Paul Smith

[Baronvon]

Does anyone have the video of Smithy's save against Reading? Preferably on YouTube?

There you go.

 

[Kier]

Well he wasn't too impressive on Saturday was he? His pathetic attempt at a punch gifted them their second goal.

He should have done better with the first goal was well.

In his defence the other goals weren't really his fault and he did make a superb reaction save in the second half to deny them a sixth.

 

[winnits]

Their first goal was a cracker, I can't see why you'd expect him to do much more about it - I would expect a defender to close down the shot though.

He made one real mistake, which was a bad punch - so that's him written off for you, is it?

 

[Kier]

Their first goal was a cracker, I can't see why you'd expect him to do much more about it - I would expect a defender to close down the shot though.

He made one real mistake, which was a bad punch - so that's him written off for you, is it?

I never said I was writing him off!

He is a good keeper who I think had a poor game on Saturday nothing more, I think we would struggle to find another keeper who is as good.

I was merely commenting on what was an unusually poor performance, that's all.

 

[winnits]

He made one mistake. Does that make it a poor performance?

 

[Kier]

He made one mistake.  Does that make it a poor performance?

It wasn't just the one mistake though was it? His command of the box was appalling and the first goal he should have saved.

I think it was a bad day at the office for what is a good keeper, nothing more. I'm not calling for him to replaced!

 

[winnits]

Disagree on first goal, disagree on commanding - if you want a keeper who comes haring out his goal at every opportunity then great, but personally I'd prefer the one we have.

What exactly does 'commanding the box' entail?

 

[Spring Heeled Jack]

It wasn't just the one mistake though was it? His command of the box was appalling and the first goal he should have saved.

I think it was a bad day at the office for what is a good keeper, nothing more. I'm not calling for him to replaced!

Are you the old Kier, back from the dead, or a new Kier, inadvertently posing as former LTLF legend, Kier?

 

[Rich]

Hennesey made an identical mistake. His team didn't lose.

I've only seen it once, to be fair, but from what I saw punching it seemed like the right thing to do.

Punching it into the back of a defenders head was probably not his finest moment, put I hardly think that justifies saying he had a bad game.

The highlights showed a couple of excellent stops and one remarkable save.

I suppose, unlike a lot of the team, even at 5-1 down he was still giving it his all.

Speaking of taking crosses, I think I have a new favourite goalkeeper in Tottenhams latest acquisition - Gomes.

I think he lacks a bit in the basic positioning, but my word he must have poured Pepsi onto his gloves yesterday!

 

[Baronvon]

Whether the second goal was his fault or not (I haven't seen it so I can't comment) it'd be interesting to see how many goals over the course of the season we concede because of a Smith error.

I doubt the figure would even reach five.

 

[Kier]

Disagree on first goal, disagree on commanding - if you want a keeper who comes haring out his goal at every opportunity then great, but personally I'd prefer the one we have.

What exactly does 'commanding the box' entail?

A keeper who comes out and claims crosses/free kicks confidently something he simply did not do on Saturday.

Don't get me wrong I like Paul Smith I just think he a rare poor game. I am also not laying the defeat at his door either.

 

[Baronvon]

A keeper who comes out and claims crosses/free kicks confidently something he simply did not do on Saturday.

He claims crosses when it's feasible to do so. There are keepers that come out for more crosses than him, granted, but those keepers will come out and miss far more crosses than he does too which is far worse than staying on your line.

The thing that people should be judging is how many crosses Smith comes for and DOESN'T get to. Another figure that will be incredibly low.

 

[adam09]

What exactly does 'commanding the box' entail?

I'd too like to know this!

 

[adam09]

A keeper who comes out and claims crosses/free kicks confidently something he simply did not do on Saturday.

Yeah, and how many goals came from crosses? 1 low drilled cross where the guy was completely unmarked and the 1 he messed up on.

We rarely even conceed goals from crosses that Smith could feasibly come to collect.

 

[Rich]

What exactly does 'commanding the box' entail?

It's a phrase bandied about by those who see Premiership goalkeepers telling their defence what to do.

What they don't seem to realise is that it is a two way street.

Smith and Breckin work well together in this, as was evidenced against Watford, when Smith told Brecks to clear the ball and he duly did it. Still didn't stop people criticising Smith.

I get the feeling, and I could be totally wrong as I don't know Morgan or Wilson, that they struggle to listen to direction from the goalkeeper.

I saw a couple of clips of Wilson before he joined us, and that was something I thought he suffered with at Preston. Could be the reason we got him quite cheaply, as he is worth a lot more than we paid for him if you only take his tackling and defensive stuff into account.

If you watch Smith off the ball, as I know Al has done, you will see someone directing the play. If the defenders decide not to listen, who is really at fault?

I'd be comfortable with Smith in goal if we got promoted. I know many wouldn't but I would. I don't thnk he is quite Petr Cech, but I would certainly put him in a similar standing to the likes of Craig Gordon.

2 or 3 years more experience and he will be a real asset. If hye leaves us, I'd be willing to bet the fee is a lot higher than we would receive for pretty much any other player in our squad.

 

[uredsuns]

What exactly does 'commanding the box' entail?

Heres two bloke no one has ever heard of telling you .

 

[Rich]

The thing that people should be judging is how many crosses Smith comes for and DOESN'T get to. Another figure that will be incredibly low.

Excellent point, I saw David James come for a cross on Saturday and completely miss it, almost resulting in a goal, but for an excellent clearance.

I don't think I've ever seen Smith go for a cross and not get anything on it at all.

What is important to remember is that even if a catch is slightly spilled, or if he gets only a slight touch on the ball, it takes the ball off it's natural course, which more often than not results in an oncoming striker not getting to it.

 

[Lovejoy's Hair Island]

Whether the second goal was his fault or not (I haven't seen it so I can't comment) it'd be interesting to see how many goals over the course of the season we concede because of a Smith error.

I doubt the figure would even reach five.

ok he is young and still learning, crossley was young made mistakes then firmly cemented his name as one of the best keeprs in the league , david james when young made a hell of alot more mistakes than smudge and now in his 30's which is the age when they peak he is englands number 1 .Smudge is young and still learning and being a keeper you need confidence if you were 4-0 down after 40 minutes i think your coinfidence would be shot everything thats flung towards you goes in its a blip thats all last week sat and wed he was described as the best keeper outside the premier league now he's crap ?

 

[Samuel]

I really do feel sorry for Smith. He can't win at all!

In my opinion he is the best goalkeeper I have seen in a Forest jersey. Granted, I have only seen Ward and Gerrard, but he has been the best out of both. Smith has the makings of a great keeper for us, he is a huge asset, he asses his problems then works to solve them, a reaction time which is second to none, fantastic shot stopper (how many times does he parry the ball infront of him for example?)

In my opinion, unfortunate not to be considered for the England team, Capello doesn't seem to know there is a league under the shitership.

 

[adam09]

Heres two bloke no one has ever heard of telling you .

A good video, but surely positioning is not the same as commanding the box?

Commanding the box to me, would be telling your defenders when to clear it or leave it, where the opposition is in relation to them (eg "he's behind you!"), organisation for set pieces - like a film director really, telling people where to go and what to do.

 

[Rich]

Commanding the box is exactly that, Adam.

Positioning is positioning. Commanding is commanding.

Often people class the ability to take crosses as commanding. Personally, I see that as cross taking.

Commanding is about telling people what to do, and making sure it is done. It is also about relieving pressure, whether that be through coming off your line and gathering up, directing a ball into touch or being aware that someone is creeping up the backdoor on a corner.

A defender only see's the game they are playing, a commanding goalkeeper has to effecively commentate on the bits the defender isn't watching.

 

[adam09]

Perhaps people mix up commanding in the communication sense, with commanding in the sense of having a big presence, which is what coming from crosses and stuff like that would fall under.

In fact, you can clearly see Breckin ducks away from heading to ball to let Smith punch it, so he must have shouted for it.

 

[Northern Monkey]

Aftersome serious thought, I've decided that Smith isn't the best Goalkeeper outside the premiership. It's Marcus Hahnemann.

Smith is bloody good though, and will be even better in a few years.

 

[Rich]

Hahnemann was at fault a bit on Saturday.

He is a bloody ghood goalkeeper, though, and I'm surprised he's still at Reading.

 

[uredsuns]

Hahnemann was at fault a bit on Saturday.

He is a bloody ghood goalkeeper, though, and I'm surprised he's still at Reading.

Didnt he want to leave in the summer?

Sure I heard or read that he wanted a transfer.