Let's take Alan Smith at Leeds.
He stayed with that club while it was falling apart, and only left when he had absolutely no choice - the club had to sell him and it would have destroyed his career to have stayed. (OK, he ended up joining their big rivals but there wasn't really anyone else in England in for him).
He famously followed Olivier Dacourt in Leeds' contract negotiations, when it was becoming clear that the money was gone - Dacourt and his agent took ages negotiating terms, then Smith walked in, signed the contract and went straight back up. Apparently, his team-mates said "Why so quick?" - Smith touched his badge and said "I play for this".
That's genuine passion. I believe that. And Smith was a) A lifelong Leeds fan and b) A brilliant player for them. He earned the right to take on the role as the team's point of connection with the fans. Hughes really hasn't, I'm afraid. If it was Huckerby or Green or Drury - fair play.
Posted By: Ottosson Foxtrot on January 26th 2006 at 00:43:13
Message Thread
- Right, self-discipline time. (General Chat) - Ottosson Foxtrot, Jan 25, 23:09:15
- What have a I missed? (General Chat) - pants, Jan 26, 00:26:40
- what if he really does care? (General Chat) - SCC 26, Jan 26, 00:28:55
- You've answered your own question (General Chat) - pants, Jan 26, 00:38:40
- Let's take Alan Smith at Leeds. (General Chat) - Ottosson Foxtrot, Jan 26, 00:43:13
- Sorry mate but I don't agree with that in the slightest (General Chat) - pants, Jan 26, 01:06:01
- Hmm. Okay. (General Chat) - Ottosson Foxtrot, Jan 26, 01:14:37
- The liverpool thing starts from (General Chat) - pants, Jan 26, 01:28:20
- HaHa! (General Chat) - Ottosson Foxtrot, Jan 26, 01:32:01
- oh (General Chat) - pants, Jan 26, 01:36:36
- At least we can all laugh at Fergie's attempts to make him the next Roy Keane. (General Chat) - Ottosson Foxtrot, Jan 26, 01:39:57
- oh (General Chat) - pants, Jan 26, 01:36:36
- HaHa! (General Chat) - Ottosson Foxtrot, Jan 26, 01:32:01
- The liverpool thing starts from (General Chat) - pants, Jan 26, 01:28:20
- Hmm. Okay. (General Chat) - Ottosson Foxtrot, Jan 26, 01:14:37
- Sorry mate but I don't agree with that in the slightest (General Chat) - pants, Jan 26, 01:06:01
- Let's take Alan Smith at Leeds. (General Chat) - Ottosson Foxtrot, Jan 26, 00:43:13
- Perhaps I've been unfair - I stand by my point about how to earn respect, though. (General Chat) - Ottosson Foxtrot, Jan 26, 00:37:24
- I agree though (General Chat) - pants, Jan 26, 00:41:36
- lol (n/m) (General Chat) - SCC 26, Jan 26, 00:41:06
- Did you see it? (General Chat) - Ottosson Foxtrot, Jan 26, 00:45:00
- I saw the game, brown paper bag in polls office (General Chat) - pants, Jan 26, 00:58:07
- I'm going to put a tenner on Wigan beating Manure in the final. (n/m) (General Chat) - Mark_Knopfler, Jan 26, 01:04:21
- I saw the game, brown paper bag in polls office (General Chat) - pants, Jan 26, 00:58:07
- Did you see it? (General Chat) - Ottosson Foxtrot, Jan 26, 00:45:00
- You've answered your own question (General Chat) - pants, Jan 26, 00:38:40
- what if he really does care? (General Chat) - SCC 26, Jan 26, 00:28:55
- Pretentious f**k-haired t**t. lol (n/m) (General Chat) - theguru, Jan 25, 23:10:40
- Ade Akinbiyi? (n/m) (General Chat) - Pragmatist, Jan 25, 23:22:24
- what's his pretence? (n/m) (General Chat) - Tweedy, Jan 25, 23:30:25
- Is the right answer (n/m) (General Chat) - theguru, Jan 25, 23:24:10
- Is that your text number? (n/m) (General Chat) - Pragmatist, Jan 25, 23:25:48
- Ade Akinbiyi? (n/m) (General Chat) - Pragmatist, Jan 25, 23:22:24
- What have a I missed? (General Chat) - pants, Jan 26, 00:26:40
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