Bobby Faulkner

[Metalmicky]

My lad has just seen BF and JM in Smokeys together this evening so a good friendship there with our future centre back pairing.

I bet Selby will be gutted about that lol.

What's John Marquis doing in Smokeys...?

[CheeseToastie]

I don't think anyone wants Faulkener to fail, most would love to see a local boy make good. The problem is Selby is besotted in his belief that Faulkener is better than McGrath and has a pop at every opportunity. Only 1 persons thoughts matter and that is GM. He obviously thinks differently to Selby

Don't get him started he'll be spitting feathers once you tell him his opinion isn't the one that defines young Faulkners career   

[DonnyOsmond]

My lad has just seen BF and JM in Smokeys together this evening so a good friendship there with our future centre back pairing.

I bet Selby will be gutted about that lol.

What's John Marquis doing in Smokeys...?

Err clearly James Maxwell.

[drfchound]

My lad has just seen BF and JM in Smokeys together this evening so a good friendship there with our future centre back pairing.

I bet Selby will be gutted about that lol.

What's John Marquis doing in Smokeys...?

Err clearly James Maxwell.

Or maybe Jay McGrath.

[pigeonhole]

Javier Mascherano? Similar age to Wood and Sharp. Would have thought La Boca was more up his street, mind

[selby]

  Jay and Bobby are big friends and socialise regular with their girl friends, and Nudga if you think that I have wanted anyone who plays for Doncaster Rovers fail you are sadly mistaken, there would be nothing more I could wish for but those two to form a successful partnership in central defence next season and even go on to better things in the game.
  I watch a lot of football from tots upwards, it is my hobby, the fact is there are a lot of very good central defenders in the EFL and non league football, with goalkeepers probably the highest standard of the positions, strikers not many about that stand out, what I will say is with Bobby and Will Flint we as a club have potentially two of the best players this club has produced in a long time, a lot of scouts and ex pro players rate them very highly as do the managers and clubs they have played for on loan this season.
 As far as I know the management here at the Rovers rate both or someone has been blowing smoke up their backsides.
  My comments on Jay playing for us are as I see him, not the complete defender others see in him, that does not mean I don't think he can be a very good player. I do, but he has weaknesses as does any young player which other sides have exploited this season along with whoever has played left sided with him this season, our weak area in defence.
  If he improves and the coaches sort him out he could have a great career at higher levels. I hope he does and with us.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

I think the overall things is Faulkner is finally playing games and he badly needs that.  He has pros and cons to his game and needs to learn.  Jay's had a lot of that learning in his spell in Ireland etc so is a step ahead.  Both have attributes to go further in my view and they both seem to want to learn and develop.  I wouldn't have used Bobby in this run in so the loan is great for him.  He may need a loan again next year assuming he stays with the club at hopefully a higher level.

I do actually think we'll need a centre half in the summer to replace Wood, we need experience in there too to help these young lads (assuming Oluwu leaves).

[IDM]

Anderson.?

[selby]

  I can't see Olowu being here after the season he has had and being on a free,  Wood I wouldn't be surprised if he retired and went into  coaching/ management  if he so wished, Anderson is playing to get another contract probably not here although if his injury problems are cleared somewhat he is a good defender, but at his age would not want to drop a lot in earnings.
  If Olowu did stay he would want top wages, Anderson is by all accounts rumoured to be one of our top earners, and McGrath keeping him and Wood out for most of the season I imagine would want a good pay packet, and anyone coming in we would want to be ready made and as good or better than what we have, which would cost, and that could mean the central defenders position taking up a good slice of the budget, and would they offer more than Faulkner and Flint along with some good defenders where the options are strong outside the EFL with some very good players  in that area.
  From the outside looking in I would look for a quality mid field general and a striker as my priority for any funds next season whatever division we are in.
  Goalkeeper another position where it is very strong in top non league.

[scawsby steve]

  As I mentioned on my let's talk about thread I went to Buxton yesterday to watch the game v Kidderminster one of the top two sides and pushing Scunthorpe for the top spot and automatic promotion with a goal difference of 42 in the league pushed us to the limits in the FA Cup and have experienced strikers up front strong physical and have been around the block the top strikers in the division.
 I am just going to describe Bobby's game as having a blinder in old football parlance, watched by a number of scouts including Stoke City for the second game in succession, others comments to me and his father by Kidderminster supporters and scouts were, where did you get him from". " your two centre halves will not be here next year" the other lad is called Burton on loan from Hartlepool a good left footed player central or full back, well worth a look at, and along with a lad on loan from Stockport named Mann form a formidable skilled  back three, hard as nails and young  for this standard of football in the back line.
  Backing all this up, the striker he marked Morgan Smith said " good battle lad well played " as they came off after a real tussle physically between the two of them and  this morning the Non League Paper picked Bobby as the MOM and in their National North League team of the week, so well done Bobby,

Brian, as regards the FA Cup, are you confusing Kidderminster with Kettering?

[Alan Southstand]

Reminder - if we do go up then it’s quality over quantity next season and Olowu is quality!

End of.

[selby]

 Yes Steve I have not for the first time. Sorry.

[selby]

  Alan, where Olowu plays is entirely in the hands of Olowu and his agent, Doncaster Rovers have no say at all apart from making him an offer which may or may not suit him or match others he is offered.

[selby]

  Sam Straughn Brown played in the Alfreton v Peterborough Sports game at the weekend which no doubt will have been somewhat of a shock to Sam, Alfreton being the biggest exponent of long ball and throw ins since Beck was a manager.
 Only a second year scholar still to the end of the season, and holding his own getting regular playing time at national North Level  is a great achievement for Sam, not that many his age are trusted to play at that level on a regular basis, a level normally reserved for a few first year pros and mainly second year pros, a good standard with different playing styles, and not a league for shrinking violets. A massive well done Sam graduating from Bradford Park Avenue to higher things and holding  your own at that level, and at Alfreton a big learning curve against a style of play and players who are massive and put together to complement their style of play which you have probably never experienced before.
  Bobby Faulkner followed his MOM game against Kidderminster the week before with another good performance that got praise from his manager again in a 3-0 away win at Scarborough, and keeps Buxton on the fringes of a play off place.  In the game he led the defence to another clean sheet, got an assist from a set piece corner getting a flick on to the far post for his central defence partner Burton to stab home for the first goal, Burton also an impressive player, with Bobby  and the back line an impressive unit.
  On Tuesday Buxton come up against Alfreton at Chesterfields stadium in the Derbyshire senior cup final, and they will be tested with long throws and high balls into the box  and will have to be on it or will be rolled over, an interesting game, not for the modern purist and against one of the tallest average height teams I have ever seen so a big test.
 
 

[Barmby Rover]

I think that tomorrow Rovers fans will have their concentration elsewhere and will miss the lad's progress, but good luck to him!

[selby]

  BR, don't doubt that, and rightly so.  but it will be a right old dust up between Bobby and whoever, he doesn't take any steps backwards.

[roversdude]

Wishing Bobby the best of luck tomorrow - I’ve a feeling we’ll see Flint in the squad, supposedly 3 players struggling

[selby]

  Buxton are more interested in their game v Chorley on Friday against one of their main rivals to get a play off spot, and a good side which will be a hard game they will have to be strong in.
  So a few fringe players look like getting a game this game being  rearranged to Chesterfield and the date altered from Derby's ground due to unavailability.
 Bobby  would like to play but doesn't know yet, Alfreton having not a lot to play for in the league could take it more seriously.

[MachoMadness]

Buxton have snuck into the last play-off spot on goal difference. They face one of our old rivals Chester on Wednesday in the play-off eliminator. Some big teams in the play-offs, Kidderminster and of course Scunny are in there as well. Fingers crossed Bobby can return to us with a promotion of his own under his belt, wouldn't bet on it but you never know.

[drfchound]

I’m wondering whether our promotion might hinder the chances of Bobby and Will Flint getting into our match day squads.

[MachoMadness]

Wouldn't be the end of the world for either to get another 6 month loan at a national league club, see where they are in January. Our centre half situation in particular will likely be very different next season so Bobby has a good chance to come in and stake a claim just as Jay has done this season.

That's if he signs a new contract of course.

[Sammy Chung was King]

I would retain Bobby to see if he can make it at our level, some of the other fringe players have been here a while and not really done it. In league one we need a very competitive squad, even the fringe players will be needed.

[selby]

 Great to see other supporters taking an interest in Bobby while on loan at Buxton.
 With Mann and Burton between them they have formed a really good defensive back line, with a number of clean sheets to their name and a growing attraction for numerous top level non league sides and league sides.
  Now it is three away games if they want to progress into the National League through the play offs starting at Chester so things stacked against them in that respect.
  John McGrath has done a great job putting a very young side of released academy players and loans together who play good football, are quick and mobile and have grown visibly on the physical side of the game.
  In my opinion their weakness is snatching at chances lacking a bit of experience and composure in front of goal, but are very entertaining to watch and with Burton and Bobby are a threat from set pieces in the oppositions box Bobby at the far post and Burton for the knock on.
  As for yesterday I am always dependant on an oppositions coverage as Buxton don't have one for games but he gets plenty of mentions during games by name and has played every minute since arriving there and has enjoyed every minute, Well done Bobby another place where the fans will always be pleased to see you.

[Silkscarf]

We can use Division Four to loan players to now in a patronising ‘feeder club’ type way.

Chesterfield, Grimsby, Bradford…

[BobG]

Ha ha ha!!!

Not kind. But very funny!

BobG

[roversdude]

What a day for the McGrath family

[selby]

  When it comes to Bobby I think some who dish him want a bit of reflection when it comes to comparing him to others and why I and some other professional knowledgeable people in the game rate him so highly.
  Has he had the upbringing of the others at the club as far as academy football no, he came to us direct from Askern Welfare and Fishlake u16s and only because of injury got into our academy side the week after joining, and was the stand out player from then on.
  Has he the experience of games at league level compared with our other central defenders no
  Is he the fastest of the central defenders no Olowu just takes him, over distance he wins by miles
  Is he the best in the air, with Anderson yes  both better than Olowu and McGrath
  Is he the better tackler yes, no doubt in my mind.
  Add he is twenty, four years younger than Olowu and has18 months / two years  on McGrath generations on Anderson and Wood
   Is he attracting offers from other teams while the club have put him out in the shop window at Buxton yes, and quite a few have contacted his agent, some I am convinced to sign and sell on at a profit in short time and see an opportunity to cash in.
   They are the reasons apart from the fact I think he would improve our side and with game time and more experience could be a real asset to the club financially after watching his development this season, I invite anyone who thinks he can't cut it to give me the reasons why.
 

[Pancho Regan]

  When it comes to Bobby I think some who dish him want a bit of reflection when it comes to comparing him to others and why I and some other professional knowledgeable people in the game rate him so highly.
  Has he had the upbringing of the others at the club as far as academy football no, he came to us direct from Askern Welfare and Fishlake u16s and only because of injury got into our academy side the week after joining, and was the stand out player from then on.
  Has he the experience of games at league level compared with our other central defenders no
  Is he the fastest of the central defenders no Olowu just takes him, over distance he wins by miles
  Is he the best in the air, with Anderson yes  both better than Olowu and McGrath
  Is he the better tackler yes, no doubt in my mind.
  Add he is twenty, four years younger than Olowu and has18 months / two years  on McGrath generations on Anderson and Wood
   Is he attracting offers from other teams while the club have put him out in the shop window at Buxton yes, and quite a few have contacted his agent, some I am convinced to sign and sell on at a profit in short time and see an opportunity to cash in.
   They are the reasons apart from the fact I think he would improve our side and with game time and more experience could be a real asset to the club financially after watching his development this season, I invite anyone who thinks he can't cut it to give me the reasons why.
 

I thought you were his agent Selby?

 

[sf9944]

I think Bobby is a talent and I hope we stick with him and he goes on to have a great career. I think that is perfectly possible.

I did note however Selby that you didn’t include distribution in your list if assets that you use to compare him with other players. Also positional awareness is another important attribute. It’s in these areas I’d say he needs to improve

[Bessie Red]

  When it comes to Bobby I think some who dish him want a bit of reflection when it comes to comparing him to others and why I and some other professional knowledgeable people in the game rate him so highly.
  Has he had the upbringing of the others at the club as far as academy football no, he came to us direct from Askern Welfare and Fishlake u16s and only because of injury got into our academy side the week after joining, and was the stand out player from then on.
  Has he the experience of games at league level compared with our other central defenders no
  Is he the fastest of the central defenders no Olowu just takes him, over distance he wins by miles
  Is he the best in the air, with Anderson yes  both better than Olowu and McGrath
  Is he the better tackler yes, no doubt in my mind.
  Add he is twenty, four years younger than Olowu and has18 months / two years  on McGrath generations on Anderson and Wood
   Is he attracting offers from other teams while the club have put him out in the shop window at Buxton yes, and quite a few have contacted his agent, some I am convinced to sign and sell on at a profit in short time and see an opportunity to cash in.
   They are the reasons apart from the fact I think he would improve our side and with game time and more experience could be a real asset to the club financially after watching his development this season, I invite anyone who thinks he can't cut it to give me the reasons why.
 

I don't think that he can't cut it, I just think that now we have been promoted we need to have quality (with experience) over quantity.  I believe Grant will want to go with 4 recognised CB who in my opinion will be 1) Jay McGrath 2) Preferably Joe Olowu 3) Tom Anderson 4) New signing with Lge 1 experience. We will also have Jack Senior & Owen Bailey who can fill in if required. I just don't see how Grant could offer Bobby anything now. If we were still in Lge 2 next season then I believe we would have kept him. It's a shame as I rate Bobby I just think the circumstances are no longer in his favour. Maybe if Jo goes he might be kept on but if he does go I think Grant will sign a new player to take his place.