View Full Version : Will Smallbone M Southampton b.2000
Replaced at half time for Broja and not surprised really to see him replaced for an actual striker. Southampton weren't up to much and a few players could have been replaced but Smallbone was the obvious choice to give them two actual strikers up front.
Demesne Lad
15/04/2022, 11:38 AM
Some positive comments about Smallbone from his manager: What 'very good footballer' Smallbone shows to keep Hasenhuttl's faith | Daily Echo (https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/20070932.very-good-footballer-smallbone-shows-keep-hasenhuttls-faith/)
Not named in the Southampton squad today.
Can people please stop saying positive things about Irish players or being positive in general because the second that any positivity hangs around an Irish player that player then gets injured. Someone ought to get Nathan Collins security as he’s probably next.
Linked with a move to Forest as a possible replacement for James Garner whose on loan from United.
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Olé Olé
31/05/2022, 5:03 PM
That move would be more than alright. Garner has developed well there. And it's the PL. If he goes into a deeper midfield role then he could be an option for us quite quickly because we all know how thin we are in there.
That move would be more than alright. Garner has developed well there. And it's the PL. If he goes into a deeper midfield role then he could be an option for us quite quickly because we all know how thin we are in there.
Hasenhuttl has always said Smallbone can play in any of the midfield roles, and that Smallbone himself was more comfortable as a 6 but Hasenhuttl preferred having him playing higher up the pitch.
Don't think he's gonna be breaking into the Southampton starting XI anytime soon, and he turned 22 back in February. With the injury trouble he's had he's way behind where he should be and needs to start getting regular game time somewhere.
Bielsa´s irish
06/06/2022, 1:45 AM
I will give him his debut vs Ukraine after the brace he scored. We are lacking a killing pass
I will give him his debut vs Ukraine after the brace he scored. We are lacking a killing pass
If Ireland beat Montenegro tonight and Italy beat Sweden I would seriously be tempted to pull more U21s into the senior side, it would make the final game a complete dead rubber.
seanfhear
06/06/2022, 8:42 AM
Linked with a move to Forest as a possible replacement for James Garner whose on loan from United.
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I saw some of Forest in the first leg of their play-off semi-final. One thing that impressed me that day is pretty much the entire team and substitutes were fine physical specimens i.e. All pretty tall and in great physical condition, There is a lot to be said for Good Big Uns.
If Ireland beat Montenegro tonight and Italy beat Sweden I would seriously be tempted to pull more U21s into the senior side, it would make the final game a complete dead rubber.
You'd hope it would happen at least with a couple of players. Come in and train with the seniors because there's no chance they'd get thrown in against Scotland or Ukraine. It would at least then give Tayo and Hodge game time if you were to pull Bagan, and either Kilkenny or Coventry or both even up to train with the seniors. There's plenty of cover in attacking positions if Smallbone was to move on.
Feel Sweden and Italy will draw though which would still seal second place for us if we win tonight but would still mean the group could be won. Which would kill any chance, no matter how small it was in the first place of some players joining the senior squad.
tetsujin1979
06/06/2022, 9:33 AM
If Ireland beat Montenegro tonight and Italy beat Sweden I would seriously be tempted to pull more U21s into the senior side, it would make the final game a complete dead rubber.
Maybe, but we could be in with a chance of the strongest second placed side - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_UEFA_European_Under-21_Championship_qualification#Ranking_of_second-placed_teams - the draw with Luxembourg will actually work in our favour here, because most other sides will lose six points against the weakest team in their group, but we'll only lose four.
The loss in Montenegro is going to be a bigger factor than that draw against Luxembourg, since most other second placed sides will have taken a minimum of four points against the second lowest ranked side on their group.
Maybe, but we could be in with a chance of the strongest second placed side - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_UEFA_European_Under-21_Championship_qualification#Ranking_of_second-placed_teams - the draw with Luxembourg will actually work in our favour here, because most other sides will lose six points against the weakest team in their group, but we'll only lose four.
The loss in Montenegro is going to be a bigger factor than that draw against Luxembourg, since most other second placed sides will have taken a minimum of four points against the second lowest ranked side on their group.
It's likely gonna be Switzerland who'll end up on 19pts when you take their six away. A win tonight minus our 4pts would have us on 15pts and four behind with three to play for.
Would need Wales to beat Holland as even a draw against Wales would have them on 18pts and they've got a much superior goal difference to settle any tie breaker.
You'd hope it would happen at least with a couple of players. Come in and train with the seniors because there's no chance they'd get thrown in against Scotland or Ukraine. It would at least then give Tayo and Hodge game time if you were to pull Bagan, and either Kilkenny or Coventry or both even up to train with the seniors. There's plenty of cover in attacking positions if Smallbone was to move on.
Feel Sweden and Italy will draw though which would still seal second place for us if we win tonight but would still mean the group could be won. Which would kill any chance, no matter how small it was in the first place of some players joining the senior squad.
It would hopefully give the players that extra motivation to push on at club level and get a cap.
Just from what I’ve seen of Sweden I just can’t see how they are going to win and tbh a lot of their chances will come down to what mode Italy are in, if they want to win and wrap up qualification Sweden are in trouble. Granted I’m rooting for a draw provided we get the win V Montenegro tonight!
It's likely gonna be Switzerland who'll end up on 19pts when you take their six away. A win tonight minus our 4pts would have us on 15pts and four behind with three to play for.
Would need Wales to beat Holland as even a draw against Wales would have them on 18pts and they've got a much superior goal difference to settle any tie breaker.
I can’t see any scenario where we finish first in the 2nd place ranking.
The one argument I could make is we could
chase a top 5 spot of the 2nd places teams to try be seeded for the play off (granted we still don’t if there will be seedlings for it!)
It would hopefully give the players that extra motivation to push on at club level and get a cap.
Just from what I’ve seen of Sweden I just can’t see how they are going to win and tbh a lot of their chances will come down to what mode Italy are in, if they want to win and wrap up qualification Sweden are in trouble. Granted I’m rooting for a draw provided we get the win V Montenegro tonight!
Sweden are at home and have already drawn away to Italy. They'll also be fighting for qualification so should be a good match.
Sweden are at home and have already drawn away to Italy. They'll also be fighting for qualification so should be a good match.
They were extremely fortunate to get that draw, if they are to beat Italy they will need to show us something we haven’t seen form them so far this campaign.
Could be about to join Stoke who already have Gavin Kilkenny on loan.
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Officially confirmed. Stoke games be interesting this season if himself and Kilkenny are playing regularly this season.
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tommy_c12000
06/08/2022, 9:23 PM
Some glimpses of class today by all accounts, suspect defensively. Good to see hopefully he can push on. Disappointing not to see Kilkenny start in the first 2 games, I guess Morecambe in the cup will be his chance, but doesn’t appear to have earned the trust of MON yet
Demesne Lad
21/01/2023, 4:05 PM
Opened the scoring today for Stoke (Bonham in goal), who trounced Reading (Hendrick and a sub appearance by S Long).
Paddy Garcia
23/02/2023, 9:35 AM
Positive comments from Neil on the talent that is Smallbone
https://www.irishpost.com/sport/stoke-boss-alex-neil-has-claimed-irelands-underage-star-will-smallbone-is-unbelievable-247999
pineapple stu
04/03/2023, 4:06 PM
A hat trick of assists today in a 5-1 away win over Sunderland.
Didn't see the game obviously but would be great if he had a bit of creativity about him at senior level. We could do with that
Eirambler
04/03/2023, 5:39 PM
If Smallbone has got the combination of being an all round midfielder who contributes off the ball and also has the creative game to make chances as well then I'm all in on him. That's pretty much exactly what we need to add to the senior team.
tetsujin1979
04/03/2023, 5:53 PM
first player to do that in England since September 2021
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pineapple stu
04/03/2023, 6:33 PM
If we discount L1 (and lower) how far back do you go?
tommy_c12000
04/03/2023, 6:34 PM
In good form in 2023 which is good to see, seems to have added some consistency which his game lacked. I look forward to seeing how far he has progressed shortly against Latvia
liamoo11
04/03/2023, 7:10 PM
Not a number 10 but as we play with two 8s off the left and off the right with a 6 sitting he would be the most creative 8 we have and has shown he has the running power to back it up unlike maybe mcgrath he got found out athletically in the champioship. Against weaker opposition perhaps he plays with Knight and Cullen to try and open teams up. Molumby likely holds that other 8 position against the top teams
Grabbed his third goal of the season. Has been in good form for Stoke lately.
third policeman
01/04/2023, 4:32 PM
Be interesting to see where he ends up at the end of the season. If Southampton are relegated and Ward-Prowse is sold he may get an opportunity there.
Eirambler
01/04/2023, 4:43 PM
I think he'll be back at Southampton whether they stay up or go down.
Don't know how reliable Jacque Talbot is but he's reporting that Bournemouth, Hull, Sunderland, and two unnamed PL clubs have interest in Smallbone. Has a year left on his Southampton contract unless there's a clause to extend it.
Razors left peg
15/06/2023, 7:22 PM
Don't know how reliable Jacque Talbot is but he's reporting that Bournemouth, Hull, Sunderland, and two unnamed PL clubs have interest in Smallbone. Has a year left on his Southampton contract unless there's a clause to extend it.
He might be better staying with Southampton and seeing if they can bounce back
Olé Olé
16/06/2023, 5:38 AM
He might be better staying with Southampton and seeing if they can bounce back
He will surely find his groove this season more consistently at Championship level. Is that preferable to battling to get into a Premiership side? It might well be just for this season.
Demesne Lad
28/07/2023, 11:58 PM
Smallbone has many admirers in the Premier League and Championship and Southampton may be tempted to sell him, according to David Kent in the Daily Mail. Perhaps a season playing regularly in the second tier would be best for him at this stage of his career.
Luton, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth show interest in Southampton academy star Will Smallbone as the Championship side brace for offers | Daily Mail Online (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12348041/Luton-Nottingham-Forest-Bournemouth-Southampton-academy-star-Smallbone-Championship-brace-offers.html)
Razors left peg
29/07/2023, 12:16 AM
Smallbone has many admirers in the Premier League and Championship and Southampton may be tempted to sell him, according to David Kent in the Daily Mail. Perhaps a season playing regularly in the second tier would be best for him at this stage of his career.
Luton, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth show interest in Southampton academy star Will Smallbone as the Championship side brace for offers | Daily Mail Online (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12348041/Luton-Nottingham-Forest-Bournemouth-Southampton-academy-star-Smallbone-Championship-brace-offers.html)
If if he was going to get regular football the Premiership move would be great, hes already got a season of Championship behind him last season
Olé Olé
29/07/2023, 8:16 AM
If if he was going to get regular football the Premiership move would be great, hes already got a season of Championship behind him last season
That's the thing. If he got 20 plus Premiership games this season would it be better than regular Championship football? And if he's not getting his games by January I'm sure a loan could be arranged.
Demesne Lad
09/08/2023, 1:32 PM
"Sources told CaughtOffside exclusively that Southampton, however, have turned down a £7m bid from Sheffield United for Smallbone’s services. They’ve also revealed that the Blades will pay the salary that the player is demanding, something that his current club are unwilling or unable to do."
https://www.caughtoffside.com/2023/08/09/exclusive-southampton-turn-down-smallbone-bid-but-player-desperate-to-move/
Today's Caughtoffside.com story already being denied by comments on their website. (Ward-Prowse has left since the story was published this morning....)
Demesne Lad
09/08/2023, 7:43 PM
Berge has left Sheffield Utd, who have signed Brazilian Vinicius Souza from Belgian side Lommel SK on a four-year deal. So Smallbone may be staying at St Mary's after all.
https://www.teamtalk.com/sheffield-united/blades-bolster-midfield-brazilian-star-pens-four-year-deal-fill-sander-berge-void
Razors left peg
09/08/2023, 8:07 PM
Looking at how Southampton tried to pass the ball around in their 1st game with Smallbone central to everything I think Id much rather him stay where he is than go to Sheffield United who look like they will most likely be relegated. If a better team came in for him it would be different, but right now I think Southampton look a better long term bet than Sheffield Utd
Eirambler
09/08/2023, 10:00 PM
Interesting that Smallbone is now pretty much in the exact same situation that Ryan Manning found himself in a few weeks ago - potentially choosing between Southampton and Sheffield United (Manning also had another EPL option in Luton). Manning chose the Championship option, but the suggestion seems to be that if a bid is accepted Smallbone will take the quick route back to the Premier League.
Razors left peg
09/08/2023, 10:19 PM
I think there's also a situation where Smallbone is in contract negotiations, if Southampton don't match what he's looking for that changes things
Demesne Lad
12/08/2023, 7:09 PM
Set for a scan, after "quite a heavy whack on his ankle" according to manager Russell Martin (Daily Echo, 7pm).
joey B
15/08/2023, 10:02 AM
Expected to be ruled out for a few months with an ankle injury,disaster….
pateen
15/08/2023, 2:49 PM
Balls
Back in the starting line up for Southampton today. Game is live at 12.30 on Sky.
Demesne Lad
30/09/2023, 12:06 PM
Scores at home v Leeds.
(Thread title needs to be updated)
pineapple stu
21/10/2023, 2:28 PM
Second of the season today against Hull. 6 Irish across the two squads in that one.
Grabs the opening goal today. Tap in from a rebound but they all count.
First minute goal for him today. Header from a cross.
Demesne Lad
13/04/2024, 8:00 PM
Slightly less average minutes per game on the pitch this season (69 versus 73 last season), but 5 goals and 3 assists versus 3 and 5 in 2022/23.
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