clear out begins

[kwikfit]

Five good players released I see on the official website. good to see that GnN can see that changes need to be made.
Have they forgotton Matt Smart ? or are they remembering his one good game ?

speechless

[alan]

I agree that Matt Smart has reached the top of his game. He did impress at the latter stages, but against broken side - Maidenhead and when his team mates were not firing on all cylinders. Midfield matters, as has been discussed in the past. I would be very very surprised if Matt had anything else to offer - especially when our midfield failed to live up to expectations - very poor goal average - too many drawn games - and very low win ratio at Home!!!! OUr midfield need more intelligence and more muscle - physical and mental.
What there is at present does not challenge other Conf South sides. IMHHO
Not just Matt, but our Midfield did not have enough pace and can't retain the ball - fundamental stuff for a winning side.
remember the Forwards galloping attack on goal only for the midfield to canter up behind. It is difficult to score when you've telegraphed your attack to the opposition and they get loads of bodies behind the ball?
I hope GnN have realised where and why the side failed to break other sides last season and are now working hard to rectify things.

[workinlass]

Matt Smart is a key player for Borough, in my opinion anyway!

How can they justify getting rid of Ollie Rowland when they have keep on someone like Dan Marney! Outraged!

[kwikfit]

sums it up nicely Alan, i'm sorry workinlass, you are out of touch , a bit like Smarty.
There comes a time when the step up is too much, no matter what standard you play at, players are found to be wanting.
It's not just MS, there are others who will not stay the course.

[artiefufkin]

Bit surprised about Anton, thought he was pretty useful and tried to get forward.. not surprised bout Loui though, needed too many chances for very few goals..

[ollie1982]

Bit surprised that ollie rowland got released. He got injured playing for eastbourne, i thought the club might have kept him so when he gets fit he can play for us again.

[ollie1982]

i think matt smart is a key borough player. he has a great engine and is probably one of the best strikers of a ball at the club. hes been a good servant and i wish there were more matt smarts at the club. i think people are wrong to criticise him but its peoples opinion at the end of the day. i hope he stays next year.

[anderson]

>:(Unbelievable!! I think Matt Smart has played over 200 games for The Sports and I would be interested to know which "one" game he played well in.....???? A very strange post Kwikfit as I always see Smarty giving 100% for the team and he would be one of the first players on my teamsheet

[alan]

When the player is considered in isolation, then he is: hard working, most of the time; makes crossfield passes / switches the play, from time to time, gets stuck into tackles, when his blood is up.
When compared to others, at Conference South level, in other sides I've seen us play; which is most! Our Midfield rarely comes out on top. It's not just Matt Smart in the middle, obviously - I know that. But more so it is consistency that is essential. We require excellence - not every so often, but nearly always. For this to happen Boro need physical and mental muscle in there, to be positive / to drive the midfield and the play forward - Midfield is the engine of the side and we need Conference / League Standard in there. Matt Smart is playing at the top of is ability, I don't believe he has got an extra gear!
So, you didn't see the "treat the ball like a hot potato" performances of late?

[grumps]

Having got rid of 5, do we know who is replacing them? I feel sure someting will develop soon!

[ollie1982]

I feel people are wrong to single out 1 player (matt smart). I think sometimes he has to make split decisions because the movement off the ball isnt always that clever and the game he plays is at a high tempo and some of the other players around him in the midfield arent as mobile as he is. He is a passionate player that gives 110% each and every time he wears a borough shirt. I feel matt does posses quality on the ball and in games you cant always show that so thats when his workrate is such a key because he works so hard. A good quality to have. Its a shame about ollie because they had such a fantastic partnership and it showed when we reached the playoff final. They were such a driving force in the middle off the park.SHAME.

[kwikfit]

Sorry Lions, I can see you are a Smartie fan but have to disagree. the 110 % effort you claim he puts in just ain't good enough. He is caught in possession far too many times and his distribution has been poor of late.
He reached his level last season i'm afraid.
Opponents are skipping by him all to often and quite frankly amazed he has not yet been released.

I hope for Boro's sake he has a good season if G&N re-sign him.

[alan]

Apparently more players will be released. Moreso, it is rumoured that some very exciting signings are due once the Home Nations Tournament has been put fully behind us. I think that Steve Burton could be a prospect, as he''s rumoured to be leaving Crawley Town. Plus this is a normal "pond" when "fishing" for new player's.

[shinless]

I would hope that Smarty will be given a chance to stake a claim for a place this season, as he too suffered with the injury jinx last season.

Rob.

[ollie1982]

kwikfit i just dont think you know much about football not being rude. I do like smarty maybe may heart rules my head but you need to see the whole picture and theres more than just 1 player to a team. he runs himself into the ground and he needs the work load taken off himself. too many players in the midfield that want to play a pretty game. not going to win anything or get promotion without engines in midfield so i think we need to be keeping someone with matts engine.