Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Beattie: Smith Deal a Boost for Town
Thursday, 23rd May 2013 21:20

Town’s greatest ever defender Kevin Beattie says fellow centre-half Tommy Smith extending his Blues contract until the summer of 2016 is a huge boost for everyone at Portman Road. Beattie has always been a fan of the New Zealand international, who deservedly carried off most of the club’s 2012/13 player of the year awards.

Legend-in-residence on Radio Suffolk’s Life’s a Pitch, Beattie regularly expressed his surprise at Smith’s lack of inclusion under previous managers.

He told TWTD: “I’m a big fan of Tommy’s, as a defender myself. He’s got better and better, he really has. He should have been playing under Roy Keane and Paul Jewell.

“When we used to walk out of the pressroom and see Tommy going into the directors’ box I used to ask why he wasn’t even on the bench. I couldn’t understand that because you could see the lad had potential.”

Former England man Beattie believes Smith has benefited from having another central defender as his current boss: “Mick McCarthy’s come along, obviously an ex-centre-half himself, and I knew he’d bring that potential out of him.

“I’ve heard people talking about him in the pressroom and in places like that in the past and they weren’t too keen, but I said he was going to be good, and he’s proved me right.”

Having formed a famous partnership with Allan Hunter during his time at Town, Beattie knows the importance of a settled central defensive pairing and he believes that that’s been another significant factor in Smith’s progress this season.

“With him and Luke Chambers, they’ve got a platform to build the team on,” he said. “That’s what it’s all about, keeping the same squad and building on it. If you get a regular partnership things start to work, as it did with me and Big Al.”

At 23, Beattie believes Smith can only get better and views him as a Town skipper in the years to come: “He’s had a fabulous season, he’s Player of the Year, he can’t go downhill because it’s all about confidence and he’s now got that confidence, he really has.

“He’s a future captain, without a doubt. He is a leader and he’s already captained his country. That proves to me that he can do that with his club.”

The 59-year-old says Smith putting pen to paper will lift everyone connected with Town: “I’m chuffed to pieces as he only had a year left and he’s signed for another two on top of that, which is fabulous.

“It’s good for the club, it’s great for the supporters especially. Tommy wouldn’t have got Player of the Year if he was a bad player and he really has stepped up this year.

“I went to the end of season do and I was speaking to his mum and dad and they thanked me for the words that I said about Tommy. But I was only telling the truth.

“He’s become a man now. He’s grown up and he’s got the confidence now and let’s hope that goes on and on.

“I know for a fact that there have been clubs sniffing because you see scouts there. He’s now signed that deal which proves he wants to play for us, which is fantastic. It’s such a boost.”

On Saturday, Beattie is handing out the trophies at a game being played to raise funds for multiple sclerosis charities at Colchester’s Weston Homes Community Stadium (KO noon).


Photo: Action Images



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.



hatch added 21:40 - May 23
I'm going to get slaughtered for this but Beattie seems happy to sing his own praises - "I said he was going to be good, and he's proved me right." and "they thanked me for the words that I said about Tommy".

Met the Beat before though I know he's one of the most genuinely nice guys - but just a little something I noticed.
0

arc added 21:45 - May 23
Maybe Kevin can teach Tommy to shoot like him. That would be nice.
0

warwickblue added 21:56 - May 23
mmmmm! Not slaughtered Hatch but probably just ignored for one of the most pointless posts I've ever seen. Moving on.................
0

Bobby_Bell added 21:57 - May 23
Maybe he could also teach Tommy to head, pass , tackle and run like him!
0

Mark added 22:11 - May 23
It is very good news about Tommy signing the contract. Clearly, one of ITFC's failures over recent years has been allowing players to continue into the final year of their contracts and then leave at the end on free transfers. We can't let key players do that any longer, we have to sign them up or sell them to reinvest.
0

Steve_M added 22:22 - May 23
I agree with you 100%
0

Mr_Evans added 22:34 - May 23
Tommy must start well next season, the last two years he has started very poorly but finished the season strong. Big year for him next season!!
0

Beattiesballbag added 22:37 - May 23
What a sad world you live in Hatch!
The reason he's saying it is because he's so pleased that finally some talent hasn't been wasted , like the two clowns before MM seemed to be able to do all to easily .
0

ArnieM added 23:15 - May 23
Good on yer Tommy! Itfc should build the teamatound you nd chambers !

The Town are going UP!
0

Len_Brennan added 02:08 - May 24
Tommy has always had the ability/potential, but the reason he did so well this season is because he had the right type of player alongside him & they were able to develop as a partnership. Consistency came from confidence & Chambers provided a balance for Tommy that he never had before. How can you play with any assurance if you are uncertain as to what the player beside is going to do or if you are both going or the same ball? Mick & TC's coaching did the rest.
We still need to sign another decent centre half & hopefully convince Stearman to join on reduced wages, but for the first time in years we are going into a new season with the defence not being a shambles.
0

lonelyblue added 06:06 - May 24
I was thinking what a tremendous boost it must be for tommy to hear such kind praise from KB. So was a bit disappointed to see anyone putting any kind of negative spin on this story. It's easy to carp, but sometimes a bit of simple, pure praise, a "well done" is really good for morale and should not be underestimated. Well done Kevin and well done Tommy.
0

Duncan added 07:14 - May 24
More and more optimism for next season! Can't come round quick enough
0

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 07:42 - May 24
Great news! Especially so as Tommy is "one of our own," and this builds up the general sense of belonging again at our club, which has been sadly rather lacking since the Burley/Royle/Magilton eras. While MM is not going to get all his targets because of financial restraints, I wouldn't mind betting there was quite a strong MM factor at work here. Players have faith and want to be a part of the future. Let's hope it works. COYB.
0

gypo added 07:49 - May 24
I agree need stearman then we'll have a player who can cover right back and central defence.
0

CavendishBlue added 08:25 - May 24
When I was made redundant 21 years ago, I took a temporary job delivering yellow pages to each household.

Understandibly I was at an all time low having only just married and bought a house with a humoungous interest payment.

All things were quickly put into perspective when, handing down the bundles of directories to me from the back of the lorry , was none other than , as he would lovingly put it, 'yours truly' , the legend himself.
0

BillBlue added 09:04 - May 24
Sorry Hatch. Your comment is telling us a lot about you but nothing about KB who most Town supporters know and respect as a very ordinary type of guy, note Cavendish's comment. Just think of the effect of his comments on young Tommy Smith and how boosting it must be for a legend of KB's stature to say them, think of the effect they would have on you.
0

Wickets added 09:06 - May 24
Anyone who saw The Beat play both for Town and for England will tell you hatch there could never be enough praise for him, true legend.
0

theobald1985 added 11:44 - May 24
i think the beat has the right to say i told you so to those who did not believe in tommy.
he is spot on about keeping a settled side with minimal change and developing strong relationships on the pitch.
the more you know and trust the person in front and beside you the better
0

JewellintheTown added 13:22 - May 24
The Beats hair has its own legendary status. Very King Charles regal. Tommy, take note.
0


You need to login in order to post your comments

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© TWTD 1995-2024