Ben Close

[Buzzberry]

2 year deal another one. Looking promising next season

[Canadian Rover]

Shocked with this one.

[Chris Black come back]

He’s a talented player and both he and Westbrooke have been at times very good together, but another one with questions over physicality. With Broadbent also contracted next season, we have largely the same centre midfield next season as this.

[Arsenal Of The North]

nager Grant McCann said: "We're very pleased to agree a new deal with Ben.

"Before he picked up the unfortunate injury at Bradford, he was in top form. His performances were of a very high standard and we turned down some bids for him in January.

"We are looking forward to getting Ben back fit because he's integral for us and how we play."


Personally I would have moved on, I think the fact Ben is out the team and the midfield is firing is an indicator we could have changed something there.

But over all that I trust grant to get it right, so if he seens a way with Ben around the squad, he gets my backing

[Chris Black come back]

He has to make decisions over Rowe, Taylor and Biggins now. Hope we don’t see too much continuity. We are playing well partly because Bailey and Craig are so good in midfield. The rest of the midfield haven’t been the main driver.

[mushRTID]

Trust Grant but not sure on this one.

[Chris Black come back]

His league appearances so far with us:

2023/24 - 17
2022/23 - 36
2021/22 - 14

He’s played 51pc of our league games while at the club.

[dickos1]

He has to make decisions over Rowe, Taylor and Biggins now. Hope we don’t see too much continuity. We are playing well partly because Bailey and Craig are so good in midfield. The rest of the midfield haven’t been the main driver.

Biggins has been outstanding over the last 6 games or so

[ForsolongaRover]

Re-signing a midfielder who is seemingly too fragile to tackle is not a good decision.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Yes, I'm a bit surprised too. I rate Close but I thought he could move on. He's been with us for sometime but, the injuries he's had have deprived us of seeing him at his very best. Only fairly recently, with Westbrooke, did we see glimpses of what he can do.

I get the concerns about his robustness so I wouldn't have been shocked if he moved on, particularly with Westbrooke signing and Craig showing the kind of midfielder we need to be stronger in the middle of the park. Bailey obviously now contributing to that better balance too.

[dickos1]

Re-signing a midfielder who is seemingly too fragile to tackle is not a good decision.

If McCann thinks it’s a good decision that’s good enough for me

[Spud]

Surprised by this one, fingers crossed that Grant's got it right.

[MachoMadness]

Hmm. Probably our best player on his day, and there's no doubt that he makes a great partner for Westbrook in there. The issue is how often will both be fit to start together?

We haven't seen the best of him as he's been plagued by injuries and surrounded by garbage ever since he's been here. Hopefully both will change next season so we can get more from him.

[sedwardsdrfc]

Unsure on this. Personally I wouldn’t have extended him and for 2 years at that.

However we need a squad and he’s got ability. Just hope he’s not an expensive earner for us. While he’s got ability he’s never done enough to a a top earner imo

[philsky]

With Westbrooke they can both pic a pass - with Bailey and please, Craig, keeping the door shut I’m very happy

[Copps is Magic]

Hmmmmmm.

It's very surprising that McCann feels he's 'integral' to how we play. He's never got to those dizzying heights consistently. Having Bailey in there is more 'integral' because he's at least going to do the dirty work that Close can not, and will not, do.

I know there's no chance we'll sign him, but Craig already looks like he's going to become a way more accomplished midfielder.

[RoversInSpain]

Grant knows what he’s doing, but I’d hoped he’d be on his way, it’s never worked out for him here. Hopefully it’s a lower package which allows us to spend some money elsewhere.

[sedwardsdrfc]

I reckon Grant must think he’s long term going to play the Craig role of getting on the ball deep and getting us started. It’s unlikely we’ll sign Craig again so this is maybe the plan for that position

[drfchound]

Hmmmmmm.

It's very surprising that McCann feels he's 'integral' to how we play. He's never got to those dizzying heights consistently. Having Bailey in there is more 'integral' because he's at least going to do the dirty work that Close can not, and will not, do.

I know there's no chance we'll sign him, but Craig already looks like he's going to become a way more accomplished midfielder.

Craig was on the wrong end of a very high and dangerous tackle by a Crawley CB yesterday and was shaken up by it.  But he got up and more than played his part in a quality midfield performance.
The defender got a yellow card but IMO the tackle was as bad as the one by Tom.

[mushRTID]

With Grant saying he wants a smaller squad next year and 4 lads already renewing, I do wonder what scope this leaves us for new signings?

Hopefully Moly is next and you could see Biggins staying too. 6 renewals wouldn’t leave much space for new signings would it?

[DearneValleyRover]

Totally bewildered, our best form has coincided with both Close and Westbrooke being out injured. That’s 2 players who have questionable fitness levels and have zero ability to tackle signed. Yes the new physio is doing well however what happens if he leaves?

[Northants Nomad]

Totally bewildered, our best form has coincided with both Close and Westbrooke being out injured. That’s 2 players who have questionable fitness levels and have zero ability to tackle signed. Yes the new physio is doing well however what happens if he leaves?

Correlation is not causation.
Our best form has coincided with fabulous signings of TLT, Haks and Craig. TLT has given us a bedrock for a solid defence brimming with confidence and strengthened with Maxwell back.
To suggest our form is linked to these two quality players missing is a bit simplistic for me as about 10 cogs have been changed, turned or lubricated in some way.

[pib]

I’m a fan of Close and have defended him on here for a while, but have to admit I’m surprised and a little bit concerned that his contract has been renewed. I think we have to consider robustness as well as talent and there are obviously major question marks over the first of those two qualities.

Especially surprised that both he and Westbrooke have been renewed. I thought it would be one or the other.

I really hope I’m wrong and that he plays 45 games in a title-winning Rovers side next season.

[ncRover]

Totally bewildered, our best form has coincided with both Close and Westbrooke being out injured. That’s 2 players who have questionable fitness levels and have zero ability to tackle signed. Yes the new physio is doing well however what happens if he leaves?

Westbrooke got injured at the end of November. Go have a look at our form after that

[Chris Black come back]

Nobody knows how much these renewed contract lads are on but it is reasonable to think they are among the highest earners, even if they have taken a wage cut on renewal. You would imagine the only higher earners then who are leaving are going to be Taylor and Rowe. That does not release the kind of money needed to really bring in quality to make us into contenders next season for promotion. The rest of the likely leavers this summer will not be on much at all, unless any of the currently contracted players leave as well.

[TonySoprano]

Bizarre this one, really surprised that mcann rates him.

[ncRover]

I don’t think our defenders will be happy with this one.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

I'm surprised, I'd have moved on. But, we played some good football in midfield first half of the season, we just kept conceding from crosses.  Let's see how he does.

[TheFunk]

Before our amazing recent run we hadn't won a game without both Close and Westbrook in the team. Or maybe only 1 early on.

[drfcsteve]

I presume our head of medical has been consulted and given the ok.

If he plays he impacts our game for the better, remember some of the goals and passes he produced earlier in the season, he creates goals from nothing, we haven’t got many like that in the squad.