Kevin Keegan has today backed Alan Smith after the striker’s agonizingly long run without a goal continued last night in Newcastle’s 1-0 defeat to Real Mallorca last night.
Alan Smith - too long without a goal
Smith, who is now 27, failed to score and the team failed to score, for a third successive game.
But Keegan has no doubts that Smith still brings a lot to the Newcastle side.
The Newcastle manager said:
“We’re down to one foward, but the one thing you know with Alan Smith is that he’s always going to work hard.”
Hardly a ringing endorsement of Alan, but for some reason his form has been very poor. Maybe it’s a lack of confidence, which would be surprising when you play for Kevin - but something isn’t right with Smith, because he’s much better than the form he’s shown recently.
Keegan was without at least nine of his senior players for the Mallorca game last night, but as ever, he is still optimistic he will have a number of them back in time for the season opener at Old Trafford on August 17.
We hope quite a few of them will be back for Saturday’s game against Valencia at home.
Kevin added:
“I can’t fault their attitude. I had 11 players who weren’t available.
 “We weren’t without our problems.”
“I wasn’t going to risk anybody, or do anything silly.”
Left-back Luis Enrique – who played the full 90 minutes last night – will still face a challenge for his place in the side, with Keegan certain to bring in another left-back to St James’ Park before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.
We’ve brought in 3 players already, and they all look good players for the money, and it wouldn’t surprise us if we bring in another 3-4 before the end of August.
Keegan talked about Enrique:
“He’s come back, and he has lost weight,”
“He was told to come back fitter than he left – he was a little bit heavy, I think – and he’s done that.”
Now he’s just got to put the work in.”
We should be signing Coloccini some time very soon, and we need a left back too - but it wouldn’t surprise us if Newcastle bring in a creative midfielder too.
We’ll have to wait and see on that one.
We’re hoping for an announcement - possibly later today - at least on Coloccini.
Comments welcome.
100 responses so far ↓
1 sweendog // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:30
He works hard but does nothing .. totally useless player who is holding back some of our young guns who could do a far better job.
2 samgNUFC // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:30
Smith is sooo crap … we may aswell release him as nobodys gonna buy him
3 toonfan1 // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:31
its jose enrique not luis enrique ed
4 hanzowen // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:32
yeah sure he can run all day but when can he actually score goals?
5 Sun'lun's Burnin' // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:33
a little kid in a sweat shop will work hard but doesnt mean they earn 60k a week and play up top for best club in the country!!!!
SWITCH ON KK!!!
6 toonfanjonny // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:37
he didnt work hard last night and he had the touch of a rapist
7 neeraj // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:37
Alan Smith Will Always Work Hard
and he will never score a goal
8 kagthemag // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:37
dear kev, I’m 41 years old & put me in a black n white strip i’ll graft my bollox off for ya!!
the words “polishing a turd” comes to mind!!!
time to move on matey. . . .
9 Jack // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:38
I think he needs to have a rest in the Reserves, and gain some confidence there.
Hopefully he can score there.
10 jose enrique fan // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:40
I agree with KK
11 ende // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:41
“..at sucking”, is the end of that sentence.
I was all dead set on bringing in a creative midfielder too, but more and more I’m starting to see we need to add a striker.
12 Davies // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:42
Can’t help but agree with most of the comments here. I like Smith, because he is committed and few put in as tough a shift as he does, but at the end of the day he paid to score goals and he doesn’t do it.
We have defenders who’ve managed to do it.
13 GraemeR // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:43
Sorry KK the blokes not up to it - move him on
What happend to the 24 hour signing ?
Colocconi ??
14 Spyro // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:43
bored of the constant comments from KK in support of Smith, its tedious.
I would rather here comments like,
“We have on-going negotiations with 3 clubs for players who will definitely add quality to our overall squad, it should all be wrapped up by Friday”
15 Richard L // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:44
Smith will also always avoid the net. Rather keep Ameobi
16 Toon1978 // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:44
WHAT!!!!!! worked hard hahaha f..k off, working hard is gannin oot the door at 6am and gettin back in the house at 7pm for under £400 a week, i mean there was once he just walked away from the ball with no interest what so ever. KK dont be daft for god sake a few of our players do not know what hard work is.
17 Spot The Zebra // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:45
Alan Smith is very hard work.
18 Davies // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:45
Spyro - Agreed.
19 Matt // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:45
Smithy puts his heart and soul into it all the time but he just can’t seem to deliver the goods. Granted him being 1 man up front on his own does not suit him and there’s no surprise he didn’t score yesterday. I think if he was given a run he’d find form again but we really can’t afford to take the risk.
20 Tom // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:45
Let Smith go to the reserves, like Jack said, let him get some goals there if he can, for his confidence. I’d be willing to let Donaldson have a go against PSV if the big three are still out. In fact, give Zamblera his shot! He should be okay now after the u19 championships, let him have a run! : )
21 Beatski // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:46
well he can hardly bad mouth his own player, and as Ed said, its hardly a ringing endorsement of the lad.
He has looked completely useless whenever i’ve seen him, we need a replacement for him really, but there are more important positions to fill first
22 JP from The Rock of Gibraltar // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:50
ALAN SMITH IS A HARD WORKING CLOWN!!
All he does is run around in circles making a fool of himself.
23 Punk Skunk // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:52
I honestly don’t think i’ve seen a less productive player…Which saddens me deeply, ‘cos he ‘plays’
for us!..
…I understand KK trying to keep his head straight but like some have said…Hoy one of the bairns in!..It’s like playing with 10 men!..
…I hate saying these things about NUFC players!..
24 normski1930z // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:54
alan smith could have played til next sunday and still wouldnt have scored….
25 JP from The Rock of Gibraltar // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:59
I hope KK is just trying to find buyers by saying those surprising quotes.
26 ksmit // Aug 4, 2008 at 18:02
To be honest it’s hard work watching him “work hard”. I think we’re putting in more effort just by watching him…
27 beye the great // Aug 4, 2008 at 18:02
i htink most of the people on this site are hippocrits when allardyce was manager every1 was complaining that our players ahd a lack of effort well smith wasnt one of these people and i think he isa good player ok i admit not recently but he is proven quality i think it may take him a while to get a goal but once hes got 1 hell score more and more give him a chance he may also need to change his game a bit the same way owen had to
28 ksmit // Aug 4, 2008 at 18:07
He needs to change his game more than a bit at this moment. Every time he came on last season I knew something bad was going to happen. Not even looking at his goal scoring ability (or lack there of at the moment) all you have to do is see the free kicks that he gives away. He gives free kicks away on the corner of the box, he takes yellow/red cards for tackles in the opposite end of the field… It’s almost as though he is working against the team not for it!
29 Gazzatoon // Aug 4, 2008 at 18:08
I agree i dont think smith is good enough however, to be fair to him when he plays hes either upfront by himself or hes playing with shola(which is like playing upfront by himself). i think if he played with players of better quality such as oba or owen he would definalty look a better player. As leading the line on your own is probabley the hardest thing to do in football and makes most players look very ordinary
30 ende // Aug 4, 2008 at 18:10
I’d actually prefer to get rid of Shola first. Smith at least has value as a versatile squad player. Not your first choice to start, but you know he’ll work hard in midfield or even up front (if we have a lead)
31 Nenad // Aug 4, 2008 at 18:14
His haircut costs more than some people make in a month.
Loan him out to Leeds…
32 Cooper // Aug 4, 2008 at 18:14
Ok his goal ratio is non existent
But has anyone even seen him have a shot??
33 JP from The Rock of Gibraltar // Aug 4, 2008 at 18:15
Absolutely right Ende. Ameobi MUST GO and Smith is a good back-up player but no where near the first team.
34 ksmit // Aug 4, 2008 at 18:15
I think I’ve seen him have a shot… not really sure though….
35 Ross // Aug 4, 2008 at 18:16
not very encouraging. i wouldnt question his commitment but without talent its a bit useless really isnt it.
36 simon376 // Aug 4, 2008 at 18:19
Smith used to be good, but since he came to us he’s done nothing. I’d much rather see one of the kids up front. Trouble with Smith is, there’s so much of a chance of him getting a card and a good chance it will be red when you look at his challenges. Evan as a forward, it’s more bookings than goals. I hope he does come good in the end, but don’t think it will be with us. Prove me wrong Alan.
37 irish_toon9 // Aug 4, 2008 at 18:23
i was ready to throw the tv out the window lastnite watching smith…brings nothing to the team…cant pass..cant score..cant hold the ball up..cant dribble…useless
38 toon 24/7 // Aug 4, 2008 at 18:28
i would prefer smith in midfield,hes was class 4 manu there,he cant score goals its easy to see that,but he is a good player. if he left us i bet we would all regret it
39 micepie // Aug 4, 2008 at 18:28
It’s almost as if Smith falls between two stools, not proving useful as a striker nor a mf.
I do remember years ago when he was with Leeds hoping we’d sign him some day, and I think Shearer was also a big fan but he’s been desperately disappointing since we bought him.
KK has got to instil belief in Smith in the ability to score goals again - REAL belief. Or find a deeper lying role.
I’m prepared to give him next season at least, but that’s all. Just hoping that so many under-achievers can come good - Duff included.
40 AlexW // Aug 4, 2008 at 18:35
i think this is the first year where we havnt spent money on signings, ok ffs was a tool but he still got in the signings so what on earth is MA doing?
41 WIGAZ // Aug 4, 2008 at 18:38
HA HA! Kag top draw m8! gr8 blog! heres a question KK what 100% of 0? this lad has been wrecked by fergie tying to make him roy keane. Why dont we ask Big al to take him away for sime 1 on 1 training, who better to get the lad to rediscover his striker skills than the best in the business! mind you we might be better gettin harry potter to training coz magic is needed! lol!
42 harrier // Aug 4, 2008 at 18:42
AlexW - what about the year we were in the champs league and freddie shepherd only let us buy lee bowyer on a free?
43 sirjasontoon // Aug 4, 2008 at 18:45
You have to question Keegans judgment on this..what signals does that send out to our other strikers ?
Just look busy lads and the gaffer will love us !
Get rid Keegan and where is that “24 hr” signing.
Ever get the feelin’ your being cheated?
44 Stephen // Aug 4, 2008 at 18:50
Smith is a decent player.
Was good at Leeds
but has lost his way abit.
Lets be fair he hardly had good service last night you cant blame him for that.
How can he score goals if there is no one helping him out??
Fact is he aint good enough for Newcastle united get rid
but its kinda harsh the things people say about him especially when Ameobi does nothing atleast Smith works hard but has lost his quailty
45 Pete // Aug 4, 2008 at 18:57
Statistics speak for themselves.. the guy hasn’t scored in the premier league since november 2005. That’s a wrap, bye bye
46 Punk Skunk // Aug 4, 2008 at 18:58
smith does not actually know where to stand on the pitch…He’s either too deep or walks towards the defender to make marking him easier, he has no concept of ’space’…Strange, anyone else noticed that?..
47 AlexW // Aug 4, 2008 at 18:58
harrier, fair point
48 neeraj // Aug 4, 2008 at 18:58
say something good abt shola and smith ppl
and encourage spurs to buy them
49 daiv // Aug 4, 2008 at 19:02
Alan Smith is a fraud. He draws £65K a week to score goals and has not scored for 3 years. He should be in jail. And KK only makes himself look foolish defending the guy. He should be drummed out with Barton.
50 normski1930z // Aug 4, 2008 at 19:02
thing about it is good forward players always have good movement…i remember watching vialli when he was at chelsea and he just knew how to pull defenders around and for me that is a sign of class.
51 Mad_Magpie // Aug 4, 2008 at 19:04
Having a good work-rate is all good and well, but the best players out there in the modern game also have good technical ability, pace, finishing etc as strikers need, which Smith just does not posses. Smith is an ordinary player who just isn’t good enough for our club, as most of us know already. I would love it if he could prove me wrong though.
52 Punk Skunk // Aug 4, 2008 at 19:05
Damn right normski!..
…Movement is everything!..
53 Phil // Aug 4, 2008 at 19:07
what u guys think about going for Juan Roman Riquellme as our attacking creative midfielder…he is only 29 and has always wanted to play in the premier league.
wat ur guys thoughts?
54 Yorkie Dave // Aug 4, 2008 at 19:10
One thing on this subject to say and one thing only.
Alan Smith is not a striker not a midfielder not really anything. A first touch of a bull in a china shop, an attitude worse than most of the kids on the streets, no work ethic anymore and he is more than happy just picking up his wages every week. i would rather have Emre back and play every so often than smith who puts in no effort anymore.
55 JonGoodwyn // Aug 4, 2008 at 19:19
He doesnt even seem to be trying anymore - atleast before in games he was making an effort to muck things up, and looked like he could possibly score, this tourny, and pre season in general, hes gone missing in all the games,and hasn’t even had a shot on target
56 Punk Skunk // Aug 4, 2008 at 19:30
How many times did he touch the ball last night!?!..
57 gorskino10 // Aug 4, 2008 at 19:32
I read on tribal an article by KK he said he will bring in 1 and maybe 2. So that mean colocini that’s it no skejbred.inlar.arda.derdiyok etc….
With colocini we could let in less but with a poor mid and strikers not scoring.
58 Ian // Aug 4, 2008 at 19:32
Smith was brought to Newcastle because he had done a fair job for Man Utd when played in midfield, so he was brought in for that role, he is stuck with the striker label and the striker position.
That said, all of the team are crap on goal not just Smith, there is a serious coaching problem in this area going back to long before Keegan and right back to the Robson days, no-one seems to dare have a go on goal, I still say they need a specialist coach to get rid of these lack of attempts on goal, there should be a lot of attempts on goal, a lot of misses but out of them a decent amount scored too, something is wrong and it needs sorting.
At top teams people make wild swings at goal and miss by miles but no-one says anything to the person that missed, he was right to try, that isnt the way at Newcastle and it needs changing.
59 toon4lyf // Aug 4, 2008 at 19:33
he was a very good player before he joined us he wasnt badd against berlin he made sum nice passses he was up frunt with ameobi[shyt] no 1 was threading through balls niky butt is desperate he does nothing accept lose the ball smith had no support he can be a good player for us
60 toon4lyf // Aug 4, 2008 at 19:35
we should buy riquelme and ortega
61 Punk Skunk // Aug 4, 2008 at 19:36
Ian, we’ve also forgotten about the early ball into the box…Shearer would bollock ‘em for that alone!..
62 azim // Aug 4, 2008 at 19:43
hey guys so far smith has not played with big strikers like viduka and we have to judge him only after that….please dont say he played with ameobi(big striker)because ameobi is a crap and a championship quality player….even owen plays like shit when his partner is small player…i think thats the reason why smith cant play well or produce the form he showed at leeds with viduka…and remember so far he had never partnered viduka in black and white shirt
63 kagthemag // Aug 4, 2008 at 19:44
beye the great - are u for real??? Hypocrites - learn to spell it first u tit!!!!
he was a good player as a young un but now the game has moved on. He was s** at manure & that trend has continued. The lad is 28 now & I think he’s peaked, effort yeah great but like i said earlier we’re polishing a turd!!!!
64 Todd // Aug 4, 2008 at 19:44
Quick Poll:
Trade Smith for Mrs. Loud?
Yes
No
65 Hoppaz // Aug 4, 2008 at 19:47
A work colleague who lives down in Monkseaton and who knows Michael Bridges’ Dad is told me a story once whereby when Bridges got a bad injury at Leeds and was worried that he would lose his place to Smith so asked what if he would get a chance to prove himself when he got back (Smith was pretty much his replacement). He was told that Smith would never replace him in a month of Sundays even back then. These days Bridges can’t even get a game at Hull and is playing for Carlise. Go figure!
66 D.C. // Aug 4, 2008 at 19:49
Smith’s problem is that he’s lost his pace, etc., after the leg injury. He needs to become the target man instead of running off the target man, but he doesn’t have the discipline/physical strength to pull that off so he’s basically useless up front.
67 jeff // Aug 4, 2008 at 20:11
Im sick of hearing alan smith works his socks off….yes he may well do,but it isnt any good for newcastle united because he does sod all…If I worked my socks off at work but the thing I was doing wasnt doing the job any good id be sacked….GET RID HE IS HOLDING OTHER PLAYERS UP!!!!!!
WHERE IS COLOCCINI?!!!!!
68 SAMTHECAT // Aug 4, 2008 at 20:15
DC-summed up nicely. Smith at Leeds was never prolific but scored his fair share and he certainly put in a shift but after that injury at Man Utd-that would have finished players in the 80s+90s but these days just about everyone can make a comeback but are they ever the same.
What suprised me last season was Smith doing a very poor imitation of Viduka-he never moved-he didnt close down and the big centre backs just dominated him.
To think we might be stuck with him for another 4 seasons.
69 Bill F SPLASH THE CASH ASH // Aug 4, 2008 at 20:24
Smith and Shola have the potential to be one of the best scoring duo’s in the country. Some club really ought to take the chance of getting them before their price goes up. Really!!
Are you listening Sunderland, Spurs, Portsmouth, Wigan.
70 nightfall // Aug 4, 2008 at 20:28
smith sucked way before he came to us, but teammates at man made him look ok… smith brings nothing to the team expect for cards and expenses…plus he can’t control his ego, so…sell him, release him..i don’t care… as for you who want to see smith in the midfield…how old are you…’cos you memory is not the best anymore…when smith played in midfield, our club had a crisis..we played the worst football in history of football when he play in our midfield… but if we do keep him…and if he’s going to play for the first team..kev, keep playing him in striker position..at least there he’s not harmless…
71 Nick Dryden // Aug 4, 2008 at 20:34
Why does KK keep backing Smith and Barton?
Fergie got rid of Smith after his leg injury - he’s not stupid is he. The person who is, (stupid that is,) Allardyce paid top dollar for damaged goods on 60K a week! Smith aint the brightest tool in the box and he always telegraphs his ”red mist” challenges.
As for barton, knock a man when he’s down - well barton would know all about that !!
72 brian // Aug 4, 2008 at 20:37
WHY
73 matt // Aug 4, 2008 at 20:53
i will always stand by keegan…but theres something in the back of my mind thinking “**** keegan is coming out defending players like smith, barton because the bottom line is he doesnt have much money to bolster the squad so must make use of even the worst players/psycho one”
74 CDN MAGPIE // Aug 4, 2008 at 21:05
Has anyone here ever played as a lone striker in a shite team. Enough said. This is a team game and Smith wasn’t the only player thats looked shite the last 3 games try 8-9 of em.
75 WIGAZ // Aug 4, 2008 at 21:09
Good shout phil Riqueleme would be amazing for Toon!!! i really hope he’s the mystery playmaker that were bidding for! he’s world class, great passer, class at set pieces & free kicks & can score wonder goals! if we get him lets give him no8 & sit back & admire the next Toon legend!
76 Obafan // Aug 4, 2008 at 21:17
With these comments KK is losing his credibility for me. I know he always has to protect his players, but you can’t do that forever. I don’t want him to talk to the press and slash off players (not even Smith), but I think he should not mention it anymore, cause it has been enough of that.
Today just shows again how interested Ma really is in our club. All the other owners would have had an official announcement of Colloccini but at Newcastle it again seemst to take ages.
If this kind of activities go on we will lose the better players like Owen, Oba, Beye, Faye, … and the goods of Smith and Barton will still be at the club running around like chickens and fighting like bulls.
Things need to change very soon at the club or otherwise we will have a very tough season in the middle of a relegation fight with Fulham, Boro, Stoke, West Brom, Hull and Wigan.
And I’m afraid that if Keane keeps getting the players he wants that he will make Sunderland to have a very good season, cause he is a damn good manager.
77 normski1930z // Aug 4, 2008 at 21:22
Riqueleme is finished lads he is what 31 now and back in his home country…forget about that aint gonna happen.
78 buddy // Aug 4, 2008 at 21:36
obafan
i agree with you! how can kev come out nd say smiths working hard, a blind donkey can see he’s not! kev seems to occasionly bulls##t to fans and as much as i love hearing from him, he shudn say sumtin that blatantly isnt true
IF smith was working hard, ppl wudn be so angry but he simply isnt!! and hes totally devoid of any talent these days!!
and he DID play alongside d big boys up front last season and failed to contribute!!
sorry just players like smith realy get me goin
79 Obafan // Aug 4, 2008 at 21:40
buddy
Thanks to follow my comments. What is your opinion on MA?
80 Toonboy // Aug 4, 2008 at 21:45
I think MA has done a good job as in clearing the clubs debt,not playing tho the @ss for players and having a plan for the youth……..But he needs to invest in the first team NOW.
81 buddy // Aug 4, 2008 at 21:48
obafan,
stil not sure on MA yet!! you here so much bad press about him its hard not to be very edgy about him. im quite disillusioned by that activity in the transfew market in terms of the supposed ‘lack of funds’ and the time delay in eveything(contracts and transfers) and missing out on big players. BUT i do think he is a million miles better than what we had, he has put good strucutres in place that if kept will benefit us in years to come. he hasnt meddled with the team in any way, he HAS cleared all our debts and i do feel, that the club will prosper under him if given time.
my main grievance is the lack of activity in the transfew market and the fact that we are not beefing up our worringly thin squad. IF we dont sign another 3or4 we could find ourselves in anuder relegation battle and that would reflect horribly on MA.
so tbh im stil not decided, time will tell
82 scotty // Aug 4, 2008 at 21:52
KK’s hardly gonna turn round in his interview and say, “hey a tell ya wot, Smithy couldn’t score in caramel alley!!!”.
It’s scary to think we paid 6mil and he’s on £60k. His style of play used to work 5 years ago when defenders were slow - now they have the same pace as the front men he has no chance!!!
83 Obafan // Aug 4, 2008 at 22:52
buddy
Fair comment on MA and it indeed is very hard to get an opinion about him. The things that worries me so much about him are:
1. the press constantly talking about a take-over, so where smoke is might be also fire, near future will tell (but the Indian guy would be very good for the transfer market).
2. over the last couple of years we say our squad is too thin and what happens very strange in getting deals and the activity is far too slow. And then we release more players than we get so that means an even thinner squad.
I can’t follow anymore and i hold my breath for the first game at old Trafford.
84 buddy // Aug 4, 2008 at 23:08
time will tell is all ill say!! but d longer time goes on the more anxious i get!!
COME ON lads get d finger out
wdn mind an indian billionaire but its nothin more than bullsh#t
85 ACD // Aug 4, 2008 at 23:24
Mr keegan, my name is andrew and if you want someone to work hard then i will quite happily do it for 60k a week, i may actually have a shot on goal or turn towards the goal i have to shoot in.
smith is awful, get him out !
86 Curly-cinni // Aug 4, 2008 at 23:50
smith couldn’t score in a brothel. Get rid or give something else to do at the club….
87 Toooooooooooooooooon // Aug 5, 2008 at 1:32
He can’t Shoot
He can’t Dribble
He can pass but simple pass. (not the killer pass)
He can’t assist
He can’t win any header
He score like a year ago (well thats pre season)
He can slide but he don’t get the ball
but the most important thing is that:
When he is not playing, WE WIN !!! (the first win under keegan when we dropped him)
88 OzToon // Aug 5, 2008 at 2:14
There’s not that much of a need to get in a left back IMO. Bassong can play there, as can N’Zogbia (has played there LOADS for us) so it’s MUCH more important to get in some midfield talent with some pace and skill, as well as some cover for our constantly crocked strikers. Seriously, if they’re not ready for the pre-season that doesn’t bode well for the season when they’ll actually be involved in a string of competitive matches.
89 Lawman // Aug 5, 2008 at 5:32
If KK just wants someone to work hard and not care so much about the outcome as long as he HAS worked hard then I can guarantee him he could get the same result with a fraction of the wage paid to Smith.
I am 99.9% certain that I can go out onto the streets of Newcastle and get anyone to play their heart out week in week out for £10k a week nevermind £60k. He’ll definitely work hard but outcome aint gonna be good but since Smithy’s outcome aint that good anyways, that aint an issue!
90 Ericles // Aug 5, 2008 at 7:01
It worries me that KK defends Smith to this extent. It means Smith is going nowhere. The player has lost the plot. Get rid.
91 staffsmag // Aug 5, 2008 at 8:16
I just read that Everton are interested in taking him for £1.5M - do it KK do it now !!!!!
92 NUFCAl // Aug 5, 2008 at 8:27
Smith is possibly the most pathetic excuse for a player I’ve ever seen in the black and white. He’s up there with Fumaca, Maric et al.
Give him the boot, I’d be well chuffed to see his contract terminated just so there’s no chance of him ever getting on the pitch again. I hate him, he doesn’t deserve the shirt.
No mug’s ever going to take him off our hands, god damn itwish he’d gone to the Smogs.
93 Ian // Aug 5, 2008 at 8:43
punk skunk agree with the early ball comment!!
They should try Shearer coaching on goalscoring for a couple of weeks and see if he can transfer his skills. If he cant try someone else for a couple of weeks, if he works then keep bringing him in even if it is temporary.
We cant all think that Smith, Duff, Parker, Emre and others didnt score just because they were all useless, the coaching system must have a flaw somewhere or the other team members are making a big issue of having a go and missing which is affecting players, there must be a reason not just they are all crap, or possibly the big crowd is affecting them when they miss, maybe they need helping to block it out!!
Players cant keep coming to Newcastle who have scored in the past then stop scoring, it needs looking at more closely then go right back through history and see when it started, what changed at that time then try and put it right.
Looking at other clubs releases and signed players we are definately dragging our feet compared to the other focussed clubs.
94 benny // Aug 5, 2008 at 8:45
I ACTUALLY THINK HE IS A GOOD PLAYER
95 Curly-cinni // Aug 5, 2008 at 9:36
benny you must be seeing a different player to us….We’re talking about the newcastle player called Alan Smith!
have you guys realised that’s it hard to score a goal in fifa 08 with smith?
96 Ron Wright // Aug 5, 2008 at 10:15
It will be a beautiful day when Mr Smith moves on
97 Ian // Aug 5, 2008 at 10:21
I think if he had been left in the position that he had been bought for which was the midfield he wouldnt have come under so much criticism.
Alan Shearer once said that players who play more than one position often come under a lot of criticism when really they are doing their best to help the team out, he wouldnt do it, he said it was the undoing of many good players a no win situation for the player in his view. He wasnt talking about Smith they were comments regarding another player who was doing the same.
As a midfield player we have had many others who havent scored and not come under so much fire.
Because we arent spending a fortune on players I would rather see some one to one goalscoring coaching for all of the players who arent scoring as many or any goals. Looking at the fitness level of Smith and effort you cant help but think that if he could get back on target he would be a good player, has anyone watched them training, is he knocking them in on the training field but not on the pitch???
Must be a reason why KK keeps using him as a striker otherwise he would surely use one of the other reserve strikers.
98 Mikey24 // Aug 5, 2008 at 10:52
I say sod the striking role, let him shadow Butt to be next DM!! Hes lost a lot of pace after injury, works his bum off when he’s on the pitch and doesnt mind flying in with the tackles!
99 Ian // Aug 5, 2008 at 11:50
I agree mikey 24, we should have bought a striker so he doesnt have to suffer this abuse.
I see KK has written about coaching the strikers and others to score, in the Journal, wonder if he has been listening in!!!
If he is then buy Cisse for £8m it is a gift, £5m less that Johnson and Cisse scores more goals, and has the same career hit record as Owen goals to appearances. Would we have jumped at buying Owen at age 26 for £8m????
100 Santi Munez // Aug 7, 2008 at 2:31
Let’s hope Everton pays to take the lad off our hands
Leave a Comment