Smith joins Bristol City

Andy Smith has joined League One Bristol City on a 2 month contract, after having his stay at Preston terminated during the transfer window. He is hoping his performances can ear nhim a longer deal:

“I’d love to think my future is with Bristol City and the ball is in my court to prove myself worthy of a longer deal over the next couple of months. It’s going to be an exciting end to the season for the club, but having trained with the lads over the past week I would have signed whatever the league position. There is a lot of ability in the squad and a great spirit. City like to play passing football, which suits my game. I can play as a target-man or alongside one and I like to put myself about.”
City boss Gary Johnson told the club website: “I tried to sign Andy once before but Championship clubs came calling and he joined Preston. He has been training with us for a week before signing a contract. He’s hard-working and can also play wide.”

Not a good week for NI players

Roy Carroll apparently undergoes treatment for gambling and alcohol problems – although, according to his dad (in Thursday’s News Letter) these problems have been exaggerated and he is just suffering from stress.

Andy Smith walks out on Cheltenham after being named as a sub for an FA Cup replay. Smith’s loan, funded by a supporters’ club, was due to expire in 10 days.

The Cheltenham Contingent

Matthew is keeping me up to date on goings on at Cheltenham, who have signed Andy Smith on ‘an emergency loan’ from Preston, in a deal financed by Cheltenham fans. Emergency would be about right! He played the full 90 minutes of their 2-1 defeat to Oldham today.

Also, Grant McCann scored twice in a 3-2 win over Barnet on Tuesday, one of which was a penalty (apparently he’d missed 3 of his last 4 penalties).

Andy Smith and his biggest fan

Andy Smith has been talking about his loan move to Motherwell, and has given a strong hint that he’d like to make it permanent. He also tried to compare himself to Stuart Elliott, which is just not on:
“I was desperate to go out on loan this season as I need to be playing regular football if I’m going to do myself any justice with Northern Ireland. Playing for my country means the world to me and if I was not playing for Preston then the manager would look elsewhere.
“Odense in Denmark did offer me a loan move but I was never interested once I found out about Terry Butcher’s interest. I want to prove to people I can make it in full-time football and Stuart Elliott has already showed the way. He was a major success at Motherwell and went on to great things so hopefully I can follow him.
“This move is only on loan at the minute but who knows what will happen.”
Meanwhile, Andy’s biggest (only?) fan, a Mr L. Sanchez, has received the backing of former teammate Vinnie Arkins Jones:
“I always knew Lawrie was boss material”
“He’s a very clever fella – very bright. He was at university and all that.
“He was always the intellectual one at Wimbledon – the only one we had!” laughs Vinny, whose acting career took off after the highly successful Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels.
“Lawrie used to do all the contract negotiations for the Wimbledon players.
“He comes from a team of winners. He knows what it’s like to have a small team battling against all the odds.
“What he will bring to the Northern Ireland camp is professionalism and an inner spirit. It’s all about getting players to believe. At Wimbledon, most of us had limited ability compared to the likes of Manchester United. But we would go out and find it in ourselves to beat the big teams on the day. That came down to inner strength and working for each other.
“Lawrie knows all about that kind of thing because he has been around the game for a long time and being part of the Crazy Gang at Wimbledon I’m sure he would probably want to instil that kind of spirit.
“Obviously times now are different and you can’t get away with the antics that we did. But I’m sure building team spirit would still be his number one aim. At Wimbledon among our strengths were pattern of play and set plays – knowing where you should be when defending set plays and also on attacking set plays. That’s how we won the 1988 FA Cup Final against Liverpool with Lawrie’s header.”

Sanchez’ Smith Obsession Continues

Despite not having played football for at least 3 months, Lawrie Sanchez is showing amazing loyalty to Andy ‘couldn’t score on a jotter’ Smith – at the expense of Warren Feeney. Smith is included in the Northern Ireland squad for Wednesday’s friendly against Canada, but Feeney isn’t even on standby.
Andy Smith made a big-money, high profile move to Craig Brown’s Preston last summer, but failed to make any impact and when Preston got a new manager, he was farmed out to Sammy McIlroy’s Stockport on loan. At Stockport, he made one league appearance and one cup appearance. In December he got injured, and hasn’t played for anyone since.
Warren Feeney, on the other hand, has scored 10 goals in 27 league appearances for Stockport this season.
He rightly let rip in yesterday’s News Letter:
Warren Feeney was fuming last night after being snubbed yet again by Northern Ireland boss Lawrie Sanchez.
Northern Ireland face Canada in a friendly at Windsor Park next Wednesday and the Stockport County striker expected a call-up.
But Feeney, 24, who is expecting a big money move to Luton Town soon, isn’t even on the stand-by list!
Sanchez has named four forwards, David Healy, Andy Smith, Andrew Kirk and Steve Jones.
Feeney, who won three caps under Sammy McIlroy, the last against Cyprus two years ago, said: “To say I’m disappointed is an understatement. I’m gutted.
“Lawrie Sanchez said he would pick anyone playing first team football and give fringe players a chance. Well, I’ve scored 10 goals in a bad team which is bottom of the league. I just don’t know what I have done wrong. “I understand Andy Smith is in the squad and he hasn’t kicked a ball since leaving Stockport three months ago. I think he was to play in a reserve game last week but that was called off. It’s a joke.
“I have played 27 league games for Stockport this season and doing well. A number of clubs have expressed an interest, among them Luton. I think there is a big fee involved and the clubs are talking. It’s out of my hands.
“Danny Griffin got a letter telling him he’s on stand-by and I thought I would get one too. But it hasn’t arrived.
“My face obviously just doesn’t fit and I’m putting my international career to the back of my mind and concentrating on Stockport. “Stevie Robinson, a mate, is doing really well at Luton who are top of the league but he’s not getting a look-in either.
“Lawrie Sanchez hasn’t even picked up the phone to explain anything.
I am past caring,” added Feeney.

Smith loaned to Stockport

With Stockport County rooted to the bottom of League One and calls for the sacking of boss Sammy McIlroy, the former Northern Ireland manager has brought in Andy Smith on a month’s loan from Preston. Preston moved quickly to sign Smith ahead of MK Dons over the summer, but he has failed to make an impact for them and has yet to score. He will link up with countrymen Danny Griffin and Warren Feeney. Feeney joined County from Bournemouth in the summer and had a dream start, but Sammy McIlroy’s side have failed to find the net much recently.

Healy on target again

David Healy scored his 2nd goal of the season, in his 2nd game last night as Preston drew 2-2 with Wolves. It was a game that Preston would undoubtedly had won if Dickson Etuhu hadn’t got himself a straight red card.
The away side started very brightly, and Healy had already hit the woodwork with 4 minutes played – he passed the rebound to Chris Lucketti who made it 1-0. Healy scored himself with just 16 minutes gone after a North End corner was pulled back to him on the right hand corner of the area and the Northern Ireland star smashed it home first time.
Wolves Boss Dave Jones had made 3 changes from the side who had played so badly on the opening day of the league season – however Mark Clyde escaped this cull, playing the first half at right back as usual and the second in the centre.
Andy Smith replaced Healy in the 88th minute and ‘held the ball up well in the corner’ – memories of Spain at Windsor Park…
Other news today:
– Apparently Thomas Mhyre still wants to leave Sunderland, which is good news for Ingham.
– JJB shops around the country are a joy to look at this morning, having made an effort for the new kit launch. If you live here, away out an buy one!

Smith debut, Healy scores, Brunt plays

Northern Ireland striker Andy Smith made his debut for Preston North End tonight against Sheffield Wednesday in the Copa De Ibiza. Smith started in the middle of a 3 pronged attack. David Healy started at the right of the midfield 3 in the attacking 4-3-3 formation.
Under 23 international Chris Brunt, who’s ‘dramatic emergence’ has resulted in the Owls releasing another midfielder this week, played the first 65 minutes on the left wing for the club Danny Wilson used to manage.
Brunt was involved early on, beating the Preston full back before firing in a cross that a Wednesday striker could only fire against the post. On 28 minutes a chipped ball into the box by Brunt was volleyed in by Chris Marsden to give the Owls the lead. Another goal gave Wednesday a 2-0 lead at half time, before they made it 3 two minutes after the break.
Andy Smith, who had had a quiet first half, started to come into his own in the second and sent a cheeky chip over the Sheffield Wednesday keeper inches wide of the post.
An attempted Preston revival started on 55 minutes as Healy crossed for Creswell to pull one back for the Lilywhites, before the international pair of Healy and Smith combined to make it 3-2. The former Oval favourite played a defence splitting through ball for our highest ever goalscorer, who had an initial shot blocked before firing home from just inside the penalty box. Smith was substituted on 68 minutes.
The Owls held on however to win 3-2 and will now play Watford in the final of the competition. Preston will take on local side SD Portmany in the 3rd/4th place play-off.
Match Report
UPDATE: Brown Reaction to Smith debut:
“To try and accommodate the three strikers we played one up, two off and David Healy just behind. And I thought Andy did very well and he’s suffering from a slight leg strain as well. He’s a striker who will work hard and was most unfortunate with a couple of chances.”

Preston are a ‘massive club’ – Smith

Another interview with Andy Smith on the Preston North End Official Site. He’s been given the Number 10 shirt for the forthcoming season.
“I signed straight away.
You don’t even have to have a thought about it to be fair it is just a great club. Every player wants to play at the highest level that he can. For me this club is a massive club, you only have to look at the stadium and the facilities and the ambition of the people here.
I spoke to David on the phone, he is a good lad.
We have been doing very well, we have been linking up well, we understand each other and maybe this is a good opportunity to for Northern Ireland as well, the fact that we are playing well together.
I am more of a target man, I like getting in behind and setting up things. I am a bit more creative, forcing defenders into mistakes.
My energy is good, when I get my chances I can take them. I can make goals for players, headers and playing players through.
I’ll make chances for other strikers and hopefully score my own fair share of goals. But first I have got to work hard to get into the team, there are some good strikers here and I am looking forward to it.”
A couple of clubs were interested in me and my agent phoned me and said ‘Preston’ and I said yes straight away.
I am confident in my ability. I have been playing for Northern Ireland now and I have been playing against international class defenders and I feel very confident and I am looking forward to the challenge.
I feel it is a brilliant opportunity for me.”

Reaction to Smith deal

David Healy:
“He’s a tall lad and is very good in the air, deceivingly so actually. He works hard, closes defenders down and goalkeepers, a bit like Cressy, and generally makes a nuisance of himself.
When he gets a chance he loves to score a goal. He flicked on my record breaking goal and has also set up a few other goals for me in the games we’ve played together for Northern Ireland.
He’s an unselfish striker and always looks to see if there’s a player in a better position who could score a goal, but he can score a foal himself. He scored 35 last season and I don’t think he played in all the games, so his record speaks for itself and hopefully he can bring that to North End.”
Craig Brown:
“Andy Smith can play and he has got an appetite which is quite incredible for football. It is up to us to refine the skills.
It is always a risk when you sign a player, when Ricardo Fuller came here everyone said ‘Who is he?’
He will have to make his name, he will have to establish himself. More people have heard of Andy Smith, he has played in the national team and he has proved that he is capable of going into that level.
He is a modest guy but he won’t be afraid of big name opponents, the likes of Matt Elliott and Christian Dailly. There are centre-backs of vast experience in this division but he will cope.
I would expect to see him make a big impact here. You are looking at a worker, somebody who is brilliant when they have got the ball, he will hunt people down, he will fight and he also has a goalscoring capability, that is why is here.”
Preston Chairman Derek Shaw:
“Andy quite frankly has a tremendous attitude and I think the fans will love him.
He can’t wait to be playing and couldn’t wait to sign, I think he would have signed a cigarette paper to be honest, it was a ‘where do I sign?’ kind of thing, he is really, really excited.
The agent actually said ‘Is he flying to Luton or Liverpool?’ Thankfully for us it was Liverpool. The agent was very helpful with us on this, he has been very good.
I had a coffee with the Milton Keynes guy a week or so ago and he was saying that as soon as they come out of admin they had an exciting signing lined up. He didn’t tell me the name of the player but it might have been this lad.
He’s a nice guy down there and I feel a bit sympathetic towards them. He didn’t tell me his name but I am presuming it was this.”
PNE have also revealed that the transfer fee was just under £150,000 and Smith has signed a 3 year deal. Brown even joked that the fee would be nothing compared to what they would get when they sold the former Comrades striker to a big European club:
“That is a good fee to an Irish club with the way the transfer market is at the minute. When he goes from here to Barcelona they will benefit from that, sell-on clauses are quite common in football these days.”
Finally, there’s an interview with Andy here, but you’ll have to sign up to ‘Whites World’.