Xtra player focus: Brad Smith's impressive stats on LFC full debut against Sion

http://xtra.liverpoolfc.com/listicles/xtra-player-focus-brad-smith-s-impressive-stats-on-lfc-full-debut-against-sion?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Smith seems to be the fans MoTM from what i can find. How did Chris go? Italian seems to be an incredibly difficult language to translate and i cant get any sense of how he played

[youtube]vokQ_T_ZXow[/youtube]

Thanks for finding this.

Perhaps the best thing about having our young guns at the big clubs is that it's easy to get content on them for/from their fanbase!

So IF, and it's a big if, Smith gets good game time from now till mid January, do we pick him for the Olympic qualifiers which are in Qatar in mid January or do we leave him at Liverpool to settle?

I probably would be very careful using smith. Too little and he won't be used to international football come world cup
too much and we might hinder his time at liverpool

Of those who watched Ikon and Smith how do you rate them? Do they look like top four league quality?

Of those who watched Ikon and Smith how do you rate them? Do they look like top four league quality?

That's a cracker of a question.

I say we give the lad the choice. He should be in the squad no matter what, but the thing is... We have Calum Elder as well, who is killing it in league 1. Either of them could be playing for the Socceroos, let along the Olyroos.

Long and the short of it, is I reckon we don't use Smith for the Olyroos with Elder, Gersbach and Galloway already in that age bracket. I'd prefer to use Smith on FIFA dates and start breaking him in to the Socceroos squad.

Thanks for finding this.

Perhaps the best thing about having our young guns at the big clubs is that it's easy to get content on them for/from their fanbase!

That's a cracker of a question.

I say we give the lad the choice. He should be in the squad no matter what, but the thing is... We have Calum Elder as well, who is killing it in league 1. Either of them could be playing for the Socceroos, let along the Olyroos.

Long and the short of it, is I reckon we don't use Smith for the Olyroos with Elder, Gersbach and Galloway already in that age bracket. I'd prefer to use Smith on FIFA dates and start breaking him in to the Socceroos squad.

That's a cracker of a question.

I say we give the lad the choice. He should be in the squad no matter what, but the thing is... We have Calum Elder as well, who is killing it in league 1. Either of them could be playing for the Socceroos, let along the Olyroos.

Long and the short of it, is I reckon we don't use Smith for the Olyroos with Elder, Gersbach and Galloway already in that age bracket. I'd prefer to use Smith on FIFA dates and start breaking him in to the Socceroos squad.

Of those who watched Ikon and Smith how do you rate them? Do they look like top four league quality?

its amazing we have gone from McKay and Carney to Smith, Elder, Davidson and Gersbach and Behich I remember a few years ago I was pretty worried about ur LB situation now not so much.

Edited by jas88: 11/12/2015 04:44:15 PM

Ikon was good, made a few chances and had about 2-3 opportunities to score 1 of which was a cross that went across the face of the goal. I don't think he read it completely though.
He rotated/covered very nicely, mostly at LM and saw him twice at CF.
He also came back to help defensively a lot and seemed to enjoy running at players to create pressure/get back possession.
Only negative I saw was he could have been involved a little more at certain points, as his teammates could have passed to him at certain points, but chose not to. This happened less in the 2nd half, but was still very much open on certain occasions and wasn't passed to.
He should get some minutes off the bench now that he's had a start and didn't do much wrong, but considering he's quite low in the pecking order at LW he should still seek a loan, it would benefit him greatly!

[size=7]St. Etienne-Lazio 1-1, dull game but good Oikonomidis[/size]
By Stephen Marzetti - December 10th, 2015

Europa League round of beautiful greek / Australian. To equal the decisive goal by Matri. Qualifying with first place in Group G but without the satisfaction of the fifth win in six games

SAINT ETIENNE-LAZIO 1-1

Goals: 52 'Matri (L), 76' Eysseric (St. E). Saint Etienne (4-2-3-1): Moulin; Brison, Karamoko (27 'Moustapha Bayal Sall), Pogba, Polomat; Clement, Corgnet (64 'Jonathan Bamba); Diomande (57 'Erin Gomes Pinheiro) Eysseric, Bahebeck; Maupay. All. Galtier. Lazio (4-4-2): Berisha; Just, Mauricio, Hoedt, Konko; Felipe Anderson, Cataldi, Parolo, Oikonomidis; Matri (74 'Ravel Morrison), Djordjevic. All. : Pioli. Referee : Kevin Blom (Netherlands). Notes : ammonites to 5 'Hoedt (L), 34' Mauricio (L), 42 'Brison (St E) 72 'Cataldi (L).


Lazio get the qualification with first place in Group G but can not have the satisfaction of the fifth victory in the group stage of the Europa League. The final draw is the right result for the St. Etienne has been responsible for producing most of the game and believe to the end. Biancocelesti still very uncertain in defense. The most famous tune of the evening is the good performance of Oikonomidis, present and accurate when called upon. Well Matri, who scored the decisive result and replaced in advance, perhaps because Pioli wanted to spare him and then offer it against Sampdoria in the league.

The coach Stefano Pioli reached the Europa League match at the stadium Geoffrey Guichard with Saint Etienne (first leg 3-2 to Lazio) wrapped in a bitter dispute (announced tomorrow a flash mob of fans in Formello). It must be said that Lazio in the last three months he has had to deal with many injuries: in turn they have hurt pretty much all the midfielders and strikers, while the season is already over the strong Dutch defender Stefan de Vrij due a serious injury to his left knee. Lately Pioli has nonetheless tried to invent something, often changing form and starting lineup, but to no avail, and this has undoubtedly heavy responsibilities. Tonight the Biancocelesti have not convinced. To demonstrate periodaccio was also the defeat 2-0 against Juventus: not so much the result as the demeaning paucity of ideas and determination. Europa League instead until tonight had gone very well with four victories in five and the qualification obtained with a day in advance.

First time . Pioli change module and test with a 4-4-2 disclaimer Klose. Good start for Lazio but the team Pioli can not hurt with different throws from a distance that does not facilitate Matri Djordjevic. At 5 'Hoedt warned that miss the next match. Biancocelesti well under containment but difficulties on the counterattack. From 10 'increases the pressure of the French and the Lazio seem interested only in not being surprised in defense. The Saint Etienne is dedicated to ball possession. Game so monotonous. 14 'Cataldi try to kick the door in a free kick from long distance. Accomplice deviation of Eysseric, Moulin can block. 19 'Lazio soul slightly the race: Matri fits on the offside of a throw of Parolo and then an effort on goal, but it is only the outside of the door. It is the first time ever the game. 25 'touches instead to hosts: Corgnet throws a venomous right from the edge of the area and Berisha is the protagonist of a great action which sends the ball for a corner. 31 'still the Lazio: break not materialized by Felipe Anderson, that reaches the edge of the area, ignores Matri all alone and then try to place the ball to the left of the Moulin. Only corner untapped comrades. However, the game comes to life mainly due to the greater desire of the team Pioli. At 38 'again dangerous when St. Etienne Eysseric cuts the field with a ball that is intended to serve Bahebeck. Bravo Berisha protected by Captain Konko comes out with his feet and walks away. And yet the French 39 ': Hoedt (the worst Biancocelesti) missed a hallway, forcing Berisha adventurous output head. Corgnet try to surprise the goalkeeper off his line, but the same Hoedt remedy and save the head. A minute of injury time. The first half ended with a feeling of emptiness.

According to Time . 51 'a great job of Oikonomidis decidedly ball pointing Brison, the jumps in speed and put in the middle, where Matri wrong deviation in front of goal. 52 'blunder of the home defense,
Matri exploits a rebound after a favorable action bully Konko, crosses Moulin and complete the work with a touch into an empty net. Lazio the lead (0-1). Lazio galvanized: 55 'pole after a game changer perfect Parolo, which rewards the inclusion of Anderson. The Brazilian put in the middle, finding diversion in Split Djordjevic, slamming on the wood and leaves. The Serbs could make better. 62 'threatens Lazio for an attempt by Bahebeck, exploding a powerful diagonal, but finds the parade in two days of Berisha. The Biancocelesti goalkeeper perhaps the best of her. Lazio now moves back, waiting for the St. Etienne and try to start the counterattack. 76 'unexpected draw of the French Felipe Anderson loses badly ball on the edge of the Lazio took advantage Polomat quick to serve Eysseric hurling a sudden right network. Berisha leaves late and has no chance (1-1). The game loses order and it seems that the two teams will feel okay so.

RANKING OF GROUP G. Lazio 15; St. Etienne and Dnipro 10; Rosenborg 2.

Report cards LAZIO
Berisha 6.5
Just 6
Mauricio 5
Hoedt 5
Konko 6.5
Felipe Anderson 5.5
Cataldi 6
Parolo 5
Oikonomidis 7
Matri 7
Djordjevic 5.5
ng Morrison

Even through google translate the recognition for Ikon is clear, equal highest rated according to this Italian reporter:

Don't get your hopes up yet! We haven't seen anyone grab the LB position with both hands against decent opposition. Maybe Davidson at the World Cup, but I think he just had a couple of good games. Done nothing since.