Derby County have added midfielder Korey Smith their ranks. The 31 year old midfielder has joined on a free transfer following his release from Swansea City. We spoke with Guto Llewelyn from The Jack Cast to find out more about the player and what he could bring to The Rams.
Derby have signed Korey Smith. What do you make of it? I was surprised to see Smith drop out of the Championship. He was always a dependable figure in Swansea's midfield and didn't expect him to drop down to League One. I think he's a great signing for Derby after such a troubled period, where you've had to rely so much on youngsters. That experience, as well as Smith's footballing ability, will be of great use. Are you surprised that Smith would be looking to sign for a League One club? Yes, I don't know if there was a lack of interest from the Championship but he could definitely still do a job in the second tier. But he will be a very good midfielder by League One standards and a proper leader too at a time when Derby are trying to rebuild. How did he do perform last season for Swansea? Last season was a bit of a strange one for Smith as he was played out of position for much of the season. When he played in his natural role, as a defensive midfielder, he looked as good as ever, protecting the defence, making tackles and playing the ball out from the back. But with Matt Grimes and Flynn Downes in the middle of the park he was very much a back-up and he got used as more of a utility player, which didn't work. We tried playing him as an attacking midfielder but it didn't suit him at all. He lacks creativity and seemed to slow down our attacking play. He was also tried out at right wing-back but that didn't work either. Bottom line, play him in his natural position and you'll have a Championship quality player on your hands.
Did Swansea ever express interest re-signing him once is contract expired?
I don't think there was much interest. Smith had become a back-up and I don't think that really worked for either party so it was best for everybody if he moved on, but he did so in a very respectful way. He was given a good send off and it's clear Russell Martin, who played alongside Smith for Norwich, has a lot of time for Smith both as a man and as a player.
Would you call his time at Swansea a success?
Yes. He arrived on a free transfer two years ago and was a key part of the hard-working midfield three which dragged us to the play-off final in 2021. Even though he lost his place in the starting line-up following the arrival of Flynn Downes and a change of formation, he remained a very solid and reliable deputy and was happy to fill all sorts of roles when injuries left us short in some areas.
What are his strengths? His weaknesses?
He's a hard working defensive midfielder who's also very comfortable with the ball at his feet. He covers a lot of ground and reads the game quite well. He's an excellent shield for his defence and does a lot of the dirty work so others can flourish. He's also pretty good at running the ball out from the back to release pressure. On top of this, he's a natural leader who has captaincy experience from his time at Bristol City. In terms of weaknesses, he doesn't offer anything in the final third. We tried playing him as an attacking midfielder and it didn't work at all.
He has a reputation as a versatile midfielder. What’s his best position? What other roles can he play? Can he play outside of midfield as well? What other elements to his game are there? Be very wary of that versatile tag. Just because he has played in a lot of different positions, doesn't necessarily mean he was great in all of them. He played as an attacking midfielder and as a right wing-back for Swansea but wasn't very effective in either role. He is at his best playing just in front of the defence, breaking up play and playing out from the back. Korey Smith is 31 years old. Do you think he can be good player in League One for Derby? Yes, it's weird as somebody who just turned 32 to think of a 31 year old as some kind of ancient relic but that's sport for you. Smith still has plenty of energy and athleticism, and he definitely has another year or two left in him before his legs go. I think those physical attributes will be needed in League One but he also has the footballing ability and brain which can stand out in the third tier.
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