Breaking News Smith Signs!

[Greenelk]

Just about to leave Harold Hill to make our way down to the Hall, and very pleased with that news.

Wiggy won't be on yet as she'll be scouring the net for a mistake Smith once made.

Let's hope Belford has much less to do today then during the week though!

 

[shallowshrimper]

Just like the proverbial no.7 bus, no signings for weeks and then 3 on the morning of the first game. Still like everyone else on here I knew all would be ok in the end. Off now to our first "must win" match of the season.

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Worth the wait...Well done Sturrock.

 

[Tampa Blue]

Great signing , I remember him at Brentford - well done to the Management Team.

 

[southend4eva]

Seems just the signing PS was saying he was looking for. I'm sure all parties would have loved to have got this sorted earlier, but well worth the wait.

 

[bigmolt]

Come onnnn, someone say something negative!:winking:

its not a proper thread until that happens :smile:

Well I'm not sure, after all he is nearly 34 so his reflex wont be to good,and at 6'4" he will be struggling to get down to low shots!! :winking:

 

[Rob Noxious]

Great news! Remember seeing him play for Saints and thinking that he might play for England ... however, he's now done better for himself than that.

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

Blimey, seems to have come totally out the blue this one not heard anyone mention him as a possible signing. Experienced at higher level, could be a beast of a signing!

 

[meerkat54]

Good keeper, we are going to need him i think, as the opening games are going to shape our season !

 

[canveyshrimper]

Thought I'd read this thread before today's match thread.

 

[DTS]

I have seen Paul Smith a few times live and this is an immense signing for us I think. Big, solid, reliable great player at this level well worth the wait.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Quite right. I mean we would obviously wait until 24hrs before the season starts, to sign three players. After not signing anyone for 5 weeks. Perfectly timed approach.

Maybe not on the other two (although one of those is a month loan signing, so why would we want to have signed him two months ago?) but this signing is all about the timing.

There were a surplus of keepers out there because there are more keepers out there with championship experience than there are first choice keepers slots in the championship. Most sorted themselves out but if we didn't reach, a keeper way better than Morris and better than Belford would fall to us. We had to wait until their options had all gone and we could then pick up our keeper. Nobody any good would commit to us whilst clubs higher up were still looking. We had to bide our time and not panic and wait for an out of contract keeper to panic and accept the security of a first team spot and a 2 year deal.

Frankly the moaning on here was pathetic.

Thank God we didn't panic and try and permanently re-sign a Morris or a Belford.

I have seen Paul Smith a few times live and this is an immense signing for us I think. Big, solid, reliable great player at this level well worth the wait.

After your assassination of the other Smith (who I thought we'd signed), am pleased to hear your seal of approval. I remember him at Brentford and he was a good keeper.

 

[rlb999]

Very happy with this signing, if bemused at how it's possible.

 

[Angell Delight]

Top signing. Shocked.

 

[Lincoln Shrimp]

Not as delighted as everyone else with this signing. Admittedly I've only seen him in action live a couple of times. But in the game at the City ground back in about 2007 he looked very very unsure on crosses and dropped several. I'd rather forget the 4-1 drubbing Forest gave us that night after Mark Gower had put us ahead with a glorious finish. Our own Steve Collis was culpable for two of those goals that night too I seem to remember.

 

[Blue_Shrimper1959]

Remember I was there when he came on in what is now known as the JPT, southern final away at Griffin Park against us. Might've even been his pro debut as he could've only been 17/18 at the time.

The keeper who started the game was having a mare, but got injured, Smith came on and had a blinder. Vividly remember one save from Martin Carruthers I think which was out of this world.

 

[Napster]

I love his shirts.

 

[shrimperhosk]

Not as delighted as everyone else with this signing. Admittedly I've only seen him in action live a couple of times. But in the game at the City ground back in about 2007 he looked very very unsure on crosses and dropped several. I'd rather forget the 4-1 drubbing Forest gave us that night after Mark Gower had put us ahead with a glorious finish. Our own Steve Collis was culpable for two of those goals that night too I seem to remember.

haha so he has had 5 years to change that

 

[duncan bulgaria]

Email below from my Forest pal about SMith and also adding that they are talking to 2 wingers and suspects one is Hall

Top Goalie, rate him highly. Very unfortunate for him that we got Lee Camp after a couple of great seasons at Forest. May stay on his line a little too often and is quiet but is the best shot stopper in the business bar none.

We’re talking to two right wingers at the mo, wouldn’t surprise me if your boy is one of them.

 

[DTS]

Email below from my Forest pal about SMith and also adding that they are talking to 2 wingers and suspects one is Hall

Top Goalie, rate him highly. Very unfortunate for him that we got Lee Camp after a couple of great seasons at Forest. May stay on his line a little too often and is quiet but is the best shot stopper in the business bar none.

We’re talking to two right wingers at the mo, wouldn’t surprise me if your boy is one of them.

Sums up my feelings exactly - a real coup.