Vladimir Smicer (Vladimir Smicer)

Member Name: a-true-ben

Product:	Vladimir Smicer
Date:	20/03/02 (126 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Versatile and creative midfielder

Disadvantages: Inconsistent, injury problems

Liverpool’s number 7 shirt has always been a difficult position to fill. Ever since the days of Keegan and Dalglish, there’s been an air of expectation. The fans want someone who can entertain them, preferably by dribbling through the opponents’ defence and scoring wonder goals week in week out.

The last number 7 was arguably such a player, the occasionally dazzling if sometimes inconsistent, Steve McManaman (still possible my favourite Liverpool player, although now at Real Madrid). The man bought to fill his boots, however, was Vladimir Smicer, who recently played his 100th game for Liverpool (against Middlesbrough 16/3/02).

To be honest, I hadn’t heard of Smicer before his arrival. Having started his career for local sides Vernerice and Decin, he’d moved to Slavia Prague for £800 at the age of just 14. He made his league debut in November 1992, and first international appearance (for the old Czechoslovakia) in 1993. His successful time with Slavia Prague saw them win the domestic cup and league, as well as finishing runners up twice. In 1995, however, Smicer moved on to fresh challenges – joining French side Lens.

Success continued for Smicer, as he was part of the Czech side that finished runners up in Euro 96, in 1997/8 Lens won their first French championship and the next season Lens won the league cup. Smicer had been playing as a right-sided striker in a 4-3-3 formation.

In summer 1999 Gerard Houllier decided to bring Smicer to Liverpool as a replacement for McManaman. Although the two have very different styles, he hoped Smicer would be able to provide the creative spark Liverpool needed. Eager to link up with his friend and international team mate Patrik Berger, Smicer came for a bargain £3.5M – apparently turning down higher offers due to his desire to come to Liverpool.

Smicer made an instant impression, scoring on his debut in a pre-season friendly against Feyenoord.
Unfortunately in the same game he was forced off with an injury, and a series of niggling problems prevented him from playing much part in the 1999/2000 campaign. He played well again on the first day of the season, in a free role behind Fowler and Camara, and scored his first Liverpool goal (from a similar position) against Watford in January 2000. Persistant problems meant he never showed his true potential in his first season though.

In the treble season, however, Smicer really bloomed. Played primarily as a winger, providing another choice with Barmby, Berger and Murphy, but also as a deep front man, he became a vital member of the squad. Opening the season with a man-of-the-match display against Bradford, and following it up by setting up two goals in the next week against Southampton. Altogether Smicer scored seven goals, and was vital in creating many more.

He was always one to blow hot and cold though. Early on in the UEFA cup campaign, he was dreadful away to Olympiakos*, squandering several gilt-edged chances in a game Liverpool should have won (they drew 2-2). His season began to pick up, however. Come the Worthington cup semi-final against Crystal Palace, he was one of the few Liverpool players to emerge with any credit from the first leg (scoring an away goal), and instrumental in demolishing the First Division team 5-0 at Anfield.

The treble season finished well for Smicer. He started both the FA and Worthington Cup finals, and he was also used as a substitute in the UEFA Cup final, playing an important part in winning all three cups. Since then, however, he missed the Charity shield and Super Cup due to injury. The current 2001-2 season has seen him again struggling with inconsistency and injuries.

According to columnist Chris Bascombe, writing for the Liverpool Echo, and on www.liverpoolfc.tv, Smicer isn’t the man for the number 7 shirt – he argues he is at best a squad player and that in an ideal world
Liverpool should sign Harry Kewell (wishful thinking!) He sums up Smicer by saying:

“Well, poor Vladi gets as much stick as anyone and it's fair to say his Anfield career has been hit and miss. Hardly seen in his first year, excellent last season, but indifferent this term, it's been a disappointing return for a player who arrived with such high hopes.

Smicer is a genuine fella. The kind who you'd defend to the hilt in the face of strong criticism, but if he is to sign a new contract it may not be bad thing to take the pressure of him and give a new number on the back of his jersey.” (8th March 2002)

Personally I’m torn between agreeing with him and thinking he’s a little harsh. What Liverpool need is an out and out winger to give them width. Although blessed with plenty of strikers (Owen, Heskey, until recently Fowler and now Anelka) Liverpool have struggled to find a creative link between midfield and attack. Litmanen is the only striker who’ll naturally drop deep, and the central midfield pairing of Hamann and Gerard (or even McAllister or Biscan) tends to be rather defensive.

The creative spark has to come from the wide men – whichever of Berger, Barmby, Diomede, Murphy, this season’s revelation Riise and Smicer are selected. All of these, except Diomede, are capable enough, and the selection decision has often come down to who isn’t injured, with Smier, Berger and Barmby all struggling this season.

Smicer’s best position is playing in the ‘hole’ between midfield and one or two out and out strikers, but unfortunately this doesn’t seem to suit Liverpool’s game plan and 4-4-2 system. As it is, he’s been played on either flank, or as a second striker. When he plays well, his performances can be match winning. Unfortunately, when Liverpool struggle to break down packed defences, he rarely provides the necessary spark.
r>Predecessors such as McManaman were prone to sudden game winning moments of genius. Berger, when fit, could occasionally provide wonder goals out of nothing. Unfortunately the current Liverpool team doesn’t seem to have anyone who can quite provide that magic – thus relying heavily on Owen for goals, and it’s this, along with the sale of Fowler, that may cost us the championship this season.

To criticise Smicer for this would be unfair. Apart from the occasional howler (such as Olympiakos*) he rarely plays that badly. He’s a committed player, and certainly a good option to be in the squad. Unless he can continue to reproduce top class performances more consistently, however, I agree that what Liverpool need for a series title challenge is a world class creative midfielder-cum-striker, like Kewell or Giggs. If he comes, Smicer’s days at Anfield may be numbered.

Ideally I'd like to rate him 3.5, but I like him so I'll round up to a 4. He's good enough to play for Liverpool, but I think we need better.

Vladimir Smicer. – stats as of 20/3/02
Date of Birth: 24/05/1973
Squad: number: 7
Height: 5' 10
Weight: 11st 13lbs
1st team games: 101
1st team goals: 10
International caps: 52 (Czech Republic)
International goals: 19
Characteristics: Lively, agile, skillful and a good team player
Former clubs: Decin, Slavia Prague, RC Lens
Birth Place: Decin, Czech Republic
Website: http://www.icons.com/smicer/

**Compiled with help from www.liverpoolfc.tv**

*Don’t quote me on that – it may have been Panathinaikos, and I’d be grateful to anyone with a better memory than mine leaving a comment!