‘ Brad Smith ‘

Brad Smith

By Glen William

03/03/2020


Another player who supporters were keen to get a good look at was Brad Smith.

In January, the left back penned a short-term loan deal from Bournemouth until the end of the season, but, with seven games having passed since he signed, we are yet to see him in a Cardiff City shirt – in a senior capacity, that is.

Neil Harris has urged caution when it comes to the Cherries loanee, who has not played a senior game of football since November 14, when he started for Australia in a 1-0 win over Jordan, having turned out for his final Seattle Sounders game just four days before.

The Bluebirds boss has said the player and his staff have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to get him up to speed and while some fans have been left a little perplexed by his lack of first-team game time, Monday's clash with Watford was evidence that it was time well spent.

He started the game quietly, but, encouragingly for City fans, he grew stronger as the match wore on.

If fitness was anything to worry about, especially against an opposition of whippersnappers hungry to prove a point, Smith kept pace with the best of them.

It is certainly promising that he did not tire and wane as the game ticked over into its dying minutes.

In fact, on one occasion late in the game, he went into a crunching tackle against two Watford players, stole the ball and left them for dead, sprinting 50 yards up the left flank to start a counter-attack.

The icing on the cake, however, came in the 88th minute, when his weight-perfect diagonal cross found Mark Harris, who smartly tucked home a backheel volley to make it 3-1.

He certainly has the attributes going forward, of that there is no question, but he was scarcely tested running back to his own goal and that is conceivably the area about which Harris worries.

But with Joe Bennett seemingly being run into the ground, surely Smith's chance in the first team has to come soon?

Smith needs to play against Barnsley instead of Bennett

Smith needs to play against Barnsley instead of Bennett

Bennett is a poor defender. Like to see Smith given a try out; he’s out of contract this summer so if he performs well City will be in a good position to sign him up.

Paterson surely needs to sit out a game. Glatzel did well v Forest and then is dropped. Harris seems to feel Paterson is indispensable. Can’t see it myself.

I've supported bennet since he come here. But hes having a terrible season. He asked for competition, hes got it. Hopefully he gets given a good rest soon.

Smith needs to play against Barnsley instead of Bennett

Bennett is a poor defender. Like to see Smith given a try out; he’s out of contract this summer so if he performs well City will be in a good position to sign him up.

Paterson surely needs to sit out a game. Glatzel did well v Forest and then is dropped. Harris seems to feel Paterson is indispensable. Can’t see it myself.

ward seems to be better off the bench.. and glatzel...5 mill or not you cant just keep giving him a go, its like he has written a hundred letters to jim will fix it and his name keeps coming out...

Smith needs to play against Barnsley instead of Bennett

Bennett is a poor defender. Like to see Smith given a try out; he’s out of contract this summer so if he performs well City will be in a good position to sign him up.

Paterson surely needs to sit out a game. Glatzel did well v Forest and then is dropped. Harris seems to feel Paterson is indispensable. Can’t see it myself.

ward seems to be better off the bench.. and glatzel...5 mill or not you cant just keep giving him a go, its like he has written a hundred letters to jim will fix it and his name keeps coming out...

I just think the team plays better with Glatzel upfront. He brings other players into the game.

With Paterson upfront unless he gets a free kick for one of his theatrical dives after being touched in the back, the ball just bounces off him. He hasn't got enough pace to stretch the opposition defence and he plays just to get a flick on from a long ball.

However, there is no doubting Paterson's effort and knack for getting a goal (although he hasn't looked like scoring in the last couple of games). It depends what style we're looking for I guess.

Interestingly Paterson has 6 goals, Glatzel has 5 yet many think Paterson is a much greater goal threat.

Smith needs to play against Barnsley instead of Bennett

Bennett is a poor defender. Like to see Smith given a try out; he’s out of contract this summer so if he performs well City will be in a good position to sign him up.

Paterson surely needs to sit out a game. Glatzel did well v Forest and then is dropped. Harris seems to feel Paterson is indispensable. Can’t see it myself.

ward seems to be better off the bench.. and glatzel...5 mill or not you cant just keep giving him a go, its like he has written a hundred letters to jim will fix it and his name keeps coming out...

I just think the team plays better with Glatzel upfront. He brings other players into the game.

With Paterson upfront unless he gets a free kick for one of his theatrical dives after being touched in the back, the ball just bounces off him. He hasn't got enough pace to stretch the opposition defence and he plays just to get a flick on from a long ball.

However, there is no doubting Paterson's effort and knack for getting a goal (although he hasn't looked like scoring in the last couple of games). It depends what style we're looking for I guess.

Interestingly Paterson has 6 goals, Glatzel has 5 yet many think Paterson is a much greater goal threat.

ive tried seeing it..failed… so last week i looked at the stats, not goal scoring because tbh its the team effort , cohesion and wins that are important not which individual that ends up scoring. they confirmed what i thought mate.. WE don't score..WE don't win ,,or at least are far less likely to with RG playing..
15 goals with him on the park, 35 when he is not.. wins, 5 when he starts 7 when he does not...which isn't as obvious until you realise that of those 5 wins 3 were achieved with goals only after he had been hooked..
bringing others into play...he can control and pass if in space and the pass is obvious and simple..thats not bringing players into play there is more to it than that.