Adam Smith recently passed the 350-game milestone at Cherries, with Iraola the seventh different boss he has played under at Dean Court. During his loan spell in 2010-11, the Tottenham Hotspur youngster played for Eddie Howe and then Lee Bradbury. Smith then signed from Spurs permanently in 2014, again under Howe, before going on to feature regularly for Jason Tindall, Jonathan Woodgate, Scott Parker and O’Neil. The 32-year-old has recently enjoyed a run back in the starting XI under Iraola, impressing at right-back having played second fiddle to new signing Max Aarons for much of the campaign.
Asked how different things have been on a day-to-day basis since Iraola’s arrival, Cherries’ first ever overseas boss,
Adam Smith said “Yes, it probably is (completely different). We are in most days, so there are less days off. Training is still intense but not as hard, but we train mostly every day. Everything is totally different, so I think that is why I think it took us a bit of time to adapt.”
Asked what his initial reaction was when he heard Iraola was being hired to replace O’Neil over the summer,
Adam Smith recalled: “It was just a big shock, to be honest, as I’m sure it was for everyone else. But I read up on him. He played under (Marcelo) Bielsa and it looks like he had a great career as well. I was definitely excited for him to come in and to work with him.”
Iraola spent most of his playing career featuring at right-back, the same position as Smith, before retiring in 2016.
Adam Smith said “It is good that he has a better understanding of what me and Maxy go through, him playing as a full-back. He can definitely help us with certain aspects of the game.”
Smith has now featured in eight Premier League seasons, having debuted in the competition for Spurs in 2012. In Cherries’ first top-flight campaigns, Smith nailed down his starting spot, rarely missing a fixture, unless injured on suspended. Last season the defender played in 37 of Cherries’ 38 Premier League matches, with his tally in the competition now approaching 200. Discussing the differences he has noticed over the years,
Adam Smith said: “Back in the day, you felt like the top five teams had wingers who were dangerous, but now it is every team in the whole league. The left winger is probably always their best player, if I’m honest! For me and Maxy it is really tough, with some of the wingers we come up against. It’s what the Premier League is now, with scouting all over the world, they are bringing the best players here. It is going to be tough every game.”
Smith will hope to keep his place when Cherries go to Nottingham Forest on Saturday (3pm).
