George Smith

Just wondering what people's general opinion on him is because I've seen a few, not many people on here and Twitter saying he's not good enough. That said he's hardly been singled out for criticism on here at all

I would say that defensively he's very sound. Chesterfield hardly had any attacks down our left the other day and he dealt with what they threw at him well

I do think that if he will be playing left wing back he needs to improve his attacking play. He can put a great cross in but doesn't seem to get forward often enough

Thoughts?

 

Agree with all of that. I voted Smith for young player of the season. The people who say he isn't good enough are being very very harsh. He certainly doesn't look out of his depth in this division.

 

He's a decent left back but he's too limited to be a LWB. When he gets the ball his first thought is to check back inside. At the minute he seems to lack the confidence to try get down the outside. I've said since the I first saw him that he's no where near Holgate and I still believe that now.

As a one on one defender he's pretty solid but he isn't great positionally when a team breaks against us through the center. He's cost us a few times with balls being slipped between him and Nyatanga when they're both on the back foot.

He's worth sticking with for now but I'm still not convinced.

 

Just dont see what he's bringing to the table. Not great defensively and non existent going forward. I dint get on at him but I think its vital we get not only someone more experienced but someone of better quality in.


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Agree with that. Smith shouldn't be cast aside but the quality just isn't there if LJ wants to play 3-5-2.

 

Give the lad games in the position and he'll get used to it. Not even played 1/2 season at professional level yet.

 

Don't think it'll come as a surprise I'm no great fan. I won't boo or deride him as he might come good, but at the moment in my opinion he's shown nothing to say he's capable of being a long term option. Would love to be proved wrong though.

 

I felt he kept getting better & better towards the end of last season & pre-season counts for nothing, all about fitness & practising different things.

So at worst he's had one bad game & opinions changed about him drastically.

He was quality against Rochdale in the last proper game before Saturday

 

I think he will prove to be a good option both now and in future but there's no doubt that we need another left back because he's not going to be available every game, and his form will no doubt fluctuate throughout the season so at times it will be useful to take him out of the side so he can go back to basics and come back better

 

Like with any young player, he'll have good games and not so good games. Holgate had some poor games, Bree has had some poor games, so has Davies etc.

 

A young, 18 year old lad just at the start of his career. The development of our Academy produced youngsters is the way forward for our club, in my opinion. George has fitted in well defensively, he will develop other aspects to his game as he progresses. He has shown glimpses of his potential capabilities with his corner taking in the home game against Crewe last season, as well as setting up Sam Winnall's goal in the thrashing of Rochdale. It's not going to happen overnight and he's years away from becoming the best he can be. Patience, tolerance and understanding is the key for our young lads. But there's a joy in watching a raw teenager progress & develop his game, especially when they're one of our own.
No inexperienced kid walks into a first team as the finished article.

 

I havent changed my opinion on him, I have never thought he was good enough (potential wise) to have a long term future either here or in the football league. Again, I dont get on the kids back but I think some need to seriously lower their expectations of the kid.

Adam Davies is another one who has been seriously overhyped this summer after a couple of good games. I do think he's a good keeper but he's been built up to be a worldy this summer, something he isnt.


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I agree. He has developed well last 12 months. However I fear his development will slow with too much expectation, no competition for the place and no experience to learn from in that position.

 

That's fair.

 

Young lad, work in progress.

 

Seems to be developing well to me. Solid defensively though a bit of work to be done on his positional sense. He does need to work on his attacking play and as of now I don't see him to be an ideal player to play as a wing back but I reckon 15/20 games in that role will give him the experience needed. I think we should sign some sort of cover for him as you have to be wary of having too high expectations of a young kid. At the same time one of great mistakes in the championship was stymying the careers of our young players and filling their team with journeymen pros so it's a difficult balance.

The same old suspects would slag him off. You wonder why they bother going. Maybe it's like the 4 minutes hate in 1984.

 

I don't think anyone has high expectations of Smith. He's had none of the hype Bree & Holgate had.

He just came in & did a job & looked a solid league one player in the second half of last season. Hopefully he'll improve with games & experience.

Considering how well he fitted in last season I'm surprised you don't think he'll make it in the football league

 

I think he is a very honest player who will listen tremendously to the coaches on how he better his game. Personally, I don't think he has as much natural ability as Stones and Holgate but lets face it they are two exceptional talents - although Mason needs to continue to develop for that statement to resonate. Defensively, he looks solid enough due to his improved physicality and general reading of the game, however he could be vulnerable to balls in behind if he doesn't sharpen up his concentration.
From an attacking stand point, Johnson has gave him specific work to do to enhance his ball retention and manipulation skills. With the confidence of games, winning and clean sheets, I can see him becoming an asset to us.
Potentially, he could be the sort of player who is very consistent and very much a steady, calming influence on the team. Dare I say a Bobby Hassell sort of player - not that I want to put any pressure on him mind.

 

I mean the hype thats surrounded him this summer I.E people regarding him as our undisputed no.1 left back and we should sign cover for him. For me he's a decent option should our regular left back be out, no more. He looked very suspect defensively at times last season and going forward is a non starter. People slagged John off but he was light years ahead of where I ever imagine Smith will get.


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Yes I agree. He's not going to be a superstar, but if handled well he's the type of player who could be here in a long time