We half expected Alan Smith to be leaving Newcastle United in January, but it’s hard to unload a player who hasn’t been fit since last August.
Alan Smith – training again after Achilles injury
But with the squad in so much difficulty these days with injuries, and Alan being very experienced, it’s good news he may be ready for the Manchester City game a week on Wednesday.
Alan’s a good lad, and always tries his best for Newcastle United, and he also seems to love it at the club and in Newcastle, and it’s important to say that up front.
But Alan has not shown anything like his best form, in the 18 months he’s been on Tyneside, and still has to score his first senior goal at the club.
But looking on the bright side, maybe Joe Kinnear , who seems to admire the capabilities of the player, can get the very best out of Alan.
We certainly need an Alan Smith at his best in the next five months, if we are to avoid the drop.
The 28-year-old returned to training earlier this month, and he was one of the players, along with Joey Barton, who took part in the full-scale practice match against Carlisle United at Newcastle’s Benton HQ this afternoon, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
This will have given Alan and Joey some additional match practice to get them more fully fit.
Presumably we should be hearing form Kinnear on whether he has decided to take free agent Peter Lovenkrands, and what he wants to do with the two loan signings, whoever they are.
If there are no complications in the next week with Smith’s return, he could very well make the squad for the visit to Manchester City a week tomorrow.
Manager Joe Kinnear said:
“We hope to give Smithy some time on the pitch today,”
“He’s been out of action for a long time, and he’s the only player that hasn’t been available to me.”
“It’s good for him to get back out there and get some action.”
“He’s been putting in a lot of hard work behind the scenes, and been trying to get back to fitness.”
Alan will be staying at Newcastle until at least the summer, so let’s hope he can show us some of his best form – we certainly need some of our players to come through big time – if we are going to survive in the Premier League come May.
And it could be that we have an expanded squad for the game with Manchester City, since Barton and Smith could be available, plus a fit Jose Enrique.
We could also have the two loan players, the identities of which we still don’t know, plus a mysterious defender Joe is apparently hoping to sign by this Friday, and Danish International free agent Peter Lovekrands.
And the late breaking news that we have bid for Kaka of AC Milan is just not true. 😀
Well – we have to try to keep this thing light – wishing and hoping.
Comments welcome.
54 comments so far
Toon Sweden77
Jan 20, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Comment #41Well said about Smith Looney, agree with you 110%
super.trooper
Jan 20, 2009 at 3:33 PM
Comment #42Along with xisco and carroll , smith is amongst the worst players at the club. He is finished. He was good in a great leeds team but faded at man yoo and is now washed up at newcastle.
get rid!
Tom_Toon
Jan 20, 2009 at 4:08 PM
Comment #43I worte and artcle about this yesterday, I copy and past it here:
————————————————————
I have been one of his biggest critics since he joined, but I think we should give him a proper run upfont when he is fully fit.
I believe Smith has more or less all the attributes to be great target man, strong, agressive, can pass and hold the ball, he is a fairly clever player – I remeber a few games with England where he ws flicking the ball on, back-heel to set up goals etc – and he isn’t that slow.
So far with us he couldn’t hit a cows ars with a banjo, however, say he comes back in the team, gets a run upfont and scores 3-4 goals, I think he could develop into a really good player for us. Then hopefully the next season he could contribute with 8-12 goals and many assists. I think he will be a breath of fresh air when he comes back into the team and plays upfront, especially with his fighting spirit.
He could be our Kevin Davies.
I think Martins-Smith will be a very effective strike partnership (Martins-Smith v Arsenal at SJP last season anyone? Very good that day). I agree it doesn’t look too salivating on paper, but there is industry there and it will contribute with goals, but more all round team play and creating chances, better than any other 2 strikers you could put out for us (maybe except Viduka, but he is a permacrock now).
craig s chisholm
Jan 20, 2009 at 5:08 PM
Comment #44alan smith looks like a breath of fresh air to me at this present time lads, now thats saying something. we are in a shocking state in every single department on and off the pitch.. we have the worst run in out of all the other shit teams and at present we have given, butt, owen and zogs in the starting 11 who all want to leave us asap. then we have harper and geremi on the bench, plus martins too when fit – all of these want to leave. i think there will be others too that we are not aware of yet.. the point being that we need to have players on the pitch that are hard and battlers and who want to fight for us. smith falls into that bracket. we need smith and barton in the middle, with duff and jonas on the wings. we need to bench owen and given and zogs. they dont give a shit about us anymore. give the band to barton and lets at least get stuck in and go down fighting instead of just disapearing with a little whimper.
Toon_Ksk (ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!)
Jan 20, 2009 at 5:12 PM
Comment #45If Ameobi deserves a chance Smith deserves one too. If Ameobi can score, Smith can score TWO!
Matthew Tom
Jan 20, 2009 at 5:52 PM
Comment #46It comes to something when we say we really need an in-form Alan Smith, after all the rubbish he’s played for us up to now.
On the other hand, if he really is in form, he’s definitely a handy target man up front, which is about the only role I can really see is suited for him. He plays like a target man in midfield and gets fouls against him all the time. Maybe up against a big CB it’d look more like an honest 50/50 and he’d get fewer cards.
He still can’t score for sh*t though.
Marty-Toon
Jan 20, 2009 at 6:35 PM
Comment #47TOM-TOON i totally agree with putting SMITH up-front as
*He will just get booked in the middle of the park.
*He will track back as a front player
*He will score a goal within two starts i reckon
JK put him in from the start n give him time to get a goal n confidence
TAGeordie
Jan 20, 2009 at 6:51 PM
Comment #48I MUST admit i am despondent i think that we have a useless manager a weak squad and well anyone for conspiracy theories about the boss? i keep getting flashbacks to that awful team of the late 70’s that went down with a whimper amongst the eternally optimistic souls that inhabited a decimated Leazes end. We have no skill and no fight we employ a bunch of overpaid under achieving prima-donnas. heeeelllllllpppppp someone tell me that we aint going down please
Mag 48
Jan 20, 2009 at 7:13 PM
Comment #49Sorry TAGeordie relegation is part of Ashley’s
master plan that will get rid of the high wage earners in one go
Nick D
Jan 20, 2009 at 7:17 PM
Comment #50Rem
You just totally contradicted yourself when you said ” You break you leg like that and see who well you play after! ”
Fergie never sells good people, ony those on the way down after a serious injury. very canny in nicking 6M of us as well.
Smith as a midfielder = no assists, no creativity
Smith as a striker = no goals.
40 games isn’t a loss of form it’s a permanent condition. hes’ past it like Butt, Duff, geremi, Viduka. Can’t believe all the really highly paid sick note past it, has- beens, allardyce in particular, landed us with .
Nick D
Jan 20, 2009 at 7:19 PM
Comment #51To toon
who the hell wants a kevin Davies !!!
I want football, not hoofball.
Jan Stavik
Jan 20, 2009 at 10:38 PM
Comment #52Smith will never be our Kevin Davies as Davies actually is a great target man, while Smith only commits fouls.
It’s time to clear the ranks now, get rid of the dead wood. Has-beens like Butt, Geremi, Duff, Smith, Viduka etc are at the required level anymore, it’s time to cut losses and send them away.
Jan Stavik
Jan 20, 2009 at 10:39 PM
Comment #53Are NOT at the required level… 😉
NewManagerPlz
Jan 20, 2009 at 10:46 PM
Comment #54You used “In-Form” & “Alan Smith” in the same sentance. He’s a striker who cant score and defensive mid who cant tackle. He only has fighting spirit on his side, which is ironic seeing as he left Leeds to join rivals Man U soon as they were relegated.
Post Leeds:
£13m in transfer fees
129 Games
11 Goals