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That's not Milner with the shaved head is it?

 

Squad number suggests Hunty?

 

Defo not hunty, just when you said Leeds reunited, I thought that may be Milner with a new hairdo.

 

Don't recognise the bloke otherwise. Perhaps all triallists are given 32 training kits?

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That's not Milner with the shaved head is it?

 

Squad number suggests Hunty?

 

Defo not hunty, just when you said Leeds reunited, I thought that may be Milner with a new hairdo.

 

I did at first glance. :blush:

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Just watched his press conference on SSN, worth the £6m just for that!

 

'Spoke to t'gaffa on t'tuesday, came up on Thursday, had t'medical on friday and t'destination is here.

 

He's gonna be an absolute cult-hero legend.

 

Mark my words

 

:lol:

 

We'll have to get t'Dave to write us translations.

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here's an interesting (i thought) read: http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/premiership/article2831048.ece

Smith's job is to take goals to Newcastle

The Yorkshireman has much to his game but must score more on Tyneside, writes Glenn Moore

Published: 03 August 2007

In his last two seasons Alan Smith has played in 49 matches, scored two goals and been booked 12 times. In his career he has received 10 red cards, been found wanting as a central midfielder, and averages less than a goal every five Premiership matches.

 

Which begs the question why at least at least a quarter of top flight managers, notably those of Newcastle, Everton, Tottenham, Middlesbrough and Sunderland, are prepared to spend up to £6m on him?

 

The reason is that there is more to Smith than his statistics, and popular image, suggest. On the field he may be something of a blunt instrument at times, with an appaling disciplinary record, but he has a delicacy of touch, is a model professional off the pitch, and has worked hard on improving his temperament.

 

He has also demonstrated his character by coming back from the stomach-churning injury, a broken leg and dislocated ankle, he suffered at Anfield in February 2006. He did not start a game for a year, but recovered to the extent his last appearance of last season was at Wembley, for England against Brazil.

 

While he has played a lot of football, having made his Leeds debut at 17 (scoring, against Liverpool, also at Anfield, with his first touch), at 26 he should still have plenty of games left in him. He is also an inspirational presence on the pitch.

 

But what of the disciplinary record? That he has only been dismissed once under Sir Alex Ferguson, in a Manchester derby in 2004, suggests he has largely learned to control himself. Playing for a club other than his hometown team, Leeds United, probably helps. He is still a reckless tackler, but appears to have learned to stop after the first yellow card.

 

The goals return should be better but at both Uniteds he has had to be compromise on his desire to play at centre-forward. At Leeds he frequently played wider or deeper, at Manchester, where he started with six goals in 12 games, he had a spell being trialled as a successor to Roy Keane. It did not succeed and he finished last season up front, impressing against Roma in Europe and Watford in the FA Cup semi-final. Not playing Smith against Milan, against whom he had success with Leeds, may have been a rare error by Ferguson.

 

Smith is also a maker, as much as a taker, of goals. It is easy to see why Sam Allardyce, who looks like winning the chase for his signature, wishes to renew Smith's former Leeds partnership with Mark Viduka – though with Michael Owen, Obafemi Martins and Shola Ameobi also in the frame a regular place is far from guaranteed.

 

Not that Smith will shirk the challenge. He has always been prepared to be contrary. As a boy he walked out of the FA National School at Lilleshall, deciding it was not for him. When he left Leeds for their hated Mancunian rivals he infuriated the fans who had idolised him. When Ferguson tried to send him out on loan last season, he refused. He is also thought to be teetotal, not an easy principle to maintain, even in the "modern" dressing room.

 

Not that he is totally at odds with football culture. He has enjoyed modelling clothes though more common, but less publicised, have been his appearances for charity.

 

Smith's combative, heart-on-sleeve style will be very popular at St James' Park. Allardyce, though, will need him to provide at least an echo of Alan Shearer's goals, as well as his physicality, if Big Sam's Magpie Revolution is to take flight.

 

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Just watched his press conference on SSN, worth the £6m just for that!

 

'Spoke to t'gaffa on t'tuesday, came up on Thursday, had t'medical on friday and t'destination is here.

 

He's gonna be an absolute cult-hero legend.

 

Mark my words

 

:lol:

 

We'll have to get t'Dave to write us translations.

:lol:

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Guest DazzaNufc1892

just watched the smith interview, im glad he even confirmed the time scale i gave you all. Can i have ITK added to my name?

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Just watched the interview, very refreshing to hear a player be positive about us...interesting to hear him say about how he has had a few chances to come and felt this time was right now there is more stability at the club.

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just seen on the official website there is an article entitled "smith can be a leader". anyone think we may be in for a bit of a suprise over the captaincy?

 

Not with a headline like that

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Good interview, always thought of him as a model pro (not thinking about his cards) but he really came across as someone who just wants to play and is happy to do whatever the manager asks.

 

Think I have made my point in stating I didn't think we needed him here, certainly not for £6m but I hope the lad is a success and goes on to prove me wrong. Seems a really genuine lad and at least we know we are always going to get everything he can give. :thup:

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