Smallwood Has Left The Building

I think his first 2 seasons were pretty poor. He's a captain that I never really warmed to - for whatever reason, he always seemed a bit detached, like he was happy with the job he had to do but never really became part of the club in the way you've seen other players do. I also think some of his post match interviews were disappointing at times... I remember him being asked after a defeat something along the lines of how do you explain that frustratingly flat display and he kept saying "I don't know really...". He was a model pro behind the scenes by all accounts and popular in the club, but never that popular with the fans (see: booing him taking a penalty, cheering his substitution under Hughes etc.).

Having said all that, he was far better this season, we missed him hugely when he got himself sent off and nobody was near him at POTY(although, had the likes of Sarcevic, Pattison, Cook, even Bobby been fit all season it might have been different). I remember how good he was against Bromley where not only did he win the ball, he controlled the game - spraying it around the pitch like Pirlo. But that was against 10 men, and was for me less likely to occur than him winning the ball then giving it straight back - as he did in more matches IMHO.

Best of luck Richie and thanks for the memories. There's a bond that gets created when the team gets promoted and so despite the negative things I've said here, I would still have him round for tea.

 

Agree.

 

Those that booed him when about to take that pen arnt fans…Simple as that. Tourists more like.

 

Not sure if that was the same season people were booing us playing out from the back and passing it around the back 4 ad-nauseum - but it probably was

 

No that was when MH was here . Platt was in our back line at the time.

 

Apparently there are 7 clubs showing interest in Richie already, 4 in L1 and 3 in L2. Good luck to the lad, at the end of the day it's his job and at his age he as to think about his family.

 

Exactly 7 Clubs interested and we had him and we should have kept him. I hope I am proven wrong

 

I could see him being very tempted by York if they offer him what he's after, but equally, I wouldn't be surprised to see him rock up at a league 1 rival.

 

If he does turn up at a League 1 rival, I hope they put him on set pieces....

 

At any cost? To date recruitment under Sharpe has been largely successful. We have to trust he’ll make the right decisions this season. We have a budget and it might be best to spend the largest chunk on a striker that can score goals to win matches.

 

Twitter talk ……You know when it begins “ Apparantly “ .

 

All this >look what happend the three games he missed<the lastten orso games the rot had set in he did play in, even the final game but for a fluke we would of ended up in the playoffs. He's had his day.Wish him all the best.

 

York are having a bit of a re-vamp in midfield.They have already signed Ollie Banks from Chesterfield,so Smallwood may well be On their radar.

 

Sometimes just sometimes you have to move on

 

Anybody who posts on here know how I always give them the benefit of the doubt it’s a hard job. But we finally won promotion lead by our captain he seemed to be very popular not only by the manager but also the players. The move to not offer him an extra year will turn out to be false economy. I am sure this decision was made despite the Manager rather than from him. The first season back in a higher league is helped by the tightness of the squad and I think this weakens it. I am less optimistic now about next season but I sincerely hope to be proved wrong

 

Would I have been happy had he had a 1 year offer to stay. Yes.

Am I gutted he isn't here next year? Not really. Well I say that but lets see who we get in to replace him?

I am sure (hopeful) that the recruitment team had their target list set some time ago.

I wish Smallwood well but we only saw a few fleeting glimpses of him in the last season at his best. Prior to that he was as woeful as the rest.

 

Look at it like this.

We know he’s losing his pace no question, in L2, so let’s imagine he’s lost even more compared to the opponent in L1 during his first season? Now let’s imagine what he will be like in the second season of this two year deal? A passenger , probably not playing, yet still on a big wage . That doesn’t make footballing nor financial sense.
I like the lad but not enough to overrule common sense .

 

I’m unsure about the quotes of having a great season.
He was just as piss poor as the other squad members for half the season and was getting nailed every week by this message board

Come the second half of the season he has been instrumental in his role and true leader.

But during the first half of the season he was no captain or leader and at 34 in higher league and better quality squads he would struggle.

Leave on a massive high I say.

 

I remember at the back end of last year Sharpe saying something about the possibility of changing the city way of not talking to OOC players until the end of the season. I posted at the time I was worried that would mean Smallwood being given a new contract in January because at the time, he was poor as you've said. He did go on to have an outstanding second half of the season and fully deserved the plaudits and awards that came his way, but it doesn't alter the fact that for the majority of his time here, he's been a disappointment.

 

Well according to Smallwood in todays T&A it was Alexanders decision to release him. Smallwood was ok with a 12 month deal but Alexander informed him there would be no contract offer and his time was up.

Strange situation. Cant imagine it will go down well with the rest of the squad.

https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/25212080.bradford-city-exit-came-shock-richie-smallwood/