By Jake Verity
There is much that is made of the role of captain. The need for leadership to be balanced with ability. The fact that such a player must more often than not be at the core of the team.
Over the years we’ve had some great captains. But also some terrible ones. There’s been a few somewhere between who will be good pub quiz answers one day.
But this article is going to focus on our current captain. Richie Smallwood.
I saw in the comments on my Bromley match report that somebody asked whether someone could write an article about him.
So I’ve gone ahead and done my best. Personally, I should be clear that I like Smallwood and think he’s a very, very good player at this level. Like all players, I’ve found things frustrating at times; but fundamentally believe he’s a very important part of what feels like a rapidly improving Bradford City team.
Let’s get into it though.
Starting with his career
Signed from Hull City in the Summer of the 2022/23 season, Richie Smallwood was arguably one of the biggest ‘statement signings’ during Mark Hughes’ tenure. If you look on paper, this is a midfielder with eleven seasons of Championship football amassing just short of 250 appearances in the second-tier. Fairly solid.
He’s also played for three clubs in League One and has won promotion to the Championship with each of them. Rotherham United, Blackburn Rovers and Hull City. He was captain at the latter of the two.
During his time at Hull, he took them to the League One title and was an almost ever-present in the following season as they played Championship football. But at the end of that campaign, he was making the move to West Yorkshire to put on a Claret and Amber jersey, wearing our armband.
Smallwood has made 107 appearances for us in all competitions – more than likely a higher amount than any other player over the same period since we brought him to the club. Perhaps the only one to compete with him without extensively researching this would be Brad Halliday – this makes a point in itself.
There’s something to be said here about his fitness levels and aversion to injury. Not just with us, but almost all the way through his career. He’s no doubt been lucky, but also clearly keeps himself in good condition. Fingers crossed that doesn’t change this season, as it seems he is becoming more integral than ever to our success.
There’s no time for sentimentality
This weekend, Gary Jones was at Valley Parade speaking before the match and taking selfies with fans around the ground. Universally loved by the fanbase, he was everything that we wanted to see in a Bradford City captain. A true leader, a hard-worker and somebody who improved everybody around him.
Jones has rightly been described as a perfect type of captain, much like McCall. Somebody who oozes Bradford City from top to bottom. Even if he only joined the club towards the end of his career – his achievements were remarkable and the squad he led will be forever remembered.
But there’s a danger here. Sometimes we push our expectations that captains will replicate the characters of the past. Nostalgia might be seen as a good thing, but juvenoia most certainly isn’t. We can’t expect people to copy those that came before them.
I’m going to get into Smallwood’s character soon. He is a bit different to previous captains we’ve had. That’s fine. We don’t always need a Gary Jones or Stuart McCall to be successful. In 2016/17, arguably our last ‘good’ season pre-Smallwood, our captain was Romain Vincelot – who I liked a lot at the time, but he certainly wasn’t of the same ilk.
We’ve also had some more interesting scenarios with captains. Josh Wright; Anthony O’Connor and James Vaughan spring to mind. There’s also ones who have simply escaped my memory. Lee Novak?
To have had some relative stability as our captain is welcome. After all, we had twelve captains in the two calendar years between 2018 – 2020, compared to just Smallwood between 2022 – 2024. The hope is that some of that stability is now starting to pay off…
What is it about Richie Smallwood?
Since his arrival, Smallwood and the fan base have had a tumultuous relationship with each other. For what it’s worth, I think this has been driven largely by the fan base, rather than him. That’s not me being negative about our fans. We pay money and expect results, accountability and pride in performances. So when they dip below what we expect, and that has happened on many occasions, we are well within our rights to be frustrated.
As a character, it feels like he is naturally somebody who doesn’t enjoy the limelight, or attention. He is quite subdued, but clearly somebody respected by managers and players alike. You don’t get chosen as a captain by Mark Hughes and Graham Alexander unless that is the case – and display some leadership qualities. It’s a very important role.
Rather than getting into specifics of the past couple of years, my general feeling is that when fans end up unhappy with Smallwood, it’s for one of the following reasons:
- It felt at the start like we were getting a Championship midfielder, and we expected Josh Cullen’s ability from box-to-box mixed with Elliott Watt’s passing range. He isn’t that sort of player and never has been. He breaks up play, pushes the team forwards and isn’t a strong passer or creative midfielder. He’s quite pragmatic.
- There’s an expectation that he should pick the team up like Jones did and be visibly passionate. As fans, we gravitate to people who show they care and work hard. Because he lets his head drop sometimes, he feels like less of a leader.
- His set pieces have been generally poor.
- There are few media appearances and fans don’t really know much about him. We like transparency and directness – it feels like a captain should be doing every interview and speaking out.
- Sometimes we want somebody to blame, and it’s easy to pick on somebody who is “letting us down” in one of the above four areas. It makes us feel better.
I could be wrong, and people may disagree. But these are my theories for now. I’m sure there will be plenty of debate. That’s fine also, we’re allowed to have opinions.
Debunking this season
I feel the reason we’re seeing his quality shine through now, and why generally speaking everyone is in such agreement that he has started this season well, is because he is addressing each of these points. I’ll go through each one again.
His playing style is better suited in our new system with two actual midfielders alongside him. No longer does he have to have Alex Gilliead or another make-shift midfielder by his side; he can actually do his job. Antoni Sarcevic brings passing quality and vision. Alex Pattison brings energy and attacking quality. Smallwood can break up the play and move us forward. It’s quite simple. He’s finally excelling in the role he has done all his career – and we are noticing it, rather than expecting him to be a midfielder that he isn’t.
We’ve started the season well, so there’s been little need for him to “pick the team up”. But there have been signs of character. Stepping up to take the first penalty in the shootout after missing one in normal time at Grimsby. He has pushed the team on. His assist on Saturday was also excellent too, and looked like a midfielder playing with confidence and freedom.
We have changed how we do set pieces. His short corner to led to the penalty on Saturday. Clearly there’s been a discussion there and that is now benefitting the team. It’s also fair to say his set pieces did improve towards the end of last year. Salford away and Newport at home being examples. Hopefully this continues.
He did some media on Saturday. But we’re also seeing the passion on the pitch, which matters more. Away at MK Dons, he made a tackle which was out of this world. It reminded me of Wrexham away last year where he flew into several challenges one after another. That’s what we want to see – that effort and directness.
What comes next?
Grimsby away. Carlisle at home. Two very big fixtures and if we get them right, we’ll be in a good place. Both will be tough. But if we can get results, it’ll more than likely be because he’s had another good game.
I think it’s fair to say that fans are starting to warm up to Smallwood after his performances this season. But some of it clearly isn’t enough still.
It was a real shame watching him get booed before taking his penalty against Bromley. That’s something you never want to see at Valley Parade as a fan; let alone as a teammate or the player it’s happening to. At full-time, it was smiles all around, and it felt most fans were in complete agreement he was excellent.
I hope we can put that moment from last weekend behind us. Give him some support at Blundell Park. Maybe, we’ll even resurrect his chant that we last sang around the grounds during Mark Hughes’ tenure.
If he wants to be lauded by the fans, he certainly has to earn it. But there’s no getting away from the fact he’s started this season in such a way that if he continues, there is no doubt you’ll be hearing his name on the terraces.
The real hope is that he can get the privilege most captains get in successful teams. But we’ve been here before. We’ve made that mistake in the past. This is one game at a time. Take things as they come. Let’s see how he does this weekend. And if he knows exactly what we need. With Byrne at the back and Cook in attack…
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This system definitely suits him better but I still can’t get away from the fact his legs have gone. This maybe the reason Hull let him go? League 2 is a physical, frantic league and sometime our lack of mobility in this position shines through. If he misses the 1st tackle he cannot get back. I would also rather Cook took the penalties if he’s on the pitch and can see no reason for Smallwood to take one ahead of Cook.
Pros
Reads the game well and wins lots of ball back.
Cons
His set pieces are poor and he’s very slow and getting slower.
We really could do with some cover in this position.
I was also surprised on Saturday but it makes a lot of sense on reflection.
Andy Cook was pretty unsuccessful in his penalty duties last season. He’s a striker who, for me, is more instinctive in his goalscoring abilities. Better when he doesn’t have to think. Interestingly he’s actually got a pretty awful penalty record
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/andy-cook/elfmetertore/spieler/133397/saison_id//wettbewerb_id//plus/1#tore
It may have even be that impacted his confidence in front of goal generally. There may have been a conversation over the off season.
Let’s not forget, Alexander himself, was a very successful penalty taker as a defender/defensive midfielder. Your top scorer isn’t always your best option from 12 yards.
Yeah maybe your right re the penalties. I’d prefer a striker as it adds to their tally and increases confidence. Also I’m just not that confident in Smallwood based on his other set pieces.
Jones and McCall both captained our most successful teams of the past 25 years (Vincelot probably the third most successful team).
Smallwood is not going to be the player McCall ever was, nor create the memories Jones’s team managed to create. A captain’s legacy is primarily defined by the success of the team he led. A goalscorer by the goals he scored, a keeper by the saves and clean sheets. This team has underachieved, Smallwood as captain, has some responsibility for that but there are plenty of other factors more responsible. Of course there may be anomalies, like Weatherall who was a consistent presence, as captain in an unsuccessful team, but remembered fondly as much for his impact off the pitch, as on it.
I agree his set pieces haven’t been the best but he isn’t on them ‘because he is captain’. Clayton, Banks and now Wright have all taken set piece duties in the past (Oduor was also given the responsibility during one of his runs in the team and Walker intermittently too). Outside of that it could be that he is the best of a bad bunch. Also ask if his targets are doing their job. Did the Jones-McCardle combination work well for us, as much because of McCardle’s run to the front post, as the Jones corner. Without McCardle doing that job effectively, it’s ‘Jones hasn’t beaten the first man again’.
The other issue is the team hasn’t been built around his qualities. We didn’t rate Eoin Doyle but look how well he has done when used correctly in other teams, there are countless examples. To your point about Pattison and Sarcevic (Walker and Pointon at the end of last year), his other period of consistently excellent performances came when Clayton played alongside him and Gilliead. Gilliead brought energy, Clayton brought passing range (and set pieces). We produced a really good run of form without scintillating football. I’ve never questioned his commitment when being asked to do a different job but his performances aren’t at the same level when asked to do so.
I’ve always been a huge Smallwood fan and always enjoy watching that kind of player but I appreciate others might not look at him in the same way. Opinions are why we watch the game, I’m hoping the Smallwood arc culminates in him leading this team to promotion when he will be viewed very differently as captain too.
Hit the wrong key there ! First thing – appreciate the photo – guy with the Smallwood shirt ! Moving on I also think Smallwood does a lot of good work, at times exposed when Sarcevic and Pattison are caught upfield, but overall I feel he is an important part of our current system. What I cannot understand is the negative response from some supporters during the game – evidenced when he stepped up for the penalty. Support the team.
I think there’s various reasons that Smallwood as been given so much stick since he signed.
Firstly think that because he signed from the championship people were expecting him to look a class above in our midfield at this level. Tbh if someone who didn’t know him who had watched a few of our games and asked them to pick a player that had played at a lot higher level bet very few would say Smallwood.
Secondly I don’t think he’s really a captain, like you said in your article to get the captaincy under both Hughes and Alexander they must see some leadership qualities in him but unfortunately many of the fans don’t. Personally I’ve always felt that every time Bradford city have been successful in my time watching them we’ve always had a great captain. Eddie Youds in 96, McCall when we gained promotion to the Premiership and Gary Jones when we last gained promotion and got to the league cup final. The same goes for other clubs, look at when man utd were successful with Roy Keane.
Thirdly his dead balls have never been the best, always thought we should mix it up a lot more and share them out.
Take the captaincy and set pieces away from him and I doubt he would have received half the stick. People would have probably thought he was a solid but limited midfielder who does a job for us.
Do you not think part of the reason they are considered such a good captain is because they played with such good players and therefore we were successful under their leadership.
it’s an interesting debate.
Do you think Jones leadership would have resulted in better results over the last 2 seasons. Do you think if Smallwood had been captain of the 2013 we wouldn’t have been promoted?
Jones had Parkinson as his manager, many other leaders like Davies, Darby, McCardle.
I don’t think any of the past 2 seasons squad other than Cook would have got in the 2013 side, maybe Banks. Our player of the season, Halliday might be better going forward than Darby but nowhere near as good defensively.
Jones was brilliant all action, wore his heart on his sleeve. As you say did the things all the fans see but there is so much more to leadership than that.
He’s just not what we were expecting. I expected his best days to be behind him but thought he’d be a midfield general, spraying balls and controlling the game, just looking a class above as often happens when players get older and drop down the leagues. Jay Spearing esc. I actually thought Kev Mcdonald might be that too, we never seem to have look with these older players dropping down though. If he’d never been captain and never been on set pieces he’d have been fine and plodded along. Like you say he’s now just sticking to his job and has better players around him so he doesn’t have to try do it all. I’m warming to him. You can’t tell me we don’t have a better set piece taker in the squad though, Wright put in some great balls on saturday.
Thanks for doing the article! It’s interesting seeing people’s comments on him and what they like/don’t like.
The one criticism that I’ve seen on twitter a few times that seems unfair is from people who say he doesn’t seem to care/or isn’t passionate enough. Possibly that is with his general quiet persona, which you mentioned, but, look at his reaction last season when Smith scored that last minute winner against Barrow, that is the passionate reaction of someone who loves to win and desperately wanted us to win that game.
I think you’ve summarised the key reasons nicely and the above comments show a good range of reasons and opinions. The key one for me is perspective and expectation, we thought we were getting a player who would absolutely dominate, in a box-to-box/all action manner, given his championship pedigree and success in league one, and, we haven’t got that. However, I wonder if Smallwood ever was that? He probably wasn’t and because he hasn’t matched that, some fans have not taken to him.
Which goes into discussions around players from higher up leagues and how easy it is for them to dominate in league 2, we’ve all seen very good players struggle when not surrounded by other very good players / in different systems (e.g. think of world class players who play for poor national teams, such as Salah).
When Smallwood played 52 times for Blackburn in 17/18 he mostly played alongside Bradley Dack, who scored 18 times that season and Corry Evans who has 69 caps for NI and was another defensive midfielder. Put simply, must be easier to play with better players and perform to a higher level. You are only as strong as your weakest link…
Post of the day. Some reason at last. And very good reasoning too!
Thanks Paul
I believe Smallwood lacks creativity and repeatedly thumps the ball upfield even when not under pressure. His lack of vision then becomes tunnel vision whenever anyone challenges him within five yards of open play. His long hopeful ball thump upfield becomes catching with Ciaren Kelly following suit and then loss of shape and direction became the norm. Our home form has mirrored this out with a lack of intricacy and wastfulness. Any team that sets itself up not to play gun-ho football and we very quickly self destruct and for many becomes unpalatable and unwatchable. He has survived in higher leagues due to the footballing ability of other players around him and this simply has not been the case at Bradford. I reserve judgement on his improvement but we do now have some creativity and ability in midfield. There has been improvement but is it enough? Time will tell!
I don’t know him
I have never met him
I will not boo him
I don’t get why people would boo or abuse anyone in their workplace or online
I truly believe that each game he gives 100%
PS, his legs have not gone
‘I don’t get why people would boo or abuse anyone in their workplace or online’
That’s a question you should pose to Smallwood – one of the first things he did (might even have been his first home game) was make a p*ss-poor pass that was nowhere near its intended recipient and proceed to berate that player on the pitch (aka his workplace) for something that was 100% Smallwood’s fault. It’s something he continues to do.
I can’t remember seeing him encourage ‘his’ team on the pitch (and that may be my blind prejudice against him)
I think he is an average L2 midfielder who thinks he’s better than he is.
I was in b block and I didn’t hear anybody boo Smallwood before the penalty
maybe I was too distracted by the standup/sit down debate?
we are a divided club and Smallwood is a totem of that division
I visited the Seattle seahawks in the summer where they have retired the 12 shirt as the 12th player is the fan
you couldn’t say that about our club at the moment or for the last few years
The only thing I’d say about Ritchie is that his set pieces have been awful. I don’t think anyone can argue that.
In a division where this side of the game is so important the sight of him not clearing the first man time after time on corners is just depressing. The team works hard to get into these positions and to then squander them in this manner I feel is unforgivable.
That all said, clearly managers rate him and are happy for him to continue taking them but I’m at a loss as to why we haven’t tried to mix it up before now.
To my eye, he is a very good defensive midfielder, I am glad he is in our team.
As a captain, I can see why people don’t rate him, I see him telling others player what they’ve done wrong which is a part of the job but I don’t see the encouragement, the ability to lift the team.
That said I don’t look at our squad right now and see a ready replacement for that role.
Just from the 2 home games I’ve watched so far, Sarcevic looks more like the captain to me. I’ve seen him telling a few off, even Smallwood himself but also being more encouraging and vocal than I’ve seen from Smallwood. Like Smallwood he’s had a career that demands respect from his teammates. I wouldn’t be taking the armband off Smallwood at this moment in time though.