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He was a completely different player after his horrific injury.Possibly one of the worst players to get regular minutes under Ferguson. He was terrible up front so he was moved to midfield. Awful in midfield and didn’t even score - I always expected a coveted striker* to contribute goals from midfield but this kid didn’t have the knowhow to even get into positions.
He tried hard and ran a lot and got stuck in, but that’s not nearly enough now, and it certainly wasn’t then.
Since his first season at United he’s scored 10 goals in 15 years (around 330 games), scoring more than one in a season only once. Defenders with better records get criticised for that contribution.
*He wasn’t a striker, but he played up front. He was no position.
Yeah I agree . Smith was a player I liked when we first signed him but that injury changed him forever.He was a completely different player after his horrific injury.
He scored 10 goals in his first season, which was the only season he played as a forward, and RVN and Rooney were his competition. He was then moved to defensive midfield, which was very strange for a season and then had his injury.
That clearly ruined him, and to judge him on the same standards after that is absurd.
He was awful in the first season; he was moved to midfield because he was a striker who couldn’t score goals. 6 goals in 31 league games for a striker playing in the best team in the country.He was a completely different player after his horrific injury.
He scored 10 goals in his first season, which was the only season he played as a forward, and RVN and Rooney were his competition. He was then moved to defensive midfield, which was very strange for a season and then had his injury.
That clearly ruined him, and to judge him on the same standards after that is absurd.
Lots of players break their leg and recover, he clearly did not.He was awful in the first season; he was moved to midfield because he was a striker who couldn’t score goals. 6 goals in 31 league games for a striker playing in the best team in the country.
I don’t think it’s “absurd” to discuss a player’s ability and contribution whether they’ve had injuries or not. Plenty of players break their legs and come back the same (Andy Cole broke both in the same game and came back better). It seems like an excuse with Smith anyway.
Your last line shows a shocking lack of understanding about injuries and that they aren't all the same.He was awful in the first season; he was moved to midfield because he was a striker who couldn’t score goals. 6 goals in 31 league games for a striker playing in the best team in the country.
I don’t think it’s “absurd” to discuss a player’s ability and contribution whether they’ve had injuries or not. Plenty of players break their legs and come back the same (Andy Cole broke both in the same game and came back better). It seems like an excuse with Smith anyway.
He was awful in the first season; he was moved to midfield because he was a striker who couldn’t score goals. 6 goals in 31 league games for a striker playing in the best team in the country.
I don’t think it’s “absurd” to discuss a player’s ability and contribution whether they’ve had injuries or not. Plenty of players break their legs and come back the same (Andy Cole broke both in the same game and came back better). It seems like an excuse with Smith anyway.
thisReally liked Alan Smith. Started really well. Shocking injury ruined him. Will always think we’ll of him.
thisLots of players break their leg and recover, he clearly did not.
Alex Ferguson describes it as one of the worst injuries he’s seen. It’s utterly ridiculous to have to explain to you that there are many different magnitudes to an injury, and all leg breaks are not the same. Some players have a small fracture and are playing in 4 weeks, some never play again. The likes of Smith, Edwardo and David Busst have their careers completely changed or curtailed by such injuries.
He was popular* and tried hard - pretty sure the same can be said of Lingard, who is twice the player Smith ever was.I can't believe the people here criticising Smith. He may not have scored the number of goals of some forwards we've had but for one season he pretty much led the line alone in a "not great" United side and never gave less than 100% (which is more that you can say for some), linked play well and showed a real passion playing for the club - summed up in the awful moment where he was injured: no one else moved to block the free kick. He was also clearly well thought of by his teammates - the t-shirts they wore wishing him well spoke loudly!
Reading through your comments and sounds like you've some bizarre and intense disliking of Smith.He was awful in the first season; he was moved to midfield because he was a striker who couldn’t score goals. 6 goals in 31 league games for a striker playing in the best team in the country.
I don’t think it’s “absurd” to discuss a player’s ability and contribution whether they’ve had injuries or not. Plenty of players break their legs and come back the same (Andy Cole broke both in the same game and came back better). It seems like an excuse with Smith anyway.
I know what you mean. Reading through, as though I’m not me, it does seem as though I have a bizarre and intense disliking of him. I don’t.Reading through your comments and sounds like you've some bizarre and intense disliking of Smith.
Every injury is different, no 2 players are the same. They all have different physical make up and recover differently.
He was by no discernible measurement "rubbish".I know what you mean. Reading through, as though I’m not me, it does seem as though I have a bizarre and intense disliking of him. I don’t.
But, just for the record, in case I didn’t make it clear, pre and post injury Smith were both crap. The injury didn’t ruin him, he was already rubbish. Nothing personal against him, just his (lack of) ability.
You’re talking complete crap mate. Simply not true. He started off incredibly well and was our only source of goals for a while. He tailed off scoring but still had a very decent first season overall even though I do think he started to emerge as pretty average. If we’re stat obsessed 10 in 40 in all comps was one of his best ever scoring ratios for a player who wasn’t prolific.He was awful in the first season; he was moved to midfield because he was a striker who couldn’t score goals. 6 goals in 31 league games for a striker playing in the best team in the country.
I don’t think it’s “absurd” to discuss a player’s ability and contribution whether they’ve had injuries or not. Plenty of players break their legs and come back the same (Andy Cole broke both in the same game and came back better). It seems like an excuse with Smith anyway.
What a load of croc.Possibly one of the worst players to get regular minutes under Ferguson. He was terrible up front so he was moved to midfield. Awful in midfield and didn’t even score - I always expected a coveted striker* to contribute goals from midfield but this kid didn’t have the knowhow to even get into positions.
He tried hard and ran a lot and got stuck in, but that’s not nearly enough now, and it certainly wasn’t then.
Since his first season at United he’s scored 10 goals in 15 years (around 330 games), scoring more than one in a season only once. Defenders with better records get criticised for that contribution.
*He wasn’t a striker, but he played up front. He was no position.
He absolutely wasn't "crap".I know what you mean. Reading through, as though I’m not me, it does seem as though I have a bizarre and intense disliking of him. I don’t.
But, just for the record, in case I didn’t make it clear, pre and post injury Smith were both crap. The injury didn’t ruin him, he was already rubbish. Nothing personal against him, just his (lack of) ability.
You sure he didn't bully you at school or steal your girlfriend or something? Sure sounds like it.I know what you mean. Reading through, as though I’m not me, it does seem as though I have a bizarre and intense disliking of him. I don’t.
But, just for the record, in case I didn’t make it clear, pre and post injury Smith were both crap. The injury didn’t ruin him, he was already rubbish. Nothing personal against him, just his (lack of) ability.
He was never really prolific, not even at Leeds. So it's no surprise he didn't score when he was converted to a defensive midfielder. He only became available because Leeds fell apart, otherwise I doubt Fergie would have thought of going after him. But Fergie knew what he was getting: a player with some bite, a workhouse and a guy who gave his all to the team. And I think he showed those attributes every time he played.Possibly one of the worst players to get regular minutes under Ferguson. He was terrible up front so he was moved to midfield. Awful in midfield and didn’t even score - I always expected a coveted striker* to contribute goals from midfield but this kid didn’t have the knowhow to even get into positions.
He tried hard and ran a lot and got stuck in, but that’s not nearly enough now, and it certainly wasn’t then.
Since his first season at United he’s scored 10 goals in 15 years (around 330 games), scoring more than one in a season only once. Defenders with better records get criticised for that contribution.
*He wasn’t a striker, but he played up front. He was no position.
True enough, though it felt a bit inappropriate to me since the same gesture was made for the passing of Jimmy Davis the year before.I can't believe the people here criticising Smith. He may not have scored the number of goals of some forwards we've had but for one season he pretty much led the line alone in a "not great" United side and never gave less than 100% (which is more that you can say for some), linked play well and showed a real passion playing for the club - summed up in the awful moment where he was injured: no one else moved to block the free kick. He was also clearly well thought of by his teammates - the t-shirts they wore wishing him well spoke loudly!
Utter utter tosh.He was awful in the first season; he was moved to midfield because he was a striker who couldn’t score goals. 6 goals in 31 league games for a striker playing in the best team in the country.
I don’t think it’s “absurd” to discuss a player’s ability and contribution whether they’ve had injuries or not. Plenty of players break their legs and come back the same (Andy Cole broke both in the same game and came back better). It seems like an excuse with Smith anyway.
He had been converted from a terrible striker to a terrible midfielder long before his injury.He was by no discernible measurement "rubbish".
That's the sort of ludicrous post you often see about premier league players.
He was a good player for Leeds, a strong part of their really good team in that euro semi run.
He was decent for us. Injury massively changed him in role and level.
No more to it really. No reason to try and play him down so heavily.
In his best season he scored 6 league goals.You’re talking complete crap mate. Simply not true. He started off incredibly well and was our only source of goals for a while. He tailed off scoring but still had a very decent first season overall even though I do think he started to emerge as pretty average. If we’re stat obsessed 10 in 40 in all comps was one of his best ever scoring ratios for a player who wasn’t prolific.
To say he was awful in his first season is laughable you’ve completely pulled that from your arse.