Alan Smith

[Shak]

Quote from Sam after the Wigan match:

“I also thought Alan Smith did a great job in front of the back four, but after that we didn’t do anything in terms of what we wanted to create."

 

 

Proving he is a lying, stupid w******. Fat Souness, thats all he is.

 

I defy anyone to honestly say Smith has been any good for us, up front or in midfield.

 

He's hardly played up front.

 

I think it's a good idea for you to stop moaning about everything and everyone and give the bloke a chance, he has good attributes. He needs a good run in the position, some confidence and a positive approach from the team in general before he can be judged properly. Obviously.

 

Would you start him ahead of Viduka up front?

 

Think he's alright up front myself, links the play very well, but I reckon when fit Viduka gives you a lot more so I'd only be giving Smith games when Viduka needs a rest.

 

Hard to see him getting enough of a run up front to get comfortable in the position tbh, so as much as it's apparent to the rest of us that he's not a good midfielder at all I'd expect that's the position we'll be seeing the most of him for the foreseeable future, unfortunately

[Guest alex]

I think he should probably be cover for Viduka fwiw. He gives something different though - he's better in the air (with his back to goal), he's a more physical target man and he's far more mobile.

[Howaythelads]

Quote from Sam after the Wigan match:

“I also thought Alan Smith did a great job in front of the back four, but after that we didn’t do anything in terms of what we wanted to create."

 

 

Proving he is a lying, stupid w******. Fat Souness, thats all he is.

 

I defy anyone to honestly say Smith has been any good for us, up front or in midfield.

 

He's hardly played up front.

 

I think it's a good idea for you to stop moaning about everything and everyone and give the bloke a chance, he has good attributes. He needs a good run in the position, some confidence and a positive approach from the team in general before he can be judged properly. Obviously.

Would you start him ahead of Viduka up front?

 

Think he's alright up front myself, links the play very well, but I reckon when fit Viduka gives you a lot more so I'd only be giving Smith games when Viduka needs a rest.

 

Hard to see him getting enough of a run up front to get comfortable in the position tbh, so as much as it's apparent to the rest of us that he's not a good midfielder at all I'd expect that's the position we'll be seeing the most of him for the foreseeable future, unfortunately

 

Yes.

 

Also, I would NEVER select him in midfield.

[Baggio]

Quote from Sam after the Wigan match:

“I also thought Alan Smith did a great job in front of the back four, but after that we didn’t do anything in terms of what we wanted to create."

 

 

Proving he is a lying, stupid wanker. Fat Souness, thats all he is.

 

I defy anyone to honestly say Smith has been any good for us, up front or in midfield.

Played well upfront against Arsenal didn't he? If you played him upfront all the time he'd do a canny job. He's not great by any means, mainly because he doesn't score enough. He'd make more than his fair share of chances if he was allowed to form a partnership with the right sort of forward though - i.e. someone who would thrive on his flick-ons and cute lay-offs and touches. Those are his strengths. I don't rate Martins much, for example, but he's in a similar boat - i.e. looks awful played wide right rather than through the middle where he at least carries a goal threat.

 

I remember Scott Parker playing well against the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool, people on here tried to use that as an example of him being a top player but he clearly wasn't (not saying you are here with Smith) the reason being that in a game where we're going to clearly get out played it's the grafters who get stuck in that stand out, Smith had a great game against them from a hard working point of view but how often are we up against opposition like that?

 

For the rest of the games where we're expected to take the initiative in games and go for the win he's offering nothing, as I've said earlier that nobody answered if he's going to be accommodated even though he doesn't score goals then he's going to have to offer something special to compensate for that, Smith offers nothing of the sort and you won't find many (if any) teams looking to push on for a European place having a passenger in the side, the nearest at the moment to a player like Smith is Kuyt and he's good for double figures in a season.

 

He doesn't create space for others, he doesn't pull defenders out of position, he's not fast and doesn't score goals, all he's got is a good work ethic and a few touches and flicks, for a Premiership team with any sort of ambition that simply isn't enough.

[Howaythelads]

Quote from Sam after the Wigan match:

“I also thought Alan Smith did a great job in front of the back four, but after that we didn’t do anything in terms of what we wanted to create."

 

 

Proving he is a lying, stupid wanker. Fat Souness, thats all he is.

 

I defy anyone to honestly say Smith has been any good for us, up front or in midfield.

 

He's hardly played up front.

 

I think it's a good idea for you to stop moaning about everything and everyone and give the bloke a chance, he has good attributes. He needs a good run in the position, some confidence and a positive approach from the team in general before he can be judged properly. Obviously.

 

We've seen him play up front. He was okay against arsenal, no more, for parts of the game. For other parts of the game, and every other time, he was gash. What does he need, time to settle into the Premiership??

 

Why don't you give the moaning a rest, man? Can't you write anything without a moan or sarcasm?

 

The answer to your question is pretty obvious.

[Guest alex]

I think that's fair comment Baggio although I do think Parker was at first overrated by many then the criticism was over the top later but that's another debate. I think he's a back-up striker given the options at the club although I do think he's possibly the one striker who could play with all the others quite well.

[Howaythelads]

I think that's fair comment Baggio although I do think Parker was at first overrated by many then the criticism was over the top later but that's another debate. I think he's a back-up striker given the options at the club although I do think he's possibly the one striker who could play with all the others quite well.

 

Scott Parker's limitations were obvious to me very early on and he never had the problem of being used badly out of position in the way Smith has been.

[Guest alex]

I think that's fair comment Baggio although I do think Parker was at first overrated by many then the criticism was over the top later but that's another debate. I think he's a back-up striker given the options at the club although I do think he's possibly the one striker who could play with all the others quite well.

 

Scott Parker's limitations were obvious to me very early on and he never had the problem of being used badly out of position in the way Smith has been.

I know you never changed your opinion of Parker. Plenty others did. I thought you were a bit harsh but you were essentially right. He's not a bad player though imo.

[Guest Beachcomber]

A relative of mine is a Manure season ticket holder and said they were over the moon to get £6M for Smith .

They tried him in the midfield holding role, but it did not work. He was switched to striker, but after showing some initial promise he faded. After his injury he drifted in and out of the team.

Their general feeling he says, is that he was a fans favourite because of his attitude and committment to the club, but is NOT good enough to be a premiership player.

This seems to mirror the current debate - excluding the silly boyish testoterone stuff being posted of course.

[Guest alex]

Much like Barton (not just applying hindsight btw) we payed a lot of money for a player whose club wanted rid.

[Baggio]

Much like Barton (not just applying hindsight btw) we payed a lot of money for a player whose club wanted rid.

 

I bet they can't believe what they got for Smith and Richardson.

[Howaythelads]

A relative of mine is a Manure season ticket holder and said they were over the moon to get £6M for Smith .

They tried him in the midfield holding role, but it did not work. He was switched to striker, but after showing some initial promise he faded. After his injury he drifted in and out of the team.

Their general feeling he says, is that he was a fans favourite because of his attitude and committment to the club, but is NOT good enough to be a premiership player.

This seems to mirror the current debate - excluding the silly boyish testoterone stuff being posted of course.

 

Not that I'm really bothered about the view of a manure season ticket holder, but how exactly does this "mirror the current debate" given the claim he was a "fans favourite?"

[Guest Beachcomber]

A relative of mine is a Manure season ticket holder and said they were over the moon to get £6M for Smith .

They tried him in the midfield holding role, but it did not work. He was switched to striker, but after showing some initial promise he faded. After his injury he drifted in and out of the team.

Their general feeling he says, is that he was a fans favourite because of his attitude and committment to the club, but is NOT good enough to be a premiership player.

This seems to mirror the current debate - excluding the silly boyish testoterone stuff being posted of course.

 

Not that I'm really bothered about the view of a manure season ticket holder, but how exactly does this "mirror the current debate" given the claim he was a "fans favourite?"

 

sorry Sunshine! Not got much tostesterone left. You'll have to use your imagintion and come up with the answer yourself.

[NE5]

I think that's fair comment Baggio although I do think Parker was at first overrated by many then the criticism was over the top later but that's another debate. I think he's a back-up striker given the options at the club although I do think he's possibly the one striker who could play with all the others quite well.

 

Not sure if he's back up, I think he is - as you said earlier - more mobile than Viduka, but he needs a goalscoring partner. Its about partnerships. Meanwhile I wouldn't mind some of the constant Smith moaners to start judging Martins on his performance on the right side of midfield, or even better consider how well Kieron Dire would have played at left back for instance. You never know, he may have stood on the goal line dreaming of his next sexual conquest while a ball drops over him into the goal more often, just like he did in the Nou Camp.

 

 

 

 

[NE5]

A relative of mine is a Manure season ticket holder and said they were over the moon to get £6M for Smith .

They tried him in the midfield holding role, but it did not work. He was switched to striker, but after showing some initial promise he faded. After his injury he drifted in and out of the team.

Their general feeling he says, is that he was a fans favourite because of his attitude and committment to the club, but is NOT good enough to be a premiership player.

This seems to mirror the current debate - excluding the silly boyish testoterone stuff being posted of course.

 

Manure supporters are well known for their patronising opinions though, even when they come from Manchester.

 

 

[Howaythelads]

A relative of mine is a Manure season ticket holder and said they were over the moon to get £6M for Smith .

They tried him in the midfield holding role, but it did not work. He was switched to striker, but after showing some initial promise he faded. After his injury he drifted in and out of the team.

Their general feeling he says, is that he was a fans favourite because of his attitude and committment to the club, but is NOT good enough to be a premiership player.

This seems to mirror the current debate - excluding the silly boyish testoterone stuff being posted of course.

 

Not that I'm really bothered about the view of a manure season ticket holder, but how exactly does this "mirror the current debate" given the claim he was a "fans favourite?"

 

sorry Sunshine! Not got much tostesterone left. You'll have to use your imagintion and come up with the answer yourself.

 

 

Thanks for confirming your earlier shite made no sense.

[Howaythelads]

A relative of mine is a Manure season ticket holder and said they were over the moon to get £6M for Smith .

They tried him in the midfield holding role, but it did not work. He was switched to striker, but after showing some initial promise he faded. After his injury he drifted in and out of the team.

Their general feeling he says, is that he was a fans favourite because of his attitude and committment to the club, but is NOT good enough to be a premiership player.

This seems to mirror the current debate - excluding the silly boyish testoterone stuff being posted of course.

 

Manure supporters are well known for their patronising opinions though, even when they come from Manchester.

 

 

 

Exactly.

[Baggio]

So the Newcastle fans who don't rate him have a personal problem with him and the Man Utd fans who don't rate him are patronising?

[Geordie Boot Boy]

I think that's fair comment Baggio although I do think Parker was at first overrated by many then the criticism was over the top later but that's another debate. I think he's a back-up striker given the options at the club although I do think he's possibly the one striker who could play with all the others quite well.

 

Scott Parker's limitations were obvious to me very early on and he never had the problem of being used badly out of position in the way Smith has been.

 

Don't you think though that all "box-to-box" type midfield players are limited though?  I mean, unless you're talking about someone like Steven Gerrard who plays well going forward and does his share defensively, you just end up with someone running about being generally useless.  They're generallly jacks of all trades but masters of none.  Specialist midfielders are where it's at IMO.

[NE5]

I think that's fair comment Baggio although I do think Parker was at first overrated by many then the criticism was over the top later but that's another debate. I think he's a back-up striker given the options at the club although I do think he's possibly the one striker who could play with all the others quite well.

 

Scott Parker's limitations were obvious to me very early on and he never had the problem of being used badly out of position in the way Smith has been.

 

Don't you think though that all "box-to-box" type midfield players are limited though?  I mean, unless you're talking about someone like Steven Gerrard who plays well going forward and does his share defensively, you just end up with someone running about being generally useless.  They're generallly jacks of all trades but masters of none.  Specialist midfielders are where it's at IMO.

 

I think you are generalising this a bit too much. Talented players have to combine natural talent with workrate/desire, call it what you will. Only this combination will give you the consistent performance. I'm not really sure if too many players have the stamina to go from box to box for the entire game but maybe you aren't suggesting that anyway. The midfield area is the engine room of the team though.

 

I could put up someone like Gazza or Tony Green as the perfect box to box midfield players, and they were. But they don't come along often, so it depends what you want. Do you want someone who hits pretty passes to look good but isn't prepared to scrap, win the ball, or get into the box where it hurts ? Or do you want someone who has the bottle to get into where it counts the most ?

Personally, I always preferred Bryan Robson to Glenn Hoddle, Hoddle had technical ability but wasn't so influential, at Spurs Ossie Ardiles was the main player in that team, he was a true World Class player who knew how to get the best out of Hoddle and how to find him. I also think Rob Lee was the best central midfield player in the premiership between the period 95-99 apart from Roy Keane. They were both box to box men, but combined this with technical ability, and committment, and consistency.

 

The great players such as the world stars like Pele, Maradona, Cryuff etc were this because they had talent, but they also gave every ounce they had. They wouldn't have been what they were otherwise.

 

 

[Mowen]

Good post NE5. A lot of people talk about the "complete midfielder" and I don't think such a thing exists. Fabregas can't head the ball, Essien can't shoot, Gerrard is wank 50% of the time (and can't tackle...unbelievable he never gets sent off). You have to look for the best compromise you can, and find someone or something that fits into your gameplan.

[Dave]

Getting back to Smith though, nobody but nobody is disputing the effort he puts in. He works his socks off for the team and that's fair enough.

 

His talent is what is in question.

[Ronaldo]

Getting back to Smith though, nobody but nobody is disputing the effort he puts in. He works his socks off for the team and that's fair enough.

 

His talent is what is in question.

 

in question?

[Howaythelads]

Getting back to Smith though, nobody but nobody is disputing the effort he puts in. He works his socks off for the team and that's fair enough.

 

His talent is what is in question.

 

Which is being unfairly questioned due to it being based on him being used mainly out of position in midfield, as you know.

[NE5]

Good post NE5. A lot of people talk about the "complete midfielder" and I don't think such a thing exists. Fabregas can't head the ball, Essien can't shoot, Gerrard is wank 50% of the time (and can't tackle...unbelievable he never gets sent off). You have to look for the best compromise you can, and find someone or something that fits into your gameplan.

 

Noticeable how many more long balls Fabregas is hitting these days, looking for Adebayor as an outlet. He's using his intelligence and ability ie long ball, short ball, finding space and using space. It isn't to the detriment of his general running and being in the thick of the action which is as good as ever. He also gets booked quite often and has a temperament, and while it would be better if this didn't happen I don't really see it as a bad thing to show such desire !!!

 

A certain ex manager of ours whose name I'd rather not mention was one of the best of his time, and he was a ruthless bastard to go with it.