Hursty?

[adamtherover]

Anyone else thinks the lad has been hard done by, I'd have him ahead of gibbo every day of the week?

[ravenrover]

Only when there's no breeze

[mushRTID]

Torn on this.

Hurst is too inconsistent and hasn’t helped himself, he’s had plenty of chances.

But I do think he’s better than Gibson…Grant isn’t going to give him a 3 year deal though then bomb him out the squad in the first year.

[Ryaldinhio]

I've not seen anyone in this league that can breeze past players like Hursty can. He needs a run in the team to get to his best......but then I'm not sure we as a team can afford to carry someone for half a dozen games at this point in the season. He had a great pre-season then got injured otherwise I think this would have been his year.

Regards comparison to Gibson I would have him ahead of Gibson personally.

I think he could be one that leaves and goes on to do well elsewhere.

[ForsolongaRover]

Torn on this.

Hurst is too inconsistent and hasn’t helped himself, he’s had plenty of chances.

But I do think he’s better than Gibson…Grant isn’t going to give him a 3 year deal though then bomb him out the squad in the first year.

A football club is about winning matches and like any business you have to be fair to your employees, but if they aren’t effective in their jobs you can’t keep them on sentimental grounds. People make similar comments about Jones who is obviously a very likeable man. If you opt for a career in sport, your commitment to compete for a place in the team is a fundamental and non-negotiable condition of your employment.

[donnievic]

Sumthing has gone on regarding tracking back without the ball or following runners,I believe that’s why he isn’t in the squad whether that will change or not I don’t know

[Ldr]

Anyone else thinks the lad has been hard done by, I'd have him ahead of gibbo every day of the week?

No, can be good, gets bullied far too often

[rich1471]

Anyone else thinks the lad has been hard done by, I'd have him ahead of gibbo every day of the week?

No, can be good, gets bullied far too often

Totally agree look at crew the same build but knows how to handle himself and not scared to make a tackle or get kicked,Hurst would rather pull out of the tackle and let his man get past him

[Ian Nimmo]

I have seen him play some really good games, Bradford away was an example, and on their forum they were raving about him.
Unfortunately some injuries along the way, but inconsistency has been the problem.
Agree with others, he’s better than Gibson.

[sedwardsdrfc]

Think GM can be quite thankless re tracking back. Remember Sotana never getting a sniff after not tracking a runner. Hurst is obviously far better but maybe something similar has happened.

Nothing against the lad but I can’t see the reason for signing Ennis with Gibson and Hurst both been contracted players and more than good enough. GM signed Gibson less than 6 months ago and it’s not been long since Hurst signed a new contract.

It’ll always be easier to borrow someone from another club. At some point we need to prioritise players we can actually sell it’s that or rely purely on Terry.

[Park Rover]

When Port Vale scored their 2nd goal against us it came down our left side. Fleming and Hurst were both playing on our left side. Immediately after the game in an interview Grant said he would not tolerate players who didn’t track back.within a few days Fleming was sent back to Hull and we haven’t seen Hurst in the squad since that game ( Coincidence ??)

[GazLaz]

When Port Vale scored their 2nd goal against us it came down our left side. Fleming and Hurst were both playing on our left side. Immediately after the game in an interview Grant said he would not tolerate players who didn’t track back.within a few days Fleming was sent back to Hull and we haven’t seen Hurst in the squad since that game ( Coincidence ??)

There is a risk reward element with these things though. If you have a more attacking fullback and a winger that is more risk taking and less defensive than someone else you can possibly have more of an attacking threat. That’s not what we are about as a team though admittedly. We are fairly cautious in approach, which is fair enough.

[TheFunk]

Hursty with the ball is excellent but without it he is a liability. I don't know whether he is incapable or just refuses to press. Many a time Grant has to scream at him to do it.

[ncRover]

When Port Vale scored their 2nd goal against us it came down our left side. Fleming and Hurst were both playing on our left side. Immediately after the game in an interview Grant said he would not tolerate players who didn’t track back.within a few days Fleming was sent back to Hull and we haven’t seen Hurst in the squad since that game ( Coincidence ??)

https://youtu.be/nIzG9ZUYwkQ?si=m7r-S_MjE04_SSEx

0:50. Hurst tracks back but shies away from committing to a block for the cross. And that’s the last we saw of him.

As others have said he just doesn’t get stuck in, especially if the ball is in the air.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

When Port Vale scored their 2nd goal against us it came down our left side. Fleming and Hurst were both playing on our left side. Immediately after the game in an interview Grant said he would not tolerate players who didn’t track back.within a few days Fleming was sent back to Hull and we haven’t seen Hurst in the squad since that game ( Coincidence ??)

https://youtu.be/nIzG9ZUYwkQ?si=m7r-S_MjE04_SSEx

0:50. Hurst tracks back but shies away from committing to a block for the cross. And that’s the last we saw of him.

As others have said he just doesn’t get stuck in, especially if the ball is in the air.

It's fair to say he used to duck out of aerial challenges, although he did make efforts to improve that side of his game but it's still short of what we should expect of a player. He's never even looked like getting into positions in the box to score with his head, which is a shame because he's not small and it could be an asset to his overall game.

He does put in challenges but often comes away with nowt as he doesn't seem fully committed to using what strength he does have. He did look like he'd put on a bit of weight at the start of the season which didn't go unnoticed and he looked like he was going to be a real threat and might be suited to playing more central. I guess you can only coach, encourage, cajole, bollock so many times before having to send the ultimate message of being left out. Pure speculation of course as only those on the inside will know what the issues are.

[DonnyOsmond]

Hursty with the ball is excellent but without it he is a liability. I don't know whether he is incapable or just refuses to press. Many a time Grant has to scream at him to do it.

From memory that Hull pre-season game he was a pressing machine which helped create 2 of our goals.

[GazLaz]

Where do you draw the line when it comes to looking at things players can’t do vs looking at things they can do?

[ForsolongaRover]

Midfielders in PL and Championship club academies seem to have the direct style inculcated in their coaching and it is surely a necessity in the modern midfield where competition for space is most intense. It’s not quite like the scrum, but could it explain why players with a more delicate style find the environment difficult to handle?

[steve@dcfd]

I’ve said this before Hurst could not get in the starting eleven when we had that run at the end of last season. He is no better this season so why should be start. Ok with ball at is feet but gets blown off the ball easily.Is he better than Gibson I would say about the same. Do I pick the squad No so it’s over to GM and he’s decided at the moment.

[chrisd_123]

He's clearly got the potential to be brilliant but I guess we've got to a point of "how many more chances does he need?"

He's been brilliant off the bench but if you look at the majority of his great performances he's been coming on to get the 3rd v Tranmere, 5th away at Grimsby last season etc.

Other than Bradford away this season and Salford at home two seasons ago, how many times has he delivered a performance from a starting role?

Our lot at the games have been joking about us needing to start with 10 players and bringing Hurst on after a minute to see if that works!

People on here and social media talking about if he is or isn't better than Gibson and are writing Sbarra off after what must be less than 10 starts...I really like Hurst but the reality is, he's had enough chances to make a starting spot his own. We can't write the others off and still continue to give Hurst chances because he 'might' turn up.

Saturday's game for me showed Hurst's weaknesses. Ennis came in and ran himself into the ground. Molyneux has always done that too. Hurst just doesn't do that. He doesn't seem to have something else to his game to make something happen. He doesn't have a 7 out of 10 in him. When Molyneux doesn't bag a brace you can still rely on him working hard, pressing and trying to make things happen.

Maybe triggering the option and sending him to a new environment for 6 months might be the boost he needs.

[keyser_soze]

When Port Vale scored their 2nd goal against us it came down our left side. Fleming and Hurst were both playing on our left side. Immediately after the game in an interview Grant said he would not tolerate players who didn’t track back.within a few days Fleming was sent back to Hull and we haven’t seen Hurst in the squad since that game ( Coincidence ??)

https://youtu.be/nIzG9ZUYwkQ?si=m7r-S_MjE04_SSEx

0:50. Hurst tracks back but shies away from committing to a block for the cross. And that’s the last we saw of him.

As others have said he just doesn’t get stuck in, especially if the ball is in the air.

I remember watching that and thinking it was a dig at Sterry who seemed to be jogging round in no man’s land for the first goal. Evidence since looks like Hurst/Fleming, although to me it looks like they both got back but didn’t put a tackle in. I guess Grant knows what he’s demanding more than us.

[Alan Southstand]

Latest on X is that a deal has been done - more details in half an hour. (Ricky Charlesworth DFP).

[Chris Black come back]

"Deal" sounds quite ominous.

[Alan Southstand]

Could be a loan deal?

[Bessie Red]

Queens Park plus 1 year extn to contract

[Chris Black come back]

Gone on loan to Queens Park in Scottish second tier. We have extended his deal with us at the same time.

[donnyguy]

https://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/news/2025/february/03/hurst-contract-extended-as-he-joins-queens-park-on-loan/

[Chris Black come back]

If he was going out on loan then it is either into English non league or to Scotland. We are hardly likely to be loaning him to another club at our level and he is not going to League One. Your call whether Scottish second tier is any worse than National League. Probably about the same really.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

Not a great standard, he'll get a good debut at Ibrox mind.  It's a change for him and that may help. No doubt he's talented but he needs to put the work in and be stronger.  That level will help him get that, but he's running out of chances.

[keyser_soze]

The contract renewal is a strange twist. Never heard that happen here with an established player, usually just young players on the brink of the first team. Seems we’ve taken up an ‘option’ rather than agreeing mutually, or is that not how those work, does it need to be mutually agreed?

Perhaps covering ourselves in case he tears it up and we risk losing him on a free in the summer.