Tommy Smith in the centre?

I think Tommy Smith would be brilliant for us in the centre. He is so good on the ball, rarely gives it away and could give the drive our centre midfield is currently lacking. Even if we sacrifice a striker and just have Bellamy up front on his own, playing Smith as a third centre midfielder alongside Gunnarsson and Whittingham would dramatically change the way we play imo. We have been sorely lacking a centre midfielder who can drive forward with the ball and beat players for a while. Playing 3 in the centre will also give Whittingham some added time and space to start pulling the strings again. Smith is too good to be wasted out wide, get him down the middle I say!

And put Craig Noone back on the left wing where he can get around defenders instead of cutting back inside onto his feet foot.

Good Shout

Or play Kim in this role!?

I was thinking exactly the same after he came on
such a good player is tommy smith

Tommy Smith started out as a central striker and was moved to the flanks for some reason.I would not play him central midfield mind.
Keep him Wide

Smith instead of Conway on the right,
Noone back to the left and
Kim instead of Rudy/Helgusson just behind Bellers .....

Hmmmm i know Chief !! lets put Whitts in an attacking central Midfielder type roll. Coz he is the best at that outside the Prem

he is not a central midfielder

Hmmmm i know Chief !! lets put Whitts in an attacking central Midfielder type roll. Coz he is the best at that outside the Prem

Hasnt been at his best for a while tho we need him to pull his socks up.

Hmmmm i know Chief !! lets put Whitts in an attacking central Midfielder type roll. Coz he is the best at that outside the Prem

Hasnt been at his best for a while tho we need him to pull his socks up.

If you put Mcphail in goal he wouldn't do very well either. Whitts in that holding defensive roll it just ain't him and its a waste.

Hmmmm i know Chief !! lets put Whitts in an attacking central Midfielder type roll. Coz he is the best at that outside the Prem

Hasnt been at his best for a while tho we need him to pull his socks up.

If you put Mcphail in goal he wouldn't do very well either. Whitts in that holding defensive roll it just ain't him and its a waste.

I had McPhail in goal for Swansea on FM 12

I put Vorm up front and got to half time 1-0 up o.o

Vorm tap in.

he is not a central midfielder

How can you say that? Smith has played in the centre before and although he has played out wide and up front for the majority of his career, I personally think Smith would be even better for us in the centre. Nobody thought Ledley or Whittingham were centre midfielders initially. Smith is the type of player I would like to see involved on the ball as much as possible because he's that good. He's wasted out wide. If we had 4 Tommy Smith's across our midfield, we would be promoted already, that's how highly I rate him.

I could only see Smith in the middle if he was played in a 5 man midfield if im honest.

I could only see Smith in the middle if he was played in a 5 man midfield if im honest.

I disagree, Smith showed his class in his brief sub appearance. He is the complete Championship midfielder. There is not a weakness in his game at this level. He's class on the ball, he can beat players, he can create, he can tackle, he has an engine, he's a 100%er, his decision making is second to none, he never loses the ball and he has that bit of grit about his game to battle and get the better of his opponent.

If I was manager, I would play 4-5-1 at Blackpool, keep the same line up but drop Rudy and put Smith in the middle alongside Whittingham and Gunnarsson. I honestly think Smith would be a revelation in the middle and he would drastically change the way we have been playing lately. I'm confident if Smith was given a game down the middle, he would do so well that we would have to keep playing him down the middle. Just my opinion of course.

I could only see Smith in the middle if he was played in a 5 man midfield if im honest.

I disagree, Smith showed his class in his brief sub appearance. He is the complete Championship midfielder. There is not a weakness in his game at this level. He's class on the ball, he can beat players, he can create, he can tackle, he has an engine, he's a 100%er, his decision making is second to none, he never loses the ball and he has that bit of grit about his game to battle and get the better of his opponent.

If I was manager, I would play 4-5-1 at Blackpool, keep the same line up but drop Rudy and put Smith in the middle alongside Whittingham and Gunnarsson. I honestly think Smith would be a revelation in the middle and he would drastically change the way we have been playing lately. I'm confident if Smith was given a game down the middle, he would do so well that we would have to keep playing him down the middle. Just my opinion of course.

I said a 5 man midfield

I just think he likes to be more direct and thats not so easy with just 2 in the middle that makes it difficult and can leave a lot of space. I think he is great wide I dont see a need to move him.

Or play Kim in this role!?

Why play Kim in the middle? That would doom Whittingham to his ineffective defensive position.

he is not a central midfielder

How can you say that? Smith has played in the centre before and although he has played out wide and up front for the majority of his career, I personally think Smith would be even better for us in the centre. Nobody thought Ledley or Whittingham were centre midfielders initially. Smith is the type of player I would like to see involved on the ball as much as possible because he's that good. He's wasted out wide. If we had 4 Tommy Smith's across our midfield, we would be promoted already, that's how highly I rate him.

f*cking hell calm down


he is a good player and looked sharp when he came on, however we have gone 7/8 points clear at the top without him.


im glad hes back, but "we would be promoted already" is just nonsense

I could only see Smith in the middle if he was played in a 5 man midfield if im honest.

I disagree, Smith showed his class in his brief sub appearance. He is the complete Championship midfielder. There is not a weakness in his game at this level. He's class on the ball, he can beat players, he can create, he can tackle, he has an engine, he's a 100%er, his decision making is second to none, he never loses the ball and he has that bit of grit about his game to battle and get the better of his opponent.

If I was manager, I would play 4-5-1 at Blackpool, keep the same line up but drop Rudy and put Smith in the middle alongside Whittingham and Gunnarsson. I honestly think Smith would be a revelation in the middle and he would drastically change the way we have been playing lately. I'm confident if Smith was given a game down the middle, he would do so well that we would have to keep playing him down the middle. Just my opinion of course.

I said a 5 man midfield

I just think he likes to be more direct and thats not so easy with just 2 in the middle that makes it difficult and can leave a lot of space. I think he is great wide I dont see a need to move him.

I understand that. I was agreeing with you that it would be good to start him off in a 5 man midfield sorry.

I was trying to say if Smith started in the middle of a 5 man midfield at Blackpool, I think he would be even better for us, as he would be more involved, getting on the ball more and I think his performances would then make him undroppable in the centre. I honestly think he would be that good for us in the middle. I think Smith made a huge difference to the way we played against Ipswich when he came on. He's so good on the ball and although he's brilliant in his wide role, I think Smith has the physique, engine, ability and battling qualities to play centre midfield with ease.

he is not a central midfielder

How can you say that? Smith has played in the centre before and although he has played out wide and up front for the majority of his career, I personally think Smith would be even better for us in the centre. Nobody thought Ledley or Whittingham were centre midfielders initially. Smith is the type of player I would like to see involved on the ball as much as possible because he's that good. He's wasted out wide. If we had 4 Tommy Smith's across our midfield, we would be promoted already, that's how highly I rate him.

f*cking hell calm down


he is a good player and looked sharp when he came on, however we have gone 7/8 points clear at the top without him.


im glad hes back, but "we would be promoted already" is just nonsense

That comment was a little tounge in cheek, but only a little bit!

Hmmmm i know Chief !! lets put Whitts in an attacking central Midfielder type roll. Coz he is the best at that outside the Prem

Hasnt been at his best for a while tho we need him to pull his socks up.

If you put Mcphail in goal he wouldn't do very well either. Whitts in that holding defensive roll it just ain't him and its a waste.

I had McPhail in goal for Swansea on FM 12

I put Vorm up front and got to half time 1-0 up o.o

Vorm tap in.

Fooking

Just thought I would bump this after his Blackpool performance. I thought Smith was our third best performer just behind Kimbo and Conway.

Just thought I would bump this after his Blackpool performance. I thought Smith was our third best performer just behind Kimbo and Conway.

Yeah but he wasn't in midfield.


He was excellent tho

Just thought I would bump this after his Blackpool performance. I thought Smith was our third best performer just behind Kimbo and Conway.

Yeah but he wasn't in midfield.


He was excellent tho

To me it looked like he was sort of playing a free role in the hole just behind Mason. But when we were defending he was dropping back into centre midfield as well. He probably wouldn't have scored that goal if he was out wide. I think if Smith is played in the centre more, he will be able to get involved and score more goals like that. Credit to Malky, he got it tactically spot on with his team selection.

Just thought I would bump this after his Blackpool performance. I thought Smith was our third best performer just behind Kimbo and Conway.

Yeah but he wasn't in midfield.


He was excellent tho

To me it looked like he was sort of playing a free role in the hole just behind Mason. But when we were defending he was dropping back into centre midfield as well. He probably wouldn't have scored that goal if he was out wide. I think if Smith is played in the centre more, he will be able to get involved and score more goals like that. Credit to Malky, he got it tactically spot on with his team selection.

Yeah agree, he is perfect for that role.

My only query previously was I don't think he can play in a flat midfield 4 and still don't think he would, well not effectively anyway.

I think mason and Smith were excellent for that game on that pitch, plenty of movement.

Just thought I would bump this after his Blackpool performance. I thought Smith was our third best performer just behind Kimbo and Conway.

Yeah but he wasn't in midfield.


He was excellent tho

To me it looked like he was sort of playing a free role in the hole just behind Mason. But when we were defending he was dropping back into centre midfield as well. He probably wouldn't have scored that goal if he was out wide. I think if Smith is played in the centre more, he will be able to get involved and score more goals like that. Credit to Malky, he got it tactically spot on with his team selection.

Yeah agree, he is perfect for that role.

My only query previously was I don't think he can play in a flat midfield 4 and still don't think he would, well not effectively anyway.

I think mason and Smith were excellent for that game on that pitch, plenty of movement.

I totally agree, Mason did loads of running and Smith just behind him caused a lot more problems than Rudy probably would have. I take your point about a flat midfield 4. Personally I think Smith could play in a flat midfield 4, but not with Whittingham alongside him. But Malky's team selection and system was completely unexpected and caught Blackpool off guard. We were slightly fortunate Tom Ince couldn't finish one on ones, but I think we just shaded it.

Having the best keeper in the league certainly helps.

Agree about MM, playing Rudy on that pitch would have been the easy option and IMO the wrong option.

But MM could have said we can't play football on that so lumped it up up the big guy and we couldn't really argue.

We went for it though with movement and with Kim in the team we were obviously looking to pass the ball, I don't think Blackpool expect that.

Masons lazy offsides still frustrate me but the front two were spot on and kimbo wasn't shy in gettin Into the box lol

Having the best keeper in the league certainly helps.

Agree about MM, playing Rudy on that pitch would have been the easy option and IMO the wrong option.

But MM could have said we can't play football on that so lumped it up up the big guy and we couldn't really argue.

We went for it though with movement and with Kim in the team we were obviously looking to pass the ball, I don't think Blackpool expect that.

Masons lazy offsides still frustrate me but the front two were spot on and kimbo wasn't shy in gettin Into the box lol

To be honest I said to my mate before the game that I would put Noone on the bench and play Conway and Smith down the wings because of their defensive work. But Malky played Kim and he was my man of the match. I love the way Malky changes the team and system around depending on who we are playing against. His emphasis on it being squad effort over the season ensures every player gives their all as they know their place is never safe. Malky has worked miracles getting us to the Carling Cup final last season and now we're 10 points clear this season. We are very lucky to have a fantastic manager, to think we could have had Shearer instead!

He probably wouldn't have scored that goal if he was out wide.

How often have you seen him play in central midfield over the last few seasons?