Re: Matty Smith : Sat Sep 11, 2010 9:31 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

This is a problem only if the club considers there is no place for him. On the evidence of last night, there is a place for him but not instead of Eastmond; rather as well as. He would complement Eastmond I think, providing us with a much rounder halfback partnership than we have at present. Kyle is flashy and he darts and ducks around. He can also kick over the tryline very well indeed. But other teams will try and nulify that and will succeed over time. We needed a foil: someone who could add a different kind of unpredictability; something Smith would do with his kicking game. On top of that, Smith can organise. I'm not at all sure Kyle can.

It's a shame we let him go but that's how it is. Perhaps if he plays for us again in two weeks he'll have a rubbish game and everyone on here can tell me what a dork I am and how I don't know what I'm talking about.

Pryce is a shoe-in at stand-off. Therefore you'd have Eastmond and Smith both vying for the scrum half position, with neither of them happy to be second choice. You don't often have the luxury of being able to field a reserve scrum half on the bench given the need to spell your forwards.

So while I'm sure he could complement Eastmond, I'm pretty sure Smith wouldn't be happy with playing back-up.

Re: Matty Smith : Sat Sep 11, 2010 11:39 pm  

Some people need to get some perspective. Matty Smith had a great game on Friday but in a Saints shirt he has not shown the consistency to warrant the jersey. I'm grateful for what he did, and I hope he does it again if called upon, but I don't think a mistake was made in letting him go. I'm happy with our half back options when everyone is fit and I don't think Matty would be in the first 17.

Re: Matty Smith : Sun Sep 12, 2010 12:04 am  

SaintsFan wrote: Just think. How many times have you seen Kyle kick mid field? Plenty. Often turning round the back three too. How many 40/20s has he attempted? Plenty, made a fair few too. I thought you watched all of the home games? Christ, I can't believe this is even a debate, look at the stats for this year alone. He's better than him in most stats, and is only a small distance behind in kicks in general play and attacking kicks. In half the matches. Yet you haven't seen Eastmond make kicks from mid field? And you'd prefer Smith to Eastmond?

SaintsFan wrote: Just think. How many times have you seen Kyle kick mid field? Plenty. Often turning round the back three too. How many 40/20s has he attempted? Plenty, made a fair few too. I thought you watched all of the home games? Christ, I can't believe this is even a debate, look at the stats for this year alone. He's better than him in most stats, and is only a small distance behind in kicks in general play and attacking kicks. In half the matches. Yet you haven't seen Eastmond make kicks from mid field? And you'd prefer Smith to Eastmond?

Re: Matty Smith : Sun Sep 12, 2010 1:00 am  

Billinge_Lump wrote:

Plenty, made a fair few too. I thought you watched all of the home games?

Kyle has only kicked one forty twenty in his entire career and it came in 2008.

Re: Matty Smith : Sun Sep 12, 2010 1:10 am  

MickeyMo wrote:

Some people need to get some perspective. Matty Smith had a great game on Friday but in a Saints shirt he has not shown the consistency to warrant the jersey. I'm grateful for what he did, and I hope he does it again if called upon, but I don't think a mistake was made in letting him go. I'm happy with our half back options when everyone is fit and I don't think Matty would be in the first 17.

This is all that needs to be said on the matter.

Re: Matty Smith : Sun Sep 12, 2010 6:51 am  

Saddened! wrote:

Kyle has only kicked one forty twenty in his entire career and it came in 2008.

The one at Wakey? Thought he'd done more than that.

Re: Matty Smith : Sun Sep 12, 2010 7:27 am  

It's quite simple - Eastmond is a special player, Smith is a good kicker. If Eastmond is fit, Smith doesn't get a look in.

Would Smith have won us the play-off against Wigan last season with ball in hand? Would he have scored that try in the GF last year? Would he have terrorised the Kiwis like Kyle did last year?

Let's face it - Eastmond is better, which is why Smith is playing for Salford next year. Smith is 23 and won't want to be sitting around waiting for Kyle to get injured, so it's not even a debate.

Plus, why should we be in constant contact with Matty? He was on a season long loan and everybody knew full well he would sign for Salford and wouldn't get an offer from Saints, including Matty himself.

Re: Matty Smith : Sun Sep 12, 2010 7:32 am  

FearTheVee wrote:

It's quite simple - Eastmond is a special player, Smith is a good kicker. If Eastmond is fit, Smith doesn't get a look in.

Would Smith have won us the play-off against Wigan last season with ball in hand? Would he have scored that try in the GF last year? Would he have terrorised the Kiwis like Kyle did last year?

Let's face it - Eastmond is better, which is why Smith is playing for Salford next year. Smith is 23 and won't want to be sitting around waiting for Kyle to get injured, so it's not even a debate.

Plus, why should we be in constant contact with Matty? He was on a season long loan and everybody knew full well he would sign for Salford and wouldn't get an offer from Saints, including Matty himself.

I agree with all of that.

If Kyle is back for the semi, would it be worth going with smith and Kyle at halfback?

Re: Matty Smith : Sun Sep 12, 2010 7:35 am  

St pete wrote:

I agree with all of that.

If Kyle is back for the semi, would it be worth going with smith and Kyle at halfback?

In the absence of Pryce and Lomax it's a certainty IMO.

Re: Matty Smith : Sun Sep 12, 2010 7:40 am  

FearTheVee wrote:

In the absence of Pryce and Lomax it's a certainty IMO.

I think I'd go with smith and Kyle even if lomax is back.