Viking Supporters Co-operative

Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: Bailey Vickerage on March 24, 2023, 12:02:10 pm

Title: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: Bailey Vickerage on March 24, 2023, 12:02:10 pm
Signed until the end of the season. Very good signing imo, had him as a potential target in January.
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: normal rules on March 24, 2023, 12:08:29 pm
Is this shutting the gate after the horse has bolted?
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: Cramby10 on March 24, 2023, 12:15:18 pm
I’m not knocking the player as I’ve never heard of him if I’m honest. But it always worries me that a player finds himself without a club. How and why does this happen if he’s of professional standard? Injury, attitude, greed, other? Please enlighten me.
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: pib on March 24, 2023, 12:17:07 pm
Not against this. Season is over but it's a good chance to have a look at him as an option for next season, and he's a good age.

I've always regarded him as a decent player from the little I've seen of teams he's played for over the years. Maybe someone with more wider knowledge of the EFL can shed more light.
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: Draytonian III on March 24, 2023, 12:19:01 pm
But the big question is he the first Rovers player to  play for the club with a first name beginning with the letter Z
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: Branton Rover on March 24, 2023, 12:21:04 pm
Zeke Rowe ??
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: normal rules on March 24, 2023, 12:21:10 pm
Looking at his agent, they don’t have many pro’s on their books. Two of them are at Boston United.

Something not right about him reading this on wiki. If true of course.

Returning to the Memorial Stadium for the 2022–23 pre-season, manager Joey Barton stated that Westbrooke's performances in training and matches had "done nothing but enhance his claim" for a first team place.[34] Though he started in the opening match of the regular season versus Forest Green Rovers,[35] Westbrooke was subsequently barred from first team training and was told he was free to leave the club.
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: GazLaz on March 24, 2023, 12:22:09 pm
He’s a good player and was on my list of potentials in the summer.

My concern is he is similar to what we have in the fact he’s a bit lightweight. Similar to Close in the fact he would be better with a more solid set of lads around him.
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: Branton Rover on March 24, 2023, 12:22:35 pm
Ezekiel Bartholomew Rowe technically was his name aka Zekke
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: ncRover on March 24, 2023, 12:23:02 pm
Looks like more of an attacking creative midfielder than a workhorse tough tackling type

Would surely need a midfield 3 to play him and Close together. Hopefully this would also mean 2 up top for tomorrow.
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: DMnumber4 on March 24, 2023, 12:27:23 pm
Looking at his agent, they don’t have many pro’s on their books. Two of them are at Boston United.

Something not right about him reading this on wiki. If true of course.

Returning to the Memorial Stadium for the 2022–23 pre-season, manager Joey Barton stated that Westbrooke's performances in training and matches had "done nothing but enhance his claim" for a first team place.[34] Though he started in the opening match of the regular season versus Forest Green Rovers,[35] Westbrooke was subsequently barred from first team training and was told he was free to leave the club.

Barton could start a fight in a phone box though
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: DonnyOsmond on March 24, 2023, 12:29:47 pm
Play him as a #10 and he'll be a good signing.
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: Chris Black come back on March 24, 2023, 12:36:41 pm
If Ravenhill doesn’t play, there are precisely zero tackles in our midfield per 90minutes.
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: Copps is Magic on March 24, 2023, 12:40:09 pm
We've got nothing to lose at this point, we are niether up nor down, try him out until the end of the season, if he's any good give him a longer deal.
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: ncRover on March 24, 2023, 12:45:26 pm
Sounds like a talented player who struggles with work ethic perhaps?

Probably best to not get carried away if he plays very well tomorrow then based on Barton’s comments.

Hope it works though and nothing to lose.
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: vaya on March 24, 2023, 12:47:42 pm
We've got nothing to lose at this point, we are niether up nor down, try him out until the end of the season, if he's any good give him a longer deal.

Yep, seems a fair analysis.

Whereas there's always questions as to why a player is a free agent, if any of these can be answered by 'due to antagonising Joey Barton' then that goes someway to sufficiently explaining things.
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: sedwardsdrfc on March 24, 2023, 01:24:42 pm
We needed a midfielder with the injuries so makes sense. Longer term if he’s more of a technical player it might help fill the void left by Tomlin.

Think we need to go 3 in the middle to make sure we don’t just get outmuscled and give Close/Westbrooke more passing options. Play Ravenhill with them and tell him he’s got till the end of the season to show he’s a pro player.
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: WantleyDragon on March 24, 2023, 01:34:48 pm
Looks to be another lightweight, non entity that no one has ever heard of.

Just another cheap body in to cover injuries.

We won't see him again after May.
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: BillyStubbsTears on March 24, 2023, 01:49:33 pm
Looks to be another lightweight, non entity that no one has ever heard of.

Just another cheap body in to cover injuries.

We won't see him again after May.

And who exactly do you expect us to sign in the last week of March?

Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: Filo on March 24, 2023, 01:56:46 pm
Looks to be another lightweight, non entity that no one has ever heard of.

Just another cheap body in to cover injuries.

We won't see him again after May.

We’re all pissed off but what is the point in having a dig just for the sake of it?

You suggest a free agent that fits within your cost parameters
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: Glyn_Wigley on March 24, 2023, 01:57:02 pm
Looking at his agent, they don’t have many pro’s on their books. Two of them are at Boston United.

Something not right about him reading this on wiki. If true of course.

Returning to the Memorial Stadium for the 2022–23 pre-season, manager Joey Barton stated that Westbrooke's performances in training and matches had "done nothing but enhance his claim" for a first team place.[34] Though he started in the opening match of the regular season versus Forest Green Rovers,[35] Westbrooke was subsequently barred from first team training and was told he was free to leave the club.

If he got up Barton's nose that speaks volumes in favour of him as far as I'm concerned.
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: danumdon on March 24, 2023, 02:00:37 pm
Yes, rank bad form to knock a player who has turned out exactly zero times for the club.

Remember a kid called Snodin coming to play his first game for Rovers in midfield, about 6 stone wet through! we don't expect to many of these in a football clubs history but give the lad a chance.

Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: DonnyOsmond on March 24, 2023, 02:03:43 pm
Looks to be another lightweight, non entity that no one has ever heard of.

Just another cheap body in to cover injuries.

We won't see him again after May.

And who exactly do you expect us to sign in the last week of March?



Danny Rose on 2K a week to get him in the shop window for summer. ;)
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: WantleyDragon on March 24, 2023, 02:40:38 pm
To clarify, I'm not knocking signing a player, after all the squad needs another body, but that's all he is, and he won't cost much.
I'm just saying not to get too hopeful that he's any good
(He's a free agent in march after all)

It's all bit Sunday league really, embarrassing. 
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: Campsall rover on March 24, 2023, 02:50:11 pm
Looks to be another lightweight, non entity that no one has ever heard of.

Just another cheap body in to cover injuries.

We won't see him again after May.
That’s just a stupid negative comment for the sake of being negative. Do you have evidence to back what you said up? No I didn’t think so.

When we played Bristol Rovers under Darren Moore in 202O at home I watched it on the i player and he was one of their better players on the day if not the most impressive.
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: WantleyDragon on March 24, 2023, 03:04:02 pm
Looks to be another lightweight, non entity that no one has ever heard of.

Just another cheap body in to cover injuries.

We won't see him again after May.
That’s just a stupid negative comment for the sake of being negative. Do you have evidence to back what you said up? No I didn’t think so.

When we played Bristol Rovers under Darren Moore in 202O at home I watched it on the i player and he was one of their better players on the day if not the most impressive.


Read my post above.

Everything I said isn't not true, and it's another sign of how far we have dropped.


As far as some people regarding this a good signing because he potentially pissed off joey Barton, oh please. 
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: Alan Southstand on March 24, 2023, 03:09:51 pm
Well, we certainly needed at least 1 midfielder, so it makes sense, but didn’t DS say he’s been training with a few Clubs so his fitness is pretty good?

That rings alarm bells to me, but what else could we do? If we could get someone who could actually tackle, I’d be much, much happier.
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: dickos1 on March 24, 2023, 03:22:24 pm
Why does that ring alarm bells?
How do you know he can’t tackle?
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: WantleyDragon on March 24, 2023, 03:26:11 pm
Why does that ring alarm bells?
How do you know he can’t tackle?
It makes you wonder though, plus strictly he didn't say he couldn't tackle.

If we really rated him, why not sign him sooner, or when he was released?
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: normal rules on March 24, 2023, 03:48:05 pm
Part of the minutes from the SB meeting at the end of Jan. Is ZW the midfielder alluded to?

DDaskediftherewasanyimminentgoodnewstocomeoutofthe club. GB said there was still funds to make more signings and head coach Danny Schofield was assessing a central midfielder who had been training with the club. DP asked if it would be a permanent signing or a loanee. GB said it would be a loan and the player would be out of contract in the summer so Rovers would request first refusal.
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: ncRover on March 24, 2023, 03:55:38 pm
What did Stevenage fans think to him?

Also in reply to normal rules, he has been training with Walsall.
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: Campsall rover on March 24, 2023, 04:07:09 pm
Looks to be another lightweight, non entity that no one has ever heard of.

Just another cheap body in to cover injuries.

We won't see him again after May.
That’s just a stupid negative comment for the sake of being negative. Do you have evidence to back what you said up? No I didn’t think so.

When we played Bristol Rovers under Darren Moore in 202O at home I watched it on the i player and he was one of their better players on the day if not the most impressive.


Read my post above.

Everything I said isn't not true, and it's another sign of how far we have dropped.


As far as some people regarding this a good signing because he potentially pissed off joey Barton, oh please.
We can only sign players out of contact after January.
Who do you expect us to sign.
I suppose we could ask Paul Scholes to come out of retirement and play for us. 
Oh no just realised he is joint owner of one of our League 2 rivals. That’s scuppered that one.
Any names on your list that we should have signed?

If you think I am happy with our current situation then you have not been reading my posts this week.
I am as absolutely distraught about it.
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: Glyn_Wigley on March 24, 2023, 04:14:44 pm
Looks to be another lightweight, non entity that no one has ever heard of.

Just another cheap body in to cover injuries.

We won't see him again after May.

Welcome to Doncaster Rovers, Zain.

Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: Bailey Vickerage on March 24, 2023, 04:18:33 pm
He was a key player in coventrys promotion from league 1 a couple of years ago and cov also rejected bids from Celtic and Leeds during that season but ended up going to Bristol Rovers in that summer, had a good first season with them but not done much recently and like ppl have said Barton wasn’t a fan of him.

Clearly has the ability to play league 1 minimum and a short term deal imo is the right option, let him prove himself and earn a new contract. Hopefully he gets his career back on track after a couple of tough years for him.
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: Upton Rover on March 24, 2023, 04:43:15 pm
I can’t see how people can say he’s a good player, he’s not had regular game time for over a year, and fell out with his last club, Reason unknown, there’s one thing he has an opportunity to shine in a very poor L2 team
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: ChrisBx on March 24, 2023, 04:47:27 pm
This is essentially an extended trial period for him. Our season is over and he is guaranteed game time due to injuries.

I imagine he'll do okay and then sign elsewhere.
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: scawsby steve on March 24, 2023, 05:35:15 pm
Looks to be another lightweight, non entity that no one has ever heard of.

Just another cheap body in to cover injuries.

We won't see him again after May.

Your semantics are a bit out there, mate; you mean that he's a player that you've never heard of. Most of us know that Westbrooke had a good reputation in League 1.

However, that doesn't mean that he won't be crap with us. We seem to have the ability to make any player look crap at the moment.

I hope he knows what he's letting himself in for.
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: steve@dcfd on March 24, 2023, 05:49:03 pm
Let’s give a chance we only have Close Ravenhill and maybe Rowe so he will help out.
I keep saying it I would like to see 3 central midfield players in a 5 but DS keeps playing 2. I would like to see Tommy in that three as well. But I’m not holding my breath.
But for Zac let’s give a chance short term.
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: elmsallrover on March 24, 2023, 05:52:09 pm
But the question is would we have signed him if everyone was fit
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: sedwardsdrfc on March 24, 2023, 06:43:16 pm
No we probably wouldn’t. That said we signed Olowu in desperation after loads of centre back injuries. It’s as much chance as any of our other signings of turning out decent 30/70 against from the last few years I reckon
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke In Zaine signing ?
Post by: Colemans Left Hook on March 25, 2023, 07:21:51 am

Zain
Origin:Arabic. Meaning:Beauty; grace. Zain is a boy's name of Arabic origin. It translates to “beauty” and “grace”.8

Joey Barton seems to be Catholic - so potentially you could read into "the divergence of religions" what you want  - if you were looking for a source of friction between the pair 


what is food for thought is the fact that Ramadan started on Wednesday

and Rovers have been starved of success this season and low on energy. 

Shame the match wasn't an evening kick off you might say

Anyhow it's a potential clean start in pastures new and good luck to him  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Zain Westbrooke
Post by: ncRover on April 10, 2023, 06:56:43 pm
One positive from today. Looked really bright and creative.