Chris Smith is the York City rock declares manager

10:40am Tuesday 12th March 2013 in Sport

Scorer Chris Smith provides the platform for Michael Rankine Scorer Chris Smith provides the platform for Michael Rankine

CHRIS SMITH’S display against AFC Wimbledon showed the character that is needed to ensure York City get out of League Two relegation trouble, reckons boss Nigel Worthington.

The new Minstermen manager, speaking ahead of tonight’s crunch clash with Rochdale at Bootham Crescent (kick off 7.45pm), was impressed not just with the 31-year-old’s two goals in the 3-2 defeat at the Dons but also his leadership skills.

Smith has been the subject of repeated criticism from some sections of supporters during the last few months of the campaign but Worthington, describing his Saturday performance as “outstanding”, said it is on characters like the captain that City’s fight to maintain their League Two status may depend.

“He’s the captain and, if you take out his goals, the way he played was like a captain,” Worthington said.

“He played like a leader and that’s the characters you need – in and around the football club – to get you through situations like this.

“Football is a testing game. You can win loads of games, you can all of a sudden lose loads of games, or draw them, but it is how you cope with it and deal with it and that mental strength has got to be very strong in this club between now and then.”

He added: “It was nice to have the game on Saturday because, even though I had trained with the players all week, it’s actually in the game where you see your strengths and weaknesses and how people react.

“That was a good barometer for me. I know where we are at. I know what people can and can’t do, and we can work accordingly.

“There is enough there to get the results we require. They just need to believe in themselves. We have to go out there and play with freedom, go out there and enjoy the game, nullify the opposition, but make sure we perform.“Our number one focus is on our performance.

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“Having had a game, and a week, to see and assess and look at everything, you get a better picture of where things are at.

“There is a job on, there’s no shadow of a doubt about that, but it is about self belief, keeping the confidence and a high team spirit to carry it through.”

It is Worthington’s first home game in charge and, while acknowledging he is looking forward to the game and his desire to see a big home crowd, he has stressed that a performance has to be delivered by his team.

He added: “I am looking forward to it but I certainly want a performance as well and that’s important. Times are hard for people now, supporters are paying good money for tickets.

“We have got to be appreciative of that and make sure we go and give the best that we can back to them – through a performance – and hopefully that will be good enough to get a good result.”

On Rochdale, Worthington said: “They are 4-4-2/4-2-4. The wide men are dangerous and they work hard but it is nothing different to ourselves.

“We have to go and do what we have to do and not worry about the opposition.

“We will hopefully be able to play a bit more football because it will rough and ready – physical, but nothing like Saturday.

“We have to start nice and bright, take the game to them, and keep it tight and try to create and score.”

Comments(25)

TerryYork says...
11:16am Tue 12 Mar 13

Probably the one player who's cost us the most goals this season, but hey ho.

Massive game tonight and Saturday. We need everyone getting behind the team. None of this standing around muttering. Get singing.

The club's survival is now at stake.

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PhilipInYork says...
11:20am Tue 12 Mar 13

Totally agree. If you're going tonight, you are EXPECTED to be involved. Don't even bother going into the Shippo if you're going to have your hands in your pockets. I know the R&B guys have things planned.

As Terry says, it's now well known the club will fold if we go down, so this is war now.

Everyone singing for 90 minutes tonight.

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OLD - HEAD says...
11:48am Tue 12 Mar 13

Ater all the slagging off its nice to read about somebody praising Chris Smith. I can not think of any defender (or goalkeeper) who has NOT cost us goals this season. At this level all you can ask for is 100% commitment.

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andyjon12 says...
11:50am Tue 12 Mar 13

I agree about our crowd having a vital role to play, problem is, our fans at home matches are far too quiet. No doubt it will be "noisy" tonight for the first ten minutes, then it will almost certainly just fizzle out and go totally flat, unless we go 3 nil up after about 20 minutes. Unfortunately, this has always been a problem at Bootham Crescent,however, I hope all the fans prove me wrong tonight. All the best CITY.

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Wind Mills says...
12:02pm Tue 12 Mar 13

We are doomed if one of our worst players this season is praised that highly.

Yes he scored twice in his last game but he was also part of the back four that conceded 3 goals!

He managed to fool Mills, it looks like he's also managed to fool Worthington too.

That said lets get behind the boys tonight and be the 12th man

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king-albert says...
12:23pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Wind Mills wrote:
We are doomed if one of our worst players this season is praised that highly.

Yes he scored twice in his last game but he was also part of the back four that conceded 3 goals!

He managed to fool Mills, it looks like he's also managed to fool Worthington too.

That said lets get behind the boys tonight and be the 12th man
What exactly are you saying?
You have attempted to demoralise and demotivate our captain....
Then announced - "lets get behind the lads".

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Wind Mills says...
12:34pm Tue 12 Mar 13

king-albert wrote:
Wind Mills wrote:
We are doomed if one of our worst players this season is praised that highly.

Yes he scored twice in his last game but he was also part of the back four that conceded 3 goals!

He managed to fool Mills, it looks like he's also managed to fool Worthington too.

That said lets get behind the boys tonight and be the 12th man
What exactly are you saying?
You have attempted to demoralise and demotivate our captain....
Then announced - "lets get behind the lads".
I'm saying lets get behind the team and hopefully with our help the hapless Smith may have a good enough game to help us earn 3 points.

He shouldn't be in the starting 11 but because he is he should be supported along with the rest of the team.

Is that simple enough for you King Albert or do you require any further explanation?
I could get my 7 year old daughter to explain it for you if that would help!

CTID

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RooBeck says...
12:35pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Chris Smith can be an exceptionally good central defender, play well and display good leadership on the pitch, or, can be far less effective. When good, he's very good and when bad, well let's just say he can cost us goals! Sincerely hope he is the former, from now until the end of the season and leads us through this sticky patch and to safety and get's the best out of the remainder of the City team during the 90 minutes on the pitch and in doing so, maybe lands himself a new contract. Cover for him and get him into he box for the corners and set-pieces that allow us to attack the ball in the danger area and he just might get himself on the scoresheet again to-night! Looking forward to the match and yes, let's get right behind the team from the very start and stay behind them, for the full 90 and get the three points!! COYR.

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king-albert says...
12:37pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Wind Mills wrote:
king-albert wrote:
Wind Mills wrote:
We are doomed if one of our worst players this season is praised that highly.

Yes he scored twice in his last game but he was also part of the back four that conceded 3 goals!

He managed to fool Mills, it looks like he's also managed to fool Worthington too.

That said lets get behind the boys tonight and be the 12th man
What exactly are you saying?
You have attempted to demoralise and demotivate our captain....
Then announced - "lets get behind the lads".
I'm saying lets get behind the team and hopefully with our help the hapless Smith may have a good enough game to help us earn 3 points.

He shouldn't be in the starting 11 but because he is he should be supported along with the rest of the team.

Is that simple enough for you King Albert or do you require any further explanation?
I could get my 7 year old daughter to explain it for you if that would help!

CTID
Brilliant
Thank you very much

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PositiveFootball says...
12:46pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Chris deserves this accolade, it's been a long time coming. Everyone makes mistakes - it's the way you recover that makes the man. It's going to be close tonight, it's players like Smithy and us fans that will make the difference.

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Edsoni says...
12:53pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Wind Mills wrote:
We are doomed if one of our worst players this season is praised that highly. Yes he scored twice in his last game but he was also part of the back four that conceded 3 goals! He managed to fool Mills, it looks like he's also managed to fool Worthington too. That said lets get behind the boys tonight and be the 12th man
Mr. Negative.

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Yorkess says...
12:55pm Tue 12 Mar 13

I don't think Smith has deserved all the criticism he has had this season so I'm glad to read this article. I challenge any City fan to find me a player who hasn't made a mistake this season.

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openallhours says...
1:12pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Wind Mills wrote:
We are doomed if one of our worst players this season is praised that highly. Yes he scored twice in his last game but he was also part of the back four that conceded 3 goals! He managed to fool Mills, it looks like he's also managed to fool Worthington too. That said lets get behind the boys tonight and be the 12th man
A bit harsh but I would have to agree with you. Think back to the Gillingham game where he wasn't playing and our defence looked the best it'd been in ages. I do believe that Nigel will keep us up, but for me the alarm bells are ringing if Chris Smith is our 'rock'. It's not worth thinking about where we would be had we not had O'Connell in on loan.

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GLUTON INTOLERANT says...
1:31pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Yorkess wrote:
I don't think Smith has deserved all the criticism he has had this season so I'm glad to read this article. I challenge any City fan to find me a player who hasn't made a mistake this season.
Tom Platt ......

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neilfairy says...
1:36pm Tue 12 Mar 13

I think we should be looking at the whole team,not just Smith. I think all players need to pull their socks up and work for each other.Look at us in the final third we can't cross, and we can't finish from 6 yards(walker).Yes Smithy hasn't had the best season, but neither has anyone except Parslow.It is now time to make themselves accountable otherwise they won't be playing for this club next season. If we survive! NW will change the players to suit how he believes a team should play.

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rupertbehr says...
1:38pm Tue 12 Mar 13

The day for recrimination's is nearing
........... But it's NOT YET !!!!

Let's all do what we need to do.

SUPPORT CITY !!!!!!!!


COYR, NW's Barmy army, etc, etc.

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YCFC115 says...
1:44pm Tue 12 Mar 13

We are doomed! He took us down before and will do so again. I actually thought NW would have more sense, Ingham has been blaming Smith for the past two seasons, he's not happy when he plays in front of him - simple.

I really fear for us now.

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heartbreaker says...
2:06pm Tue 12 Mar 13

My line up :

Ingham

Oyebanjo, Smith, O'Connell, Parslow

Chambers, McLaughlin, McGrath, Blair

Reed, Rankine - fancy these 2 to score rather than other options!

Out of Chambers, Blair, Paddy and the front 2 surely there are some goals in there??!

Subs. that sheff keeper, Doig, Fyfield, Kerr, Potts, Rodman, Walker, Everson or McDaid

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heartbreaker says...
2:08pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Just realised I picked 8 subs before anyone pipes up...

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cambersdad says...
2:37pm Tue 12 Mar 13

glad to hear NW can see what people can and cannot do, so if fyfield starts tonight i'll start thinking he must have dodgy eyes,soon as i see his name on the teamsheet my heart drops,must be GM worst signing,i bet when GM gets his next job (soon i hope ) he wont be making a bee line to sign him

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TerryYork says...
2:46pm Tue 12 Mar 13

heartbreaker wrote:
My line up :

Ingham

Oyebanjo, Smith, O'Connell, Parslow

Chambers, McLaughlin, McGrath, Blair

Reed, Rankine - fancy these 2 to score rather than other options!

Out of Chambers, Blair, Paddy and the front 2 surely there are some goals in there??!

Subs. that sheff keeper, Doig, Fyfield, Kerr, Potts, Rodman, Walker, Everson or McDaid
How many subs!!!

;-)

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heartbreaker says...
3:32pm Tue 12 Mar 13

TerryYork wrote:
heartbreaker wrote:
My line up :

Ingham

Oyebanjo, Smith, O'Connell, Parslow

Chambers, McLaughlin, McGrath, Blair

Reed, Rankine - fancy these 2 to score rather than other options!

Out of Chambers, Blair, Paddy and the front 2 surely there are some goals in there??!

Subs. that sheff keeper, Doig, Fyfield, Kerr, Potts, Rodman, Walker, Everson or McDaid
How many subs!!!

;-)
I corrected myself in my next comment hushhh :)

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Yorkess says...
4:01pm Tue 12 Mar 13

GLUTON INTOLERANT wrote:
Yorkess wrote:
I don't think Smith has deserved all the criticism he has had this season so I'm glad to read this article. I challenge any City fan to find me a player who hasn't made a mistake this season.
Tom Platt ......
Fair point!

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duffy says...
5:32pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Yorkess wrote:
I don't think Smith has deserved all the criticism he has had this season so I'm glad to read this article. I challenge any City fan to find me a player who hasn't made a mistake this season.
Sadly that sums up this season.

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joejamestom says...
7:14pm Tue 12 Mar 13

YCFC115 wrote:
We are doomed! He took us down before and will do so again. I actually thought NW would have more sense, Ingham has been blaming Smith for the past two seasons, he's not happy when he plays in front of him - simple.

I really fear for us now.
Afraid you are spot on & he flatters to decieve i fear for us if NW cannot see through changing room politics and one good performance just hope he has watched a few DVDs. Still all the team should realise that its very bad for their CVs and if for just their own futures its time to pull out all the stops until the last game is over. C'mon City stay in!!

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