Bobby Faulkner

[Ye-Aul-Tavern]

Very good. I've got one more. Mid 90s. Anyone else want to have a go?

[Dutch Uncle]

Eddie Gormley?

[Copps is Magic]

Highlights....

https://www.google.com/search?q=Drogheda+United+Drogheda+United+2+1+Dundalk&oq=d&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBggCEEUYOzIGCAAQRRg7MgwIARAuGCcYgAQYigUyBggCEEUYOzIGCAMQRRg8MgYIBBBFGDwyBggFEEUYPDIGCAYQRRg8MgYIBxBFGDzSAQgyNTcxajBqN6gCCLACAQ&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:cb3246fd,vid:tQE10-MDV_c,st:0

Ooof. Not the best of quality that league is it.

[Ye-Aul-Tavern]

Highlights....

https://www.google.com/search?q=Drogheda+United+Drogheda+United+2+1+Dundalk&oq=d&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBggCEEUYOzIGCAAQRRg7MgwIARAuGCcYgAQYigUyBggCEEUYOzIGCAMQRRg8MgYIBBBFGDwyBggFEEUYPDIGCAYQRRg8MgYIBxBFGDzSAQgyNTcxajBqN6gCCLACAQ&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:cb3246fd,vid:tQE10-MDV_c,st:0

Ooof. Not the best of quality that league is it.

It's not that bad. I'm Irish and have been a season ticket holder at Shamrock Rovers for 25 years so I might be a bit biased. Drogheda and Dundalk are the leagues two bottom sides too. My team had a good win in the first qualifying round of the champions League during the week knocking out Vikingur of Iceland. I was delighted at that but disgusted to see the manager put out a second string side in the cup last night resulting in a defeat at the hand of arch rivals bohemians. The money from Europe is massive though for clubs from Ireland and getting through the first qualifying round means we'll get three more cracks at group stage football via either the champions league, the Europa league and the Europa conference league. We have Sparta Prague in the second qualifying round on Tuesday. Expect a cricket score but will be a great occasion and a full house.

[Ye-Aul-Tavern]

Lee Thew my other one.

[Dutch Uncle]

Lee Thew my other one.

Just checked and we loaned Eddie Gormley out to rivals Drogheda, not Dundalk

[Ye-Aul-Tavern]

Lee Thew my other one.

Just checked and we loaned Eddie Gormley out to rivals Drogheda, not Dundalk

Eddie played with st pats for years after coming back from England. Was very successful and won a few leagues. Was one of the best players in the league around that time.

[DonnyOsmond]

Francie Callan
Kit Lawlor
Paddy Gavin

These are 3 others too apparently.

[selby]

 Back to the present and some stats from Bobby's first three games with Dundalk who are having a poor season.
     Anyway some stats for those who jumped on a certain manager at the time and head of recruitment's opinion on Bobby's technical ability.

   Goals 1 I always said he was good in both areas at each end.

   Tackle success 100% yes it is still part of the game

   Blocks 8

   headed clearances 12

   87% passing accuracy completing 37 passes making 7 into the final third on attack

   dribbles 2 completed carrying the ball forward

  Not bad at all and mostly when his side is under pressure and should put any nonsense to bed, by the way on line he has a nick name used by a Dundalk supporter that might tickle a few of our older supporters  " KING BOBBY" although even I have only one KING in my memory and that's ALICK
   Whoever it was at the club who undermined his ability publically and value to the club with a stupid statement that reporters jumped on because his upbringing was in local men's football as a schoolboy and not an academy and has other skills and an approach to the game foreign to most players of the present should hang their head in shame and watch South American defenders who don't take prisoners or mess with the ball and widen their education.   

[Chris Black come back]

Good performances important but he more than anything needs consistent games. He’s getting that, which is good news.

[selby]

  The most amazing stat in his professional career at Doncaster is that he has never played with a central defender who is experienced themselves
  He has never partnered Woods or Anderson at the Rovers Olowo being the oldest, and Nelson probably in the most matches.
 On his debut he came on as a right back substitute and went up front later in the game when we won in the last few minutes.
  The last times he played with an experienced player was at Rossington in his first loan and at Worksop in another loan and Spennymoor another loan 
   Both partners he has had at Dundalk are twenty.
 

[GazLaz]

  The most amazing stat in his professional career at Doncaster is that he has never played with a central defender who is experienced themselves
  He has never partnered Woods or Anderson at the Rovers Olowo being the oldest, and Nelson probably in the most matches.
 On his debut he came on as a right back substitute and went up front later in the game when we won in the last few minutes.
  The last times he played with an experienced player was at Rossington in his first loan and at Worksop in another loan and Spennymoor another loan 
   Both partners he has had at Dundalk are twenty.
 

Anderson and Wood likely to leave at the end of the season. Bobby has every chance of a starting place next year. Said it before, wouldn’t be surprised if he finds his way into the XI after Christmas.

[graingrover]

I refer to Selby and GazLaz who have followed his performances closely .I have only seem him sporadically and his recent games at Dundalk .He looks the future Kingpin of our defence .

[TheFunk]

Sadly when he returns he'll have to wait to play for us. With it being an international loan he can't play for us again until January.

[selby]

  That is not quite right the rule was amended so that in certain situations he can play and having come through the academy and played first team football is an advantage in the case of injuries and not being able to field a full squad etc and are prioritised in selection.
  It was altered in 2019 probably for Covid at a guess

[Mike_F]

Colin Hawkins also played for Dundalk.

[WarwickRover]

It's a difficult one when considering Bobby, of course we want him to do well and be a success for our team, 'one of our own'. iI have not seen him play for over a season now,  and he may have improved to a high level. However, he has played through a number of coaches and is not a regular player in most competitions. IMO he is behind Woods, Anderson, Olowu, and McGrath.......... can't seem him holding down a regular first team place this season or after Christmas ... unless we have injuries. I hope my opinion is so wide of the mark

[selby]

  Olowu and McGrath are nowhere near as good a defenders as he is, Anderson is a walking sick note unfortunately, as when fit he is in front of them as a defender and Wood is the best of the lot coming to the end again unfortunately, and Bobby is dangerous from set pieces with three goals already in a short senior football career, (can't wait for him to be experienced), and has  been shoved up front in an emergency as he makes things happen in the oppositions penalty area.

[danumdon]

From the few games that i saw him play here i always thought he looked like someone who would of benefitted greatly from some regular game time, its always going to be difficult when you play the odd mins here and there, when you then get used in different positions(because you have that in your makeup) its guaranteed to mess you about. I always remember Jimmy O'Connor getting used in this way, that he was an experienced player helped him but you could see the effect it had on him and the team.

I think he's in the best place for his development at this time, a run of games at a decent level is always important for young players to get some momentum into their game.

When he comes back into the squad he could have a role to play and hit the ground running.

[ravenrover]

  Olowu and McGrath are nowhere near as good a defenders as he is, Anderson is a walking sick note unfortunately, as when fit he is in front of them as a defender and Wood is the best of the lot coming to the end again unfortunately, and Bobby is dangerous from set pieces with three goals already in a short senior football career, (can't wait for him to be experienced), and has  been shoved up front in an emergency as he makes things happen in the oppositions penalty area.

Sorry Selby but the blinkers are on again

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Well Bobby hasn't exactly been injury free has he?

If Selby means Bobby is a better defender in the literal sense of duals, blocks, tackles, headers etc, then I might agree with him but, particularly in the modern game, there's much more required of centre halves, and in that sense, he is behind Olowu and maybe McGrath at the moment.

Bobby does need these run of games to show he can handle his temperament, being a combative, all action, heart of a lion player, he needs to show he can be level headed to get through games without too many bookings and injury whilst holding defensive partnerships together.

What I've seen from the highlights of each game so far, he's doing well. Clearly he, and his defensive partners are developing their understanding at this early stage but he's already shown he'll put his body on the line where others might not (his headed goal being an example) He's won plenty of duals, got blocks in etc. Unfortunately, from the highlights, they rarely show how they play from the back, so his ball playing is difficult to assess.

I really hope he gets through this loan and if he does, everyone will be better for it with so many more games experience.

[Ye-Aul-Tavern]

Surely the fact that he's out on loan while olowu and McGrath are featuring in pre season puts him further down the pecking order? He can't feature in the next game if he's in Dundalk!

[selby]

 Take them off then Raven, and you might be able to see the light.
    I would have never guessed you wore them until you said Raven

[Ldr]

McCann isn’t a mug, if Bobby was better he’d be 1st choice

[ravenrover]

Take them off then Raven, and you might be able to see the light.
    I would have never guessed you wore them until you said Raven

You haven't got a great past record with your young protoges

[jmt23]

I think Bobby is the best we have for body on the line defending, what he needs is a good run of consistent football to become better with the ball, the distribution side needs work, this is from a very short spell I have seen him play. I hope it works out.

[selby]

  So 87% pass completion over three games wants  improving jmt, I wish our midfielders could have done that over the last few years, instead of setting the other side away.
 

[jmt23]

Please realise Selby, most of us are willing it to work out. I haven’t seen loads of him, but that is my view, he often gave the ball away, both under pressure and when not. He wouldn’t be at the club if Grant thought he didn’t have a future.

[DearneValleyRover]

  So 87% pass completion over three games wants  improving jmt, I wish our midfielders could have done that over the last few years, instead of setting the other side away.
 

Stop it selby, we all want Booby to do well and become a Rovers stalwart but using figures on a league that is barely conference standard is laughable

[scawsby steve]

  So 87% pass completion over three games wants  improving jmt, I wish our midfielders could have done that over the last few years, instead of setting the other side away.
 

Stop it selby, we all want Booby to do well and become a Rovers stalwart but using figures on a league that is barely conference standard is laughable

Come on, DVR. We know he makes a BOOB now and then, but that's a bit harsh.