Smith retiring from football..

And he showed his experience by making sure players didn't get too carried away celebrating after we'd scored that day, as he knew we needed to stay focused.
I think that's a big part of why Carrick liked him, his undoubted influence on others around him.

His influence on the team was greater than the sum of his parts physically and technically, I'd say we have have the opposite problem with most of our players currently, especially in defence. Fry and Dijksteel have everything physically and technically to be mainstays and highly influential members of the squad but rarely lead, lift or galvanise those around them, and are prone to the odd lapse or screw up in themselves.

We really lack that extra bit of experience, nastiness, nous, organisation etc that you expect the senior pros to bring, both bedding in youngsters and new signings, or an arm round the shoulder / boIIocking on field if the in game management situation demands it.
 
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With Giles on loan, question marks over Bangura still injury wise, Engel presumably done here, Dijksteel out of contract and Ayling looking a broken man, we could well need two new fullbacks again to start next season, cover or an upgrade on Borges and an upgrade on Ayling and probably a third as a rotation option with our Starship Troopers style training ground.
I bet the new manager wont have as many injuries
 
Wiki said he had an ankle injury against Bham in 2023. But did he then suffer another injury after that?
Tommy ruptured his Achilles in October 2023 and has been unable to play for Boro since. He is set to continue his rehab at the club.

I assume further damage to the rest of his ankle from the achilles injury?

I have had a suspected partial dislocation of my own ankle and know it's never been right since, a few others with similar injuries on my rehab courses had issues with tendons and the floating bones around them since their ankle injuries, especially from post op scar tissue. These were to just get us pottering about, not as pro-athletes.
 
Steady away player but like others have said we badly miss that bit of nastiness and his obvious leadership qualities. I said on Monday night we could have done with him to rattle Le Fee. Looks like he will go into media work. Best of luck to him.
 
Brought a tear to my eye reading his message. Best of luck Tommy in whatever comes next. A model professional. UTB
 
Tommy Smith proved to be a quality signing at the time, a proper full back, excellent leader on the pitch and no doubt off it too. His statement oozes class and his absence has left a gaping hole that we have struggled in filling. I wish Tommy all the best for his future, I hope he can stay in the game in some way, Thank you Tommy.
 
That’s too bad for Smudge — a really good pro and one of our better signings. He added leadership to the back line that’s for sure and therefore a big loss when he went down with such a cruel injury.
 
Was a decent right back at this level.
Character is mentioned and rightly so.
Ideally, you want 6-8 people in your XI with the attitude and character of Smith.
I fear, for the last couple of years, we struggle for one or two.
 
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