Tommy Smith (Auckland FC | A-League)

Unless you want promotion. Warnock is a champion at getting a team up. Some of us QPR fans are still pissed he didn't get a fair chance to see how he would have gone with us in the Premiership. Instead we got Sparky Hughes whom got us relegated with massive wages and player debts.

so still on the bench. glad that year off is helping him 

Is this because he's rumoured to be moving to the premier league?

Looks like Ipswich's form has taken an upswing as Smith hasn't been getting as much game time over the past few weeks...

Distracted by overwhelming feelings of guilt

No way it's because of this supposed premiership interest from palace. Ipswich wouldn't bench him as the first time he could leave would be in January and they would want to get every bit out of him before then. Obviously now below others in the pecking order. Maybe he got the hard word at the beginning of the season, with the gaffer telling him he wasn't impressed by his form last season and he would need to lift his game. perhaps this led him to having his year off?

If that was the case perhaps I sympathize with him a little more the before.

Tommy spends 23 minutes answering fans' questions on the club's You Tube channel:

Rooted firmly to bench and no minutes again this morning in Ipswich's 1-1 draw with Wednesday.

Back in the All Whites and back on the pitch for Ipswich who drew. Good week for Tommy

Might be thinking of backtracking on the AWs now

Back on the score sheet this morning in a 2-2 draw.

http://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/26077/

This say f all but reading between the lines, I'm going to assume Hudson told him to play now, or never play again. 

Definitely safe to assume that, especially with how Hudson outlined his vision of having a squad which regularly is able to play togeather rather than picking and choosing when to come, instigating competition for places etc.

"play now or you never go to another world cup" - would work on me

Is Smith referring to Mick McCarthy here:

"... after speaking with the gaffer here he felt it would be good for me to play at international level and get some football."

I believe so....MM was obviously unimpressed with his attitude, total backfire

should get out of the car and walk

scored the winner vs Watford

Hmm. Guess the 12 month break will be back on then.

Here you are, all those who wanted an explanation....

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/football-soccer/news/art...

edited 2B - included link

I can accept that. Prepared to forgive and move on.

Overall I think he's handled this spectacularly badly but he probably has plenty of valid grievances, and it's probably understandable

Don't know you wouldn't just turn up to the first camp and give Hudson the chance, rather than create bullshit story about cementing his position at club level. 

I dunno.  He still comes across as a bit of a c*nt in the article and the one on Stuff.  However that could be journalistic licence.

Maybe he just wanted an opportunity to publicly make a stand against the national team?

But agree the "I'm focussing on my club" line is part of the poor PR he's gone for

I suspect think that excuse backfired when Hudson told him to play now, or never play.

nice to finally hear a coment from him, i guess time will tell how commited he is to us

He's obviously had some pretty poor advisors around him.

That may be what you wanted him to say but is speculation. 

I think instead this is a good example of Hudson seeing the damage from NZF in the past few years, the gripes/ the poor decision making/communication, working out his preferred/must have players, and Smith would certainly be one of them, and then getting alongside him with a personal visit. Very good man management, hope it continues

Hedging his bets - 2ndBets.

smith had a strong game v China. Good to see the fire in the belly. Also looked composed but he's not your deep/sweeper type CB  like Reid/Durante. Still, a much better team with him in it

Meanwhile back in the championship, 2 all draw with Bournemouth, now 4th

Another goal from Tommy in a win

In some of the most amusing footage of the year, the Football League Highlights Show showed how Tommy was celebrating off to one side thinking he had scored before it was revealed it wasn't him who had scored but team-mate Christophe Berra who'd clearly steered the ball into the net from Tommy's pass.

Interesting, he is still credited with it in the stats

Ipswich go second . Tommy doing well.

"But the damage had been done during a first half in which they failed to muster a shot on target and were outmuscled and outplayed by an Ipswich team who have now lost just once in 18 matches.

Tractor Boys centre-backs Tommy Smith and Christophe Berra dominated with Patrick Bamford and Jelle Vossen unable to make an impression in attack."

Scored again today (Boxing Day) to help Ipswich go second in the Championship.