Stevie Smith joins Norwich

[Danny 0]

Norwich City have signed left-back Steven Smith on a two-year contract after he was released by Rangers.

 

The 24-year-old will be free to join the Canaries on 1 July after making 74 appearances for the Scottish club.

 

He told BBC Radio Norfolk: "I've not played a lot in the last couple of years and the chance to rebuild my career is a big thing for me.

 

"I enjoyed my time at Rangers but it was time to move on and it's something I'm looking forward to."

 

Norwich manager Paul Lambert said: "He's come from a massive club in Rangers and he'll fit in well here. I'm looking forward to him joining us.

 

"He's a left-back with a terrific engine and he'll be part of a squad that will hopefully do well."

 

The Scot has played twice in the Champions League and five times in the Uefa Cup for Rangers.

 

Smith fought back from a groin problem that sidelined him for 16 months in 2006 to feature regularly in the Scottish Premier League title-winning side of 2009.

 

However, he only made 12 starts and six substitute appearances in the season just passed under Walter Smith.

 

"When the new manager came in I wasn't fit and he was really successful and it's hard to get into a successful side," Smith added.

 

"I've played in the Champions League and big Old Firm games, so I may not have played a lot of games in my career but the games I have played in stand me in good stead for this league.

 

"People always put question marks over you because of injuries but it's not something I'm worried about."

 

Smith becomes former Celtic midfielder Lambert's third close season signing after midfielder Andrew Crofts and defender Elliott Ward.

 

A very very good move for him - now finds himself at a higher level than the SPL with a team which promises a fair amount. Good luck to him, and I forgive *that* display at Easter Road in 2009.

 

Also nice to see Lambert refer to us as a massive team.

[Guest Flying Hippo]

I think it was moreso the fact that we dropped points than Smith playing any worse than usual. I can't recall him being anything other than totally anonymous in any game he played for us post 2006. A shame.

[gisabeer 409]

I think it was moreso the fact that we dropped points than Smith playing any worse than usual. I can't recall him being anything other than totally anonymous in any game he played for us post 2006. A shame.

 

came on at half time against hearts and totally turned the game when we were dying on our arses. boyd scored a last gasp penalty to seal the points.

 

then got dropped like a stone in true walter smith fashion.

 

Defies belief that we spent so much time effort and money on rehabilitating him. Never got a real chance under walter smith and was totally wasted. norwich have got a real bargain and if he is given a decent run in the first eleven i fully expect him to get back to his best. to think that the likes of lafferty and whiitaker could play so shit and still get a game while others were left to rot makes my blood boil.

[Guest Flying Hippo]

I wouldn't go as far as to say he turned the game lol. He did alright. The McCulloch goal out of nowhere was more of a turning point

[Zappa 0]

Definitely a good move for him and I hope he does well down there.

[Gazza_8 233]

Can't say I'm fussed. He looked a good prospect under PLG but I'd look decent playing with that crop of flops. He was never given a run under Smith and when your manager prefers to play a RB at LB ahead of you then you know it's time to move on.

[Danny 0]

He was a permanent 6/10 player. He never imposed himself, but never did much wrong either. He was a very ordinary player with absolutely nothing to elevate him above any other player in the team. He was the very definition of average.

 

Which is why I think this is a terrific move for him, and way better than he might have hoped.

[craig 5,199]

came on at half time against hearts and totally turned the game when we were dying on our arses. boyd scored a last gasp penalty to seal the points.

 

then got dropped like a stone in true walter smith fashion.

 

Defies belief that we spent so much time effort and money on rehabilitating him. Never got a real chance under walter smith and was totally wasted. norwich have got a real bargain and if he is given a decent run in the first eleven i fully expect him to get back to his best. to think that the likes of lafferty and whiitaker could play so shit and still get a game while others were left to rot makes my blood boil.

 

Smith was always going to struggle to oust the very consistent Papac. Lafferty & Whittaker play different positions to him so that is a worthless comparison. In fact, in Whittaker's case, he actually did very well last season. Yes he had his off days but then who was going to replace him ? Broadfoot was injured and we had no real back-up.

 

Lafferty, different story.

[pete 2,511]

I really thought he was a great prospect pre-injury and estimated him far higher than Hutton but unfortunately he wasn't the same player when he returned from injury.

[Guest Flying Hippo]

Smith was more consistent than the young Hutton but again it was just pretty average 6 or 7 out of 10 stuff. He was never exciting like Hutton