Smith - enough is enough

[philtalkin]

When I saw 'Smith - enough is enough'. I thought it was in support of our GK, as in a call for our fans to get off his back, enough is enough!

How wrong I was!

Can't believe the amount of abuse he gets from his own fans. In the West family today, 4 or 5 people verbally abusing the poor guy. Sometimes for no rational reason (telling him to come off his line when he was perfectly correct not to)...

Support the team! Assombalonga was dreadful today, nobody yelled abuse at him when he failed to control the ball. (for the tenth time)!

 

[dan_mays]

How can this guy get so much abuse he has been fantastic recently, everyone has a bad game from time to time can't be helped. We would of been out of the Orient tie already if it wasn't for Smith.

Maybe fans should start getting behind him and the team, we need to rally round whilst we are so short of numbers on the pitch

 

[southend-mad.94]

Everyone needs to get off his back! Now I wasn't at the game but I did hear he had a poor game, but everyone is too quick to start abusing him again. We always knew he didn't like to come off his line for crosses etc and today with Northamptons long throws he had to and apparently didn't do well! So people are going to slate him for something he and we know he isn't comfortable doing anyway. We also know his kicking has to improve as well but I hate fans that get on our own players back because all you lot should just go stand in the away end if you do because you are making the situation worse! Also we barely have a solid defence out there in front of him so he is going to be exposed a lot more so he isn't going to be able to keep teams out for long.

 

[wiggy]

Now I am always willing to give people the benefit of the doubt, but enough is enough. 9 guys gave their all today, but
Paul Smith has cost us again today, like he did on tuesday.
How can a big keeper be so timid? He should be commanding the 6 yard box, if not the penalty area. Yes, he is a good shot stopper, but we have conceded so many 'soft' goals since he has been here, it is beyond a joke. Surely it must be worth giving Bentley a go. At least he looked like he wasn't scared to come off his line and inspired a little confidence, which is sadly lacking with Smith. Not to mention his distribution.
Post written in the heat of the moment after an absolutely gutting defeat...

...it was always gonna come back to haunt us as he is just useless at commanding his box. Will win us games with his shot stopping and lose us games as soon as the oppositions manager knows what dracula is like in the air. Championship keeper on the deck, Wakering standard for crosses......you get what you pay for!

 

[wiggy]

How can this guy get so much abuse he has been fantastic recently, everyone has a bad game from time to time can't be helped. We would of been out of the Orient tie already if it wasn't for Smith.

Maybe fans should start getting behind him and the team, we need to rally round whilst we are so short of numbers on the pitch

...open your eyes, he has been fantastic as his big weakness has not been exposed recently....i'm afraid he is not 3/4 a good keeper, just half of one, not good enough overall for the professional game.

 

[Ricey]

...it was always gonna come back to haunt us as he is just useless at commanding his box. Will win us games with his shot stopping and lose us games as soon as the oppositions manager knows what dracula is like in the air. Championship keeper on the deck, Wakering standard for crosses......you get what you pay for!

Exactly! People seem to forget we are league two, if Paul Smith was good at everything lets face it he wouldn't be playing for us. People need a bit of a reality check we are Southend United in league two not Manchester United at the top of the premiership! We didn't sign the best keeper in the world at the start of the season we signed Paul Smith a decent keeper with championship experience. I have seen far worse keepers in my time as a Southend fan. Would you much rather Mark Prudhoe or Neville Southall in goal for us? No because I bet the people moaning don't even remember those days or those keepers. Stop getting on Smiths back and support him.

 

[Blues 'n twos]

Doesn't the fact that there has been so much debate on this subject, tell you that there must be something wrong?

Absolutely........ too many people looking for a scapegoat after each loss :nope:

 

[eastling]

I have seen far worse keepers in my time as a Southend fan. Would you much rather Mark Prudhoe or Neville Southall in goal for us? .

Exactly - shudder at the thought of those two in their SUFC vintage in goal now or Emberson for that matter.

 

[Neil 24]

Wiggy not good enough for the pro game as much as i respect your opinion your talkin utter toss yet again

 

[Firestorm]

Exactly - shudder at the thought of those two in their SUFC vintage in goal now or Emberson for that matter.

Or Keeley, Steele, Capleton

 

[Crabby Shrimper]

The fans don't help Smith by constantly getting on his case. They're only human at the end of the day and it's bound to dent confidence. Smith was class against Orient and was class for a few games before that. His problem is his consistency. But yes, Bentley to start next game for me, even if it's just to show Smith that he needs to up his game if he wants to play and that he is not an automatic starter.

In spite of his major error in the ESC game?

 

[Harry Bullocks]

Cheer up, we'll move onto Spicer, Bilel, Straker...soonish....must be their turn surely....or I dare you to slack off the God that is Freddie with such intensity!!

 

[wiggy]

Wiggy not good enough for the pro game as much as i respect your opinion your talkin utter toss yet again

....i said his aerial ability and command is not good enough for this league. Time and time again we have struggled as balls have come across the box with him in goal. As i have said before, Buffon below head height, Buffoon above it!

 

[Csboy]

Exactly! People seem to forget we are league two, if Paul Smith was good at everything lets face it he wouldn't be playing for us. People need a bit of a reality check we are Southend United in league two not Manchester United at the top of the premiership! We didn't sign the best keeper in the world at the start of the season we signed Paul Smith a decent keeper with championship experience. I have seen far worse keepers in my time as a Southend fan. Would you much rather Mark Prudhoe or Neville Southall in goal for us? No because I bet the people moaning don't even remember those days or those keepers. Stop getting on Smiths back and support him.

Great post yes we are Southend United not Manchester Untied we are in League 2 the players who play for us are never going to be World Beaters. Paul Smith is a decent keeper for League 2 and we are lucky to have him. Talk of dropping him is just crazy.

 

[Neil 24]

Csboy a man who talks sense happy days

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Csboy a man who talks sense happy days

because it's what you want to hear.

We are in L2 and we could do far better than Smith. No idea why Sturrock plumped for him

 

[united we stand]

not sure if anyone else heard Sturrocks onterview, I had lots of background noise so may have misheard but I got the impression that he was not happy with Smith, said he should have come for the long throw but his confidence is shot at the moment and that is affecting his decision making --- or something like that

 

[bigmolt]

because it's what you want to hear.

We are in L2 and we could do far better than Smith. No idea why Sturrock plumped for him

We have one far better that sits on the bentch every week.

 

[McNasty]

not sure if anyone else heard Sturrocks onterview, I had lots of background noise so may have misheard but I got the impression that he was not happy with Smith, said he should have come for the long throw but his confidence is shot at the moment and that is affecting his decision making --- or something like that

I find it difficult to understand what he says.

 

[Ayrshire Blue]

He has improved massively over the last month or so but I felt he could and should have done better with the winner today.