Scouting report - Ledley King on Charlie Daniels and Adam Smith

In the first of two 'Scouting Reports' this week, legend and defensive great Ledley King takes a look at the dual threat of two Spurs Academy graduates down Bournemouth's left and right flank - Charlie Daniels and Adam Smith. Look out for the second early next week when Ledley recalls playing against a certain Cristiano Ronaldo...

Ledley King

- Joined our Academy in 1997, professional 1998
- One-club man, made 323 appearances for us between 1999-2012
- League Cup winner and captain, 2008
- Captained team into Champions League for first time, 2010
- Retired 2012, now Club Ambassador
- Capped 21 times by England, Euro 2004, World Cup 2010

Charlie Daniels

- Joined our Academy in 2003, professional in 2005
- Signed for Leyton Orient in 2009 and then Bournemouth in 2012
- Now has 78 appearances for Bournemouth in the Premier League
- Has contributed nine assists, most for Bournemouth since joining the Premier League in 2015
- Now 31, started 34 of 38 PL matches last season

Adam Smith

- Joined our Academy in 2007, professional in 2008
- Made two first team appearances - debut against Fulham in May 2012, only start against Carlisle in League Cup in Sepetember 2012
- Joined Bournemouth in January 2014
- Played in 36 of Bournemouth 38 matches in the Premier League last season
- Now 26, only player to start all nine matches in all competitions for Bournemouth this season

Below: Adam Smith on his only Spurs start against Carlisle in 2012 - top - Charlie Daniels in South Africa, 2007

Ledley: "First of all, I’m just delighted to see Adam and Charlie doing well after leaving Tottenham and playing so well in the Premier League. It shows when you leave a Club like this, if you have faith in your ability and continue to believe, you can still make careers at the top level. They had a great grounding at Spurs and they’ve taken that with them.

"Both of them are very good going forward and that's a weapon for Bournemouth. Both have good quality in those forward areas.
I saw a bit more of Smithy than Charlie during their time here. Charlie had his problems with injury - so perhaps I was around him more than I remember! Smithy was always a great crosser of the ball, great delivery and a typical modern-day full-back, that role really suits him. Actually, it suits both of them as both have the ability to play wing-back as well, so they can fit into different systems. Charlie has a great left foot, great delivery as well. They give the team balance and they are both so consistent, they start just about every game.

"How do you counter that threat down the flanks? By having possession of the ball and pinning them back limits them coming forward and makes them think about when to make their runs. They will be dangerous on the counter and if we have most of the ball, as you’d expect, they will look to spring forward. If you can keep good possession then you help to counter that threat."