Seeing as Lance Cronin has signed for Bristol Rovers today, Alan 'the tangerine dream' Julian signed for Stevenage last week and with several clubs trying to sign John Nutter. Are there any player who we released that you wish we hadn't? For me Nutter, Sinclair and of course Benno were all mistakes. Nutter is a good leftback, as good as if not better than Joe Martin so can't see why we didn't keep him. The signing of Andy Frampton however would clear that one up. Sinc was a hard working lad who still had alot to offer the club. Could fill in on the right if needed and was decent in the centre of defence. Plus he wouldn't of been on a massive wage so I thought he was worth keeping. Bentley was a great player and great guy, yes he was knocking on but, as he proved at the end of last season, still had alot to offer. My MotM agaist Rotherham last season. Thought he was worth another year deal considering the effort he put in every time he pulled on a Gills shirt. Anybody else you thought was a mistake to release?
Personally, I was only disappointed to see benno go, as out of the lot, he was one player you would rely on to give 110%! I wouldnt have minded seeing Nutter or Sinclair stay just to keep some depth at the back, but Hess Clearly felt they were surplus to requirements. As for the rest, not to disappointed to see them go to be honest, just looking forward to seeing who we can get in as replacements!
I had my doubts about Bentley going, however, the only one I am really disappointed at leaving and it was of his own choice is Barcham. As for Cronin to Rovers, I'll stay polite and just say goodbye.
benno was the worst one for me, espically as we have said we are slimming the squad a player like him who seemed to be as comfortable upfront (maybe more of a mulligan than a mcdonald but thats beside the point) as he was in central defence. was suprised he never played in goal really personally i think he would have been a great player to keep in the squad not only for his versitility but his experience that he could pass onto some of the youngesters we are likely to bring in
Benno's legs had started to go, Nutter was the player I thought we should keep, look at his record for assists.
I would have kept Nutter maybe only as a back up not in first team and Benno, it would have been ok for him to stay, but are people joking Sinclair was ****, Did not like the way he played, very poor quality player, NON league.
No regrets with any of the players that were released. Personally I feel the right decisions were made at the end of the season as to who to offer contracts to and who to not offer. Shame the ones offered contracts didn't decide to take them but that's football. Only thing I am regretting is the length of time it's taking to sign new players feels like forever. UTG
You have to at least admire his effort Hoadie! Was let go by the club as a youngster, worked hard to get back to the club only to be released a season later. I thought he looked quite solid but that's just my opinion
I don't think it was a mistake to release any of those players, people may know I didn't rate Nutter. Bentely I really did like but he's getting older and was surely one of the top earners? Sinclair wasn't so bad for me, as stated he worked hard to come back here. I was just shocked Hess released him after seeming to put a lot of faith in him and rate him. Another year to adjust and who knows? Not a high wage, back up for 2 defensive positions. Seen a lot worse players wear that shirt lately.
Yeah he did give it his go, Think he is quiet nervous, sad cause he seems a nice guy but he was simply not good enough, but I hope he does well and does end up a football league player, but I think letting him go was for the best, Give him a year at Dover or Ebbsfleet.
I think letting AJ go was a mistake, he was a good L2 keeper but could never get a rapport with a consistant back four due to injuries and players being dropped. I understand that he made mistakes but he also keep us in many games with some very good saves, and people forget that it was still his only season as first choice and would get better with games
I'm not disappointed Julian has gone, like many others the changes were needed, whether it was right to let him go before a replacement keeper was in place is to be seen. IMO he was a good shot stopper and whether that will be to our cost with his loss is to be seen, however, I cannot think of many other good points: 1. His communication with the back four was poor, albeit the back four could be as much to blame. 2. He couldn't kick to save his life, which was his poorest attribute, despite efforts to rectify it - different tactics could have resolved this but you don't work tactics around your keeper. 3. Handling high balls, suspect, I didn't feel comfortable with him when they came in. 4. Shot stopping, saved us from some worse beatings last season, when we were suspect as a team, still leaked the goals though. 5. Still better than Cronin, what are Bristol Rovers thinking!
Defensively we were at times very poor last season and while AJ has to take some of the blame I feel he was exposed by some awful defending. The communication issue is a fair point but as I said with no consistant back four in front of him no rapport was developed. The kicking issue is unfair, admittedly the ball rentention for his clearances was awful but so was every long ball we played. I am not saying that he was perfect but I think he should lots of potential
Defence has always been our lacking point for years we have really messed up so it is about time that we become a strong team with a good back four that don't mess up, King was the man before but will he be now, I hope he is still good.
Sad to see Benno go, I still think he has a role to play as utility, am gutted about Barcham as he livened up every game he played in, I liked Nutter and thought he would do better further forward or with mid player who would switch with him (Martin). As for keepers, Julian had some brilliant moments but his positioning was often wrong and needed to be in control of the defence more. Both he and Cronin could be great but they need something more to make that happen - (not sure what!). i would have kept Julian and got in another to make him No2 again.
The defence was poor yes but was part of that down to not knowing whether Julian was coming or going? Keepers and defenders work with each other but a good/bad defence will affect the keepers' thinking and vice versa. He has had two seasons as the number one and he didn't work on his communication once, not even when he was number two to Royce which is when he should have worked on it. I agree he kept us in games and is a good shot stopper but if you flip the coin he has cost us in games. Some examples just last season included the two goals conceeded against Torquay, Stevenage (A), Lincoln (H) which cost us 9 points. We'd have easily got into the play offs and challenged for the auto spots if we hadn't have dropped points in just those four games and for a club to do well, you need a solid defence and a guy that can score 20+ in a season. That worked in 08/09 and it half worked last season with Cody but Julian wasn't the answer.
