Playing Style
As a young child Smith played as a central midfielder, before converting to a striker at age 12. At 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m), Smith is shorter than the average Premier League footballer. He is a quick player capable of kicking the ball with his weaker left foot, and prefers being part of a team that plays passing football, than one that employs a more direct style. Upon signing him for Portsmouth, then-manager Paul Hart said of Smith:
I’ve liked Tommy for a long time. He’s clever, infectious, enthusiastic and a hard worker. He can play as a centre-forward, behind the centre-forward or out wide, so covers a lot of positions. He’s going to be a great asset to us.
Read more about this topic: Tommy Smith (footballer Born 1980)
Famous quotes containing the words playing and/or style:
“Nothing can be colder than his head, when the lightnings of his imagination are playing in the sky.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (18031882)
“The flattering, if arbitrary, label, First Lady of the Theatre, takes its toll. The demands are great, not only in energy but eventually in dramatic focus. It is difficult, if not impossible, for a star to occupy an inch of space without bursting seams, cramping everyone elses style and unbalancing a play. No matter how self-effacing a famous player may be, he makes an entrance as a casual neighbor and the audience interest shifts to the house next door.”
—Helen Hayes (19001993)