Home Currently visting YA: 340 


  News     Blog     Press Box Reports     YAX     Extra Time     Best XI     Players     Statistics     Auctions     Store     Contact  

SMITH REFLECTS ON FINNISH SEASON
Arch Bell - Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Lawrence Smith's first year with Veikkausliiga club VPS has come to a close however it remains to be seen if Smith will be back for a second year with the Finnish team.

Smith was a stalwart all season long up front for the Vaasa-based club where he scored three goals, a disappointing total in the mind of the Charleston, South Carolina native.

"I'm paid to score goals and I only had three this year which was frustrating," Smith recently told YA. "Our offense always was playing down the wings and then looking to cross which doesn't play to my strength. I prefer having the ball played in where there is more movement and I can be more creative. Plus, I might be a big guy but I have some speed!"

By the final months of the season head coach Petri Vuorinen decided to loosen the reins and give Smith the freedom to roam the middle. The move paid off in late August when Smith came off the bench as a second half substitute and fueled a comeback win over RoPS with a goal and an assist.

The performance by the forward was arguably his best of the season and gave all teams in Finland a glimpse of the skills possessed by the former Georgia Southern standout.

The tape of that match could come in handy as ex-Southern Conference star says he could be on the move due to the unstable financial situation that is happening all around Finland.

"Right now, I'm unsure about the future," explained Smith. "The money situation in Finland is very tight and I'm now just waiting to see what happens. I want to come back to Finland for at least one more year. I should know something in November."

Prior to this year, Smith played two seasons at Finnish second division club KPV which was preceded by brief stints in the USL with the Charleston Battery and Jamaican club Harbour View FC.

When pressed as to what the biggest differences are between playing at the highest level of Finnish soccer and his previous stops, the Palmetto State resident is quick to note that it all starts with the speed of the game.

"The Veikkausliiga is much more fast paced which I enjoy. It is also a very physical league. The play is much faster than the USL. It really is a different game from that standpoint, plus you can see the different styles of all the other teams who have coaches from all over Europe," he concluded.

Smith played in 22 matches this season for VPS, netting three goals and earning one assist.

See these related articles
Recap: VPS 0 - 0 IFK Marehamn
Preview: VPS - IFK Marehamn
Recap: KuPS 3 - 3 VPS
Page tools
Print this page
Send this page to a friend
Contact author
post page to:

0 Comments | Add a comment?

Add a comment

Name


Email (will not appear on the site)


Comment


Join the YA Email Alert?

Comments are moderated and will be posted if they are on-topic and free of profanity/abuse.


Oddsmakers peg the US as a longshot
Fox officially acquires Setanta's US rights
Fox Soccer Plus coming in March
No deal yet between Agudelo and Millonarios
Zaki at Hull and Hoyos impressing at Estudiantes
Agbossoumonde close to Braga deal
New Year bits and bobs
Looking at Clark's options on the Isles
Donovan in the clear, Holden still in the fog
Everton loan for Donovan confirmed

Register for Email Alert to receive news, interviews, and more directly to your inbox without spam. Ever.
JOIN remove




Guy inks St. Pat's extension
Preview: Midweek English action
Recap: Aris Thessaloniki 0 – 2 Panthrakikos
Recap: Weekend English action
Recap: Weekend German action
Recap: Weekend Mexican action
Recap: Estudiantes de La Plata 2 - 0 San Lorenzo
Recap: FC Zwolle 0-2 Helmond Sport
Recap: Rennes 4 - 2 Bordeaux
Preview: Estudiantes de La Plata-San Lorenzo
Yao given four-month run at Ipswich
Clark recovery ahead of schedule
Hill loaned to Deportivo das Aves
Preview: Weekend English action
Preview: Aris Thessaloniki – Panthrakikos

After a recent spurt of injuries to USMNT players, Brian explains why Bob Bradley oversaw...

A crucial January camp

Despite pleas by many US Under-20 fans, Brian is here to tell you that Thomas Rongen is...

Still the right man for the job