FEEDBACK: The Alan Smith debate continues to rage on, with M Hadley writing in to offer the opinion that Newcastle United Football Club could do with eleven of his kind in their team.

Smith has had a rotten time at St James Park following his move from Manchester United last summer, but Fans FC reader A Hadley still believes the currently-crocked forward is worth keeping hold of:

“This fool who thinks Smudger isn't good enough for Newcastle clearly doesn't know football. Firstly, Sam Allardyce would've got your club a top 10 finish which, for a club with no realistic ambition due to it's current joke of an owner, or realistic chance of achieving anything other than a spectacular relegation to the championship, would've done quite nicely for most Geordies.

“Secondly, if you had eleven players with the sheer balls of Alan Smith you would be a terrifying prospect to play against instead of the lightweight excuse for a football team that you currently are. Smithy may not score many goals for you, largely due to a complete lack of service and the fact that he is a team player who will and can play anywhere he is needed.

“And any centre half will tell you he is an absolute pain to play against. Michael Owen, who represents your only saving grace with the possible exception of Jonas Gutierrez, likes to play with Emile Heskey but Smithy can do anything Heskey does with brass knobs on and still manage to stay on his feet.”