Ayling - natural replacement for Giles

He's been good! But, he'll be 33 by the time next season rolls around. I'd take him as part of the first team squad, but not as our first choice left back.
 
Ayling is far better than Smith. A bang average full back with no pace and offers very little going forward. I would hope that we have our eye on somebody younger and better than both of them.
 
I'd happily have both Ayling and Smith battling it out for the RB role. The fact they are 32-33 is only relevant longterm.

I'd say we'd have two decent champo RBs. That said Ayling is an upgrade in terms of going forward. He could end up with most assists this season. Crackers as only joined in Jan 😂
 
With Smith it seems to be another one where the longer they are out the better they get Smith is as or if not more slower than ayling and no where near as good going forward
 
sledge said:
With Smith it seems to be another one where the longer they are out the better they get Smith is as or if not more slower than ayling and no where near as good going forward
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Carrick would disagree. When Smith was fit, he was the first name on Carrick's team sheet... Played more minutes than any other player from when Carrick came in last season when we spent most of the season in play off positions.
 
Ash88 said:
Carrick would disagree. When Smith was fit, he was the first name on Carrick's team sheet... Played more minutes than any other player from when Carrick came in last season when we spent most of the season in play off positions.
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He had no one else then only occasionally when diksteel was fit but he ovously doesn't rate him
 
sledge said:
He had no one else then only occasionally when diksteel was fit but he ovously doesn't rate him
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Smiths style of play was a massive part of our pivoting formation last season allowing Giles to get forward on the other side. Exactly the same way Neil Taylor allowed Jones to get further forward with wing backs under Wilder.

Carrick didn't just pick him because he had noone else. He played nearly every minute since the first game he came in.
 
Ayling came into the team when we were on a poor run but as confidence has returned he's got better and better. His decision making and delivery going forward has been very good.
I thought he would take on the Tommy Smith, senior pro, calm head role but instead he seems to have embraced the Darragh Lenihan goal celebrater-in-chief role, always first on scene.🙂
 
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