Faulkner & Jones.

[Usher wide.]

What now for Bobby & Louis as they come back into ‘the fold’?

Both have had ‘unsuccessful’ loans at Waterford (Louis) & Dundalk (Bobby). Bobby was injured for much of his time but when he was ‘fit’ he found himself on the bench much of the time.

Likewise with Louis, he played six games & didn’t keep a clean sheet in any of them & making a ‘rick’ in one of them which saw him relegated to the bench.

Grant has given them both a couple of weeks off to be with their families given the length of time they’ve been away, before they join up with the squad then Grant says (ominously?) we’ll see here we are in January.

I think Louis is ‘a Marosi’ & will be let go. Bobby, I don’t know how highly Grant rates him given the way McGrath has come on leaps & bounds but I hope he feels there is a place for him as personally I feel he has a real future in the professional game.

But what do I know.

[dknward2]

Sad to say but it's time to move on from Jones. As for Bobby maybe one last chance get him a conference team on loan, but can we really see either of them playing in league one with us

[selby]

  Bobby won MOM's a number of times in division one voted by our supporters and scored goals at Hartlepool and Walsall in a poor team at 17 yrs old playing for us,and was our only shining light at the time and being watched by much bigger clubs, were you asleep or not a supporter when we were crap.

[glosterred]

  Bobby won MOM's a number of times in division one voted by our supporters and scored goals at Hartlepool and Walsall in a poor team at 17 yrs old playing for us,and was our only shining light at the time and being watched by much bigger clubs, were you asleep or not a supporter when we were crap.

But over the last couple of seasons has he improved and would you put him ahead of McGarth, Olowu, Anderson or Woods? I wouldn’t, I think he’s gone backwards, not helped by injuries of course.

As for Jones sadly I think we’ve seen the last of him in a Rovers shirt. Happy to be proved wrong on both.



COYR

[selby]

  Yes McGrath and Olowu are a the starters and he will have to be ready if he gets a chance and prove himself again, he is up for it.
 A lot of the game is having a chance and the luck, unfortunately your luck is someone else's bad luck , it is the nature of the game.in many cases. If he get's a chance he will have to take it, whether here or somewhere else.
  He will prove himself no problem,

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I'm sure it's a difficult time for both of them. McCann will be aware of that and I'm sure he'll be honest and fair with them. Probably the best hope is to go out on loan again for the remainder of the season but it looks like last chance saloon really.

[Draytonian III]

I’m sorry I just don’t see Bobby making it at Rovers, has to many injuries, the Conference or Conference North is his best bet, to prove himself and his fitness

[5minstogo]

As sad as it is I think both of them are done at Rovers

[Ryaldinhio]

I absolutely loved Bobby when I saw him last couple yrs. A local lad who is all heart, a proper defender, not a footballer, a defender. Would I have that in the squad???? Yes I would.

Louis Jones, he hasn't been as good as TLT and TSL, BUT, would I have him as a No2 to a keeper who plays most games, as a local lad, 100% Yes I would.

So for me, I would like to see them back in the squad.

[Spud]

It's a shame, we'd all love em to do well for us, Louis just hasn't kicked on enough for this level & Bobby is down the pecking order now, love his style though.

[number19]

Jones has been on borrowed time for a while for me, the start of last season was his chance really and he didn't take it.

I'd keep Faulkner around, did show a lot of promise. If we end up in League One next year surely we can't expect/don't want to see Anderson or Wood playing.
So that leaves us with only McGrath and Olowu. Think McGrath has showed enough, Olowu is slowly changing my opinion but still not convinced there isn't a rick in him likely to happen at any time.

[MachoMadness]

Not sure Bobby will have much of a role this season, however next year, when I believe both Anderson and Wood are out of contract, he might have a chance to prove himself again. That's if McCann sees a future for him here.

[Barmby Rover]

Both gone in the New Year, we have too much competition for Faulkner, and Jones just isn't good enough (mind you, neither is Lawlor)

[Plumbster]

I hope Bobby is given a chance to play with better players around him.  He did show he could also be a goal threat which would be very welcome.

[ForsolongaRover]

There is such a contrast between how the manager handled Faulkner compared with Jones. Jones has been given numerous chances to establish himself and seems to be specially favoured when there was no evidence beyond optimistic hope to justify it.

Jones let in lots of goals which he made look as though he had no chance of saving. So often he just watched the ball go past him without making any attempt to try to get to it. I mention this, not for the first time, merely to contrast it with Faulkner’s competitive courageous way of playing the game - 100% commitment all the time. I know what type of player I prefer.

Selby has made a close study of the man’s attributes and he is clearly the type of player who fans prefer and who is likely to improve as time goes on. Look how Olowu seems to have overcome his excessive exuberance.

And Faulkner must be 3 years younger than Jones.

[Spud]

I just get the impression Grant doesn't rate Bobby that much, I could be completely wrong of course.

[CheeseToastie]

What is the obsession with Faulkner? Is it just cause he's home grown? People need to get the blinkers off and realise he's unfortunately not going to make it here. Why waste the clubs money and his time and possible development?

[andy didcott]

Looking like both will be gone soon.

[Usher wide.]

Have to disagree with the last two posts.

Bobby Faulkner is 20 years old let’s remember.

If we gain promotion this year there won’t be a place for either Wood or Anderson, their best years are behind them & they would be ‘found out’ playing in a higher division with another year ‘on their bodies’.

So, we’d be left with Joe Olowu & Jay McGrath as the only two centre backs who will have played regularly for a season in the first team.

Grant couldn’t foresee the injury to Wood & the long suspension for Anderson so at the time he let Faulkner go out on loan he had 4 centre backs with the ‘back up’ to play Bailey there in an ‘emergency’.

Bobby is now back at the club after a loan period at Dundalk where he became a crowd favourite with his ‘never give an inch’ attitude winning him a MOTM award in his fourth game at the club. He gave an interview on the local Irish TV station after receiving his award & mentions that at one time he considered joining the army as his grandad had also served in the forces. Now Bobby was only nineteen at the time & so ‘the troubles’ in Ireland would not have crossed his mind, why would they?

Bobby, along with all the other loanees who had been brought to the club from England & Scotland never played another first team game for Dundalk. Political reasons? We’ll never know.

For whatever reason, when Bobby has played for the Rovers first team he has NEVER let himself or the side down indeed, he scored his first senior goal during his run in the side as he turned nineteen years old just weeks before.

So when you say “…he’s unfortunately not going to make it here.” CheeseToastie, what are you basing that statement on?

And shall we give time for the ‘dust to settle’ Spud given Bobby has only returned from Ireland less than a week ago before we start voicing impressions on whether or not Grant rates him or not?

I just feel such negativity is unwarranted & unhelpful to a young player who I personally feel will go on to play at a high level. I sincerely hope it’s with his hometown club.

[The Red Baron]

Surely the pair were sent to League of Ireland clubs to aid their development? I think it will be difficult for Louis Jones to get into the first-team squad barring injuries, so a loan to a non-League club in January could be the best for all concerned. I think Bobby Faulkner should stay with Rovers for a while, and if he's not getting a look-in, then he should go out on loan again to a non-League club in February or March.

[Spud]

Have to disagree with the last two posts.

Bobby Faulkner is 20 years old let’s remember.

If we gain promotion this year there won’t be a place for either Wood or Anderson, their best years are behind them & they would be ‘found out’ playing in a higher division with another year ‘on their bodies’.

So, we’d be left with Joe Olowu & Jay McGrath as the only two centre backs who will have played regularly for a season in the first team.

Grant couldn’t foresee the injury to Wood & the long suspension for Anderson so at the time he let Faulkner go out on loan he had 4 centre backs with the ‘back up’ to play Bailey there in an ‘emergency’.

Bobby is now back at the club after a loan period at Dundalk where he became a crowd favourite with his ‘never give an inch’ attitude winning him a MOTM award in his fourth game at the club. He gave an interview on the local Irish TV station after receiving his award & mentions that at one time he considered joining the army as his grandad had also served in the forces. Now Bobby was only nineteen at the time & so ‘the troubles’ in Ireland would not have crossed his mind, why would they?

Bobby, along with all the other loanees who had been brought to the club from England & Scotland never played another first team game for Dundalk. Political reasons? We’ll never know.

For whatever reason, when Bobby has played for the Rovers first team he has NEVER let himself or the side down indeed, he scored his first senior goal during his run in the side as he turned nineteen years old just weeks before.

So when you say “…he’s unfortunately not going to make it here.” CheeseToastie, what are you basing that statement on?

And shall we give time for the ‘dust to settle’ Spud given Bobby has only returned from Ireland less than a week ago before we start voicing impressions on whether or not Grant rates him or not?

I just feel such negativity is unwarranted & unhelpful to a young player who I personally feel will go on to play at a high level. I sincerely hope it’s with his hometown club.

Wasn't Bobby in & around the first team when Grant came back, how long ago? & since, where's Bobby been? That's all I'm basing my hunch on, but yes, let's let the dust settle again after his latest loan out, don't rush the dust on my account.

As I've said I'm a fan of Bobby's, I hope it works for him here, but also, I don't understand folk thinking cos Woody & Tom are getting on that we can't or won't go out & sign other cb's in the future.

[Thorney]

I like bobby and his never back down attitude and hope he does go on to have a future in the game at a good level,
But at 20yr old you would expect him to have been within the managers plans for the squad this season if he is as talented and highly thought of as people say he is.
After all this is league 2 not championship.

Grants comments dont fill me with much confidence that he will be brought back into the fold.
Reckon he is already planning another stint away.

Plus he hasnt come back from any of his previous loans any better than prior to going

[Draytonian III]

Bobby Faulkner has had 14 minutes on pitch in the league in the last 4 months, I just think he’s too injury prone. If wasn’t a local lad we wouldn’t be so tolerant

[Usher wide.]

Bobby Faulkner has had 14 minutes on pitch in the league in the last 4 months, I just think he’s too injury prone. If wasn’t a local lad we wouldn’t be so tolerant

“Mr Jeffrey. I’m sorry but we’re going to have to let your lad go. Injuries, game time, can’t afford to…..”.

Not comparing players (obviously) just making a point.

[Draytonian III]

Out of the 10 league matches apart from the 14 minute sub appearance Bobby was on the bench 4 times, but didn’t get on. I don’t have anything against the lad but I’m afraid he’s wasted his time there and perhaps would have been better served if he had gone to a different club in that league

[Ye-Aul-Tavern]

Out of the 10 league matches apart from the 14 minute sub appearance Bobby was on the bench 4 times, but didn’t get on. I don’t have anything against the lad but I’m afraid he’s wasted his time there and perhaps would have been better served if he had gone to a different club in that league

Dundalk were by far the worst team in the league and finished bottom and Faulkner was in and out of the team. What makes you think he would have done better at another league of Ireland club? He was injured for a period too but he's not going to play anywhere if he's injured.

As for Jones, I was at the Shamrock Rovers v Waterford game last Friday and was hoping I might get a look at Louis. He was thrown in when he began his loan spell at Waterford but being honest, Sam Sargeant is a much better keeper meaning Jones was dropped to the bench.

[mushRTID]

Would not be surprised to see one of them go to Boston United now Martin Woods is interim manager.

[graingrover]

It would be silly to turn our back on Faulkner at the age of 20 and with the natural,talent and attitude he displays when given a game

[Pancho Regan]

  Bobby won MOM's a number of times in division one voted by our supporters and scored goals at Hartlepool and Walsall in a poor team at 17 yrs old playing for us,and was our only shining light at the time and being watched by much bigger clubs, were you asleep or not a supporter when we were crap.

Your support for Bobby is admirable and I would love him to succeed but his development is not going as well as we hoped is it?
I don’t think you have to resort to insults.

[German Rover]

As much as I love watching young players come through the youth team and want to see them do well, I can't help but think Bobby Faulkner's time is coming to an end with us.

Same with Louis Jones, they're both so far down the pecking order and the fact they're from Doncaster shouldn't influence them being kept on.