Jay McGrath

[selby]

  Knocking the ball about 10yards is not as important as how good they defend in their own penalty area, in the air Anderson has it over the other two Olowu and McGrath, Olowu has the pace, Wood is the best defender, Faulkner with Olowu the most ability all round.
  All look capable of playing at this level to me if the mid field do their job.
  We played well at Everton but their goals came when they ran past the mid field and squared our defenders up on the edge of the box, that was class we don't come up against every week, but have come up against and not handled it before.
  In the good run last season we used the tactical foul and learned to challenge during the build up against us just in our own half of the field in the high press and counter quickly using Faal and Adelakun running from deep.
  It is too early to judge our best pairing, I would go Anderson and Olowu this weekend, more experience, better in the air, and Mcgrath doesn't look to have a lot of pace like Anderson to me, Tuesday v Huddersfield for McGrath for me but Grants call he is the boss.

[karldew]

  Knocking the ball about 10yards is not as important as how good they defend in their own penalty area, in the air Anderson has it over the other two Olowu and McGrath, Olowu has the pace, Wood is the best defender, Faulkner with Olowu the most ability all round.
  All look capable of playing at this level to me if the mid field do their job.
  We played well at Everton but their goals came when they ran past the mid field and squared our defenders up on the edge of the box, that was class we don't come up against every week, but have come up against and not handled it before.
  In the good run last season we used the tactical foul and learned to challenge during the build up against us just in our own half of the field in the high press and counter quickly using Faal and Adelakun running from deep.
  It is too early to judge our best pairing, I would go Anderson and Olowu this weekend, more experience, better in the air, and Mcgrath doesn't look to have a lot of pace like Anderson to me, Tuesday v Huddersfield for McGrath for me but Grants call he is the boss.

Sorry but Faulkner is no where near Olowu, possibly one day, but they don’t compare currently.

[GazLaz]

McGrath isn’t in the same league as Anderson. Considering dropping him for Jay is absurd.

[scawsby steve]

  Knocking the ball about 10yards is not as important as how good they defend in their own penalty area, in the air Anderson has it over the other two Olowu and McGrath, Olowu has the pace, Wood is the best defender, Faulkner with Olowu the most ability all round.
  All look capable of playing at this level to me if the mid field do their job.
  We played well at Everton but their goals came when they ran past the mid field and squared our defenders up on the edge of the box, that was class we don't come up against every week, but have come up against and not handled it before.
  In the good run last season we used the tactical foul and learned to challenge during the build up against us just in our own half of the field in the high press and counter quickly using Faal and Adelakun running from deep.
  It is too early to judge our best pairing, I would go Anderson and Olowu this weekend, more experience, better in the air, and Mcgrath doesn't look to have a lot of pace like Anderson to me, Tuesday v Huddersfield for McGrath for me but Grants call he is the boss.

Did Faal get recalled from Walsall to play alongside Haks, Brian?

LOL.

[i_ateallthepies]

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

The defence splitting pass for Tommy Rowe's one-touch cross for THAT Biggins header!

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I think McGrath has the potential to become a cultured centre half but is still learning the mucky stuff, the dark arts etc. Anderson has that experience and will give 100% every time no matter what. He probably doesn't care that much what he looks like in the mirror. He's been doing it for many a season now and he'll give the same no matter who He's marking or where He's playing, big stadium or small stadium.

Did someone mention Joe Wright? Well I think Jay's in that category where he can read a game rather than just rely on brute force. He likes a good long crossfield pass so he does have an eye for the pass.

He'll develop defensively with games and let's hope he can remain relatively injury free, unlike Joe who suffered badly with long spells out.

[Butchers Red]

Outstanding again today, put his body ( and head ) on the line, held his position well and could / should have capped it off with our first headed goal from a corner since God was a lad !

[RoversInSpain]

Spot on BR…. Him and Molly stood out today I thought. And Sterry can defend, very good today…

[GazLaz]

Heart in mouth stuff when he nearly scored an OG in the last minute!

[RoversInSpain]

Sure was.
But being good and lucky is a decent recipe

[ScillyRover]

Outstanding again today, put his body ( and head ) on the line, held his position well and could / should have capped it off with our first headed goal from a corner since God was a lad !

Was trying to think when was the last time one of our centre backs scored from a free kick or corner. I can’t remember. MacGrath has it in him to do so.

[dickos1]

Passing accuracy must be one of the daftest stats going. Anyone can stand in the middle of the defence and pass the ball 5 yards sidewards and backwards

[drfchound]

Heart in mouth stuff when he nearly scored an OG in the last minute!

Come on Gaz, give him some credit.
It was a well placed back pass header.
World class.

[ravenrover]

Outstanding again today, put his body ( and head ) on the line, held his position well and could / should have capped it off with our first headed goal from a corner since God was a lad !

Was trying to think when was the last time one of our centre backs scored from a free kick or corner. I can’t remember. MacGrath has it in him to do so.

Didn't Faulkener? I'm sure Selby will be along if he did

[RobbieDRFC]

Outstanding again today, put his body ( and head ) on the line, held his position well and could / should have capped it off with our first headed goal from a corner since God was a lad !

Was trying to think when was the last time one of our centre backs scored from a free kick or corner. I can’t remember. MacGrath has it in him to do so.

Anderson away at Colchester end of last season.

[RoversInSpain]

Passing accuracy must be one of the daftest stats going. Anyone can stand in the middle of the defence and pass the ball 5 yards sidewards and backwards

Like possession stats in Div 4. Ridiculous. All our 3 goals came from quick thinking, get it up the pitch at speed where Div4 defenders can’t cope. Minimal possession for all 3.
But sure if you want to pass it sideways,backwards,sideways,forwards, backwards fine, but guess what even Div4 defenders can remember Gaffers instructions to keep shape and arrange and organise themselves. Pointless possession. Same as you say Dickos, there’s passes and there’s passes.

[rich1471]

McGrath looks like he has played football on the continent very composed and relaxed wins his headers and plays the ball out from the back well in a few years he will be some player

[Campsall rover]

Think McGrath has the potential to play at a much higher level than League 2.
Think he is only 20 that is very young for a CB
Give him 2/3 years and he will be an outstanding player. He has got all the attributes required.

[selby]

  Anderson and McGrath were the cornerstone of our game for the first 80 or so minutes, not playing a miss, then Anderson has a brain seizure, and McGrath got lucky not to score what would have been an unfortunate own goal after playing so well.
 A good win in a rather tetchy game with a lot going on off the ball, What's not to like?

[StocksArmy]

I don’t want to jinx him but he has been superb. Not only played well but looked a level above where we are. He is looking like the full package and admittedly I thought he wasn’t up to it 2 games ago.

[roversdude]

Coached well from a very early age by his dad

[Avsuptem]

Not sure he was all that good with his noggin. Missed a few attempts

[Bessie Red]

  Anderson and McGrath were the cornerstone of our game for the first 80 or so minutes, not playing a miss, then Anderson has a brain seizure, and McGrath got lucky not to score what would have been an unfortunate own goal after playing so well.
 A good win in a rather tetchy game with a lot going on off the ball, What's not to like?

Think youll find that the ref had the brain seizure. Never a pen!

[Lincoln Rover]

I heard GMc say in his post match interview that in the pre season they’d been advised, that scenario wouldn’t be a pen. I’ll say I thought it was a clear pen. Didn’t do my blood pressure any good & that almost own goal had Mrs LR on standby with the defibrillator. Thank you Lord

[Butchers Red]

Coached well from a very early age by his dad

And also a very well educated lad............

[RoversInSpain]

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.

McGrath IS the better option…

[RobTheRover]

Jay is left footed. He's the better left side option.  Up to Tom and Joe for the right side I reckon.