Former Blues Defender Smith Joins Sunderland
Friday, 21st Feb 2020 15:47

Former Blues centre-half Tommy Smith has joined Town’s League One promotion rivals Sunderland until the end of the season.

Smith, 29, was a free agent having left MLS side the Colorado Rapids at the end of their season and had until recently been training with the Blues’ U23s.

In January he was linked with Wigan and Portsmouth while Paul Lambert ruled out a return to Portman Road.

“I know a lot about the club — the history and the fan base. I am delighted to be a part of it and hopefully I can help push the team up towards the Championship," New Zealand international Smith told the Black Cats official website.

“I’ve heard about the Stadium of Light and the atmosphere that is generated and I am just really excited to step out there for the first time and hopefully success can follow.

“I see myself as a leader on and off the pitch so hopefully I can use that to be a good addition to the squad.”

Sunderland were in need of defensive cover due to Bailey Wright suffering a season-ending ankle injury.

Wearsiders manager Phil Parkinson added: “Tommy can play anywhere across the back and, given Bailey Wright's injury, I wanted to make sure that we were not left short in the last three months of the season.

“Tommy is a very experienced player, he has played a lot of games in the Championship, and he will fit straight into our squad.

“He is a similar type of player to Bailey, and we think he will be a good addition.

“He will need a little bit of fitness work to get fully up to speed but he has been training so he is not far away.”

Photo: TWTD

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shouldistayorcounago added 18:26 - Feb 21 For my own sanity, I'm saying nothing til the summer. This club...
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Cheshire_Blue added 18:51 - Feb 21 Will be interesting to see how many goals he gives away, unless he has improved dramatically.
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Toperz added 18:54 - Feb 21 Smith made chambers look like usain bolt
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cat added 19:14 - Feb 21 Completely disagree this time Timmy, definitely not and that pains me to say.
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OldClactonBlue added 19:43 - Feb 21 From what I've seen so far Earl is better.
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londontractorboy57 added 20:12 - Feb 21 one of the bcwuwf gang he was so good he lasted 1 year in North America league.
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TimmyH added 20:17 - Feb 21 As said we don't know how he's been performing in the States so can't really say we should have got him or left him to somebody else but before his back injury (I think back in 2016) he was arguably our most consistent defender as Berra's form was going down the pan.
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ITFCsince73 added 20:58 - Feb 21

I've always had this view.
If a player is good enough, plays to a high standard, and plays for ITFC.
He is sold for millions and left long ago.
The fact 4 & 8 have been with us for many years, and Smith left for nothing, with apparently no interest from English clubs of note. Tells me what I already know.

We do currently have of course a crop of very good players, unfortunately to be sold in July.

tractorollson added 21:31 - Feb 21 No loss, injury prone and hasnt played competitive football for a while, happy hes gone there
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Oldozblue added 22:29 - Feb 21 The failure to sign another striker during the January window could turn out to be a far bigger issue - given Norwood's injury. Penny pinching once more.
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KiwiBlue2 added 22:44 - Feb 21 The injuries that he had derailed him in his last season with us. I think that if he was medically ok we should have re-signed him.
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karl1426 added 03:22 - Feb 22 This is a real screwup! The fact that he came back here is definitely he wants to be part of the promotion push! He is a true blues and he can score! And he is only 29 years. If you want someone to play with passion and grit, Tommy is the guy! What a waste!
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Cakeman added 07:36 - Feb 22

I don't think there would be so much discussion about this had Tommy not been such a likeable chap. His attitude and effort could never be faulted but his performances did not always reach the same high standards.
Sentiment aside I think this is the right move for both parties. Hopefully Tommy will do well at Sunderland as it's always good to see the nice guys do well.

ShropshireBluenago09 added 07:38 - Feb 22 Has got slower and wouldn't take a pay cut - move on
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chepstowblue added 08:26 - Feb 22 Tommy was appalling in his last season for us. If he's continued to decline then this may come back to haunt Sunderland....not us.
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Linkboy13 added 09:20 - Feb 22 He's been training with us and didn't impress apparently and looked well off the pace when he left us . We've always got Terry Butcher if we're struggling . I expect i will get plenty of negative marks from the Tommy Smith lovers but who cares get over it and move on.
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Michael101 added 09:21 - Feb 22 Maybe he wanted £5 a week and Marcus only offered £1:50. how itfc has been run for the last 10yearsThat would not surprise me at all.
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ringwoodblue added 10:06 - Feb 22 Never go back is my motto as it's seldom as good second time around. We need to keep Woolfie as he is better than Smith, Webster and Clarke imho.
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Bert added 10:41 - Feb 22 No problem with this other than sentiment.
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blueboy1981 added 11:23 - Feb 22 Opportunity missed - he wanted to return and sign for us for sure. Good enough, and wanted by Sunderland, but not us. Make your own conclusions, but it says it all...... !! Rock on Tommy - a damn good defender, and could of been ‘one of ours' again, and not ‘borrowed' from elsewhere.
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ArnieM added 13:46 - Feb 22

timkatieadminitfc: ( blimey that's a mouthful !! lol)

I've always viewed Tommy as a wholehearted But essentially limited footballer . He had one foot , and usually it's to belt the ball into zow Z. He's a great header of the ball granted, but he is extreme uncomfortable “ on the ball” and is therefore less likely to fit in with the ya Lambert wants to get the team playing , ie out from the back. He can only play on one side of the centre back pairing which means the team at the back had to fit round him. Not ideal.

Town would have had a good look at him over the weeks he was training with us, and seen TS as he is NOW , and not through the blue tinted specs fans wear. There will have been now in this “ he's one of us..... bleeds blue n white , sentimentality but a more objective view . Can he fit into the system we are trying to develop. What's his injury record like ..... How much are his wage requests given we are on a tight budget with the vast number in the squad which PL can't now offload .

I'm just raising some if the factors the Club will have considered . TS WAS a great servant for this Club, but he chose to leave when clearly better players came in at that time. He was picking up injuries with increasing frequency ..... is he carrying one now ?? I don't know . But I do feel the Club considered TS and on the BALANCE of all factors felt it wasn't right for the Club. I wish him well at Sunderland.