Smith

[WightShrimper]

I stated on another post that maybe Bentley should have had the shirt today simply because I felt he had earned another crack at showing what he can do. BUT, Luggy thought differently and he is the manager and he knows what he wants and what is the best for all concerned. Whatever any of us may like to see as a squad selection, once those boys come out onto the pitch we should be behind them 100 percent and defend them to the hilt. If any of them are ****-ups, just remember that they are OUR ****-ups.
Yes, let's continue to air our differences on here where it makes no difference, but let's not let the team down when they are doing all they can on the turf.

 

[JoshC]

His kicking was superb when he had a target man on the end of them, some people were crowing on about how much further duke kicked the ball even though every time it fell straight to smith. He is prone a couple of shaky moments but its all down to confidence which with some of the idiots in the ground isn't going to get any better.

 

[Cockle43]

His kicking was superb when he had a target man on the end of them, some people were crowing on about how much further duke kicked the ball even though every time it fell straight to smith. He is prone a couple of shaky moments but its all down to confidence which with some of the idiots in the ground isn't going to get any better.

Precisely, Duke kicked it much further, straight over the heads of his forwards into the arms of a keeper which then meant they'd lost possession and gave us the chance to mount our own attack; I'm sure Bradford's midfield and forwards were very impressed with Duke's kicking today; and we've moaned about hoofball, what the hell were they serving up today?

To those I normally stand with in the North; you may have possibly noticed that I left my normal position alongside the drum about 20 minutes into the second half and went to another part of the stand. Well I'm sorry but I will not stand or sit, I'm getting older these days, amongst fans who are going to chant 'you're s**t, arrrgggghhhhh' at a keeper wearing SUFC colours.
I support, and always have, the SHIRT, and the players the manager chooses to wear that shirt, come what may for the 90 minutes of the game. The debate of the rights and wrongs of the manager's selection, etc., are for other places and times, not the middle of a game when we're 1-0 down with 25 minutes to play.
I've been following the Shrimpers since March 1966, at various places around the ground, but I've never, ever, been on the North Bank and heard that chant directed at our own keeper, I know opinion is divided but to me that was beyond the pale and I will have no part of it.

 

[* ORM *]

What's the issue here? Throw a 19 year old at a team witha fantastic unbeaten league run? Makes no sense whatsoever. I'd be quite happy for Bentley's next games to be LDV and FA Cup. No need to change league at all. Makes less sense than the Smith bashers. How anyone can moan (constantly not just a knee jerk) in our present position baffles me. Gives them an excuse to swap possible promotion for guaranteed payday.

 

[philtalkin]

I blame Smith for global warming

 

[C'mon you Shrimpers]

I always enjoy this. About one minute in. Reminds me of being somewhere.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKLASOJ6a88

 

[Wise Head]

Smith is a good competent keeper at this level. Bentley is a promising young keeper. Both merit a start but I agree with PS in that Smith should start in the league, which is deemed the main priority. I am very disappointed that a minority (as confirmed by the recent poll on here) feel justified in trying to undermine Smith rather than celebrating the fact we for once have two half decent keepers. Like others the odd person around me yesterday were slagging Smith off before the game and just waiting for him to make any mistake so they could slag him off. As he had a sound game yesterday the only criticism was for not coming for the odd ball - obviously no recognition for a couple of good saves. It really is quite pathetic that people will come along to a game just waiting for him to make a mistake to say I told you so you're useless Smith. This attempted witch hunt should stop now.

 

[blue scorpion]

Do those who criticise Smith so verbally actually think they will make him a better player by their actions?

 

[Swiss Tony]

Welcome to football! Most fans are blinded through stupidity the others are
actually fans!!!

What a stupid comment.

 

[united we stand]

I couldn't be there today , but with respect to some of the posters on here - why not try and do something about it--- in an un-confrontatinal manner
When I here anyone slagging of our players I immedialtly start singing . If it was the keeper I would (and have) started singing 'Southend's Number One '. And almost every time two things happen

Others join in around me - as they are thinking exactly the same , and are equally ****ed with the abuse one of our players is getting (as proved on this board)
The abuser tends to shut up as he realises that not everyone agrees with him. If no one does this he 'assumes' that others must agree and therefore will continue.

Its not confrontational and it works , and you know what - it makes you feel so much better. You might find it difficult to do the first time , but it gets easier each time . Try it

 

[OldBlueLady]

Far too many times yesterday there were players (notably Clohessy or Barker) who he could have released an early throw out to but didn't, then there were times when we could have caught them on the hoof with a quick punt up field for the forwards (particularly near the end when we'd unbelievably kept 3 up!) and instead he threw the ball. There were also far too many times when he SHOULD have come off his line and didn't.

I have no problem with his kicking generally or the fact that he's a pretty decent shot stopper, what I do have a problem with is that his decision making is poor - and that covers all three areas that I just highlighted. To me, he's a player shot of confidence, looking at him as he played yesterday, you wouldn't believe the level and clubs he's played at previously.

I don't know what the answer is though, you can't drop him for Bentley, it would just be wrong. And we ARE still unbeaten in 12 and Smith has been a big part of that. I think we have to accept what to a lot of us are his liabilities and just rally round and help him re-discover that confidence. The bits and pieces are all there to have a very decent keeper on our books, he just needs to put them all together and he won't do that if we keep getting on his back during the game.

 

[wiggy]

The way I see it is that yes he is a decent shot stopper but I'm afraid it ends right there. The defence are a nervous wreck in front of him as he's an absolute mouse. Not Smith bashing, just seen enough now to come to that conclusion. Could have done so much better in the keeper stakes and a couple of pen saves by Bentley wouldn't get me clambering to have him in goal either....we are weak in this area compared to other teams. There keeper y/day, kicking wasn't great but at least he come out and claimed everything!

 

[DTS]

Great shot stopper and a major asset not sure why people are mowing at a keeper that has currently played a part in getting us up to sixth. Agree his distribution needs work but end of the day it's his shot stopping that matters most.

 

[wiggy]

Great shot stopper and a major asset not sure why people are mowing at a keeper that has currently played a part in getting us up to sixth.

....because he is a liability in all other areas, his size, he should be dominant, stopping things happening but it is exactly the opposite. Looks like he's playing bar football on that line.

 

[fbm]

....because he is a liability in all other areas, his size, he should be dominant, stopping things happening but it is exactly the opposite. Looks like he's playing bar football on that line.

But we are in league 2. Any keeper we get is going to have something wrong with them, either too short, too timid, not a great shot stopper, not dominant, can't catch, can't punch... not even the top international goalkeepers are complete players.

It's swings and roundabouts. In my opinion, Belford cost us the match v Accrington on the opening day by pawing at a looping header that he couldn't reach properly. Smith, being 3 or 4 inches taller, would have probably caught it. However, there would certainly be goals Smith has let in that Belford would have stopped. At our level, you can't have everything.

The thing is that Smith hasn't yet cost us any games and his saves have actually kept us in some of them. He has a decent pedigree and when we signed him I don't recall one person being unhappy with it. We are on a nice unbeaten run and are playing some decent stuff.

So, perspective please, people. Just how bad is it?

 

[Somerset Ex-TTB]

The way I see it is that yes he is a decent shot stopper but I'm afraid it ends right there. The defence are a nervous wreck in front of him as he's an absolute mouse. Not Smith bashing, just seen enough now to come to that conclusion. Could have done so much better in the keeper stakes and a couple of pen saves by Bentley wouldn't get me clambering to have him in goal either....we are weak in this area compared to other teams. There keeper y/day, kicking wasn't great but at least he come out and claimed everything!

Wiggy Wiggy Wiggy. Their keeper came out to claim the corner that we scored from, and got no where near it, leaving Cresswell an empty net to head into.

Can you imagine if Smith had done that?

 

[OldBlueLady]

Wiggy Wiggy Wiggy. Their keeper came out to claim the corner that we scored from, and got no where near it, leaving Cresswell an empty net to head into.

Can you imagine if Smith had done that?

Not according to Plankinson as he reckoned Cressy fouled their keeper which is why he didn't get to it!

 

[Somerset Ex-TTB]

Not according to Plankinson as he reckoned Cressy fouled their keeper which is why he didn't get to it!

Maybe, maybe not, but the fact that he was 8-10 yards off his line trying to claim a corner which he got no where near cost them the first goal. If he had stayed on his line, then it would of been a simple save for him.

Poor decision making from him, and if that had been Smith, he would of been crucified in the ground and on here.

 

[kentblues]

What nonesense so much of all this is. He had no chance whatsover with the two goals. Made a great save at 0-2 without which their would have been no comeback.

The opposition keeper (who played Championship with Hull last year 23 times I believe) kicked far worse, made an error for our first by getting nowhere near the cross and no doubt had he been Smith would have been sent to the gallows.

I also noticed that when Luke made his horrible error the was no abuse- indeed heard some 'head up Luke'- correct reaction. Can you imagine if it was Smith....

People see what they want to see unfortunately and will change the fact to support an argument (howver demonstrably absurd).

I suggest next time he make a great save we start chanting his name- and see wht that does for his game.

 

[Batman]

Yes he made a couple of bad decisions during the game regarding distribution, then he made a great save ,I thought his kicking overall was superb did he have a crap game? no. Did he let in any absolute howlers? no. I think the level of hatred that some individuals showed yesterday was over the top, and even my 12 year old son couldn't understand why they bother coming if the cant get behind a team in 6th place on a unbeaten run.
Some people love to hate, and I have heard and seen it too many times before.We should get behind him, cheer when he gets it right and encourage him when he makes a mistake.