Jay Mcgrath

[Michael Shaw]

Talking about pronouncing names, what is the correct way of saying Sbarra?   Silent "b", silent "S", "Surbarra"? I really haven't a clue.

[Nudga]

Talking about pronouncing names, what is the correct way of saying Sbarra?   Silent "b", silent "S", "Surbarra"? I really haven't a clue.

S-Bar-A

[Dutch Uncle]

I’ve only seen the televised games this season so can’t claim to have seen week in week out, but whilst McGrath has been great and has a huge amount of potential I’d say that Olowu has been exceptional and been the better performer of the two for me.

I think with McGrath there are potentially a couple of biases at play - firstly he’s very young so the potential to develop further and play a league or two (or three?) above where we are is easy to imagine. Secondly, he’s one of our own and because of the romantic element of his childhood connections, his dad etc the fans will inevitably be more forgiving and gloss over any shortcomings (not that there have been many of them). Conversely with Olowu there could be a different type of bias at play based on the fact that he’s played a lot/been around the squad when we’ve been absolutely terrible and he struggles to shake off that association.

It’s great to be talking about which centre back is playing better, though, as opposed to how poor the defence is! I think they’re playing very well together and would like to see them continue even when Anderson and/or Wood are back.

With all due respect, if you’ve only ever seen televised games you can’t really appreciate the two’s all round games, you only see them when they’re on the ball or defending set pieces.

The positions they take up off the ball & the way they marshall players around them & cover for other defenders moving forward are not seen by tv viewing.

Jay has far more to his game in that respect plus (which of course you will see on tv) he’s far more comfortable on the ball than Joe as you can see when he carries the ball into & beyond the midfield leaving opposing players in his wake with a burst of pace & his natural strength.

However Joe has come on leaps & bounds this season. Perhaps we have a young pairing here who can go on to be the envy of many a side in the division above next season & the division above that the season after.

A very good post and reply

However I do think the last comment was written slightly under the influence of optimism

[andyst79]

It's the hope that kills us Dutch! In fairness though the nucleus of the squad is a good age , think our midfield needs a bit of work but if we improve season upon season who knows. Enda Stevens is a player who went on to bigger & better things quite surprisingly, George Friend is another who wasn't rated by a lot of our supporters & Brian Deane is another that springs to mind, you just never know sometimes.

[Sprotyrover]

He’s imperious at times.

Premier bound imo

With us I hope

[5minstogo]

I honestly don’t get how much praise he gets in relation to Olowu. Perhaps I’m the only one that thinks it but Joe is head and shoulders above him as a defender.

Joe has really improved his weaknesses  but Jay is a few years behind him. Future is bright with our defensive options.

add Maxwell to that

Absolutely, Nixon too. Williams and Flint breaking through. Don't know where this all leaves Faulkner, this loan spell has been a disaster from what I can work out.

Anyone have any insight into what’s going on with Faulkner? He was injured but then back on the bench for a few games, then not I’m the squad last time out. How long is his contract? He’s probably 6th choice CB now, possibly even 7th as Bailey would possibly play ahead of him.

Dundalk have had a lot of issues. Bobby played well in his first few matches then had a few games out and like you say not in squad after that. Seems the ownership problems that nearly resulted in them going out of business has adversely affected the chances for their loan players

[Michael Shaw]

Talking about pronouncing names, what is the correct way of saying Sbarra?   Silent "b", silent "S", "Surbarra"? I really haven't a clue.

S-Bar-A

Thanks, Nudga.

[danumdon]

The best thing you can say about the pairing of McGrath and Olowu is that they are complementing each other beautifully.
As in any line of work competition will drive you on and it can be seen in these two, McGrath has come on massively since his first appearance, in a relatively short period of time. Olowu has been with us for a few years now and is finally starting to show some of the potential we all thought we saw him him right from the off.

To have a partnership of two players like these is beneficial for us, one has pace to cover for any shortfalls in positioning the other has strength and a desire to win every confrontation , it works well, the left and right pegs also comes in really useful.

If we maintain our current trajectory then they as well as the club will do very well out of this.

[The Beast]

The best thing you can say about the pairing of McGrath and Olowu is that they are complementing each other beautifully.
As in any line of work competition will drive you on and it can be seen in these two, McGrath has come on massively since his first appearance, in a relatively short period of time. Olowu has been with us for a few years now and is finally starting to show some of the potential we all thought we saw him him right from the off.

To have a partnership of two players like these is beneficial for us, one has pace to cover for any shortfalls in positioning the other has strength and a desire to win every confrontation , it works well, the left and right pegs also comes in really useful.

If we maintain our current trajectory then they as well as the club will do very well out of this.

Agree we’ve got two good young centre halves,   three with Bailey when required and two experienced centre halves to come back, it bodes well! A year ago we were clutching at straws.

[Drover]

Is Jay's name pronounced McGraar or as its spelled, McGRATH?
I've heard it pronounced both ways ont radio and club videos.

When he played, I thought his dad’s name was pronounced to rhyme with bath.

But I hear McGraar more now for this lad. Maybe it’s because it rhymes with ‘Ooh aah’.

Maybe it's the Irish accent that makes it pronounce Mcgraar?

[drfchound]

I have heard both variations of Jays surname over the years but to me it is McGrath.

[ravenrover]

Is Joe out of contract next year?

[Nudga]

I have heard both variations of Jays surname over the years but to me it is McGrath.

So which one is it then Hound, McGrath or McGrath?

[Ronnie Dovers]

Is Joe out of contract next year?

I think he is, and if so offering him a 3 year contract should be our next piece of business.

He looks like the complete CB now and has done pretty much all year. He's now our best player in that position in my opinion.

[Usher wide.]

Is Joe out of contract next year?

I think he is, and if so offering him a 3 year contract should be our next piece of business.

He looks like the complete CB now and has done pretty much all year. He's now our best player in that position in my opinion.

Easy tiger.

Two years with an option of a third would be a sound financial option. Let’s offer that to Joe & see how he progresses in Lg1 next season. Looking further ahead another promotion on the back of this one (please don’t tell me there are any doubters!) Grant would be looking more closely at who to retain.

[drfchound]

I have heard both variations of Jays surname over the years but to me it is McGrath.

So which one is it then Hound, McGrath or McGrath?

Earlier in the thread people were asking if it is McGraaar or McGrath.
If I thought it was the former I would have written McGraaar.
Simples really.

[Nudga]

I have heard both variations of Jays surname over the years but to me it is McGrath.

So which one is it then Hound, McGrath or McGrath?

Earlier in the thread people were asking if it is McGraaar or McGrath.
If I thought it was the former I would have written McGraaar.
Simples really.

I know mate, maybe I should have put a smiley winky face.

[drfchound]

I have heard both variations of Jays surname over the years but to me it is McGrath.

So which one is it then Hound, McGrath or McGrath?

Earlier in the thread people were asking if it is McGraaar or McGrath.
If I thought it was the former I would have written McGraaar.
Simples really.

I know mate, maybe I should have put a smiley winky face.

Ha, I laughed at your response.
Maybe I should have made my first post a bit clearer. 

[ncRover]

I’ve only seen the televised games this season so can’t claim to have seen week in week out, but whilst McGrath has been great and has a huge amount of potential I’d say that Olowu has been exceptional and been the better performer of the two for me.

I think with McGrath there are potentially a couple of biases at play - firstly he’s very young so the potential to develop further and play a league or two (or three?) above where we are is easy to imagine. Secondly, he’s one of our own and because of the romantic element of his childhood connections, his dad etc the fans will inevitably be more forgiving and gloss over any shortcomings (not that there have been many of them). Conversely with Olowu there could be a different type of bias at play based on the fact that he’s played a lot/been around the squad when we’ve been absolutely terrible and he struggles to shake off that association.

It’s great to be talking about which centre back is playing better, though, as opposed to how poor the defence is! I think they’re playing very well together and would like to see them continue even when Anderson and/or Wood are back.

I think another bias when it comes to those rating McGrath over Olowu is the fact that Jay loves a ‘proper tackle’, because we all do don’t we? He has made a few mistakes but he is still developing. If they had been Joe they’d have got more attention.

Joe’s contribution is a bit more subtle. His pace means that he often doesn’t even need to make a tackle as he is there first. That also allows the entire team to push higher up the pitch which enables us to be a lot more dominant without worrying about a simple ball over the top of our defence (see Harrogate this season).

McGrath has come on leaps and bounds this season. He is looking like a great player and also a leader at such a young age - something we need with Wood now looking like he won’t get back in the team. Jay could save us a lot of money given that he’s left-footed, as these centre backs are hard to come by.

Olowu’s improvement came last season. He should never have been out of the team again after that imperious Wrexham performance. I’ve criticised him in the past for having a lack of aggression and being easily bullied in the air but he has added that to his locker as well now. He’s a great guy as well.

I should also note that Sharman-Lowe’s reading of the game and aptitude coming off his line to sweep up really helps Joe and Jay and the team as a whole.

[drfchound]

Jay does himself a big favour as well by coming to the south stand before home games and tapping the badge on his shirt with his hand.

[Lincoln Rover]

Great spot that hound, yes he does.
Also at away games as he’s the first to acknowledge the fans when coming out of the tunnel. A lad with a bright future

[graingrover]

One of our two CHs uses his neck muscles when heading the other keeps them taut  adding no extra power nor reach ..watch them closely .

[Ronnie Dovers]

Is Joe out of contract next year?

I think he is, and if so offering him a 3 year contract should be our next piece of business.

He looks like the complete CB now and has done pretty much all year. He's now our best player in that position in my opinion.

Easy tiger.

Two years with an option of a third would be a sound financial option. Let’s offer that to Joe & see how he progresses in Lg1 next season. Looking further ahead another promotion on the back of this one (please don’t tell me there are any doubters!) Grant would be looking more closely at who to retain.

Easy tiger, we aren't promoted just yet...

[Chris Black come back]

Is Joe out of contract next year?

Anderson, Olowu, Wood and Faulkner are all out of contract this coming summer.

[ForsolongaRover]

Is Jay's name pronounced McGraar or as its spelled, McGRATH?
I've heard it pronounced both ways ont radio and club videos.

When he played, I thought his dad’s name was pronounced to rhyme with bath.

But I hear McGraar more now for this lad. Maybe it’s because it rhymes with ‘Ooh aah’.

Maybe it's the Irish accent that makes it pronounce Mcgraar?

My theory is as follows: McGrath is a fairly common Irish surname. Irish accents can convert “three” to “tree”, so at the end of a word the final “th” is reduced to “t”. Spoken softly with an Irish accent it becomes lost.

[drfchound]

Is Jay's name pronounced McGraar or as its spelled, McGRATH?
I've heard it pronounced both ways ont radio and club videos.

When he played, I thought his dad’s name was pronounced to rhyme with bath.

But I hear McGraar more now for this lad. Maybe it’s because it rhymes with ‘Ooh aah’.

Maybe it's the Irish accent that makes it pronounce Mcgraar?

My theory is as follows: McGrath is a fairly common Irish surname. Irish accents can convert “three” to “tree”, so at the end of a word the final “th” is reduced to “t”. Spoken softly with an Irish accent it becomes lost.

THAT is a very good theory and probably the explanation.

[Dutch Uncle]

Is Jay's name pronounced McGraar or as its spelled, McGRATH?
I've heard it pronounced both ways ont radio and club videos.

When he played, I thought his dad’s name was pronounced to rhyme with bath.

But I hear McGraar more now for this lad. Maybe it’s because it rhymes with ‘Ooh aah’.

Maybe it's the Irish accent that makes it pronounce Mcgraar?

My theory is as follows: McGrath is a fairly common Irish surname. Irish accents can convert “three” to “tree”, so at the end of a word the final “th” is reduced to “t”. Spoken softly with an Irish accent it becomes lost.

THAT is a very good theory and probably the explanation.

Quite possibly, especially thinking about the expression over here of 'there's ma Da' for 'there's my Dad'

[karldew]

Is Joe out of contract next year?

Anderson, Olowu, Wood and Faulkner are all out of contract this coming summer.

I thought Olowu signed an extension last season?

[tommy toes]

The only positive from tonight.
What a player this lad is.
He’s got everything you want from a centre back.
Some of his tackling and distribution was awesome.

[dickos1]

He looked a few levels above olowu tonight