Nobody doubts Alan Smith’s passion for the game, and now that he is the new captain of Newcastle United, not many fans question that he is fully committed to the club.
Alan Smith – new captain fully committed to Newcastle’s success
But Smith has great pride and he thinks he’s at the right club at Newcastle because the fans share his pride, fervor and passion for the game.
But Smith was signed by Big Sam and was made captain by Allardyce and was very much a Sam Allardyce type player, so things may be uncertain right now for Alan, not to mention our other players.
So it’s interesting to see what Smith has been saying to the Newcastle Journal this morning, in a long interview, before our game at Old Trafford later today.
“I could have stayed at Manchester United,†“I would probably have played 20 games and picked up a Premier League medal and got to an FA Cup final, but this career doesn’t last forever.â€
“When I broke my leg I thought to myself that if I ever did get back fit, I wanted to be playing regularly because I missed 13 months and when you’re not playing you realize what you’re missing. As soon as I did that in my mind, deep down, I knew I needed to leave.â€
“I had two-and-a-half years left on my contract and I was getting paid good money. I could have played enough games to pick up medals, but I don’t know how much satisfaction I’d get from that to be honest.â€
“I wouldn’t have done because the challenge of playing week in week out and testing yourself is what this life’s all about. That’s why I came to Newcastle.”
“When I look back this time last year it was still in the balance whether I’d play again so to be back and be captain of Newcastle is something, a year ago, I’d dared not dream about. I’m looking forward to rattling a few cages on Saturday.â€
Smith is certainly prepared to give the same loyalty to the manager who eventually replaces Sam Allardyce, however disappointed he may be at Sam’s sudden departure from the club. But he also has the game at Manchester United firmly in his mind, as he continued:
“I’m fit and I can’t wait to face Manchester United,†“It’s a big game for us and no better place to go to test yourself against the best team in the country.”
“I’ve had an experience at (Manchester) United you probably wouldn’t get at any other club and when that chance arises to go there it’s difficult to turn it down. I enjoyed every minute of it, other than the time at Anfield when I broke my leg.â€
“I got a lot of stick from a lot of people for going there, but when you’re striving to get to the pinnacle of your career and when a club like that comes in for you, it’s difficult to say no.â€
Smith is also honest enough to admit that things have not gone as well as the team was expecting this season. At the start of the season they were perhaps hoping for a trophy and certainly qualification for Europe.
Smith continued:
“Things have not gone well in terms of what we wanted to achieve. At the start of the season we were looking at the UEFA Cup and that’s still not out of reach. As it was at Leeds, you don’t know what you’re going to get with Newcastle.”
“I was fortunate that at Leeds I was there when we were in Europe and also when we were relegated, so I’ve been at both ends of the scale.â€
“For a young lad, as I was then, that keeps you in good stead. You can try and keep a constant, not get too excited, not get too flattened and keep yourself ticking over.â€
But this has been 4 days of utter turmoil at the club and even more upheaval and uncertainty for everybody associated with the Newcastle club, let’s be honest about that. But Alan Smith thinks there are few better places to play football than on Tyneside as he added:
“Everyone knows how passionate the fans are up here and how much success they want through their passion.” “When you drive down the street, everyone’s got a Newcastle shirt on, that what it’s all about and I wouldn’t change that for the world.”
“People might be criticizing or having a go at you when you’re not playing well, but there’s no better place to be than on a football field when they’re all behind you.â€â€œWould I rather have unpleasantness than boredom? Of course. Nobody wants boredom, do they?
“I’d rather have 52,000 (people) having a go at you rather than having empty seats. No one wants to play in front of empty seats.â€
Well said Alan Smith – now for a win at Manchester United today. Or a draw would be just fine too. 😀
Comments welcome.
12 comments so far
sy
Jan 12, 2008 at 10:12 AM
Comment #1Breaking news – Redknob is staying at Pompey…………. Dodged a bullet there I feel
toonoholic
Jan 12, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Comment #2good news .. he rejected us … good news .. there is still hope ! lets get van gaal !
Tom
Jan 12, 2008 at 10:15 AM
Comment #3REDKNAPP STAYS AT PORTSMOUTH http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_3041327,00.html
Brian
Jan 12, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Comment #4Thank god for that now lets be Sensible and Get ::
Hitzfeld
Hiddink
Van Gaal
Lippi
any one of them please
finngeordie
Jan 12, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Comment #5pretty embarrassing if its accurate that we really wanted him…..
steve
Jan 12, 2008 at 10:26 AM
Comment #6Good news on Redknapp, however it makes Ashley and Mort look like a right pair of idiots, sacking fat sam with no plan in place is something I would have expected from FFS, then again Ashley hasn’t been able to get anyone to run sports direct for months.
Good comments from Smith, I like his passion as a person but he’s been pretty poor for us this season so far.
Leo*
Jan 12, 2008 at 10:38 AM
Comment #7they were dictating the betting system with redknapp i really think, otherwise it shows that ashley has no ambition
Graeme
Jan 12, 2008 at 10:40 AM
Comment #8Smiths commitment and dedication have never been in question, he always gives 100% and always has.
The question has to be, is Smith the best player available, for the position he has been picked to play? The answer, 95% of the time is a resounding NO he isnt.
The next question, if he isnt the best player available for the position he is playing, WHY is he allowed to keep a better player out of the team??????
Smith is a striker, allegedly, although he hasnt scored a goal in over 2 years. We have 3 better strilers than him at the club.
He plays in midfield, but we have loads of better midfielders at the club, including one playing LB. So, why is he playing?? Dedication and commitment just aren’t good enough reasons in this day and age. He should be on the bench, at best.
George
Jan 12, 2008 at 10:55 AM
Comment #9I only hope that whoever the new manager is, that they can play Smith to his full potential. Like a lot of players we have, their prides have taken a bit of denting of late because of inferior tactics and selections. Yes they are pros these players, but at the same time, if we as workers are asked to make something out of metal when we are joiners, it is not so easy. Not the best analogy.
But with Smith it would be great to see him when he was at his best at Leeds.
ourman
Jan 12, 2008 at 10:57 AM
Comment #10Smith does not always give 100% witness his strolling performance against Stoke. As for those people who blame him playing out of position – since making his debut he has averaged under five goals a season in the league.
As ever, his toadying to the media has got him some more positive headlines personally I wish he would leave.
Drago
Jan 12, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Comment #11but he’s fookin useless…
AdamCF
Jan 12, 2008 at 12:12 PM
Comment #12I think he’s the S in the word “Psycho”