Paul Smith (Ex-Keeper)

Paul Smith (Ex-Keeper)

Released by Southend.

He hasn't played a league game for over two years now.
 

Paul Smith (Ex-Keeper)

Did a monumental job stopping us scoring a cricket score in our cup replay I recall.
 

Paul Smith (Ex-Keeper)

One of my biggest brentford idols since ive supported the bees. Huge waste
 

Paul Smith (Ex-Keeper)

gbems92 said:
One of my biggest brentford idols since ive supported the bees. Huge waste
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Richard lee was the same, happens to keepers...
 

Paul Smith (Ex-Keeper)

Huge talent and was great for us, maybe his best times for consistency, but I always felt something was missing, that extra desire perhaps ?
 

Paul Smith (Ex-Keeper)

gbems92 said:
One of my biggest brentford idols since ive supported the bees. Huge waste
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Sorry I first read your comment as 'idiots' and was about to give you stick. I then re-read it with my glasses on and find I agree!
 

Paul Smith (Ex-Keeper)

IMO his move to Forest was the nail in the career coffin. I cant remember if there was a reason why he didnt quite make it at southampton as im sure he went on a run of 4-5 games where they were raving about him on MOTD.
 

Paul Smith (Ex-Keeper)

Isleworth_Bee said:
IMO his move to Forest was the nail in the career coffin. I cant remember if there was a reason why he didnt quite make it at southampton as im sure he went on a run of 4-5 games where they were raving about him on MOTD.
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arry left them soon after, he was playing him quite a bit..
 

Paul Smith (Ex-Keeper)

Isleworth_Bee said:
Explain that?
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The desire to play and put the edge in his game to be picked consistently , I am surprised even at his age that he was happy making a living being third choice keeper at a 4th tier club, he can't have fallen back that far in ability and fitness.
 

Paul Smith (Ex-Keeper)

Stanley said:
The desire to play and put the edge in his game to be picked consistently , I am surprised even at his age that he was happy making a living being third choice keeper at a 4th tier club, he can't have fallen back that far in ability and fitness.
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How old is he? 34-35? I would say that its prob hard at that stage of your career and age to see many games being there for you especially if you've been back up for a couple of years.................. Just look at Lee. Im certain PS suffered from injuries as well. Like i said above IMO the stint at Forest killed his career off.

One of my all time fav bees players.
 

Paul Smith (Ex-Keeper)

Isleworth_Bee said:
IMO his move to Forest was the nail in the career coffin. I cant remember if there was a reason why he didnt quite make it at southampton as im sure he went on a run of 4-5 games where they were raving about him on MOTD.
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I remember with quite some pride, Peter Schmeichel saying he had played himself into contention for an England cap after those matches.

Bizarre that he seemed to disappear after that
 

Paul Smith (Ex-Keeper)

He has been happy making a decent living without playing. Wasted talent but all his managers saw him every day and all came to the same conclusion,
 

Paul Smith (Ex-Keeper)

Gee Bee said:
He has been happy making a decent living without playing. Wasted talent but all his managers saw him every day and all came to the same conclusion,
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I cant quite remember the Forest set up when he went there, He was doing well from what i remember and fell out with Billy Davies. He in effect only played a couple of games in his last 2 seasons.

Still though 120 apps in 6 years still 20 apps a season on average. Its easy to say someone has wasted their career. But i dont think he has done too badly. I agree he prob could have got out of Southend quicker but if he wasnt frozen out at Forest he may have played at a higher level for longer.

IMO its only been thhe last 2 years that have been a waste and even then that is being a touch OTT as hes 35 now.

Think some are being a little harsh.
 

Paul Smith (Ex-Keeper)

Isleworth_Bee said:
I cant quite remember the Forest set up when he went there, He was doing well from what i remember and fell out with Billy Davies. He in effect only played a couple of games in his last 2 seasons.

Still though 120 apps in 6 years still 20 apps a season on average. Its easy to say someone has wasted their career. But i dont think he has done too badly. I agree he prob could have got out of Southend quicker but if he wasnt frozen out at Forest he may have played at a higher level for longer.

IMO its only been thhe last 2 years that have been a waste and even then that is being a touch OTT as hes 35 now.

Think some are being a little harsh.
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He made all his Forest appearances within 2 and a bit seasons and then sat on the bench for 3 years. He moved to Southend played nearly all his 47 games in 1 and a bit years and sat on the bench since. He appears to be happy to see out his contracts whether getting a game or not. You could argue that is well within his remit or is happy not to rock the boat. But his potential was that he should have made many 100's of more appearances than he has in his career. That is not being harsh that I believe is a realistic view of his abilities.
 

Paul Smith (Ex-Keeper)

Probably should have made more of his ability but a fine keeper. Was very good for us but his performance against us for Southend in the cup (replay at Griffin Park with the tie against Chelsea at stake) was probably the best goalkeeping display I have seen live. He was given the man of the match award which said everything.
 

Paul Smith (Ex-Keeper)

whyteleafebee76 said:
Probably should have made more of his ability but a fine keeper. Was very good for us but his performance against us for Southend in the cup (replay at Griffin Park with the tie against Chelsea at stake) was probably the best goalkeeping display I have seen live. He was given the man of the match award which said everything.
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Although promptly left out for the next game. Southend have 2 very good young alternative keepers that Paul has worked alongside and mentored in the last 3 years. I am sure their continued improvements have been aided by him too. If Bentley were to leave, they have a ready made replacement in Ted Smith.
 
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Paul Smith (Ex-Keeper)

Saw him at lakeside last year

mundane
 

Paul Smith (Ex-Keeper)

Saw him a couple of times practicing at the local park, let my son and his mate join in, they said how friendly he was to them, good guy, although I nearly changed my mind when he almost stopped us from meeting Chelsea
 

Paul Smith (Ex-Keeper)

He was a quality shot stopper. Apart from the play-off semi at GP vs Huddersfield when he let when a speculative effort squirm in after 2 minutes before an Owusu winner in front of Brook Road :owusu:
 

Paul Smith (Ex-Keeper)

jonny c said:
He was a quality shot stopper. Apart from the play-off semi at GP vs Huddersfield when he let when a speculative effort squirm in after 2 minutes before an Owusu winner in front of Brook Road :owusu:
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Remember it well. Immediately followed by the crowd singing ‘there’s only one Paul Smith’ iirc
 

Paul Smith (Ex-Keeper)

I was a mascot against qpr about 20 years ago at Griffin Park, and Paul was my favourite player, turned out he lived in Cheam Village at the time which was about 5mins drive from where I lived, anyway half an hour later he wanted to go out and warm up and I had now at like 11 years old had to find the rest of the mascots that had continued the tour of the stadium. Anyway Paul always seemed like a top bloke and I am always pleased to see him pop up now and again.
 

Paul Smith (Ex-Keeper)

jonny c said:
He was a quality shot stopper. Apart from the play-off semi at GP vs Huddersfield when he let when a speculative effort squirm in after 2 minutes before an Owusu winner in front of Brook Road :owusu:
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Weirdly a game i have no memory of. Remember winning but no moments stick out.
 

Paul Smith (Ex-Keeper)

Isleworth_Bee said:
Weirdly a game i have no memory of. Remember winning but no moments stick out.
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Speculative routine shot lacking power straight at PS about head height in front of the Wendy House. Pretty early in the tie. I think he was already thinking about what options were on for distributing the ball and it squirmed through his grasp: 0-1... Cue a collective intake of breath...a few seconds of stunned silence followed by ?there's only one PS...
 

Paul Smith (Ex-Keeper)

Brentford77 said:
Speculative routine shot lacking power straight at PS about head height in front of the Wendy House. Pretty early in the tie. I think he was already thinking about what options were on for distributing the ball and it squirmed through his grasp: 0-1... Cue a collective intake of breath...a few seconds of stunned silence followed by ?there's only one PS...
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Ah yes.

Please continue,

Our goals, Chaps, Beer, away fans, Burgers? ;)
 
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