I am very pleased that Alan Smith has signed for us because I believe the boy has a great future in the game. But it’s a move that has raised a few eyebrows on both sides of the Pennines.
Should it matter that he is from Leeds? Should it heck. You play to become the best and try and reach the top. Your allegiances, or a matter of geography should not stand in the way of achieving that. And for that reason Alan Smith has to be respected for making the decision to come to Manchester United.
It is a career move, not one of emotion. And if he displays the characteristics he showed at Leeds – the passion, grit, determination and good football ability – then I am sure United fans will take to him. They are all qualities that football fans, and United fans in particular, admire. Smith epitomises those qualities.
He’s very fiery but he is a good talent. He just never stops working. I spoke with Eddie Grey when we last played Leeds and he said to watch this boy because he is going to make it really big. I think he is. He is well thought of by the people at Leeds, but they had to sell him because of circumstances. As a talent, he is well worth having. He is young and it is all building for the future. We’ve needed to strengthen in that position, and in signing Saha in January and Smith now, we’re doing that.
We love the game and we love our clubs. But you are always looking to improve and he is certainly improving by moving to Manchester United. A lot of fans, not our fans I must say, can be stupid about these things. United fans are better than that. Over the years, I think it is fifteen players that have played for both Manchester United and Leeds. That’s a lot of players. This is just another player that has played for both clubs.
As fans you support the team and the players who play for that team; he is now one of our players and we will treat him that way and support him as a United player. No question about it.
" Should it matter that Alan Smith is from Leeds? Should it heck."
Wilf McGuinness
Interview: Reds new boy Alan Smith
To those fans who are unsure about this transfer, I would say, let’s just wait and see. Look at Cantona. He played for Leeds and look what he did when he came to us. Nobody would have predicted he would have had the impact he had on Manchester United.
It doesn’t matter where he is born, who he has played for. It is like any other player, he will be judged on what he does on the pitch. He is a talent, and now he plays for Manchester United. That is all that counts.
This move does everybody good; we get a good player, he gets a move to a bigger club, and Leeds get some much-needed cash.
He gives us options up front now. There is a lot of variety in our attack, lots of bite, pace, power and plenty of goals. That has got to be a good thing. He is such a passionate footballer. Sometimes he has gone over the top in the past, but players we have had down the years have had similar such attributes.
Smith is still only a youngster, he’s got good experience for his age but he still has plenty of time to improve and to blossom into a very good player indeed.
With another player or two to come in to the squad it could be a really good season for us next time around. There is plenty of pressure and competition places. It’s difficult to say what the best eleven is at the moment. That competition is a good thing.
Another player that I would like to see sign for us, and this is probably a pertinent time to say this, is Steven Gerrard. He plays for one of our greatest rivals, but you show me a United fan who wouldn’t have Steven Gerrard at United.
Liverpool would try anything to stop him coming here, but it would be a great move for him, and certainly for us. In the Premiership, he is the number in that role. With Roy Keane getting that little bit older, he would be perfect and at the right age to come in and play alongside Roy and eventually take over from him.
There are plenty of reasons why it wouldn’t happen, but it would be wonderful to have him here.
It would be taking from another rival. But, it shouldn’t run that deep because then it becomes hysteria and a crazy mentality. You want passion and great support, but there is a line you shouldn’t cross.
As for other summer signings, if we got Gerrard that would do for me. The manager went for Ronaldinho last year, but with Ronaldo progressing so much this season, we possibly have a creative player, a midfield magician, already in the squad.
We need to be careful with him Ronaldo, though. You want to put too much pressure on his shoulders. You want him to just go out and enjoy it like he is doing. Mind you, having said that, he looks like he can handle the pressure
