Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: grayx on December 14, 2025, 09:34:01 am
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What did folk think of him yesterday? Like most in here i thought he was shocking midweek and looked like a boy against men. Perhaps the conditions were against him.
Yesterday I was surprised he got another start but thought he was much better. Showed some nice touches and can see why Grant wanted to try him again against a good footballing side.
Perhaps he is worth keeping.
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Played well yesterday.
But we are in the shit now and we can’t be affording players to have one good game in 4/5.
We’ve got too many of these players and it’s hurting us.
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He jumped over two 50/50 challenges on Tuesday night.
He was sent here to learn how to play ‘a man’s game’, if he man up & commit to challenges then he’s not only a luxury he’s a liability.
Send him back to Leeds, they can have a go at turning the boy into a man, we can’t afford to be concentrating on affording him & Ajayi game time if they only have eyes for the ‘big stage’.
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He was sent here to learn how to play ‘a man’s game’
Didn't realise we'd taken him on loan from the 1980s
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Did alright, looked an average league 1/ 2 player, which is a huge improvement for him
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Did alright, looked an average league 1/ 2 player, which is a huge improvement for him
Agree. Hes never going to be a tough tackling, dominant midfielder but he can produce a defence splitting pass like the one yesterday for Hanlans goal. We havent got many who can do that.
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Not what we need in midfield at the moment.
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There is an awful lot of negative opinion about this lad but imho its all wrong. There is an element of Trevor Brooking about him, he has class and will play at very high level in years to come.
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I thought he played better yesterday, although he left their player for one of the goals in the first half, which was a terrible mistake.
Yets face it if he couldn’t performance in his national stadium, then serious questions would have been asked.
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I thought he played better yesterday, although he left their player for one of the goals in the first half, which was a terrible mistake.
Yets face it if he couldn’t performance in his national stadium, then serious questions would have been asked.
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There is an awful lot of negative opinion about this lad but imho its all wrong. There is an element of Trevor Brooking about him, he has class and will play at very high level in years to come.
Maybe so, but his ceiling in years to come doesn’t necessarily benefit us between now and May.
In the midfield department, a dynamic and athletic attacking midfielder would be of more use to us right now.
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Yes.
He will probably end up a fine player at a high level, but he’s got a lot to learn and for me he can go and learn it somewhere else.
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He was sent here to learn how to play ‘a man’s game’
Didn't realise we'd taken him on loan from the 1980s
You’re better than that Glen, you know what I meant.
Premiership clubs ‘send out on loan’ to clubs like ours young players who need to be playing ‘competitively’ in an environment where they come back to their parent clubs having had a taste of the physicality of ‘men’s football’ instead of playing in U21 games for Leeds or Spurs against players of their own abilities.
Crew & Ajayi have been sent to us to pit their skills amongst the ‘unforgiving’ nouse of players a decade older than them in some instances in a faster, more challenging & competitive environment to see if they’re equal to that challenge.
These two in my opinion aren’t at a time when we need nothing less than total commitment from anyone who pulls on that hooped shirt.
Nothing to do with asking them to step back in time 45 years.
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There is an awful lot of negative opinion about this lad but imho its all wrong. There is an element of Trevor Brooking about him, he has class and will play at very high level in years to come.
It should be noted that Trevor Brooking is 77 yeas old though.
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Like you said, it's your opinion.
Other folk have other views.
And, before you cast any more aspersions about when and where I see the Rovers, I suggest you find out a few facts. Making up lies with which to smear folk just makes you look a total ........ Insert adjective of choice.
BobG
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Can’t Close do everything he can anyway? Genuine question btw.
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Like you said, it's your opinion.
Other folk have other views.
And, before you cast any more aspersions about when and where I see the Rovers, I suggest you find out a few facts. Making up lies with which to smear folk just makes you look a total ........ Insert adjective of choice.
BobG
It might help the rest of us to be able to see who you replying to.
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Sorry. T'was Usher.
BobG
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Can’t Close do everything he can anyway? Genuine question btw.
I dont think so. Close didnt have a bad game saturday but he prefers to go sideways or backwards.
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And he doesn’t tackle! We have players who are ok when we have the ball but can’t do the dirty work when we havn’t got it.
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Can’t Close do everything he can anyway? Genuine question btw.
George certainly can.
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And he doesn’t tackle! We have players who are ok when we have the ball but can’t do the dirty work when we havn’t got it.
Interestingly, last season (closed due to greater minute sample size) Crew did more tackling (per 90) than Broadbent.
It’s not a game of tackles anymore, it’s a game of interceptions, even at L1 level. Physicality is obviously a thing but recruiting players that are “experienced” and “get stuck in” won’t get you very far in the long term. Just sign players that are good.
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And he doesn’t tackle! We have players who are ok when we have the ball but can’t do the dirty work when we havn’t got it.
Interestingly, last season (closed due to greater minute sample size) Crew did more tackling (per 90) than Broadbent.
It’s not a game of tackles anymore, it’s a game of interceptions, even at L1 level. Physicality is obviously a thing but recruiting players that are “experienced” and “get stuck in” won’t get you very far in the long term. Just sign players that are good.
Then Saturday's game must have been an outlier in that metric because it was clear throughout the game that in 50/50 battles our players were easily brushed aside by the greater strength and stature of the Cardif players.
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And he doesn’t tackle! We have players who are ok when we have the ball but can’t do the dirty work when we havn’t got it.
Interestingly, last season (closed due to greater minute sample size) Crew did more tackling (per 90) than Broadbent.
It’s not a game of tackles anymore, it’s a game of interceptions, even at L1 level. Physicality is obviously a thing but recruiting players that are “experienced” and “get stuck in” won’t get you very far in the long term. Just sign players that are good.
Then Saturday's game must have been an outlier in that metric because it was clear throughout the game that in 50/50 battles our players were easily brushed aside by the greater strength and stature of the Cardif players.
I think 50/50 battles go down as ‘duels’ which is a completely separate stat.
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And he doesn’t tackle! We have players who are ok when we have the ball but can’t do the dirty work when we havn’t got it.
Interestingly, last season (closed due to greater minute sample size) Crew did more tackling (per 90) than Broadbent.
It’s not a game of tackles anymore, it’s a game of interceptions, even at L1 level. Physicality is obviously a thing but recruiting players that are “experienced” and “get stuck in” won’t get you very far in the long term. Just sign players that are good.
Then Saturday's game must have been an outlier in that metric because it was clear throughout the game that in 50/50 battles our players were easily brushed aside by the greater strength and stature of the Cardif players.
I think 50/50 battles go down as ‘duels’ which is a completely separate stat.
Thanks for the clarification on that metric, nc but Gazlaz appears to imply that physicality isn’t a significant factor which was the point I was challenging.
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And he doesn’t tackle! We have players who are ok when we have the ball but can’t do the dirty work when we havn’t got it.
Interestingly, last season (closed due to greater minute sample size) Crew did more tackling (per 90) than Broadbent.
It’s not a game of tackles anymore, it’s a game of interceptions, even at L1 level. Physicality is obviously a thing but recruiting players that are “experienced” and “get stuck in” won’t get you very far in the long term. Just sign players that are good.
Then Saturday's game must have been an outlier in that metric because it was clear throughout the game that in 50/50 battles our players were easily brushed aside by the greater strength and stature of the Cardif players.
I think 50/50 battles go down as ‘duels’ which is a completely separate stat.
Thanks for the clarification on that metric, nc but Gazlaz appears to imply that physicality isn’t a significant factor which was the point I was challenging.
Physicality is a big factor for sure. We possibly just see it slightly differently. Who is more physical, Mickey Demetriou?
I’m not saying you do, but people’s perception of physical is a centre half like Colin Sutherland or a midfielder like Alan Little. I see it as someone with enough athleticism to be able to impose themself on their opponent and who wins more duels than they lose.
The John Stones example, he’s a rolls Royce of a centre half, but he’s athletic enough to be able to dominate strikers if needed, without being a hatchet man.
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And he doesn’t tackle! We have players who are ok when we have the ball but can’t do the dirty work when we havn’t got it.
Interestingly, last season (closed due to greater minute sample size) Crew did more tackling (per 90) than Broadbent.
It’s not a game of tackles anymore, it’s a game of interceptions, even at L1 level. Physicality is obviously a thing but recruiting players that are “experienced” and “get stuck in” won’t get you very far in the long term. Just sign players that are good.
I agree with that but Cardiffs goals on Saturday came from players running at pace through our midfield. Neither Close or Crew can closed this type of midfielder down. Both good passes of the ball but lack the aggression and strength required to do the defensive duties required of a centre midfield player. For me if we can get better but not the same dynamic then he can go back.
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Agree with GazLaz, it's more about core strength and being able to hold off your opponent. For example Cardiffs two goals where their players ran through and held off challenges. These weren't big lads but they had sufficient robustness to stay on their feet and drive through into the danger area.
Defensively, whether midfielder or across the back four, you can't be making slide tackles by going to ground too often, cos it takes you out of the game. The game generally is higher paced these days.
I think Charlie knows how to close down players and wrap them up and as he develops his upper body and core strength, he'll add that element to his game. As with most players, the rest is about intensity, concentration, vision etc which comes with experience. We've seen a few lapses from him when losing players but he's far from being on his own in that department.
50/50 for me whether Leeds and he are getting good value from us and visa versa. He came good in the second half of last season so, given enough opportunities, who knows but is he up for a relegation scrap?
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Agree with GazLaz, it's more about core strength and being able to hold off your opponent. For example Cardiffs two goals where their players ran through and held off challenges. These weren't big lads but they had sufficient robustness to stay on their feet and drive through into the danger area.
Defensively, whether midfielder or across the back four, you can't be making slide tackles by going to ground too often, cos it takes you out of the game. The game generally is higher paced these days.
I think Charlie knows how to close down players and wrap them up and as he develops his upper body and core strength, he'll add that element to his game. As with most players, the rest is about intensity, concentration, vision etc which comes with experience. We've seen a few lapses from him when losing players but he's far from being on his own in that department.
50/50 for me whether Leeds and he are getting good value from us and visa versa. He came good in the second half of last season so, given enough opportunities, who knows but is he up for a relegation scrap?
I agree with a lot of that DBR but he didn’t come good in the second half of last season. He only signed in January and only really imposed himself on the team in the last half dozen games.
There’s clearly some talent there, though, and for me he’s worth keeping unless him going back frees up enough cash for us to get someone in who’s clearly going to be better. I don’t think there’s any point terminating the loan of one talented but raw 19 year old and replacing with another talented but raw 19 year old who doesn’t know McCann, the squad, the environment etc.
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That was my point in essence he’s not up for a ‘scrap’ full stop.
By scrap I mean a roll your sleeves up, give the game everything you have be it creativity, physicality the ‘right’ mentality.
We can’t afford to have players (unless they’re homegrown & developing with us for us) who will ‘eventually grow in strength’ & have that necessary core.
We need a Ben Whiteman in there not a “By ‘eck he’ll be a good un in a year or two” loanee.
Herbie Kane offered us much more than Charlie Crew so ‘they must be out there’.
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And he doesn’t tackle! We have players who are ok when we have the ball but can’t do the dirty work when we havn’t got it.
Interestingly, last season (closed due to greater minute sample size) Crew did more tackling (per 90) than Broadbent.
It’s not a game of tackles anymore, it’s a game of interceptions, even at L1 level. Physicality is obviously a thing but recruiting players that are “experienced” and “get stuck in” won’t get you very far in the long term. Just sign players that are good.
Then Saturday's game must have been an outlier in that metric because it was clear throughout the game that in 50/50 battles our players were easily brushed aside by the greater strength and stature of the Cardif players.
I think 50/50 battles go down as ‘duels’ which is a completely separate stat.
Thanks for the clarification on that metric, nc but Gazlaz appears to imply that physicality isn’t a significant factor which was the point I was challenging.
Physicality is a big factor for sure. We possibly just see it slightly differently. Who is more physical, Mickey Demetriou?
I’m not saying you do, but people’s perception of physical is a centre half like Colin Sutherland or a midfielder like Alan Little. I see it as someone with enough athleticism to be able to impose themself on their opponent and who wins more duels than they lose.
The John Stones example, he’s a rolls Royce of a centre half, but he’s athletic enough to be able to dominate strikers if needed, without being a hatchet man.
Agree with GazLaz, it's more about core strength and being able to hold off your opponent. For example Cardiffs two goals where their players ran through and held off challenges. These weren't big lads but they had sufficient robustness to stay on their feet and drive through into the danger area.
Defensively, whether midfielder or across the back four, you can't be making slide tackles by going to ground too often, cos it takes you out of the game. The game generally is higher paced these days.
I think Charlie knows how to close down players and wrap them up and as he develops his upper body and core strength, he'll add that element to his game. As with most players, the rest is about intensity, concentration, vision etc which comes with experience. We've seen a few lapses from him when losing players but he's far from being on his own in that department.
50/50 for me whether Leeds and he are getting good value from us and visa versa. He came good in the second half of last season so, given enough opportunities, who knows but is he up for a relegation scrap?
Ok chaps, now we're on the same page. My point about physicality most certainly wasn't with hatchet men in mind but the physical strength and ability to hold off opposition players competing for the ball. We have too few of these types in our squad and it is a common theme in our games.
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And he doesn’t tackle! We have players who are ok when we have the ball but can’t do the dirty work when we havn’t got it.
Interestingly, last season (closed due to greater minute sample size) Crew did more tackling (per 90) than Broadbent.
It’s not a game of tackles anymore, it’s a game of interceptions, even at L1 level. Physicality is obviously a thing but recruiting players that are “experienced” and “get stuck in” won’t get you very far in the long term. Just sign players that are good.
Then Saturday's game must have been an outlier in that metric because it was clear throughout the game that in 50/50 battles our players were easily brushed aside by the greater strength and stature of the Cardif players.
I think 50/50 battles go down as ‘duels’ which is a completely separate stat.
Thanks for the clarification on that metric, nc but Gazlaz appears to imply that physicality isn’t a significant factor which was the point I was challenging.
Physicality is a big factor for sure. We possibly just see it slightly differently. Who is more physical, Mickey Demetriou?
I’m not saying you do, but people’s perception of physical is a centre half like Colin Sutherland or a midfielder like Alan Little. I see it as someone with enough athleticism to be able to impose themself on their opponent and who wins more duels than they lose.
The John Stones example, he’s a rolls Royce of a centre half, but he’s athletic enough to be able to dominate strikers if needed, without being a hatchet man.
Agree with GazLaz, it's more about core strength and being able to hold off your opponent. For example Cardiffs two goals where their players ran through and held off challenges. These weren't big lads but they had sufficient robustness to stay on their feet and drive through into the danger area.
Defensively, whether midfielder or across the back four, you can't be making slide tackles by going to ground too often, cos it takes you out of the game. The game generally is higher paced these days.
I think Charlie knows how to close down players and wrap them up and as he develops his upper body and core strength, he'll add that element to his game. As with most players, the rest is about intensity, concentration, vision etc which comes with experience. We've seen a few lapses from him when losing players but he's far from being on his own in that department.
50/50 for me whether Leeds and he are getting good value from us and visa versa. He came good in the second half of last season so, given enough opportunities, who knows but is he up for a relegation scrap?
Ok chaps, now we're on the same page. My point about physicality most certainly wasn't with hatchet men in mind but the physical strength and ability to hold off opposition players competing for the ball. We have too few of these types in our squad and it is a common theme in our games.
I agree, recruiting players with the characteristics of players that can play at the level above that that you are playing is key. Does Gotts have the profile of a future Championship midfielder? No he doesn’t. Does Bailey? He had the physicality and dynamism for sure.
I’m extremely fortunate that I’ve seen enough of how the best recruiters do their business to know how any data led recruitment model should be weighted. If data isn’t your thing, that can be referenced as what skills translate most consistently when players move clubs. Basically if you find player that are very good at X, Y and Z Those three assets combined are actually more important than their strength in areas A to W.
It’s not hugely complex, just profile correctly and be consistent.
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Agree with GazLaz, it's more about core strength and being able to hold off your opponent. For example Cardiffs two goals where their players ran through and held off challenges. These weren't big lads but they had sufficient robustness to stay on their feet and drive through into the danger area.
Defensively, whether midfielder or across the back four, you can't be making slide tackles by going to ground too often, cos it takes you out of the game. The game generally is higher paced these days.
I think Charlie knows how to close down players and wrap them up and as he develops his upper body and core strength, he'll add that element to his game. As with most players, the rest is about intensity, concentration, vision etc which comes with experience. We've seen a few lapses from him when losing players but he's far from being on his own in that department.
50/50 for me whether Leeds and he are getting good value from us and visa versa. He came good in the second half of last season so, given enough opportunities, who knows but is he up for a relegation scrap?
I agree with a lot of that DBR but he didn’t come good in the second half of last season. He only signed in January and only really imposed himself on the team in the last half dozen games.
There’s clearly some talent there, though, and for me he’s worth keeping unless him going back frees up enough cash for us to get someone in who’s clearly going to be better. I don’t think there’s any point terminating the loan of one talented but raw 19 year old and replacing with another talented but raw 19 year old who doesn’t know McCann, the squad, the environment etc.
Yes, you're more accurate about his timeline with us. I think we all thought he'd hit the ground running this season based on that but for whatever reason, inc the international breaks, he's not forced himself into the reckoning enough.
Having watched a bit of the lad who's been 'on trial' I think he seems to have a better mix of the technical and physical so I could see him possibly being a better long term investment if McCann's seeing the same qualities.
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And he doesn’t tackle! We have players who are ok when we have the ball but can’t do the dirty work when we havn’t got it.
Interestingly, last season (closed due to greater minute sample size) Crew did more tackling (per 90) than Broadbent.
It’s not a game of tackles anymore, it’s a game of interceptions, even at L1 level. Physicality is obviously a thing but recruiting players that are “experienced” and “get stuck in” won’t get you very far in the long term. Just sign players that are good.
Then Saturday's game must have been an outlier in that metric because it was clear throughout the game that in 50/50 battles our players were easily brushed aside by the greater strength and stature of the Cardif players.
I think 50/50 battles go down as ‘duels’ which is a completely separate stat.
Thanks for the clarification on that metric, nc but Gazlaz appears to imply that physicality isn’t a significant factor which was the point I was challenging.
Physicality is a big factor for sure. We possibly just see it slightly differently. Who is more physical, Mickey Demetriou?
I’m not saying you do, but people’s perception of physical is a centre half like Colin Sutherland or a midfielder like Alan Little. I see it as someone with enough athleticism to be able to impose themself on their opponent and who wins more duels than they lose.
The John Stones example, he’s a rolls Royce of a centre half, but he’s athletic enough to be able to dominate strikers if needed, without being a hatchet man.
Agree with GazLaz, it's more about core strength and being able to hold off your opponent. For example Cardiffs two goals where their players ran through and held off challenges. These weren't big lads but they had sufficient robustness to stay on their feet and drive through into the danger area.
Defensively, whether midfielder or across the back four, you can't be making slide tackles by going to ground too often, cos it takes you out of the game. The game generally is higher paced these days.
I think Charlie knows how to close down players and wrap them up and as he develops his upper body and core strength, he'll add that element to his game. As with most players, the rest is about intensity, concentration, vision etc which comes with experience. We've seen a few lapses from him when losing players but he's far from being on his own in that department.
50/50 for me whether Leeds and he are getting good value from us and visa versa. He came good in the second half of last season so, given enough opportunities, who knows but is he up for a relegation scrap?
Ok chaps, now we're on the same page. My point about physicality most certainly wasn't with hatchet men in mind but the physical strength and ability to hold off opposition players competing for the ball. We have too few of these types in our squad and it is a common theme in our games.
I agree, recruiting players with the characteristics of players that can play at the level above that that you are playing is key. Does Gotts have the profile of a future Championship midfielder? No he doesn’t. Does Bailey? He had the physicality and dynamism for sure.
I’m extremely fortunate that I’ve seen enough of how the best recruiters do their business to know how any data led recruitment model should be weighted. If data isn’t your thing, that can be referenced as what skills translate most consistently when players move clubs. Basically if you find player that are very good at X, Y and Z Those three assets combined are actually more important than their strength in areas A to W.
It’s not hugely complex, just profile correctly and be consistent.
I’m truly not being pedantic here, but it’s not as simple as your last paragraph suggests is it.
Look at O’Riordan He’s played virtually every game since we’ve had him & most supporters I would venture thought ‘We’ve got a good one here’. And yet he’s had his fair share of criticism on the forum more recently. We’re leaking goals & it seems to be the case whichever central pairing we have playing.
Is he a Matt Mills, I wouldn’t think so. So if we were in a position to sign him permanently would you take that ‘leap of faith’ that he would be able to make that ‘step up’ when we’re in the Championship? (as we will soon be).
I’ll jump on my ‘soap box’ again in the full knowledge that you will disagree, but I look at the players we have at present & I see only two who would be more than capable & effective to play at a higher level & they are Bailey & Molyneaux (although your mate Nudga would have the pair sold tomorrow for £1.25 million) leaving us scrambling to ‘buy better for less money’ (a ‘mantra’ he’s picked up from you perhaps?).
Recruitment in the summer was largely diabolical, I think we both agree on that & that needs addressing within the club if we are to ‘give’ Terry the legacy he desires, Championship football, before ‘Father Time’ catches up on him.
The X, Y & Z (allow me to call them technical ability, vision & drive. The sort of qualities a footballer like James Coppinger possessed).
They are onlyof use to the team if you have players that have compatible attributes through A to W (a huge area to encompass which is why it’s not as simple as you make out) which for me comprises of physical strength (like a Rob Jones), game management (like a Wellens), positional sense (like a Heffernan), game management (like a Whiteman) you catch my drift.
Find 5 players of that calibre & you have a real chance of progression.
Not so easy then is it as laying down formulas?
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You can take a horse to water.....
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Im gonna get slated for this, but how Crew starts over Ben Close, yes Ben close is baffling me.
Crew is sadly a lost boy.
At least Ben can show composure and pass the ball.
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You can take a horse to water.....
Charlie Crew has so much potential needs better players around him who can take advantage of his passing ability! Ben Close has a good football brain but has no fight when required , unlike Crew who most probably get sent off for his rashness when things require a rolled up sleeves moment !
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You can take a horse to water.....
Charlie Crew has so much potential needs better players around him who can take advantage of his passing ability! Ben Close has a good football brain but has no fight when required , unlike Crew who most probably get sent off for his rashness when things require a rolled up sleeves moment !
I think both players need protecting if they are to effect games. They need legs and aggression along side them. Otherwise they are just luxury players we cannot carry. Neither has the ability to take control of the midfield and dominate at this level from what i have seen.
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We don’t need players with potential to get us moving up the table but experienced doers now !
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Another slight concern is that we have brought two loan players back in TLT and CC and they’ve both been miles off it. How did the club not know that these two would offer very little in league 1?
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I think this higher level has caught us out, the overall quality of teams in every position is far far greater than that of league 2.
The problem is that our current team (mostly last seasons) are/were too good at that level so we dominated a lot of the games, and it maybe didn’t highlight any deficiencies we had for the level above.
I was always concerned about this when players like Adelukan and Street were seen as not good enough for league 1, but were far superior at most measurable metrics than the rest.
We clearly don’t have the budget to have made wholesale changes, but the question should be did the budget available get spent in the right areas to enable us to stay in the league and add to again next season - it will be a rollercoaster.
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Another slight concern is that we have brought two loan players back in TLT and CC and they’ve both been miles off it. How did the club not know that these two would offer very little in league 1?
Crew has barely played and when he has he's tended to be with Broadbent who is a massive hinderance. The time he played without him at Cardiff he was good.
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Another slight concern is that we have brought two loan players back in TLT and CC and they’ve both been miles off it. How did the club not know that these two would offer very little in league 1?
Crew has barely played and when he has he's tended to be with Broadbent who is a massive hinderance. The time he played without him at Cardiff he was good.
I thought the other season him and Brosdbent played together really well in the run in that got us over the line. Bailey moved to centre half which meant instead of him playing so high up the pitch Broadbent had a partner in midfield with Clifton been the one trying to get forward.
We’ve fallen into the trap of having both Bailey and Clifton trying to get high instead of been a bit steadier and playing Broadbent with a partner like Close or Crew. People forget we got caught out a bit in L2 in midfield and looked so much better when Crew partnered Broadbent.
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Another slight concern is that we have brought two loan players back in TLT and CC and they’ve both been miles off it. How did the club not know that these two would offer very little in league 1?
Crew has barely played and when he has he's tended to be with Broadbent who is a massive hinderance. The time he played without him at Cardiff he was good.
I thought the other season him and Brosdbent played together really well in the run in that got us over the line. Bailey moved to centre half which meant instead of him playing so high up the pitch Broadbent had a partner in midfield with Clifton been the one trying to get forward.
We’ve fallen into the trap of having both Bailey and Clifton trying to get high instead of been a bit steadier and playing Broadbent with a partner like Close or Crew. People forget we got caught out a bit in L2 in midfield and looked so much better when Crew partnered Broadbent.
I've been having similar thoughts. Play Broadbent and Close/Crew together to offer a bit more protection. Drop Bailey to centre-back and Clifton/Mols/Gibbo/Middleton can then offer greater support to Hanlan. McGrath needs taking out of the firing-line so bring back Pearson.
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Another slight concern is that we have brought two loan players back in TLT and CC and they’ve both been miles off it. How did the club not know that these two would offer very little in league 1?
Crew has barely played and when he has he's tended to be with Broadbent who is a massive hinderance. The time he played without him at Cardiff he was good.
I thought the other season him and Brosdbent played together really well in the run in that got us over the line. Bailey moved to centre half which meant instead of him playing so high up the pitch Broadbent had a partner in midfield with Clifton been the one trying to get forward.
We’ve fallen into the trap of having both Bailey and Clifton trying to get high instead of been a bit steadier and playing Broadbent with a partner like Close or Crew. People forget we got caught out a bit in L2 in midfield and looked so much better when Crew partnered Broadbent.
agree with this in spades. Despite Baileys 6 goals and how important they’ve been, he is still our best centre half and should be played there. It was no coincidence last season that our form hit top gear when McGrath got injured and GM was forced to put Bailey at the back with Crew and Broadbent in front. The team functioned SO much better.
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Surely crew is off back in Jan?
Why else would he have been left out against plymouth after a positive day against Cardiff?
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I would not be surprised if all the loans didn't survive the cull, in fact I am in favour of it, would have kept O'Riordon but he is out of our hands who I feel did ok but was starting to suffer with the lack of quality alongside him.
I would prefer less numbers and permanent signings with the money saved if we send them all back but would aim to pay more to a couple of better players who would improve us than the numbers now on loan, a really good central mid fielder and striker and keeper, but not a priority
Pearson, Flint, Faulkner, and Bailey are enough to sort a decent back line out with the wing backs already here and give the option of a back three with pace or a back four
And at the same time send some out if I could get them out who would muddy the waters and twiddle thumbs for the rest of the season if they hung around.
Flints best position is defensive mid field which would also give the option of Bailey shoving forward with a back four with Pearson and Faulkner if we needed to really tighten up during a game.
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Surely crew is off back in Jan?
Why else would he have been left out against plymouth after a positive day against Cardiff?
Hopefully he is, but i wouldn't read anything into him not playing given how GM likes to f**k around with the team selections.
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Surely crew is off back in Jan?
Why else would he have been left out against plymouth after a positive day against Cardiff?
Hopefully he is, but i wouldn't read anything into him not playing given how GM likes to f**k around with the team selections.
"Choosing a team to match the opposition"
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Yeah, like we matched the opposition on Saturday!
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I would not be surprised if all the loans didn't survive the cull, in fact I am in favour of it, would have kept O'Riordon but he is out of our hands who I feel did ok but was starting to suffer with the lack of quality alongside him.
I would prefer less numbers and permanent signings with the money saved if we send them all back but would aim to pay more to a couple of better players who would improve us than the numbers now on loan, a really good central mid fielder and striker and keeper, but not a priority
Pearson, Flint, Faulkner, and Bailey are enough to sort a decent back line out with the wing backs already here and give the option of a back three with pace or a back four
And at the same time send some out if I could get them out who would muddy the waters and twiddle thumbs for the rest of the season if they hung around.
Flints best position is defensive mid field which would also give the option of Bailey shoving forward with a back four with Pearson and Faulkner if we needed to really tighten up during a game.
I wouldn’t want to see Faulkner and Pearson ever as a back 2 pairing, not even in league 2.
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I think our problem is our midfield. All flair and no scare. This puts more pressure on our defence, and as a result, puts more pressure on our goalkeeper.
.... But what do I know!
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I think our problem is our midfield. All flair and no scare. This puts more pressure on our defence, and as a result, puts more pressure on our goalkeeper.
.... But what do I know!
Who is the flair player in our midfield exactly? :lol:
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I think our problem is our midfield. All flair and no scare. This puts more pressure on our defence, and as a result, puts more pressure on our goalkeeper.
.... But what do I know!
It’s all bore and no core unfortunately BB.
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karldew, when have you watched them play this season to know?
And if they do I will bet you £50 with it going to the youth team they won't let nine goals in in two games.
It's not hard to get better than that Buddy.
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karldew, when have you watched them play this season to know?
And if they do I will bet you £50 with it going to the youth team they won't let nine goals in in two games.
It's not hard to get better than that Buddy.
But your including bobby in this who was part of a CB pair that conceded 3 goals 4 games in a row in a lower league.
Not the stability we need.
And pearson hast been a beacon of stability when hes played.
So Karldew statment is a fair shout
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Yes but his stats which are way up in those games and the supporters MOM awards put him in the top five defender's in the division over 12 games in a poor team, and whether he plays here or elsewhere is no skin off his nose, and he has already that option which is up to the club whether they let him out or not.
He could hardly do worse if they use him, he was better at 17 yrs old than has been on show lately and is a beast of a player now.
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We need better than Faulkner!
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You won't get one, and no need to waste that much money.
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Yes but his stats which are way up in those games and the supporters MOM awards put him in the top five defender's in the division over 12 games in a poor team, and whether he plays here or elsewhere is no skin off his nose, and he has already that option which is up to the club whether they let him out or not.
He could hardly do worse if they use him, he was better at 17 yrs old than has been on show lately and is a beast of a player now.
they're second bottom of the league and only 3 teams have conceded more
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Am surprised Selby isn’t still claiming he’s their man of the match for his poise in the treatment room
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As the only one in there at the moment he is. Most are more likely to get Flu than injured in the next few weeks from the draught as the opposition run past them if they carry on like the last two games.
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Faulkner has one of the highest tackle numbers in League Two and also a higher completion percentage than any of our center backs, he has the aggression our defence lacks, and pairing him with someone more patient and positional like Pearson could work well.
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Let’s be right McGarth and Grehan aren’t showing anything like enough. And Bobby while a league below was getting great reviews. He has to be an option to consider doesn’t he?
I’d warn however that playing for Harrogate who, I’m guessing from our games v them, sit fairly deep and defend the penalty box to playing for Grant is a big change and doesn’t allow defenders to do what they might be good at. McGarth would probably look fine if we sat deeper and didn’t ask him to play.
Maybe a change of set up is needed or we’ll forever have problems in defence.
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I’ve never seen anything to make me think McGrath is better than Bobby. Weird how the coaching staff have always loved one and never trusted the other.
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Whoever plays I hope we get some results, the fact is we haven't for a long time and need to address it hopefully starting Friday
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Making a loan signing who is consistently called up for his national team is absolutely ridiculous IMO.
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To start with Gaz it was about who brought players in at the time Bobby came into the team playing better than Long who others hung their shirt on, paid money for. why god knows and him foisted out to Worksop and his injury broken jaw. Finished the season well when everything lost and nothing to play for. then Jay was brought in the same people at the club hung their hat on and out he went again Did brilliant at Buxton out again to Harrogate not given a chance at the start of the season after three days when the rest saw hIs back in the fitness tests but more than Harrogate pushing for a loan and new players brought in by the same people, and with Flint capable of bringing in a few bob because other clubs want them. Did brilliant again but not able to play until January even if fit after injury,
There is only one question now , and that is who he will play for in the EFL, that's in the clubs hands at the moment, with the same people at the club, and is the same with Flint, who is at a club on loan that has him on the back seat, but has just played two faultless games in the EFl Trophy for us, one completely dominating Cook from Bradford City no mean feet in itself while others come to the club looking way off the standard required either physically or skill wise and get the shout.
One of the big problems is the way our academy is viewed, a general view in football is cat 3 and 2 academies bring players through to be National North players North East Counties, Cat 1 National League EFL leagues 1 and 2.
That doesn't go with me having seen Cat 1 loan players here be way off it here and not fit to clean the boots of some from lower league clubs lost to football in the EFL.
It also doesn't take into account players like Bobby and Will who go against that thought process and are better than many from Cat 1 clubs and have the stigma to overcome in the game.
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To start with Gaz it was about who brought players in at the time Bobby came into the team playing better than Long who others hung their shirt on, paid money for. why god knows and him foisted out to Worksop and his injury broken jaw. Finished the season well when everything lost and nothing to play for. then Jay was brought in the same people at the club hung their hat on and out he went again Did brilliant at Buxton out again to Harrogate not given a chance at the start of the season after three days when the rest saw hIs back in the fitness tests but more than Harrogate pushing for a loan and new players brought in by the same people, and with Flint capable of bringing in a few bob because other clubs want them. Did brilliant again but not able to play until January even if fit after injury,
There is only one question now , and that is who he will play for in the EFL, that's in the clubs hands at the moment, with the same people at the club, and is the same with Flint, who is at a club on loan that has him on the back seat, but has just played two faultless games in the EFl Trophy for us, one completely dominating Cook from Bradford City no mean feet in itself while others come to the club looking way off the standard required either physically or skill wise and get the shout.
One of the big problems is the way our academy is viewed, a general view in football is cat 3 and 2 academies bring players through to be National North players North East Counties, Cat 1 National League EFL leagues 1 and 2.
That doesn't go with me having seen Cat 1 loan players here be way off it here and not fit to clean the boots of some from lower league clubs lost to football in the EFL.
It also doesn't take into account players like Bobby and Will who go against that thought process and are better than many from Cat 1 clubs and have the stigma to overcome in the game.
I’ve been second in line behind you when it comes to belief in Bobby (a distant second). I think he’s been treated poorly by a string of managers.
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I’ve never seen anything to make me think McGrath is better than Bobby. Weird how the coaching staff have always loved one and never trusted the other.
Disagree. McGrath stilk has lots to learn at league one level but I do think he's so far shown he's better than Bobby in the air and tackle (Bobby is certainly quicker).
What both of them need is experience next to them. McGrath was at his best with Anderson next to him.
I also don't think Grehan is ready either. It should be Pearson plus one other in defence for me.
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I’ve never seen anything to make me think McGrath is better than Bobby. Weird how the coaching staff have always loved one and never trusted the other.
Disagree. McGrath stilk has lots to learn at league one level but I do think he's so far shown he's better than Bobby in the air and tackle (Bobby is certainly quicker).
What both of them need is experience next to them. McGrath was at his best with Anderson next to him.
I also don't think Grehan is ready either. It should be Pearson plus one other in defence for me.
Jay is certainly good in the air. Playing better half is about reading the game and positioning though, he’s not the best there.
Grehan, Bobby, Jay, and C’OR are all young centre halves learning their trade. Sub optimal going into the season with them all on the books and the ageing, regressive Pearson as the other. I always thank about risk assessing recruitment in certain positions. The risk of failure in that position going into the season was off the scale based on those profiles.
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BFYP, do you think it is coincidence that our best period of results were at the end of last season, and our best run of results at the beginning of this season have both been when Jay was missing injured.
Or its just our and Grant's bad luck.
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I’m sorry to sound harsh why is that Bobby has had a lot loan moves since his debut, plus he seems to be injured a lot
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Irrespective of how you rate Faulkner, it is surprising that over the last three seasons he has played a total of 12 minutes of league football for Rovers, the last being an 81st minute substitute appearance at home to Crawley Town on 3 October 2023. He was sat on the bench that day with players including Deji Sotana, Tyler Roberts, Louis Marsh and Jack Goodman.
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BFYP, do you think it is coincidence that our best period of results were at the end of last season, and our best run of results at the beginning of this season have both been when Jay was missing injured.
Or its just our and Grant's bad luck.
33 games in a title winning squad doesn't tell us he was rubbish, come on. He absolutely has things to improve on as does every young player but you're definitely not fairly judging him.
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BFYP, do you think it is coincidence that our best period of results were at the end of last season, and our best run of results at the beginning of this season have both been when Jay was missing injured.
Or its just our and Grant's bad luck.
33 games in a title winning squad doesn't tell us he was rubbish, come on. He absolutely has things to improve on as does every young player but you're definitely not fairly judging him.
he was good last year in the league below, and i was delighted we turned down good money for him. I felt he would only get better. However its fair to say this season against a better standard he has been relatively poor. He continues to make basic errors that will and are, getting punished at this higher level. Still a young lad and lots to learn. He really shouldnt be first choice at the moment based on this seasons performance.
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I think McGrath’s raw materials - the fact he’s left footed, tall, athletic and mobile - masks the fact he’s not actually any good. Our management certainly seem to be blinded by this. He played 33 times in a title winning team but we rarely, and hardly ever looked like, keeping clean sheets until Bailey and Anderson were paired together. He dives in, often leaving his position exposed and then, unforgivably, makes token efforts to get back when he should be sprinting to rectify his mistake. His positioning and distribution are poor and the number of times he backs off letting strikers get their shots off is criminal. It’s fair to say, I’m not a fan.
Faulkner has received nothing but praise from all his loans. All at lower levels, admittedly, but you still have to do the job, regardless of the opposition
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Owen Bailey is the best CB at the club, and it's his best position as well. We shouldn't be relying on him to get goals; the forwards should be doing that.
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I think McGrath’s raw materials - the fact he’s left footed, tall, athletic and mobile - masks the fact he’s not actually any good. Our management certainly seem to be blinded by this. He played 33 times in a title winning team but we rarely, and hardly ever looked like, keeping clean sheets until Bailey and Anderson were paired together. He dives in, often leaving his position exposed and then, unforgivably, makes token efforts to get back when he should be sprinting to rectify his mistake. His positioning and distribution are poor and the number of times he backs off letting strikers get their shots off is criminal. It’s fair to say, I’m not a fan.
Faulkner has received nothing but praise from all his loans. All at lower levels, admittedly, but you still have to do the job, regardless of the opposition
Your last paragraph is the key one with me, lower level, I’m not McGrath’s biggest fan and I do from time to time blame him for things, but I’m sorry I just don’t see Bobby Faulkner being the answer to our defensive frailties at minute. If I’m proven wrong I shall put my hand up. As a previous poster put he’s had 12 minutes in 2 and bit years in our first team.
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Owen Bailey is the best CB at the club, and it's his best position as well. We shouldn't be relying on him to get goals; the forwards should be doing that.
And he probably wouldn't haven't to get crunching tackles coming his way almost EVERY single game