Ryan Smith

[Koke]

Derby accept Millwall's bid for Smith

Derby County have accepted a bid from Millwall, reported to be around £150,000, for midfielder Ryan Smith.

The 20-year-old winger has been heavily linked with a move to the New Den following a successful six-game loan spell last season.

Rams manager Billy Davies confirmed that Smith looked set to leave Pride Park.

"Derby have moved to a different level now," he said. "With the greatest respect, we need players who can go out and compete for us at that level. Unfortunately, that means we cannot afford to wait for some of the younger players to come on."

Millwall boss Willie Donachie was believed to be discussing contract terms with the player

Next stop is League Two football

[The Reverend]

Wow, i really did think this ad was destined for the top.

[Thracian]

I'm doubtless wrong but £150,000 for that sort of ability is a snip. When I think of the arseholes who wore our shirt last season would people seriously tell me Smith couldn't have been turned into a decent player for us?.

Perhaps he wasn't the brightest light in the galaxy and he seemed like a typically mixed-up teeneager at times but he hardly appeared difficult to handle and had more talent that Sylla, Low, Welsh, Yeates and Hamill put together.

As a coach you'd dream of someone like Smith walking through the door. Not because he was the finished article by any means but because you'd know you had someone worth working on and who had enough ability to succeed.

[Milky]

Didn't Derby pay about a million for him?

[Tevez]

His attitude stinks. But i thought he was ok for us.

[Webbo]

Didn't Derby pay about a million for him?

Kelly was quoted as saying at the start of last season that he would have cost £300k.

When some of our fans were saying that he'd play for England 1 day I always thought he struggle to get a game for Arsenal. Surprised he's fell so low though.

[Durnerz]

Smith would do well........in a freestyle competition. The lad never had a final ball and was too egotistical to work for the team, only for himself and thats clouded the vision of a lot of fans simply as we've been used to utter crap for the past few seasons. We saw it and so did Derby, hopefully the petulant little chav will be right at home in the slums of South Bermondsey now.

[Simi]

He started really well for us I thought. But then lost his confidence to take people on and have a go when he had the chance.

[Manwell Pablo]

Smith would do well........in a freestyle competition. The lad never had a final ball and was too egotistical to work for the team, only for himself and thats clouded the vision of a lot of fans simply as we've been used to utter crap for the past few seasons. We saw it and so did Derby, hopefully the petulant little chav will be right at home in the slums of South Bermondsey now.

Strong words Durnez!

No he never did have a final ball. Or the right attitude. He's obviously lacking the form to even look like a prospect a Derby, I'm glad it wasn't us who wasted 1mil on him.

[Dames]

Besides Derby away and Sheff Utd at home that season i thought he was pretty Mediocore.

Always looked better than Andy Welsh though.

[Joe.]

For a League One club, and for that price, I think they have a good signing on their hands.

Showed his potential when he was on loan here, and I thought he would be destined for good things. Maybe he has a bad attitude, but he's still young and if he doesn't book his ideas up he'll find himself a journeyman in the lower leagues.

[davieG]

For a League One club, and for that price, I think they have a good signing on their hands.

Showed his potential when he was on loan here, and I thought he would be destined for good things. Maybe he has a bad attitude, but he's still young and if he doesn't book his ideas up he'll find himself a journeyman in the lower leagues.

He's arrived then

[Joe.]

He's arrived then

Pedantic.

[filbertway]

I think he will rip the league apart if I'm jonest, as long as he gets his head down and works hard, he has the ability no doubt, and at that level it would be too much for league 1 defenders. I expect he'll be back in the championship after next season.

Bold claim there, which depends on a lot of if's and buts .

[Koke]

Alot of hype got to his head. His final ball is as dreadful as my hair on a Sunday afternoon. From Arsenal prospect to Milwall player.

[Thracian]

Alot of hype got to his head. His final ball is as dreadful as my hair on a Sunday afternoon. From Arsenal prospect to Milwall player.

There was more to his problems that the final ball although that was certainly one of them.

Attempt was made to utilise him as a Jack of All Trades when it was plainly obvious he was a long way from being a master of any.

City's management rarely used or backed Smith properly and finally lost their nerve. He was replaced by people who were better tracking back but offered little going forward. Big cop out.

Leicester hardly ever attacked in numbers during Levein's reign and one of the vital things a ball-playing winger needs is not extra work charging back to help defenders but help from people who understand what wingers primarily do.

Smith first and foremost needed people running off the ball to help make passing options and to take other defenders away so that the opposition full-back was exposed one on one with space behind him. Where were the runners? We had none and that didn't change even last season.

Had the runners been there Smith could have caused chaos and once that stage was reached a Championship level coach should have easily been able to inspire or condition proper use of the final ball. Surely no-one suggests Smith lacked the ability to deliver a final ball?

Smith could do most things with a ball given proper support, encouragement and backing. What he most needed was help with his thinking and a manager who didn't ask him to do too much too soon but simply what he was good at. Only as his confidence and consistency grew should attempt have been made to perhaps extend his game.

[breadandcheese]

To be honest, you have to question the ability of the coaches at Arsenal. An Arsenal friend of mine always questions the final ball of quite a few Arsenal players (particularly the youngsters). He says they always have good youngsters who do some great tricks, but they''re just not effective when it comes to putting a final ball in. It seems Smith is another one of these and should have had his attitude sorted a long time ago by the Arsenal youth setup.

For a £150,000, Millwall have a good signing. If Smith has now finally smelt the coffee on his career, he may put his attitude away, knuckle down and become a good player.

For £150,000 I would not have said no to him at Leicester under the right tutelage. He has more natural ability than Porter (skill, pace) just needs to put the effort into his crossing and effectiveness.

[Thracian]

To be honest, you have to question the ability of the coaches at Arsenal. An Arsenal friend of mine always questions the final ball of quite a few Arsenal players (particularly the youngsters). He says they always have good youngsters who do some great tricks, but they''re just not effective when it comes to putting a final ball in. It seems Smith is another one of these and should have had his attitude sorted a long time ago by the Arsenal youth setup.

For a £150,000, Millwall have a good signing. If Smith has now finally smelt the coffee on his career, he may put his attitude away, knuckle down and become a good player.

For £150,000 I would not have said no to him at Leicester under the right tutelage. He has more natural ability than Porter (skill, pace) just needs to put the effort into his crossing and effectiveness.

Porter is a more modern footballer. He tracks back competently and helps a great deal in defensive positions. His whole game is based on quick control and short or medium range passing that is more suited to central midfield really.

However our need was on the wing and this enabled him to acclimatise and make a decent contribution in his first season.

Smith is an out and out, almost old fashioned winger.

He's not a midfielder or supplementary defender. His strength is his skill on the ball, his ability to disrupt defences and in that, like you say, he is capable of being more dangerous than Porter. Millwall will hope he shows it and are likely to be rewarded so long as they don't try to waste his energy on other things, certainly at this stage.

[breadandcheese]

Porter is a more modern footballer. He tracks back competently and helps a great deal in defensive positions. His whole game is based on quick control and short or medium range passing that is more suited to central midfield really.

However our need was on the wing and this enabled him to acclimatise and make a decent contribution in his first season.

Smith is an out and out, almost old fashioned winger.

He's not a midfielder or supplementary defender. His strength is his skill on the ball, his ability to disrupt defences and in that, like you say, he is capable of being more dangerous than Porter. Millwall will hope he shows it and are likely to be rewarded so long as they don't try to waste his energy on other things, certainly at this stage.

Ha ha, I thought your complaint of Leicester's tactics was that Porter had to track back and take defensive positions.

I don't mean this as a slating for Porter because he's a good useful player who provides options. It will be an interesting season for him next season and he'll have to work hard, but it will be good to see how he pushes on to tackle the "second season blues."

[Dr The Singh]

Ha ha, I thought your complaint of Leicester's tactics was that Porter had to track back and take defensive positions.

I don't mean this as a slating for Porter because he's a good useful player who provides options. It will be an interesting season for him next season and he'll have to work hard, but it will be good to see how he pushes on to tackle the "second season blues."

Smith and Poter are different types of players, SMith is very direct, whereby Porter plays more like a midfielder and looks to pass the ball!! I agree though it will be interesting to see whether Porter can maintain his position within the team, as we are now a stronger side and possibly a more attacking team, Porter's judgement will begin!!

To add though, SMith is a player with potential, but I agree with alot of you, his final ball wasn't great and didn't rad the game very well, and probably had a attitude problem but he had bags of pace and some trikery and has the making of a good champoinship player!!

[Fez of Mahrez]

If you're going to be a flair player who never tracks back or does any donkey work then you've got to justify it by actually producing something when given the chance. Smith hardly ever did. These more attacking players like Smith and Porter are as much part of the team as more defensive midfield players and they should shoulder as much of the blame for poor performances as anyone else.

[The Reverend]

There was more to his problems that the final ball although that was certainly one of them.

Attempt was made to utilise him as a Jack of All Trades when it was plainly obvious he was a long way from being a master of any.

City's management rarely used or backed Smith properly and finally lost their nerve. He was replaced by people who were better tracking back but offered little going forward. Big cop out.

Leicester hardly ever attacked in numbers during Levein's reign and one of the vital things a ball-playing winger needs is not extra work charging back to help defenders but help from people who understand what wingers primarily do.

Smith first and foremost needed people running off the ball to help make passing options and to take other defenders away so that the opposition full-back was exposed one on one with space behind him. Where were the runners? We had none and that didn't change even last season.

Had the runners been there Smith could have caused chaos and once that stage was reached a Championship level coach should have easily been able to inspire or condition proper use of the final ball. Surely no-one suggests Smith lacked the ability to deliver a final ball?

Smith could do most things with a ball given proper support, encouragement and backing. What he most needed was help with his thinking and a manager who didn't ask him to do too much too soon but simply what he was good at. Only as his confidence and consistency grew should attempt have been made to perhaps extend his game.

Nailed it Thrac

Coming from Arsenal - the lad probably didnt know what fooking defending was!

So to be thrown in at the deep end and to be expected to do it all - well, i was too early, but he'll learn hus trade at Milwall.

I'd have welcomed him with open arms for £150,000.

For sure.

[Manwell Pablo]

There was more to his problems that the final ball although that was certainly one of them.

Attempt was made to utilise him as a Jack of All Trades when it was plainly obvious he was a long way from being a master of any.

City's management rarely used or backed Smith properly and finally lost their nerve. He was replaced by people who were better tracking back but offered little going forward. Big cop out.

Leicester hardly ever attacked in numbers during Levein's reign and one of the vital things a ball-playing winger needs is not extra work charging back to help defenders but help from people who understand what wingers primarily do.

Smith first and foremost needed people running off the ball to help make passing options and to take other defenders away so that the opposition full-back was exposed one on one with space behind him. Where were the runners? We had none and that didn't change even last season.

Had the runners been there Smith could have caused chaos and once that stage was reached a Championship level coach should have easily been able to inspire or condition proper use of the final ball. Surely no-one suggests Smith lacked the ability to deliver a final ball?

Smith could do most things with a ball given proper support, encouragement and backing. What he most needed was help with his thinking and a manager who didn't ask him to do too much too soon but simply what he was good at. Only as his confidence and consistency grew should attempt have been made to perhaps extend his game.

Really, interesting that he was given all these things at Derby but couldn't get in the sixteen after the first two months don't you think. Maybe it wasn't just us limiting his abilty as you suggest. Maybe he's not that good, almost all bad players go through patches in their career during which they look fairly useful.

I don't think he'll be that useful at Milwall if im honest, League one full backs aren't as crap as some have made out on here.

[Fez of Mahrez]

My prediction is that he will look light years ahead of any other attacking midfielder in League One in half of the games and disinterested or uninvolved in the other half.

Bit like Kris Commons for the last two seasons really.

[Thracian]

Ha ha, I thought your complaint of Leicester's tactics was that Porter had to track back and take defensive positions.

I don't mean this as a slating for Porter because he's a good useful player who provides options. It will be an interesting season for him next season and he'll have to work hard, but it will be good to see how he pushes on to tackle the "second season blues."

In some ways I think Porter suffered in the same way as Smith. This difference with Porter was that he was as willing and competent passing his way clear of defensive positions as he was anywhere else whereas Smith was clearly out of his element.

But having to do that to the extent demanded by Kelly meant Porter was less well placed and, as the game progressed, less than sharp enough to meaningfully attack defences, which was his primary job.

We had a system where there was never anything like the emphasis on getting defenders forward as there was in getting forwards back. That's why we scored so few goals and it didn't help Porter either.