Tommy Smith - Gazumped by Pompey - Thread

[Archies Volley II]

I suspect that if we dont improve our offer for him he will remain at watford until then end of his contract being that he seems to be turning down the other clubs

When does his contract run out?

[Ian Royal]

roughly this time next year

[Archies Volley II]

roughly this time next year

Yeah - thats what I thought - as you say we could do with something happening a bit sooner!

[Royal Rother]

We would all have said the same thing about the starting line up in August 2005.

Not with Dave kitson leading the line.

Accompanied by the hot record signing Lita and the quality of Little on the wing

I dont think we thought it would pan out quite the way it did though thats for sure!!!

Did anyone consider Kiston was a PL striker in the making after 2005/5? Or that Lita signed for just £1m was going to be that good? Or that Little, after his poor time here on loan, still had it in him...?

[Ian Royal]

[

Not with Dave kitson leading the line.

Accompanied by the hot record signing Lita and the quality of Little on the wing

I dont think we thought it would pan out quite the way it did though thats for sure!!!

Did anyone consider Kiston was a PL striker in the making after 2005/5? Or that Lita signed for just £1m was going to be that good? Or that Little, after his poor time here on loan, still had it in him...?

Yes, me. I still think had Kitson not suffered from serious injuries in pretty much every season for us, he'd have been in the Prem before we were and probably would have played for England.

[Muskrat]

Personally i don't see him as a striker.

You'd be right then. Witness 7 goals in 46 appearances the season before last.

[moo]

Personally i don't see him as a striker.

You'd be right then. Witness 7 goals in 46 appearances the season before last.

in midfield i assume

[Geekins]

Personally i don't see him as a striker.

You'd be right then. Witness 7 goals in 46 appearances the season before last.

He always seemed to score against us but looked shit when actually playing. I'm being serious. Although if Rodgers invests in him i will get behind the fella as he's one of the team.

[Platypuss]

No new news, but the very fact of its existence suggests that this isn't dead yet.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2009/07/29/smith-targets-reading-move-115875-21555167/

[tee peg]

Reading are in the driving seat .Smith wont go to Sheffield so Watford have two choices and will end up
taking our offer or keeping Smith for a year and letting him go on a free.

[Agent Balti]

...or see him woefully under-perform until January and then they'll sell him at the price he should be for someone with less than a year left.

[tee peg]

Yes. Either way we should not,as suggested by some, cave into their (or Sheffields)ridiculous
valuation.

[M Brook]

Interesting comments at the end of this Watford Observer article about 'the invisible man'! Looks like he only played half an hour on their Spanish tour and didn't feature at all in the last game cos of 'shin problems'. 'Orns fans seem resigned to losing him. Would expect to see him in a hooped jersey before too long.
http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/ ... r_in_four/

[Ian Royal]

That's been the case for about 3 weeks though. Still hasn't happened yet.

I'm a bit fed up with the whole Smith thing to be honest.

[tee peg]

I think Watford are smarting from the take it or leave attitude of Reading.Smith wants to come here
but they want more money for him.Reading hold all the cards and the only other scenario is watford cutting
the nose off etc..

[BR2]

That's been the case for about 3 weeks though. Still hasn't happened yet.

I'm a bit fed up with the whole Smith thing to be honest.

As mentioned in another topic this reminds me so much of the Goater saga.
The rumour started at the end of the previous season (just like this one) and dragged on until just before the start of the season.
I think this one will happen just in time for our first game (10 days away) and he will have no time to train with the rest of the players.

[andrew1957]

I suspect the lack of activity re Smith is because Hunt has not been sold. As soon as he goes my guess is we will be back in for Smith. Reading between the lines it looks like the club have not made any of the Doyle transfer money available so the sale of Hunt is probably conditional before moving for Smith. The argument (rightly or wrongly) is probably that if Hunt stays we don't need Smith.

I still think Smith will be a Reading player by 31st August.

[RobRoyal]

I suspect the lack of activity re Smith is because Hunt has not been sold. As soon as he goes my guess is we will be back in for Smith. Reading between the lines it looks like the club have not made any of the Doyle transfer money available so the sale of Hunt is probably conditional before moving for Smith. The argument (rightly or wrongly) is probably that if Hunt stays we don't need Smith.

I still think Smith will be a Reading player by 31st August.

This sounds likely, but it bothers me slightly. If we're not prepared to up our offer for Smith without getting a big fee in for SHunt, well, it's frustrating but there you go. But I think the idea that Smith and Hunt are in any way interchangable on the field has been pretty much debunked. I've got my fingers crossed that we'll get that fee for Hunt, but if we do then we need a like-for-like replacement in addition to another forward (whether BR actually sees Smith as a front man, who knows). I don't see that our left-sided options are particularly strong without Hunt. Or with Hunt, for that matter.

[andrew1957]

I suspect the lack of activity re Smith is because Hunt has not been sold. As soon as he goes my guess is we will be back in for Smith. Reading between the lines it looks like the club have not made any of the Doyle transfer money available so the sale of Hunt is probably conditional before moving for Smith. The argument (rightly or wrongly) is probably that if Hunt stays we don't need Smith.

I still think Smith will be a Reading player by 31st August.

This sounds likely, but it bothers me slightly. If we're not prepared to up our offer for Smith without getting a big fee in for SHunt, well, it's frustrating but there you go. But I think the idea that Smith and Hunt are in any way interchangable on the field has been pretty much debunked. I've got my fingers crossed that we'll get that fee for Hunt, but if we do then we need a like-for-like replacement in addition to another forward (whether BR actually sees Smith as a front man, who knows). I don't see that our left-sided options are particularly strong without Hunt. Or with Hunt, for that matter.

Yes but if we play 4-5-1 Smith is probably seen as one of a front three - probably playing on the right side so either Kebe, Henry or Robson-Kanu (or even Noel Hunt) will be playing wide left with Long up front. You don't need to replace Hunt with this set up and the idea is that Smith and others will get goals to replace Doyle's tally. Not saying it will work - just that this seems to be the BR theory.

[Dirk Gently]

I suspect the lack of activity re Smith is because Hunt has not been sold. As soon as he goes my guess is we will be back in for Smith. Reading between the lines it looks like the club have not made any of the Doyle transfer money available so the sale of Hunt is probably conditional before moving for Smith. The argument (rightly or wrongly) is probably that if Hunt stays we don't need Smith.

I still think Smith will be a Reading player by 31st August.

This sounds likely, but it bothers me slightly. If we're not prepared to up our offer for Smith without getting a big fee in for SHunt, well, it's frustrating but there you go. But I think the idea that Smith and Hunt are in any way interchangable on the field has been pretty much debunked. I've got my fingers crossed that we'll get that fee for Hunt, but if we do then we need a like-for-like replacement in addition to another forward (whether BR actually sees Smith as a front man, who knows). I don't see that our left-sided options are particularly strong without Hunt. Or with Hunt, for that matter.

Yes but if we play 4-5-1 Smith is probably seen as one of a front three - probably playing on the right side so either Kebe, Henry or Robson-Kanu (or even Noel Hunt) will be playing wide left with Long up front. You don't need to replace Hunt with this set up and the idea is that Smith and others will get goals to replace Doyle's tally. Not saying it will work - just that this seems to be the BR theory.

What if we play it as a 4-2-3-1, as BR prefers? Why not have NHunt as the central one of the 3 - with his mobility and hassling abilities it could be perfect to have him play behind the main striker.