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Megson faces player he most admired
Former target: MK Dons new signing Alan Smith was top of Gary Megsons wish list when he was manager of West Brom, but is up against the Owls in tonights League One promotion clash after his loan exit from Newcastle.
gary Megson recalls that when he was manager of West Brom he was once asked which one player he would most like to sign if he could.
His answer was Alan Smith.
“He’s had a fantastic career,” says the Owls manager, of the 31-year-old former England midfielder who faces the Owls as a member of the MK Dons squad tonight after joining them from on loan from Newcastle.
“I said him because he was a fantastic player and I really like his drive and desire,” added Megson.
“But he’s gone to MK Dons and there’s nothing for us to say about than other than he’ll be joining a good squad.
“We know it’s going to be a tough game for us, because they’re just behind us and obviously a good side.
“In the Premier League you know that you have to beat the teams who are around you; it’s probably the same in this division.”
Smith, said to be on £60,000 a week at Newcastle, is not a certain starter tonight but is regarded by Dons as a “sensational” signing.
He played against Wednesday when they lost 1-0 in the Championship at St James’s Park in August, 2009.
Dons boss Karl Robinson is still without ex-Owls midfielder Darren Potter after he missed the last game, a 4-2 defeat at Stevenage last Tuesday, because of illness.
Owls fans may think that Newcastle have done their team no favours in the last few weeks.
The Magpies refused to extend James Tavernier’s loan at Hillsborough because they saw the youngster as a right back, but he was being played by Wednesday on the right wing, after starting his time with them as a full back.
Gary Megson rated Tavernier a success in either position and had thought he would be allowed to stay, but the Owls boss accepted Alan Pardew’s decision.
MK Dons’ signing of Smith will have raised some eyebrows in League One.
He twice changed hands for £7m, in moves from Leeds to Manchester United and from Old Trafford to Newcastle but has played a total of only six minutes of senior football this season, in two outings from the bench.
He will be able to play for Dons in the play-offs if they end up in those.
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Comments
There are 9 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
Gerimo
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 05:08 PMDon't think so post 6 I don't drink during the week
handsworth
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 01:27 PMLet us hope he has an off day tonight Carry on the good work lads Another three points in the sack will make you look more and more like Santa Claus UP THE BLUE AND WHITES
doggtheveryspecialdeputy
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 11:27 AM@6 Well done,.....
crystalpeaksman
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 11:04 AMYou will get hammerd tonight.
webbotheowl
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 09:34 AMMr Megson. From reading your story above about admiring him, why didnt we gamble and bring Smith here. Surely he would have signed for us before MK being a northern lad. 2.5k per week x 20 weeks = £50k. Not a big gamble really, BUT now one of our rivals are stronger. His experience would have been brilliant, and maybe if we had a striker injury problem later in the season, he could have had a spell up front and made a difference between promotion OR playoffs.
kojam
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 09:11 AMthank god that potter ain't playing!?!?
doggtheveryspecialdeputy
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 08:45 AMMKD reprted to be paying only £2,500 per week toward his £60,000 weekly wages. What a deal.
SheffieldEngland
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 08:43 AMYou don't get if you don't ask!
doggtheveryspecialdeputy
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 07:50 AMKiller signing well done Dons. Now that is a former England player I would want unlike ................
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