Inside Verdict: Sam Smith — “This Is the Best Milan Squad We’ve Had”

Maryhill Milan’s excellent start to the Premiership continued at Scotstoun on Sunday with an emphatic 5–0 victory over previously unbeaten Kelburne AFC.

Frank Sideline was there to see Milan take control of the game, with a particularly impressive first-half performance putting them firmly on their way to another three points.

The result made it four league wins from four for a side that already knows plenty about winning.

Milan have lifted the West Cup in each of the last two seasons, and goalkeeper Sam Smith has been there throughout that success.

Footy Focus first caught up with Sam around Milan’s first West Cup triumph, when he spoke about the hunger within the squad to keep achieving more.

More than a year later, that hunger certainly hasn’t disappeared.

If anything, Sam believes Milan are now stronger.

As Good As Milan Have Played

From his position at the back, Sam was particularly impressed by what happened during the opening half at Scotstoun.

“First half is probably as good as we’ve played so far this season, which is some going considering how well I think we’ve played.

“We had total control of the ball, created plenty chances and when we were tested at the back I thought we dealt with everything very well.”

A five-goal victory was impressive enough.

Doing it against a Kelburne side that arrived unbeaten added further weight to Milan’s performance.

Summer Changes Have Made Milan Stronger

There were changes to the squad during the summer, including the departure of players who had played important roles in Milan’s recent success.

But Sam believes the replacements have actually strengthened the group.

“We had a bit of change during the summer with some ins and outs, but I think we’ve came out with a stronger squad than we did last year.

“We lost a few players who contributed a lot over the last couple of seasons, but the new lads have came in and given the rest of us the lift we probably needed to kick on again.

“I can’t praise the new lads enough, especially the ones in front of me in defence.”

Four From Four — And No Repeat of Previous Starts

For all Milan have achieved in cup football, Sam admits their league starts haven’t always given them the platform they wanted.

This season already feels different.

“It definitely helps give us the belief that we can go on and have another good season.

“We’ve had poor starts in the league in the last two seasons and we knew we had to avoid that if we wanted to compete for the title this season.

“We knew if we got off to a good start everyone would get a lift and that’s exactly what we’ve done.”

Four games. Four victories.

And, importantly, Sam is openly talking about competing for the Premiership title.

The Best Milan Squad Yet?

After two seasons watching this group develop from behind them, Sam is well placed to judge where the current squad stands.

His assessment is pretty emphatic.

“I think this is the best squad we’ve had since I joined a couple of years ago, so yeah, I’d say we’re more than capable of having a go at every competition we’re playing in this season.”

It’s still early.

But after consecutive West Cup triumphs and now a perfect opening to the league campaign, Milan aren’t short of reasons for confidence.

Success Has Only Increased the Hunger

When Footy Focus spoke to Sam around that first West Cup success, there was already a determination within Milan to make sure it wasn’t the end of the story.

Two West Cups later, we asked whether repeatedly winning trophies can ever lessen that hunger.

Apparently not.

“Probably even more so now we’ve won the West two years in a row.

“We’ve struggled to compete in the league, which we all want to put right, and add a couple of strong runs in the cups.

“We know how big an achievement it is to win a cup and it gives everyone that drive to keep going for more.”