Ben Close

[Campsall rover]

Just a word on Ben Close.

Thought he was awful v Harrogate Town. Almost looked disinterested.

Did he get a boll..ing from DS because he looked the real deal yesterday.
Best game he has had for us this season I would say although there were a couple of others he has played really well.

Been a disappointment overall though and not been the playmaker he should be. Been too light weight as have others and not in games for 90 mins
Yesterday he played as play maker in the middle of a 3 in midfield and was excellent in building / linking play, particularly in the 1st half.

If he could find that form consistently he would be one of the best midfielders in this league. Even in the League above.

Needs to stay injury free and maybe we will see the Ben Close RW said we had signed in the Summer of 21.

[roversdude]

Did we give him a 2 year deal ?

[Campsall rover]

Did we give him a 2 year deal ?

Might have been 3 yrs not sure RD

[danumdon]

Looked on it yesterday, in attitude and commitment, unfortunately left his radar switched off.

Get him paired up in training with Ben Faulkner see if some of Ben's determination and attitude rubs off, then teach him how to,put a tackle in without wiping himself out.

[Chris Black come back]

He signed on a three year deal in 2021. Will likely be one of our higher earners. You wouldn't rush to give him another three year deal, put it that way.

[Branton Rover]

Yesterday was a clutch of half a dozen players to have a decent shout to be man of the match & Close was one of the 6 - it’s funny isn’t it I like Lakin & his extra midfield energy but we actually improved when he went off injured. Jimmy Greaves was right it’s a funny old game.

[roversdude]

Although he had a decent game yesterday, if he had been out of contract in the summer I wouldn’t have been gutted if we let him go. On his day very good but his heart doesn’t seem in it most games

[Padge_DRFC]

Yesterday was a clutch of half a dozen players to have a decent shout to be man of the match & Close was one of the 6 - it’s funny isn’t it I like Lakin & his extra midfield energy but we actually improved when he went off injured. Jimmy Greaves was right it’s a funny old game.

Don't see the fuss about Lakin. Then again neither do Burton too. Close and Biggins are way better.

[Spud]

Yesterday was a clutch of half a dozen players to have a decent shout to be man of the match & Close was one of the 6 - it’s funny isn’t it I like Lakin & his extra midfield energy but we actually improved when he went off injured. Jimmy Greaves was right it’s a funny old game.

Don't see the fuss about Lakin. Then again neither do Burton too. Close and Biggins are way better.

Biggins can be anonymous for most of a game then pops up with a goal or a bit of something good on the eye, I hope he develops tbh, Lakin has definitely added more energy & bite to the midfield & been a good signing so far imo, I hope we give him a deal.

[roversdude]

Yesterday was a clutch of half a dozen players to have a decent shout to be man of the match & Close was one of the 6 - it’s funny isn’t it I like Lakin & his extra midfield energy but we actually improved when he went off injured. Jimmy Greaves was right it’s a funny old game.

Don't see the fuss about Lakin. Then again neither do Burton too. Close and Biggins are way better.

Biggins can be anonymous for most of a game then pops up with a goal or a bit of something good on the eye, I hope he develops tbh, Lakin has definitely added more energy & bite to the midfield & been a good signing so far imo, I hope we give him a deal.

Assuming he is released by Burton

[drfchound]

When does Lakins deal with Burton  end?

[Spud]

Am sure I read it was this summer, they were looking to offload him.

[roversdude]

I think it is 2024 although if he is made available I’d love for us to be in for him

[danumdon]

i get the impression that Lakin is a "try before you buy" deal, of the game time he's had with us id say he should get a deal from us, he should be in our price range and he's added some energy and workmate to our hit and miss midfield.

In the possibility that we are not going to be spending in Mark's this next close season then this look's like the kind of player we are going to be in for.

[GazLaz]

Lakin has looked pretty ordinary hasn’t he? What would people say his best assets are? Please nobody say “energy”!

[TheFunk]

Matt Smith had plenty of energy last season. What he didn't have was goals, assists or key passes. Lakin so far hasn't really added anything yet either except his pressing. The jury is still out for me.

[ncRover]

Lakin has looked pretty ordinary hasn’t he? What would people say his best assets are? Please nobody say “energy”!

He hasn’t done much wrong though?

Neat and tidy on the ball, great engine (essential nowadays) and gets stuck in. I like him.

Look at his assist for our 2nd goal v Tranmere for example:

https://youtu.be/pT-MjZTl1vg

He was benched against Harrogate and look what happened there. We need a player like that to set the tone.

[selby]

  I would think he needs to have a decent end to the season for two reasons, he is playing for another contract here, or to get another club at this time of the year, as simple as that at his age.

[mushRTID]

Lakin has looked pretty ordinary hasn’t he? What would people say his best assets are? Please nobody say “energy”!

Another player in the “squad player” category.

We’re a team full of them especially in the forward areas. We sign very few “match winners”. Hurst maybe but he’s inconsistent.

[Chris Black come back]

Lakin has looked pretty ordinary hasn’t he? What would people say his best assets are? Please nobody say “energy”!

Another player in the “squad player” category.

We’re a team full of them especially in the forward areas. We sign very few “match winners”. Hurst maybe but he’s inconsistent.

We need squad players of course, but this is a the correct analysis. A squad of fairly anonymous 6/10 players is what we have.

[pib]

Bit of an enigma Close. There's definitely a quality player in there. Thought he made a huge difference when he first came back from injury, but performances seem more up and down at the minute. Maybe the fact he didn't play any football from November onwards last season has caught up to him a bit.

[jmt23]

Some people make me laugh - he has been a breath of fresh air since he came (Lakin) He does bring an energy, something the other two midfielders don’t seem to have. He breaks play down and then starts attacks. He presses really high, which helps the lone man up top. He also has an aggression that Close and Biggins fail on, he snaps at players.

At our current level, what more can we expect?

Strangely though he has been moved out of the position he had when Biggins was out, and he has not been as effective.

 

[ncRover]

Some people make me laugh - he has been a breath of fresh air since he came (Lakin) He does bring an energy, something the other two midfielders don’t seem to have. He breaks play down and then starts attacks. He presses really high, which helps the lone man up top. He also has an aggression that Close and Biggins fail on, he snaps at players.

At our current level, what more can we expect?

Strangely though he has been moved out of the position he had when Biggins was out, and he has not been as effective.

Exactly, it’s about balance. You can’t get a 3 in 1 midfielder like Ben Whiteman at league 2 level.

This is why not many teams play a lone striker in this division. There aren’t many who are good enough to do it on their own.

[sedwardsdrfc]

Larkin’s ok a good player to have in the squad but not one you’d say is going to be pulling up any trees at a higher level.

Give me a professional contract and I’d get fit and run about a lot. It’s not enough to be considered a good player it’s a minimum standard.

[drfchound]

Larkin’s ok a good player to have in the squad but not one you’d say is going to be pulling up any trees at a higher level.

Give me a professional contract and I’d get fit and run about a lot. It’s not enough to be considered a good player it’s a minimum standard.

Ah, but could you guarantee getting ten out of ten penalties on target?

[ravenrover]

Larkin’s ok a good player to have in the squad but not one you’d say is going to be pulling up any trees at a higher level.

Give me a professional contract and I’d get fit and run about a lot. It’s not enough to be considered a good player it’s a minimum standard.

Is that Pop?

[selby]

   I am not a particularly a big lover of Close in the system we play, seeing him as lightweight when we don't have control of mid field ane we don't have the ball, that doesn't mean I don't think he has things to offer a team with stronger players around him in that area, a mox is what good teams are all about, note the mix in the Arsenal and Manchester City teams, even they have work horses and class acts.
  The one thing I don't see him as is irreplaceable, and a top earner, if he is dissatisfied and not happy it would not bhe the end of tghe world if he left.
  The way I would like to see the club go would be for us to get additions with a bit of a record at our current level and above if possible and some ambitious younger players who are released but have done well at National North minimum level of non league and good clubs u23s, have experience against men and a good upbringing at such as Barnsley, Sheffield United etc, I can only dream we have the confidence to look at those levels, and for once are pro active at getting the players in early.
  We have a fair amount of players out of contract, quite a few to go, those who come in don't have to be well known names for me, but athletes who can take a knock, ambitious to do well. and want to be at the club, and complement the system the manager wants to play and be able to adapt to other systems as required by the manager.
   We need as a club to go for players we hope will provide value added, not has beens look at a bigger picture and stick to a plan to grow the club both on and off the field of play. There are some good people at the club who need support and guidance and brought together to sing off the same hymsheat.

[sedwardsdrfc]

Larkin’s ok a good player to have in the squad but not one you’d say is going to be pulling up any trees at a higher level.

Give me a professional contract and I’d get fit and run about a lot. It’s not enough to be considered a good player it’s a minimum standard.

Ah, but could you guarantee getting ten out of ten penalties on target?

Reality is if I had to play let alone take a penalty in front of a few thousand people i’d barely be able to walk straight!

[danumdon]

Odd, when posters knock players like Lakin playing at our level, instead we persist with players who should be better but surprisingly, regardless of stats don't produce this on the pitch.

When you look at some of the teams we have struggled against this season in our league they are stuffed full of players like Lakin, players with an energy and effort to get in other teams faces and hound their better ball players out of their stride and elicit mistakes and reduce their effectiveness, Ring any bells for us?

When we start our pre season merry go round next season, i'd would be very surprised if we are not looking for players who are more athletic and with more drive and energy than what we persist with at this time.