Does the lad know how to overlap. Wabara does it exellently on the right but Smith offers absolutely nothing to Harris. Smith passes to Harris then stands still,leaving Harris to take on the winger and fullback all the time. That's last week at Donny & today I've noticed it. Still don't rate the lad to be honest
They are different players. Wabara might overlap more but we are caught out more at right back when they pumo balls into that area and Mawson is having to cover. Not a criticism because its an inevitable consequence of sending full backs up. There is also the fact that hourihane plays much more on the left than right meaning that smith doesn't necessarily have to overlap as we have other options to help the winger
I think that's a bit harsh. Smith is better defensively and i'd say overall him and wabara dovetail quite well, wabara being arguably more effective in possession but smith providing the cover when he's committed upfield. Let's be fair though the approach is hardly cavalier - though we did look effective out wide last week at Donny and in rare patches today. Does mean our attacks can be slightly one sided but as mentioned hourihane gets across to support kadeem Harris, and Watkins drifts in more centrally leaving the space wide for wabara on occasion. There are many issues at the club - and in the side arguably - but I don't think full back is a big priority for change.
He got foward and supported Harris when needed... But why when Harris is making the runs and giving him option would you want him to atempt to overlap harris? On opposite side Watkins didn't have the pace or beating of their fullback so Wabara overlap worked. Problem we had was despite hard work from Wabara and Harris to beat full backs, they then have few options to cross to with Winnall isolated in central role. At the back end of last season we played with two up top and looked dangerous in the box. When Jabo Ibhere he was exactly the type player we needed. Big strong, unfashionable, but experienced forward. Fans had low expectations of him, he played it simple, linked up well with team and scored goals. If anyone deserved a contract following a loan spell it was him. This season persisting with one up top is killing our attack. We may dominate possession and break quickly but with no end result. I don't understand the obsession with lone striker, it was downfall of many of our past managers. LJ needs to change it and quick! Personally I am a 3-5-2 fan, but you play to your strength and adapt if needed for to counter the opposition. It seems to me that we are trying to over complicate things. Back to basics please LJ.
I too noticed that Wabara was pushing forward while Smith was holding back, but I have a different explanation. Harris had his full back beat, he went past him with ease almost every time he had the ball. He didn't need Smith's help. So, Smith stayed back to snub out any break aways they might have, which he did on a few occasions.
Last week Harris in the end got doubled up on, that's when u need smith to make the runs forward to pull their players out of position to create the space. Wasn't at the game yesterday never been a fan of smith but he has got better defensively lately, still think we're in need of a left back. Always said he offers nothing to our team going forward he hardly if ever gets beyond Harris, not saying he needs bomb on all the time but sometimes he needs to overlap him.
Smith was probably our best player at Donny, after Harris. Slipped him into the box twice with immaculate through balls, and hit a couple of delicious diagonals to Watkins. I really rate him.
He was alright Smith yesterday, needs to get some confidence in over lapping and getting down bomb alley but defensively he's usually sound. Still think a left back should be brought in in January
No he doesn't and there's nothing wrong with that. If we want a full back to overlap then we should play one capable of doing it, if we want a full back to defend primarily, then play George Smith. He is a defender after all. Wabara would make a cracking winger. Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk
Smiths improved this season massively defensively but at times he does need to get past Harris or who ever is on the wing a bit more. Nyatanga got forward more than smith does.
