Chris Smith's return to help to ease York City injury curse

12:00pm Thursday 14th February 2013 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Steve Carroll, Sports reporter

Chris Smith Chris Smith

YORK CITY boss Gary Mills is confident skipper Chris Smith will be fit for Saturday’s crunch League Two clash with Barnet.

The Minstermen manager is hoping to welcome back his defensive talisman to bolster a back four which was further depleted after Jon Challinor broke a leg in the second half of Tuesday night’s 0-0 draw with Gillingham at Bootham Crescent.

Challinor is expected to be out for up to six weeks with a broken fibula but he is added to a treatment room which also includes Lanre Oyebanjo (fractured skull), Chris Doig (ankle) and David McGurk (hamstring).

Smith sat out the Gills clash with a foot problem and Mills returned Daniel Parslow to his favoured centre-back position.

He described Challinor’s loss, which came as City posted a clean sheet after conceding four goals in each of the previous two games, as a “big blow”.

“He was excellent on Tuesday night,” the City chief said of Challinor. “It just seems there is a bit of a pattern going on, defensively, at the moment. We are picking up injuries and it is a big blow for us.

“We had a change around on Tuesday and I thought the back four were doing excellently.

“The same thing happened at Gillingham with Lanre. Now it has happened again.

“We are confident Chris Smith will be okay for the weekend. We are right on the edge defensively for players that are available.

“If he is fit, we may move Dan Parslow again, who went in at centre-half and did a superb job. We haven’t had a settled back four for a while and Jeff Miller (physio) has certainly been busy this season.

“We want to go to the next game with the same back four but injuries have stopped us doing that.”

Challinor has posted on Twitter that he is hoping the injury will take “four to six weeks” but Mills, who has suffered the same break, believes the length of recovery will be in the latter time frame.

He has not ruled out another plunge into the loan market if the situation worsens but, with a number of players already on those terms at Bootham Crescent, Mills is concerned at the “issues” that would arise from that decision.

Mills added: “I have broken my fibula and you are talking six weeks.

“At this stage of the season you are looking at the start of April and there is no doubt that is a big blow for us.

“We need to get Lanre back and it might be a case of fingers crossed and making a decision on whether to bring in another defender in the next week or two but hopefully not.

“We are topped up with loan players, which is an issue, so we will see.”

Comments(48)

Wind Mills says...
12:12pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Noooooooooo!

Leave Calamity Smith out of the side for the rest of the season and then release him.

Dont need him costing us anymore points this season

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Tug job says...
12:26pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Before everybdoy starts having a go at Chris Smith, let's remember the way he set up Ashley Chamber's equaliser at Wembley.

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YorkCityLuke says...
12:30pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Yeah get off his back, he's a decent player. Parslow used to make mistakes all the time, now he's excellent - players improve with some confidence and support.

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Wind Mills says...
12:31pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Tug job wrote:
Before everybdoy starts having a go at Chris Smith, let's remember the way he set up Ashley Chamber's equaliser at Wembley.
Fair point, but that was last season, he did ok last season.

But lets be honest he is out of his depth this season and really doesnt deserve a shirt

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James1992 says...
12:38pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Definitely wouldn't play him on Saturday.
Why change a team that kept our first clean sheet in ages on Tuesday?

Bench at best for the moment.

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Maltkiln says...
12:48pm Thu 14 Feb 13

"Defensive Talisman" ?? Do the Press reporters not read the comments to their stories in order to judge public opinion ? It is clear to me and everyone else that the majority of supporters were pleased that he was out of the team on Tuesday !!

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YCFC115 says...
12:53pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Who was the centre back the season we went down?? Say no more!

Releasing Carlisle has been a mistake.

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Robert Davro says...
12:54pm Thu 14 Feb 13

He needs to get behind the players instead of blaming everyone but himself when a goal is conceded. He has looked clueless recently. It was so much better on Tuesday without him. Suppose we've got no other viable options though really.

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Dortmun says...
12:56pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Why move Parslow back to right back when we have brought Curtis Obeng in on loan and who is a right back?
Leave the back 4 as was on tues they played well and at long last we kept a clean sheet so worth another chance but with Obeng replacing Challinor and Smith on the bench.

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old_school_minsterman says...
12:57pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Surely with the centre backs playing so well on Tuesday night the only change should be Obeng to full back and then decide who takes his place in midfield (Potts or Paddy?)!

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Wind Mills says...
12:57pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Robert Davro wrote:
He needs to get behind the players instead of blaming everyone but himself when a goal is conceded. He has looked clueless recently. It was so much better on Tuesday without him. Suppose we've got no other viable options though really.
We have a better option.

Play Obeng at right back then leave Parslow and o Connel in the middle and Jamal at Left back.

Then bring Paddy into the side for the gap left by Challinor

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RooBeck says...
1:02pm Thu 14 Feb 13

He can have days when he gets caught in possession, can be turned a bit too easily and can't get back quick enough! But, when on song, he can also be outstanding at the back and is a decent skipper. Got to say, that O'Connell and Parslow played very well to-gether (particularly good winning headers) on Tuesday night, together with the rest of the Back Four and Inghy, so I would be inclined to go again with this central defensive formation, with Obeng now dropping back to full-back for Jon Challinor. Blair, McGrath, Kerr and Chambers in the middle and just maybe, look to return Jason Walker to pair-up with Michael Rankine in a 4-4-2. COYR.

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Southern Exile says...
1:21pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Wind Mills wrote:
Robert Davro wrote:
He needs to get behind the players instead of blaming everyone but himself when a goal is conceded. He has looked clueless recently. It was so much better on Tuesday without him. Suppose we've got no other viable options though really.
We have a better option.

Play Obeng at right back then leave Parslow and o Connel in the middle and Jamal at Left back.

Then bring Paddy into the side for the gap left by Challinor
This would be my preferred option...

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heartbreaker says...
1:25pm Thu 14 Feb 13

May as well send Rankine back now that our 'plan b' striking option is back.

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OLD - HEAD says...
1:25pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Most unfair to single out Chris Smith and criticise him. Every single person in defence and mid-field have been guilty when we have conceded goals this season. Not one individual has been free from blame. I prefer to look at a persons outstanding performances rather than blast them for their mistakes. We are talkng about Division Two players here. If they didnt make mistakes then they wouldnt be at Bootham Crescent.

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ADAMCUTHBERT says...
1:31pm Thu 14 Feb 13

On his day he can be out-standing!

Just hasn't had enough of those days this season but it would be unfair to single him out for the mistakes, a few others have contributed to them!

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PhilTopping says...
1:34pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Agreed regarding Chris Smith. A smashing player on his day, his day just hasn't happened enough this season.

Deserves a stint on the subs bench.

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big mobe says...
1:37pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Its no good making Chris Smith the scapegoat for the defence, when the whole defence have,separately been bad on ocastions.

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Egonseth says...
1:56pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Mill's obsession with forcing Smith into the side is becoming some sort of sick joke now.

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Tug job says...
2:04pm Thu 14 Feb 13

ADAMCUTHBERT wrote:
On his day he can be out-standing! Just hasn't had enough of those days this season but it would be unfair to single him out for the mistakes, a few others have contributed to them!
Despite my earlier rallying-call for CS, I would agree with those who say there's little point changing a pairing that looked solid on Tuesday.

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Dortmun says...
3:16pm Thu 14 Feb 13

YCFC115 wrote:
Who was the centre back the season we went down?? Say no more!

Releasing Carlisle has been a mistake.
No mistake he was only under a short term contract until Jan and wanted to leave so GM had no choice in the matter.

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duffy says...
3:24pm Thu 14 Feb 13

It's as though Smith and Parslow have to be accommodated regardless. Why move Parslow and drop a dedicated right back we have just signed? Crazy

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openallhours says...
3:29pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Where as Chambers has a wonder goal in him, Chris Smith always has a mistake in him. With both players, for every good game you get from them, you'll get 5 or 6 poor games. Smithy's a lovely bloke, but I wouldn't lose sleep if he never played for us again. No doubt we'll see more 'Mills madness' before the season's out.

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rogue84 says...
4:03pm Thu 14 Feb 13

not a fan of a witch-hunt, no need to be harsh to smith as he always gives 100%, but i do think that obeng should be given the right-back slot

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Tug job says...
4:53pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Dortmun wrote:
YCFC115 wrote:
Who was the centre back the season we went down?? Say no more!

Releasing Carlisle has been a mistake.
No mistake he was only under a short term contract until Jan and wanted to leave so GM had no choice in the matter.
Yes, he was offered an 18 month contract by the Cobblers and his time at City was almost up.

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cambersdad says...
5:20pm Thu 14 Feb 13

if smithy does have to play why not just put him up front with ranks,he can't do much harm up there.

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Yorkess says...
5:34pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Chris Smith is NOT solely to blame for our defensive errors this season and whoever suggested releasing Clarke Carlisle is misguided. Our defence was FAR worse with him in the side.

Smith is a quality player on his day. Granted he's made mistakes but pick me a City player at the moment that's not made a mistake or isn't in form.

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redbluelion says...
5:38pm Thu 14 Feb 13

i like smith and the sort of player he is so if i was the manager id have no problem offering him a new contract because hes got to be good for one thing...like making me a nice half time cuppa..

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Pitbull Terry says...
6:05pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Parslow's best position is in central defence as could be seen on Tuesday. Pity about Challinor's injury because I fear Parslow will now be moved to right back. I am not a fan of Smith and I'd be tempted to play Allen in the middle of defence or could Allen slot in at right back perhaps, so Parslow can stay in his best position?

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yorkonafork says...
6:09pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Should keep Kerr captain even if playing.

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joejamestom says...
6:11pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Sorry Chris defence looked better without you both CB played the ball well were assured & Ingy seemed happier. Defensively all season we have looked iffy & Chris was the ever present constant, not rocket science & for me Kerr is more of a leader on the pitch. But I have concerns that Gm sees things differently he has stood & watched the same games but refuses to see Chris is a spectator in defence at least partner him up with Dan P who he should be able to influence less. C'mon City 6 pointer on Sat need to score!!!!

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Yorkie69 says...
6:11pm Thu 14 Feb 13

I agree with Wind mills. Why change a defence that was so solid ? If we keep a clean sheet and score one goal, we win ! Simples !

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duffy says...
6:11pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Pitbull Terry wrote:
Parslow's best position is in central defence as could be seen on Tuesday. Pity about Challinor's injury because I fear Parslow will now be moved to right back. I am not a fan of Smith and I'd be tempted to play Allen in the middle of defence or could Allen slot in at right back perhaps, so Parslow can stay in his best position?
But we don't need Allen at right back when we have just signed Obeng. What's the point of signing loan player after loan player if we never intend playing them, it's just getting silly now. Does anyone honestly think Everson is ever going to get any sort of run in the team even if fit ? I'm even doubting McDaid will get much game time even at this stage. We have a talented player in McReady, what's happened there, is everyone injured ?

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SamYCFC says...
6:44pm Thu 14 Feb 13

stay injured smith. you're crap

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YorkCityLuke says...
6:59pm Thu 14 Feb 13

SamYCFC wrote:
stay injured smith. you're crap
Moron.

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joejamestom says...
7:13pm Thu 14 Feb 13

SamYCFC wrote:
stay injured smith. you're crap
Not a very well thought out comment why is he crap? At least have a thought through opinion so Luke can disagree with you, I might agree but cannot see your point of view are you a moron? If so why? do you get it now.

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openallhours says...
7:34pm Thu 14 Feb 13

YorkCityLuke wrote:
SamYCFC wrote:
stay injured smith. you're crap
Moron.
Takes one to know one. Lol

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bartsimmo says...
8:15pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Come on Millsy drop your love affir and start playing all the players in their rightful positions. Parslow is a centre back proven on Tuesday, Obeng is a right back so stop your bull of wing backs in a 3 man midfield (or is it a 5 man?) and Smith rightly deserves his place on the bench.

Minimal disruption to a team of a well earnt point Tuesday night and minimal chops and changes for the rest of the season please (Apart from your favourites out of form they need dropping for a shake up once in a while not once in a season!)
You can keep us away from the bottom if you think intelligently and drop your stubborness that hasnot paid off so well as yet!

442 with Ranks will get us goals, bring Walker back in alongside him with Ash and Blair down the wings with Kerr and McGrath in the middle. Reap the rewards everyone expects us to play 433 with a lone man in the middle up front and they all know how to combat it already. Change it about keep opponents guessing. You only stay stubborn with tactic when you are like Man Utd and winning every week!

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Peppa07 says...
8:51pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Pathetic, personal criticism of players is unfair. Yes, I'd keep the same centre back pairing, looked good on Tuesday. The 4-4-2 has never been an option till now, but it may just be worth a go now. We'd have won on Tuesday if the midfield had followed Jamal up the pitch for his late burst. The man's a star, knows the direct route, and is becoming our best crosser of the ball. But he's another that gets a lot of stick from posters on here...

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YoRkIe59 says...
9:36pm Thu 14 Feb 13

i fear the worst for saturday if Mills starts changing things again more than he needs to.weve finally got the big man most people have been crying out for but what are the chances of seeing him used as part of a 4 4 2 before the end of the season,i wouldnt bank on it.im puzzled by the Everson situation too another player that came to us with such a fanfare played what one full game? then sub at best,and last i heard Johnson is fit having been trying to get him that way all season but he,s not even making the bench,we same to have plenty of striking options now certainly enough to play 4 4 2.

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Fergie says...
10:30pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Mills will never change his 4-5-1 /4-3-3 system. Most of the fans want to see us play 4-4-2 but think we are gunna be dissapointed. Rankine and Walker up front supplied with Wing men Blair and Chambers could potentialy be pretty deadly. Would be far more exciting to watch than a flooded midfield and an isolated striker. Smith should be benched Obeng to RB leave parslow and Oconell at CB.

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Flambraheader says...
10:36pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Great commitment and team work on Tuesday night, much more physical presence and direct but also maintained the passing and movement of last season. I too am baffled as to why the loan players don't get the opportunity to play. Same last season with Swalow and Tonne, 2 wide men who were brought in to the suprise of many when we had plenty of similar players and the neer got he oportunity to show why they had been brougt in. Everson has had only part of a game to my memory and got a good review but has not featured since. I thought McCreadywas impressive when he came on against Morecambe. I would go 442 with Ingham, Fyfield, O Connell, Parslow, Obeng, Kerr, McGrath, Chambers, McCready, Blair and Rankine = 3 points nearer safety on Saturday. I believe 50 points should guarantee football league status next season.

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Edsoni says...
10:50pm Thu 14 Feb 13

duffy wrote:
Pitbull Terry wrote:
Parslow's best position is in central defence as could be seen on Tuesday. Pity about Challinor's injury because I fear Parslow will now be moved to right back. I am not a fan of Smith and I'd be tempted to play Allen in the middle of defence or could Allen slot in at right back perhaps, so Parslow can stay in his best position?
But we don't need Allen at right back when we have just signed Obeng. What's the point of signing loan player after loan player if we never intend playing them, it's just getting silly now. Does anyone honestly think Everson is ever going to get any sort of run in the team even if fit ? I'm even doubting McDaid will get much game time even at this stage. We have a talented player in McReady, what's happened there, is everyone injured ?
We don't have the right to know everything. Some issues should not be in the public domain nor other advantages given to the opposition by such folly.
However I agree that Allen should not be considered for right back - he's left footed for starters. I also agree that McReady is a developing talent and would be ahead of Paddy and Potts in my assessment. Hopefully McGrath can cope with two games in a week as he gave some better balance. Given the opposition and the same question I think it is a marginal decision whether to start with Rankine but I think he just edges it. Kerr is also borderline at the moment but will probably play. Blair and Chambers -yes to start, with Rodman possible as a replacement later on. Although I think McReady would be my first replacement for Kerr or McGrath.

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YorkCityLuke says...
10:56pm Thu 14 Feb 13

openallhours wrote:
YorkCityLuke wrote:
SamYCFC wrote:
stay injured smith. you're crap
Moron.
Takes one to know one. Lol
Schoolyard wit I'm afraid. He wishes one of our loyal players suffers injury. He's a moron.

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openallhours says...
11:29pm Thu 14 Feb 13

YorkCityLuke wrote:
openallhours wrote:
YorkCityLuke wrote:
SamYCFC wrote:
stay injured smith. you're crap
Moron.
Takes one to know one. Lol
Schoolyard wit I'm afraid. He wishes one of our loyal players suffers injury. He's a moron.
He's saying stay injured, not get injured and I think it's a way of saying don't come back. Unfortunately, a lot of people would agree with him.

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redbluelion says...
11:35pm Thu 14 Feb 13

YorkCityLuke wrote:
openallhours wrote:
YorkCityLuke wrote:
SamYCFC wrote: stay injured smith. you're crap
Moron.
Takes one to know one. Lol
Schoolyard wit I'm afraid. He wishes one of our loyal players suffers injury. He's a moron.
i agree luke its wrong to wish injury on any player.its not a nice thing to say to anyone.hes a york city player and should be treated with a bit more respect..

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Head of Bomber Command says...
1:03am Fri 15 Feb 13

duffy wrote:
It's as though Smith and Parslow have to be accommodated regardless. Why move Parslow and drop a dedicated right back we have just signed? Crazy
Is the correct answer. Obeng to r/b for me. I feel sure Paddy would benefit from having Kerr and McGrath in midfield with him if he was to be the one addition.

Need Blair and Chambers to be picking the pieces from Michael up front and being a little closer to him.

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neutral observer 2 says...
9:14am Fri 15 Feb 13

We didnt sign Obeng.
He is a loan player who could disappear at any time.
Whats wrong with playing Allen.
He couldnt make any worse blunders than Parslow or Smith.
Here is a real novelty...... It builds a team for tomorrow

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