Smith: I'm going nowhere

March 14, 2007

Alan Smith

ALAN Smith has warned would-be suitors he has no intention of leaving Manchester United.

The England striker rejected a loan move away from Old Trafford in January but speculation persists he will exit the Reds in the summer as Sir Alex Ferguson reinforces his striking department.

Now happily recovered from the horrific injuries he suffered in an FA Cup tie at Liverpool last February, Smith completed 70 minutes of last night's charity match against a Europe XI and is expected to be part of the United squad for Saturday's Premiership encounter with Bolton and the FA Cup quarter-final replay against Middlesbrough 48 hours later.

But, once Louis Saha and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer are fit again at the end of the month, Smith looks like being squeezed out once more even though Henrik Larsson's departure has left Ferguson a man short in attack.

However, anyone who thinks Smith will surrender his position with the Red Devils without a fight is mistaken.

The 25-year-old has worked too hard to just give up now and he intends being at United for the long haul.

Speculation

"I am not leaving, it is as simple as that," he said. "There has been a lot of speculation but I am going nowhere.

"I feel I am good enough to play in this team, I have always believed that. That is why I signed."

Cardiff and Smith's former club Leeds were among those thought to be interested in signing the £6million forward on a short-term basis during the transfer window.

But, while Ferguson is not an easy man to say no to, Smith is adamant the Scot respected his decision to decline the offers.

And, given the way events have subsequently transpired, both parties are probably relieved the Rothwell-born player opted to remain where he was.

"The manager gave me the option to go out on loan but I didn't want to," revealed Smith.

"I am sure he thought it was in the best interests of both myself and the club but I told him I believed I was good enough to play in his team when I am fit and he accepted that.

"If I had gone on loan and Ole and Louis had been injured and Henrik had gone, we would have been down to one striker.

"There would have been nothing worse for me than to leave and be somewhere else when this club was short on strikers.

"I don't want to be on loan somewhere else and miss the games coming up when I feel I can be an important part of this squad."

Do you think Smith can become a first-team regular at United? Have your say.

| Submit Comments | Comments (60) |

Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

george (14/03/2007 at 09:25)

It looks as tho he is getting his fitness back.If he starts banging goals in he'll have a part to play.I was worried about Alan ever being good enough again,but his attitude is excellent.He might nail down a future for himself.

stu, london (14/03/2007 at 09:35)

He has a role for the remainder of the season, but if we sign a striker in the summer as expected, and we keep Rossi, we really have no use for him.

edinburgh red, edinburgh (14/03/2007 at 09:36)

His attitude and spirit cant be doubted but everytime i've seen him play this season, he has looked well off the pace even last night, we might not see the best of him until next season, and of course he could be sold by then and knowing the current transfer policies we probably wont get anyone in to replace him

Balders, Halifax (14/03/2007 at 09:39)

In the long term possibly not, but one thing is for sure Ole (legend that he is)has looked terribly slow when he's played up front this year and with saha 'always on the edge' we're going to need smudge in the run-in.... so if he takes his chance(s) then i think there'sa role for him at united as one of 4 strikers (Roo,Saha & new signing ?, being the others).

Alias Smith, over the moon (14/03/2007 at 09:43)

If only we could bottle his attitude and determination!

Steve, Glossop (14/03/2007 at 10:01)

I think everyone hopes we buy a top new striker in the summer. I dont see Smith as top drawer regular but if he's content to be a reserve that's up to him. Just so long as he never plays CM again.

Frank Old Trafford (14/03/2007 at 10:03)

Anyone who knows about football would conclude that Smith has never shown the ability, technique or finishing to be a first team striker. He has to prove his worth with goals and quite honestly I'm pinning my hopes on Dong proving his worth!

bobbydazzler (14/03/2007 at 10:18)

cant fault the lad's attitude, all clubs need players of this kind in their squad

Birdy, Ireland (14/03/2007 at 10:36)

I dont think he's good enough to cement a place in the first 11 to be fair. I dont think puttinghim in midfield for a season did him any favours either. It smacked of arrrogance on SAF's part. I do think SMith is a very good player to have in the squad though, and he could be really effective coming off the bench as he's aggressive and can take a chance if it comes his way. He's got a different style to Rooney and Saha, and when the squad is rotated i wouldnt have any worries about him coming in and doing a job

Southern Red (14/03/2007 at 10:43)

He may not be the most skillfull player in the team but its good to read this kind of commitment and determination. I was impressed with his progress when he came on against Lille. It was the first time I've seen Dong last night. Not fair to make any judgement in such circumstances other than he seemed to get himself in the right places at the right time. The future's bright, the future's Red.

stu, london (14/03/2007 at 11:21)

Birdy, less arrogance and more about bad forward planning, I think. Smith as a CM was absurd. Where is Mary, his greatest CM fan?!

chris, oxford (14/03/2007 at 11:59)

Smith doesn't have a chance of getting in the first team on a regular basis but if he is happy with the sub role then so be it though I would have thought if he had any ambitions of playing for England again (something he relishes I believe) he needs to move on.

Reds4Ever, West Yorkshire (14/03/2007 at 12:16)

I thought he played quite well when he came on the other day. A very good squad player.

Liam, Manchester (14/03/2007 at 12:43)

Anyone who knows about football? Not you then Frank obviously. You'd pin your hopes on an unknown compared to a player that when match fit and played in the right position has already proven his worth? Smith needs matches which it looks like he will get until Saha returns and possibly if we have Dong for back up then we can alternate between them for the next few matches.

karma2007, rochdale,greater manchester (14/03/2007 at 12:59)

here we go again on the smith debate fresh news please.

Django (14/03/2007 at 13:11)

Smith was always one of SAF's aberrations, even before his injury. World class courage combined with average ability.He probably reminded SAF of what he was like in his playing days. Not sufficient justification though for spending £7m of the club's money. You need to be more than a one pace tackler to succeed at the top level.

bobbydazzler (14/03/2007 at 13:22)

Frank when he first came to us RVN was out with an injury and Smithy more than held is own leading the line at united and chipped in with a fair goal return of something like 7 from 8 starts. Rudd came back and smithy was duly confined to the bench. SAF then made a big mistake in proclaiming we have keanes replacement here at the club and duly converted smithy into a very very very poor midfielder. Not even the biggest fergie apologist would dare to suggest that was a success. But the lad grinned and bared it at the cost of his england place. Then he got injured. His first 3 months as a forward at United more than conviced me he was worth his place in the squad. Give the lad a chance.

george (14/03/2007 at 14:07)

Stu London;(and Balders)I don't think Smith's place is threatened by Rossi.Rossi is the most Scholes like player we have and his future could be as a creative midfielder.Solksjaer is slow and not involved as much as in the past but he still has the knack of "being there." Ten goals in what seems like 20 minutes! Hargreaves and a winger of pure class are our most immediate needs.We are scoring plenty of goals.I do agree tho a cool striker who wins games and plays team football is desirable.(Berbatov)

Birdy, Ireland (14/03/2007 at 14:08)

Good call Bobbydazzler

de Meester, netherlands (14/03/2007 at 14:29)

I really admire his determination (isn't that typical yorkshire!?)
I sincerely hope that he pulls this off!!
While he will be a Andy Cole type, bagging gfoals regularly(at least I don't think so!) he could and should be able to get 10-12 with the side we have, considering the service materialises!
Speaking of Andy Cole it was great to see him in he United shirt last night and was willing him to knock one in!!

Steve, Glossop (14/03/2007 at 14:36)

Spurs mugged us for Carrick we might as well pay over the odds for Berbatov top player.

Liam, Manchester (14/03/2007 at 14:38)

George - According to Berbatov we tried to get him but Spurs won! I can't see Rossi becoming an out an out striker for us initially due to his height/build but the deeper role or even attacking midfield could be spot on.

Balders, Halifax (14/03/2007 at 14:51)

Frank, You including yourself in that cetegory then ?! He may not be prolific, true, but i think he's proved in his career so far that he HAS got ability & he certainly HAS technique. His ability to hold the ball up with a good touch and lay it off are second to none imo. You only needed to see him for 15 mins (comapred to Larsson)last Weds night to know that. BUT, that never made a great striker all on it's own. Whilst most of us agree that Smudge might not be the answer to our main striker problem, in a 'squad' of strikers he offers enough of a variety to have my support. btw, how did he score that volley against Norwich if he has no technique ?

Utd-For-Life, marseille ex-stretford (14/03/2007 at 14:52)

bobbyD, I don't usually agree with much of what you say, but you're spot on about smith. He scored consistently before he got relagated to the bench, then to midfield and then to the treatment table. Unfortunately for him he's not been given a real opportunity to show us what he can do, and i think thats part of the reason why he really wants to stay here. he has unfinished business to see to, and once he gets fit and some regular football in his favoured position, i'm hoping he will be able of winning the fans over again.

Pepe (14/03/2007 at 15:01)

Let's give him a chance coming from the bench next year. He can be the next "super sub".

()

Report

Manchester United