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Post by onevalefan on May 9, 2016 15:19:11 GMT
Hi,
I run a Port Vale fans website - onevalefan - and I'm delighted that you managed to stay up after such an awful first-half of the season. I followed your "great escape" with interest and I'm also pleased that Vale loanee Nathan Smith played a big part in keeping you up.
Smith is causing a fair bit of interest among Vale fans. Our playing budget will be reduced next season and as a result, there is a hope that a local youngster like Nathan may potentially be able to be a first-team player for us.
I just wanted to know (as you will have seen far more of him playing than me) if any of you could let me know:
1. Has he mainly been playing at centre-half? If so is that a back four, a back three...
2. What's he like in terms of pace, heading, tackling?
3. Do you reckon he's ready for League One football? Or still needs more time to develop?
4. Any other comments on how he's performed this season. I know he watched a couple of games from the terraces how did that go down with fans?
Thanks a lot to anyone who answered - your responses will potentially help form a blog post on my site.
Best of luck to Torquay next season, I hope the next season is dramatic for the right (rather than the wrong) reasons in 2016-17.
Cheers,
Rob
onevalefan.co.uk
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Post by Ditmar van Nostrilboy on May 9, 2016 16:37:07 GMT
Hi Rob, he's pretty good for this level to be honest. 1-Yes and a back 4. 2-Good to all 3, not sure how tall he is & seems slight build for a centre back but still better in the air than you would think. 3-Personally speaking I think it would probably be a jump too far, League 2 yes but another years experience possibly before League 1 where the opposition will obviously be better quality. 4- Probably the most consistently good player in the squad. Bit of weight work without bulking too much will probably benefit him (but obviously not to the extreme of someone like Akinfenwa).
Do bear in mind that the opposition at this level can range from not bad to pretty much sunday pub team though, and certainly not as consistent as that at L1 level. Would hate for him to be "bigged up" and thrown in at the deep end before he's ready...
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on May 9, 2016 17:03:41 GMT
Just to add that he won both player of the season and Young player of the season! Top class attitude and just got on with things week in week out. Really gutted by your post as would have hoped he came back next season with us to further his development. Suspect he may struggle in league 1 next season but could surprise us all....
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jerry
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Post by jerry on May 9, 2016 17:27:35 GMT
At first glance I thought he was too "slight" to play centre half but he more than held his own against some of the "bruisers" in this league. His attitude is absolutely first class, in an absolutely dire season for us you could maybe have forgiven a young loanee for letting his head drop but this never happened once. Indeed I would say he showed more heart and desire than most of our own more experienced players. Thoroughly deserved his player of the year award and we would love him back for another season, but I think he deserves a crack at League football. League 1 may be a bit early for him but he certainly wouldn't let you down. I've had a soft spot for Vale ever since you stopped Exeter getting to Wembley in the Auto Windscreens Trophy in the early '90s. Thanks for that.  |
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Post by gateman49 on May 10, 2016 9:02:50 GMT
One thing not yet mentioned about Smiffy is his goal scoring capabilities. He managed to score some very important goals for us as part of the escape route. I particularly remember his over head kick against Kidderminster. There is a good picture of it on the official web site match report: www.torquayunited.com/fixtures-results/match-report/index.aspx?matchid=3844853I've an even softer spot for Vale as I saw us win up there on my only visit in 1970. |
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Post by taxilady on May 10, 2016 21:04:48 GMT
just answering your question about when he came on to the terraces with us : loved that, & I think that was a good indication of his attitude all season on (& off) the pitch..he gave 100 % every time. His attitude was even better than some of the players who were supposed to be 'our own'. Some of our posters on another forum thought that he probably wouldn't get 'player of the season' because 'he was only a loan player'..instead of which, he cleaned up & deservedly so. Well done Smudger !!
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Rob
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Post by Rob on May 10, 2016 21:14:35 GMT
Good player. Great attitude. A strong pre-season at his age and he may just do a decent job at League 1 for you. Am thinking League 2 for a year most likely to be his level for now, but I wouldn't completely rule him out of contention at Port Vale for 2016/17. Your manager should take as long a look at him as he needs before making a decision to loan him out. Torquay United would love to see him back, I expect.
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Jon
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Post by Jon on May 10, 2016 22:44:21 GMT
First two games at right back, next eleven left-centre-back in a 3-5-2 and thereafter left-sided centre-back in a flat back four.
Mature beyond his years with excellent positional sense and anticipation.
Not as tall or physically commanding as many centre-backs, but decent in the air, tenacious and resilient.
He is not slow, but I didn't notice that he was exceptionally quick - his sensible positioning meant he didn't get into the heroic cock-up retrieval scrapes that many lower league defenders do.
I would back him to be a decent League 1 player the season after next, but I would definitely prefer to see him back at Plainmoor next season!
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Post by onevalefan on Jul 7, 2016 14:34:36 GMT
Hi,
Sorry I never got back to say thank you all for your comments on Nathan Smith - they are much appreciated.
All the best for the new season!
Rob
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2016 17:36:42 GMT
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2016 23:59:09 GMT
Vale Park saw the big Norman Smurthwaite v Kelvin Thomas clash this afternoon. Out on the pitch that involved Nathan Smith against Jak McCourt. It was Kelvin and Jak (despite his yellow card) who were happier at the final whistle, as Northampton managed to win the game by three goals to Vale's two.   |
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petef
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Post by petef on Dec 12, 2016 18:06:57 GMT
Respect to Nathan great young player who I would guess learned an awful lot in last seasons struggle.
Even more respect.
--- He wears BLACK boots! ----
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