Jusoda Kid 1 Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 Boro ready to bid for Smith May 13 2008 by Alan Oliver, Evening Chronicle Alan Smith MIDDLESBROUGH will try to lure Alan Smith from St James’s Park in the close season. Boro boss Gareth Southgate has joined Rangers manager Walter Smith in a bid to sign his former England international colleague. And while Rangers may struggle to meet Smith’s wage demands, they should not be too much trouble to Middlesbrough. Southgate, Kevin Keegan and United’s top brass Mike Ashley and Chris Mort were all at the Sir Bobby Robson charity dinner at St James’s on Friday night. And while the United chairman was seen locked in conversation with his Sunderland counterpart Niall Quinn, Mike Ashley had a long discussion with Southgate. Whether Southgate brought up the subject of Smith with Ashley or whether he will go straight to United’s director of football Dennis Wise, vice-president Tony Jimenez or Keegan himself, remains to be seen. But Southgate has been a big admirer of Smith since the pair of them played for England under Sven-Goran Eriksson. Southgate tried to sign Smith 12 months ago from Manchester United when he was his No 1, target but the 27-year-old Yorkshireman preferred Tyneside to Teesside. My information is that his scouting team wanted Sam Allardyce to go for Brazilian midfielder Elano, who was also available for £6m at Shakhtar Donetsk, but the United boss had his heart set on Smith and he got him for the same fee. And to be fair, while some United supporters have criticised Smith this season, both Big Sam and Kevin Keegan have always spoken highly of him. But all those players who had their wages leaked to a national Sunday newspaper will be more than a trifle concerned about their St James’s future, with the United hierarchy keen to cut the wage bill. And these will include Smith, who is reportedly earning £62,000 a week and who, in 30 competitive starts for United, has not managed a single in goal in a black-and-white shirt. Smith has another four years on his United deal, but first-team coach Steve Round’s contract is up at the end of next month and at present the former England man has not been offered a new one. I understand Round, who is being eyed by David Moyes at Everton as his first-team coach, would like to stay with United and Keegan is happy to have him, but the decision is out of their hands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 But all those players who had their wages leaked to a national Sunday newspaper Where was this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew 4855 Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 haha! yes please, them or sunderland and i will be delighted because not only will we have gotten some money out of it, we'll have become a better team and whoever gets him will become worse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 Good news if true. Big 'if' considering the source though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 31195 Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 Smith or Elano. Well done Sam you fat prick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jusoda Kid 1 Posted May 13, 2008 Author Share Posted May 13, 2008 Good news if true. Big 'if' considering the source though. My thoughts as well. Just seen the opportunity to call Boro fans 'nappy rippers' and went for it tbh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 Good news if true. Big 'if' considering the source though. My thoughts as well. Just seen the opportunity to call Boro fans 'nappy rippers' and went for it tbh Fair enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 (edited) Steve Round’s contract is up at the end of next month and at present the former England man has not been offered a new one. I understand Round, who is being eyed by David Moyes at Everton as his first-team coach, would like to stay with United and Keegan is happy to have him, but the decision is out of their hands. Shit stirring jug chinned cunt? Edited May 13, 2008 by Happy Face Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SloopJohn 0 Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 wait what. allardyce chose smith over elano sums it up really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 Keegan speaking highly of Smith is just him being diplomatic anyway imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snakehips 0 Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 Not that I don't love Smith, but can I just say I'm available to drive him to Smoggsville. Just give me five minutes notice please, Mort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 Smith eager to stay and fight for place ALAN Smith is not looking for an escape route out of Newcastle United this summer despite reports the striker is a transfer target for Middlesbrough and Glasgow Rangers. Smith is one of the favourites to leave St James’s Park before the start of next season as he is no longer guaranteed first-team football by manager Kevin Keegan. The England international only decided to leave Manchester United last summer because he did not want to be a squad player, but having been a virtual ever-present under former manager Sam Allardyce, Keegan has dropped him from his first-choice XI. Nevertheless, despite the speculation that he will want to find a new club, Smith is not agitating for a move with those close to him insisting the 27-year-old is happy to fight for his place on Tyneside rather than leave. His agent, Alex Black, said: “There were a lot of clubs interested in Alan (last summer) but whether clubs are or aren’t interested in Alan doesn’t matter. Alan is happy where he is.” That may well be the case for the time being, but it remains to be seen if Smith will be content to stay on the periphery of things in the long term. Although Smith has lost his place in the side to Mark Viduka, the big Australian’s notorious injury problems mean that he is still likely to get his fair share of first-team football at St James’s Park if he does elect to stay. However, when Viduka was ruled out of the trip to Everton last weekend by the Achilles injury which could sideline him for the next six months, teenager Andy Carroll was preferred up front to Smith, who played in midfield in the absence of Joey Barton. Carroll is highly rated by Keegan and his coaches and there were signs over the last few weeks of the campaign the 19-year-old has moved ahead of Smith in the pecking order. That will not sit well with the former England international and the early indications are that the Magpies will also look to bring in at least one new attacking player over the summer. They have already been heavily linked with Saint Etienne’s Bafetimbi Gomis, while Paris-Saint Germain striker Amara Diane revealed yesterday that he would like to move to United. Keegan, Terry McDermott and executive director (football) Dennis Wise were all in Paris last weekend to watch PSG take on St Etienne and Diane claimed that there have been talks about his possible transfer between the clubs in the last few days. He said: “Kevin Keegan is a dream coach, his team always plays offensive football and playing in England would be a great opportunity. “I know there is some contact between the two clubs and if an agreement is reached, I will go to Newcastle. To play with Michael Owen would be great and there is also Obafemi Martins who is a top striker. “The Premier League is attractive and some of my Ivorian friends are there, so I would be in good company.” Those comments will cause some concern in the Smith camp, as will claims that Keegan has been told to trim the wage bill this summer. Smith, who still has plenty of admirers in English football despite failing to score a league goal since October 2005, is on more than £60,000-a-week at St James’s Park. The former Leeds United star would also command a sizeable transfer fee, which would enable Keegan to increase his own transfer budget. However, Newcastle’s manager is adamant he does not want to sell anyone over the summer as he wants to expand the squad rather than weaken it. He said: “I want to keep all my players and add to them if I can. “Anyone that goes will be a bit of a blow, especially if something like that happens late on in the summer.” http://www.journallive.co.uk/nufc/newcastl...61634-20912197/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 Means nowt. KK isn't the type to burn his bridges with a player he may need at some point, should he stay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asprilla 96 Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 Means nowt. KK isn't the type to burn his bridges with a player he may need at some point, should he stay. Exactly... I'm sure it's a case of trying to get the best price possible in an "oh, go on then, you can have him" type of fashion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 I'll not bother in future then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 I'll not bother in future then. I'm trying to cheer you up man, i.e. suggesting he could well be away. I'll not bother in future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 I'll not bother in future then. I'm trying to cheer you up man, i.e. suggesting he could well be away. I'll not bother in future. fingers crossed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrBass 2715 Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 I'll not bother in future then. I'm trying to cheer you up man, i.e. suggesting he could well be away. I'll not bother in future. fingers crossed. On which part, Smith being away or Alex not bothering in future? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo 175 Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 Gareth Rules Out Smith Swoop GARETH SOUTHGATE this afternoon dismissed reports linking Boro with a renewed interest in Newcastle United striker Alan Smith. The 27-year-old England international has failed to pin down a regular place in the Magpies' first team since his £6m move from Manchester United last summer and only managed three goals all season. Boro did make an approach for Smith before he left Old Trafford and reports surfaced in the Tyneside press this week claiming Southgate was poised to make a fresh move. But the Boro boss says he is happy with his current strikeforce and believes that players like a fully fit Mido, Tuncay, Jeremie Aliadiere and Afonso Alves will increase his side's goal output next season. "My view of Alan Smith is he's a striker and we're quite happy with the srtikers we've got," Southgate told mfc.co.uk. "I would not foresee bringing in another striker this summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asprilla 96 Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 "striker".... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 31195 Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 Footballer.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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