Alan Smith, who had one of his best games for Newcastle on Wednesday evening against Arsenal, has been talking to the Newcastle journal today.
Alan Smith in training
As we all know, Alan has been used by Big Sam all over the place. In central midfield, on the wing and up front. But Alan prefers to play in attack and he’s right when he says his best games for Newcastle have come when he’s played up front. Let’s take a look at what Alan said this morning:
“The best performances I’ve had (for Newcastle) this season have come in the three games that I’ve played up front,†“That’s no coincidence. It is the position that suits me the most.”
“Newcastle’s supporters haven’t seen the best of me yet because I’ve played in several different positions. It’s something I’m willing to do because the team is the most important thing. But sometimes it doesn’t benefit you as a player.â€
Alan is a great team player and always seems to put the team before himself. But he is very keen to start every game and at the moment is keeping out Mark Viduka, his team mate at Leeds United from the starting eleven. Alan continued:
“People expect great things from you coming in as a big signing from another club,†“I’ve given performances that are good for the team, but to be honest, they’re unspectacular. You can’t do a lot as a defensive midfielder.â€
“You can’t get forward and attack but it’s more eye-catching playing up front. You’re always involved, but I’m not on a crusade to be a hero. I’ve come here to be part of a team and it’s always better to be part of a winning team.â€
“It’s all about the team rather than the individual “I’m not going to go to the manager and tell him ‘I’m not going to be playing in that position’. I’d do anything to help us improve our position. It doesn’t always benefit me but that’s not the most important thing.â€
We have to say that Sam Allardyce has brought in some good players but most of all, they seem to be team players. We’ve never seen the team play so well together as a team as they did on Wednesday evening. They seemed to hunt in packs, where two or three players would challenge for the ball, and between them would wrestle the ball away from Arsenal. It was just wonderful football to watch, and if we can play like that under Big Sam, where we hardly ever played the long high ball, there will not be too many complaints.
As far as Alan Smith goes today, it would be very nice if he could get a goal for us, in what we hope will be all 3 points this afternoon. We certainly need them.
Comments very welcome.
7 comments so far
wrighty
Dec 8, 2007 at 10:44 AM
Comment #1Deja Vu here….sounds similar to what Dyer said to Sir Bobby when he asked him to play on the wing a few years back hey….;-)
Good on you Smudger !!!!!
Zero Cool
Dec 8, 2007 at 11:29 AM
Comment #2The Smudge man, obviously Newcastle’s greatest asset currently (with exception of Obafemi) it’ll be good to see him get time up front with Michael being shipped out in January and Oba being gone on the ANC.
Smudgey For President
Geordie n’ USA
scott 9
Dec 8, 2007 at 11:43 AM
Comment #3wrighty dyer refused to play right wing didnt he
iain
Dec 8, 2007 at 11:46 AM
Comment #4so all those fans that sam says can pick a better team than him were right. even though it took sam all season so far and a results crisis to see smith is no mf player.
what next, will milner be playing right wing ???
emre to actually play ahead of geremi ???
still has a lot prove does sam imo.
pity he hasnt spotted things like this as quick as we have.
iain
Dec 8, 2007 at 11:50 AM
Comment #5also the football we played wasnt wonderfull to watch.
it was nice for a change to see the players put some effort in, and od the basics but it was a long long waay from good football.
the fact arsenal could open us up several times with 2 against 4 with only 2 passes was good football.
im not dishing out too much praise until we have 9/10/12 points from the next 4 games.
stjames
Dec 8, 2007 at 12:03 PM
Comment #6I agree with you Iain. 🙂
But the signs that we can improve and play football were there. That’s very important for the moment. Let’s see where Sam is taking us after Wednesday’s good performance (relatively speaking).
wrighty
Dec 8, 2007 at 5:18 PM
Comment #7Scotty9 – I was taking the p1ss out of Dyer!!