Except when Lorimer told the world media that Smith's agent had declared his preferred destination was Old Trafford. No Leeds fan would ever "prefer" a move to that ****house. No player the Leeds fans should indulge would either.
How bad for publicity would it have been if he came out and said he was being forced to go there? Would pretty much have done for his scum career straight away.
Time to close this thread. Smith gave up £1m in signing on fees to save Leeds, so stop this narrow minded bashing of a lad who gave his all for Leeds. End of!!!!
There's a difference between passively accepting something and actively engineering the move. He did the latter, which I deem unacceptable. And frankly, if I was 'forced' to go there, I'd simply say as much in the first press conference, get on with my job and wear Leeds-related messages under my shirt if I scored.
He made two conflicting statements; one in 2004 and one more recently when we were seriously linked with Smith. His first one had no agenda other than to tell the press that Smith was going to scum and he was happy to go there. The second one's agenda was to win over sceptical fans who still remembered what had happened at the time of the first one and weren't forgiving or forgetting. I know which one I'm more inclined to believe, and one of them does really have to be believed.
Forgetting the past. If someone offered us a player, who was not afraid to get stuck in, who was a Leeds lad with passion for the club, who had recent experience in gaining promotion from the Championship. If it was anyone else would we turn them away?
If they were on £60kpw, had lost their legs and there were better options out there, yes. And to say, even in your pointless hypothetical, that he has "passion" for the club he betrayed doesn't wash with me.
I would not pay him 60k either, I doubt his legs have gone at 31 & I would love to see other players join as well. You seem too obsessed with battling Scum from a far to realise the important thing is that we get back.
Billy, it would appear there are some on this thread that would probably dispute that too. At best they are simply choosing to ignore it. I agree with you!
I only started the thread because the name Smith was cropping up in other threads and taking them off subject. Close it for me, but lets leave these debates off the other threads
Newcastle fans say he's slow and useless. None of them like him at all. We've already got Brown and Pugh, and even if you forgive the unforgivable, we'd be wasting money on a man we don't want or need. The most important thing is that we get back without being made to look like mugs in the process. Last season, Grayson and all right-thinking Leeds fans wanted players like Jack Cork, Aron Gunnarson, Paul McKenna or Jonathan Greening. Go for someone like that if you really think the problem is a defensive midfielder even though that was far more of a problem last season and the one before. Not Alan chuffing Smith. He's playing in division three for a reason. It's irrelevant that he waived that fee. A token gesture to make us not hate him for doing something loathsome.
I beg to differ. The first statement in 2004 by Lorimer was a bald lie, or carefully chosen words at best. Smith took advice on what was the best for the club, and it broke his heart as a Leeds fan to go to scum. He did it for the club, make no mistake. I personally spoke with two very close family members to determine this. The whole extended family was mortified. His cousins were promised a new shirt of the club that 'Uncle Alan' was going to in advance of the transfer. This was changed to an england shirt when it finally became apparent where he was going. He was only 'happy' to move as it suited the club. You will not get a source closer to Smith than mine unless you spoke to him or his parents. So stop this nonsense once & for all. He made the sacrifice for the club, and the club alone. But I still don't want him here - but purely for footballing reasons. Basically, he's past it.
Good post. I can understand the injury point of view, I would only offer a very basic salary with appearance and promotion bonus. To be honest I doubt he would accept it anyway, as if you got 60k for doing nothing would you be interested in 4/5k for hard work? If we could tie him into the academy it would only help bring the kids through.
List of charges: Said there was only one club he'd never go to, them, and spectacularly U-turned. Kissed the Leeds badge repeatedly, a sign of loyalty. Whether he was 'forced' or not, he still bigged the scum up in public and was clearly loving it every time he scored for them. Said "this is the club I wanted to come to" off his own back. Refused to play for Leeds once we were relegated: "I'm not a Championship footballer". And we're meant to believe he was all 'side before self' once the name 'Man United' got mentioned? Flicked the Vs at Leeds fans. Threw a bottle at Leeds fans at Elland Road, hitting a young lass. If Lorimer had been lying about his preferred destination, the agent could have sued him. Said they were "the biggest football club in the world". Doesn't sound like he's Leeds to me in the slightest. "The fans want what is best for their club, and me moving on is not going to help Leeds, unfortunately, but it is going to help Alan Smith," Smith said Monday. "I have to think about my own career now." Mercenary.
I'm saying no more on Smith's history. I know what happened. You think you know, and have been judge & jury. We will never agree.
