Faulkner and Olowu

[mushRTID]

I don’t think anyone is really questioning him going out on loan. I’m not sure even the level is that important.

For me it’s the timing over a busy period when our other centre backs have hardly been reliable for fitness this season, especially Anderson, olowu and younger.

But it’s all done now, let’s hope we don’t get another injury in that department as being 3 centre backs down over the festive period will be a disaster.

I am half thinking also have we got a defender lined up in January.

[Alan Southstand]

Even if we had an u23 development side, it wouldn't provide the competitive environment in mens football that young players need.

However, having that stepping stone does give a young ‘promising’ player more time to develop. It’s a catch 22 situation, really. My point is, though, what’s the point of an u18’s, when the vast majority of lads are nowhere near ready for the first team? Unless, of course, we upgrade to a higher category and, potentially, get a better standard of player in at the front end? The trouble is the cost!

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Even if we had an u23 development side, it wouldn't provide the competitive environment in mens football that young players need.

However, having that stepping stone does give a young ‘promising’ player more time to develop. It’s a catch 22 situation, really. My point is, though, what’s the point of an u18’s, when the vast majority of lads are nowhere near ready for the first team? Unless, of course, we upgrade to a higher category and, potentially, get a better standard of player in at the front end? The trouble is the cost!

It's a conundrum Alan for which there's no  ideal solution. If we went down that route again, it would take some considerable resources and support. We'd probably end up having to supplement the u23s with a mix senior and u18 players to guarantee fulfilling the fixtures which might put pressure on the whole squad with the number of fixtures across all competitions.

I remember having a chat with SO'D about the subject and he favoured a more informal set up, playing behind closed door friendlies where he and the opposition manager could agree their own rules in terms of who plays, the number of subs and playing 3 sets of 30 min 'halfs' for example.

[selby]

 Bobby wanted to go out on loan, and players have to agree to any loan. he needed game time and Worksop are a good club, he had an accident that caused an injury which like Olowu could have happened in training, it's the nature of a physical game.
   Worksop could not have done more for him, the welcome on their training nights was fantastic, they could not have been more welcoming for his games there, and showed their professionalism in the care he received after his injury.
  Coupled to that Bobby does not drive as yet so travel to and from loan clubs can be an issue and restrict the clubs available.
   With Olowu I see both players as players the club can gain added value from, both being capable with good management to play at a much higher level than we are at at the moment, a top division 2 and a Championship side as well as good non league sides were represented at Worksop Saturday, I think we can assume they were only there to watch one player in that game.
  If Olowu's season had not been stunted by injury, and he had continued with his progress shown last season at a higher level we could be losing him now (and for little or no reward) this coming month, now we might have the time and foresight to get him tied down on a longer contract for the next few seasons and get him back on track and of value to the club on the field of play and in a monetary sense that the club can benefit from and the player himself.
  I see these two players as the biggest test our coaching and management team has, fail and they will have failed as well as the players.

[Branton Red]

Faulkner is the best youngster to come through the youth ranks in ages.

He has the potential to be a very good player and make Rovers a decent sum of money.

He needs to be blooded in the first team and developed.

Not farmed out on loan to such a low level whilst we play right backs and midfielders in his position.

We've blooded plenty of other teams youngsters in recent years, many of whom were nowhere near as good, to no benefit to the Rovers.

[Lesonthewest]

Faulkner is the best youngster to come through the youth ranks in ages.

He has the potential to be a very good player and make Rovers a decent sum of money.

He needs to be blooded in the first team and developed.

Not farmed out on loan to such a low level whilst we play right backs and midfielders in his position.

We've blooded plenty of other teams youngsters in recent years, many of whom were nowhere near as good, to no benefit to the Rovers.

This!!!

[Alan Southstand]

Bobby wanted to go out on loan

No, this!

Thanks for pointing this out, Selby, as no-one has even suggested yet, that this might be the case.

Once upon a time we had the ‘reserves’, where players like Faulkner and other promising youngsters were mixed with first team fringe players to get match fit and learn from their peers. That’s the hole that somehow needs filling.

[Batleyred]

He can't drive yet either as Selby mentioned.

[selby]

  Even the top tear academies have only a few youngsters that will make it, at every academy more youngsters fail to get contracts than do, that is a fact, and of those that get through the initial phase most still fail to get into league football.
  Players at top clubs gain from that fact and are perceived to be better players than the lower category academy players, something I dispute in many cases, and lke badge engineering on cars carry an advantage in name only in many cases.
   Yes we have a problem after academy u18s level of where do they fit in for progression, well good clubs like Worksop can be part of the answer if both parties are seen to gain from agreements.
  I have watched non league from the Rossington level up and academy level to u23s this season, the difference is physicality and the pace of the game in non league, compared with technical ability in academy football combined with the quality of pitches and facilities.
  Some players flourish in one of the styles of football, and struggle with the other aspects of the game, the good players adapt to both situations and styles of play,
  The club need to and are trying to give players the best chance of experiencing both aspects of the game, and at least provide them with the platform to be better players than when they came to the club and hopefully be able to always play at a good level when they leave, and even then if they get released be able and know what they have to do to become better players.
   Having a manager like Moore here was our biggest backward step, not wanting a u23s who thought he could just bring in players from other clubs at the expense of a million pound player already here, and the murky area of agents and the way they worked, and getting rid of four other players after offering them a contract by telephone, and left a gap the club are still coming to terms with after all his botched signings flew the coup.

[Draytonian III]

Paul Green played at Worksop Town this season after changing his decision to retire from the end of last, one of the main reasons he’s big mates with the Worksop Town manager. The same Paul Green who’s on the Rovers coaching staff, so that could have also led to Bobby playing there, Worksop have won 18 league matches on the trot