Bit harsh on Ainscough who has taken his opportunity very well.

Not saying he has areas he needs to work on but he is a natural try scorer.

At one point early on Smith split the winger and full back and turned them with a kick to the corner - the guy a couple of seats down from me said "ohhh, sign him up for the latics." He just isn't going to get a fair chance off some people.

This thread is bizarre.

Smith had his first decent game against a very poor team but the question remains can he play in a Wigan side often on the back foot against serious opposition? I guess we may find out next week.

The comments re Hock being poor are short sighted. About the only thing Celtic did right was gang up on Hock every time he had the ball, which ultimately created space for the rest of the team.

Sam Tomkins was man of the match for me easily. Not only was a he a threat attack wise for a small lad he knows how to tackle and did so on several occasions including one absolutely brilliant cover tackle.

I think Smith is has a clever RL brain but he can't simply rely on his passing all the time to create something. The notion he got MoM because he was the only one who didn't make any mistakes is distinctly odd.

Dave

Not quite true look at Richards a lot wanted him out after his first season...but I know what your getting at.

Smith was definately MOM for me followed up by Coley.

People talk about Smith not making any breaks, but if you watch him closely you'll see the amount of defenders that he attracts to slot one of his team mates through a gap. Also he ran across the line very well, stretching and confusing the defence by giving a good inside ball or a dummy inside to hit the centre. His kicking was also very good, turning the fullback or playing it safely into touch when needs be. Ok, the opposition weren't the best but he gave some superb balls that the likes of O'Loughlin gobbled up all day.

A good, defence-break down performance by Smith allowed S. Tomkins a bit of freedom to attack the line with some elusive running. If we get the Smith/Tomkins/Leuluai/Riddell combo sorted, it could work really well.

Would you pick him again if the circumstances were the same? I ask this because I was also with the prawn sandwich brigade and to be honest from where I was sitting near the front of the room I thought TS looked extremely uncomfortable during the presentation. He looked extremely nervous and edgy and gave the impression that he was desperate to get away (not out of embarassment that he had undeservedly won the MoM, he just looked to be very ill at ease). I actually felt sorry for the guy. I'm not sure I'd pick him even if he were the outstanding player in a game. What do you think?

Certainly ill at ease, but I wouldn't let that stop me picking him if I thought he deserved it. I actually thought that Smith was OK despite being uncomfortable. I just put it down to Tim being Tim, and at least he wanted to be there. I was told by the staff that he was delighted at being picked, particularly after his shaky start at the club.

This is in contrast to Harrison "one word answer" Hansen, who you must also have seen in the lounge. He looked like media training or appearing in public was something he was comfortable with, but just didn't want to do. I met him in the tunnel at half time and he never said a word unless prompted by Joyce. Nice enough lad, but I don't think public relations will ever be his forte.

Alex was right, though - Smith put several people through gaps, and enabled his players to do some running. So whilst Tomkins, for instance, looked good in his running yesterday, he was assisted in this by some smart passes by Smith.

Celtic were barely A-team standard yesterday. Tim Smith was given plenty of time to pick the gaps and make his passes. He won't get that against many other sides...and he might also have to do some defending.
Previous games have shown up his weaknesses, and I am not convinced that a game against such poor opposition could prove he has overcome them.
MoM is always a subjective choice, but I'm at a loss to see how Tim was rated better yesterday than O'Loughlin or Sam, or several others.
Wanting a player to improve doesn't make it happen, no matter how much people talk him up, and I am afraid Tim has had plenty of games now to demonstrate his value, without ever doing enough.
If he or Sam Tomkins became available for transfer, which do you think would attract the greatest interest from other clubs?

I thought Smithy was alright yesterday, certainly his best game for the club. I'd love to see him put a run of form together now. MOM was probably Sam, Tommy or Gleeson.

As others have said, Celtic weren't at the races at all yesterday and it was an easy ride for the team.

I dont get it, people are slagging Smith of for having a good game against an inferior opposition - save your bile for the ones that DIDN'T have a good game against that same inferior opposition.

At least he showed he has potential