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Smith Clears the Air With All Whites Team-Mates
Wednesday, 12th Nov 2014 10:28

Town centre-half Tommy Smith held a “clear the air” meeting with his New Zealand team-mates when he joined up with the All Whites squad earlier this week ahead of Friday’s friendly in China and next Wednesday’s match in Thailand.

In the summer, Smith, 24, decided to take a year off international football which at the time he said was to concentrate on his domestic career, although he now admits he had become frustrated with the way the All Whites were managed towards the end of former head coach Ricki Herbert’s time in charge, citing "organisational issues”.

"They were doing their job to the best of their ability,” Smith told Stuff.co.nz. “I don't want to criticise them too much. I got on well with them as people and we had some happy times as well."

He says he was advised not to raise his concerns publicly when he announced his break: "I bit my tongue and bided my time and I'd rather leave it at that."

But Smith is now firmly back in the fold after a recent meeting at Playford Road with new manager Anthony Hudson, whose plans for the future impressed the defender.

However, he knew not all his team-mates were pleased with his decision to take a break and he sought to build bridges with senior players on his arrival in China.

“[I knew] some people weren't very happy when I said I wanted to take 12 months out,” he added.

"I wanted to clear the air because I don't want people to be holding grudges and to not understand the finer details."

He believes they now understand his position and he’ll similarly speak with captain Winston Reid and senior keeper Glen Moss, who have both missed the trip, at a later date.

With West Ham’s Reid absent, Smith could even skipper the All Whites in China with Hudson yet to announce his captain.

Smith is one of the leading candidates with Hudson describing him as "a leader, on and off the pitch”, who brings "a real level of professionalism and quality” to the squad.

The Blues defender, who has been capped 27 times, scoring two international goals, has worn the armband on a number of occasions before, most notably in last year’s World Cup play-off games against Mexico, and says it would be a privilege to do so again: “[It was a] great honour every time I've done it in the past.”


Photo: Action Images



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Cloddyseedbed added 11:05 - Nov 12
Great professional player for Ipswich both on and off the pitch. Good luck in your international career. Don't come back injured. Tommy Smith I salute you. Before MM came to Ipswich I was one who was questioning his ability, so pleased I was so wrong.
6

rfretwell added 11:11 - Nov 12
Good on ya Tommy, where would we be without you. Not 4th that's for sure!
2

SamWhiteUK added 12:06 - Nov 12
Tommy has blocked me on Twitter after I told him to pack his bags after one of his less impressive performances before his loan to Colchester. I'm happy now to admit he has proven me wrong, he's a great character and I wouldn't be surprised to see him as Town captain at some point in the future.
-10

charsfield added 12:09 - Nov 12
you tweeted abuse at a home grown youth player after a bad performance. Real classy. Whats your twitter handle so i can block you as well
16

BondiBlue added 12:35 - Nov 12
I work with a Kiwi all whites fan (they're pretty rare even over here). He hates Tommy's guts.
0

spanishblue added 12:59 - Nov 12
Have to admit it ,after that terrible game at p/bro I thought Tommys time was up, just goes to show what can be done with the raw ingredients it took MM an TC just a month to turn him into a very special player.Which many of us were surprised to see him dropped.probably no better defender in the championship in that position
1

Michael11 added 13:17 - Nov 12
Slightly annoying that he made us think he took a year out because he wanted to focus on promotion with us, when it turns out he just didn't like the manager. I love Tommy Smith though so not too bothered. I agree with Spanishblue, I never thought I'd see him in a Town shirt again after the 7-1 at Peterborough. Probably been one of our best players since that awful day. Jonny Parr will find it very hard to win his place back if his recent form continues!
0

Jeff_winger added 14:52 - Nov 12
@Spanish blue and Micheal11 Tommy only played 1 minute of the game at peterboro and we were pretty screwed before he came on (and went off again)
3

carsey added 15:06 - Nov 12
I really don't give a crap what happened in the past or with whom Tommy may have had a disagreement. At the present time he is playing very well and I just want him and all our internationals to return fit and well.
2

Michael11 added 00:01 - Nov 13
@scowie

Yeah I know he didn't really have much to do with that result but he wasn't looking very promising at all and really didn't expect him to become a valuable first team player at the time. I'm so glad McCarthy could see the potential in him and give him a chance. You'd have to go a long way to find a better Championship defence that has Chambers, Smith, Berra, Parr and Mings.
1


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