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Smith Keen to Stay at Town
Smith Keen to Stay at Town
Thursday, 15th Mar 2012 15:32

Town defender Tommy Smith is adamant he wants to remain at Portman Road after his current contract expires in the summer.

But youth product Smith has admitted he has yet to receive an offer from the club and that the thought of moving on is at the back of his mind.

The Macclesfield-born New Zealand international has been ever-present in the last 12 games to prove his worth after a nightmare start to the season badly dented his confidence.

Smith, who has scored four goals in 60 senior appearances and will be 22 on the last day of March, said: “I haven’t spoken to the club about a new contract yet.

“I’m just concentrating on playing my football and doing as well as I can for Ipswich. I’d like to stay here. This was my first club and I’ve settled in the area, but it’s not down to me.”

Town have secured the services of veteran skipper Carlos Edwards until the end of next season and based on his recent performances it will be a major shock if they do not attempt to negotiate a fresh deal with the young defender.

Smith added: “It’s always in the back of your mind. As things stand I don’t know where I’m going to be playing next season.

“As I’ve always said, I’d love to stay and at the moment all I can do is concentrate on playing as well as I can and helping Ipswich to win games.”

Photo: Action Images


Photo: Action Images



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fourth added 17:38 - Mar 15
If Tommy Smith plays within a viable defence he will exell. He has been let down badly in the past by rubbish players/terribly vague management.
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bbkingsumday added 17:42 - Mar 15
For those who are so keen to rubbish Tommy you should remember he's only 21
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Garv added 17:49 - Mar 15
Have to remember as well Smith has been playing out of position, and no one has even noticed! That's credit to him.

KingChopra I do think the comparison to Ingimarsson is incredibly harsh!

Smith wins almost everything in the air, despite sometimes hesitating and letting the ball bounce (Leeds away), he can tackle well, very dangerous from set pieces and, a bonus I guess, clearly has passion and loves the club.
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Garv added 17:52 - Mar 15
Have to remember as well Smith has been playing out of position, and no one has even noticed! That's credit to him.

KingChopra I do think the comparison to Ingimarsson is incredibly harsh!

Smith wins almost everything in the air, despite sometimes hesitating and letting the ball bounce (Leeds away), he can tackle well, very dangerous from set pieces and, a bonus I guess, clearly has passion and loves the club.
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MickMillsTash added 17:53 - Mar 15
Given our track record of recruiting centre backs in the last year I am surprised he has not been offered something. Poses a real threat at set peices and has looked good in the last few games AND will be cheaper than recruiting established championship players (Delaney, Pearce, irish bloke from leicseter etc). Has to be worth another year at the minimum. Would be a shame if someone else took him before we offered something.


Now Edwards has signed it will be interesteing to see if he keeps the same level of performance of recent weeks
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billlm added 17:59 - Mar 15
id give him a 2yr contract as hes ipswich through and through but more importantly hes young has played at this level on and off for at least 2 yrs yes we need 2 quality cb,s other wise next season wont be to much different to this or last and i for 1 are getting impatient with the dithering with in this club infastructure is here need to show clubs were serious and open the cheque book again and we can live with any one in this division we will be very close next season maybe even there
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radiogaga added 18:03 - Mar 15
HALLSJ: Completely agree...

King Chopra: maybe you should start going to watch some games?? If you did, you would know that Smith has been excellent since he returned to the team in January. He has not only helped to significantly reduce our goals conceded tally, but he has also chipped in with goals. He has been one of our stand out performers during this good run of form we are on and I think he is fully deserving of a 2 year deal.

Also pleasing that we appear to have a group of players who are out of contract but (unlike last season) want to stay. Scotland, Edwards & Smith are really showing how much they want to wear the shirt. There are no bad/ greedy apples lingering around like Norris this year...
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CornardBlue added 18:04 - Mar 15
Tommy should be given new contract now, he has really worked hard at his game since coming back into team. He still makes a few mistakes but is still young and learning his trade.
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StowTractorBoy added 18:16 - Mar 15
I too had strong reservations about Smith at the start of the season and at Peterborough he was at his lowest ebb. Great credit to him for regaining his confidence and even though the junior member of the central defence he is the one playing out of position on the right hand side. He is still young and can score goals so to me this is a no brainer. Jewell does like to keep players hungry so would not be surpised if he was offered a one year deal with an option for a second. I would not be adverse to offering him a 2 year deal as I think there is still more to come from him.
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Mark added 18:16 - Mar 15
Remember that Magilton rated Smith so highly he started a season with him when he was only 18. Smith suffered an unfortunate injury and didn't regain his place permanently, but he had a good World Cup and over recent weeks has been good. He's still only 21 and won't cost a big wages, so it would seem sensible to sign him up.
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wideblue added 18:22 - Mar 15
Smith absolutely deserves a new contract. To have recovered from a torrid loan spell at Colchester and some poor performances early in the season shows the type of spirit and commitment we need to move forward. As others have said, he would benefit from being 'lead' by a CB partner he trusts - remember his World Cup performances?
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blue979 added 18:23 - Mar 15
good player,has off moments but always pulls through.
given him a 18 month deal with a clean sheet bonus.
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harlingblue added 18:35 - Mar 15
Should be offered a 2 year deal. We should get an experienced player to complement him. I can't understand this thing about right footed/left footed players? surely if well taught during their informative years, they should be good with both!
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buryblue77 added 18:39 - Mar 15
@KingChopra I always say people are entitled to their opinion after all that's what these sites are all about, it doesn't mean we have to agree with each other and I don't agree with yours. Smith is only 21, still learning the game and I think he's improved a lot over the last few months and seems quite solid, especially good in the air. The fact that you don't rate him is your opinion and whilst I don't agree with you it doesn't make you a muppet as you rightly say, it doesn't make you wrong and me right or vice versa. I do see where you're coming from, he did look a liability earlier in the season, but most of the team were at that point. The fact he's shown such a market improvement justifies a new contract in my view.
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Karlosfandangal added 18:46 - Mar 15
Story on the BBC web site about how Jewell feels it will be hard to hold on to Leadbitter pass this season as talks have stalled.
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Keaneish added 18:50 - Mar 15
I think the majority verdict on this forum to date for Tommy Smith is a pretty resounding one! Sign him up.
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oohaahstevepalmer added 18:56 - Mar 15
He is well worth a new deal, hes been one of our best players lately, and hes young and improving. Better prospect than sonko.
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Pettitt10 added 19:12 - Mar 15
i will also admit that after watching him vs Peterborough i wanted him out but after the last 10 games or so he has really impressed me. look at how much hes improved just over the course of this season, surely he can only keep improving! sign him up Clegg!
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jas0999 added 19:40 - Mar 15
Probably good enough for the bench - and far better than PJ's CB signings to date. However, if we seriously want to challenge next year, we need: 1 x GK, 1 x RB, 2 x CB - plus Cresswell has struggled recently - perhaps some competion at LB as well?
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das_bones added 19:51 - Mar 15
Sign him up, he's really showing his worth!
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s6blue added 19:53 - Mar 15
definately worth keeping as a squad player
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Essexnblue added 20:00 - Mar 15
Jas0999, can you tell me which games Cresswell has struggled in?

Up until January all 4 centre halves including Ingimarsson could have been sold or given away as Collins apart they were inconsistently bad.
Add Edwards to them and not having a regular keeper and you could have replaced the lot apart from Cresswell, who would get my vote for Player of the Year.
But since mid Jan, Smith has found a new level, dont forget he is keeping Sonko out and to me is worth another year at least.
JAS09999, you continuosly criticise Evans and Clegg, yet I guess you might ask yourself, where is the money for your 4 defenders coming from?
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tractorboy2434 added 20:08 - Mar 15
How anybody can contemplate letting Smith go whilst keeping a donkey like Sonko is beyond me, deserves a 2 year contract and any sane or sensible club would offer one, we will see what transpires !
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bournemouthblue added 20:50 - Mar 15
Good lad, let's hope we offer him one!
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Ipswichbusiness added 20:56 - Mar 15
I'm with those who think he should have a new contract; ideally a two year deal. I know that he had a poor start to the season, but remember that he's young and inexperienced. He'll improve substantially, especially if he gets the right coaching.
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