Jay McGrath

[johnny rovers]

Just got back. A brilliant trip out with mates to see Rovers play at that famous ground. Every player put in a brilliant shift. I thought we were excellent at the back. Special mention goes to Jay McGrath. Outstanding tonight and Olowu excellent also. They have a very good understanding and will both be challenging for more appearances. Brilliant support from the fans again tonight. A plethora of positives to take from the season so far !  RTID

[The Beast]

I thought both centre halves were brilliant tonight. Lawlor made some funny decisions coming out of his goal or not but couldn’t have done much about the goals. Was gobsmacked to hear one of our fans slagging Olowu off, really don’t get some of our fans.

[Padge_DRFC]

Those 2 were excellent. McCann made a statement after Wood got injured and those 2 have really backed his comments up. Oluwu just seems maturer now more than ever. Well done both. Either were MOM by far

[The Beast]

I also thought they were both excellent on the ball first half, which helped us dominate possession. In the second half, class showed and Everton just had too much as we tired, a valiant performance by every player, stick your chest out lads!

[GazLaz]

Both centre halves were ok generally aside from getting roasted a couple of times, which is always likely to happen against top level players.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

He's undoubtedly given himself a great shout at making the eleven in the league now.  Very good last night as was Oluwu.  But as Gazlaz says they just got beat a couple of times by players they won't play most weeks.  On the whole they battled very well.

[pib]

He did pretty well. Not seen him play many times so haven't made any pre-judgements either way. On the evidence of last night though, he's better on the ball than Wood, and defended as well as you could hope for. I'd think he'd be in contention for a start in the league if he can play like that.

[Lifelong supporter]

 McGrath played well...Olowu didn't!

[ravenrover]

I do wonder if sone of our supporters have ever played or been involved in football at any level
Many posts saying Olowu or McGrath MoM

[danumdon]

 McGrath played well...Olowu didn't!

Thats your personal view, and i respect it.

Your personal view stinks!

[Butchers Red]

Both Jay and Joe can be very proud of their performances yesterday - and when you factor in Jay's, with the greatest of respects modest football journey from being a young lad in contrast to Joe who enjoyed many years at Arsenal's academy there is little to choose between them.

I predict both will be championship players within 5 years and I hope with the Rovers.

Very well done lads

[pib]

Joe was good first half. Got done a few times second half, especially for the second and third goals, but we're talking about opponents that are several levels above here. No shame in it really.

[RoversInSpain]

What stood out most for me with McGrath was that he didn’t seem phased by it all. No panic, didn’t look afraid, and really got stuck in, a couple of his tackles were absolutely class.
Joseph, did ok, but to me he looks in panic mode sometimes and seems to freeze, and either ball watch or player watch.
I’d like to see McGrath have more first team time, I think he’s better than Joe. Joe’s a good cover player to me.
But well done both yesterday they had their work cut out.

[ncRover]

 McGrath played well...Olowu didn't!

Oh because Olowu’s tackles didn’t have any nice big obvious follow-throughs for you?

Olowu won plenty of duels against a big, quick physical specimen. I have to assume you’ve just decided you don’t like him and that your opinion is just confirmation bias from that.

[Filo]

 McGrath played well...Olowu didn't!

You are talking rubbish!!!

[ncRover]

 McGrath played well...Olowu didn't!

You are talking rubbish!!!

I get the feeling that if you swapped the performances of the two players around that the poster would still say the same thing.

[RoversInSpain]

 McGrath played well...Olowu didn't!

Oh because Olowu’s tackles didn’t have any nice big obvious follow-throughs for you?

Olowu won plenty of duels against a big, quick physical specimen. I have to assume you’ve just decided you don’t like him and that your opinion is just confirmation bias from that.

I like Joe a lot, comes across as a good lad with enthusiasm.
I just think McGrath is a better option and will improve a lot more than Joe. Joe does good stuff however watching him as I’ve seen pretty much every game in the last 4 years he still prone to really poor errors. He doesn’t seem to have improved significantly enough over that time, which I guess is why he’s probably a third choice at CM and is never and has never been a ‘first on the team sheet’ player
Just my take on it.

[Alan Southstand]

McGrath was my motm, easily. Olowu ok but has always got a mistake in him. The 2 full backs, also, competed well and I thought the referee should have awarded a foul when Nixon got clattered and, ultimately injured (and that, too, was ignored by the ref).

Lawlor let the side down a bit - not even moving for the first goal and then beaten at his near post for the second (does he not like diving to his right?)

[ravenrover]

Come on Alan Lawlor probably didn't see it till late, through a crowd of players and a good strike as well, 2nd yes he maybe should have done better

[ncRover]

The stats show that last night Olowu had more clearances, blocks, recoveries, higher duel % win, and was dribbled past less than McGrath.

But one shaky moment with Lawlor’s communication that led to nothing and he’s had a worse game and is a worse option. OK.

[GazLaz]

JM had a couple of stand out actions that caught the eye and played ok but Olowu was better in every department.

[sedwardsdrfc]

The stats show that last night Olowu had more clearances, blocks, recoveries, higher duel % win, and was dribbled past less than McGrath.

But one shaky moment with Lawlor’s communication that led to nothing and he’s had a worse game and is a worse option. OK.

Not disagreeing because I thought he had a really good game and should be starting every week but the stats won’t show how a stupid moment like that can change the momentum in the game and lead to further chances for the opposition.

Would be great if he could lose that tendency but I’m not sure he’d be in L2 if he never made mistakes.

[ncRover]

The stats show that last night Olowu had more clearances, blocks, recoveries, higher duel % win, and was dribbled past less than McGrath.

But one shaky moment with Lawlor’s communication that led to nothing and he’s had a worse game and is a worse option. OK.

Not disagreeing because I thought he had a really good game and should be starting every week but the stats won’t show how a stupid moment like that can change the momentum in the game and lead to further chances for the opposition.

Would be great if he could lose that tendency but I’m not sure he’d be in L2 if he never made mistakes.

He got us out of far more trouble than he caused v Everton.
But one slight bit of clumsiness is far more obvious to spectators than him regularly using his pace to stop problems before they even start. So he gets unfairly maligned.

[Campsall rover]

Olowu m.o.m for me.
McGrath was also excellent but Joe was outstanding & if others see it differently then it’s opinions.

[RoverinLincs]

I don’t see any issues with Olowus “defending “ it’s his distribution once he’s won the battle that he needs to work on. Wayward headers in wrong directions, and chipping or under hitting passes into spaces that get quickly intercepted, meaning he’s defending an error, again.

[Nudga]

I don’t see any issues with Olowus “defending “ it’s his distribution once he’s won the battle that he needs to work on. Wayward headers in wrong directions, and chipping or under hitting passes into spaces that get quickly intercepted, meaning he’s defending an error, again.

Andersons distribution is 10 times worse than Joe's. 

[Spilsby Red]

Joe has great vision and can knock a ball long distance and find his man. I would stick with these two. Looked great at Everton.
The future of our central defence

[ncRover]

I don’t see any issues with Olowus “defending “ it’s his distribution once he’s won the battle that he needs to work on. Wayward headers in wrong directions, and chipping or under hitting passes into spaces that get quickly intercepted, meaning he’s defending an error, again.

Everton game accurate passes:

Olowu 84%
McGrath 67%

Yet you criticise Olowu’s performance for his distribution and praise McGrath’s.

(I think they both played well I’m just calling out double standards)

[Chris Black come back]

Some of passing from Anderson during the run at end of last season was superb.

[Bessie Red]

Some of passing from Anderson during the run at end of last season was superb.

The Burnley Maldini!!