Sam Allardyce was asked about the role of Alan Smith at Newcastle and he quickly answered that Alan is very versatile which lets Sam play him in a number of positions.
Of course Smith started out at Leeds as a teenage striker where he linked up with current Newcastle man Mark Viduka, although he never scored a lot of goals at Leeds and since he moved to Manchester United Alex Ferguson used him more in midfield than up front. So where will Sam Allardyce play him at Newcastle? Let’s find out.
Alan Smith - experienced utility performer for Newcastle
Sam talked about Alan Smith and was asked what he saw as Alan’s major capabilities:
“Versatile. There is nothing better than somebody who is capable of adapting to a number of positions and playing with their heart on their sleeve like Alan does, going out there and giving his all.â€
“There will be a number of occasions when we are short on numbers like we are now. In the last two games we have been short on squad numbers because of all the injuries.â€
“He is able to fill in in midfield, up front and in the wide position for us, so he is a crucial part of the make-up of a successful side.”
As we mentioned Smith made his name as a striker at hometown Leeds United but Newcastle already have 4 established strikers in Michael Owen, Mark Viduka, Obafemi Martins and Shola Ameobi – and so Smith may have to continue in the middle of the park.
Sam of course has still to formulate what is his best 11 is at Newcastle with all the players he has brought into the club in the summer. Indeed we haven’t seen a number of them yet – such as Beye, Faye, Enrique and Barton - due to injury or the bedding-in process.
It will be good when they are all freely available for selection because we’ll soon be up against some of the top 4 teams. Our first 10 league games avoid any of the top 4 and we would hope we’d have quite a few points by then. Losing at Derby was not good but hopefully we can capture 3 points against West Ham, on Sunday – and we expect Smith to start again – probably in central midfield for this important game.
What do you think?
Is Alan good enough to get a starting spot at Newcastle?
Let us know - comments always welcome.
10 responses so far ↓
1 Doctapaul // Sep 22, 2007 at 9:55
Smith ain’t a winger based om Monday’s performance.
Either replace Butt or Geremi with Smith or move Geremi out wide or play 442 diamond with Smith at apex
Home formation…..
——————Smith
——Zog———————–Barton
——————Geremi
2 Ben // Sep 22, 2007 at 10:22
home formation….when fit…
……………ameobi……..owen………………
……………………..smith……………………..
Nzogbia………………………………..Milner
…………………….Geremi…………………….
Enrique…….Rozey……Taylor……..Beye
…………………..Harper………………………
Subs…..
Given
Cacapa
Barton
Butt
Martins.
3 Lamesley Mag // Sep 22, 2007 at 10:29
Smith is not a winger but supporting the front 2 from CM is a better position for Alan, if he’s to stay in midfield.
In January when Martins is away, I expect Smith to play in attack as Owen and Viduka will miss games through injury and Ameobi needs to show heart and determination that he wants to stay and play for Newcastle…..
4 Graeme // Sep 22, 2007 at 11:08
Ameobi needs to be shown the door, never mind heart and determination. Sorry, but he just hasnt got what it takes to be a Premiership striker, leading the line and scoring or making goals. He’s a great bloke, loves the club etc, but the fact is, on the evidence, he just isnt good enough.
Taxi for Mr Ameobi!!!
5 Brian // Sep 22, 2007 at 11:29
After the big injury Alan Smith had in the Manch.U-Liverpool game he has not been the same. He is not scoring enough goals and he is not creative enough to play for a top team. Newcastle has to many of his kind of players they need goals from midfield. Emre, butt, Geremi, smith, will score about 5 goals together in a season.
6 nightfall // Sep 22, 2007 at 12:22
when all fit:
…………….given
beye cacapa rozehnal enrique
milner geremi n’zogbia duff
………martins owen
or:
…………….given
beye cacapa rozehnal enrique
milner geremi barton n’zogbia
……….martins owen
and sell emre, babayaro, ameobi, carr….and smith!!!
and get another LB and AMR…
7 DC // Sep 22, 2007 at 13:41
Viduka over Ameobi any day. And Given over Harper..
Home formation when fit….
Given
Beye
Cacapa
Rozehnal
Enrique
Milner
Butt
Smith
N’Zogbia
Viduka
Owen/Martins
8 Dave // Sep 22, 2007 at 18:08
amiobi an established striker . youv got to b joking. smith is a much better target man
9 iain // Sep 22, 2007 at 18:52
i think once carroll comes back shola will be sold to make some money for transfers.
how much did boro bid for him again ???
10 Richard // Sep 22, 2007 at 20:29
Ben why the hell have u got ameobi in ur team before martins? taxi for ben