Alan Smith - Newcastle Captain.

Under fire Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce has named Alan Smith as his new captain.

Smith was initially handed the skipper's armband for the 1-0 Boxing Day defeat to Wigan but Allardyce has confirmed that the appointment is a now permanent one.

The former Bolton manager, however, denies that his decision was motivated by Geremi's imminent departure to the African Cup of Nations, even if his tone suggested otherwise.

"We need to establish for a while somebody who can captain the side on a regular basis with the attitude, desire and commitment that Alan shows", Allardyce told Newcastle's official website.

Many will see the appointment, however, as a reaction to the teams latest booing off the pitch at the hands of the Toon Army following the disappointing loss at Wigan and Allardyce clearly hopes that Smith's ultra committed attitude to every game rubs off on some of the other players.

"I'd like all the players to be like that", scowled the coach.

Smith himself is delighted and determined to lead by example.

"It's a massive honour for myself," said the 27 year-old, who has surprisingly now been skipper at all three of his clubs, "wearing the armband gives you that extra lift...you are the focal point...you've got to make sure you're giving 100% week-in, week-out."

The Newcastle faithful will be hoping that it proves to be a catalyst to kick-start their season.


Great decision.

Should have been Barton.

Allardyce to be sacked within two months. Not so much for this decision, but for his latest PR attempts...

This could end in tears.

An insult to the club and fans.

Even Kimbol loves him now.

Parks lives wrote:Even Kimbol loves him now.

f@ck off.

Forget sacking him now its too late. I suggest the Toon Army stop supporting Newcastle United FC and make a new club called Newcastle FC. All the fans just change allegiances after a day, try and buy/rent St. James' park or another nearby stadium. Just start again.

johan the baptist wrote:This could end in tears.

If he get's past the FA Cup third round he'll have done well.

There are overrated, hyped up players. The same is true with some coaches-managers. Fat Sam is NO coach, this imbecile is one overrated coach, but many believed he was a good one before the season began even though I told them Fat Sam is SHITE, ain't that right Kimbo!

Fat Sam's biggest problem is that he's not flexible at all. His ultra-conservative tendencies don't allow him to see that there may be better alternatives. I for one don't blame the guy for he's old school Victorian times in person, as conservative as they come. Kicking the shite out of the football and running after it, is the best football in the world in his old Victorian eyes.

Newcastle have talented players, but Fat Sam doesn't know jack about modern football. His "style of football" may do well in the Championship or in a club with no title aspirations. However, Fat Sam's way falls very short where a much different/modern style of football is NEEDED for a sustained challenge for honors. He just blamed the whole team, but himself. Fat Ass has lost the plot. Get that overrated piece of shite out of Newcastle immediately!

There's Van Gaal who may be available. I think his time at Dutch AZ is up. Van Gaal can sort things out for Newcastle. There's also Martin Jol who can take Newcastle to the Promised Land as well.

Well i have gone from being a big fan of Sam to thinking he is an utter muppet. Smith has had one good game ffs, and he drops the top scorer for him even though he hasnt scored in over 7 months. And now he's the captain for showing effort and commitment? is this muppet language for showing nothing positive with the ball but getting booked for wreckless tackles

Puro, I'm not going to say Sam is a bad coach because of what he did at Bolton. But yes he has been a big let down with us. This ranks up there with "Milner isn't a right winger. lets put that to bed" and "The problem with N'Zogbia is i don't know what his best position is, is it left back or left wing".

Ouch

Merry Krimbo wrote:Puro, I'm not going to say Sam is a bad coach because of what he did at Bolton. But yes he has been a big let down with us. This ranks up there with "Milner isn't a right winger. lets put that to bed" and "The problem with N'Zogbia is i don't know what his best position is, is it left back or left wing".

Fat Sam wants to turn you into Bolton. I've heard he wants to sign Ben Haim too.

That has to be shocking to all you Geordies, the last straw. You Geordies want to crack the top 4, you have the stadium, the fans, most importantly the money, and Fat Sam wants to move Bolton to Newcastle.

This is really unbelievable stuff. Smith has, undoubtedly, been our worst player this season. He has turned in some of the most useless performances Ive ever seen; he has no intelligence and at best runs about fouling people; even in his best games, against Blackburn and Arsenal, he was entirely ineffective, showing no instinct for goal, incapable of doing anything with the ball. I watched us against Derby less than a week ago along with a whole crowd of 50,000, all booing every substitution Allardyce made precisely because every substitution left Smith on the pitch. People around me who have been fans for fifty years loathe him already, and several were shouting down his every move, his every touch and foul.

Only a fool and a cheat would give Smith the captaincy. He shouldnt be near our first sixteen. Its a disgrace that Allardyce has, in this one day, blamed all our failings on the players then given the captaincy to the worst player of the lot. The latter action shows such a remarkable lack of sense and insight, whilst the former shows up what an arrogant, cheating, small minded manager Allardyce is - in tandem, these things show exactly why so many of our players seem to have no respect for Allardyce, seem unmotivated, seem to be going backwards on the pitch, look confused. I have no doubt that the Newcastle side Im watching at the moment is the worst Ive seen since I started supporting in 1992, and Allardyce is by far the most inept manager we have had - dour Dalglish, conceited and paranoid Gullit, a Glenn Roeder out of his depth - all had more sense and ideas than Allardyce has.

I dont actually think he will last long now - in terms of performances and attitude, he should have gone games ago; after today, his position is untenable as far as Im concerned; but whatever, its very hard for a chairman (who, after all, has his own eyes as well) to be surrounded by 3,000 sick fans all making their feelings known, and for the chairman not to act on this.

Newcastle go through manager's like Park Lives goes through hookers

I would get St James' exorcised. The place is obviously cursed and has become a graveyard for both managers' and players' reputations. Even St. Shay Given is beginning to succumb.

On 606 the talk seems to be for Shearer to be kicked into place, if only because everyone would be scared to fire him too soon.

It's all Bobby Robson's fault, if he had given Viana a chance, Newcastle would have the best Midfielder in the world right now.

Black Magic wrote:It's all Bobby Robson's fault, if he had given Viana a chance, Newcastle would have the best Midfielder in the world right now.

Was it Robson or Souness' fault?

TheCrazy58 wrote:

Black Magic wrote:It's all Bobby Robson's fault, if he had given Viana a chance, Newcastle would have the best Midfielder in the world right now.

Was it Robson or Souness' fault?

Robson, the Xenophobic bastard.

Black Magic wrote:It's all Bobby Robson's fault, if he had given Viana a chance, Newcastle would have the best Midfielder in the world right now.

I am a Portuguese but tell me you are joking about Viana


Smith=liability

Passion Grit Determination

EMPortuguese wrote:

Black Magic wrote:It's all Bobby Robson's fault, if he had given Viana a chance, Newcastle would have the best Midfielder in the world right now.

I am a Portuguese but tell me you are joking about Viana

Nope, he was as technically sound as you can get when he first came to England. He had so much potential. Robson had no faith though and left him on the bench. There he lost confidence and became unfit. I don't think he'll ever come close to fullfiling his potential, atleast he's getting back on the right track at Osasuna.

Black Magic wrote:

TheCrazy58 wrote:

Black Magic wrote:It's all Bobby Robson's fault, if he had given Viana a chance, Newcastle would have the best Midfielder in the world right now.

Was it Robson or Souness' fault?

Robson, the Xenophobic bastard.

The same xenophobic bastard who worked in Holland & Spain ?

Viana was simply too Slow and not tough enough for the Prem. The same would've happened to him in Serie & Germany.

The Prem isn't ready for no.10's who you can build the team around, we've only just started accepting the quarterbacks.

Honourable C*nt wrote:Passion Grit Determination

Darren Bent, £18m.

Black Magic wrote:It's all Bobby Robson's fault, if he had given Viana a chance, Newcastle would have the best Midfielder in the world right now.

Honourable C*nt wrote:

Black Magic wrote:

TheCrazy58 wrote:

Black Magic wrote:It's all Bobby Robson's fault, if he had given Viana a chance, Newcastle would have the best Midfielder in the world right now.

Was it Robson or Souness' fault?

Robson, the Xenophobic bastard.

The same xenophobic bastard who worked in Holland & Spain ?

Viana was simply too Slow and not tough enough for the Prem. The same would've happened to him in Serie & Germany.

The Prem isn't ready for no.10's who you can build the team around, we've only just started accepting the quarterbacks.

Mate, it was obvious he preferred the Engilsh players, apart from Olivier Bernard he packed all of the foreigners on the bench.

If you watch footage of him at Newcastle you'll see his technique and skill more then compensated for his physical short comings.

I think Bash would agree with me on this one.

Luso wrote:

Black Magic wrote:It's all Bobby Robson's fault, if he had given Viana a chance, Newcastle would have the best Midfielder in the world right now.

In hindsight it wasn't the best move for him, he just wasn't good enough to get in the team at the time and wasn't mentally strong enough to keep it going when not playing.

EMPortuguese wrote:

Black Magic wrote:It's all Bobby Robson's fault, if he had given Viana a chance, Newcastle would have the best Midfielder in the world right now.

I am a Portuguese but tell me you are joking about Viana


Smith=liability

You may be Portuguese, but you also think Nuno Gomes is better than Liedson.