Tommy Smith (Auckland FC | A-League)

Hes not coming regardless

Rumour about an international championship player on their way to rangers in the SPL. Wonder if its tommy. Out of contract

Though blackburns hanley strongly linked to there

I didn't know our Tommy was out of contract. Interesting. 

He'll get another contract, he's played his entire career there and is part of their leadership team. 

I suspect however loyalty is not his strong suit. I am sure that Ipswich would have offered him a new one some time ago. The fact he has let it run down to mine illustrates he wants to see what he is really worth and opportunities elsewhere.

Explains even more his shark attitude to NZ as he wouldn't want to dilute his value by explaining to his new team, oh my the way I am truly passionate and love playing for NZ, so please be aware of that if you sign me.

Would give him another excuse if he was changing teams. "I want to solidify my spot at xx club"

I wouldn't give him another game in a NZ shirt, I'd rather see someone with some desire for the national team playing regardless of ability

additionally I don't think he's likely to get signed to a side above championship level 

Agreed.  When Ipswich looked playoff bound I was willing to forgive him prioritizing that,but if he doesn't show now, he should never play for us again.

Well looks like Hudson has had enough. 

Fair enough too. F*ck off Tommy.

I'd always given him the benefit of the doubt - concentrating on his club career, trying to help get Ipswich promoted, only missing friendlies etc etc.

However obviously Hudson wanted a proper commitment, he couldn't give it, so sayonara Smith. Right call from the coach, he needed to set an example.

Glad he explained that Reid's situation is different, as NZ football fans we needed to know that.

Support Hudsons stance but at the same time If I am being honest should we make the south American play off it will take more than Winston Reid to get us through and I would take tommy back in a heart beat. In terms of quality outside of Reid no one comes close and I can't see anyone progressing at such a rate between now and the play offs. Only other alternative that is comparable would we Fitzgerald I think Themi is needed in midfield to badly. None the less it will be interesting to see if anyone can step up at CB between now and the play offs.

What I don't understand is how some players have no commitment to their national team. I know it's just the All Whites, but this is a chance to play in our confederation's version of the Euros, of the Copa America, with then a chance to qualify for the World Cup. Who would pass on that? 

I just looked him up and he only showed his interest to play for the All Whites after we qualified for the 2010 World Cup. If I was coach I'd only pick players who helped the team qualify for the World Cup. Fudge those that are only interested once we make it—that's the hardest part!

Because the All Whites don't pay his wages. Because the All Whites are run by a bunch of numpties. Because he can't be arsed. Lots of reasons.

Smith's links to NZ were only tenous at best, left NZ very young and both parents English. Think have that right.

Similar to Wee Mac, but the Glasgow boy plays his football in NZ and obviously feels more of a 'Kiwi'

Still like Link2588 I'd prefer to have Smith playing in the South America playoffs. For AWs to have any chance simply need best players. Esp away leg when will be backs to the wall stuff for 90 minutes and will need calm cool experienced heads

Hopefully some bridges can be mended in long run, even if he will never be popular with the fans and some team mates

he got what he wanted out of us. World Cup and Olympic. Either of which did he help qualify.

Wonder where Reid would be if we hadn't qualified for 2010. Playing for Denmark?

Well then simple: he never should have committed to international football in the first place. Why commit if he's just going to let us down? He's barely a New Zealander anyway tbh.

All I'm saying is that there are so many players out there that would proudly wear the All Whites shirt and that if you look at other footballers, some Kiwis some not, a lot of them that play international football have pride in the shirt and give their all each and every time they play for their national team. 

So goodbye Tommy Smith, and I hope Hudson doesn't backpedal and select him for the inter-confederation playoffs. Keep to your word and make an example out of him to other Kiwis who barely give a crap about international football. If you don't care, don't play.

Wow. Simplistic Explanations 101. Wonder if people would be saying the same thing if Ryan Nelsen had decided to stay away from the AWs post-2003 Confeds Cup/2004 ONC?

Maybe this is just the natural conclusion to a series of unfortunate events from both sides?

Think this will be the sequence of events that will allow our Tommy back into the fold.

The All Whites are a defensive shambles in Papua New Guinea and it is another Honeria. 

People question why the coach did not pick our only premier league defender who is good enough to earn 60 thousand quid a week, was fit enough to play and score the winner against Man United in a historic Hammers game and apparently had actually declared himself available for the All Whites.

No one including the coach can explain that decision and therefore he hands in his notice to upgrade his CV and go and study coaching under Jose Mourinho, who by this time has signed a certain Winston Reid from West Ham for Man U. After chatting to Winston at the end of a power point presentation the coach actually realises that Winston really wanted to play in Papua New Guinea and is truely passionate about New Zealand.

By this time Tommy has been released by Ipswich Town and is playing in the second division for Leyton Orient.

Desperate to get back into the shop window he outlines his passion for NZ in a one hour power point presentation streamed online.

The new NZ coach picks him as it is a choice between Tommy and some youngster who plays for Onehunga. Tommy and Winny keep a clean sheet in the two play off games against Brazil and Tommy nabs the winner.

Those matches are watched by millions as it is one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history and Tommy makes it into the Premiership being signed by West Ham.

At the odds of 5000 to 1, West Ham win the premiership just pipping Winston's Man U

Seems likely

How much fun was that to write?

Nothing would suprise me anymore. I think Tommy Smith will be a national hero in 8 years.

Things are so low at the moment you have to dream

Should probably lock or delete this thread, he's not a kiwi and doesn't want to play for the All Whites any longer.

Or living in a car

While no Smith apologist (I think his attitude/media handling stinks), I do see a lot of similarities between him and Ryan 10 years ago where he was always finding excuses to not turn up.  I do wonder why we have collectively let that period of Nelsen's career go but hang Smith out to dry?

I also wonder how many bridges NZF/Hudson/Herbert have burnt since 2010.... Smith?, Fitzgerald?, U23s/Olympics?, players in Scandinavia?, Durante?, James?....

Fully agree with you Martin.....don't feel like we know each other enough for me to call you 'Marto'....first date and all

You can add Durante and Sigmund to that list, I would wager.....and Moss potentially.....and van den Broek.....all of which, for me, points to glaring inadequacies at NZF (in particular the coaching staff) in regards to man-management.

It seems to me if you don't fit a pre-set template of attitude, then you are deemed to not be a team player, you wouldn't give it all for your comrades in the trenches, and you wouldn't give Richie a sly rusty trombone if it was deemed a matter of national importance (or even for jolly japes)

I can only go on my experience as a coach to a pretty decent level in a different sport (and I'm not saying that I was anywhere near national level here), but you have to realise that people/players are DIFFERENTLY motivated.

Yes, in an ideal world everyone would be pulling in what is colloquially called 'the same direction'. But that usually means 'everyone is doing what I tell them, and no back chat'.

You can get to the same end goal a variety of ways. In fact, the team is generally stronger if it's constituent components have different strengths.......a monochromatic side is easy to coach but it also easy to predict, easy to beat.

I, like many people here, am a team player. I'd probably fit into Anfonys brave new world....aside from the fitness part. But different people have different approaches.

I had one guy (an opening bowler/tail end hack) who wasn't bothered if the team won or lost, as long as he had a good game. Initially that took me aback, and I reacted negatively. But then you think "is that such a bad thing? If he is producing the goods, then it still leads to the end goal of the team doing well". And you learn how to make the most of his attitude, how to rev him up etc.....not cast him to one side just because he doesn't fit the coaching manual.

I would also bet that most of the AWs would love to play at the World Cup. Easy bet huh? Aside from the fact I'm not saying "most of the guys would love NZ to be at the World Cup". Different story. It would take a special player to say "I would love NZ to be at the World Cup, and I'm not fussed if I'm not there". What I'm getting at is that 90+% of players are selfishly motivated, and it's up to the coach/manager to blend that into a cohesive unit.

And if the guys don't get on with each other, so what? I'm a United fan, and I know Les Sealey was despised by his team mates. Didn't seem to stop him from winning an FA Cup and Euro CWC.....Peter Schmeichel was very unpopular in the changing room. He still went on to become possibly the greatest goalie of all time. Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham never spoke to each other - still had an effective partnership.

Was it Jock Stein that said something along the lines of "you don't have to like your players, you're not inviting them home for dinner"?

So yeah, it all seems to be that our coaches at NZF have a fairly one-dimensional approach to players......and maybe some players look at NZF, see a complete shambles, and think why am I flying 20,000km for this?

While we are bagging smith lets stop and remember durante only became a kiwi to get to a world cup. Is he there when we need him? Nope

Different in that he was told he was no longer in the picture so retired 

Untrue - durante made the call himself. Was to be picked in squad to face Myanmar last year. Hudson never said he wasnt in the picture

If Smith had just straight up retired from internationals I don't think we'd be (as) pissed off at him: it's the will he/won't he attitude that's annoying. 

Just shark or get off the pot Tommy.

Except Dura was there for qualification. Smith turned up after we had qualified.

Smith was offered a spot by Herbert - whose to say he waited till we qualified?

That's December 2009.

I can not think of one of our "Top Flight" players who haven't made themselves unavailable quite often over the years. Wynton, Ryan, Winston. it goes with the territory.

Not exclusive to our sport either.

Tommy makes his living and made his reputation in Ipswich not in Wellington. his career and life is based over there.

Surely establishing their professional career, developing earning opportunities must be any players first concern.

Reading Siggy's book, it does not sound as though players are particularly well looked after at times by NZF.

Wood? Rojas? I can't remember either of them missing games except through genuine injuries (as in, ones which last longer than international break). I could be wrong though

Could you expand on this part? Not disagreeing with you, would just like to have another reason to despise NZF.