Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: steve@dcfd on May 20, 2025, 02:53:27 pm
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No decision as yet but final decision should be made before the end of the week according to Free Press one way or the other.
If he can get a better contract elsewhere with guarantee of first team football then good luck to him.
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Selby’s the one to know about this one!
He could be away on his holidays, currently, of course. Either way a decision will be made soon enough.
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If I was him, I'd leave. Although I do know from several sources close to him, he wants to stay.....but the contract he has been offered is pathetic. Almost national living wage.
It should send alarms bells out through the academy!
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I don’t hear alarm bells emanating from any of Grant’s decisions ! One of the first comments Htant made in public two years ago was that he thought a comment he had made to Bobby had hit the lad hard ! It was when he told Bobby he did not fancy him in a heading duel with Ironside who could jump much higher than him . It is little incidents that can set a relationship on a track and I don't think BF and GM are hand in glove on attitudinal issues .I hope I am wrong because having a second Donny lad in the squad would be good .
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I don’t hear alarm bells emanating from any of Grant’s decisions ! One of the first comments Htant made in public two years ago was that he thought a comment he had made to Bobby had hit the lad hard ! It was when he told Bobby he did not fancy him in a heading duel with Ironside who could jump much higher than him . It is little incidents that can set a relationship on a track and I don't think BF and GM are hand in glove on attitudinal issues .I hope I am wrong because having a second Donny lad in the squad would be good .
I can’t recall the quote in its entirety but I’m sure Bobby said Joe wouldn’t be able to get off the ground once he’d put an elbow into his ribs, which Grant appreciated!
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Grant gets in the heads of players and wants to see a spark, a reaction, prove I’m wrong attitude from them. I imagine if they don’t show such a reaction they don’t last.
What is Bobby F worth is a difficult one to asses. As someone who’s only seen a small handful of games within the first team, and out on a few loans to non league, he was never ( to the layman) going to get top dollar. If he does sign it is for him to force the clubs hand to improve terms and he can only do that through playing - a tricky situation for the lad, and I suppose the club.
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If I was him, I'd leave. Although I do know from several sources close to him, he wants to stay.....but the contract he has been offered is pathetic. Almost national living wage.
It should send alarms bells out through the academy!
So what’s Faulkner going to do then stay or go?
Give us a heads up, cheers
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If I was him, I'd leave. Although I do know from several sources close to him, he wants to stay.....but the contract he has been offered is pathetic. Almost national living wage.
It should send alarms bells out through the academy!
So what’s Faulkner going to do then stay or go?
Give us a heads up, cheers
I'm not his conscience! We await the outcome!
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If I was him, I'd leave. Although I do know from several sources close to him, he wants to stay.....but the contract he has been offered is pathetic. Almost national living wage.
It should send alarms bells out through the academy!
So what’s Faulkner going to do then stay or go?
Give us a heads up, cheers
It’s telling that the poster that champions BF has failed to make a comment on this thread
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It would do no harm to retain him and loan him out again, to get more experience. Or show confidence in him and start him as a back up to whichever centre backs he signs. Who knows with opportunities he could prove good enough, but we definitely need tried and tested experienced centre backs for that league. We have lost a lot of know how with those who have left.
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If I was him, I'd leave. Although I do know from several sources close to him, he wants to stay.....but the contract he has been offered is pathetic. Almost national living wage.
It should send alarms bells out through the academy!
So what’s Faulkner going to do then stay or go?
Give us a heads up, cheers
It’s telling that the poster that champions BF has failed to make a comment on this thread
What is it telling us?
Maybe selby doesn’t want to say anything which might spoil things for Bobby.
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If I was him, I'd leave. Although I do know from several sources close to him, he wants to stay.....but the contract he has been offered is pathetic. Almost national living wage.
It should send alarms bells out through the academy!
Has he done enough to earn more than that? 20 year old lad taking home 25k a year to play football? I’d imagine any new contract with be incentivised with appearance fee’s etc
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If I was him, I'd leave. Although I do know from several sources close to him, he wants to stay.....but the contract he has been offered is pathetic. Almost national living wage.
It should send alarms bells out through the academy!
Has he done enough to earn more than that? 20 year old lad taking home 25k a year to play football? I’d imagine any new contract with be incentivised with appearance fee’s etc
Taking home!!! Not even "top of the note"
And no point imagining any incentives........they aren't even on the table!!
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Apprentice wage then?
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If I was him, I'd leave. Although I do know from several sources close to him, he wants to stay.....but the contract he has been offered is pathetic. Almost national living wage.
It should send alarms bells out through the academy!
Has he done enough to earn more than that? 20 year old lad taking home 25k a year to play football? I’d imagine any new contract with be incentivised with appearance fee’s etc
Taking home!!! Not even "top of the note"
And no point imagining any incentives........they aren't even on the table!!
I find it very hard to believe there would be no appearance fee
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If I was him, I'd leave. Although I do know from several sources close to him, he wants to stay.....but the contract he has been offered is pathetic. Almost national living wage.
It should send alarms bells out through the academy!
Has he done enough to earn more than that? 20 year old lad taking home 25k a year to play football? I’d imagine any new contract with be incentivised with appearance fee’s etc
Taking home!!! Not even "top of the note"
And no point imagining any incentives........they aren't even on the table!!
I find it very hard to believe there would be no appearance fee
I'll leave it with you to get your head around it then.
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Until he proves himself regularly above National League North level he can't expect an EFL wage.
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Until he proves himself regularly above National League North level he can't expect an EFL wage.
He's not even been offered a NL north wage!
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I know what Olowu was on here when he signed. He took it, knuckled down and is now on plenty.
Money should be irrelevant for someone that wasn’t even a first team squad member in a 4th division team last season.
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Until he proves himself regularly above National League North level he can't expect an EFL wage.
He's not even been offered a NL north wage!
That’s the thing, you can get more working and playing non league than a lot of L2 players get. You are putting the first nail in the coffin of being a pro by dropping down. He’s mental if he doesn’t sign it. I like Bobby but I could find you 10 that have dropped out of prem academies tomorrow that would jump to fill his boots.
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Until he proves himself regularly above National League North level he can't expect an EFL wage.
He's not even been offered a NL north wage!
That’s the thing, you can get more working and playing non league than a lot of L2 players get. You are putting the first nail in the coffin of being a pro by dropping down. He’s mental if he doesn’t sign it. I like Bobby but I could find you 10 that have dropped out of prem academies tomorrow that would jump to fill his boots.
Not all clubs in NL north are part time. Some are fully Pro.
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What price for opportunity? Do you take the money at a low non league side with less room for growth or knuckle down at a pro league one side with a point to prove?
If I backed myself I'd be going the EFL route. If he is that highly rated as some make out another EFL side will take a punt on him at higher wages of course.
The club has a budget, ultimately I wouldn't spend much on him now. An unpopular opinion with some no doubt but I dont think we have the budget to keep many development players.
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If neither Faulkner or Flint are going to develop for us then we might as well sack off the youth academy, a lot of money for no return on investment.
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What price for opportunity? Do you take the money at a low non league side with less room for growth or knuckle down at a pro league one side with a point to prove?
If I backed myself I'd be going the EFL route. If he is that highly rated as some make out another EFL side will take a punt on him at higher wages of course.
The club has a budget, ultimately I wouldn't spend much on him now. An unpopular opinion with some no doubt but I dont think we have the budget to keep many development players.
Good point, bfyp, and there has to be something done at the Club, if we’re to have any hopes of further developing good young players. It really is crying out for a separate budget for a development squad.
This could come from another new ‘entity’ on the Board, who is prepared to put a significant investment for that very purpose. We can’t expect Mr Bramall to keep piling money in for everything, after all.
GM has mentioned this very topic in one of his recent press interviews and I’m sure the Club like the idea, but liking it and funding it are two very different things.
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What price for opportunity? Do you take the money at a low non league side with less room for growth or knuckle down at a pro league one side with a point to prove?
If I backed myself I'd be going the EFL route. If he is that highly rated as some make out another EFL side will take a punt on him at higher wages of course.
The club has a budget, ultimately I wouldn't spend much on him now. An unpopular opinion with some no doubt but I dont think we have the budget to keep many development players.
Good point, bfyp, and there has to be something done at the Club, if we’re to have any hopes of further developing good young players. It really is crying out for a separate budget for a development squad.
This could come from another new ‘entity’ on the Board, who is prepared to put a significant investment for that very purpose. We can’t expect Mr Bramall to keep piling money in for everything, after all.
GM has mentioned this very topic in one of his recent press interviews and I’m sure the Club like the idea, but liking it and funding it are two very different things.
What about getting rid of the over 60's season ticket prices....and make them pay full price. That might fund it!
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Well, sometimes players have to go backwards to go forwards, to make their own mark in the game. If he doesn't feel like he's going to get a fair crack at things from his discussions with McCann, then maybe going somewhere like Scunthorpe under Butler, could be a good move. At his age, money shouldn't be the main motivator. That will come if he believes in himself and is prepared to make sacrifices to achieve it.
As said above Olowu is a good example of a young player, surrounded by talent at Arsenal seeing some of his mates go onto make the first team, which must be hard not to feel sorry for himself, but he took the chance to get games at League One, then League Two, a long way from home, to build up his confidence and realise soke of that potential Arsenal must have seen in the young kid.
I think he said himself, he needed to get away from London to fully concentrate on football.
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What price for opportunity? Do you take the money at a low non league side with less room for growth or knuckle down at a pro league one side with a point to prove?
If I backed myself I'd be going the EFL route. If he is that highly rated as some make out another EFL side will take a punt on him at higher wages of course.
The club has a budget, ultimately I wouldn't spend much on him now. An unpopular opinion with some no doubt but I dont think we have the budget to keep many development players.
Good point, bfyp, and there has to be something done at the Club, if we’re to have any hopes of further developing good young players. It really is crying out for a separate budget for a development squad.
This could come from another new ‘entity’ on the Board, who is prepared to put a significant investment for that very purpose. We can’t expect Mr Bramall to keep piling money in for everything, after all.
GM has mentioned this very topic in one of his recent press interviews and I’m sure the Club like the idea, but liking it and funding it are two very different things.
What about getting rid of the over 60's season ticket prices....and make them pay full price. That might fund it!
A 66 year old paying less for a ticket than a 25 year old in this day and age is pretty wild
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What price for opportunity? Do you take the money at a low non league side with less room for growth or knuckle down at a pro league one side with a point to prove?
If I backed myself I'd be going the EFL route. If he is that highly rated as some make out another EFL side will take a punt on him at higher wages of course.
The club has a budget, ultimately I wouldn't spend much on him now. An unpopular opinion with some no doubt but I dont think we have the budget to keep many development players.
Good point, bfyp, and there has to be something done at the Club, if we’re to have any hopes of further developing good young players. It really is crying out for a separate budget for a development squad.
This could come from another new ‘entity’ on the Board, who is prepared to put a significant investment for that very purpose. We can’t expect Mr Bramall to keep piling money in for everything, after all.
GM has mentioned this very topic in one of his recent press interviews and I’m sure the Club like the idea, but liking it and funding it are two very different things.
What about getting rid of the over 60's season ticket prices....and make them pay full price. That might fund it!
A 66 year old paying less for a ticket than a 25 year old in this day and age is pretty wild
OAP season tickets start at the age of 60 for the Rovers. Most are probably in full time employment. And most will earn more than 25 year olds.
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Well, sometimes players have to go backwards to go forwards, to make their own mark in the game. If he doesn't feel like he's going to get a fair crack at things from his discussions with McCann, then maybe going somewhere like Scunthorpe under Butler, could be a good move. At his age, money shouldn't be the main motivator. That will come if he believes in himself and is prepared to make sacrifices to achieve it.
As said above Olowu is a good example of a young player, surrounded by talent at Arsenal seeing some of his mates go onto make the first team, which must be hard not to feel sorry for himself, but he took the chance to get games at League One, then League Two, a long way from home, to build up his confidence and realise soke of that potential Arsenal must have seen in the young kid.
I think he said himself, he needed to get away from London to fully concentrate on football.
Ironically he could be going back now to concentrate on his church.
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This is verging into politics but my god this country is set up to favour the older. Per person the gov spend way more on that age bracket compared to our kids. And we wonder why there a productivity issue!
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If I was him, I'd leave. Although I do know from several sources close to him, he wants to stay.....but the contract he has been offered is pathetic. Almost national living wage.
It should send alarms bells out through the academy!
At his age I would have jumped at minimum wage to be playing football. If he drops out of the EFL it can be a long way back, especially if he ends up with part time and a job to fund a living then its almost no way back. As someone's previous post there are a lot of players at the top end of semi pro because they can earn more there than as a pro. I hope he signs and gets a solid loan at higher level, Maybe Scunny as mentioned above.
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This is verging into politics but my god this country is set up to favour the older. Per person the gov spend way more on that age bracket compared to our kids. And we wonder why there a productivity issue!
The country is set up for those that have never put into the pot so let's not go down that route.
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What price for opportunity? Do you take the money at a low non league side with less room for growth or knuckle down at a pro league one side with a point to prove?
If I backed myself I'd be going the EFL route. If he is that highly rated as some make out another EFL side will take a punt on him at higher wages of course.
The club has a budget, ultimately I wouldn't spend much on him now. An unpopular opinion with some no doubt but I dont think we have the budget to keep many development players.
Good point, bfyp, and there has to be something done at the Club, if we’re to have any hopes of further developing good young players. It really is crying out for a separate budget for a development squad.
This could come from another new ‘entity’ on the Board, who is prepared to put a significant investment for that very purpose. We can’t expect Mr Bramall to keep piling money in for everything, after all.
GM has mentioned this very topic in one of his recent press interviews and I’m sure the Club like the idea, but liking it and funding it are two very different things.
What about getting rid of the over 60's season ticket prices....and make them pay full price. That might fund it!
A 66 year old paying less for a ticket than a 25 year old in this day and age is pretty wild
OAP season tickets start at the age of 60 for the Rovers. Most are probably in full time employment. And most will earn more than 25 year olds.
Thats been changed to 65, only existing season ticket holders over 60 now get it at that age
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What price for opportunity? Do you take the money at a low non league side with less room for growth or knuckle down at a pro league one side with a point to prove?
If I backed myself I'd be going the EFL route. If he is that highly rated as some make out another EFL side will take a punt on him at higher wages of course.
The club has a budget, ultimately I wouldn't spend much on him now. An unpopular opinion with some no doubt but I dont think we have the budget to keep many development players.
Good point, bfyp, and there has to be something done at the Club, if we’re to have any hopes of further developing good young players. It really is crying out for a separate budget for a development squad.
This could come from another new ‘entity’ on the Board, who is prepared to put a significant investment for that very purpose. We can’t expect Mr Bramall to keep piling money in for everything, after all.
GM has mentioned this very topic in one of his recent press interviews and I’m sure the Club like the idea, but liking it and funding it are two very different things.
What about getting rid of the over 60's season ticket prices....and make them pay full price. That might fund it!
A 66 year old paying less for a ticket than a 25 year old in this day and age is pretty wild
OAP season tickets start at the age of 60 for the Rovers. Most are probably in full time employment. And most will earn more than 25 year olds.
Thats been changed to 65, only existing season ticket holders over 60 now get it at that age
Cheers for the update!
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If neither Faulkner or Flint are going to develop for us then we might as well sack off the youth academy, a lot of money for no return on investment.
I’ve thought this a few times over the years. There must be some big community benefits to the youth teams which we can’t really quantify.
But purely on players to 1st team we’d almost certainly be better just having a U23 side made up of players who leave prem/championship academies in their late teens.
We have made money when bigger clubs take our top prospects at a young age which shouldn’t be forgotten
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If neither Faulkner or Flint are going to develop for us then we might as well sack off the youth academy, a lot of money for no return on investment.
I’ve thought this a few times over the years. There must be some big community benefits to the youth teams which we can’t really quantify.
But purely on players to 1st team we’d almost certainly be better just having a U23 side made up of players who leave prem/championship academies in their late teens.
We have made money when bigger clubs take our top prospects at a young age which shouldn’t be forgotten
I was going to mention we got money for a few young ones last season.
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If I was him, I'd leave. Although I do know from several sources close to him, he wants to stay.....but the contract he has been offered is pathetic. Almost national living wage.
It should send alarms bells out through the academy!
National living wage is £12.21/hr so say he's been offered £13.00, this would mean at 21 he would be on £27k. That is more than decent for a lad of his age doing the thing he loves with the potential to earn much more if he improves & gets a move to a club higher up the pyramid. He would be mad not to sign it.
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If we've offered a low wage it's purely to enable us to get a development fee for any onward contract. My feeling is Bobby should probably leave to play football. If he drops down he's good enough and smart enough to bounce back.
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This is verging into politics but my god this country is set up to favour the older. Per person the gov spend way more on that age bracket compared to our kids. And we wonder why there a productivity issue!
You are Keir Starmer in disguise and I claim my £5.
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What price for opportunity? Do you take the money at a low non league side with less room for growth or knuckle down at a pro league one side with a point to prove?
If I backed myself I'd be going the EFL route. If he is that highly rated as some make out another EFL side will take a punt on him at higher wages of course.
The club has a budget, ultimately I wouldn't spend much on him now. An unpopular opinion with some no doubt but I dont think we have the budget to keep many development players.
Good point, bfyp, and there has to be something done at the Club, if we’re to have any hopes of further developing good young players. It really is crying out for a separate budget for a development squad.
This could come from another new ‘entity’ on the Board, who is prepared to put a significant investment for that very purpose. We can’t expect Mr Bramall to keep piling money in for everything, after all.
GM has mentioned this very topic in one of his recent press interviews and I’m sure the Club like the idea, but liking it and funding it are two very different things.
On a financial point of view is there much point? I do wonder if it would ever pay back the investment.
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What price for opportunity? Do you take the money at a low non league side with less room for growth or knuckle down at a pro league one side with a point to prove?
If I backed myself I'd be going the EFL route. If he is that highly rated as some make out another EFL side will take a punt on him at higher wages of course.
The club has a budget, ultimately I wouldn't spend much on him now. An unpopular opinion with some no doubt but I dont think we have the budget to keep many development players.
Good point, bfyp, and there has to be something done at the Club, if we’re to have any hopes of further developing good young players. It really is crying out for a separate budget for a development squad.
This could come from another new ‘entity’ on the Board, who is prepared to put a significant investment for that very purpose. We can’t expect Mr Bramall to keep piling money in for everything, after all.
GM has mentioned this very topic in one of his recent press interviews and I’m sure the Club like the idea, but liking it and funding it are two very different things.
On a financial point of view is there much point? I do wonder if it would ever pay back the investment.
Max Watters? Wasn't he reported to go for £1m? Surely that would fund the development squad for a few seasons atleast?
Think I agree with an earlier post that if we don't have a development squad the youth set up is maybe not productive. If we had the development squad players like Faulkner could have been playing games without moving out on loan so that when we needed some bodies for a short stint he would have been available for opportunities in the first team. By moving lads out on short term loans we are limiting both their opportunities and their availability to help when needed therefore reducing their value to the squad.
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Was not Watters recruited from a non league club in Kent? Having failed to impress either Fergie, who recruited him and possibly his successor he was released and went to Crawley. It was Crawley that netted the £1m when they sold him to Cardiff, was it not? He was never even an academy player as such was he?
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Was not Watters recruited from a non league club in Kent? Having failed to impress either Fergie, who recruited him and possibly his successor he was released and went to Crawley. It was Crawley that netted the £1m when they sold him to Cardiff, was it not? He was never even an academy player as such was he?
Think you might be right there
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Playing for Barnsley in the Championship now.
Max not Bobby.
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Playing for Barnsley in the Championship now.
Max not Bobby.
Did Barnsley get promoted
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Max Watters was one of five players that were offered a contract at the end of their academy days and in a good team that had just won the league that season and had a run in the Youth cup.
At the start of the next season they were not contacted to sign anything and when to go in training, one phoned the manager and was just told he didn't want any of them and he had scotched their contract offer without contacting them, leaving them little time to get fixed up anywhere else.
They ended up at clubs like Rossington, Watters played in a preseason game against Crawley who signed him, he got lucky.
The manager was Darren Moore, such a nice fella.
Very few lower league clubs use the whole grants they get for academies solely on the academy itself,
Norwich have taken their academy to another level advertising
On TV holiday breaks for teams offering accommodation, coaching, and arranging games against other sides, turning it into a football get away holiday.
Accrington Stanley have withdrawn from the youth league this coming season.
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Why not stop all concessions while you're at it JR?
And it's now 65 for OAPs
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Why not stop all concessions while you're at it JR?
And it's now 65 for OAPs
It was a joke between myself and Alan, nothing more! We go back years!
Long live the concessions!!
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Playing for Barnsley in the Championship now.
Max not Bobby.
Did Barnsley get promoted
Correction. League 1 of course.
Slip of the pen roversdude!
See you next season Max.
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Why not stop all concessions while you're at it JR?
And it's now 65 for OAPs
It was a joke between myself and Alan, nothing more! We go back years!
Long live the concessions!!
Why not stop all concessions while you're at it JR?
And it's now 65 for OAPs
It was a joke between myself and Alan, nothing more! We go back years!
Long live the concessions!!
I’m glad you’ve clarified that. I can stop my gym ‘neck wringing’ exercises!
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Mqax Watters was one of five playters that were offered a contract at the end of their academy days and in a good team that had just won the league that season and had a run in the Youth cup.
At the start of the next season they were not contacted to sign anything and whgen to go in training, one phoned the manager and was just told he didn't want any of them and he had scotched their contract offer without contacting them, leaving them little time to get fixed up anywhere else.
They ended up at clubs like Rossington Watters played in a preseason game against Crawley who signed him, he got lucky.
The manager was Darren Moore, such a nice fella.
Very few lower league clubs use the whole grants they get for academies solely on the academy itself,
Norwich have taken their academy to another level advertising
On TV holiday breaks for teams offering accommodation, coaching, and arranging games against other sides, turning it into a football get away holiday.
Accrington Stanley have withdrawn from the youth league this coming season.
Thanks Selby. He was 19 when he signed the 2 year deal with us and I don’t remember him being classified as an “Academy” player at the time, but obviously I respect your knowledge.The whole situation with him was enigmatic in a sense, because if it is appropriate to give the academy credit for his development, the manager at the time did not recognise, capitalise, or reward his talent, and it was Crawley that reaped the benefit. It is ironic that the one who made good, slipped through our fingers.
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Was not Watters recruited from a non league club in Kent? Having failed to impress either Fergie, who recruited him and possibly his successor he was released and went to Crawley. It was Crawley that netted the £1m when they sold him to Cardiff, was it not? He was never even an academy player as such was he?
Max Watters signed a 2 year contract with Rovers on 22 May 18, having previously been with Ashford United.
His first season he went on short term loans to Grantham and Gainsborough.
His second season he went on loan to Mickleover, then was a regular on the Rovers bench from late Oct 2019 to Feb 2020, when he went on loan to Maidstone.
He was released at the end of that season.
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What price for opportunity? Do you take the money at a low non league side with less room for growth or knuckle down at a pro league one side with a point to prove?
If I backed myself I'd be going the EFL route. If he is that highly rated as some make out another EFL side will take a punt on him at higher wages of course.
The club has a budget, ultimately I wouldn't spend much on him now. An unpopular opinion with some no doubt but I dont think we have the budget to keep many development players.
Good point, bfyp, and there has to be something done at the Club, if we’re to have any hopes of further developing good young players. It really is crying out for a separate budget for a development squad.
This could come from another new ‘entity’ on the Board, who is prepared to put a significant investment for that very purpose. We can’t expect Mr Bramall to keep piling money in for everything, after all.
GM has mentioned this very topic in one of his recent press interviews and I’m sure the Club like the idea, but liking it and funding it are two very different things.
What about getting rid of the over 60's season ticket prices....and make them pay full price. That might fund it!
A 66 year old paying less for a ticket than a 25 year old in this day and age is pretty wild
OAP season tickets start at the age of 60 for the Rovers. Most are probably in full time employment. And most will earn more than 25 year olds.
Those like myself who are over 60 but not 65 and had a season ticket last season still get a senior ticket, if not you don’t qualify until you’re 65
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Yeah, perfect timing for me - I was 60 in July so got a senior ST last season and continue to get one provided I keep buying a ST - which, of course, I will as I have done for the last 25 years! :rtid:
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I hope there will be an agreement between the club and Bobby what ever the financial payments are as we don’t know officially.
Will Flint who played in NLN last season is a contracted player.
I accept Bobby as been here longer but for a few games early on as not been in our team for League football. The highest standard he’s played over the last two years was in Ireland 4 games and NLN.
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ForsolongaRover, your right but was the last season we had a u21s side.
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I was told last night that now Anderson has left, Yes I know he is still contracted really, Bobby is our longest serving player at least till a decision is made. if true it shocked me.
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Mqax Watters was one of five playters that were offered a contract at the end of their academy days and in a good team that had just won the league that season and had a run in the Youth cup.
At the start of the next season they were not contacted to sign anything and whgen to go in training, one phoned the manager and was just told he didn't want any of them and he had scotched their contract offer without contacting them, leaving them little time to get fixed up anywhere else.
They ended up at clubs like Rossington Watters played in a preseason game against Crawley who signed him, he got lucky.
The manager was Darren Moore, such a nice fella.
Very few lower league clubs use the whole grants they get for academies solely on the academy itself,
Norwich have taken their academy to another level advertising
On TV holiday breaks for teams offering accommodation, coaching, and arranging games against other sides, turning it into a football get away holiday.
Accrington Stanley have withdrawn from the youth league this coming season.
Thanks Selby. He was 19 when he signed the 2 year deal with us and I don’t remember him being classified as an “Academy” player at the time, but obviously I respect your knowledge.The whole situation with him was enigmatic in a sense, because if it is appropriate to give the academy credit for his development, the manager at the time did not recognise, capitalise, or reward his talent, and it was Crawley that reaped the benefit. It is ironic that the one who made good, slipped through our fingers.
Let’s not make Watters out to be the player he never was he had two good games at U21 level both with Trialist who better than what we had next to him. He wasn’t even the leading goal scorer at that level and he hardly scored in his loans. He wasn’t a prolific player or scorer. I would suggest a vast majority of Rovers fans didn’t know who he was. Whether he should have been released the way he was along with others is debatable. He had on good season having been picked up by Crawley scored 13. Since then for 1million he’s been bang average at best having the last four seasons in league 1.
Let’s not make him the player he isn’t what we can say. None of the rest of our young players “since” have achieved playing regularly in league 2 or league 1. Best we have achieved is Bobby and Will NLN.
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Best for both parties if he doesn't sign a new deal
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Best for both parties if he doesn't sign a new deal
So you don't rate him?
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The way Watters was treated and all the other ones regardless of how they have done since was very very poor and were then like others at the club in the teams at u18s levels ran into the Covid period, and never had a chance with football closed down and clubs flattened at every level.
Watching youth football at academy level, it really has not got back to the level IMHO it was before Covid, all players coming through now lost two years if they were in the younger age groups at the time and its been hard for them as they are held to the standards expected.
Of course there are always exceptions, I am talking of an overall standard from games I have watched in academy and grass roots football.
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Best for both parties if he doesn't sign a new deal
So you don't rate him?
Development player for me we will need two better centre halves plus McGrath at least to bea competitive league one side. We will have Bailey as back up as long as we get another defensive midfielder.
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Best for both parties if he doesn't sign a new deal
So you don't rate him?
Development player for me we will need two better centre halves plus McGrath at least to bea competitive league one side. We will have Bailey as back up as long as we get another defensive midfielder.
Wouldn't say I don't rate him just don't think he is good enough for what we are after we need to be pushing topping end league one and aiming higher. He needs consistent games to develop but I don't think he'll ever cut it above national league level unfortunately as much as I would like to see him do it think his level would be very much that of say Beestin or Mandeville but I could be wrong but just think IMO waste of a signing
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Hope we keep him. Just got a feeling he’s really got something about him. Another season of development NL or perhaps smaller L2 club.
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Why others are taking notice, He has just played every minute of a loan, the teams stats on stopping penetrations into the area went through the roof, he won a large proportion of heading duels, he won a large percentage of his tackles, the percentage of clean sheets for the team went up forty percent after he joined the defence compared with their previous results, he scored four goals from set pieces and also contributed a number of assists in the oppositions area, and his passing stats were up there with the best in his team.
The team as a whole was a very young one compared with most sides in the division who mostly relied on more experienced players and was one of the youngest, when the captain of the team was missing a couple of games he was made captain of the side and was a vocal voice in the defences organisation and the team went from outside the play off positions by a number of places to getting in the playoffs after he joined, and got to the Derbyshire cup Final defeating easily Derby County's u21s team on the way with him completely dominating them scoring two and an assist,
He didn't do bad.
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Wouldn't you have expected all that Selby, with him being a professional footballer playing at a lower level?
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Why others are taking notice, He has just played every minute of a loan, the teams stats on stopping penetrations into the area went through the roof, he won a large proportion of heading duels, he won a large percentage of his tackles, the percentage of clean sheets for the team went up forty percent after he joined the defence compared with their previous results, he scored four goals from set pieces and also contributed a number of assists in the oppositions area, and his passing stats were up there with the best in his team.
The team as a whole was a very young one compared with most sides in the division who mostly relied on more experienced players and was one of the youngest, when the captain of the team was missing a couple of games he was made captain of the side and was a vocal voice in the defences organisation and the team went from outside the play off positions by a number of places to getting in the playoffs after he joined, and got to the Derbyshire cup Final defeating easily Derby County's u21s team on the way with him completely dominating them scoring two and an assist,
He didn't do bad.
Thing is, he has a contract offer - so the club want him around. Why hasn't he signed it yet. Sign up, prove your worth and bigger and better contracts will come his way.
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Wouldn't you have expected all that Selby, with him being a professional footballer playing at a lower level?
There are several full time pro teams in NL north and south.
Also many of the semi pro teams have full time players on loan.
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In my opinion, he missed the deadline, lets move on
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In my opinion, he missed the deadline, lets move on
How do we know he missed the deadline? Maybe he has signed and it's not announced yet.
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Why others are taking notice, He has just played every minute of a loan, the teams stats on stopping penetrations into the area went through the roof, he won a large proportion of heading duels, he won a large percentage of his tackles, the percentage of clean sheets for the team went up forty percent after he joined the defence compared with their previous results, he scored four goals from set pieces and also contributed a number of assists in the oppositions area, and his passing stats were up there with the best in his team.
The team as a whole was a very young one compared with most sides in the division who mostly relied on more experienced players and was one of the youngest, when the captain of the team was missing a couple of games he was made captain of the side and was a vocal voice in the defences organisation and the team went from outside the play off positions by a number of places to getting in the playoffs after he joined, and got to the Derbyshire cup Final defeating easily Derby County's u21s team on the way with him completely dominating them scoring two and an assist,
He didn't do bad.
Because of the above information Bobby was offered a contract not released. The manager can see his development has improved. But he’s not played league 2 football or even league 1 ( Jay McGrath) hasn’t either. If he feels he can get first team football elsewhere he has a decision to make or already made we should know by tomorrow I believe.
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Raven, players like Ironside came a similar route, Bailey from Gateshead, Sbarra, Sterry, McGrath at Alfreton, and probably more, and I know not all did that well at the time but got a break elsewhere.
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@Gaz - You able to see how Faulkner did in NLN?
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Wouldn't you have expected all that Selby, with him being a professional footballer playing at a lower level?
There are several full time pro teams in NL north and south.
Also many of the semi pro teams have full time players on loan.
At the same.level as EFL players? Maybe some ex EFL in that mix
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Raven, players like Ironside came a similar route, Bailey from Gateshead, Sbarra, Sterry, McGrath at Alfreton, and probably more, and I know not all did that well at the time but got a break elsewhere.
Hadn't they been released though and had to find a level and still not on EFL teams books?
Anyway back to the question wouldn't you have expected it?
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So he has rejected the contract offer
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Rejected it as of now but Grants hoping ‘common sense prevails’ so it’s not completely dead in the water. Come on Bobby, sign it and kick on with another good loan spell.
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Seems like it’s not over yet. No doubt there will be somewhere between the 2 parties where they could reach agreement but it’s whether that place can be found!
One way or the other, it’ll be sorted in the not too distant future.
No further movement with any other players, as yet. But, he was quite clear that we will be bringing in a No1 keeper. No names.
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https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/balls-in-his-court-grant-mccann-discusses-bobby-faulkners-doncaster-rovers-contract-stand-off-5143310
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Again, McCann confirmed he's not ready to compete for a first team squad place, so another loan to NL or L2 would be on the cards. If that's not what Bobby wants and feels he can find his own way, then that's his perogative, although McCann said we'd be due compensation for being U21.
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It’s Faulkner not Bobby Moore , if he goes a better player will come in
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In the latest interview with Grant, Bobby has rejected the offer. But it’s slightly complicated as we hold out compensation if he goes elsewhere hence a fee as we have offered him a contract. The club want him to stay have the preseason with us then try the our up Most to get National league loan or even League 2
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Interesting comments regarding the fee, has the potential to get messy, national league clubs and below won’t wanting to be paying a large fee for and unproven prospect
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Interesting comments regarding the fee, has the potential to get messy, national league clubs and below won’t wanting to be paying a large fee for and unproven prospect
Well he did say, any fee would most likely be decided by a tribunal.
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It doesn’t sound like an ideal situation, and I just hope Bobby hasn’t shot himself in the foot here, or burnt any bridges - it doesn’t seem so listening to Grant.
My advice to Bobby if I was his dad would be, “look it looks like you are in a tight spot here, sign the contract and use the frustration (in the right way)to win a place in this first team, or on loan so another club is willing to sign you - I believe in you, and if you fully believe in your self, you will achieve it, and the money will come”
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It doesn’t sound like an ideal situation, and I just hope Bobby hasn’t shot himself in the foot here, or burnt any bridges - it doesn’t seem so listening to Grant.
My advice to Bobby if I was his dad would be, “look it looks like you are in a tight spot here, sign the contract and use the frustration (in the right way)to win a place in this first team, or on loan so another club is willing to sign you - I believe in you, and if you fully believe in your self, you will achieve it, and the money will come”
Are you listening selby? ;)
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I respect your opinion selby & without giving away anything you may be privy to regarding Bobby’s position, how would you personally advise him at this stage?
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This smells to me. Offer a low contract knowing that any suitors will be put off by the development fee. If McCann has reservations about Bobby then maybe we shouldn't have made the offer and let him leave for nothing.
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It sounds to me like Grant DOES rate Bobby as he seems prepared to give him a second chance to sign his offered contract.
Grant isn’t a fool and doesn’t appear to be saying the deadline has passed so bugger off to a player who he can see good potential for.
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Yes Raven I expected it, he is way above that level and proved it, do you think every player we have got signed would have done as well?
I also think the same of Flint as well, but there again I watch them play, and don't comment on what or who I have not watched.
As a long term supporter of Doncaster Rovers I want Bobby to sign for us, but it is completely up to the club and Bobby to come to an agreement because I agree with much Grant has said and both can benefit, but is nothing to do with me.
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@Gaz - You able to see how Faulkner did in NLN?
From his previous post, it appears Selby has all the data at his fingertips.
Perhaps he could share the stats with us in full?
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I think every player who at times have been considered as a 1st team defender, unlike the youngsters who have been on the bench out of necessity, would be a dominant force in a non league team
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It's clear as day that McCann must be quite a tough bloke. He has all the cards in his hand. He therefore can, and is, playing hardball. That interview is a clear statement that he's publicly backing Faulkner into a corner. You only ever do that when you really don't have a problem with any of the possible outcomes.
BobG
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Have a read correctly, something claimed on here, Bobby's on around about national living wage, yet has an agent? eff me
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No decision as yet but final decision should be made before the end of the week according to Free Press one way or the other.
If he can get a better contract elsewhere with guarantee of first team football then good luck to him.
McCann says he isn’t likely to get first team football .. it makes you wonder if this is the reason he won’t sign his contract . Grant doesn’t seem not to have got a obvious plan B set up and to lose so may players in one hit is just beginning to show as a budgetary matter… as players are rejecting the offers made .
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We recruited players early last summer and in January. What makes you think it will be any difference this time around.
Or yet again someone looking to have a pop at the club with no grounds to do so.?
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Don’t you find that one-to-one chats / discussions / negotiations are best ?
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No decision as yet but final decision should be made before the end of the week according to Free Press one way or the other.
If he can get a better contract elsewhere with guarantee of first team football then good luck to him.
McCann says he isn’t likely to get first team football .. it makes you wonder if this is the reason he won’t sign his contract . Grant doesn’t seem not to have got a obvious plan B set up and to lose so may players in one hit is just beginning to show as a budgetary matter… as players are rejecting the offers made .
Some said this last year.... and then we won the league.
In Grant we trust
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In my opinion the team that won League 2 is not good enough to be top end of league 1 and I think Grant knows this.Players who were out on loan were not good enough for our League 2 team and I believe Grant thinks they are not good enough to step up at this time. Hence Goodman,Kuleya , Degruchy etc have left the club. The budget surely has to be spent on players who can help us compete next season. There is no room for sentiment in football at any level.It is a very subjective comparison to view performances at Buxton with what we will need against Cardiff City, for example.
That said we we need to identify and develop players through our ranks and I think Bobby is worth a contract looking to the future, but the value of the contract offered must reflect the priorities for next season.
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No decision as yet but final decision should be made before the end of the week according to Free Press one way or the other.
If he can get a better contract elsewhere with guarantee of first team football then good luck to him.
McCann says he isn’t likely to get first team football .. it makes you wonder if this is the reason he won’t sign his contract . Grant doesn’t seem not to have got a obvious plan B set up and to lose so may players in one hit is just beginning to show as a budgetary matter… as players are rejecting the offers made .
How do you know it wasn't just location/fresh challenge that was the reason for not renewing?
Also, what Grant thinks a player is worth and what an agent thinks they're worth are probably miles apart.
Not sure why it's always deemed as Rovers fault? Maybe in Blunts tenure but not now.
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In my opinion the team that won League 2 is not good enough to be top end of league 1 and I think Grant knows this.Players who were out on loan were not good enough for our League 2 team and I believe Grant thinks they are not good enough to step up at this time. Hence Goodman,Kuleya , Degruchy etc have left the club. The budget surely has to be spent on players who can help us compete next season. There is no room for sentiment in football at any level.It is a very subjective comparison to view performances at Buxton with what we will need against Cardiff City, for example.
That said we we need to identify and develop players through our ranks and I think Bobby is worth a contract looking to the future, but the value of the contract offered must reflect the priorities for next season.
Well put.
I think you’ve just about encapsulated why Grant has taken the stance he has. Grant has stated that he doesn’t want to ‘just float around’ in league 1 but seems determined to put a side out that can really compete with some good sides that not too long ago were playing in the Premiership.
I would have given you a ‘like’ but the first part of your user name put paid to that!
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No, no Usher Wide! Surely every single post Leeds Hayter posts should get a thousand likes?? Anybody from Leeds who supports God's team should be lauded at every opportunity! Especially given the glorious pun embedded in his username :):)
BobG
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In my opinion the team that won League 2 is not good enough to be top end of league 1 and I think Grant knows this.Players who were out on loan were not good enough for our League 2 team and I believe Grant thinks they are not good enough to step up at this time. Hence Goodman,Kuleya , Degruchy etc have left the club. The budget surely has to be spent on players who can help us compete next season. There is no room for sentiment in football at any level.It is a very subjective comparison to view performances at Buxton with what we will need against Cardiff City, for example.
That said we we need to identify and develop players through our ranks and I think Bobby is worth a contract looking to the future, but the value of the contract offered must reflect the priorities for next season.
I'm happy with mid table. Then you look at teams like lincoln who finished there and the player they were able to loan out.
Just a few good additions could transform this team, but some need to step up.
Let's take Cops who was able to do this.
We have to trust our manager to make the right decisions.
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We can give a lot of credit to Lincoln for having such a depth of talent in their squad that they could afford to loan out a player like Rob Street who was surplus to their requirements.
Or we could say they really didn’t know or appreciate what they had.
Time will tell.
The devil in me wants to make sure we finish above Lincoln next season in order to prove a point.
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If Faulkner thinks he can do better elsewhere, let him go. Grant wants him to continue his career with Rovers. That’s it.
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I think GM is playing this one well. Faulkner isn’t ready to play at league 1 level as he wasn’t ready to play in league 2 last year.
Faulkner may have to accept less in wages than he was expecting to stay here. But long term he has security, the opportunity to develop around better players and coaches at this level than he would in the national league.
I would imagine Bobbys agent is trying to maximise his cut by trying to make him hold out for a better deal. But GM probably feels indifferent about Bobby with regard to what he can currently contribute to the club, versus his ceiling of potential.
I would like to see him sign on and see what he can achieve with us, but if he goes to pastures new I have every confidence that Grant can bring in another prospect at the same level.
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As things stand, there can be only one winner, and it isn’t Bobby. He is being poorly advised by his agent.
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Every other contract offer was sorted out either way by the deadline last Monday, why is he afforded an extension to that deadline? The ship has sailed in my eyes, he goes and we get development compensation
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Offered contract = compensation.
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Offered contract = compensation.
Thats already happened, he rejected the contract offer 2 days after the deadline
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I’d have loved Bobby to stay, but I guess we will now see how highly the other team’s watching him rate him
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Offered contract = compensation.
Thats already happened, he rejected the contract offer 2 days after the deadline
I'm guessing he's saying that's why we offered a contract, so as to be entitles to the compensation.
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Offered contract = compensation.
Thats already happened, he rejected the contract offer 2 days after the deadline
I'm guessing he's saying that's why we offered a contract, so as to be entitles to the compensation.
Thats probably the case, effectively he’s been released by offering an unacceptable contract, knowing we’ll get compensation for him
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The compensation thing is a smart move by the club if he’s got serious interest from bigger clubs.
But if it’s not the case surely the compensation panel can’t expect non league clubs to pay any real money if he’s drops down to play regular. If that means he can’t get an offer from a NL side and is basically in a stay at Rovers or forget pro football situation then I actually think it’s not a great look for
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Bobby needs to sit down and have a real think of what he wants and sod what an agent or anyone else advises.
Is it so bad that he stays and spends anotger year loaned out to angood NL team at only 21.
Unless he has intrest from a league 2 team or lower then he will only end up either loaned out or not making a matchday squad because i cant see a team higher than us taking him on to put straight into the 1st team.
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Really not sure on making any comments specifically about Bobby, except that whatever the outcome I hope he makes a good decision and gets a future in the game.
However what seems clear to me is that our academy is just not working. Since we elevated our league position to the championship, we are still not producing any young players to play at a decent L2 standard or above.
Therefore questionable if we should be continuing to invest any real money into the academy?
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Probably because most decent young kids in our area get signed up from a very young age by bigger local sides or elite premier league teams , that’s where we have to improve not just getting kids in for the sake to make teams and numbers up.
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Putting Faulkner to one side, there are three lads in Flint, Williams and Straughan-Brown that have played or been favoured under McCann, and will have a chance of making the squad in League One. If one or two of that group play next season in some form, that’s a decent output from the academy set up.
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No decision as yet but final decision should be made before the end of the week according to Free Press one way or the other.
If he can get a better contract elsewhere with guarantee of first team football then good luck to him.
McCann says he isn’t likely to get first team football .. it makes you wonder if this is the reason he won’t sign his contract . Grant doesn’t seem not to have got a obvious plan B set up and to lose so may players in one hit is just beginning to show as a budgetary matter… as players are rejecting the offers made .
Some said this last year.... and then we won the league.
In Grant we trust
We had three recognised central defenders and four with McGarth now we have NONE !! Win the league without them then ?
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No decision as yet but final decision should be made before the end of the week according to Free Press one way or the other.
If he can get a better contract elsewhere with guarantee of first team football then good luck to him.
McCann says he isn’t likely to get first team football .. it makes you wonder if this is the reason he won’t sign his contract . Grant doesn’t seem not to have got a obvious plan B set up and to lose so may players in one hit is just beginning to show as a budgetary matter… as players are rejecting the offers made .
Some said this last year.... and then we won the league.
In Grant we trust
We had three recognised central defenders and four with McGarth now we have NONE !! Win the league without them then ?
It must have made Williams feel very wanted, he was impressive when he played in the (Carabao?) cup game, and could spring a surprise in the way McGrath has this season, but we still need a couple of centre backs.
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No decision as yet but final decision should be made before the end of the week according to Free Press one way or the other.
If he can get a better contract elsewhere with guarantee of first team football then good luck to him.
McCann says he isn’t likely to get first team football .. it makes you wonder if this is the reason he won’t sign his contract . Grant doesn’t seem not to have got a obvious plan B set up and to lose so may players in one hit is just beginning to show as a budgetary matter… as players are rejecting the offers made .
Some said this last year.... and then we won the league.
In Grant we trust
We had three recognised central defenders and four with McGarth now we have NONE !! Win the league without them then ?
Has McGrath left then.?
Has the transfer window been and gone already? I must have missed that.
Does the season start tomorrow?
Get a f**king grip
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No decision as yet but final decision should be made before the end of the week according to Free Press one way or the other.
If he can get a better contract elsewhere with guarantee of first team football then good luck to him.
McCann says he isn’t likely to get first team football .. it makes you wonder if this is the reason he won’t sign his contract . Grant doesn’t seem not to have got a obvious plan B set up and to lose so may players in one hit is just beginning to show as a budgetary matter… as players are rejecting the offers made .
Some said this last year.... and then we won the league.
In Grant we trust
We had three recognised central defenders and four with McGarth now we have NONE !! Win the league without them then ?
The season technically hasn't even finished yet. Chill out man.
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No decision as yet but final decision should be made before the end of the week according to Free Press one way or the other.
If he can get a better contract elsewhere with guarantee of first team football then good luck to him.
McCann says he isn’t likely to get first team football .. it makes you wonder if this is the reason he won’t sign his contract . Grant doesn’t seem not to have got a obvious plan B set up and to lose so may players in one hit is just beginning to show as a budgetary matter… as players are rejecting the offers made .
Some said this last year.... and then we won the league.
In Grant we trust
We had three recognised central defenders and four with McGarth now we have NONE !! Win the league without them then ?
Due to PROMOTION, we will be able to attract a high calibre of player than we would have if we were still in league two.
Sad to see Joe and Tom go, and later will be a lot easier to replace.
Bailey for me is a CB.
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Unfortunately said better players will want decent wages, wonder what we are prepared to pay?
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How is anyone being negative and critical of the club after 2 players turned down contracts?
Those 2 players made it clear before the season ended that they were not gonna re-sign.
We still offered a contract to them in the hope they changed their minds, but good on the club not offering budget busting wages to a player who didnt want to stay anyway.
If the players mind is set that they dont want to play here next season then rather them move on than only staying because of the wage
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No decision as yet but final decision should be made before the end of the week according to Free Press one way or the other.
If he can get a better contract elsewhere with guarantee of first team football then good luck to him.
McCann says he isn’t likely to get first team football .. it makes you wonder if this is the reason he won’t sign his contract . Grant doesn’t seem not to have got a obvious plan B set up and to lose so may players in one hit is just beginning to show as a budgetary matter… as players are rejecting the offers made .
Some said this last year.... and then we won the league.
In Grant we trust
We had three recognised central defenders and four with McGarth now we have NONE !! Win the league without them then ?
Can I suggest that you go on holiday for a couple of months and get some sun on your back.
You seem a bit uptight.
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No decision as yet but final decision should be made before the end of the week according to Free Press one way or the other.
If he can get a better contract elsewhere with guarantee of first team football then good luck to him.
McCann says he isn’t likely to get first team football .. it makes you wonder if this is the reason he won’t sign his contract . Grant doesn’t seem not to have got a obvious plan B set up and to lose so may players in one hit is just beginning to show as a budgetary matter… as players are rejecting the offers made .
Some said this last year.... and then we won the league.
In Grant we trust
We had three recognised central defenders and four with McGarth now we have NONE !! Win the league without them then ?
Shock horror In the Box in negative post mode
When did McGarth leave btw
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How is anyone being negative and critical of the club after 2 players turned down contracts?
Those 2 players made it clear before the season ended that they were not gonna re-sign.
We still offered a contract to them in the hope they changed their minds, but good on the club not offering budget busting wages to a player who didnt want to stay anyway.
If the players mind is set that they dont want to play here next season then rather them move on than only staying because of the wage
Apart from Olowu, the departures make space for better quality recruits. Ideally Anderson would be good back-up, but Faulkner still seems a bit of a wild card. The extra space created in the squad gives McCann a bit more room to manoeuvre.
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The thing I don’t understand is what a way we won the league , drama to the very end and we would of lost more players had we not gone up , we’ve lost two players who will get replaced no doubt
Get the sunlounger out and a beer and chill
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Sign the contract Bobby and continue your development with the Rovers.
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I am more than happy to leave the future of our club in the capable hands of owner Terry, CEO Gavin and manager Grant. The latter has proved over his two spells with us that he is a winner, and wants another promotion for the club. He will bring in the right players for the club. He will make sure that the new players buy into the winning culture of our club, and it isn’t about them as individuals but about us a club and team. This is the mentality that Grant has drilled into the players last season and will do again for next season.
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Sign the contract Bobby and continue your development with the Rovers.
If he can't maybe his agent can sign it for him?
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The one thing I would want from both DRFC and BF’s team, is total silence on the matter until resolved. It’s pretty poor from both sides in my view.
This could have a negative impact within the fan base toward the lad, I’ve not seen it yet thankfully, and we do have a lot of level headed fans that understand the process, but we also have some idiots, that are the noisier types on social media sites.
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If he’s got an agent running his mouth publicly about his deal at his age with very little FL experience then it looks bleak for him going forward
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If he’s got an agent running his mouth publicly about his deal at his age with very little FL experience then it looks bleak for him going forward
And has he?
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No decision as yet but final decision should be made before the end of the week according to Free Press one way or the other.
If he can get a better contract elsewhere with guarantee of first team football then good luck to him.
McCann says he isn’t likely to get first team football .. it makes you wonder if this is the reason he won’t sign his contract . Grant doesn’t seem not to have got a obvious plan B set up and to lose so may players in one hit is just beginning to show as a budgetary matter… as players are rejecting the offers made .
Some said this last year.... and then we won the league.
In Grant we trust
We had three recognised central defenders and four with McGarth now we have NONE !! Win the league without them then ?
It’s the 25th May!!
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Tbh I can’t believe all the discussion and comments about a player that hasn’t signed his contract and has had zero influence in our success over the last few seasons ! If he hasn’t signed let’s just move on as we have with Joe Olowu.
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Although he was given a deadline same as the others I would think if we withdrew the offer that would men we wouldn't be entitled to any development fee. But if he rejects the offer then we would be, Just a guess as to why he is being treated a bit differently
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Although he was given a deadline same as the others I would think if we withdrew the offer that would men we wouldn't be entitled to any development fee. But if he rejects the offer then we would be, Just a guess as to why he is being treated a bit differently
He’s rejected the offer
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Although he was given a deadline same as the others I would think if we withdrew the offer that would men we wouldn't be entitled to any development fee. But if he rejects the offer then we would be, Just a guess as to why he is being treated a bit differently
Exactly right.
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I think this situation shows the club are much more aggressive and business savy.
Offer a contract on low wages. He signs is low risk and can probably get a loan to cover most or all the wages.
Likely case he rejects which he has, the club have offered a contract, due a development fee. If he drops down to some non league club with a bit of money might end up getting 20-30k
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Unfortunately said better players will want decent wages, wonder what we are prepared to pay?
On the other hand how many teams will bring 2000 plus supporters to the Eco-power next season, Bolton,Huddersfield,Mansfield,Lincoln,Barnsley,Bradford ( if they get enough tickets ) Blackpool,Rotherham,Stockport, unlike playing Colchester,Morecambe,Accrington. Therefore takings will be a lot higher
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Faulkner is 1 year younger than Jay Mcgrath. Jay has had a great season, but if you compare Jays career a year ago to Bobby's now not much in it. I saw enough when Faulkner was getting games for us to hope that we would make him a comparable offer to whatever Jay was on a year ago. I think it would be short sighted of us if we end up losing him. We've made plenty of short sighted player deals in the past and I hope we've moved away from that. We seem to be getting so many things right both on and off of the pitch, but Bobby is a player who should be our future in my opinion.
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Faulkner is an old fashioned center half ,just like the one we have lost in Anderson they both put there bodies on the line every game maybe not the most fashionable or skillful but will give you 100% every game and as a fan that is all we ask
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Faulkner is an old fashioned center half ,just like the one we have lost in Anderson they both put there bodies on the line every game maybe not the most fashionable or skillful but will give you 100% every game and as a fan that is all we ask
He does, but Bobby is a damn sight quicker than Anderson ever was.
Now that York are most likely not getting promoted that would be a great loan destination for him next season.
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Although he was given a deadline same as the others I would think if we withdrew the offer that would men we wouldn't be entitled to any development fee. But if he rejects the offer then we would be, Just a guess as to why he is being treated a bit differently
He’s rejected the offer
Didn't know
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I think this situation shows the club are much more aggressive and business savy.
Offer a contract on low wages. He signs is low risk and can probably get a loan to cover most or all the wages.
Likely case he rejects which he has, the club have offered a contract, due a development fee. If he drops down to some non league club with a bit of money might end up getting 20-30k
The contract has to be on equal or better terms than he is currently on to be eligible for a development fee. Brave from Bobby if that is the case though because any club that takes him on will have to pay a sum which will limit his options. Assume his agent has been touting him around and telling him he can get this figure here and there.
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It’s tough for players like Faulkner, showed huge promise, Agents in their ear, wants to breakthrough, a choice maybe of more money v staying with a revived club and developing ala McGrath.
Reminds me very much of Andy Watson, although he had broken through into the first team, clearly he was advised badly and was rarely seen again after being touted as the next Ryan Giggs. Bobby beware!
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It’s tough for players like Faulkner, showed huge promise, Agents in their ear, wants to breakthrough, a choice maybe of more money v staying with a revived club and developing ala McGrath.
Reminds me very much of Andy Watson, although he had broken through into the first team, clearly he was advised badly and was rarely seen again after being touted as the next Ryan Giggs. Bobby beware!
was snodin his agent
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Due to illness and vacations and a bank holiday a proper meeting still has to happen just to stop speculation and rumour..
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It’s tough for players like Faulkner, showed huge promise, Agents in their ear, wants to breakthrough, a choice maybe of more money v staying with a revived club and developing ala McGrath.
Reminds me very much of Andy Watson, although he had broken through into the first team, clearly he was advised badly and was rarely seen again after being touted as the next Ryan Giggs. Bobby beware!
Andy Watson wasn’t only getting the hype from his agent; I believe that JR touted him as “our first million pound player”.
Don’t think he was ever destined to play much higher though - he had some talent but he was absolutely nesh.
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Watson was a very good player for us until Teale the ex villa central defender at Southport broke his leg in an awful from behind tackle in the penalty area,
Watson went down and the referee sent him off for simulation or booked him while he laid on the ground, and never gave the penalty.
He was carried off on a stretcher and never the same player again.
A nice great lad carried on playing non league and worked at one point as a roofer.
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When Rovers signed him I think that he insisted on working a weeks notice as a roofer not wanting to let them down.
I worked with a lad that knew him at Garforth and met Andy when we played that friendly at Garforth. He told us that he had been injured and played a round of golf so rightly got a telling off from the Rovers. That attitude maybe explains some of his other decisions.
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Going by an aarticle in the DFP seems like Bobby is still to make his decision. Seems to me that the longer this goes on, the less likely it is that he will sign
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What happens if he don't sign? and nobody wants to pay us a small fee to sign him? Am I right in thinking,If he don't sign he cannot play for anyone professionally until he reaches a certain age or what ?
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That's a good question
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It says to me that he/his agent are looking for a club that are willing to take a chance and pay the fee - whatever this fee is? What is the size of the fee DRFC are entitled to, does anyone know?
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It says to me that he/his agent are looking for a club that are willing to take a chance and pay the fee - whatever this fee is? What is the size of the fee DRFC are entitled to, does anyone know?
Think it would be decided by tribunal..... and that may be the hitch.
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I would imagine any conpensatuon determined by the tribunal would be nominal given he's not been part of the fi4st team squad.
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I would imagine any conpensatuon determined by the tribunal would be nominal given he's not been part of the fi4st team squad.
Quite possibly - but would a Conference or League Two club take that chance..... what if the tribunal decided on a figure of £25-50k? - would that prove good business for a inexperienced defender.?
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Is it possible that his agent is not working for the players interest but his own, trying to squeeze every last penny on a quick fix/ shorter contract. Any know which agency he is with ?
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He is with General Sports, according to this;
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/bobby-faulkner/profil/spieler/876779
Click on General sports for their client list....Tom Anderson also with them!
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Remember Andy Watson being billed as the best roofer in Garforth.
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Agents are ruining some footballer’s careers
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Amazes me how they can't do their own negotiations.
Just sit down in the office face to face and thrash a deal out, or walk away.
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Amazes me how they can't do their own negotiations.
Just sit down in the office face to face and thrash a deal out, or walk away.
I feel the same.
Why do you need an agent to discuss contracts with your current employer.
Like any other profession. We walk into the office and discuss your contracts terms and conditions.
You tell them why you think you deserve a pay rise and they tell you to f**k off and like it or lump it.
You then accept or go find another employer
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The naivety here is breath-taking.
Faulkner as a young 20 year old will have very limited or zero understanding of what is or is not a good deal, why would we expect anything else. Its all well a good saying why doesn't he just sit down face to face with his employer and thrash out a deal or discuss terms and conditions of a contract, when i was that age i didn't have a clue what was or was not the going rate for a young lad. Attempting to do it himself is feasible by all means but you can guarantee that the HR manager sat opposite along with whoever else wants to be there will have far more knowledge and understanding of contracts, terms and conditions, ect, it is after all their area of expertise. Someone going in there on their own could end up signing just about anything, always best to have someone who's on your side, be it someone with experience or even an agent.
After all many on here are quite happy to have a union negotiate pay and conditions for them in their work, why would a footballer be any different?
For the record i'd like Faulkner to get the best deal he can get here and stay and develop with us, he could quite easily leave in a few years as a saleable asset.
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I disagree totally there, when I was 19 I was a mechanic and I went for a job at Renault garage.
I got myself a wage that was better than some of the more experienced blokes in there.
I was a shit mechanic too, but I knew what some people were earning so I bullshitted the whole interview and got the wage I wanted.
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I disagree totally there, when I was 19 I was a mechanic and I went for a job at Renault garage.
I got myself a wage that was better than some of the more experienced blokes in there.
I was a shit mechanic too, but I knew what some people were earning so I bullshitted the whole interview and got the wage I wanted.
So you assume every 19year old should be up to achieving something similar to what you did?
I've intervened and offered terms and conditions to people who tend to be a bit older than this, around 21 plus, i can tell you the vast majority don't know their arse from their elbow when it comes to knowing what's the best deal available to them, as a rule they tend to accept just about the lowest deal you can realistically give them.
Human nature being what it is.
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Obvious parallels between negotiating a job at a car garage in 1973 and a footballer in 2025. Bobby sure could learn a thing or two
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I wasn't even born then clever clogs.
It's not like he's Christiano Muhammad "I'm hard" Bruce Lee Ronaldo is it, negotiating shirt sales percentages. Image rights etc.
Oh, if you want something a bit more upto date then my 19 year old son who is slightly on the spectrum, deals with and negotiates with promoters and music venues to get the best outcome for him and the bands he is in, and he does this on a weekly basis.
He doesn't need an agent.
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I don’t think he has done enough in the game for us to get a decent fee from a tribunal, it will be a pittance. I’m not convinced he has a trail of clubs after him either. The clubs likely to be interested will be conference level and even a small fee could stop the deal.
I think he has potential, but only he will know if the manager has shown him if he rates him. Has he been loaned out with a plan to eventually him playing in the first team or is he not rated?
It’s a short career he must look after himself. Don’t rush into a decision you might regret Bobby, make sure you are sure.
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Personally feel like the way GM has gone in on this publicly means he has gone in with a low offer amd trying to bully Bobby to sign, not for him to play for Donny but to secure a fee.
For me any fee decided would be minimal based on the criteria and level we were at when he played his games in first team.
I think we should be offering him a deal and bringing him into first team SQUAD.
Let's not forget last two seasons he came back to preseason as the most fit player.......therefore the most professional out of ALL our favourite players who enjoyed their holidays.
The boy is WAP as they say.
Be dissapointed if we lose him
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The naivety here is breath-taking.
Faulkner as a young 20 year old will have very limited or zero understanding of what is or is not a good deal, why would we expect anything else. Its all well a good saying why doesn't he just sit down face to face with his employer and thrash out a deal or discuss terms and conditions of a contract, when i was that age i didn't have a clue what was or was not the going rate for a young lad. Attempting to do it himself is feasible by all means but you can guarantee that the HR manager sat opposite along with whoever else wants to be there will have far more knowledge and understanding of contracts, terms and conditions, ect, it is after all their area of expertise. Someone going in there on their own could end up signing just about anything, always best to have someone who's on your side, be it someone with experience or even an agent.
After all many on here are quite happy to have a union negotiate pay and conditions for them in their work, why would a footballer be any different?
For the record i'd like Faulkner to get the best deal he can get here and stay and develop with us, he could quite easily leave in a few years as a saleable asset.
Too much personal detail there...
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Personally feel like the way GM has gone in on this publicly means he has gone in with a low offer amd trying to bully Bobby to sign, not for him to play for Donny but to secure a fee.
For me any fee decided would be minimal based on the criteria and level we were at when he played his games in first team.
I think we should be offering him a deal and bringing him into first team SQUAD.
Let's not forget last two seasons he came back to preseason as the most fit player.......therefore the most professional out of ALL our favourite players who enjoyed their holidays.
The boy is WAP as they say.
Be dissapointed if we lose him
If I was at the club for sure his base salary wouldn’t be offered high due to the fact he hasn’t played a lot or any experience at this level. £750pw max imo. Incentives on appearances/clean sheets etc.
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If I was at the club for sure his base salary wouldn’t be offered high due to the fact he hasn’t played a lot or any experience at this level. £750pw max imo. Incentives on appearances/clean sheets etc.
I agree - I'm sure there will be incentives that will pump up his salary.....performance and appearance related bonuses are relatively normal.
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Ooff, a young inexperienced squad player yet to have any real first team experience £750 a week.
I know football is often set aside as different to normal business, but how much do apprentice brickies, plaster, plumbers earn (left sparkles out of this, they only wipe their arse with £20notes)
Just seems a lot to me, for his age , but most of all his current experience.
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Ooff, a young inexperienced squad player yet to have any real first team experience £750 a week.
I know football is often set aside as different to normal business, but how much do apprentice brickies, plaster, plumbers earn (left sparkles out of this, they only wipe their arse with £20notes)
Just seems a lot to me, for his age , but most of all his current experience.
Well my first apprentice wage was £25.50 a week, that was back in 1979 mind
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KingKendrick knows the system.
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Always remember my first weeks wage slip when I started at the Edenthorpe Co-Op store in 1963 was £3/0/3d. Blimey, yer can't buy a pint for that today!
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Considering minimum wage for a 21 year old is around £480 a week, he will be 21 in August, then £750 is certainly not high for a young L1 squad player.
Then you have to factor in all the football career to normal career differences, mainly uncertainty around how long his career will last etc.
The main issue here is what level is Bobby currently?
From the few times we saw him, he looked a real prospect, so in the time since has he not kicked on or has deteriorated?
If Grant has considered there is no way he would get in our match day squads, then we may as well part ways, thus a new contract and loan out would be the best option. If this is not acceptable to Bobby and agent, then the club are correct to secure compensation. Surely Grant and his team will have a good idea of his capabilities, so no point us speculating.
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Things have probably only been allowed to drag out for 1 of 2 reasons, either because they are close on terms or (more likely) because central defender targets have not signed from elsewhere so until they do he still brings that bit extra value to the club. Personally I hope he signs but the longer it drags the less likely it seems.
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If rovers withdraw the offer does a new team still have to pay compensation?
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I got £21.50 for 39 hours working on an ev line in a chicken factory in 1980, the first week I kept all my wages, the 2nd week I had to start paying board
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Personally feel like the way GM has gone in on this publicly means he has gone in with a low offer amd trying to bully Bobby to sign, not for him to play for Donny but to secure a fee.
For me any fee decided would be minimal based on the criteria and level we were at when he played his games in first team.
I think we should be offering him a deal and bringing him into first team SQUAD.
Let's not forget last two seasons he came back to preseason as the most fit player.......therefore the most professional out of ALL our favourite players who enjoyed their holidays.
The boy is WAP as they say.
Be dissapointed if we lose him
If I was at the club for sure his base salary wouldn’t be offered high due to the fact he hasn’t played a lot or any experience at this level. £750pw max imo. Incentives on appearances/clean sheets etc.
I met a senior club official for a coffee whilst Danny Schofield was in charge. The majority of the first teamers at that time were on a lot less than 750 a week
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If he’s been offered more than £500 a week it’s criminal. And I’m one of his bigger fans.
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If he’s been offered more than £500 a week it’s criminal. And I’m one of his bigger fans.
At £500 a week it’s still better than being part/time and having a job. He’s still full time earning enough to live on, he’s got all Rovers facilities and he’s still in the mix. He could probably earn more away from Rovers but will it be good for his career?
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I heard from a mutual friend what Molyneux was taking home per month last season. That figure for our star player indicates that £750, even £500 a week for a development player is way above the mark, put it that way. And rightly so, to be fair.
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We were all heading for non League up to February that season.
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It's probably time to pursue players who want to sign for us. (Which will be underway).
If anyone doesn't want to sign a deal, it's their prerogative. Good luck to them in the future.
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I heard from a mutual friend what Molyneux was taking home per month last season. That figure for our star player indicates that £750, even £500 a week for a development player is way above the mark, put it that way. And rightly so, to be fair.
I’d be very surprised if Moly wasn’t on 2.5-3k per week. Especially with the wage increases that come with promotion. He’ll be on the most money at the club after signing that 3 year deal last summer.
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The stars will always be at the other extreme side, and I also expect him to be on a very good salary. It is also well known that attackers earn the most at clubs, in general.
I also don’t buy into the short term life span of players in football, anyone of us could lose our jobs tomorrow, there will be a large percentage of those that cannot move or transfer the skill set into another job.
We don’t know what was offered by DRFC or the reason it was turned down - and that is most important part to remember, only BF and DRFC know.
I would dearly hope a young lad with little experience hasn’t turned down what would appear to be the national average UK salary, (if that rumour is true)that would say to me the right motivation isn’t there.
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7 pages for a young player that as not been near a Rovers league side even though we been in league 2 for two seasons. In fact he’s not been near the first team for 4 years. He has been developed, training st the club and recovering from injuries and going out on loan. The most successful being the last one at Buxton. So let’s hope the club sort it this week he can either stay and maybe go out on loan or leave to another team.
Most important thing now is we need at least 2 league one standard centre halves hopefully before preseason.
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7 pages for a young player that as not been near a Rovers league side even though we been in league 2 for two seasons. In fact he’s not been near the first team for 4 years. He has been developed, training st the club and recovering from injuries and going out on loan. The most successful being the last one at Buxton. So let’s hope the club sort it this week he can either stay and maybe go out on loan or leave to another team.
Most important thing now is we need at least 2 league one standard centre halves hopefully before preseason.
Other than the 1,300 minutes of League Two football in 22/23.
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If he’s been offered more than £500 a week it’s criminal. And I’m one of his bigger fans.
National minimum wage is only £11 a week less than that.
He should be on much more than that
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Minimum wage is hours based. How many hours per week are footballers paid for, or more realistically how many hours do they work?
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If he’s been offered more than £500 a week it’s criminal. And I’m one of his bigger fans.
National minimum wage is only £11 a week less than that.
He should be on much more than that
If the market dictates his wage should be higher than that he should have that offer on table from another club right now.
Does he?
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The way I see it there are quite a few reasons why he should stay at the Rovers, not just football reasons, and the fact the club want him to stay on contract and the attraction of a management and coaching staff that can improve him, and have made it clear they want him at the club and have plans for him and one reason to leave, money.
As his career is concerned it could end up short term gain for long term pain.
I watched him quite a few times at Buxton, he is now a far better player than when he burst onto the scene as a boy, a presence on the field of play, if he stays and hits the same form as at Buxton it will be a very good player that keeps him out of the team IMHO, and as a supporter I hope that competition arises with a strong squad and competition for every position on the field of play.
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If he’s been offered more than £500 a week it’s criminal. And I’m one of his bigger fans.
National minimum wage is only £11 a week less than that.
He should be on much more than that
My he shouldn’t. He’s got zero leverage.
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The way I see it there are quite a few reasons why he should stay at the Rovers, not just football reasons, and the fact the club want him to stay on contract and the attraction of a management and coaching staff that can improve him, and have made it clear they want him at the club and have plans for him and one reason to leave, money.
As his career is concerned it could end up short term gain for long term pain.
I watched him quite a few times at Buxton, he is now a far better player than when he burst onto the scene as a boy, a presence on the field of play, if he stays and hits the same form as at Buxton it will be a very good player that keeps him out of the team IMHO, and as a supporter I hope that competition arises with a strong squad and competition for every position on the field of play.
GM said in his recent interview he doesn't see Bobby breaking into the 1st team yet. His immediate future is National/L2 on loan.
His agent missed the deadline and was late getting back to the Club which will not please GM
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Raven, he has not missed any deadline to re-sign, mainly because his agent was hospitalised after talks had started with the club.
As far as the club and Grant McCann are concerned they have been nothing else but helpful and encouraging of the situation with their contacts with Bobby who has had other clubs contacting his agent who has had to pass on the information and his advice to the lad, who is still twenty, and realises after two wasted seasons through injury has it all to do again from a new start wherever he plays next season.
That's a lot for a young man to take in, a lesson in life some don't recover from, and big decisions about his personal future, and again the club have been nothing else but helpful, and I am sure a decision will be made soon, which has to be his after he looks at everything in front of him.
I want him very much to stay, he is ready, but it will be up to him to prove it preseason wherever he plays next season.
I know one thing for certain, it won't be for the lack of trying, it's not in his personality not to be the best he can be.
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Raven, he has not missed any deadline to re-sign, mainly because his agent was hospitalised after talks had started with the club.
Crikey, I didn't expect the talks to be that hard going!
On a more serious note, what a huge decision to be making at this stage of his life. If I backed myself I'd be taking the higher level offer and proving my point on less money with the long term goal to succeed, but it's not my career or bank balance on the line.
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Raven, he has not missed any deadline to re-sign, mainly because his agent was hospitalised after talks had started with the club.
As far as the club and Grant McCann are concerned they have been nothing else but helpful and encouraging of the situation with their contacts with Bobby who has had other clubs contacting his agent who has had to pass on the information and his advice to the lad, who is still twenty, and realises after two wasted seasons through injury has it all to do again from a new start wherever he plays next season.
That's a lot for a young man to take in, a lesson in life some don't recover from, and big decisions about his personal future, and again the club have been nothing else but helpful, and I am sure a decision will be made soon, which has to be his after he looks at everything in front of him.
I want him very much to stay, he is ready, but it will be up to him to prove it preseason wherever he plays next season.
I know one thing for certain, it won't be for the lack of trying, it's not in his personality not to be the best he can be.
So when GM says we set a deadline, we didn't hear back but then we did, would indicate he missed the deadline, Yes?
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Let’s hope he signs and we can crack on with accelerating his development and leave behind the more intrusive discussions over private contract talks and deadlines.
We need to bring in more central defenders regardless, and Bobby Faulkner needs games, but if we had an injury crisis I would feel comfortable with him stepping in and hopefully over the coming years (if he stays) he can work towards cementing a fixed place in the first team squad.
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Raven, its about talking to each other in a progressive way and both parties having the full information and grown up conversations when negotiating contracts, obviously things you find hard to grasp.
In the past I have managed engineering works with quite a big work force, and if any had taken your approach to employment and wage negotiations they would have got exactly nowhere.
In my experience when everyone had the full facts, treated each other with respect, and wanted the best for both parties, generally, if the hot heads you seem to take after were taken out of the equation things got worked out to everyones satisfaction.
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Can't avoid the insults can you Selby and as I've said before you know nothing about me. The only point in question was did he miss the deadline, no hot headedness on my part
And as you raise past employment I managed an operation with quite a large workforce managerial clerical and industrial never any bother with my staff who were very unionised.
As for Bobby despite your obsession I hope he sees sense and signs a contract renewal
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We ought to get together and negotiate a peace over a pint.,First point who buys the drinks.
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I'm up for that, any home game name your tipple my round BV bar or West stand concourse
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Thats two of us up for it then and we can arrange it for one of the early games, I look forward to it.
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SCRAP!
SCRAP!
SCRAP!
;)
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On his way out unless he sorts himself out soon, and h is hardly likely to have league clubs queueing up for his signature, having a poor loan and a half decent one at Buxton for half a season hardly makes the CV sparkle. He needs to get more tutelage and experience at Rovers before thinking he is better than the club.
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Barnby, your risking it about a league club not being interested, actually more than one and certainly doesn't think himself better than the club, of which first and foremost he is a supporter of and has always been just like yourself.
That's why he played for the club for nothing for a year in the academy while everyone else were scholars getting paid.
The first time he was picked for the first team by Wellen's they found out he couldn't play in the league under his contract terms and they signed him quickly as Middlesbrough knew the situation and were about to sign him themselves.
Wellens and the first team coaches didn't know he wasn't a scholar until they asked why he was unavailable for training at Cantley and were told he was at Doncaster College in lessons. and got leave to train with the academy and then go back to college.
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Raven, he has not missed any deadline to re-sign, mainly because his agent was hospitalised after talks had started with the club.
As far as the club and Grant McCann are concerned they have been nothing else but helpful and encouraging of the situation with their contacts with Bobby who has had other clubs contacting his agent who has had to pass on the information and his advice to the lad, who is still twenty, and realises after two wasted seasons through injury has it all to do again from a new start wherever he plays next season.
That's a lot for a young man to take in, a lesson in life some don't recover from, and big decisions about his personal future, and again the club have been nothing else but helpful, and I am sure a decision will be made soon, which has to be his after he looks at everything in front of him.
I want him very much to stay, he is ready, but it will be up to him to prove it preseason wherever he plays next season.
I know one thing for certain, it won't be for the lack of trying, it's not in his personality not to be the best he can be.
Probably ended up hospitalised after his ludicrous demands. Needs to get a new agent rather than using a pirate after a few extra quid. Bin captain jack sparrow
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On his way out unless he sorts himself out soon, and h is hardly likely to have league clubs queueing up for his signature, having a poor loan and a half decent one at Buxton for half a season hardly makes the CV sparkle. He needs to get more tutelage and experience at Rovers before thinking he is better than the club.
Half decent loan? Did Selby not tell you he's a favourite for the ballon d'or?
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No Toastie I only told those I thought knew something about football.
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Some real crap being poured out here on Bobby Faulkner.
He’s a ‘Donny Boy’ with as much passion for his hometown club as JY McGrath. But for circumstances beyond his control, he could well have (& indeed might still well do) have been in Jay’s boots or if not then as his centre back partner on occasions this season.
Grant knows his worth to this squad & where he stands at present in his development as a player as the club looks towards Championship football in the very near future.
I hope Bobby is with us to make that journey only time will tell but ‘snide remarks’ don’t help anyone.
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I hope he stays with us and works his way into the team. Sometimes it just plain old luck, he hasn’t had much of that, just as he was in the side he got injured and subsequently moved down the pecking order, having to go out on loan at a decent standard. He can’t do any more than he has, in putting in performances while out on loan. We are light at the back centrally, he might just get an opportunity to play pre season and go from there.
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Signed, 1 year with the option of another.
Can probably put this to bed now!!
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Good stuff. The length is probably right for both parties - over to you Bobby to smash it in pre-season and get some minutes at a decent level.
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Common sense did prevail. We’ll done to all concerned.
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Glad Bobby has signed. The preseason will show his development so far then along with McGrath he will have to fight for a first team place. We should be aiming for another 2 centre halves who have had league 1 experience.
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I think there's always something special about a player who has come through our own ranks. I like Bobby as a player and I really hope he goes on to have a fantastic career, especially if that fantastic career is with us.
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Hopefully McCann has given him a roadmap to being fairly regular.
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I am so glad for Bobby Faulkner as well as Rovers, his future is going to be better around Rovers coaching, and his future place in the team will be mutually beneficial. Great signing.
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Last week McCann referred to Faulkner's situation as "a bit of a tricky one" claiming that the defender's representative informed him that he intended to reject the offer. McCann said negotiations were still ongoing and hoped that "common sense prevails", warning that if the youngster wishes to move on that any potential future employer may have to pay compensation to Rovers.
So to come out today with a 1 year deal signed it does look like he has almost being backed into a corner. McCann did say he see’s him out on loan again next season a few weeks back
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It’s a year with another year option. Hardly backing anyone anywhere.
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I'm pleased with this outcome.
I hope Bobby really pushes on now and puts himself in contention for a first-team place during the course of his new contract.
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Good news
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Good 4 choice, if you don't count Senior and Bailey, sorted now get the other 2
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Hopefully McCann has given him a roadmap to being fairly regular.
High fibre diet should help.
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Hopefully McCann has given him a roadmap to being fairly regular.
Eat more fruit, nuts and fiber.
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It’s a year with another year option. Hardly backing anyone anywhere.
Quite clearly it is Alan. His agent indicted the contract was likely to be declined to be warned that if he declines the club will be after a compensation fee which it doesn’t take a genius to work out at this level would leave him very few options.
He will have seen the route McGrath took and at similar age wants a chance in the first team rather than the non league loans that he has been over the past few years. It’s hard to put a marker on where he is when he hasn’t played for us in a few seasons.
Either way pleased for the lad he does have potential if he can stay fit throughout pre season and hopefully take any opportunity that comes his way.
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Right KingKendrick and others just to put you straight, Bobby has been backed into no corner at all, turning significantly better financial offers down from other clubs, and listening to what he might achieve here at Doncaster that would not require him to relocate or travel daily.
He is totally aware of his situation as far as what he has to prove to such as yourself and others who have at best not seen him play for two years or even ever if you have just jumped on the band wagon or watched him play in league football at 17years old and it doesn't faze him at all, having being encouraged by agents and managers of professional clubs at EFL and top non league sides as to his ability to have a good career in football, and by his manager at Doncaster Rovers.
He realises he has to fight for his place, and that other players will be obtained to play in his position and is ready to meet the challenge head on, in fact is relishing it.
Just as Bobby knows he will have competition for a place in the side, any player coming in needs to know not to underestimate the challenge to play regular football they have in front of them.
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Right KingKendrick and others just to put you straight, Bobby has been backed into no corner at all, turning significantly better financial offers down from other clubs, and listening to what he might achieve here at Doncaster that would not require him to relocate or travel daily.
He is totally aware of his situation as far as what he has to prove to such as yourself and others who have at best not seen him play for two years or even ever if you have just jumped on the band wagon or watched him play in league football at 17years old and it doesn't faze him at all, having being encouraged by agents and managers of professional clubs at EFL and top non league sides as to his ability to have a good career in football, and by his manager at Doncaster Rovers.
He realises he has to fight for his place, and that other players will be obtained to play in his position and is ready to meet the challenge head on, in fact is relishing it.
That's good to hear - I would be delighted if he went on to be successful and a fans favourite...
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Good luck Bobby
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Right KingKendrick and others just to put you straight, Bobby has been backed into no corner at all, turning significantly better financial offers down from other clubs, and listening to what he might achieve here at Doncaster that would not require him to relocate or travel daily.
He is totally aware of his situation as far as what he has to prove to such as yourself and others who have at best not seen him play for two years or even ever if you have just jumped on the band wagon or watched him play in league football at 17years old and it doesn't faze him at all, having being encouraged by agents and managers of professional clubs at EFL and top non league sides as to his ability to have a good career in football, and by his manager at Doncaster Rovers.
He realises he has to fight for his place, and that other players will be obtained to play in his position and is ready to meet the challenge head on, in fact is relishing it.
Just as Bobby knows he will have competition for a place in the side, any player coming in needs to know not to underestimate the challenge to play regular football they have in front of them.
I don’t know why you are being so defensive about it for shelby. Having an opinion means I’m jumping on the band wagon and apparently have never seen him play? Come on stop acting like a stroppy teenager. Obviously as I said in my last post he has the potential and needs to take his chance when it comes, I don’t think anyone in here has questioned that? The point I was simply making was in reference to McCann’s quote to his agent about a compensation fee if the offer was to be declined. So if you have all the answers these clubs he had bigger offers from were prepared to pay that then? And why did his agent say the contract was going to be declined?
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Signed now.
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Signed now.
And in more latest news, Rovers are about to move into a new stadium at Lakeside.
Sorry, Rob. I couldn't resist.
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That Chris Brown kid will make a good player one day too, Steve....
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Those horseless carriages, they'll never catch on!
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Great, confident interview from Bobby, & Grant seems to have changed his stance slightly, from "we don't see him breaking into the first team next season" to "let's see what he can do in pre-season".
Good luck Bobby.
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Great news. Go on Bobby.
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Great, confident interview from Bobby, & Grant seems to have changed his stance slightly, from "we don't see him breaking into the first team next season" to "let's see what he can do in pre-season".
Good luck Bobby.
Might be looking at using certain areas of the budget elsewhere and only bringing in two center backs? So he'd be the 4th choice.
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From the times I saw Bobby in a Rovers shirt he should be pushing first team. Proper CB. Strong, aggressive, good positioning, rarely beat in the air, threat in opposition box. Come back to last pre-season fittest by a long way from memory.
Add to that the fact when he did play for us he played in a really poor team at the time, I really don't know why we haven't done more with this kid.
I hope he blows their socks off in preseason and gets a chance with us before just being sent on loan.
One thing though, if there were multiple league clubs offering him a contract I expect we could get him loaned to a league club quite easy if he isn't in first team plans.
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Good news, really hope he pushes on in preseason to give Grant the decision to make to keep him in and around the first team, hopefully long term him and jay as our main centre backs
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Glad all’s been sorted & Bobby can now show his desire to be a real contender for a place in the first XI.
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Great, confident interview from Bobby, & Grant seems to have changed his stance slightly, from "we don't see him breaking into the first team next season" to "let's see what he can do in pre-season".
Good luck Bobby.
Might be looking at using certain areas of the budget elsewhere and only bringing in two center backs? So he'd be the 4th choice.
We only need two center backs but let’s hope we get them of the right quality and hopefully league 1 experience.
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On the face of it we could have on our hands two central defenders that could well go on to be above division one standard already here, who knows, personally that would not surprise me.
We do however need one possibly or with Bailey one, ideally Championship standard either experienced at that level or capable of reaching that level.
To be honest I see the base we have here at the moment if Bailey is included which could be his best position IMHO now potentially one of our strongest areas if they are all fit, its that part where we need another either to come through or acquire.
From what I have seen apart from at Nottingham Forest there is not a lot about outstanding in those areas and certainly better in the non league scene IMHO a very good young left sided player who played with Bobby at Buxton Kieron Burton only 22yrs old. no mug at all and cant believe he is playing at that level.
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I watched Buxton away at Rushall Olympic and was impressed with Keiron Burton. Rushall were poor but he looked one of the best on the pitch.
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From what I have seen apart from at Nottingham Forest there is not a lot about outstanding in those areas and certainly better in the non league scene IMHO a very good young left sided player who played with Bobby at Buxton Kieron Burton only 22yrs old. no mug at all and cant believe he is playing at that level.
Born in York I believe.... You should email the club selby - he may be one for the scouts to look at.
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I think Bobby has made the right choice and Selby's thoughts suggest to me he's doing all the right things to be successful. None of us know if he will make it for us, such a tough jump to make but it sounds like he has the right mentality for it.
The current coaching setup have also done quite well bringing players on. I'd like nothing more than seeing our youngsters make the first team and be successful onwards at higher levels either with us or elsewhere.
I think the club deserve a bit of credit, they could easily have let Bobby go but he's been given an opportunity. I doubt that would have happened 3 years ago.
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Nice to hear the interview with Bobby. I wonder why Liam Holden was speaking with a metal bucket over his head?
Anyway, good luck Bobby, get yourself ready for pre-season, show Grant what you can do and work yourself into the reckoning for the first team squad.
Look what happened last season when we lost Woody and Olowu through injury at the same time. You never know when an opportunity will present itself.
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Two ways to go the way I see it, We have three on the books of you include Bailey, and is it Senior played quite well there for us, and go for another class act preferably left sided with Bailey and Faulkner right.
Or go along with a combination of two of those three and bring in someone Keiron Burton from Buxton and leave him there on loan and monitor with a call back.
A real class act Zach Abbott but could be out of reach making his first team debut in the FA cup semi final and England age group player although a year in division 1 would be a good loan.
Ben Perry has just had a loan at Northampton playing 17 games a tough tackling mid fielder and play maker, two of the few u21s I watched I thought special and think a lot of clubs could be after those two if Forest let them out on loan.
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Counting McGrath out again,?
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Why would grant head into the season starting two centre halves that were playing national league north football last season? He's clearly going to bring someone in and Bobby isn't going to walk straight into the team. Grant clearly likes McGrath so he's already on the back foot
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Who has said that Cheese Toastie, If I was the manager I would be looking at a class act new signing and Bailey starting the season with Bobby and McGrath playing the cup games as back up and given their chance that way.
And Raven I am looking at our results and goals against before Anderson and Bailey were teamed up together the reason why I would look at it that way and would be looking to try and replicate our finish, not the games before that when we were losing ground.
We are a division and a class higher and need a start to the season or we can be on the back foot from the start.
If we play McGrath we need to sign some pace alongside him as the standard of strikers will be a lot higher and in most cases faster thinking and more mobile in this division.
Such as Collins at Bolton and Kelman at Orient (who hopefully will be back at QPR) have quick feet in close positions and pace and turn defenders with the ball at feet and are way above the standard we came up against last season one on one, and we have lost the recovery pace of Olowu, which is one of any new player in central defences main priority of anyone coming in as well as being a good defender or we will be found out very quickly as they study our away games such as Chesterfield, Harrogate, and Walsall who just ran straight at us.
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It would help if we had a solid defensive midfielder in front of the 2 centre backs, Selby! Something we didn’t get to grips with until the second half of the season. On that score, Broadbent improved no end but I think we still require that nasty piece of work protecting the 2 cb’s.
I agree we need to replace Olowu’s pace but we also need an experienced head back there, who can organise. We’ve lost 2 very experienced guys in the defence! Let’s see what GM has up his sleeve.
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Just to clarify when was Bobby Faulkner’s last appearance for Rovers in the first team ?
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Subbed after 35 minutes in the 3-2 FLT defeat away at Mansfield Town on 10 October 2023.
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Someone said he is now our longest serving first team squad player which made me laugh if its true, he was 18 then CBcb and came off injured that took two operations as the first one failed and the rest of the season to recover.
He is not a young lad now as green as grass, as an ex player and agent has said to me, I have watched him as a boy, he is a man now, after watching him have a right physical dust up in a match.
I think Bailey and a new player will start the season in central defence by the way unless McGrath and Bobby have really outstanding pre seasons, and those two could play in the early EFL and League cup games, both having to prove they can play up a level.
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I don’t think McGrath has anything to prove, after last season..
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Yeah you don’t give McGrath the dumber 6 shirt if you aren’t planning on him being a starter
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McGrath is a far better defender than Faulkner , we definitely will bring in two centre backs to push the others on
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We all have our opinions of what a good defender is, mine is winning the ball when you don't have it, not looking good on the ball when not under pressure, Wood and Anderson have had two good careers heading, tackling, and getting the ball quickly out of the danger area any way possible, and knowing where the danger is in their own penalty area and closing that area down, and being able to do it when they were under pressure.
Its a different level next season and some will find it difficult to lift their game to the level required.
Every promotion side we have ever had have had good players the season we got promoted who were found wanting the next level up it's the norm.
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So what makes you think Faulkner can step up more than McGrath who shone last season and will no doubt start in front of Faulkner
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Danmckay456 I don't, I am a wait and see, I think at the moment Bailey is our best central defender and can play either side, Grant will bring another in who will be a starter, Both Bobby and McGrath will have to prove good enough.
If Jay was a certain starter, he would have been straight back in last season when fit.
He had dropped back and was not on it before he got injured as was the team as a whole, the last ten games nearly a quarter of the season without him being another great run of results to finish the season and he played a minimum of minutes even when fit.
Do you think McGrath is a certain starter? and we have a new defence coach.
Do you think he is a certain starter? I don't think anyone is and every position is now to play for, and we have a different defence coach to start with.
He finished the season on the outside looking in as a bench warmer, and has a lot to do like Bobby this coming season and it is the way it should be, nobody is an automatic pic in this game at the top.
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Credit to the players who came in but there is no way Bailey is going to be centre back he’s too important to our midfield , McGrath was nowhere near fit near the end of the season and why would you break up a partnership if they were doing the business on the pitch , injuries gave wood / Anderson opportunities like when Olowu got injured he would of had to wait to get back in had it not ended his season
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Danmckay456, we have a new defence coach and new players in a new season at a higher level.
Who do you see as certain starters? Bailey is the omly one I see in central defence, and Olowu was the only one who had a great season there last season until the last ten games.
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Sterry maxwell will be starters
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Yes I go with Sterry and Maxwell for me and expect a new Keeper and the rest up for grabs.
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Credit to the players who came in but there is no way Bailey is going to be centre back he’s too important to our midfield , McGrath was nowhere near fit near the end of the season and why would you break up a partnership if they were doing the business on the pitch , injuries gave wood / Anderson opportunities like when Olowu got injured he would of had to wait to get back in had it not ended his season
For me, and many others, Bailey should be CB. That's his natural position and he is excellent there. He isn't 'to important' in midfield. It's important for us that he starts, but not particularly in midfield.
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For me the balance wasn't right in midfield until Bailey went to CB. I have slight concerns if he'd be as dominant in a higher League. Would maybe give us the option to sign one CB and a CM rather than two CBs
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Why replace 3 with 1?
If you move Bailey back there and we sign 1 centre back, we’re still one down on last season! And we’re in a much tougher league. You also deplete the midfield area - it doesn’t make sense.
We require 2 centre backs AND a central defensive midfielder, a keeper and a striker.
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Would get two centre backs, keeper and striker. No point bringing in yet another midfielder unless someone leaves. There will be relatively big wages going to Close and Westbrooke, and bringing another midfielder in means they are not likely to be making even the squad let alone the team. A criminal waste of relatively big wages.
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Subbed after 35 minutes in the 3-2 FLT defeat away at Mansfield Town on 10 October 2023.
So that’s subbed after 35 minutes in the lowest “first team competition “ we play ??
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Would get two centre backs, keeper and striker. No point bringing in yet another midfielder unless someone leaves. There will be relatively big wages going to Close and Westbrooke, and bringing another midfielder in means they are not likely to be making even the squad let alone the team. A criminal waste of relatively big wages.
So we shouldn't bring in better because there is plenty in the building? Even though they weren't deemed good enough for league 2????
Cmon.
We need CM or CMs and we need to move some on.
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There isn’t a bottomless pit. We need a keeper and two centre backs and striker as priorities. We have any number of central midfielders. If they are not right then move one or more on. Don’t just throw yet another body on to that pile.
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Subbed after 35 minutes in the 3-2 FLT defeat away at Mansfield Town on 10 October 2023.
So that’s subbed after 35 minutes in the lowest “first team competition “ we play ??
Question to be answered was he playing badly, was he ill, was he injured or was it a tactical change?
I wasn't at the game so I can't give an answer I'll leave that to someone else
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There isn’t a bottomless pit. We need a keeper and two centre backs and striker as priorities. We have any number of central midfielders. If they are not right then move one or more on. Don’t just throw yet another body on to that pile.
Exactly what I said, move some on. Definitely need to do that if they aren't guna be part of the plan.
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Raven his first ligament operation had not been a success and he came off injured and never played that season again his next game was in Ireland the season after which was the start of last season nearly eleven months later after corrective surgery.
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Thanks Selby, that might dispel the negativity of being substituted after 35mins to some
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Has Bobby had a season with us that hasn’t been significantly disrupted by injuries?
He’s a determined young lad, he will work his socks off to improve. As mentioned above, he has all the right attributes but is raw.
I think to impress McCann he’ll have to stay fit which will naturally allow him to develop and become more polished. Oh and he’ll need to beat Joe Ironside at the vertical jump test :lol:
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Sounds like he is on his way out on loan by Grants latest interview. Wants 4 centre backs competing for the 2 positions and said he wants to bring another centre half in. Won’t be either of the 2 new boys or McGrath.
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Sounds like he is on his way out on loan by Grants latest interview. Wants 4 centre backs competing for the 2 positions and said he wants to bring another centre half in. Won’t be either of the 2 new boys or McGrath.
Right call, he needs to be playing football and he won’t be doing that here. Really hope he can get a League Two loan but there might be concerns over playing time; playing week in, week out in the NL will still be beneficial.
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He certainly is popular with other clubs after him, makes you wonder why nobody is bothered about the rest seeing as how he hasn't kicked a ball yet this season, and before anyone has clapped eyes on the new players to judge just how good they are.
The only thing certain is after yesterday we haven't anyone who can catch him.
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He's that good Selby had to say it twice
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I have never done anything Twine as far as I know Sven is that Flemish for wine?
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A NL move would be great for him. Scunny?
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He certainly is popular with other clubs after him, makes you wonder why nobody is bothered about the rest seeing as how he hasn't kicked a ball yet this season, and before anyone has clapped eyes on the new players to judge just how good they are.
The only thing certain is after yesterday we haven't anyone who can catch him.
I agree with your first sentiment Selby - everyone should get get a chance to display their wears and I don't think from Grant's interview he has cut anyone off from the squad. I know you're keen on Faulkner - as am I by the way - and I hope he progresses and becomes the next Andy Butler: however, speed won't solve every problem and we need to give the lad time to develop also. Linford Christie could run fast.... but wasn't as good with a football at his feet.... apparently.
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I have never done anything Twine as far as I know Sven is that Flemish for wine?
Not a clue what you are on about ?
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He certainly is popular with other clubs after him, makes you wonder why nobody is bothered about the rest seeing as how he hasn't kicked a ball yet this season, and before anyone has clapped eyes on the new players to judge just how good they are.
The only thing certain is after yesterday we haven't anyone who can catch him.
Then ‘other ‘ Clubs should have made him an offer he couldn’t refuse! But, they obviously didn’t, so we’re going to be taking care of his development and, to me, that’s the right thing for both parties.
Are we to spend the rest of this season making comparisons with Faulkner? No, definately not. What a waste of space that would be. Our trust, and hopefully Faulkner’s, is and should be with GM and the management team. Look at how other players have improved whilst under their tutelage!
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MM he is a far better player than when most others last saw him, has improved with the ball and id terific getting the ball when others have it,
He isn't a boy anymore and is a big fast unit, and Grant has been nothing else but encouraging.
He knows himself he needs games for experience and has no problems with a good loan and knows of the interest he is causing as the club do, but first and foremost he is after that shirt and others need to be aware if they don't cut the mustard he will give them problems and the manager a decision to make they need to be on their toes and at their best to keep him out of the team.
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MM he is a far better player than when most others last saw him, has improved with the ball and id terific getting the ball when others have it,
He isn't a boy anymore and is a big fast unit, and Grant has been nothing else but encouraging.
He knows himself he needs games for experience and has no problems with a good loan and knows of the interest he is causing as the club do, but first and foremost he is after that shirt and others need to be aware if they don't cut the mustard he will give them problems and the manager a decision to make they need to be on their toes and at their best to keep him out of the team.
Why doesn’t the manager rate him Selby?
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he does from conversations , to be honest I think I think he would be better getting a loan and smash it there small steps to bigger things.
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Tricky one. Personally, rather than spend another chunk of our budget on bringing in a 4th centre half (as it sounds like we will) I’d be happy to see Faulkner competing for that spot. However I also get that games would be more beneficial for him. If he goes out on loan it had better be to a good level with a longer term plan to see him challenging for a place in our team.
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Personally don't think we should be after a CB, IMO that is Baileys natural position and we should be utilising him there and bringing in a CM, hopefully Crew.
I rate Bobby, but only from the few times I have seen him in Rovers colours. If he has come on as Selby states them it would be crazy to just ship him out on loan without giving him the preseason first to compete with the newcomers.
I think we have our CBs and the budget would be better contributing to a Forward and CM.
That said I trust in Grant.
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If we are bringing another cb in, does that lean more to playing 3 at the back more often.?
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It is an interesting one, the same with hurst and the academy lads. There’s certainly no remit for Grant to develop these players “in house” is there. Getting a loan from higher up when we have players on the books possibly the best thing to do short term but perhaps not the best thing long term.
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Points to take from interviews this week are that GM wants 4 CBs competing for two places.
DFP now suggesting no further incomings likely until after the Spain trip. Hopefully Bobby can impress in that time. Personally I think we have enough there, Pearson, Grehan, McGrath with a mixture of Bailey, Senior, Faulkner and possibly Flint backing up, although yes Bobby and Will need to be playing regularly for development now.
It's a tricky balance with no reserve team / U23 football.
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Our only realistic aim this season is to stay up IMHO. My present thinking is that Pearson and Bailey would by far be our best pairing to start the season in central defence as I don't see the others myself as division 1 standard in that position.
Flint and Faulkner in my opinion are as good as the rest we know of and we will have to wait and see what the new signings bring to the table as realistically looking at their history they have not exactly set the world on fire, so can only be judged as to how they play when they are here.
Faulkner, Flint, and Sam Brown did well, in fact very well last season on loan and need to be playing at a good standard and if not here good loans need to be found for them, as they might be needed in January as rescue dogs, hopefully not and have done well if out on loan.
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You don’t rate the lad we got from Palace.?
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I will make that judgment when I see him play IDM, I actually hope he is brilliant, but have no idea at the moment, and after signing players like Long, Barlow, Ennis and quite a few others over the years that have come from top clubs and proved to be damp squibs at best, I have learnt to wait to give judgment.
The one thing that is certain, the level of club they come from gives them a distinct advantage over players coming through the ranks at lower division clubs even at their own club.
I have seen many players sacked off by other clubs at academy level who have been released by top clubs but have reached their ceiling and the reason for release who have marched in and have taken the place of lads from grass roots with a better chance of improving later if given the chance.
And its the same at senior level, a lad from a premiership team comes with that label like Louis Vuitton when in fact they are better suited to the Aldi in a some cases.
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That opinion is fair enough, but you didn’t even mention him by name, as if he wasn’t part of the equation.
I do agree Bailey should be part of the CB plan. He was excellent in those last few games when it really mattered to push us over the line.
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I can’t see there will be any movement regards our defenders for the next 2 weeks.
Grant and his team will want to assess all of them before making any final decisions.
If any of the current cb’s do go out on loan, I can’t see all of them being for the full season without the ability to call them back.
I honestly don’t see Owen being considered as a centre back within the 4 mentioned, and it wouldn’t be unusual for injuries to occur within the first few weeks of a season.
No point speculating at this point in time because Grant will already be aware of how he sees his final squad, there will still be movement whilst the transfer window remains open, so this is another factor which will influence his final decisions.
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IDM, I will be honest with you I have no idea what his name is or which one is from Crystal Palace.
Of the ones I have seen, my choice would be Pearson and Bailey, one has had a career at that or a higher level, and Bailey I rate, and has played well there in the matches I have seen him play in the position and am confident he can step up to division one level.
Of the others that have played central defence and who are at the club I have seen including McGrath I am doubtful whether they will be good enough at division 1 standard in that position IMHO others will disagree and fair enough everyone is entitled to an opinion.
In Faulkner's, Flint's, and Sam Brown's cases IMHO they have the attributes to go as far as they want to in the game given the chance to develop in good loans, Faulkner being knocked back through injury and missing two seasons and has proved nothing yet, and Flint and Brown young and all needing more experience to really be assets at that level, but if they do get good loans and go well could come into contention in January and probably show more promise than some who are in and around the first team squad now.
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Sean Grehan.. been discussed on the forum for several days now.
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Surely, the point is that the manager knows him and has had him watched for some time. He’s seen enough for us to acquire him and that’s good enough for me.
From a purely supporters point of view, we all should wait and see how they perform before any of us can judge. That applies to all new players, despite who they are or where they’ve come from.
The area in question - central defence/ keeper - will be under the microscope due to all the enforced changes we’ve had to make. It could be an early weakness in the team, we’ll have to wait and see.
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I find it bemusing that someone can write lengthy posts discussing our back-four options and completely omit from the discussion a CB we have recently signed.
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Pancho, I have no opinion at all about the lad I can comment on not having seen him play at all, and like you have faith in The club management.
But, we have even paid a fee for such as Long in my time, and he was absolutely garbage although I would think going through the vetting procedure, the same with Barlow and quite a few others coming from higher ranked teams.
I will judge him when I see him and will comment only then on the lad, and I genuinely would like him to be brilliant and if I think he is I will say so.
The flying mop of hair from Brighton was the best of the lot, but only for a laugh unfortunately.
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Pancho, I have no opinion at all about the lad I can comment on not having seen him play at all, and like you have faith in The club management.
But, we have even paid a fee for such as Long in my time, and he was absolutely garbage although I would think going through the vetting procedure, the same with Barlow and quite a few others coming from higher ranked teams.
I will judge him when I see him and will comment only then on the lad, and I genuinely would like him to be brilliant and if I think he is I will say so.
The flying mop of hair from Brighton was the best of the lot, but only for a laugh unfortunately.
Selby to be fair I think you could watch Van Dijk and a prime maldini at centre half and still think Faulkner is better
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Our only realistic aim this season is to stay up IMHO. My present thinking is that Pearson and Bailey would by far be our best pairing to start the season in central defence as I don't see the others myself as division 1 standard in that position.
Flint and Faulkner in my opinion are as good as the rest we know of and we will have to wait and see what the new signings bring to the table as realistically looking at their history they have not exactly set the world on fire, so can only be judged as to how they play when they are here.
Faulkner, Flint, and Sam Brown did well, in fact very well last season on loan and need to be playing at a good standard and if not here good loans need to be found for them, as they might be needed in January as rescue dogs, hopefully not and have done well if out on loan.
I very much doubt that Terry, Gavin, and Grant would agree with your first sentence, Brian.
Also, has it escaped your attention that Sean Grehen recently captained the Republic of Ireland under 21s? Surely you must be impressed by that.
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While McCann and his team have done a good job in helping turn the club around people need to remember another big reason we’re doing a lot better is that a lot more money is being invested in to the club nowadays.
Haven’t seen Grehan play, but I can guarantee he’s miles better than Adam Long because we’ll be paying him considerably more.
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Pancho, I have no opinion at all about the lad I can comment on not having seen him play at all, and like you have faith in The club management.
But, we have even paid a fee for such as Long in my time, and he was absolutely garbage although I would think going through the vetting procedure, the same with Barlow and quite a few others coming from higher ranked teams.
I will judge him when I see him and will comment only then on the lad, and I genuinely would like him to be brilliant and if I think he is I will say so.
The flying mop of hair from Brighton was the best of the lot, but only for a laugh unfortunately.
Adam Long was signed while Gary McSheffrey was manager with hardly any staff backup so I would hope comparing him to Grehan who’s been tracked over the last 12 months is a bit ludicrous.
We can only tell when we see him play along with other new players.
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McCanns got more signings right than bad and some of the bad ones you could tell they didn’t want to be here
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I was looking at a lot of England u21s teams the other day right back to the 1950s on line.
Lot's of players I had never heard of in every team with players who became the games greats.
You could counter that by asking the Carlisle supporters who watched him in three games what he was like.
I hope he is great for us but until I see him play I have a completely open mind.
Anybody remember Reece Brown from Manchester United on loan.
I think we signed him because he was the brother of Wes and looked like him, not because he was a footballer.
Another donkey from Manchester United.
Played 10 games for England u19s and 5 games for England u20s and there was better at Accrington,
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It's always confuses me when people before watching them play after coaching from Mccann and his team, they write them off.
Silly silly.
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Nobody has wrote him off at all, have no opinion at all I have never seen him play, I can see why your confused.
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Pancho, I have no opinion at all about the lad I can comment on not having seen him play at all, and like you have faith in The club management.
But, we have even paid a fee for such as Long in my time, and he was absolutely garbage although I would think going through the vetting procedure, the same with Barlow and quite a few others coming from higher ranked teams.
Well at least you’re now acknowledging that he exists and is part of our squad; this is a step forward.
What a shame though, that you then go on to ridicule Adam Long and Aiden Barlow, presumably in some strange attempt to cast doubt on the signing of Sean Grehan, whom you admit you have never seen play (or indeed have never heard of).
If you have “no opinion at all about the lad” it’s a shame you can’t welcome him to the club and put some faith in Grant McCann and his staff to have done their homework and signed a player who will add quality to our squad.
I sense a continuing sense of bitterness from you due to the fact that Grant has not elevated your prodigy to the first team, and has the temerity to sign other players who are judged to be better than your boy.
It’s not a good look Selby. You need to get over it.
I wouldn’t presume to speak for most Rovers fans but I suspect, like me, they want Bobby Faulkner to continue progressing and developing with the Rovers and ultimately to become a successful first-team player.
But casting doubt and making negative comments about those Rovers players competing in his position really doesn’t do you any credit in my opinion.
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Heard he has a really good loan lined up. Hope that’s true.
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Heard he has a really good loan lined up. Hope that’s true.
New house or car?
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Heard he has a really good loan lined up. Hope that’s true.
Scunny would make sense.
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Heard he has a really good loan lined up. Hope that’s true.
Scunny would make sense.
I agree, although I understand theres another very good option for him.
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Heard he has a really good loan lined up. Hope that’s true.
Scunny would make sense.
I agree, although I understand theres another very good option for him.
Maybe York? That would be a good move and give him a chance of earning a promotion.
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Grant ‘knows’ Bobby’s attributes well having had two years to cast an eye over him, so if the manager doesn’t feel he’s ready to be a part of the match day squad at this point in his career then ‘we’ have to accept that.
Grant’s the manager after all so it’s his head on the block when we don’t progress as a club because we’re ‘bogged down’ with player’s contracts that ultimately won’t progress the club.
Now I’m not saying (far from it) that Bobby Faulkner won’t one day be a main stay in the Rovers central defence (& he has been given a contract to prove that to be the case) however, ultimately we want/need to be a Championship club before our Chairman’s money (& forgive me for being so blunt) is no longer there to sustain us as a club able to achieve those heights.
We’re not a club in a position to offer Bobby a longer term contract (as Lincoln did with Rob Street) but he has been given a contract so, do your best with it Bobby.
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I would hope that the club cast their eyes at least on the film footage of games that young players on loan play in, and collate the stats if available, but know for a fact the coverage of games in person is very very rare.
With the number of games the first team play clashing with games in lower leagues that is no fault of the first team staff immediately attached to those games, and scouting players from other clubs we fancy would also take precedence I would imagine and rightly so.
But attending matches when the Rovers had an away game, or in midweek involving Flint, Brown, Faulkner, and Williams and asking as I entered the ground the teams attending with scouts, only once at Darlington were we represented as a club with player in the teams playing.
Whether it is a weakness in our coverage, or the teams we have loaned players to report progress, which I hope they would be encouraged to do I have no idea. but was partly why I started to comment my thoughts on here of games I went to and some mates went to others where the lads played, which were mainly at Buxton, Darlington, Peterborough Sports, and Gainsborough and Alfreton when Whitby played there just the once.
It certainly improved my admiration of non league football with better food and drink outlets and everyone fully committed on and off the field of play.
The Rovers preseason game I recommend this season to attend is the Alfreton game although the ground and bar facilities are not that great.
But the style of play, massive players, long throws to the far post, challenge for everything and really long ball physical play will give you probably the best idea of what the new central defenders are all about, and could be the young players their biggest test in preseason.
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Gone to Harrogate on loan. That’s a great move for him.
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Great move for him and not too far from Selby either. Wins all round I think.
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Good loan move, big opportunity for him that. Let's hope he takes it.
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Make or break, if he's decent he could be in the first team squad for us next season, if he's not it'll be loans/transfer further down the pyramid.
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Called it!
Might try a career as a football agent :lol:
https://www.drfc-vsc.co.uk/index.php?topic=294385.msg1395400#msg1395400
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Great move, chuffed for the lad, I hope he smashes it.
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Great loan this for him.
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Well done all round for Bobby the player who will have a good standard of football to prove he can compete with the other centre halves for the starting place and then play consistently to hold on to it.
Also Well done to the club for ensuring he got a good loan which if successful will be best for everyone concerned
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Yes, that's a great opportunity for Bobby. Easier for everyone to keep tabs on his progress.
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Is it a full season loan or likely to be re assessed in the new year, as in could we get him back in an emergency?
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All the best, Bobby and everyone at Rovers hope you have a great loan.
Show them what you’re made of!
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Thank You Buxton FC and John McGrath the manager who were both great for Bobby.
And thank you the FA for the fixture list that has Doncaster Rovers and Harrogate at home on alternate Saturdays.
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I am pleased it is a relatively local team, it keeps him in the minds of the club and fans, when he plays.
A good level for the lad and the club, I do not recall many, if any of our younger lads going to league clubs.
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To save me scrolling how long a contract did he sign with Rovers recently ?
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Best of luck Bobby hope you smash it there
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To save me scrolling how long a contract did he sign with Rovers recently ?
One year with the option of a second.
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A year and an option, his loan is until the January window,
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1year + 1year option
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As others have said, a decent move to a decent club, with the potential of being a first team regular.
This should give a healthier profile of how he would do for us on his return.
Good move all round
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Brilliant move for Bobby.
Hope he’s a regular starter & wins Lg2 player of the season!
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Is it a full season loan or likely to be re assessed in the new year, as in could we get him back in an emergency?
With every season long loan, there's always a mid season break clause, when if it's not working out for either party, the loan can be terminated early. We've seen this happen on numerous occasions, as there's no point carrying on if, he's not getting game time, or he's not performing as hoped etc.
We've seen Mo Faal return early, only to be loaned back out to Walsall, which appeared to be more his decision rather than West Broms.
We saw Nathan Lowe recalled by Stoke from Walsall, supposedly due to Stoke needing him, but then he only played a couple of games which meant he couldn't be loaned out again. We all know what happened to Walsall!
If our needs must, and Bobby's playing well then yes, we can recall him, although I'd like to think we are more ethical and wouldn't recall him unless he was going to get regular games.
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A year and an option, his loan is until the January window,
Selby, all reports are saying season long loan? I know there is usually a break clause.
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He has been there a few days and I haven't seen him, then I was told it was until January, but with the terms of full season it is quite common for the players club to recall to the club in January if the player is needed by them or someone else comes in for the player.
If he hits it like he did at Buxton nothing will be off the table, and he has made a good start there in training, yep done it again, and loves the place and the lads there, he is really pleased with everyone and everything, happy days.
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He has been there a few days and I haven't seen him, then I was told it was until January, but with the terms of full season it is quite common for the players club to recall to the club in January if the player is needed by them or someone else comes in for the player.
If he hits it like he did at Buxton nothing will be off the table, and he has made a good start there in training, yep done it again, and loves the place and the lads there, he is really pleased with everyone and everything, happy days.
Great news. I hope he gets a chance and grabs that first team spot for the season. I for one will definitely be looking out for how he is getting on.
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Make or break loan for the lad hope it goes well time will show
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Great move. Go on Bobby.
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Make or break loan for the lad hope it goes well time will show
He’s 20 year old yes 21 in August. He’s the first player I can remember to get loan with a league club. It won’t be make or break at this early stage in his career especially for centre halves. Will be watching with interest to see his progression.
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Good move for him hope he does really well and becomes a leading player for them and we extended his contract in January then comes back in ready for next season to be first team ready for us
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As long as if he ‘smashes it’ we have the foresight to offer him a longer contract (come January) if I’m right in thinking he only has a year left on his existing one?
We don’t want Harrogate Town offering him a 4 year deal at the age of 20 then selling him on at 22/23 years old for mega bucks.
If you look at the contracts handed out to Close & Westbrooke then Bobby’s a no brainier if he ‘does the business’ in Lg2.
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Make or break loan for the lad hope it goes well time will show
He’s 20 year old yes 21 in August. He’s the first player I can remember to get loan with a league club. It won’t be make or break at this early stage in his career especially for centre halves. Will be watching with interest to see his progression.
It is for his career with us. If he doesn't perform then he'll head back to National League or below, and we'll potentially not extend that contract option we have. If he does well then he'll be playing games in the following season for us hopefully in League One (or above ;) ).
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Called it!
Might try a career as a football agent :lol:
https://www.drfc-vsc.co.uk/index.php?topic=294385.msg1395400#msg1395400
Nice one ncRover!
Do you have this weekend’s lottery numbers?
A great loan for Bobby and a real chance for him to further progress and challenge himself.
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According to Harrogate’s Head of Recruitment it sounds like Bobby has been signed as back-up to the two first-choice CB’s.
I’m sure he’s bound to get a chance at some point.
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According to Harrogate’s Head of Recruitment it sounds like Bobby has been signed as back-up to the two first-choice CB’s.
I’m sure he’s bound to get a chance at some point.
That’s the manager and head of recruitment said he signed to give competition to other central defenders. Has I said above he competes prove himself then if selected consolidates his place in the side. Developing and improving his skills if required.
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Pancho, he had a choice of clubs, including stopping at the Rovers and going to Spain and the club and he himself through his agent has had written offers of a permanent move with a club willing to pay a transfer fee. But again after conversations the gravitas of not having to travel, or even live away at the moment was pointed out to him and the advantage of stopping at Doncaster.
He got the loan himself playing the way he did last season at Buxton that attracted other clubs attention, and with John McGrath encouraging him all the way while he was at that club and giving him and some other young players such as Burton, who if we were really up to it we would have been at least looking at, the stage to play on.
His father who is his biggest fan and also a very level headed person with friends pointed out the advantages of taking a loan well before the start of pre season training if any was offered.
The Harrogate manager pulled up trees to get the lad there and the club has been very welcoming and Bobby is well aware that wherever he plays he will only play in the team if he deserves to.
He has lost two years and is not a 17 yrs old boy anymore and knows exactly what he wants and has to do and is not keen to hang around any more and will do his best wherever he plays to get the shirt.
Apart from a few supporters of the club who went to see him in a game last season playing at Buxton, I don't think anyone from the staff at Doncaster Rovers have seen him play in a competitive game for two years, and if so only an odd one.
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Pancho, he had a choice of clubs, including stopping at the Rovers and going to Spain and the club and he himself through his agent has had written offers of a permanent move with a club willing to pay a transfer fee. But again after conversations the gravitas of not having to travel, or even live away at the moment was pointed out to him and the advantage of stopping at Doncaster.
He got the loan himself playing the way he did last season at Buxton that attracted other clubs attention, and with John McGrath encouraging him all the way while he was at that club and giving him and some other young players such as Burton, who if we were really up to it we would have been at least looking at, the stage to play on.
His father who is his biggest fan and also a very level headed person with friends pointed out the advantages of taking a loan well before the start of pre season training if any was offered.
The Harrogate manager pulled up trees to get the lad there and the club has been very welcoming and Bobby is well aware that wherever he plays he will only play in the team if he deserves to.
He has lost two years and is not a 17 yrs old boy anymore and knows exactly what he wants and has to do and is not keen to hang around any more and will do his best wherever he plays to get the shirt.
Apart from a few supporters of the club who went to see him in a game last season playing at Buxton, I don't think anyone from the staff at Doncaster Rovers have seen him play in a competitive game for two years, and if so only an odd one.
Wow Selby, that’s an amazing revelation that nobody from Doncaster Rovers has seen Faulkner play in a competitive game for two years.
That implies an almost complete disinterest in Bobby by the club, despite the fact that he was still a Rovers player, and despite the fact the club has signed him up for at least another year.
It really is worrying about how the club treats its young players.
If it’s true of course.
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Of course they may have watched videos and collated stats, and get reports from the clubs involved Pancho but personal attendance is very sparse as far as I can see.