Adam Smith has not often been picked out as man of the match and yet it is undeniable that his contributions to games are getting stronger these days. The text he faced against Marko Arnautovic last Saturday was one of the hardest he has had all season, but he stuck to his game well and even gave a little back in the confrontation stakes when he got rattled with the treatment he was getting.
In away games Adam is usually singled out early as a player that annoys the away fans. I think Adam should take that as a compliment in a way, as he is the player who gets right into the game from the start and puts his body on the line by going into challenges where he is not always favourite to win the ball. He works extremely hard at trying to get back into position, and yet is often one of AFCB most advanced players when he sees the Cherries with the ball.
I saw the anger in Steve Cook's face just before the first Stoke City goal when Smith had been caught out a little and Cook had come to the rescue to stop Arnautovic getting a shot in on the break. There is a pecking order in the team and while Adam may not be near the top in being the newest member of the established back four, he holds his own and doesn't back out of confrontation.
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| Adam Smith takes a drink after his man of the match performance against Stoke City. |
I saw the anger in Steve Cook's face just before the first Stoke City goal when Smith had been caught out a little and Cook had come to the rescue to stop Arnautovic getting a shot in on the break. There is a pecking order in the team and while Adam may not be near the top in being the newest member of the established back four, he holds his own and doesn't back out of confrontation.
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It was in the last third though that Adam did his best work against Stoke. He has become a more precise in his crossing and looks up more now to ensure he beats the first defender and picks out a Bournemouth striker. His neat work with Fraser and Stanislas in the creation of his shot that came off the post, in the first half against Stoke, was another demonstration of how he will try and work himself into good shooting positions when he can. Smith's next job is to keep his play as consistent in future games.
The way Smith cut in early and unleashed with his left foot shows how he continually looks to improve his game.
ReplyDeleteIf AFCB ever decide to play three at the back, Smith and Daniels would be both well equipped to terrorise opposing defences.
I would love to see them play three at the back next season, but they cannot do that if the get John Terry. Plus they would need to keep Cook and Adam Smith- which I think one or both will leave.
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