Olowu leaving?

[IDM]

Meh, won't be that hard to replace him.

He was shit for 2/3's of his time here.
Even when at his best, he still had a mistake in him.

He wasn’t shit, he was a young player with lots of potential, some of us could see that, yes he made a mistake or two, but show me a L2 player that doesn’t make a mistake. His pace will be a massive loss, especially if the other CB doesn’t have pace

Short memories, he was terrible at times.

I wonder if the players feel the same about the fans?

They would if they read this forum.!!

[redarmi66]

Meh, won't be that hard to replace him.

He was shit for 2/3's of his time here.
Even when at his best, he still had a mistake in him.

He wasn’t shit, he was a young player with lots of potential, some of us could see that, yes he made a mistake or two, but show me a L2 player that doesn’t make a mistake. His pace will be a massive loss, especially if the other CB doesn’t have pace

Short memories, he was terrible at times.

How short is yours? He wasnt great a times over the last 2 years but he was learning and developing but he wasnt terrible! The team as a whole were though during his development years. Have a bit of respect! Lad always gave his best for the club. And yes based on last year he will be difficult to replace…. But replace him we will. You sound like an old boss of mine… whenever anyone left to further their career… they were ‘always shit anyway’

[ncRover]

I don't get why everyone is deciding this is money.

Joe is hugely religious and for a while he has openly said he hasn't found a church he can settle with here. Then a few weeks ago he revealed he is opening/founding a new church in Peckham.

Maybe that is his new challenge?

Football is primarily a job to these lads, I think we forget that at times.

Maybe he could be taking less money to be closer to home? I know I have done that in my career.

Off topic and not meaning to sound like a corny banking advert, but whatever you want out of life, money makes it more possible and less stressful.

His church will need money to set up and maintain, and to organise things to help the local community for example.

Joe is a great guy. Intelligent and kind hearted. I hope he has a great career after Rovers and proves the salty people on here wrong!

[i_ateallthepies]

Joe had one attribute important to central defenders which IMO he was below average at and that was heading.  He improved it last season but still his weakest point, one reason for our lack of threat at the other end of the pitch.  Nevertheless, back end of last season and the whole of this he was immense and his pace was something you rarely if ever see in a centre back in Lg2.

A few comments on this thread show some individuals in a very poor light, bitter and twisted.  Joe leaves with my thanks and my very best wishes, I will be watching his continued progression up the leagues.

[TonySoprano]

Meh, won't be that hard to replace him.

He was shit for 2/3's of his time here.
Even when at his best, he still had a mistake in him.

He wasn’t shit, he was a young player with lots of potential, some of us could see that, yes he made a mistake or two, but show me a L2 player that doesn’t make a mistake. His pace will be a massive loss, especially if the other CB doesn’t have pace

Short memories, he was terrible at times.

How short is yours? He wasnt great a times over the last 2 years but he was learning and developing but he wasnt terrible! The team as a whole were though during his development years. Have a bit of respect! Lad always gave his best for the club. And yes based on last year he will be difficult to replace…. But replace him we will. You sound like an old boss of mine… whenever anyone left to further their career… they were ‘always shit anyway’

Merely saying that he won't be hard to replace, and like I said we looked better when he was out injured.
We certainly didn't miss him.

[pib]

Good luck to him. Clearly a great guy and he really stepped up a gear in terms of performance in the last 14ish months. Absolutely faultless in the run-in the play-off season, and rarely put a foot wrong in the season just gone.

He always had great potential. In his first couple of seasons he'd probably admit himself that he made mistakes. That's what happens with inexperience. It's all clicked for him the more appearances he's got under his belt and he's fulfilling that potential.

I think some of the comments on here saying he's not a big loss are harsh to say the least. We definitely need to replace him with somebody mobile and good on the ball like he is.

I hope his next move is a real step up for him. The assumption is that he'll end up back down south, so maybe a top-end L1 or lower-mid Championship destination is lined up for him - somewhere like Watford, Millwall, Oxford, QPR, or maybe somebody like Luton or Charlton who will pay good salaries for this level I'm sure.

[Barmby Rover]

The reason why he will not be missed is the way Tom and Owen stood up to the mark so well in those last few weeks. We already have replacements for Jo and for Woody in the form of Faulkner and Williams, both of which are promising youngsters, along with jay we are well supplied with decent central defender cover. We are very fortunate.

[moses]

I liked Woody's comments about Joe simplifying his game making him a better performer for the team.
He often seemed to be thinking too many steps ahead rather than the immediate danger. I think that was a function of youth and experience tells you when to play simple or take risks. Having Woody around probably helped Joe's decision making in the last two years.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I liked Woody's comments about Joe simplifying his game making him a better performer for the team.
He often seemed to be thinking too many steps ahead rather than the immediate danger. I think that was a function of youth and experience tells you when to play simple or take risks. Having Woody around probably helped Joe's decision making in the last two years.

That's a very fair assessment. He straightened out some of his errors and became a better all round defender and if he chooses wisely, the skies the limit for him. Surrounded by better quality players he has the potential to thrive and I'm sure he'll impress with his turn of pace which is a great assett defensively and offensively. I think he's got the same potential as Matt Mills who I thought should have got a look in at England U21 level, especially when you consider there were players of his age group getting recognised because they were playing for more fashionable clubs.

[Petche]

It'll be interesting to see where he ends up. Disappointing that he's decided to leave and would be even more so if it’s a sideways move.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

The key for him will be if he continues to develop and he needs to. It was telling when we played some higher level teams in cups he struggled a bit with the movement and positioning of the opposition and his pace didn't help as much as it did in league 2.

He won't learn that without playing at a higher level and I hope he is successful just not against us.

It is still an opportunity to find someone better and it's fair to say we were fortunate that losing him to injury cost us nothing, we didn't lose after his injury did we?

[Filo]

The key for him will be if he continues to develop and he needs to. It was telling when we played some higher level teams in cups he struggled a bit with the movement and positioning of the opposition and his pace didn't help as much as it did in league 2.

He won't learn that without playing at a higher level and I hope he is successful just not against us.

It is still an opportunity to find someone better and it's fair to say we were fortunate that losing him to injury cost us nothing, we didn't lose after his injury did we?

He had Mateta in his pocket in the Palace cup game

[IDM]

To be fair, I thought that was more Anderson.?

[KingKendrick]

To be fair, I thought that was more Anderson.?

More Olowu. That’s why they swapped shirts at the end of the game

[GazLaz]

Not a huge loss, one great season and 2 pretty/very poor. Didn’t want to pay Rovers back for the faith that was shown in him during those disastrous times we put up with him, and the development he was given, so poor from him.
Nice lad,etc etc.
but not overly bothered he’s off.
Last four games showed how much he was missed.

If you were working hundreds of miles away from family and someone offered you a job closer to home for let’s say £50-100k more per annum, what would you do?

No way Orient will pay them wages!

Pretty sure Orient aren’t skint. They could easily offer him a grand a week more than we have.

[IDM]

To be fair, I thought that was more Anderson.?

More Olowu. That’s why they swapped shirts at the end of the game

I could be wrong, perhaps.  I’m sure Tom had a cracking game too though..

[Chris Black come back]

Not a huge loss, one great season and 2 pretty/very poor. Didn’t want to pay Rovers back for the faith that was shown in him during those disastrous times we put up with him, and the development he was given, so poor from him.
Nice lad,etc etc.
but not overly bothered he’s off.
Last four games showed how much he was missed.

If you were working hundreds of miles away from family and someone offered you a job closer to home for let’s say £50-100k more per annum, what would you do?

No way Orient will pay them wages!

Pretty sure Orient aren’t skint. They could easily offer him a grand a week more than we have.

They lose about £3.5m per year, which is pretty much what Terry puts in annually. The current Orient owners have kept funding these losses with what amounts now to over £20m in loans to the club. We owe about £35m, presumably all to Terry given the Watson and Ryan loans were I think both written off.

[Goole Rover]

To be fair, I thought that was more Anderson.?

More Olowu. That’s why they swapped shirts at the end of the game

I could be wrong, perhaps.  I’m sure Tom had a cracking game too though..

Careful you must not say anything positive about Tom. You will be brought to task,

[Ryaldinhio]

I don't get why everyone is deciding this is money.

Joe is hugely religious and for a while he has openly said he hasn't found a church he can settle with here. Then a few weeks ago he revealed he is opening/founding a new church in Peckham.

Maybe that is his new challenge?

Football is primarily a job to these lads, I think we forget that at times.

Maybe he could be taking less money to be closer to home? I know I have done that in my career.

Off topic and not meaning to sound like a corny banking advert, but whatever you want out of life, money makes it more possible and less stressful.

His church will need money to set up and maintain, and to organise things to help the local community for example.

Joe is a great guy. Intelligent and kind hearted. I hope he has a great career after Rovers and proves the salty people on here wrong!

I agree and disagree in the same breath. Money does make more things possible but unfortunately 99% of our society now are brought up in the mindset that a pay rise means they have access to more credit.....bigger house, bigger car, all on never never.

The point I was making is I don't get the feeling it's about money. I think it will be a move home to London or local to that where he can concentrate on his new venture. A move down there may very well come with more money but it doesn't mean its the motivator.

If he signed for a team local to us in the same division, then personally I would be disaapointed. If he signs down south I don't think it is money driven.

[rich1471]

I wish him all the best for his future in football and his church,But we looked better defensively with bailey and Anderson at the back for the last 12 or so games than we did all season

[NickDRFC]

Not a huge loss, one great season and 2 pretty/very poor. Didn’t want to pay Rovers back for the faith that was shown in him during those disastrous times we put up with him, and the development he was given, so poor from him.
Nice lad,etc etc.
but not overly bothered he’s off.
Last four games showed how much he was missed.

If you were working hundreds of miles away from family and someone offered you a job closer to home for let’s say £50-100k more per annum, what would you do?

No way Orient will pay them wages!

Pretty sure Orient aren’t skint. They could easily offer him a grand a week more than we have.

They lose about £3.5m per year, which is pretty much what Terry puts in annually. The current Orient owners have kept funding these losses with what amounts now to over £20m in loans to the club. We owe about £35m, presumably all to Terry given the Watson and Ryan loans were I think both written off.

I don’t think we/Club Doncaster owe as much as that to TB, I think it’s more like £10m. Think there was a fairly significant conversion of debt to equity a few years back.

[Red wizard]

You also have to ask yourself has he looked better simply because he was playing in a promotion chasing side. Id of been well happy had he stayed but I'd rather have a proven league one defender. Time and time we have lost players at the end of the contract and us the fans really wanted them to stay and bar one or two most go and end up doing nothing. Good luck and thanks for your service Jo.

[Pancho Regan]

If only he'd taken that call from Harrison Biggins.......

Thanks Joseph, and all the best for the future.

[HolmeRover]

He looked very good this season. Positional play was spot on and rarely got beaten to a ball.
However, if he wanted to stay with us, he would have.
The offer was there.
I'd rather him leave and us have a player who wants it come in. They come and go.

[Ian Nimmo]

Reading some of the comments on here he will be certain that he has made the correct decision to leave.
He a very good player and will be a big loss.

All the best Joe, not only are we losing a good player, but an immense character.

[ncRover]

Joe had one attribute important to central defenders which IMO he was below average at and that was heading.  He improved it last season but still his weakest point, one reason for our lack of threat at the other end of the pitch.  Nevertheless, back end of last season and the whole of this he was immense and his pace was something you rarely if ever see in a centre back in Lg2.

A few comments on this thread show some individuals in a very poor light, bitter and twisted.  Joe leaves with my thanks and my very best wishes, I will be watching his continued progression up the leagues.

24/25 season ‘Aerial duels won’:

Joseph Olowu 63.5%

Jay McGrath 60.3%

[Goole Rover]

Joe had one attribute important to central defenders which IMO he was below average at and that was heading.  He improved it last season but still his weakest point, one reason for our lack of threat at the other end of the pitch.  Nevertheless, back end of last season and the whole of this he was immense and his pace was something you rarely if ever see in a centre back in Lg2.

A few comments on this thread show some individuals in a very poor light, bitter and twisted.  Joe leaves with my thanks and my very best wishes, I will be watching his continued progression up the leagues.

24/25 season ‘Aerial duels won’:

Joseph Olowu 63.5%

Jay McGrath 60.3%

As a point of comparison do you have Tom’s success rate.

[jmt23]

Not sure what some see, and why we can’t all agree he was, and is a great player.
He probably had the highest ceiling out of the team we had.
I would see league 1 as a side ways move career wise, but he was obviously struggling personally with finding a church and that may play a big part for Joe.

Yes there were times when he struggled on the pitch, but he didn’t have much quality around him, but his quality shone through when the team was performing better.

[ncRover]

Joe had one attribute important to central defenders which IMO he was below average at and that was heading.  He improved it last season but still his weakest point, one reason for our lack of threat at the other end of the pitch.  Nevertheless, back end of last season and the whole of this he was immense and his pace was something you rarely if ever see in a centre back in Lg2.

A few comments on this thread show some individuals in a very poor light, bitter and twisted.  Joe leaves with my thanks and my very best wishes, I will be watching his continued progression up the leagues.

24/25 season ‘Aerial duels won’:

Joseph Olowu 63.5%

Jay McGrath 60.3%

As a point of comparison do you have Tom’s success rate.

71% for Tom

[Filo]

Thought we might have had a statement from Joseph by now