6: Ali Smith
Lincoln City league record: 25 appearances, 1 goal.
Ali Smith represented another attempt to identify a leading League Two player and develop him into a valuable League One asset. He had been excellent for Sutton United and possessed many of the physical qualities associated with the modern Lincoln City recruitment profile. At more than six feet tall, he was a rangy and athletic midfielder who appeared capable of covering ground, competing physically and contributing in both penalty areas. He played regularly during the closing stages of Mark Kennedy’s tenure and remained involved after Michael Skubala took charge.
Then, almost as quickly as Smith had become a regular, he disappeared from the picture. There was never a clear public explanation for the speed of his decline, whether it came down to the system, the new management team’s assessment or simply the player’s own dissatisfaction. He produced some encouraging performances and scored his only City goal away at Exeter City, but his final outings gave the impression of a relationship that had already run its course. Smith finished with 25 league appearances and one goal before moving on, leaving City without either the sustained contribution or the profitable resale they had anticipated.
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