Out of contract players

For me, you need Smallwood to be a sitter in a 3 man midfield, where he sits and the other two have legs. If he's in a 2, the other lad has far too much to cover and Smallwood looks far too open. Other than that, you might get the odd good game but he wont look the accomplished midfielder he should at this stage of his career. But yes, set pieces need taking away for sure.

Last season, he was statistically the 3rd best CM in the league behind Watt and Moxon, he might have been higher if his pass completion wasn't low due to his poor set pieces. This season he is way down on every metric possible, overall he is the 38th ranked CM in L2, which is still our best midfielder, but a huge fall but seemingly from his on the ball stats rather than off it.

This season, he has made the 2nd most successful tackles of any midfielder with 89 from 121 attempts. He has been dribbled past 32 times, which ranks him 17th in L2 (Gilliead was 9th in the list with 39). He has 38 interceptions which is 10th. He's 24th for shots blocked, he's 22nd for passes blocked. They aren't terrible, but last season he was in and around the top 5-10 for pretty much all. But going forward drags him way down and if you're in a 2 man midfield, you have to cover both areas. He's 62nd for shots from midfield with 16 over the season. He has passed it the 7th most of any midfielder, and 14th for pass completion but breaking it down further, he leads the league in inaccurate long passes this season with 226, and is 4th for inaccurate short passes, and he has yet to register an assist this season.

 

The club must use similar stats to these (or at least have access to)? On that basis, family link or not, there is no way, at his age and on his wage, he should be getting a new deal

 

Unless he is on reduced terms, I cant see it. He isn't mobile, he still puts a tackle in and gets involved, but he isn't a play maker and if you break down his contributions, you kind of buy yourself into a corner by giving him another contract because you can only really get the best out of him in one sitting role with legs around him these days. Being on set pieces all season with Kelly, Platt, Stubbs, Cook, sometimes Taylor or Tomkinson, all big units in the box for his balls in and he hasn't notched a single assist yet is shockingly bad. And, City have the 2nd best aerial win percentage in the league.... just not when he is whipping a ball in.

Turning 34 in the middle of next season, he might fancy a year or two in non-league. Gateshead or York style team, South Shields still have a play off chance in NLN.

 

Do the stats pick up the indirect results of a players involvement?

Thinking specifically about Alex Gilliead. For me, he does a huge amount of tracking back, closing down etc which then leads to another City player actually winning the ball. He also has the capability to drive forward with the ball then either winning free kicks or indirectly setting up attacks. I suspect that this is more subjective and difficult to measure?

 

Well that lot really fill me with confidence. We aren't going to be signing Kemp, given GA's first job at MKD was to send him out on loan to Swindon.

 

Smallwood. The gift that keeps on giving.

I'm not his biggest fan, but my barber really rates him and keeps telling me to watch him rather than the match and I'd get his point. He does have quality, I suspect we aren't using it well and what he really needs is an all action centre mid player alongside him so he could become the Gareth Whalley/ Nathan Doyle of the partnership.

He can tackle, he can play the ball short, he has agression when needed, he just fails at long balls and set pieces. I'm in two minds. IF we keep him, then it should be on no more than a one year extension.

 

Smallwood has got to go came with a good reputation but has been totally dissopointing in just about every game he's played. I fail to see any strong point of his game and wonder how many top 10 teams in league two would he get into week in week out

 

Excellent post. He frustrates me no end and I wanted him dropped throughout most of this season, and last. However, what you have very clearly outlined is that he should only be played in a three man midfield with two faster midfielders. He seems to play every match with or without 2 other midfielders by both managers we have had this season. They clearly have not picked up what you have. His set pieces are appalling, there is no other word for it. In this division you go nowhere without a specialist set piece player and a back up. I am undecided as to whether he should go. I certainly wouldn’t be pushing the boat out to keep him, like we did with Cook last year.

 

I think in order to progress we need to inject pace into the midfield. When I watched the Notts County game at home, they had a couple of players who ran around Smallwood as if he was stood still. I feel we can get better midfielders, who contribute more than the aimless punts we see more often than not from Smallwood. Again, compare him to Doyle under Parky and they’re miles apart.

 

We have quite a few players who won't be having their contract renewed. Some I would say would make great signings for any L2 club. Luke Young should be right up there on most L2 clubs shopping lists.

 

I'm one of Smallwood's biggest critics but I actually thought he was our MOTM on Saturday.

 

Did you not see his free kick that just trickled in to touch for a goal kick... ?

 

I watched the extended highlights today, 9 minutes of chances. Most chances seemed to start from him and it looked a direct contrast to what I was reading on here. I think one weakness, which shouldn’t even be exploited as he shouldn’t be on set pieces, can blind people.

 

I’d certainly give Gilly a 12 month extension. Great squad player. Adaptable sub too!

 

Three things for me if we are to keep Smallwood and get the best out of him:
- Play 352 so he’s not overrun.
- Take him off set pieces.
- Reduce his wages.

 

Hah! Great example of how a totally unsubstantiated rumor suddenly becomes 'truth'. We're selling Ibottson! No, we're not.

 

Agree with your first two points absolutely, Benito - particularly the second. We SO need to sign a real set-piece expert for this division. Or would people put Patto in that category. Your third point? Blimey Benito, your namesake was on forty grand a week here - what do you think Smallwood's on?

 

It looks like there's certainly interest

 

Man City can have him. £15m up front with a 75% sell on clause.

Trickle down economics.

On second thoughts does he have pace and mobility?

 

No idea but he seems to know where the back of the net is!