Passion will not leave with Sam

Jan 12 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

Alan Smith has lost the manager who signed him and appointed him captain, but nothing will dampen his enthusiasm for playing for United.

WHATEVER you think about Alan Smith’s ability as a footballer, whether he is best deployed in midfield or up front, nobody can question his attitude or his commitment to Newcastle United.

In an era where the word attitude and footballer normally conjure up images of a swaggering, arrogant prima donna whose talent is swamped by his ego and who managers politely describe as “difficult”, Smith is a rarity.

For Smith, football is a career he is determined to make the most of, not just in terms of trophies, medals and personal wealth, but in terms of personal pride, satisfaction that he gave it his all and that he was all that he could be. As a teenager, Smith quit the FA’s School of Excellence at Lilleshall so that he could return to his working class family in Leeds, because he felt more comfortable in those surroundings.

When the club he supported and made his name, Leeds United, were relegated from the Premier League, Smith stayed and fought until the bitter end.

When the battle was lost, Smith’s reputation remained untouched.

His reward for his efforts was a call from Manchester United. His reward for agreeing to move to Old Trafford was hate mail from the Leeds fans who now called him a traitor. It did not bother Smith, the move to Manchester United was purely a professional, not an emotional decision. He swapped the white rose for red simply because it was the sensible choice to further his career.

It earned him a Premier League winners medal, as well as a career-threatening injury when he broke his leg against Liverpool two years ago, but it did not bring him the personal satisfaction he craved.

“I could have stayed at Manchester United,” insisted Smith, who, like most people, had no inclination he would preparing to return to Old Trafford this weekend without Sam Allardyce as manager. “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.

“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 realise what you’re missing. As soon as I did that in my mind, deep down, I knew I needed to leave.

“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.

“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.” A challenge is exactly what Smith has found in the North-East. A challenge to find a position in the side, a challenge to win over a sceptical public and now a challenge to get over the sacking of the manager who not only signed him, but also recently appointed him as captain.

Considering his role as Allardyce’s skipper, Smith was clearly Big Sam’s man, but Smith will give as much loyalty to the man who eventually replaces him. However hurt he has been by Allardyce’s sudden departure, Smith knows he has a responsibility to the club crest on his chest. “I’m fit and I can’t wait to face Manchester United,” said Smith. “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.

“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.”

When Smith moved to Newcastle for £6m, Allardyce beat off competition from almost half of the Premier League for his signature.

But, as he admits, things have not gone to plan to since as Newcastle tread water in mid-table and search for a new manager less than eight months after Allardyce’s appointment.

Yet, the 27-year-old, does not look for a hiding place, he does not really even look for excuses. All he sees is the need to roll up his sleeves and get on with the job in hand. He said: “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.

“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.”

After another week of turmoil; yet another week of upheaval and uncertainty, Newcastle’s players would be forgiven for feeling more than a little shell-shocked following Allardyce’s departure. Smith, though, believes there are still few better places to play football and, in doing so, probably summed up why Allardyce was removed from office.

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 criticising 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.

“Would 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.”

Had Allardyce remained, those empty seats may just have become a regular sight at St James’s Park.