Unbelievable

I can put the same back at you with regard his goalscoring ability. I agree, he never has been a phenomenal finisher even in his best days at Leeds. However, let's face it to say he NEVER scores is not entirely correct is it?! How long has he been playing in midfield (or not at all) at Man United and then the same for us bar a couple of games? If you haven't noticed how much better we look going forward with him in our team (edit: playing up front) then I don't know what you have been watching. I didn´t say he NEVER scores, just his goalscoring record is nowhere near good enough for a club gunning for European football.. I asked you when was the last time Smith showed his good vision and creativity which you claim he has, and you can´t even give me one incident in which he showed this? Speaks volumes doesn´t it. What use is a striker who doesn´t create or score goals? We´ll have to agree to disagree on the holding the ball up argument, and I have conceeded we have looked slightly better in recent weeks, but I still firmly believe I could have found many better striker options at 6M..

Erm, no he doesn´t. Not even close.. "ERM" yes he does. Not even the best strikers in the world who have specialised in holding a ball up attain that sort of percentage. I think you´d be lucky if he even retained half of the balls hoofed up to him.. I´m sure you´ve got the stats to back up your claim?

Li3nZ, if you seriously think Smith has good technique and vision, is a creative player, and his goalscoring draught is just `partial´, I'm not sure I can take your footballing knowledge seriously. Can you please elaborate on the last time Smith has displayed his vision and creativity?

Erm, no he doesn´t. Not even close..

It does, in the most important statistic of them all, which is why he shouldn't be anywhere near one of our forward positions either... mackems.gif Not sure why I'm bothering to reply to you, but did you read what I posted or did you just fail to grasp the meaning? You said, "it does." Well, what does? Tell me. Imo, individual statistics aren't that important. What is really important is the TEAM. If the general play is consistently good enough and effective enough you will do ok overall, the team will win matches and will climb the table. If certain individuals appear to have 'ace' statistics but the overall TEAM play is s*** and ineffective, the TEAM will do nowt. A recent and good example being the much raved about Parker, who is apparently a "great player" according to many of the stats people on here because he had the highest number of completed passes while at Newcastle. mackems.gif Carry on basing everything on newspaper statistics if that's what you prefer but I'll make up my mind by watching football matches. Ta Goals win you games. Strikers/forwards are supposed to score and/or create goals, more so than other players on the pitch anyway. By playing a striker who hardly ever scores but works very hard, we may be slightly easier on the eye, but I can't see it benefiting us for the most important team statistic: points gained.. Besides, apart from working hard, what exactly does Alan Smith contribute that makes him worth his 6M price tag? Goalscoring - nope Technique - nope Vision - nope Creativity - nope Holding the ball up - nope I'd go as far as to say Ameobi is a better striker, and I don't rate Shola at all! I have to admit our football has improved slightly in the last few matches and Smith was exceptionally good vs Arsenal, but vs Birmingham and Fulham he was more or less what I would have expected from Smith as a forward: hard working but ineffective and never threathening.

It does, in the most important statistic of them all, which is why he shouldn't be anywhere near one of our forward positions either...

I've seen it a couple of times and would be very disappointed, but looks like I will have to see it again in that case..

Very debatable if you ask me.. How exactly? Smith knocks the ball away, the man dives in and gets nowhere near the ball and takes Smith out. He doesn't take Smith out though, hardly even touches him.. I'm a 100% serious. Which part of the defender's body touches Smith where with such an impact as to "take him out"..?

Very debatable if you ask me.. How exactly? Smith knocks the ball away, the man dives in and gets nowhere near the ball and takes Smith out. He doesn't take Smith out though, hardly even touches him..

Very debatable if you ask me..

I'd be very disappointed if that pen decision went against us, so that's definately 2 points won through a dubious referee decision..

YEAH!!!

Come on Barton!!

Never a pen that....

PEN!

Neither has done owt. Very true, but at least Martins COULD score... Almost scored!!

The whole of Tyneside is asleep..

20 minutes left. Should be time to bring on The Duke in place of Smith, who doesn't look like he'll ever score again in his career..

Good chance missed by Butt.. We seem in control atm..

Good play by Rozenhal, twice..

Started already.. A marked improvement..

Beye our best player again..

Who's that being prepared to come on? Emre?

Rubbish, it's all about the timing of the pass when a forward makes a run like that..

Just offside..