Patrick Kelly

[Michael Shaw]

When GM says he wants a strong 22 this season he is not kidding. Well trained, all fit and ready to go. Bring it on.

[steve@dcfd]

Rovers boss Grant McCann said: “We’re delighted to get PK. He’s a lad we’ve watched a lot of and we had to be wait patiently as he’s been with the West Ham first team all of pre-season.

“He’s capable of playing in the six or eight in our midfield - very much in the mould of Matty Craig.

There it is the replacement he’s been waiting for

https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/grant-mccann-lauds-latest-doncaster-rovers-loan-signing-as-he-drops-further-transfer-hint-4735352

[DonnyBazR0ver]

You just can't trust his word can ya! One minute he says we're done, then today, he hid from Radio Sheffield Kelly coming in and said, even with Miller going, he's happy with his 'front six'. Then Kelly's announced and woah, he tells DFP wants another forward!! That's just greedy.

[Campsall rover]

This lad must be good because he has been brought in to play most games I suspect. West Ham won’t want him sat on the bench for 46 games just getting cameo mins.
He is only 19 so 2 yrs younger than Matty Craig.
If he is as good as MC at 19yrs old then he is a hell of a prospect.

Our squad is looking extremely strong. If anyone else has got a squad as string as ours in League 2 I will be very shocked.
In fact I am 99% certain they don’t.

Can’t wait for Saturday and getting that rare home opening day win.
20 yrs so way way overdue.
I think we will get off to a flyer against a team I think will struggle this season.
Bring it on. This will be a season to remember.
I predict we will beat the 92 point we got in 2003/04 and I predict we will score 80+ league goals

[Dutch Uncle]

It strikes me that GM is making more player interactions with Ireland, in and out, North and South, than any Rovers manager since Peter Doherty. It worked out really well for him - 8 successive seasons in Division 2 when that meant 2nd tier.   

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Excellent piece of business from Grant, in my view, despite a fe.w questioning why would we need any more midfielders. The answer was, of course, we didn’t have a like for like replacement for Craig. He added so much to our midfield once he’d settled alongside Bailey and I’m sure this lad will be of a similar stamp.

The only question mark left, for me, is the keeper position. We’ll have to see how that goes, but now Hull have signed another keeper, I’d be having a serious conversation with them over TLT.

I noticed that too re Hulls new keeper. Seems TLTs path to the first team has been blocked again. You just never know with GM. Might be one for a belated Christmas present.

[Alan Southstand]

A number of comments (all positive) from West Ham fans on ‘X’, most notably from one guy who said “He’s a bit vicious”. Could we have Roy Keane MkII on our hands?

[StocksArmy]

This lad must be good because he has been brought in to play most games I suspect. West Ham won’t want him sat on the bench for 46 games just getting cameo mins.
He is only 19 so 2 yrs younger than Matty Craig.
If he is as good as MC at 19yrs old then he is a hell of a prospect.

Our squad is looking extremely strong. If anyone else has got a squad as string as ours in League 2 I will be very shocked.
In fact I am 99% certain they don’t.

Can’t wait for Saturday and getting that rare home opening day win.
20 yrs so way way overdue.
I think we will get off to a flyer against a team I think will struggle this season.
Bring it on. This will be a season to remember.
I predict we will beat the 92 point we got in 2003/04 and I predict we will score 80+ league goals

GM said at some point last season that he wouldn’t sign a player from a club who demanded the player played games so I suspect PK knows he will have to fight for his place. I look at the squad now and can’t make out who the fringe players are. The young lads have all found loans and we now have 2 teams we could quite easily field.

[Alan Southstand]

And he may well change all 11 for the cup game v Salford?

[Janso]

Excellent piece of business from Grant, in my view, despite a fe.w questioning why would we need any more midfielders. The answer was, of course, we didn’t have a like for like replacement for Craig. He added so much to our midfield once he’d settled alongside Bailey and I’m sure this lad will be of a similar stamp.

The only question mark left, for me, is the keeper position. We’ll have to see how that goes, but now Hull have signed another keeper, I’d be having a serious conversation with them over TLT.

I noticed that too re Hulls new keeper. Seems TLTs path to the first team has been blocked again. You just never know with GM. Might be one for a belated Christmas present.

Can't see us buying him and equally can't see us having two keepers on loan, I think the TLT ship has sailed.

[mushRTID]

Excellent piece of business from Grant, in my view, despite a fe.w questioning why would we need any more midfielders. The answer was, of course, we didn’t have a like for like replacement for Craig. He added so much to our midfield once he’d settled alongside Bailey and I’m sure this lad will be of a similar stamp.

The only question mark left, for me, is the keeper position. We’ll have to see how that goes, but now Hull have signed another keeper, I’d be having a serious conversation with them over TLT.

I noticed that too re Hulls new keeper. Seems TLTs path to the first team has been blocked again. You just never know with GM. Might be one for a belated Christmas present.

Can't see us buying him and equally can't see us having two keepers on loan, I think the TLT ship has sailed.

If he became available then it’s honest conversation time with Lawlor, just like he did with Miller.

[Janso]

Excellent piece of business from Grant, in my view, despite a fe.w questioning why would we need any more midfielders. The answer was, of course, we didn’t have a like for like replacement for Craig. He added so much to our midfield once he’d settled alongside Bailey and I’m sure this lad will be of a similar stamp.

The only question mark left, for me, is the keeper position. We’ll have to see how that goes, but now Hull have signed another keeper, I’d be having a serious conversation with them over TLT.

I noticed that too re Hulls new keeper. Seems TLTs path to the first team has been blocked again. You just never know with GM. Might be one for a belated Christmas present.

Can't see us buying him and equally can't see us having two keepers on loan, I think the TLT ship has sailed.

If he became available then it’s honest conversation time with Lawlor, just like he did with Miller.

If he was available I'd be slinging Lawlor's hook for him.

[danumdon]

Excellent piece of business from Grant, in my view, despite a fe.w questioning why would we need any more midfielders. The answer was, of course, we didn’t have a like for like replacement for Craig. He added so much to our midfield once he’d settled alongside Bailey and I’m sure this lad will be of a similar stamp.

The only question mark left, for me, is the keeper position. We’ll have to see how that goes, but now Hull have signed another keeper, I’d be having a serious conversation with them over TLT.

I noticed that too re Hulls new keeper. Seems TLTs path to the first team has been blocked again. You just never know with GM. Might be one for a belated Christmas present.

Can't see us buying him and equally can't see us having two keepers on loan, I think the TLT ship has sailed.

If he became available then it’s honest conversation time with Lawlor, just like he did with Miller.

If he was available I'd be slinging Lawlor's hook for him.

Would just be about the best icing of a cake you could get !

TLT was the spark that ignited our team for the last quarter last season.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

If anything, I would guess January is more likely to sort out the keeper situation.

Jones will have completed his loan stint in Ireland.

TSL could be released mid term of his season loan.

TLT will have less time left on his contract.

If we are in a strong position by then and promotion looks likely, then we're in a better position to attract TLT on a permanent move....providing he hasn't been offloaded by Hull by then of course.

[Chris Black come back]

When fit we have Kelly, Bailey, Clifton, Close, Westbrooke, Broadbent and Sbarra as central midfield options, in addition to the younger lads who might not be going out on loan. If anything, we are overweight in midfield.

[ncRover]

Like with Craig, TLT isn’t a league 2 footballer.

And he’s going to put his own career progression ahead of what we want.

If he’s loaned out it won’t be to this level for the 3rd time and I doubt we’re going to be paying a 6-figure sum now.

If we get promoted and TLT gets released by Hull then it’s the most obvious signing in the world.

Anyway for now, TSL might be absolutely fine and we’re being unfair on him after one game.

[steve@dcfd]

When fit we have Kelly, Bailey, Clifton, Close, Westbrooke, Broadbent and Sbarra as central midfield options, in addition to the younger lads who might not be going out on loan. If anything, we are overweight in midfield.

The names are there but with only Bailey proving he can produce at league 2 level consistently last seaso. Clifton played for Grimsby for all the season.
Sbarra National league consistency
Close and Westbrooke on the treatment table for nearly half the season need to show they can play in a team aiming for the top of the league
Broadbent on the bench for half of last season should improve
Kelly unknown but comes with good credentials

[Ryaldinhio]

Signing this lad did make me think, I wonder if GM has spoke with Close/Westbrook about their place in the squad?

Personally I think both are good players, Close I've always thought would be more effective at a higher level where it was less physical.

BUT it seema they are the last couple of injury prone players we have on board now.

Wonder if he may be looking to move them on?

[ncRover]

Close has played more games than James Maxwell over the last 2 seasons.

Westbrooke played more games than Maxwell last season.

I’m not hammering Maxwell for his injuries but I just don’t like certain players getting picked on over others.

[steve@dcfd]

You right that they both have played more but Maxwell as contributed more than both Close and Westbrooke if they do managed to play let’s see what they can contribute apart from slowing our game to their pace

[jmt23]

It’s just not proportionate at all, and never has been when talking about Close - he is in my eyes the best midfielder in this league, he did feck all wrong last year, and was part of the revival until a nasty challenge killed his season. Westbrooke is also pretty good, but I give Close the edge over him. ( listening to IFollow the away commentary all picked him out as man of the match- every time! “stop him stop the team” were the words a few times)
I think people will be surprised how good he is with better and more confident players around him.

[Jonathan]

Close gets a ridiculously bad rep. He’s a good footballer and, certainly up until Matty Craig arrived, we were a far better team when he was in it. It’s all about balance and getting more physical players around him.

Westbrooke is a good footballer too, but he seemed to lose his confidence towards the end of the season (after the injury) and McCann alluded to that too.

We have strong midfield options now we have Kelly in too. Lots of good options. I see Clifton playing a big part too.

[Petche]

I thought Clifton looked especially lively when he came on yesterday.

[ravenrover]

Seemed to be running in treacle, doesn't seem blessed with pace

[ncRover]

Seemed to be running in treacle, doesn't seem blessed with pace

Clifton?!

[RoversInSpain]

Close gets a ridiculously bad rep. He’s a good footballer and, certainly up until Matty Craig arrived, we were a far better team when he was in it. It’s all about balance and getting more physical players around him.

Westbrooke is a good footballer too, but he seemed to lose his confidence towards the end of the season (after the injury) and McCann alluded to that too.

We have strong midfield options now we have Kelly in too. Lots of good options. I see Clifton playing a big part too.

Can’t agree with that, we were a far better team without him, Craig was excellent of course, however no Craig yesterday and no Close, and we were just fine. I hope he’s moved on in January, he’s offered very little in the time he’s been here. He’ll do well elsewhere but not for us.

[ravenrover]

Seemed to be running in treacle, doesn't seem blessed with pace

Clifton?!

Yep

[Ryaldinhio]

Seemed to be running in treacle, doesn't seem blessed with pace

Clifton?!

Yep

I don't agree with that. Put himself about, got stuck in and didn't lack pace from my view.

[Alan Southstand]

I didn’t get that impression at all. In fact I’d go as far to say the pace in midfield got better after he came on. Broadbent is not particularly quick!

[StocksArmy]

Worried he might lack on the physical side but tonight against a very physical side he showed no signs of being too lightweight. Looks to be another really solid signing. Hope him coming off was just a bit of cramp on a heavy pitch.