One thing I underestimated about Boogs for quite a few years was his ability on the ball. He has been by a long way our best ball playing CB in recent times, with great composure and calmness on the ball and fantastic passing range. The possession side of our game has suffered big time whenever he has been out, and whenever we have watched NTS or Jackson try to fill his shoes in playing the ball out from the back, pinging switches and penetrating lines with passes, his absence has been noted.

I don't know enough about Donachie as to whether he fill this role for us if he is to step in next season, but if not we will have a lot of work to do in adjusting how we play.

This to say nothing of intangibles and leadership, of which I'm sure he brought a lot as well.

I wouldn't have been disappointed had he gone around again.