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Post by QuorndonShrew on Sept 5, 2011 0:08:48 GMT 1
Is it just me or is Ben Smith perhaps the most underrated player we've ever had?
It just got me thinking right, I can't remember a time I've ever come out a game and thought 'if it wasnt for Smith, we'd have won that game' or whatever. I think he's probably the goalkeeper I have felt most assured and confident with possibly since Paul Edwards all them years back.
Obviously some would say Joe Hart, and ofcourse he's up there. He cut his teeth with us and we helped make him the keeper he is today but we always knew he was gonna flee the nest eventually and was always too good for this level. You could say Luke Daniels or Scott Shearer, the former playing probably the greatest performance by any goalkeeper in a match I've ever seen but before then he was prone to errors which you come to expect from a keeper that young. And neither him nor Shearer were ever really ours anyway.
I just think while Ainsworth and Morgan get the plaudits going forward, this guy is in my opinion as good a goalkeeper as there is at this level. A bit Shay Given esque in that you would argue he's 6 ft but his shot stopping and general agility is fantastic like Given's is second to none.
He'll hopefully end this search for a decent long standing goalkeeper that we seem to have had over recent years.
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Post by oteley on Sept 5, 2011 0:37:32 GMT 1
Decent keeper, started this season where he left off last. Button and Philips had very good loan spells, but Smith looks the part at the minute.
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Post by QuorndonShrew on Sept 5, 2011 0:40:59 GMT 1
I forgot about Button aha. That was a dark period for me where the attraction of seeing a Shrewsbury side managed by Paul Simpson was about as appealing as a night in a strip club with Germaine Greer. Anyone know where David Button plays these days?
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Post by WorcesterShrew on Sept 5, 2011 0:48:46 GMT 1
Wouldn't argue with that, a very good shot stopper in particular, he gives me a lot of confidence, along with all the defence in fairness who probably take the pressure off him. David Button is the one player I'd say you've missed, seem to remember him being absolutely brilliant for us at this level, always going to go on to bigger and better things though, probably superior to Daniels in my opinion, Daniels was just exceptional in that play off game versus Bury but despite being good he was never consistently brilliant like Button. Keepers are rarely praised like the players at the other end but hopefully that means he'll stay a while, I'd be happy to have him between the sticks for us in League One next season
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Post by WorcesterShrew on Sept 5, 2011 0:53:29 GMT 1
I forgot about Button aha. That was a dark period for me where the attraction of seeing a Shrewsbury side managed by Paul Simpson was about as appealing as a night in a strip club with Germaine Greer. Anyone know where David Button plays these days? I'm sure I saw Button at fault actually for a goal on the football league show on Saturday, I think he's on loan at Leyton Orient which surprises me a little as I'd of thought he could be playing at a higher level, especially after he was at Plymouth in the Championship last season, albeit they got relegated.
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Post by QuorndonShrew on Sept 5, 2011 1:02:25 GMT 1
I forgot about Button aha. That was a dark period for me where the attraction of seeing a Shrewsbury side managed by Paul Simpson was about as appealing as a night in a strip club with Germaine Greer. Anyone know where David Button plays these days? I'm sure I saw Button at fault actually for a goal on the football league show on Saturday, I think he's on loan at Leyton Orient which surprises me a little as I'd of thought he could be playing at a higher level, especially after he was at Plymouth in the Championship last season, albeit they got relegated. Yeah answered my own question and googled it and he's at Leyton Orient. One point from five league games tells a story of its own and they've conceded a hatful too. He's had about 7 or 8 loan spells in his career and he's only 22 which never bodes well plus he's got three very capable keepers at least in front of him at Spurs. I think he's probably found his level at league one, certaintly a very capable keeper from what I saw in the few times I saw him down here.
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Post by Feedo Gnasher on Sept 5, 2011 7:50:40 GMT 1
Smith's constantly improving too. He's got the number one (25 ) jersey sewn up for the foreseeable. I'd definitely offer him a contract for next year, whatever league we're in.
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Post by Hatfieldshrew on Sept 5, 2011 8:51:39 GMT 1
I think the reason for Smith to be a bit underrated is because of the start he had here, it wasn't helped by the fact we had Button between the sticks the year before, who had played so well. When he 1st came in to the side he was blamed for a few slip ups, but fair play to the lad he has got better.
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Post by thepottedshrew on Sept 5, 2011 8:59:13 GMT 1
We have two decent stoppers at the club at the moment in Smith and Neal which is a great position to be in. IMO the most consistent of the two is between the sticks at present but this is helped by having Neal breathing down his neck all the time. The strongest goalkeeping pairing since Howie/Hart back in the day.
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Post by Scarecrow on Sept 5, 2011 10:54:17 GMT 1
Tbh we've been spoilt when it comes to keepers in our league. I have not seen a bad keeper in a town shirt since Dunbavin. I think that we take our number 1 for granted sometimes but Smith seems to be a player who not only looked good when he arrived but has improved so much in the space of 1 year, his communication has been super in recent games and I feel comfortable with a goalkeeper like smith behind every shot. While other players get praised I think smith has won points on his own so far and has been Mr Consistent along with SCS and if we go up I think we will have a very good goalkeeper at that level too.
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Post by SouthStandShrew on Sept 5, 2011 11:25:56 GMT 1
Years ahead of the out of his depth Chris Neal.
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Post by Pilch on Sept 5, 2011 11:34:54 GMT 1
i've never faulted him safe hands and very reliable like all keepers he does make mistakes but instantly learns from them instead of letting them effect his confidence the penalty on saturday was a great example of his confidence , a great keeper holds the shot, a less confident one doesn't even attempt to hold the ball cue him having a mare on saturday
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Post by venceremos on Sept 5, 2011 12:01:26 GMT 1
Has been a very fine keeper for us and I hope he'll continue to be. If he was a little taller he'd attract attention from further up the chain but I read the other day that 6' is considered too short for a Premier League keeper these days and I'm not sure Smith's even that height.
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Post by shrewinjapan on Sept 5, 2011 12:02:35 GMT 1
He did some quality Scott Howie style jumping about (but kept it essentially lateral and therefore legal) as Kedwell was about to take his penalty. Seems a solid keeper to me.
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Post by ipswichshrews on Sept 5, 2011 12:08:52 GMT 1
Sitting behind the goal on Saturday and in particular the second half, I’ve always been impressed by how alert & on his toes he his to clearing balls approaching the edge of the box, how reliable he is to receive back passes in tight spaces and together with SCS and Sharps offers a strong and confidence unit at the back of defence.
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Post by Exkeeper on Sept 5, 2011 15:31:00 GMT 1
Scarecrow, you have never seen a bad keeper in a Town shirt since Bavo? May i suggest that even Bavo was better than Chris McKenzie, and Glyn Garner didn't cover himself in glory. As for Smith, he seems to be getting steadily better. Once, early in the second half on Saturday, he nearly cost us, by staying glued to his line and failing to claim a long ball, but soon afterwards did the job perfectly in a similar situation. Still, as their keeper proved at the end, sometimes you can be too rash when coming off your line.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 5, 2011 16:02:40 GMT 1
Scarecrow, you have never seen a bad keeper in a Town shirt since Bavo? May i suggest that even Bavo was better than Chris McKenzie, and Glyn Garner didn't cover himself in glory. As for Smith, he seems to be getting steadily better. Once, early in the second half on Saturday, he nearly cost us, by staying glued to his line and failing to claim a long ball, but soon afterwards did the job perfectly in a similar situation. Still, as their keeper proved at the end, sometimes you can be too rash when coming off your line. And what do you know about goal-keeping
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Post by QuorndonShrew on Sept 5, 2011 16:08:09 GMT 1
I have to agree with exkeeper on this one. Glyn Garner wasn't an awful goalkeeper but the ridiculous money he was rumoured to be earning for warming the bench would make a championship goalkeeper blush. And although Scott Howie will be remembered for his heroics in Stoke and rightly so, his relationship with Darren Tinson in particular was tepid to say the least. You got the feeling Tinson was not 100% confident in Howie's ability.
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Post by Scarecrow on Sept 5, 2011 16:12:47 GMT 1
Scarecrow, you have never seen a bad keeper in a Town shirt since Bavo? May i suggest that even Bavo was better than Chris McKenzie, and Glyn Garner didn't cover himself in glory. As for Smith, he seems to be getting steadily better. Once, early in the second half on Saturday, he nearly cost us, by staying glued to his line and failing to claim a long ball, but soon afterwards did the job perfectly in a similar situation. Still, as their keeper proved at the end, sometimes you can be too rash when coming off your line. Your right sorry exkeeper, I conceed with Chris McKenzie. A truely awful player. Completely forgot about him, but I actually liked Garner however I think he became the scapegoat for Peters in the end.
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Post by Exkeeper on Sept 5, 2011 16:48:18 GMT 1
Scarecrow, you have never seen a bad keeper in a Town shirt since Bavo? May i suggest that even Bavo was better than Chris McKenzie, and Glyn Garner didn't cover himself in glory. As for Smith, he seems to be getting steadily better. Once, early in the second half on Saturday, he nearly cost us, by staying glued to his line and failing to claim a long ball, but soon afterwards did the job perfectly in a similar situation. Still, as their keeper proved at the end, sometimes you can be too rash when coming off your line. And what do you know about goal-keeping Not a lot Mike, but as Joe Mercer used to say, "Show us your medals".
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Post by Deleted on Sept 5, 2011 17:48:10 GMT 1
You old barsteward Mark, thought i'd get a bigger bite than that.
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Post by Exkeeper on Sept 5, 2011 18:13:13 GMT 1
You old barsteward Mark, thought i'd get a bigger bite than that. I always set out to ensure that my "keepnet" remained empty.
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Post by Bordershrew on Sept 5, 2011 19:21:43 GMT 1
Ryan Esson was a bit shaky as well, although he seems to be quite highly rated north of the border.
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Post by ssshrew on Sept 5, 2011 19:26:00 GMT 1
Think he was unlucky with confidence to be fair - wasn't he the one who had a nasty facial injury at Boston when we played them?
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Post by albionshrew on Sept 5, 2011 21:29:35 GMT 1
Sitting behind the goal on Saturday and in particular the second half, I’ve always been impressed by how alert & on his toes he his to clearing balls approaching the edge of the box, how reliable he is to receive back passes in tight spaces and together with SCS and Sharps offers a strong and confidence unit at the back of defence. He was also shouting out the orders to the rest of the team as well - all 10 not just the defenders. The naughty boy even swore once!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 5, 2011 23:10:56 GMT 1
I wouldnt be 100% confident with either of our goalkeeping choices if we made the step up. Smiths shot stopping has been decent, i dont remember him spilling too many crosses to be fair, but its his positioning which i sometimes question.
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Post by hooverfoxhat on Sept 17, 2011 22:33:08 GMT 1
Having been a 'reader' on this forum for a good few years now I feel I have to speak my mind in this situation... I have never read such fickle support and what a perfect situation this is! 3rd top of the league.... You don't get there unless you have a good keeper and good team in front of them! Everyone is allowed to make a mistake and the battering they get by you lot on here after one is embarrassing! Don't you think they read your bull s**t??? Encouraging to do better... I think not... More demoralising than anything! I could understand if we were mid table and mistakes like that are being made but when we are up top let's show the lads some support and keep them going! Suggesting players who have been outstanding for us should be dropped after a mistake is ridiculous and then you go on about players having no respect for fans (harrold situation).... What do you expect... They must think that 'we' are a bunch of utter w****rs! Talk about 'only singing when we are winning!'..... We are still moaning when we are winning.....we won today! Where has anyone suggested he be dropped? Merely commenting on GTs post match interview and the concern about lack of clean sheets!
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Post by WindsorShrew on Sept 17, 2011 22:36:54 GMT 1
Ryan Esson was a bit shaky as well, although he seems to be quite highly rated north of the border. Shaky... he was shambolic...... an utter s**te keeper if ever there was.....yukkerty yuk. I p**sed him off at Trickys party when he nearly dropped the bowl of crisps,,,,,did I say s**te I was being generous.
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Post by len on Sept 17, 2011 22:43:21 GMT 1
Sounded like he made a poor decision to come out today. Almost cost us vs Hereford too.
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soulshrew
Midland League Division One
The only Real Town Badge
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Post by soulshrew on Sept 18, 2011 10:26:44 GMT 1
Ben Smith is a reasonable keeper nothing more.
Every game he gives the oposition at least one chance either with a bad kick or throw, or makes a terrrible dash out of goal, luckily it has not really cost us this season.
If we get promoted we need better.
Oh and his distribution is not very good.
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