Leeds United’s Footballing Philosophy – Starring Matt Smith
Right in the Gary Kellys 15/4/14
I learned from @LUFCDATA that with 242 headers, Matt Smith has won the most aerial duels in the Championship this season. Hardly a surprising stat considering; A) his size and B) the textbook route one football we’ve been playing all season. That stat sums up our season and it led me to thinking about what would happen to Matt Smith should we decide to start knocking it on the floor…
Last summer, back when we believed in our manager, what with him being a former scout, some of us can be forgiven for thinking that this was the kind of shrewd signing we would expect to see coming in. Young, hungry talent with potential seemed far more exciting than signing tired, journeymen.
Let’s face it the football this season has been dross. Sunday league stuff, with the only real benefactors of the ‘hit it at Matt Smith’s head and feed off the scraps’ strategy being Matt Smith and Ross McCormack. With Smith doing his best, which I’m not sure anyone can argue about, do people think that him being on the pitch hinders our play? ‘Feed off the scraps’ should not be a footballing philosophy and you would hope professional managers are capable of conjuring up a more superior tactic. Surely the lads don’t spend Monday to Friday on the training pitch smashing a ball up to Matt Smith? Do they…?
Is it simply too easy to aim for the big man, that instead of looking for a short pass, some of the players will just look to get rid in sheer panic? Surely they are made of stronger stuff than that.
With Smith already speaking publicly about his desire for a longer contract, I fear for the quality of football we can expect to see whilst he is in the first eleven. The lack of other quality in that area (McCormack aside) is frightening and purely on the basis that he has done absolutely everything he has been asked of this season and has a respectable league goal tally, he deserves credit and probably does deserve a longer contract. In the Summer, when (if) we have money, it’s absolutely paramount that we invest in a good number 9 and use Smith as an impact player to help us mix it up in tight games.
I’m wondering whether other fans feel that it is all too easy for the players to hit it long rather than play it out from the back? Or do they think McDermott is actually implementing this school boy tactic? Basically, can Matt Smith play for a Leeds without Leeds playing long ball football? All of this could well be irrelevant if/when Cellino brings in a coach, but Matt Smith, for the next year at least will remain.
Although this article may seem slightly critical, I like Matt Smith and I think if we had any (decent) wingers he would be a really dangerous forward. No doubt he has the desire to put himself about and make an impact on a game and for that he should be applauded. Too many players have been hiding this year and at least Smith isn’t afraid to take a game by the scruff of the neck.
The lowest moment of the season for the big man would be the sending off against Sheffield Wednesday, which I thought was harsh; by trying to show a bit of commitment and desire he paid the price. My personal favourite moment of the season was his ‘offside’ goal against Birmingham. Love him or loathe him, he’s got great feet for a big man.
Reporter – Joe Glover
I learned from @LUFCDATA that with 242 headers, Matt Smith has won the most aerial duels in the Championship this season. Hardly a surprising stat considering; A) his size and B) the textbook route one football we’ve been playing all season. That stat sums up our season and it led me to thinking about what would happen to Matt Smith should we decide to start knocking it on the floor…
Last summer, back when we believed in our manager, what with him being a former scout, some of us can be forgiven for thinking that this was the kind of shrewd signing we would expect to see coming in. Young, hungry talent with potential seemed far more exciting than signing tired, journeymen.
Let’s face it the football this season has been dross. Sunday league stuff, with the only real benefactors of the ‘hit it at Matt Smith’s head and feed off the scraps’ strategy being Matt Smith and Ross McCormack. With Smith doing his best, which I’m not sure anyone can argue about, do people think that him being on the pitch hinders our play? ‘Feed off the scraps’ should not be a footballing philosophy and you would hope professional managers are capable of conjuring up a more superior tactic. Surely the lads don’t spend Monday to Friday on the training pitch smashing a ball up to Matt Smith? Do they…?
Is it simply too easy to aim for the big man, that instead of looking for a short pass, some of the players will just look to get rid in sheer panic? Surely they are made of stronger stuff than that.
With Smith already speaking publicly about his desire for a longer contract, I fear for the quality of football we can expect to see whilst he is in the first eleven. The lack of other quality in that area (McCormack aside) is frightening and purely on the basis that he has done absolutely everything he has been asked of this season and has a respectable league goal tally, he deserves credit and probably does deserve a longer contract. In the Summer, when (if) we have money, it’s absolutely paramount that we invest in a good number 9 and use Smith as an impact player to help us mix it up in tight games.
I’m wondering whether other fans feel that it is all too easy for the players to hit it long rather than play it out from the back? Or do they think McDermott is actually implementing this school boy tactic? Basically, can Matt Smith play for a Leeds without Leeds playing long ball football? All of this could well be irrelevant if/when Cellino brings in a coach, but Matt Smith, for the next year at least will remain.
Although this article may seem slightly critical, I like Matt Smith and I think if we had any (decent) wingers he would be a really dangerous forward. No doubt he has the desire to put himself about and make an impact on a game and for that he should be applauded. Too many players have been hiding this year and at least Smith isn’t afraid to take a game by the scruff of the neck.
The lowest moment of the season for the big man would be the sending off against Sheffield Wednesday, which I thought was harsh; by trying to show a bit of commitment and desire he paid the price. My personal favourite moment of the season was his ‘offside’ goal against Birmingham. Love him or loathe him, he’s got great feet for a big man.
Reporter – Joe Glover