Alan Smith told he can leave Newcastle – Taylor bid confirmed.

Alan Smith

Alan Smith
Smith is free to leave.
Swansea City have confirmed that Newcastle have bid for their 22-year-old left-back Neil Taylor whilst Alan Smith has been told that he is free to find another club this summer.

Smith is one of the players that is still on a huge wage at Newcastle. That wouldn’t be a problem as such, if he justified it, but the fact is that he just doesn’t do enough on the pitch for Newcastle United these days. Good for the dressing room he may be, but £60,000-a-week for what is essentially a cheerleader is a lot of money.

That is not to be too down on Alan Smith of course. I don’t think many will argue that the lad has passion and is committed to the cause and he’s done his job at times when called upon. However, he just doesn’t have what it takes to cut it in the Premier League now. You can blame Alex Ferguson for that in my opinion as it was him who changed Alan Smith from the battering ram forward into a midfield battler.

Now it’s just a case of trying to find the lad another club. Realistically it’s going to be a tough ask as Smith can quite happily sit on his contract for the next two seasons knowing that any other club is unlikely to match what we are currently paying him.

I don’t think the end has come on bad terms. I just think that the realisation is there that Smith is only going to be a bit-part player at NUFC and has been told that if he wants more football then he’ll have to go elsewhere to find it. Not a bad thing in my eyes.

Meanwhile it would appear that Newcastle have indeed bid for Neil Taylor of Swansea, which will of course bring about lots more speculation regarding the future of Jose Enrique.

As ever, nothing has been confirmed by Newcastle, but Sky Sports have it as one of their top stories 🙄 and Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins, who by the way is going to take over from Ian Holloway and be the most annoying person on TV next season, had this to say:

“We have received a proposal from Newcastle regarding Neil. But the proposal has not been accepted or rejected at this stage.”

“We have received a number of enquiries from different clubs for Neil’s services and, like all bids we receive for any of our players, we will be talking it over with him when he returns from a break next week.”

“Neil is a player we brought to the club this season from the Conference with Wrexham with a view to him progressing and developing with us over a number of years. The last thing on our mind was to sell anyone over the summer.”

So bid lodged but that’s about it. Is this the end of Jose Enrique at Newcastle? Or are we finally getting the lad some backup? If it’s the former it’s not exactly the signal that I want to see coming out of St James’ Park.

What do you think of these two bits of news?

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

95 thoughts on “Alan Smith told he can leave Newcastle – Taylor bid confirmed.

  1. Good article toonsy but do we know if smith actually seeking new club or just speculation?

    im hoping the lad is back up he doesnt seem like a starter to me.

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  2. I hate all the negativity on here. I’m with the likes of Raffo and Andrew. We do stand a chance in getting Gervinho. Why shouldn’t we? Yes we finished 12th last year but there’s no reason to think we can’t be in the top 8 next year. The club may aim for a top ten finish but that doesn’t mean we aren’t going to aim higher. We boast players like Ben Arfa, Tiote, Coloccini and Gutierrez and we could be used as a stepping stone for a player such Gervinho who has great potential but has not yet played for a top team. Why us as a stepping stone you might ask, well if he comes here, he’ll be one of the main men in the team, will be playing in front of big crowds every other week and would have a chance to show how good he is. It doesn’t mean we will get him but for all those expecting Shane Long to sign, I suspect you lot will be getting someone better than him…!

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  3. I wonder if the club intend to try this ploy with Xisco aswell.
    Nice try to lower the wage bill, but not sure it will work.

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  4. With regards to the article, I’d be happy to see Smith go whilst I feel young Taylor would be signed as a back up whether Enrique stays or not. He is considered to be highly rated and at 1m, to get a promising left back who can challenge the first choice is a good move in my book.

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  5. I’ve said before Xisco’s got everything he wants, playing in Spain(on loan) but picking up an EPL salary, he probably wouldn’t want a permanent transfer with the paycut that would accompany it :mrgreen:

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  6. He’s still got 2 years left on his contract too Richie 👿
    Fuggin joke

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  7. Ahmed…you can’t really blame people because we won’t get most of the players we’re linked with, that’s a fact that has and will happen in every transfer window, add that to the fact that supporting NUFC is probably about 75% lows 25% highs(give or take 10%) 😉 …..me I’m a wait and see type and hope for a surprise or 2 😀

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  8. I would love him to stay but If Enrique is going to play with the same attitude that he did in the last couple of months of the season then it makes little sense keeping him, After his first couple of seasons at the club where he was w@nk he didnt seem to be that bothered about the lack of ambition but now hes done well in the fizzy and had a solid 3/4 of a season in the premiership he starts acting the prima donna… 🙄

    Ive only seen Taylor for about 30 seconds in the play offs before he was sent off, So i cant comment on the lad but Best and Williamson started near the bottom and have done pretty well for us…

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  9. BB….yep, why would he want to change, best of both worlds and ya can’t really blame the fella……..we should loan him to Hercules CF next season so at least I can go and barrack him 😆

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  10. What about barton though?

    I hate to say it but barton is replaceable;

    he owes us a hell of alot and whilst he has been arguably our best player but how much is loyalty worth we stuck with him when others laughed at us.

    We took abuse but maintained our faith in him and he has rewarded us …. but for one season. We dont know the situation but if he is demanding a lucrative contract he simply doesnt deserve it. He should realise that no matter how good he has been he has a lot to prove. I dont want to see him go but if he does we should try and get in someone similar with good passing ability and vision.
    Someone like tarrabt maybe? any other suggestions?

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  11. I’ve always loved Smith’s commitment and passion he has when he plays, bascially I love it when he snaps someone 😆

    But he’s on about 70k, he offers very little, good work from the club.

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  12. Liam…..apparently he’s offered to take a paycut but in return wants a longer contract(allegedly)

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  13. Don’t think we’re gonna get Neil Taylor tbh…. the Swansea Chairman probably made it public to start a bidding war.

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  14. Sunlounger – It depends on what Taylor is going to be signed for….. If it’s a Jose replacement I hope you’re right. If it’s a Jose backup/competition the fair do’s 😀

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  15. Looking on the bright side it could be a good week…

    Enrique signs extension, taylor signs as back up, cabaye made official on thursday.

    Progress…

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  16. Isn’t he the one with the “release clause” so surely you only have to offer that and so no bidding war?

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  17. Fecking typical. If anything happens Thurs or Fri I’m at work all day so can’t cover it 😕

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  18. ya… got a gut feeling that Jose will stay. He hasn’t made much noise regarding his contract situation and leaving. I guess that means he’s thinking of staying?

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  19. Out of interest, is there a link saying Smith has been told to find another club?

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  20. Richie nothing ‘offical’ but its in all the local papers, twitter and sky sports.

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  21. Andrew….”nothing ‘offical’ but its in all the local papers, twitter and sky sports”…….so he’ll be signing a contract extension some time soon then? 😆

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  22. Think Barton summed it up on his twitter a while back, club is going for cheaper and younger players to replace seasoned high earners – fair enough but a very risky strategy if the season starts turning to **** and we have no seasoned pros to take hold of the dressing room, feel this may come back to bite us on the ****

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  23. Surely Neil Taylor would be signed as back-up/ one for the future and not a direct replacement for Enrique. After looking him up I suddenly realised, oh yeah thats the player that got sent off in the play-off semi-final after about 40 seconds. 😕

    Plus wouldn’t it have been easier to sign him if they hadn’t been promoted. I saw some of their fans saying don’t sell him for £1M wait a few years and he’ll be worth £3M. Still a £3M player isn’t the same as an £8M player. 🙁 What happened to M’Benque.

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  24. He has a release clause for £1m so that’s all us or any other club would have to pay(if true) 😉

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  25. sunlounger
    Posted June 7, 2011 at 10:40 AM
    ‘Don’t think we’re gonna get Neil Taylor tbh…. the Swansea Chairman probably made it public to start a bidding war.’

    Their chairman is the total opposite of Ashley though, says everything to the press.

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  26. If they are considering the offer it means the fat man hasnt even met the £1m release clause… 🙄 😆

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  27. A few clubs could offer the million, and then it comes down to the players preference/wages offered etc.
    The player is on holiday till next week so dont expect to hear anything definite any time soon

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  28. “I wouldn’t worry about it, these clauses are not real……. I mean, take a look at Santa for instance” 😆

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  29. Is he even any good though? 😕

    I mean it’s only one season since he was playing for Wrexham in the CONFERENCE. He’s got 3 caps for Wales but thats nowt. (Unless it was at the expense of Gareth Bale :mrgreen: )

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  30. ffs Nolan wants a 5 yr extension 😯
    Nice try pal but you’ll not pull the wool over Cashley’s eyes so easily 😕

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  31. BB – Aye apparently Nolan started off with five years on the hope of getting four…….

    Even four is never going to happen. Can see why he wants it though, security and that, but we aren’t a pension fund for players anymore.

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  32. To be fair to NUFC, I think Nolan only has a maximum of another 2 years in him as an EPL player due to his lack of guile and mobility.
    So why offfer him another contract.

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  33. RE: Nolan, i think thats lazy journalism from sky sports they know that he was due to sign a couple of weeks ago and since then barton has turned down a extension so they have thought its been too silent for too long.

    I personally think nolan will wait and fight for the jersey next year. Cant see either of them signing but can see them staying.

    Cabaye could number nolans starting berth anyway if he performs

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  34. Does anyone think that Pardew is now looking to exercise his authority in the dressing room ❓

    Toonsy, possible future thread 😉

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  35. The whole Alan Smith transfer is up there with Michael Owens…a complete waste of time & money!

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  36. Agree witters 100% waste of space.
    Another fat sam special that bit the owners ***.
    Its no wonder he is reluctant to open the purse strings quite so easily.

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  37. Cue BSn9 with his we need to keep these players not replace them with cheaper, better ones lol 😆 😆

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  38. I think that if pardew is after pace; nolan barton and smith are the opitome of everything hes not looking for.

    But at the same time nolan and barton have experience and could be handy coming off the bench!

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  39. TGS

    Totally agree. I think thats a big reason why C.H got the boot. There was a faction of players in the dressing room who were making decisions about club matters and stuff!

    IMO there is the Manager and the players, (possible captain inbetween) that is the way it has to be it’s a football club not a friggin tea party. 😛

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  40. What the hell has Alan Smith brought to this club in 4 years ❓
    NOWT ❗ 👿

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  41. I think he’s a good lad & wouldn’t harbour the same feelings I have for Owen but there’s no room for sentiment…

    I just can’t believe he’s still got 2 years left…was that Fat Sam under Fat Fred or Fat Ash? I’d be tempted to offload & pay half his wages somewhere else…

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  42. I tell ye wot Pardew didn’t half give them a good rollicking at half time in the Arsenal game. :mrgreen: Thats what I like to see, wouldn’t see Poncy Hughton dee that.

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  43. DJG.
    The good thing from Pardew’s perspective is that the players responded.

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  44. Wasn’t it agreed under FFS but Ashley was duty bound to carry it through?

    Mind you, didn’t Ashley also used to wear a Smith 17 shirt? 😳

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  45. “we aren’t a pension fund for players anymore”

    Toonsy – you quoted me! I am duly honoured.. 😛

    Taylor signing: good thing; continuation of the strategy. But as backup, please – want Jose!

    Smith: Great bloke, but simply not worth the money, which is needed elsewhere. You can get several Taylors for what he costs us. I hope Toonsy’s right and it’s a mutually agreed thing; I’d hate to see him leave under a cloud after what he’s done.

    Let’s not forget that he’s universally credited (by those involved) with turning the team around after relegation. Top fella.

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  46. Jobey….seriously congrats, stick in with it or ya’ll end up on a blog all day when ya in ya 40’s, maybe older for TGS 😉 😆

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  47. That has me thinking, could some of the players not just be a bit cautious and slow to extend contracts because they want to see what the new manager does. We have had so much upheaval we are maybe forgetting that when a new manager comes into a club they don’t necessary have the same plans and the players might want to see what direction the squad is going under the new manager first, see if they trully are in the new managers plans ect. No-one has mentioned this and I think it’s maybe because we are so battered and now used to upheaval as if it were the norm. 😕

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  48. Good points Witters and TGS. Owen may have cost us a lot of money and not been ideal, but when he did play, had a good return on his goals and helped keep us up in the Keegan return season. After that, had managers that didn’t set the team to what Owen could do and then of course injured again and hardly played.

    Smith injured most of the time and brings lots of bookings, after getting booked makes it harder to get on with the game. Smith might seem a nice bloke, but has brought nothing to us, less than Owen only high wages. Nobody complains about Smith as they do Owen. Owen hasn’t helped himself with his twitter outburst, but who knows what Smith will do after he goes. Infact thinking about it, with the money back from the FA cos of Owen’s injury and Owens goals, he has no doubt cost us less than Smith over all.

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  49. i think cabaye is essentially replacement for smith but not nolan he is still the captain after all!

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  50. And before anybody says I’m sticking up for Owen, I do think we are better off without him, just thought its something we should think about when calling players

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  51. Simon….I think Owen gets more stick because he seemed not to be bothered or put in the effort, not something you can say about Smudger though imo.

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