Tommy Smith - Gazumped by Pompey - Thread

[Deathy]

You might not be wrong; Wolves we're interested, but apparently Smith wants to stay South - and we don't need a third Tommy Smith thread.

[Ian Royal]

Well if there is one thing that's certain it's that Wolves won't be making a bid of £1.8m.

Dodg doesn't know his arse from his elbow.

[leon]

Well if there is one thing that's certain it's that Wolves won't be making a bid of £1.8m.

Dodg doesn't know his arse from his elbow.

Speaks Mr ITK

[Royal Rother]

He's never made claim to be.

[Ian Royal]

I once passed on a rumour that doesn't appear to have been true... that's ITK for HNA isn't it?

[leon]

I once passed on a rumour that doesn't appear to have been true... that's ITK for HNA isn't it?

fair point

[JoeyJoeJoeJnrShabadoo]

According to SDRs media chums Wolves are about to bid £1.8million for Smith to ease their striker injury list.

Mick McCarthy is also keen as Smith is versatile and can play in a number of positions.

Emmm makes it unlikely that Russo will accept £1.2million from RFC.

Although Wolverhampton is not up North the West Midlands is not exactly on Smith's doorstep.

Will the Madman match their bid?

That is the Question.

FMD anyone who says "chums" needs a good belting, followed by a cup of "harden the oxf*rd up"

[Deathy]

[Seal]

I am the only one who can't quite see how a small, support striker who's played a lot of football out wide over the past few years is not the answer to our fundamental problem of not having a striker who can hold up the ball?

I think he'd be great coming in from the right, but not the answer as the central striker in a 4-5-1.

Really don't see this guy as the answer to all our problems like a lot of people seem to. Unless the plan is to plan N Hunt in the middle and Smith + one of the youth boys out wide.

[West Stand Man]

Unless the plan is to plan N Hunt in the middle and Smith + one of the youth boys out wide.

You've answered your own point. Smith isn't a central target man. I think we are largely agreed on that. We may or may not need a central striker (one rather hopes that at least one of the current crop can benefit from better service), but let's not confuse Smith with that person. We certainly do need a Smith type of midfielder, able to link up defence and attack and set up chances.

[Vision]

I am the only one who can't quite see how a small, support striker who's played a lot of football out wide over the past few years is not the answer to our fundamental problem of not having a striker who can hold up the ball?

I think he'd be great coming in from the right, but not the answer as the central striker in a 4-5-1.

Really don't see this guy as the answer to all our problems like a lot of people seem to. Unless the plan is to plan N Hunt in the middle and Smith + one of the youth boys out wide.

I know what you're saying but I'd say the issue isn't just about getting that striker in.

Judging by Saturday it would seem its not a 4-3-3 we play as much as a 4-3- then 2 blokes standing on a touchline and one poor bugger being asked to come short to link play, make lateral movements in behind a defence and also on the off chance that the blokes on the touchline do get the ball into the box, get on the end of it.... I'm not sure theres anyone within our budget that could perform the role Shane Long appeared to be given on Saturday. Even if he plays as one of the 2 wide players it would certainly help having someone familiar with the system Rodgers wants to play because at present i think Kebe, Church and Robson-Kanu are still coming to terms with it.

[CMRoyal]

I am the only one who can't quite see how a small, support striker who's played a lot of football out wide over the past few years is not the answer to our fundamental problem of not having a striker who can hold up the ball?

I think he'd be great coming in from the right, but not the answer as the central striker in a 4-5-1.

Really don't see this guy as the answer to all our problems like a lot of people seem to. Unless the plan is to plan N Hunt in the middle and Smith + one of the youth boys out wide.

I assumed BR feels that Kebe and Henry/HRK are not good enough to be first choice, so he's going to bring in Smudger as the left prong of the attacking three. He still wants a link man in addition to that (an Adebola type through the middle, or Hunt if needs be), which would leave Long to compete with Church (and Henry/HRK) for the right-prong attack position. That's what I thought he was getting at post-Forest.

[YateleyRoyal]

Watford considering a new offer from an unamed club according to SSN

[Seal]

I am the only one who can't quite see how a small, support striker who's played a lot of football out wide over the past few years is not the answer to our fundamental problem of not having a striker who can hold up the ball?

I think he'd be great coming in from the right, but not the answer as the central striker in a 4-5-1.

Really don't see this guy as the answer to all our problems like a lot of people seem to. Unless the plan is to plan N Hunt in the middle and Smith + one of the youth boys out wide.

I assumed BR feels that Kebe and Henry/HRK are not good enough to be first choice, so he's going to bring in Smudger as the left prong of the attacking three. He still wants a link man in addition to that (an Adebola type through the middle, or Hunt if needs be), which would leave Long to compete with Church (and Henry/HRK) for the right-prong attack position. That's what I thought he was getting at post-Forest.

That all makes sense.

Still unconvinced that Hunt would be the man for that job. And concerned about what would happen if he got injured (which lets face it, he does do with some consistency).

[Dick Habbin's hairdo]

The answer lies (lays) in Smith - Bignall - Church

You read it here first.

[Hoop Blah]

It makes sense apart from the playing Smith on the left bit!

I looked back over a few Watford match reports after Royalee said he'd played a lot on the left for Rodgers last season. I found about two games, the rest he played on the right or downt he middle (either as the furthest man forward or playing off Priskin, Rasiak or Hoskins as a second forward).

I doubt whether Rodgers see's him as coming in to fill just one position at the moment. My guess is that he wants him in because he knows he can play two or three positions and play them well whilst chipping in with a decent number of goals from any of them. My intial thought was that he would slot in on the right and we'd get another centre forward in to play the lone forward role. I'm not so confident that will happen now though.

[Focher]

i always worry about people who can play several positions. Basically it means they are pretty average at all of them.

[Victor Meldrew]

I am the only one who can't quite see how a small, support striker who's played a lot of football out wide over the past few years is not the answer to our fundamental problem of not having a striker who can hold up the ball?

I think he'd be great coming in from the right, but not the answer as the central striker in a 4-5-1.

Really don't see this guy as the answer to all our problems like a lot of people seem to. Unless the plan is to plan N Hunt in the middle and Smith + one of the youth boys out wide.

I know what you're saying but I'd say the issue isn't just about getting that striker in.

Judging by Saturday it would seem its not a 4-3-3 we play as much as a 4-3- then 2 blokes standing on a touchline and one poor bugger being asked to come short to link play, make lateral movements in behind a defence and also on the off chance that the blokes on the touchline do get the ball into the box, get on the end of it.... I'm not sure theres anyone within our budget that could perform the role Shane Long appeared to be given on Saturday. Even if he plays as one of the 2 wide players it would certainly help having someone familiar with the system Rodgers wants to play because at present i think Kebe, Church and Robson-Kanu are still coming to terms with it.

I think with Smith we would be getting much more than a player hogging the touchline.
He might not have Kebe's pace but in all other aspects of the game he is streets ahead whether that be in terms of goal-scoring,accuracy of passing,competitiveness or just awareness of what is happening on the pitch.
I see him as a player in addition to a central striker and not as a central striker option.
On the other wing it's time for H-K or Henry to show what they can do.
The role of Church on Saturday was IMHO pointless-a non-tackling central striker playing out wide and expected to track the full-back.
I don't disagree with your view on Long-I just think he is a player without a real position-I once thought that he could play wide right but his crossing and awareness aren't up to the job but he could track back better than any of our current wide players.
Cue hat-trick for Shane and he then keeps his place for the next 20 games.

[Royalwaster]

I think Shane Long's place is super-sub, always plays best in that role like in first game vs Forest.

[Vision]

I am the only one who can't quite see how a small, support striker who's played a lot of football out wide over the past few years is not the answer to our fundamental problem of not having a striker who can hold up the ball?

I think he'd be great coming in from the right, but not the answer as the central striker in a 4-5-1.

Really don't see this guy as the answer to all our problems like a lot of people seem to. Unless the plan is to plan N Hunt in the middle and Smith + one of the youth boys out wide.

I know what you're saying but I'd say the issue isn't just about getting that striker in.

Judging by Saturday it would seem its not a 4-3-3 we play as much as a 4-3- then 2 blokes standing on a touchline and one poor bugger being asked to come short to link play, make lateral movements in behind a defence and also on the off chance that the blokes on the touchline do get the ball into the box, get on the end of it.... I'm not sure theres anyone within our budget that could perform the role Shane Long appeared to be given on Saturday. Even if he plays as one of the 2 wide players it would certainly help having someone familiar with the system Rodgers wants to play because at present i think Kebe, Church and Robson-Kanu are still coming to terms with it.

I think with Smith we would be getting much more than a player hogging the touchline.
He might not have Kebe's pace but in all other aspects of the game he is streets ahead whether that be in terms of goal-scoring,accuracy of passing,competitiveness or just awareness of what is happening on the pitch.
I see him as a player in addition to a central striker and not as a central striker option.
On the other wing it's time for H-K or Henry to show what they can do.
The role of Church on Saturday was IMHO pointless-a non-tackling central striker playing out wide and expected to track the full-back.
I don't disagree with your view on Long-I just think he is a player without a real position-I once thought that he could play wide right but his crossing and awareness aren't up to the job but he could track back better than any of our current wide players.
Cue hat-trick for Shane and he then keeps his place for the next 20 games.

That's my point. The players playing as the wide support to the main striker don't seem to know what their role actually is and are still playing as orthodox wingers (on the wrong sides). Smith with experience of Rodgers and the system will know how to operate it and the others will benefit from his experince of it..

I honestly saw a lot ot be encouraged by in Long's performance on Saturday and as a sub against Forest. More than anything he needs some support up there. Despite being completely isolated at times both Taylor and Collocini knew they'd been in a game come the final whistle.