Tommy Smith (Auckland FC | A-League)

Would surprise me as well, he still has a future in the UK at a higher level and $$$ than the MLS.

Out of interest - what would the respective amounts of money could he presently earn:

Staying at Ipswich?

Moving to another Championship club?

Moving to Colorado Rapids?

Moving to the Phoenix as a marquee?

Doesn't seem like his club really knows anythign about it from that comment. https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-game/...

No but its not a ringing endorsement, they are basically telling him to go for it

Average championship wage (2016) is about £6k per week. He signed a new deal in 2016 so imagine it would've been relatively lucrative. 

MLS wages are about $6k US - so to pound that's about £4.5k pw.

A league average is about $2k AU from memory (marquee's are more). 

He's 27 now so technically the 'prime' for a defender - if he moved to another championship club, it'd need to be someone a bit richer (Ipswsich are fairly poor in comparison to others - ie Boro, Fulham, Wolves, Hull, Wednesday etc). 

Thanks, you'd think he'd be better off staying in the Championship wouldn't you [if he could get a job there].He possibly hasn't had much of a look around given that he re-signed within the last 18 months.

I would think the MLS would be way less gruelling than the Championship (warmer, less games possibly easier?).

I'd expect it's a bit too early to think about this in his career though.

With recurring injury issues a change to a less intensive league makes sense. Also makes sense to go to a manager that you knows likes you and will play you.

MLS is a definite step down though

Yeah but if he's on similar money, in a nicer part of the world and he's not getting injured to shark every season it's gotta be worth it right?  

Have you seen Denver in winter?  TBH about the same as Ipswich in summer  lol

Mick McCarthy confirms Smith will be leaving Ipswich:

MM: “I think that will be our business over for this window. Tommy Smith will be moving on, though. It’s a great opportunity for him.”

— Ipswich Town FC (@Official_ITFC) January 20, 2018

Yeah but the MLS is a summer league, and all the Kiwis over there can avoid the worst of the US winter weather by having a nice Xmas holiday at home in NZ. 

Of course doesn’t apply to Tommy much as hasn’t lived in NZ basically since birth. Maybe he’s a keen skier or Glenn Campbell fan. Or maybe just stale after 10 plus seasons in the UK, and needs a fresh challenge.

Tommy Smith wasn't born in NZ, he lived here in his youth before the family returned to England

Yes, but he'd be in California half the time for away games, and also Vancouver which is a lovely city. Damn sight nicer than Hull or Blackburn

All Whites defender Tommy Smith rejoins Anthony Hudson at MLS club Colorado Rapids

I know this is probably on the wrong thread, but I thought Tommy supposedly didn't like Hudson so kept being unavailable for international games. Added to this 2 other players and 2 coaches who have also gone there. At what point are we saying that the obvious problem are NZF?

You were saying

I must say when news broke out a few weeks ago I was more than skeptical about Smif joining Anfony in the States. Well, it has happened!

Other way around, Hudson felt he wasn't committed to the team as much as he should be and so said without an attitude change Smith wouldn't get selected. Smith apologised and re-affirmed his commitment.

I am rarely wrong when it comes to logic but on this occasion I was indeed incorrect. 

Notice however you didn't question it at the time of the post.

I do however think there is a more to this then meets the eye.

Unless you are an ex premier league star, you don't drop from the championship, which is the fifth highest paying league in the world to the MLS for wages and my experience smith always looks after number one,

I would hazard a guess, that Smith is in fact crooked and will figure little in his first year and this is the reason for his move.

Denver is such a dry unpleasant climate. Extremely hard when you consider the altitude as well.

Also, you are a lawyer

Dammit... this probably makes the tractor tards better

American sports are big on medicals & fitness - so doubt a crocked Smith would be signed up.

Money ain't everything. Maybe Colorado have also secured some extra cash/opportunities off the pitch, for him. Like taking his football academy stateside??

Could be a whole myriad of reasons, why he has reunited with Hudson.

Stale after 13 years at Ipswich (signed as 14 yr old). It's unusual now to spend that much time at one club. I'm be bored if I ever lasted that time at one job.

MLS has less games (and virtually no mid week games) so less taxing on his injury prone body. He can now have a proper pre season, with league still few months away from starting. He would have had a limited pre season with Ipswich last year - due to Confeds Cup involvement.

Like a lot of other AWs he actually enjoys & rates Hudson as a coach. Sure Hudson shamed him (and rightly) and dropped him for Nth American tour, when he made himself unavailable for PNG, but Smith reached out, apologised and after that was an AWs regular.

And just the challenge of having to prove himself from scratch at a new club & in a new league.

.

Shows a level of maturity and professionalism by both Smith and Hudson on this one methinks.

And you have underworld connections - perhaps you two should touch base with each other.

Also, the lifestyle that Colorado is pretty great.

Maybe Tommy likes a naughty cigarette now and then

I think you've nailed it. He probably took a pay cut of some sort, but money may not be an issue for him. I'm sure he's done well until now and if he's saved/invested wisely, he may not need to be chasing dollars anymore.

MLS will be an easier competition where he could be one of the top defenders - at his age, who's to say he won't use that to move on to stronger teams and get a chance of getting some silverware?

Has Tommy won any silverware at all, that could be a huge motivator?  

When the AWs have won the Confeds, he's not been a part of it and Ipswich haven't done much of note in recent years either

^ Not according to transfermarkt - so that may have played a part. Must be pretty disheartening to play for 20+ years as a pro without winning anything. Mind you, many players go through that and becoming a pro is already defying the odds big time, but while on you're on that roller coaster you might as well try and win something.

Didn't even win the OFC nations cup either.

Rapids are hardly a strong MLS side. Also, I have heard the coach is pretty mediocre.

It's true, it's true, Ljubo Milicevic used to drive my tractor.

Hammer, finger more like it

If you asked any kiwi in the MLS where they would rather be for a challenge, championship or MLS then they would all say England.

And if anyone thinks Tommy Smith is going to take a pay cut unless there is another reason they are dreaming

Ipswich have as much a chance of being promoted to the premiership in the next two years as Hudsons mob have of winning anything

As for lifestyle, I bet our tommy once he finishes up will choose east anglia over NZ.

He already said in the signing announcement that he would be moving back to Ipswich, so you won't be making anything in that bet. Not sure the relevance of that to anything though, he's lived there half his life. It's not unexpected.

Smith was on the outer at Ipswich, we don't know the details of his contract. There's not really any reason to take the most pessimistic view possible like you are.

Good music scene in Denver, if that rocks his boat. Lumineers are a great band based there. I’m sure Anthony has already found a favourite smoky bar and dog friendly park.

https://www.coloradorapids.com/post/2018/01/25/tommy-smith-vic-lombardi-show-altitude-950-january-25-2018-0