Broadbent

[Branton Rover]

Looked like a new lad completely last night playing in the midfield anchor role - I know it was only a friendly but he pulled the strings from deep, his passing was really good and he’s much more mobile than Close etc who’s previously been employed in that particular role. It was good to see & Mccann's forecast about him this season flourishing hopefully will be proved correct.

[Reg of the Rovers]

He did look better, I thought he could have played forward quicker a couple of times, but he was pressing and tracking and trying to switch play forwards and break up play coming back. I also think the fact he was on next to Bailey probably helped him to shine more, as Bailey was absolutely ridiculous last night. Bailey going to be a Rovers legend I'm sure.

Broadbent definitely coming on though, and if he continues will be a decent player for us as Grant predicted!

[graingrover]

He has a manager who in several interviews has praised him and his potential .Also GM has 12 months worth of experience with this squad under his belt .
GM is good at selecting and the club at recruiting .He is now developing his individuals and Broadbent is for sure someone he. believes in .

[Butchers Red]

Another very strong showing today, at times him and Bailey were bossing the midfield, and not just offensively, George made a few great defensive blocks early in second half when they had a purple patch. Certainly looks far away ahead of either Close or Westbrook for the midfield berth.

[Nudga]

Another very strong showing today, at times him and Bailey were bossing the midfield, and not just offensively, George made a few great defensive blocks early in second half when they had a purple patch. Certainly looks far away ahead of either Close or Westbrook for the midfield berth.

I agree, one of the positives of the match. Looks a totally different player from last season.
Last season he looked rushed and always in two minds about decision making.
Today he looked confident and kept us ticking over.

[5minstogo]

Didn't McCann move Whiteman in a similar way?

[sedwardsdrfc]

Yes think so. Remember Whiteman on signing talking all about been box to box and a goal scorer.

Think McCann wants someone to be positive on the ball in that role. Makes sense to work with a player who’s not been coached into a defensive mindset and only pass sides ways imo

[DonnyOsmond]

Didn't McCann move Whiteman in a similar way?

Didn't Ferguson start it off by putting him at the base of a diamond?

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Talking of Whiteman, he's going to have his hands full coping with Middlesbrough in the coming season, so from that perspective, I think Broadbent and Bailey did quite well yesterday. Hanging on at times but doing enough to cause them problems too which bodes well going forward.

[Jonathan]

The transformation of Whiteman under McCann was incredible. Although he’d scored some goals for us, prior to McCann, I thought everything Whiteman did looked telegraphed and a bit laboured. Under Ferguson he started off in a more attacking role then moved to the base of the diamond, with Houghton on the right (logic said they should have switched roles as both looked uncomfortable) and I was a bit worried when McCann came in and identified that role for him. Shows how wrong I was though, as he took to it instantly and his quick thinking and passing to break the lines was the best I’ve seen. A total transformation from the player that laboured under Ferguson.

[sedwardsdrfc]

It helps having a lot going on in front of you. If you’re playing instead full of statues up front it’s a nightmare trying to do anything other than sideways and backwards.

[Butchers Red]

Getting better game by game, bossed things today until taken off after 60mins

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

First time I've seen us this pre season. Was impressed with his reading of the midfield today, he was picking up a lot of loose balls.  It's a gamble going with him and Bailey in the middle but at some point we have to trust him.

Was super impressed with the young lad flint too. He was excellent in that role when he came on.

[Chris Black come back]

Not convinced Flint will be going out on loan. McCann seems to really rate him.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

First time I've seen us this pre season. Was impressed with his reading of the midfield today, he was picking up a lot of loose balls.  It's a gamble going with him and Bailey in the middle but at some point we have to trust him.

Was super impressed with the young lad flint too. He was excellent in that role when he came on.

It wasn't the best game to judge today but Broadbent was the best midfielder on the pitch today. I didn't think Bailey was at his best either but we still looked the most comfortable playing through the lines.

[selby]

  CBcb, its a tough one with Flint if he stays they need to dip him in regular for say the last twenty minutes and if he goes on loan he needs a good level, I would say national league at least, but how many teams at that level play with a defensive midfielder?.
 

[danumdon]

Reading what people are posting about the improvements in Broadbent really does intrigue.

Is it that much of a difference and are we seeing the blooding of another GM production?

If there was ever a season for someone like Broadbent to show us what he's really made of then now is the perfect time.

The bar was set very high with our performances in this position in the last quarter of last season, he's going to have plenty to do to convince some, good luck George.

[Alan Southstand]

Too early to say, really. He’s got a hell of a lot to improve on if he’s to get anywhere near Matty Craig!

[IDM]

We don’t need any one player, existing or new, to match what Craig did.  We need the team as a whole to play well enough - perhaps in a slightly different style to allow for not having Craig - to win games regardless of who is in the team.

[scawsby steve]

I think Craig was a very, very good player for us; but irreplaceable? I don't think so.

Not in the same way as Whiteman. When he left, our midfield became dysfunctional, and we shot down the league.

I don't expect the same thing happening this season.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

Too early to say, really. He’s got a hell of a lot to improve on if he’s to get anywhere near Matty Craig!

I'd rather we had a coaching team who can see the potential in young players they have and try and improve them to play for us.  I really want to see us doing more of that. It's not one or the other but our record of developing good league 1+2 standard players from the young teams isn't great.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Too early to say, really. He’s got a hell of a lot to improve on if he’s to get anywhere near Matty Craig!

I'd rather we had a coaching team who can see the potential in young players they have and try and improve them to play for us.  I really want to see us doing more of that. It's not one or the other but our record of developing good league 1+2 standard players from the young teams isn't great.

Totally agree. It's fascinating to watch Broadbent, Bailey and Hurst being given the platform to develop. They are on the early stages of finding their comfort zone of doing basic things well whilst expanding their respective portfolios by pushing the boundaries. Whilst Broadbent  works on his work rate, positioning and pass completion, expanding his range of passing both long and short. Bailey is working on timing his runs into the box, his finishing, managing the press on top of the basic stuff alongside Broadbent. Hurst (and Gibson to be fair) working on his positioning inside his normal flank work, learning when to take players on and when to be safe with the ball to keep possession. He also seems more robust in making challenges in his defensive work.

Of course they will make mistakes, that's all part of the learning curve and we need to be patient with them.

I didn't see what Broadbent could offer but clearly McCann has proved me wrong too.

[Alan Southstand]

Guys, absolutely nothing wrong with arguments put forward about young players already here. But, they have to be measured against the manager’s stated aim of promotion and not via the play-off’s!

[IDM]

Are you saying the squad isn’t good enough for promotion.?

[ncRover]

Guys, absolutely nothing wrong with arguments put forward about young players already here. But, they have to be measured against the manager’s stated aim of promotion and not via the play-off’s!

We don’t have to repeat our Feb-May run of form to get autos.

[Alan Southstand]

Are you saying the squad isn’t good enough for promotion.?

Where have I said that?

What I have clearly stated elsewhere on here is that, imho, there are still one or two areas to sort out. None of us have seen enough of the keeper to have an idea how he’s going to work out, but, certainly v Boro’ there were one or two question marks. The other area, again imho, is defensive  midfield. Broadbent has been entrusted with filling that role, which is fair enough and he may well prove to be an inspired choice by GM.

Whatever happens from here on in is down to his choices, but all have to be measured against what the manager clearly wants and that is auto’s. It’s a completely different mindset to being ‘in and around the play-off’s’. Some supporters should bare that in mind.

[IDM]

You hadn't made that statement, I never said you did, but you effectively raised the question.  Therefore I asked you outright.

[GazLaz]

He’s a young player and should be improving. Let’s  see what he looks like in proper action on Saturday.