the same time it doesn’t seem as though Kit is bending over backwards to bring him home after this weekend. What do you reckon? ”The 6ft 6ins striker has been standing tall at Ashton Gate since he arrived there at the end of November with nine goals in 11 games, as well as winning a converted penalty in the 2-0 win at Scunthorpe on Saturday. Manager Kit Symons intends to have a heart to heart with the man bought from Leeds in the hope of rekindling a scoring partnership with Ross McCormack. The White’s boss said, “I’ve been in contact with Matt and glad that he’s doing so well. I will speak further to Matt and see where his thoughts are and we'll make a decision. He’s our player, and his stock’s rising. We’re very mindful of that” Smith admits he’s had a welcome jolt since donning City red after a horrendous start to his Fulham career. He got shown a different sort of red on his debut after just 17 minutes in the 3-0 defeat to Reading in September. However, everything is ship-shape and Bristol fashion with the forward hoping to hang around. He said: “I'm really enjoying it here and everyone has been fantastic since I signed. The goals have given me confidence and you just want to keep playing. I'm keen to stay but Fulham are my employers so first and foremost I want to do well for them.” Source: http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/spor...ws/fulham-striker-decide-over-bristol-8474214
Kit had a decision to make and I think he got this one wrong. He seemed to want to play either Dembele or Woodrow instead when Smith came back from his suspension after only playing 17 minutes for us. He should have put Dembele out on loan instead. Smith had Championship experience and I think Center-backs would be more worried of his reputation then either of the others. Obviously I don't know if anything happen behind the scenes after his sending-off, but Symons didn't seem to give him another chance.
Don't know much about him, but as he is on our books worth giving him a couple of run outs, one never knows he may prove a real diamond.
I've said before, when we signed him I thought it was a great signing. I still think he's the right man to partner McCormack, but I'm not convinced that Kit agrees. He's a goalscorer as well as a big, physical presence, and (I think) McCormack's best goalscoring spells at Leeds came when he was alongside Smith. I'm not really a fan of Hugo, and Smith's record suggests that he's a better option than Woodrow right now. The only question for me is whether more gametimes now at Smith's expense will help make Woodrow a better option in the near future. Even with that caveat, I'm hoping that we recall Smith and give him his chance.
Either Kit's feeling against Magath/Jol are so strong that translate to him keeping some players out or he is technically poor in certain aspects. Over and over we have been the ball sent to Hugo who has won no headers... Can't keep the ball as not strong enough and not capable of bringing people up front. Hugo's spark is gone and not more obvious than missing on open goal last Saturday. My daughter would have found the target at least! Woodrow is stronger than Hugo and I think agile enough to play with Smith and McCormack in the same team. Secretly I wish someone would come for Hugo to make space for Woodrow, Smith and Dembele.
Funny you should mention someone coming in for Hugo!!! I was saying the same the other day a late window offer for Hugo would be good for us it would get £40000 a week off the books a couple of million in and would let Woodrow, Dembele and Smith flourish!
At least that amount. He may have taken a pay cut when we were relegated but suggestions are that he was originally on £75k per week (which may or may not have included his signing on fee).
Matt Smith's loan to Bristol City is going to be extended by one month. But then that's it - he's got to come back home! "Bristol City will today announce a deal to keep Matt Smith at Ashton Gate for a further month. Robins boss Steve Cotterill and Fulham manager Kit Symons have come to a verbal agreement over the 25-year-old striker, who has scored nine goals and become a big hit with City fans since arriving on an emergency loan at the end of November. Smith's initial loan spell will end after Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round showdown against Premier League West Ham United at Ashton Gate, after which City will allow the deal to lapse for a few days before recalling the former Oldham and Leeds United forward to face Gillingham in next Thursday's Johnstone's Paint Trophy southern area final second-leg tie. But if City successfully defend their 4-2 first-leg advantage to reach the final, Smith will miss out on a big day at Wembley on March 22 owing to Football League regulations. The rules clearly state that no player can turn out for more than two clubs in one season unless they are signed on an emergency 93-day loan. While City are at liberty to extend Smith's stay by a further month, they will be unable to then re-engage the 6ft 5in striker on a standard loan for the remainder of the season. Smith has already played for Championship clubs Leeds and Fulham this season and, once his emergency loan spell at Ashton Gate expires, he will have no option but to return to Craven Cottage." Source: http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Hot-shot-Matt-Smith-extend-stay-Bristol-City/story-25911118-detail/story.html#ixzz3PdnFvPW7
I still think the loan out was a good move for him and Fulham. He could definitely do a great job. I'd be happy to see him back in a white shirt.
But if Kit thought he was worth a place, we wouldn't be loaning him out again. If the idea was to give him game time to get sharp, that's surely been achieved. The fact that we're willing to send him out on loan again when he's played his way into some cracking goalscoring form can only mean that he doesn't feature in Kit's plans, can't it?
If Kit doesn't want Matt Smith then there's a player at Bristol City we could possibly get in a swap deal for Smith. Jay Emmanuel Thomas is a player I've liked and followed for a few seasons now, he seems to have played in all different positions in his career but seems to have found his best position as a striker, or at least in an attacking role. He's a regular scorer for Bristol City, albeit in League 1 but he's played in the Championship before and I think it's only a matter of time before a top Championship side snaps him up.
Less than half an hour into the Bristol City Vs West Ham match and Matt Smith has already had 2 headers cleared off the line! Just shows what a handful he can be in the air, even for these Premier League defenders.
Agree Fab. Thought he was unlucky with those two. Could have done a tad better with the header in the last minute of stoppage time though. Looked fit and confident. If not the quickest, he does move about trying to find space in the opposition third/box and in the second half thought City missed out not getting crosses into him early. They do seem set up to get crosses in, which we’re not, of course. Although another wee plus from today was how he used his height against the likes of Carroll to help defend corners.
'Wednesday 28 January 2015 13:30 The Club can confirm that Matt Smith's loan spell at Bristol City has been extended until 1st March 2015. The striker has scored nine goals in 12 matches since joining the Robins.' This is one I think that will have a few fans puzzled. My idea would have been to bring Smith back as he does have Championship experience and is inform, and loan Dembele go to Bristol City. I'm not sure what is the problem between Symons and Smith, and the same if there is a problem between David and Symons.
On the score sheet again and his team go to Wembley. Unfortunately, as said in an earlier post, Matt misses out. ”Matt Smith continued his fine form against Gillingham to help Bristol City book a place in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Final at Wembley. The on-loan striker now has seven goals in three games against the Gills, after he reacted first to nod home after seeing his initial header from a corner thud against the crossbar. Gillingham equalised through Jermaine McGlashan but couldn’t force any more goals – thanks largely to inspired goalkeeping by City’s Frank Fielding – so the aggregate score after 180 minutes was 5-3 to the Robins. They will now take on Walsall in the Wembley showpiece on Sunday 22nd March, although Smith will not be involved as his loan spell expires earlier in the month, with no opportunity for renewal. But City manager Steve Cotterill is keen for the 25-year-old to join the travelling party on the day, as reward for the major role he played in getting the club to the Final in the first place. “We’ve already had conversations with Fulham,” he said. “They’ll play on the Saturday that weekend, so we’d like Matt to come and be part of our travelling party on the Sunday and experience Wembley with us. It’s an unfortunate situation for Matt, albeit one he’s known about for a while. But I think he deserves to be with us for the Final.” Smith said: “It’s frustrating but I always knew I wouldn’t be able to play in the Final. I’m delighted for the boys, they deserve the trip to Wembley and I’m sure it will be a great day for the club. The offer from the gaffer is great and I’m sure I’ll be cheering the lads on from the stand.”
