Centre halves

[Barmby Rover]

Bearing in mind it is not too long before Faulkner is back from Ireland, and Richard Woods is soon fit again how do we manage to keep our CH positions sensible with such a wealth of choices? McGrath is difficult to argue against, Olowu is improved and keeps on improving, Tom is Mr. Reliable, is there enough room for 5 people in CH to keep them all occupied and happy?

[DonnyBazR0ver]

It's a hypothetical question which we don't have to deal with right now. We have three good centre halves available and we need them. We can debate the best combinations but McCann can only go on what he sees on a day to day basis, and how they perform in matches.

Whilst some question Andersons contribution, they tend to forget he's probably right up there in winning a high percentage of aerial duals. He's a player we only realise how much we miss, when he's not in the team.

McGrath has taken his opportunity very well and deserves to keep his shirt, whilst Olowu might be seen to be the unlucky one, he will still contribute from the bench and, probably be a starter in Cup games.

Things can change in football very quickly so until Wood is back fit and available, we're not in a luxurious position.

I would guess the time we have five centre halves fit and available is some way off yet and, taking potential injuries and suspensions into account, will be very limited.

[Bessie Red]

Its exactly what we need if we are serious about auto promotion. Competion for a starting position will keep everyone on their toes & they will all be aware that if the have a drop in form there is someone who is chomping at the bit to take the shirt!

[DMnumber4]

Saw a photo of Wood still in a moon boot so think he might be a way off yet.

Also wasn't it reported that Faulkner cannot play for Rovers again until 1 Jan? Something to do with his loan deal in Ireland.

[DD]

Just a thought…..go 3 at back?
I don’t normally like the idea - prefer normally to playing a set back 4…….
however,McGrath Anderson Olowu would be balanced and give extra presence in midfield

[Lesonthewest]

Just a thought…..go 3 at back?
I don’t normally like the idea - prefer normally to playing a set back 4…….
however,McGrath Anderson Olowu would be balanced and give extra presence in midfield

This. We have the players that will bring the best out of them playing this system in my opinion, we would batter teams.

[Lesonthewest]

Everyone has their opinions but I think Tom Anderson has had an excellent start to the season, with signs of returning to his best form, been MOTM for me in a couple of games

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

Everyone has their opinions but I think Tom Anderson has had an excellent start to the season, with signs of returning to his best form, been MOTM for me in a couple of games

I don't mind him, he's been more good than bad for us.  But I think Oluwu can go further and it's a big mistake not giving him more game time.  I'd go Oluwu and Mcgrath, but it's not a terrible choice to have to make.

[Silkscarf]

Just a thought…..go 3 at back?
I don’t normally like the idea - prefer normally to playing a set back 4…….
however,McGrath Anderson Olowu would be balanced and give extra presence in midfield

This. We have the players that will bring the best out of them playing this system in my opinion, we would batter teams.

We did this on Saturday (looked like it to me anyway) and one of them scored the equaliser. It was a good plan B towards end of last season too. But 4 at the back has been good as plan A.

[sedwardsdrfc]

Everyone has their opinions but I think Tom Anderson has had an excellent start to the season, with signs of returning to his best form, been MOTM for me in a couple of games

I don't mind him, he's been more good than bad for us.  But I think Oluwu can go further and it's a big mistake not giving him more game time.  I'd go Oluwu and Mcgrath, but it's not a terrible choice to have to make.

This is where I’m at. I don’t see the lads in training or feel their impact on the pitch in terms of talking etc but just on face value Olowu would be starting for me.

If we’re picking a team to defend the edge of the box then Anderson is better. But if we want to press high up and be brave Olowu can offer more

[Lesonthewest]

Everyone has their opinions but I think Tom Anderson has had an excellent start to the season, with signs of returning to his best form, been MOTM for me in a couple of games

I don't mind him, he's been more good than bad for us.  But I think Oluwu can go further and it's a big mistake not giving him more game time.  I'd go Oluwu and Mcgrath, but it's not a terrible choice to have to make.

This is where I’m at. I don’t see the lads in training or feel their impact on the pitch in terms of talking etc but just on face value Olowu would be starting for me.

If we’re picking a team to defend the edge of the box then Anderson is better. But if we want to press high up and be brave Olowu can offer more

Totally agree with that, & it's a great headache for Grant to have. There won't be many teams in this league to have the quality of these two to choose from.

[Jimmydee]

All 5 would come in handy to defend a lead, well that’s what Arsenal tried on Sunday. Paul Mayfields bus might come in handy too.

[CheeseToastie]

Faulkner will be and needs to be released at the end of the season. All well and good people wanting one of our own to stay but a year between him and McGrath and there is such a huge gap. If he was as good as some on here make out he would have played more games than he has by this point in his career and if GM held him in any regard he wouldn't be loaned to some struggling Irish team. Going forward he will just never make it at Rovers

[ravenrover]

O-oh heads down incoming!!!

[sedwardsdrfc]

Bit harsh but he could do with a injury free run of games while out on loan to put a case forward

[Plumbster]

Very harsh, I don’t think Bobby has had a chance to play in a decent Rovers side yet so it’s hard to tell how good he is. Interesting tonight against fast breaking young, and talented, strikers that Olowu looked a lot more comfortable than McGrath. The new young lad also had some good moments.

[Chris Black come back]

It looks very tough for Bobby at the moment. He has been unlucky yes due to the poor sides when he was emerging and his loans never really being a springboard. Kasper Williams is now firmly in thinking of McCann. Given number of other players either out of contract or likely to retire this summer, there could be a way back for Bobby but on paper his case isn't overwhelming.

[ncRover]

Bobby does seem to be rather injury prone

[graingrover]

Wood , Anderson, Olowu , McGrath , Faulkner ,  Williams , Flint ( Bailey) .
DRFC is the Place to be if you want to develop your career as centre half .

[Usher wide.]

McGrath has come on leaps & bounds (no pun intended) & clearly heads ‘the pack’ in front of Faulkner & Williams (although GM clearly rates Kasper & eulogised about his display the other evening). I agree with those who have said Bobby was playing in a far worse team than Jay currently is however, it’s all down to who Grant sees as his best pairing at present & I would say that is a much improved (from pre GM days) Tom Anderson & Jay McGrath. Just the way I happen to see it.

[Move DRFC]

How's Faulkner getting on in Ireland?

[Chris Black come back]

Only just coming back from month off with hamstring injury.

[selby]

  Bobby is fully fit and has been for a couple of weeks. Dundalk are in financial trouble and contracted players are being put in the shop window and all loan players are not getting much of a look in for game time, not just him.
  He is in tonight's squad but behind contracted players who have been picked despite being on  a losing run of games.
  He came on for a sent off player last week and did very well the twenty minutes he was on standing out  to be honest driving them on to try and get an equaliser, but is in the squad tonight but again behind two contracted players like the other loan players there.
  It has not been a good loan as far as game time is concerned where off field circumstances have taken priority at his and others on loan's expense, and nobody's fault at Doncaster who wanted for him to go there despite other offers from other clubs, whether that was a good choice by the club is another matter
  He has had some real bad luck, two loans he has had he has gone where the club wanted him to go despite offers from higher clubs, and had a freak injury at one and now run into off field politics all starting out as an 18year old kid who has had to grow up quickly away from home,
  Career wise he is a better player than he was, much more mature, and off the field he has turned out a fine young man willing to test himself in another country living by himself as a 19 year old who  is even more determined to do well as a footballer hopefully here but elsewhere  and prove his detractors wrong.  And I am sure he will do here or at another club, hopefully he gets the chance here, if not at least he leaves with three MOM awards out of his few games played.
  As far as fitness goes he won the squad distance race in Ireland like he does over here and finished second in the sprint, then got a slight ham string injury on a poor old 3g pitch, he is an athlete.

[Pancho Regan]

  Bobby is fully fit and has been for a couple of weeks. Dundalk are in financial trouble and contracted players are being put in the shop window and all loan players are not getting much of a look in for game time, not just him.
  He is in tonight's squad but behind contracted players who have been picked despite being on  a losing run of games.
  He came on for a sent off player last week and did very well the twenty minutes he was on standing out  to be honest driving them on to try and get an equaliser, but is in the squad tonight but again behind two contracted players like the other loan players there.
  It has not been a good loan as far as game time is concerned where off field circumstances have taken priority at his and others on loan's expense, and nobody's fault at Doncaster who wanted for him to go there despite other offers from other clubs, whether that was a good choice by the club is another matter
  He has had some real bad luck, two loans he has had he has gone where the club wanted him to go despite offers from higher clubs, and had a freak injury at one and now run into off field politics all starting out as an 18year old kid who has had to grow up quickly away from home,
  Career wise he is a better player than he was, much more mature, and off the field he has turned out a fine young man willing to test himself in another country living by himself as a 19 year old who  is even more determined to do well as a footballer hopefully here but elsewhere  and prove his detractors wrong.  And I am sure he will do here or at another club, hopefully he gets the chance here, if not at least he leaves with three MOM awards out of his few games played.
  As far as fitness goes he won the squad distance race in Ireland like he does over here and finished second in the sprint, then got a slight ham string injury on a poor old 3g pitch, he is an athlete.

So not going too well then.

[ncRover]

Selby, I wasn’t questioning his athletic prowess. That’s a different thing to his injury proneness isn’t it?

[graingrover]

Thanks Selby  , your posts on juniors and  loanees shows your depth of knowledge and commitment to Rovers, Very ta mate!

[Chris Black come back]

Looks like McGrath and Olowu on Tuesday night. If McCann wants option of three at back at some point it is either Bailey dropping back there, or Williams getting a spot on the bench.