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They’re out to get you, Matt
Reporter: Matthew Chambers
Date online: 19 February 2013
New-found fame will bring tougher marking
MATT Smith is in line to start at Stevenage a marked man tonight.
The 23 year old has gained a world fan following with his scoring exploits in FA Cup ties against Liverpool and Everton.
Caretaker manager Tony Philliskirk could start with Smith in the side after his dramatic late entry as a sub on Saturday.
But with fame comes attention of the wrong kind, says Philliskirk: defenders will work hard on strategies to stop him.
"Matt is confident and riding the wave of emotion at the moment with everyone saying nice things about him," said Philliskirk, who made Smith a sub against the Toffees. The player had been out for three weeks with a shoulder injury.
"We make no bones about it. We threw on Matt against Everton, they sat deep and we slung it into the box and played off second balls. It is the unpredictability of that type of play that Everton wasn’t used to.
"The true test of Matt comes now. The exposure he has had means opponents will identify him. He has to go to the next level.
But Philliskirk's assistant, Paul Gerrard, feels Smith is becoming more aggressive in the fight in the air.
"He is attacking the ball now," said Gerrard. “He was quite timid when he came and was jumping from a standing start.
"Now he has that bit of belief and purpose. When you are that size there’s no stopping him."
Comments
Come on matt show us what we allways thought you could do and have done in the cup, but not in the league as of yet.
Tonights the night for more glory!!
pab - yes, see Dickov on TV telling us what good players Smith and Tarky were...and yet he wouldn't play them!
The thing with smith is (A) dickov wanted to play through midfield which obviously does not suit him.(B) the Liverpool game was the first time he has had a partner playing along side him feeding of his flick ons.( prior to this it was baxter in the hole behind him no where near him). ever since he signed he has won every header, even if other things have been lacking. to me he has just needed a partner who can read/ anticipate play. simpson seems to do this suprisingly well
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And to think for so long he was kept on the sidelines and farmed off to Macc while Kuqi was running around like a headless chicken. I'd be interested to know just how many postings along these lines I made last season and this.
By pablatic @ 19/02/2013 15:04:32