Benjamin Whiteman

[ravenrover]

Gets the odd mention here and there in other posts but what a player he is turning out to be. He seems a different player to last season the holding position, if you can call it that with all the interchangability in the midfield 3, seems to ge suiting him down to the ground. He is not afraid to put a foot in, tackles well, reads the game well breaks the play up and some  of  his forward passing is excellent and we all know about his shooting. For me one of our top players this season.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

For me our most consistent player and the glue that holds everything together, and gets us moving forward with some incisive passing and link up play.

[Lytham Rover]

I liked the way that he congratulates his colleagues when they do something good
Noticed that after some good defending from Butler and Anderson he went out his way to high five them

Captain in waiting in this team

[selby]

  Not knocking him at all, he has had some great games, and is undoubtedly  getting better, and also seems to have got bigger and stronger, but I would say Kane has been our most consistent player, with quite a few players not far behind him, one if which is Whiteman.

[Move DRFC]

Really like the passion he shows - agree with the captain comment.

[idler]

He gives the impression that he loves being here and involved in our style of football. The confidence and enthusiasm seems to run right through the squad at the minute.

[Branton Rover]

I was only thinking this morning about placing a post about Whiteman along very similar lines to the op - the players as a whole look 10% fitter then under Fergie & that has got to be down to Cliff & Mccan & the belief the players have in their methods.

[graingrover]

A lot of football is played in the head and these lads have clear heads are free to take risks and are loving it ; Ben is full of it .

[RoversAlias]

He's been a bit of a revelation in the new system this season. Yes, he was good last year but I felt his influence waned over the second half of the season and he didn't seem to stick to a preferable position in the midfield (not down to him personally I know). This year, in this more dynamic midfield McCann has set us up with, he has been fantastic. I agree he has a maturity to him that marks him out as a future captain to me, by the way he conducts himself on the pitch.

[drfchound]

I also am enjoying watching Ben play this season.
He has been a revelation.

My only thought on improving him is with his shooting from outside the box.
He always seems to prefer to side foot the ball and go for placement.
Thinking back to that hat trick against Southend, one of the goals was smashed in off the bar from 20 yards giving the keeper no chance.
I wish he would sometimes put his foot through the ball and go for power, which he is more than capable of.

[pib]

McCann must have said something to show he really wants to put his trust in him this season. Either that or he’s found that extra few percent himself. He looks more motivated and “at it” this season which is not a criticism of his performances beforehand when he was still an important player.

When he arrived I thought he looked like a player most interested in scoring goals (perhaps because he was on loan), now he looks like a player most motivated by helping the team.

It stuck with me how earlier in the season v Portsmouth he went straight in goal when needed, no questions asked. Another game (I forget which) he filled in at centre back towards the end of the game when someone had to go off. Proper team player, and not a shirker of responsibility.

[Campsall rover]

He looks like a proper footballer now.
GM knows how to get the best out of players.
Find a system that suits the players and STICK TO IT.
Simples.
Bremner, Penney, O’Driscoll, Saunders/Flynn, and McCann.
All successful Rovers managers. What do they have in common?
A system all the players are comfortable playing and a fantastic team spirit.

[idler]

I agree Campsall but I also think that GM has fostered more of a team spirit.
The players are working harder all over the pitch. They don’t want to let each other down and are reall all generally singing from the same hymn sheet.

[drfchound]

I agree Campsall but I also think that GM has fostered more of a team spirit.
The players are working harder all over the pitch. They don’t want to let each other down and are reall all generally singing from the same hymn sheet.

That togetherness was very evident in the last few minutes of the Rochdale match.
It was very obvious that as a team they were desperate not to concede a goal.

[roversdude]

To be fair to Ferguson he saw something in BW, however he has improved massively in the holding role and I agree with future captain comments

[Chris Black come back]

Could not tell you where he was meant to have been playing last season. Now looks like he has been in that midfield his entire life.

[dickos1]

Another very good signing made by fergie and the club

[Retdon1]

Another very good signing made by fergie and the club

Another great signing by Fergie. The problem was he couldn’t get had best out of them

[dickos1]

I agree
Although young players do tend to improve year on year

[swintonrover]

This ties in with my theory that Fergie would make a fairly good Director of Football, rather than a manager.

[Campsall rover]

I agree
Although young players do tend to improve year on year

No one is likely to improve when they are playing in different positions and in different systems every other week though are they? Especially young players.
Square pegs in round holes springs to mind AGAIN. I was spouting that thoughout last season until i was blue in the face.
Yes Fergie had the ability to spot young players of considerable ability and potential but amazingly had no idea how to get the best out of them.

[sedwardsdrfc]

Even last year from what i saw he always wanted to play forwards where as Houghton looked sideways most of the time which is the temptation for holding midfielders. Ben just needed someone who wanted the rest of the team to play forwards and attack like is his natural game.

[wing commander]

Even last year from what i saw he always wanted to play forwards where as Houghton looked sideways most of the time which is the temptation for holding midfielders. Ben just needed someone who wanted the rest of the team to play forwards and attack like is his natural game.

I would agree with that..A few months after we signed him on a contract I was starting to wonder whether we had made a mistake,everybody was raving about Houghton and Whiteman was struggling a bit..But it did become apparent that there two styles just didn't jell and as soon as Houghton went he's looked twice the player..

[GazLaz]

People were telling me Luke was better than Whiteman in that position not too long ago.

[roversdude]

Few and far between now Gaz

[dickos1]

I agree
Although young players do tend to improve year on year

No one is likely to improve when they are playing in different positions and in different systems every other week though are they? Especially young players.
Square pegs in round holes springs to mind AGAIN. I was spouting that thoughout last season until i was blue in the face.
Yes Fergie had the ability to spot young players of considerable ability and potential but amazingly had no idea how to get the best out of them.

Whiteman played the majority of last season as a central midfielder

[RedJ]

You can be in the same position and yet have a different role.

[dickos1]

You can yes, but it’s not really a square peg in a round hole

[Jonathan]

He’s completely transformed this season. I think part of it is greater trust put in him by the manager. Last season he looked unsure of his role and where he should be and I think that affected his confidence. Another big factor is the positivity we now play with and the movement ahead of him. I was critical of him at times last season as I thought he looked ponderous on occasions and his passing was telegraphed. But with hindsight perhaps that was the lack of movement ahead of him, as you only need to watch him this season to see the speed of thought and incisive forward passing in his game. 

I really do think he’s been excellent this season and exceptionally consistent. Scouts will be flocking here to watch Kane but I bet many of them go away just as impressed with Whiteman. Agree with those that have highlighted he has the qualities to be a future captain.

[drfchound]

He does seem to be playing without fear this season.