The Mail Bag
Alan Smith
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Away from the furore of the DK announcement, I have a gut feeling Alan Smith will be within our ranks. Sky Sports News made a point of stating he had been left out the Newcastle squad for their friendly tonight against PSV, and the match reporter also mentioned the rumour that he is on his way as they play.
Brian Harrison, Posted 06/08/2008 at 19:44:02
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Reports out of St James tonight is that Alan Smith is in Merseyside with Moyes.
This kind of makes a bit of sense.He will be cheap and probably would be a ideal partner for Yakubu. The sale of Johnson should release the money to buy Smith and also up the bid for Moutinho.
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2008/08/06/smith-missing-for-the-magpies-72703-21479771/
Sky Sports News understands that Everton and Fulham are still locked in talks over the transfer of Andy Johnson. The striker was expected to finalise his move to Craven Cottage tonight but there now appears to have been another delay.
Oh.
Dear.
Oh.
Dear.
Count me in. Age 27, under £2m (still stupid but ...) and a PL player. Think of Cars when DM took him over. Not impossible, a recreation good for the player and the team.
In any case, we all know we need more squad players. If he is at a bargain basement price, why not?
In any case, we all know we need more squad players. If he is at a bargain basement price, why not?
I think Smith would be good backup for the "Cahill role". All we need now is someone for the Carsley role, someone for the Fernandes role, someone for another midfield role and someone for the back-up Yak role, back-up Howard role....
Hang on, only just over a week to go???
Hang on, only just over a week to go???
P.S. Only a couple of hours ago Sky were saying AJ to put pen on paper to a 4 year deal worth 9m up front, rising to 13m on appearances (still very good business if indeed as they say we get more than we paid for him up front).
P.P.S. Look, the Moutinho deal just aint gonna happen. His club don’t want or need to sell so aren’t willing to budge on their 20m or so valuation. Hence, as that appears to be more than our total budget and we need about 5 more players i just can’t see it happening.
My Man U friends tell me he would be a steal. They say only the injury against RS put him in a position where it was difficult to get his pace back consistantly.
I think we could do worse with that kind of money.
I think we could do worse with that kind of money.
Smith would be a great signing considering the lack of money we have. i think even if we sell Johnson we probably only have about 10-12 million to spend if we are lucky. Moutinho deffo aint going to happen.
If the Johnson transfer is being held up again, its probably because the tight bastards at fulham have heard about DK and are trying toknock a bit more of the fee thinking we are desperate
If the Johnson transfer is being held up again, its probably because the tight bastards at fulham have heard about DK and are trying toknock a bit more of the fee thinking we are desperate
Every Toon fan I work with thinks he?s dead weight. 2 goals in 60 odd apearances? They were laughing their tits off when I told them we were interested.
Forget the toon fans, they’re by and large a bunch of clowns. In the case of Smith it is probably more about fitting into a system and i believe the Cahill role would suit him. Aside from Tim’s aerial ability they’re pretty damn similar.
Can he play at right back??
Maybe you will laugh, but i think the Carsley role would suit him. He is not a striker but a first class ball winner in my opinion.
AT, Your toon mates are inaccurate, its no goals in 37.
Anyway, I think he will be a decent signing for us considering our situation!
Anyway, I think he will be a decent signing for us considering our situation!
i guess Smith would be a decent squad player, so wouldnt mind him. aaagggghhhh wots the delay with the AJ deal now BK said last nite everything was ok, now theres a delay, wot the hell is going on. Maybe we should pull out of the deal and get him back to merseyside if Fulham want to keep haggling with the fee.
I think its sad how one minute its Moutinho, the next Smithy.... Hardly an inspiring buy. We?ll probably get him and he can do a job I suppose. It?s hard to get excited thats all.
Rob, i disagree with him being a first class ball winner. Much like our Tim he’s one of those "hate him if he doesn’t play for you" types and when he goes in for a challenge you always fear the first yellow card that causes the subs to start warming up pronto!!
Rob - I’m not laughing.
When DM took over, Cars was a jouneyman midfielder. He became a top PL midfield anchor. I can’t read DM’s mind, but he could become that for us. At the right price, in any case, not a bad buy.
When DM took over, Cars was a jouneyman midfielder. He became a top PL midfield anchor. I can’t read DM’s mind, but he could become that for us. At the right price, in any case, not a bad buy.
It amazes mewhat short memories are held by the"obvious" on this site..
a couple of seasons ago DM was castigated for not buying Smith for circa 7 mill.. Two years later(after being proved right) he decides the time..and the price is right....When will you all just let him do the job heis obviously very fucking good at?
Doom every preseason..tTony Marsh, Brian Waring..Gavin.(can I have avowel please)...its always the same..you are always wrong..when will you just pack it in and let him do his job and support him..FFS
a couple of seasons ago DM was castigated for not buying Smith for circa 7 mill.. Two years later(after being proved right) he decides the time..and the price is right....When will you all just let him do the job heis obviously very fucking good at?
Doom every preseason..tTony Marsh, Brian Waring..Gavin.(can I have avowel please)...its always the same..you are always wrong..when will you just pack it in and let him do his job and support him..FFS
Already we seem to be settling for second rate players. AJ for Alan Smith, ’cause thats what it amounts to. Very poor scoring record, poor injury record, very poor disciplinary record. No pace. No manager seems to know whether he is a forward or midfield player. I will be gutted if he signs for us, as it would be the start of the acceptance of mediocrity once again.
I have to agree with you Karl... It?s not an inspired signing. Hardly the Moutinho that we have been teased with...
An aggressive striker who was highly-rated as a youngter, has been around a few clubs and has suffered from injuries ... step forward THE NEW ANDY GRAY. Im serious.
For those of you too young to remember, this is exactly the same sort of signing. No-one batted an eyelid then, but when he left less than two years later the history of the club had been rewritten. The New Andy Gray. A blue hero in the making. You wait.
For those of you too young to remember, this is exactly the same sort of signing. No-one batted an eyelid then, but when he left less than two years later the history of the club had been rewritten. The New Andy Gray. A blue hero in the making. You wait.
No Trev - not a new Andy Gray. Karl says he has a poor scoring record, discipline not too good, no pace, not a forward or a midfielder. Step up the new Lee Carsley - possibly, at the age of 27, a future Everton legend.
Hey Karl, different attacking players I give you, but we’re swapping the same standard of player with Johnson for Smith with a massive profit! I don’t beleive Smith will take us forward as such but £2m players, especially English ones don’t anyway... but then if he plays up to the potential he had at Leeds then it could be another Moyes masterstroke.
If anything its a solid squad addition though like the Yak doesnt seem like a Moyes type. Fingers crossed...
If anything its a solid squad addition though like the Yak doesnt seem like a Moyes type. Fingers crossed...
Kevs just been out and said Smiths not comin to us as he can play in a variety of positions, and hes a great guy around the place. Talkin truth or just boosting the price a little? You decide...for me though i think he would be a decent signing at cheap money...typical Moyes really... fuck me at this stage I’d nearly take anybody just to get the first signing in to lift the gloom...
Maybe Alan Smith was the subject of the DVD Bill Kenwright was watching when he said he couldnt understand why we were interested, then he thought "Yeah, I can see why he would fit in to our team"...Nothing to do with the fact he is a cheap option....Definately not fit to lace Andy Grays boots, sorry Trev!
He would be a useful addition once Moyesie gets hold of him.
With the clock ticking away I still rue the fact we didn’t get the Hungarian international captain, Zoltan Gera in on a Free. Would have been a good squad player and far more reliable than Gosling or Rodwell.
that was a smart bit of business by Fulham - hopefully the only bit they do this Summer!!
With the clock ticking away I still rue the fact we didn’t get the Hungarian international captain, Zoltan Gera in on a Free. Would have been a good squad player and far more reliable than Gosling or Rodwell.
that was a smart bit of business by Fulham - hopefully the only bit they do this Summer!!
Nick, what we need is a replacement for AJs pace especially on the break away from home. You could probably buy 3 or 4 Alan Smith type players for AJs fee, but you need to spend big to replace him. Thats what I cant understand about this deal,( or the Lee Carsley one)..We seem to be stumbling around. Surely if you sell two such influential players, you must have replacements lined up. Spurs sell Keane, then the next day sign Bentley. Transfer strategy. Aston villa have already replaced Barry with Sidwell....This is why were all so frustrated. After what has happened, Alan smith for me would be an embarrassment.
Karl, no-one thought Gray was a great, or even a good signin when he arrived! They thought his best days were behind him, he had no pace, he didnt score enough goals - he was just a triumph of commitment over ability. However, something about him clicked with the club, the time he arrived, and the young players around him. I believe Smith could have the same impact.
But let’s just nail one thing - he is most definitely a striker. Ferguson tried to convert him to defensive midfield and abandoned it himself. However, it was playin in that position that damaged his goalscorin record. Anyone who saw the game when Man U beat Roma 7-1 will tell you that the two best players on the pitch werent Ronaldo or Rooney, but Smith upfront ... and Darren Fletcher in midfield funnily enough! Maybe Moyesy’s got that game on DVD ...
But let’s just nail one thing - he is most definitely a striker. Ferguson tried to convert him to defensive midfield and abandoned it himself. However, it was playin in that position that damaged his goalscorin record. Anyone who saw the game when Man U beat Roma 7-1 will tell you that the two best players on the pitch werent Ronaldo or Rooney, but Smith upfront ... and Darren Fletcher in midfield funnily enough! Maybe Moyesy’s got that game on DVD ...
A mate of mine knows him personally. I texted him when the rumours started flying around and he asked me "where have you heard that?!!!". Apparently he has been in talks with Everton.
When he left United he had made his mind up to come to us, but then changed it again at the last minute and went to Newcastle instead.
If we could flog AJ for anywhere approaching £13m and buy Smithy for something approximating £1.5m, that would be an absolutely astounding bit of business. I don’t think that he would be a first choice for us, but he’d be an interesting option just behind the Yak in the Cahill role...especially as I think that injuries are beginning to overtake tiny Tim.
When he left United he had made his mind up to come to us, but then changed it again at the last minute and went to Newcastle instead.
If we could flog AJ for anywhere approaching £13m and buy Smithy for something approximating £1.5m, that would be an absolutely astounding bit of business. I don’t think that he would be a first choice for us, but he’d be an interesting option just behind the Yak in the Cahill role...especially as I think that injuries are beginning to overtake tiny Tim.
We ?ve had these big names bandied about and we end up with Alan bloody Smith! A yard-dog at best-and that?s when he ain?t wounded!
Conned again by Kenwright ? when we bleeding learn!
Conned again by Kenwright ? when we bleeding learn!
Unfortunately this deal sounds as if it is happening. Newcastle chairman Ashley is currently a guest on Green's yacht with the leach Robert Earl.
Ok so we’ve all been duped again, i don’t deny this, but the the truth of the matter is if we are working on say a 15m budget (with the AJ money) it can still be a positive outcome. I personally would be happy if (apart from a decent holding midfielder) we did just improve our squad players (i.e a better class of squad player).
Lets not forget this is still, minus Cars & maybe AJ, the team that got us to 5th last year!
Theres a lot of talk about this is the type of player we need to push us forward, which is something i totally agree with, but lets be honest if the funds are not there then we need to be realistic about our targets. Players like Smith are what we are looking at for the forseeable future unless some serious investment comes in.
I may be shot down for this, but I believe todays decision will have serious ramifications for our club. I strongly agree that the club should stay in the city, but i do agree that, although the ground move may not have cleared our debts there is a chance it may have eased them & may have attracted potential investment. The truth of the matter is, we all no we are in financial shit street, the only question is, is how deep is the shit?
Lets not forget this is still, minus Cars & maybe AJ, the team that got us to 5th last year!
Theres a lot of talk about this is the type of player we need to push us forward, which is something i totally agree with, but lets be honest if the funds are not there then we need to be realistic about our targets. Players like Smith are what we are looking at for the forseeable future unless some serious investment comes in.
I may be shot down for this, but I believe todays decision will have serious ramifications for our club. I strongly agree that the club should stay in the city, but i do agree that, although the ground move may not have cleared our debts there is a chance it may have eased them & may have attracted potential investment. The truth of the matter is, we all no we are in financial shit street, the only question is, is how deep is the shit?
If Smith where to arrive then it will be one of DM´s classic short-term/ stopgap buy on the lines of Bent + Killban.
I personally think that Smith is a yard dog. But what do I know?
I personally think that Smith is a yard dog. But what do I know?
I just want Everton to sign a few players. For the time being, Smith will do!
I am following the current developments (or lack of) intently here in Australia and growing increasingly worried by the day.
We are a few injuries short of a relegation scrap.
How the club - Moyes included - can find themselves in this situation a week before the season kick-off is mismanagement of the highest degree.
I am following the current developments (or lack of) intently here in Australia and growing increasingly worried by the day.
We are a few injuries short of a relegation scrap.
How the club - Moyes included - can find themselves in this situation a week before the season kick-off is mismanagement of the highest degree.
I think rather than Smith for the Carsley role we should put in a cheeky for the lad Birmingham have just signed to play that type of role. He’s only in his early 30’s. £2m should get him and we could offger a 2 year contract.
Some here seem to have forgotten that a few years back Moyesy desperately wanted to sign him but he snubbed us and decided to join the barcodes instead because, as he said at the time ’Newcastle had more potential". What a crock so I say fcuk him and lets look elsewhere. He’s just another overpaid muppet who’s average at best.
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1 Posted 06/08/2008 at 22:10:33
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Well aslong as it below £2million, I won’t.