Matt Smith began his journey at Evesham United in 2005, then spent a year as a trainee with Cheltenham Town. After he got released Smith joined up with New Mills but his time there came to an end as he had to cut his footballing time short as he went to America to spend a year studying.
When Smith got back onto the footballing scene he started to make progress when he was at Redditch United in the '10-11 season bagging nine times in eleven appearances. He also scored 23 times in 16 appearances during his spells at Littleton, Droylsden and Solihull Moors. The impact he made at Solihull Moors had a few Football League clubs noticed. Then in May 2011, the big man had turned professional at the late age of 21 when he signed for Oldham Athletic.
Last Summer saw Leeds United sign Matt on a free from League 1 side Oldham. This transfer was one that nobody seen coming, well I know I never seen his name being linked with Leeds. When we signed Smith the vast majority of fans thought, here we go again another free agent.
Before we signed Smith the only thing I knew about him were his goals in the FA Cup against Everton and Liverpool. When I found out he had only turned professional at 21 I had to think why McDermott has signed this player and it wasn't like he was starting every game for Oldham, it was a gamble.
If you can remember at the start of the season a lot of people were getting on the big mans back, every time he came on we were saying to ourselves, it's hoof ball time. You can't expect a 6ft 6 forward to play with the ball at his feet like Messi. The one thing Smith can always do if he come on late in a game is change the dynamic of it.
Thankfully the big man got his break when he grabbed his first goal for the whites in our League cup tie against Doncaster which we went on to win 3-1. Oh and remember that was Mowatt's debut too? Smith scored his first league goal in our 2-1 defeat at home to Burnley.
After Dexter Blackstock's loan spell was ended due to injury it was time for Smith to step up and did so by forming a great partnership with Ross McCormack up top. When Smith started to feature more regularly his movement improved significantly and he cut out a part of his game which was his inability to avoid looking like he's fouling the opposition players when challenging for headers, this is what annoyed me greatly. Being the giant player that he is he will not always be able to escape this, his sending off against Sheffield Wednesday being a great example.
This season Matt Smith has scored a great 12 goals and I'm saying great because not of us expected him to get this amount, he also got some criticsm which was a bit harsh at the start of the season. Matt's been our only shining light this season bar McCormack and definitely McDermott's best signing at the club. Smith was linked with Crystal Palace on January for his efforts this season but he played the rumours down.
Matt Smith only has 1 year left on his contract I would certainly offer him a new one, would you?
Yes. He reminds me a little of Lee Chapman - 100% commitment.
ReplyDeleteWe need more players like him at Leeds. Too many players wearing the shirt with no heart. I can also see the similarity with Chapman.
DeleteYou need better grammer if you are going to write about the mighty whites MOT
ReplyDeletegrammer? I thought it was Grammar?
DeleteWell not of us knew that lol
DeleteNobody seen that coming pmsl
DeleteWell that changes the dynamic mate
DeleteThe big man can also play with his feet as he showed at derby...mcdermotts tactics prevent him showing this...very one dimensional view that big men can only play with their head? Definitely offer the man a new contract he cant be on much wages coming from league one...then again mcdermott pays hunt 25,000 a week more than he should so who knows MOT
ReplyDeleteOf course big men can play with their feet, I only stated that because most Leeds fans were giving him stick because of the fact he was 6ft 6.
DeleteDefinitely need a new contract. I put him in our top 3 players of the season. Just because he's a big bloke doesn't mean we can only play hoofball (as you say). He would be equally effective if we could get someone up the wings to cross from the bye-line. Plus, he's not like Bambi on ice on his feet
ReplyDeleteWhat I said is coming across the wrong way, I said at the start of the season he was getting criticism and most of us jumped on the bandwagon and said ohh it will only be hoofball if Matt Smith is playing. About the wingers, once we have a decent set that can actually get the ball into him he will be deadly.
DeleteI think that he has a great chance to keep improving because of his relatively late start in the game. How far he goes is a mouth -watering prospect
DeleteI completely agree, you couldn't of put it any better.
Deletethink hes been great this season...wonder how many assists he has..bet its double figures and i wonder how many of them have been for Ross
ReplyDeleteRoss and Smith have the most assists, Ross being first.
DeleteMatt Smith doesn't really seem to do anything but score tap ins. I'd much rather get somebody signed like Marvin Emnes, Nahki Wells, Adam Le Fondre etc... And play them over Smith. I can't stand that hoofing game, it's boring to watch.
ReplyDeleteI recall another Leeds forward who loved a tap in, Mr Alan Clarke.
DeleteLol emnes seriously? No good at championship level..goal to game ratio poor..why he got signed to premier league ill never know..nakhi wells has worse goal to game record in championship although he has a poor team around him but then so do we at moment..I like le fondre he is the better from the three but again not had a good season and too similar to mccormack but not as prolific
DeleteBrian Deane and Lee Chapman spring to mind, we should give him a new contract along with a good run as a starter not from the bench
ReplyDeleteDefinatly worth an extended contract, a great first season with limited opportunities at the start. He should be well made up with Chapman comparisons and if the club can offer Stuart(WHY?) a three year contract, surely the big man is worth the same.
ReplyDeleteComments comparing Smith and Chapman are right but only half the story. Chapman's very presence gave the opposition enough problems to enable Wallace, Speed, Strachan to play the clever stuff and mix the game up.
ReplyDeleteUsing Smith with Ross McC., Sam B, Alex M can, hopefully, give us the same options; plus any talented players 'Don' Cellino can bring in.
Unfortunately, I think it's beyond BMcD to see that so he should go.
Totally agree mate. MD is no Sgt. Wilko.
DeleteI said in January 2013 that we should sign him and compared him to Joe Jordan I wrote to Warnock urging him to sign him as he brings a threat to set plays hes vindicated my opinion .I think he will play for Scotland soon
ReplyDelete