can Alan Smith play for england in Euro 2004?

[Sky]

do u guys think eriksson will include alan smith in the final squad for euro 2004?

also, do u guys think that he should get a chance to play in euro 2004?

personally, not because I'm a fan of smith, but i really think that its worth including him in the squad and use him as a back up for owen and heskey..

and what are some possible teams that smith will go to if the leeds are relegated this season?

[sendorange]

I imagine he'll only take 4 strikers, Owen-Rooney-Heskey-Vassell with Dyer also in the squad. Smith will get in I think if there is an injury to Heskey (please god) or Rooney.

I rate him very highly as he has something of everything, pace, skill, strength and 110% aggression. He never gives up.

If Leeds go down Newcastle have been after him for months and already bid for him in the last transfer window. If they get the Champions League spot I would say it's definite.

[mellon002]

If Smith plays half as hard for the English National team as he's played for Leeds this season, you guys have a great striker. He's the definition of grit and determination. I think he's earned a spot on the team with his play in the Premiership this year.

[Scene]

i have to disagree, Alan Smith, in my opinion, is overrated. His disciplinary record is poor and he isnt a '20 goals a season' striker. His inclusion in a England Euro 2004 squad would be a waste of a place that would be better served by someone more skilful such as Defoe or Vassell.

should Leeds be relegated i predict he will either go to Newcastle or Middlesborough

[Retribution03]

I am in agreement with the others Smith should go to Portugal his commitment is second to none and given the right service and back up he would be a 20 goal a season player.

[CelticOnFire]

I think he should get on beucase he is a player who give all effort, but he cant get stupid cards.

[TravisMinor_23]

i have to disagree, Alan Smith, in my opinion, is overrated. His disciplinary record is poor and he isnt a '20 goals a season' striker. His inclusion in a England Euro 2004 squad would be a waste of a place that would be better served by someone more skilful such as Defoe or Vassell.

And Vassell has been SUCH a prolific scorer in the EPL. Right. Smith is a different kind of player and has done what he has done without much support around him in the recent years. He is still very young but he gives his all for Leeds, no doubt about that. I'd take him before Heskey (I don't think anyone understand's Sven's liking of him), Vassell, or Defoe. If I were in charge it would be Owen-Rooney-Defoe-Smith. But perhaps there is a reason the English FA hasn't been in contact with me....

[14charlie]

I personnaly think that Alan Smith is an excellent player. He should be included in the England Squad for Euro2004 because he gives his all in every game. I support Leeds United and go to watch them most weeks, he stands out a lot, he is determined and he has the will to win. I think that these qualities would be valuable for England to have any chance of succeding in Euro2004. As for scoring goals I agree he isnt prolific, but he does score vital goals for Leeds and spends a lot of the game fighting for the ball in the middle of the park.

I am not a fan of Emile Heskey but I think he (heskey) wud still be included in the squad, as for Vassell he hasnt exactly scored too many goals himself for Aston Villa this season.

I think it will be a close call for Sven to pick the four strikers he wants to play in Portugal, with Owen and Rooney first choice, closely followed by either Smith, Vassell, Heskey or Defoe.

[forza inter]

smith has a good shot at makin the squad i'd say. i mean it will be close, but id like to see him on the roster. hes got what england needs to score goals, and is a great alternative to any of the other strikers. his good qualities have already been listed above. i have never ever liked heskey or seen his wirth on club or country level at all. but i suppose every team needs a target foward, whatever. owen is a no brainer, but he NEEDS to score. rooney and smith are neck and neck in my mind. vassel i have not seen enough of to offer an opinion but have heard really good things about him. smith has his work cut out for him, the competition is high, i think he can earn a spot of he wants it bad enough. sven is full of surprises yet.






forza inter

[jj15]

I personnaly think that Alan Smith is an excellent player. He should be included in the England Squad for Euro2004 because he gives his all in every game. I support Leeds United and go to watch them most weeks, he stands out a lot, he is determined and he has the will to win. I think that these qualities would be valuable for England to have any chance of succeding in Euro2004. As for scoring goals I agree he isnt prolific, but he does score vital goals for Leeds and spends a lot of the game fighting for the ball in the middle of the park.

I am not a fan of Emile Heskey but I think he (heskey) wud still be included in the squad, as for Vassell he hasnt exactly scored too many goals himself for Aston Villa this season.

I think it will be a close call for Sven to pick the four strikers he wants to play in Portugal, with Owen and Rooney first choice, closely followed by either Smith, Vassell, Heskey or Defoe.

You don't need your striker to be fighting for the ball in the middle of the park, that's what the midfielders are for. In my opinion smith does not have enough quality to play for england. Heskey's poor goal scoring record speaks for itself (40 caps 5 goals) and he should be dropped from the team altogether. I feel along with owen and rooney, two of the following should go to euro 2004; beattie, phillips, vassell or defoe.

[14charlie]

I feel along with owen and rooney, two of the following should go to euro 2004; beattie, phillips, vassell or defoe.

Beattie has had an awful season, he has been on the bench half the time!
I think that Philips is a good player but often lacks confidence, which causes him to be inconsistent. Sven wont pick either Beattie or Philips for Euro 2004, he hasnt used them much in his friendlies.

[Mobile]

I'd take him before Heskey (I don't think anyone understand's Sven's liking of him)

On the contrary, plenty of people understand Sven's liking of him. What I don't understand is why so many people slag him off at the drop of a hat.

OK, that's a lie, I do understand. It's because unfortunately there are plenty of people who have a very superficial understanding of the game, who completely fail to recognise the role Heskey plays for the team, and who criticise him as a kind of knee-jerk reaction because they feel safe doing so.

[sendorange]

Hesky is an effective but limited player, all he has is his power up front and some pace to go with it. On his good days he uses it to good effect, holding up the ball, drawing in defenders, forcing them to push up and creating space, which suits England with our smaller and faster players like Owen and Vassell who will use that space, and it helps our midfield to get forward and in on goal. So I do respect that he gives Sven a tactical option which is important, if not particularly glamorous.

But the lack of goal threat and his bad days when he seems to amble around the place are hard to take. I think Euro 2004 will be the last tournament we'll see him at, he'll deserve to be there because he's never let Sven down when called upon. It was Heskey up front for key games like Germany in Munich, Argentina in Sapparo and Turkey in Istanbul, and he contributed well in all of them. After this tournament I expect some of the other forwards will displace him, I don't think I'll miss him.

[Sean_Kelly123]

The only problem is that he has had a Red card and i think he'll get one again.

[Mobile]

Hesky is an effective but limited player, all he has is his power up front and some pace to go with it. On his good days he uses it to good effect, holding up the ball, drawing in defenders, forcing them to push up and creating space, which suits England with our smaller and faster players like Owen and Vassell who will use that space, and it helps our midfield to get forward and in on goal. So I do respect that he gives Sven a tactical option which is important, if not particularly glamorous.

But the lack of goal threat and his bad days when he seems to amble around the place are hard to take. I think Euro 2004 will be the last tournament we'll see him at, he'll deserve to be there because he's never let Sven down when called upon. It was Heskey up front for key games like Germany in Munich, Argentina in Sapparo and Turkey in Istanbul, and he contributed well in all of them. After this tournament I expect some of the other forwards will displace him, I don't think I'll miss him.

Spot on, I agree with that. I would also say that he sometimes displays the ability to run at opponents and really terrify them, but that he rarely seems to use this to its full potential.

He seems to be a real 'confidence' player as well. I remember during the World Cup when Martin O'Neill was on the BBC as a pundit and they were talking about Heskey playing on the left of midfield. O'Neill said something like "Of course he has the attributes to play there but at the moment there's no point playing him there because he has convinced himself that he can't play there." I thought that was very revealing.

I agree that he can be a hugely frustrating player at times but it gets on my nerves when people slag him off purely because they have heard lots of other people doing it.

[Scene]

And Vassell has been SUCH a prolific scorer in the EPL. Right. Smith is a different kind of player and has done what he has done without much support around him in the recent years. He is still very young but he gives his all for Leeds, no doubt about that. I'd take him before Heskey (I don't think anyone understand's Sven's liking of him), Vassell, or Defoe. If I were in charge it would be Owen-Rooney-Defoe-Smith. But perhaps there is a reason the English FA hasn't been in contact with me....

sorry mate but vassell is a better player than alan smith and this time next season when leeds are in the nationwide, alan smith will goto a team like newcastle, possibly even man u and hardly figure.this is because at leeds he is the main man at a rapidly deteriorating club. he will struggle at another club to live up to his reputation.
vassell is a better player than alan smith , but maybe im biased cos im a diehard holte ender and leeds are going down - (hur hur) :p
alan smith is not good enough for england. period.

[When Hell Unfreezes]

sorry mate but vassell is a better player than alan smith

Complete bollox - every aspect of Smith's game is superior to Vassell, control, heading, shooting, reading the game, commitment, teamwork et al!

Having said that, I think it is unlikely SGE will take him to Portugal, because his ideal place is in the slot behind the front 2, which is owned by the ginger midget! If Scholes were injured I think Svenski will just rotate the diamond and put Gerrard at the point and Butt (god forbid) at the base!

Alan Smith is a great player and rumour had it that he would go to Rangers, but I understand from my Sweaty friends, they are strapped for cash - now if SAF sells RVN to Barca or Real, MU could come into the reckoning! :confused: