Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: Michael Shaw on August 06, 2024, 08:14:36 pm
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https://insidefutbol.com/2024/08/06/doncaster-rovers-set-to-land-west-ham-talent/655200/
On loan from West Ham. 19 year old central midfielder.
Wait and see if it is official.
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Already in the rumour mill.
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Let’s see when it’s official the Craig replacement looks like he’s on his way
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https://thedeck.news/doncaster-rovers-set-to-sign-premier-league-midfielder/
Another source. Doesn't mean its not true.
If we wait until its official he might have already been in the squad a month.
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https://thedeck.news/doncaster-rovers-set-to-sign-premier-league-midfielder/
Another source. Doesn't mean its not true.
If we wait until its official he might have already been in the squad a month.
This one lost me when it claimed Ben Close can be a physical presence in midfield.
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https://thedeck.news/doncaster-rovers-set-to-sign-premier-league-midfielder/
Another source. Doesn't mean its not true.
If we wait until its official he might have already been in the squad a month.
This isn't another source, it's Chall, reporting on what's been put in the public domain.
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Pete O'Rourke put his name to this an hour ago, he is usually correct
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He’s a Northern Ireland U21 player so if he gets in the first team squad we could end up having postponements if we have 2 others selected at an international weekends. On a brighter note me and him have the same birthday, but I’m slightly older
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https://thedeck.news/doncaster-rovers-set-to-sign-premier-league-midfielder/
Another source. Doesn't mean its not true.
If we wait until its official he might have already been in the squad a month.
This one lost me when it claimed Ben Close can be a physical presence in midfield.
…but only when he’s fit!
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‘Physical presence’ to me is someone who has something about them with a bit of weight.
Ben Close is not that man. Poor choice of wording from Chall.
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More info on this potential signing
https://x.com/SportsPeteO/status/1821515484807786656
COYR
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More info on this potential signing
https://x.com/SportsPeteO/status/1821515484807786656
COYR
That sounds promising!
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https://thedeck.news/doncaster-rovers-set-to-sign-premier-league-midfielder/
Another source. Doesn't mean its not true.
If we wait until its official he might have already been in the squad a month.
This one lost me when it claimed Ben Close can be a physical presence in midfield.
Yes, that was a very informed comment - even his fans could never claim that!
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For those who havn’t checked out the Rumours section,I also spotted this on the West Ham site:
U21 NI International. 6ft tall.
This from the West Ham site:
Having impressed last season, the plaudits for Kelly’s efforts have continued this term. Watching any of Kelly’s performances this season and what he is about. He runs. And runs. And then finds the energy to somehow run some more. He covers every blade of grass with effortless ease, whether supporting his mates in attack or protecting his defence.
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For those who havn’t checked out the Rumours section,I also spotted this on the West Ham site:
U21 NI International. 6ft tall.
This from the West Ham site:
Having impressed last season, the plaudits for Kelly’s efforts have continued this term. Watching any of Kelly’s performances this season and what he is about. He runs. And runs. And then finds the energy to somehow run some more. He covers every blade of grass with effortless ease, whether supporting his mates in attack or protecting his defence.
I just read a match report from the FA youth cup final it said
“Outstanding in the middle of the park. Tenacious worker who tracked back brilliantly."
Sounds like a box to box type more than a Craig -type playmaker
Btw Alan it seems I was wrong about the midfield… I wonder if McCann has lost patience waiting for Close?
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He’s a Northern Ireland U21 player so if he gets in the first team squad we could end up having postponements if we have 2 others selected at an international weekends. On a brighter note me and him have the same birthday, but I’m slightly older
I was thinking that as well. TSL may be with England U21, and maybe Yeboah, who was born in Italy of Ghanaian descent so possibly qualifies for either, might also attract attention if he does well.
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On Close, GM has said because he’s missed the pre-season,he’s still probably 2-3 weeks away from being near possible selection to the squad.
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Before he joined West Ham Utd, he played for Coleraine in the Irish Premiership, who at the time were managed by Oran Kearney, his brother in law is now the manager of that team
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Personally, I think Grant was disappointed with the number of injuries that impacted last season and I suspect he won't tolerate it this season. Hence, he has concentrated on fitness in pre-season. Miller is as good as gone and Close may be pushed aside. This lad has the potential to replace Close so I can see the logic. We can only wait and see if it happens.
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It’s been announced
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Standard of training and the competitiveness at CP must be frightening. We are going to have players who would start in most League 2 teams not even make the matchday squad.
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Don’t understand the knockers for Ben Close, in my eyes he is one of, if not the best midfielders in this league when fit - certainly the best at this club.
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Don’t understand the knockers for Ben Close, in my eyes he is one of, if not the best midfielders in this league when fit - certainly the best at this club.
Maybe so but can't blame GM for adding at bit more insurance with Close still a few weeks away, and with a record of injury absences, Clifton only just back with 30 mins under his belt.
With games coming thick and fast, including cup games, it would be a tall order for both Bailey and Broadbent to shoulder all the midfield burden. Thought Flint might be a good back up but GM knows best.
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Excellent piece of business from Grant, in my view, despite a fe.w questioning why would we need any more midfielders. The answer was, of course, we didn’t have a like for like replacement for Craig. He added so much to our midfield once he’d settled alongside Bailey and I’m sure this lad will be of a similar stamp.
The only question mark left, for me, is the keeper position. We’ll have to see how that goes, but now Hull have signed another keeper, I’d be having a serious conversation with them over TLT.
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Don’t understand the knockers for Ben Close, in my eyes he is one of, if not the best midfielders in this league when fit - certainly the best at this club.
The answer is in what you wrote, when fit!
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Crikey, it’s obvious, rarely fit, rarely contributes.
Will this season be different, not started too well has it?
So come on Ben, let’s see you on full throttle…
Medical team seems to be right on it, so support is there. Team isn’t sh*T so it’s an easy come in, no excuses any more….
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Saw this lad play when he was at Coleraine and thought he was a player then. Totally different player to Craig but I think come the end of the season fans would choose Kelly over Craig. Time will tell
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https://www.whufc.com/news/patrick-kelly-joins-doncaster-rovers-loan
Official on West Ham site. Welcome Patrick.
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GM has also said Miller will be replaced.
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Crikey. They really do mean it don't they...?
BobG
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When GM says he wants a strong 22 this season he is not kidding. Well trained, all fit and ready to go. Bring it on.
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Rovers boss Grant McCann said: “We’re delighted to get PK. He’s a lad we’ve watched a lot of and we had to be wait patiently as he’s been with the West Ham first team all of pre-season.
“He’s capable of playing in the six or eight in our midfield - very much in the mould of Matty Craig.
There it is the replacement he’s been waiting for
https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/grant-mccann-lauds-latest-doncaster-rovers-loan-signing-as-he-drops-further-transfer-hint-4735352
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You just can't trust his word can ya! One minute he says we're done, then today, he hid from Radio Sheffield Kelly coming in and said, even with Miller going, he's happy with his 'front six'. Then Kelly's announced and woah, he tells DFP wants another forward!! That's just greedy.
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This lad must be good because he has been brought in to play most games I suspect. West Ham won’t want him sat on the bench for 46 games just getting cameo mins.
He is only 19 so 2 yrs younger than Matty Craig.
If he is as good as MC at 19yrs old then he is a hell of a prospect.
Our squad is looking extremely strong. If anyone else has got a squad as string as ours in League 2 I will be very shocked.
In fact I am 99% certain they don’t.
Can’t wait for Saturday and getting that rare home opening day win.
20 yrs so way way overdue.
I think we will get off to a flyer against a team I think will struggle this season.
Bring it on. This will be a season to remember.
I predict we will beat the 92 point we got in 2003/04 and I predict we will score 80+ league goals
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It strikes me that GM is making more player interactions with Ireland, in and out, North and South, than any Rovers manager since Peter Doherty. It worked out really well for him - 8 successive seasons in Division 2 when that meant 2nd tier. :scarf:
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Excellent piece of business from Grant, in my view, despite a fe.w questioning why would we need any more midfielders. The answer was, of course, we didn’t have a like for like replacement for Craig. He added so much to our midfield once he’d settled alongside Bailey and I’m sure this lad will be of a similar stamp.
The only question mark left, for me, is the keeper position. We’ll have to see how that goes, but now Hull have signed another keeper, I’d be having a serious conversation with them over TLT.
I noticed that too re Hulls new keeper. Seems TLTs path to the first team has been blocked again. You just never know with GM. Might be one for a belated Christmas present.
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A number of comments (all positive) from West Ham fans on ‘X’, most notably from one guy who said “He’s a bit vicious”. Could we have Roy Keane MkII on our hands?
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This lad must be good because he has been brought in to play most games I suspect. West Ham won’t want him sat on the bench for 46 games just getting cameo mins.
He is only 19 so 2 yrs younger than Matty Craig.
If he is as good as MC at 19yrs old then he is a hell of a prospect.
Our squad is looking extremely strong. If anyone else has got a squad as string as ours in League 2 I will be very shocked.
In fact I am 99% certain they don’t.
Can’t wait for Saturday and getting that rare home opening day win.
20 yrs so way way overdue.
I think we will get off to a flyer against a team I think will struggle this season.
Bring it on. This will be a season to remember.
I predict we will beat the 92 point we got in 2003/04 and I predict we will score 80+ league goals
GM said at some point last season that he wouldn’t sign a player from a club who demanded the player played games so I suspect PK knows he will have to fight for his place. I look at the squad now and can’t make out who the fringe players are. The young lads have all found loans and we now have 2 teams we could quite easily field.
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And he may well change all 11 for the cup game v Salford?
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Excellent piece of business from Grant, in my view, despite a fe.w questioning why would we need any more midfielders. The answer was, of course, we didn’t have a like for like replacement for Craig. He added so much to our midfield once he’d settled alongside Bailey and I’m sure this lad will be of a similar stamp.
The only question mark left, for me, is the keeper position. We’ll have to see how that goes, but now Hull have signed another keeper, I’d be having a serious conversation with them over TLT.
I noticed that too re Hulls new keeper. Seems TLTs path to the first team has been blocked again. You just never know with GM. Might be one for a belated Christmas present.
Can't see us buying him and equally can't see us having two keepers on loan, I think the TLT ship has sailed.
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Excellent piece of business from Grant, in my view, despite a fe.w questioning why would we need any more midfielders. The answer was, of course, we didn’t have a like for like replacement for Craig. He added so much to our midfield once he’d settled alongside Bailey and I’m sure this lad will be of a similar stamp.
The only question mark left, for me, is the keeper position. We’ll have to see how that goes, but now Hull have signed another keeper, I’d be having a serious conversation with them over TLT.
I noticed that too re Hulls new keeper. Seems TLTs path to the first team has been blocked again. You just never know with GM. Might be one for a belated Christmas present.
Can't see us buying him and equally can't see us having two keepers on loan, I think the TLT ship has sailed.
If he became available then it’s honest conversation time with Lawlor, just like he did with Miller.
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Excellent piece of business from Grant, in my view, despite a fe.w questioning why would we need any more midfielders. The answer was, of course, we didn’t have a like for like replacement for Craig. He added so much to our midfield once he’d settled alongside Bailey and I’m sure this lad will be of a similar stamp.
The only question mark left, for me, is the keeper position. We’ll have to see how that goes, but now Hull have signed another keeper, I’d be having a serious conversation with them over TLT.
I noticed that too re Hulls new keeper. Seems TLTs path to the first team has been blocked again. You just never know with GM. Might be one for a belated Christmas present.
Can't see us buying him and equally can't see us having two keepers on loan, I think the TLT ship has sailed.
If he became available then it’s honest conversation time with Lawlor, just like he did with Miller.
If he was available I'd be slinging Lawlor's hook for him.
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Excellent piece of business from Grant, in my view, despite a fe.w questioning why would we need any more midfielders. The answer was, of course, we didn’t have a like for like replacement for Craig. He added so much to our midfield once he’d settled alongside Bailey and I’m sure this lad will be of a similar stamp.
The only question mark left, for me, is the keeper position. We’ll have to see how that goes, but now Hull have signed another keeper, I’d be having a serious conversation with them over TLT.
I noticed that too re Hulls new keeper. Seems TLTs path to the first team has been blocked again. You just never know with GM. Might be one for a belated Christmas present.
Can't see us buying him and equally can't see us having two keepers on loan, I think the TLT ship has sailed.
If he became available then it’s honest conversation time with Lawlor, just like he did with Miller.
If he was available I'd be slinging Lawlor's hook for him.
Would just be about the best icing of a cake you could get !
TLT was the spark that ignited our team for the last quarter last season.
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If anything, I would guess January is more likely to sort out the keeper situation.
Jones will have completed his loan stint in Ireland.
TSL could be released mid term of his season loan.
TLT will have less time left on his contract.
If we are in a strong position by then and promotion looks likely, then we're in a better position to attract TLT on a permanent move....providing he hasn't been offloaded by Hull by then of course.
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When fit we have Kelly, Bailey, Clifton, Close, Westbrooke, Broadbent and Sbarra as central midfield options, in addition to the younger lads who might not be going out on loan. If anything, we are overweight in midfield.
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Like with Craig, TLT isn’t a league 2 footballer.
And he’s going to put his own career progression ahead of what we want.
If he’s loaned out it won’t be to this level for the 3rd time and I doubt we’re going to be paying a 6-figure sum now.
If we get promoted and TLT gets released by Hull then it’s the most obvious signing in the world.
Anyway for now, TSL might be absolutely fine and we’re being unfair on him after one game.
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When fit we have Kelly, Bailey, Clifton, Close, Westbrooke, Broadbent and Sbarra as central midfield options, in addition to the younger lads who might not be going out on loan. If anything, we are overweight in midfield.
The names are there but with only Bailey proving he can produce at league 2 level consistently last seaso. Clifton played for Grimsby for all the season.
Sbarra National league consistency
Close and Westbrooke on the treatment table for nearly half the season need to show they can play in a team aiming for the top of the league
Broadbent on the bench for half of last season should improve
Kelly unknown but comes with good credentials
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Signing this lad did make me think, I wonder if GM has spoke with Close/Westbrook about their place in the squad?
Personally I think both are good players, Close I've always thought would be more effective at a higher level where it was less physical.
BUT it seema they are the last couple of injury prone players we have on board now.
Wonder if he may be looking to move them on?
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Close has played more games than James Maxwell over the last 2 seasons.
Westbrooke played more games than Maxwell last season.
I’m not hammering Maxwell for his injuries but I just don’t like certain players getting picked on over others.
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You right that they both have played more but Maxwell as contributed more than both Close and Westbrooke if they do managed to play let’s see what they can contribute apart from slowing our game to their pace
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It’s just not proportionate at all, and never has been when talking about Close - he is in my eyes the best midfielder in this league, he did feck all wrong last year, and was part of the revival until a nasty challenge killed his season. Westbrooke is also pretty good, but I give Close the edge over him. ( listening to IFollow the away commentary all picked him out as man of the match- every time! “stop him stop the team” were the words a few times)
I think people will be surprised how good he is with better and more confident players around him.
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Close gets a ridiculously bad rep. He’s a good footballer and, certainly up until Matty Craig arrived, we were a far better team when he was in it. It’s all about balance and getting more physical players around him.
Westbrooke is a good footballer too, but he seemed to lose his confidence towards the end of the season (after the injury) and McCann alluded to that too.
We have strong midfield options now we have Kelly in too. Lots of good options. I see Clifton playing a big part too.
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I thought Clifton looked especially lively when he came on yesterday.
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Seemed to be running in treacle, doesn't seem blessed with pace
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Seemed to be running in treacle, doesn't seem blessed with pace
Clifton?!
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Close gets a ridiculously bad rep. He’s a good footballer and, certainly up until Matty Craig arrived, we were a far better team when he was in it. It’s all about balance and getting more physical players around him.
Westbrooke is a good footballer too, but he seemed to lose his confidence towards the end of the season (after the injury) and McCann alluded to that too.
We have strong midfield options now we have Kelly in too. Lots of good options. I see Clifton playing a big part too.
Can’t agree with that, we were a far better team without him, Craig was excellent of course, however no Craig yesterday and no Close, and we were just fine. I hope he’s moved on in January, he’s offered very little in the time he’s been here. He’ll do well elsewhere but not for us.
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Seemed to be running in treacle, doesn't seem blessed with pace
Clifton?!
Yep
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Seemed to be running in treacle, doesn't seem blessed with pace
Clifton?!
Yep
I don't agree with that. Put himself about, got stuck in and didn't lack pace from my view.
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I didn’t get that impression at all. In fact I’d go as far to say the pace in midfield got better after he came on. Broadbent is not particularly quick!
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Worried he might lack on the physical side but tonight against a very physical side he showed no signs of being too lightweight. Looks to be another really solid signing. Hope him coming off was just a bit of cramp on a heavy pitch.
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It sounds like he’s had a pretty decent debut and went off with cramp on the 60 minute mark, or so. Not bad, when you consider he’s not had much training with the other lads. Maybe needs another week or so to settle in fully and then I think we’re going to enjoy his input.
Special mention, also, for Clifton, who seems to be trying his best to get into the 11 on Saturday. I wouldn’t hesitate trying him alongside Bailey and having Kelly and Broadbent on the bench.
So, 2 games gone and things seem to be rolling along nicely. Just a shame about Maxwell’s injury.
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Kelly looks a prospect, played his role well, moved the ball on for forward runners and made a couple of tackles. Had one really good run straight through the middle but ran out of options, looked knackered when he went off with what looked like cramp.
Thought Clifton had a good run out, looks a solid workhorse, nothing flash but got up and down, didn't notice he lacked pace, looked ok to me. With players like Clifton, Kelly, Westbrooke and Broadbent, with eventually Close to come back in we will always have an option to play alongside
Bailey, in fact these lot give us the option of allowing Bailey to venture further forward and get involved, run onto through balls.
Plenty for GM to work with there.
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Westbrooke had an excellent first half, I thought.
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There’s a piece on Belfast Live, with Grant McCann talking about Patrick Kelly and his experiences in the Irish League