Meet the New Guys - Brad Smith
(image via Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports)
Previous Club: D.C. United
Acquired by: Free agency, signed through the 2024 season with a club option for 2025 and 2026
Position: Left back
Who is Brad Smith?
Brad Smith was born in Penrith, Australia before he moved to England at the age of 14. He was scouted by Liverpool and joined their academy system. He made his professional debut with The Reds in late 2013, against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Smith ended his time at Liverpool with 5 Premier League appearances in the 3 seasons spent with the first team, and had a short loan out to League One’s Swindon Town before moving to AFC Bournemouth. While it looked promising for Smith, he had limited oppgortunities as Charles Daniels held on to the starting left back position with The Cherries. This opened the door for the Seattle Sounders to land the Aussie.
By far, the time that Smith spent as a Sounder has been some of the best in his career thus far. In 2019, Brad appeared in 25 games, starting in 22 of them, and accumulated 1,974 minutes to help Seattle lifted MLS Cup. He was on loan during his first stint with the Sounders in 2018 & 2019, but was brought in on a permanent basis in 2020. His time would once again be limited as Nouhou became the main man for the club at the left back position.
In 2022, D.C. United acquired Brad Smith in exchange for $750,000 of General Allocation Money (Houston got $500,000 from Austin in the Lundkvist trade, crazy). Smith was finally a regular starter and enjoyed plenty of minutes for the Black-and-Red, before tearing his ACL in a match against the Philadelphia Union on July 8, 2022. The injury would sideline him the remainder of the season and D.C. opted not to pick up his option for the 2023 season. That right there is how comeback stories are written in Hollywood, or Houston. The resilient city.
What Does Brad Bring to Houston?
Let’s start off by saying that Brad will not be ready to start match day one of the 2023 regular season. However, he looks to be improving and getting in shape after such a terrible injury. Smith will most likely get action closer to the summer with the Dynamo. The contract that he signed looks to be a deal that the team believes that he can be the left back to take over the void left after the departure of Adam Lundkvist, when healthy.
Brad is known for his speed with and without the ball. He recovers well in transition. Smith, at his best was one of the, if not the only, player that could shut down La Panterita Alberth Elis in 2019. When the Honduran was terrorizing every fullback, finishing the season with 9 goals and 10 assists, Smith was able to contain him in their match ups. While his speed and quickness will be questioned after the ACL injury, his awareness of knowing when to press and when to fall back and hold won’t. Brad can read the development of plays quite well on both sides of the field. He drives forward into the final third are always dangerous, as Smith has the ability to provide assists and sometimes take shots on goal.
Here are Brad’s stats thanks to fbref.com:
Brad Smith stats profile from fbref.com
His stats compare to players like Alvas Powell, Malte Amundsen, and Boris Sekulic to name a few. Check their site for a complete scouting report.
