Faulkner??

[Ryaldinhio]

Credit to the players who came in but there is no way Bailey is going to be centre back he’s too important to our midfield , McGrath was nowhere near fit near the end of the season and why would you break up a partnership if they were doing the business on the pitch , injuries gave wood / Anderson opportunities like when Olowu got injured he would of had to wait to get back in had it not ended his season

For me, and many others, Bailey should be CB. That's his natural position and he is excellent there. He isn't 'to important' in midfield. It's important for us that he starts, but not particularly in midfield.

[5minstogo]

For me the balance wasn't right in midfield until Bailey went to CB. I have slight concerns if he'd be as dominant in a higher League. Would maybe give us the option to sign one CB and a CM rather than two CBs

[Alan Southstand]

Why replace 3 with 1?

If you move Bailey back there and we sign 1 centre back, we’re still one down on last season! And we’re in a much tougher league. You also deplete the midfield area - it doesn’t make sense.

We require 2 centre backs AND a central defensive midfielder, a keeper and a striker.

[Chris Black come back]

Would get two centre backs, keeper and striker. No point bringing in yet another midfielder unless someone leaves. There will be relatively big wages going to Close and Westbrooke, and bringing another midfielder in means they are not likely to be making even the squad let alone the team. A criminal waste of relatively big wages.

[Draytonian III]

Subbed after 35 minutes in the 3-2 FLT defeat away at Mansfield Town on 10 October 2023.

So that’s subbed after 35 minutes in the lowest “first team competition “ we play ??

[Ryaldinhio]

Would get two centre backs, keeper and striker. No point bringing in yet another midfielder unless someone leaves. There will be relatively big wages going to Close and Westbrooke, and bringing another midfielder in means they are not likely to be making even the squad let alone the team. A criminal waste of relatively big wages.

So we shouldn't bring in better because there is plenty in the building? Even though they weren't deemed good enough for league 2????

Cmon.

We need CM or CMs and we need to move some on.

[Chris Black come back]

There isn’t a bottomless pit. We need a keeper and two centre backs and striker as priorities. We have any number of central midfielders. If they are not right then move one or more on. Don’t just throw yet another body on to that pile.

[ravenrover]

Subbed after 35 minutes in the 3-2 FLT defeat away at Mansfield Town on 10 October 2023.

So that’s subbed after 35 minutes in the lowest “first team competition “ we play ??

Question to be answered was he playing badly, was he ill, was he injured or was it a tactical change?
I wasn't at the game so I can't give an answer I'll leave that to someone else

[Ryaldinhio]

There isn’t a bottomless pit. We need a keeper and two centre backs and striker as priorities. We have any number of central midfielders. If they are not right then move one or more on. Don’t just throw yet another body on to that pile.

Exactly what I said, move some on. Definitely need to do that if they aren't guna be part of the plan.

[selby]

  Raven his first ligament operation had not been a success and he came off injured and never played that season again  his next game was in Ireland the season after which was the start of last season nearly eleven months later after corrective surgery.

[ravenrover]

Thanks Selby, that might dispel the negativity of being substituted after 35mins  to some

[ncRover]

Has Bobby had a season with us that hasn’t been significantly disrupted by injuries?

He’s a determined young lad, he will work his socks off to improve. As mentioned above, he has all the right attributes but is raw.

I think to impress McCann he’ll have to stay fit which will naturally allow him to develop and become more polished. Oh and he’ll need to beat Joe Ironside at the vertical jump test

[KingKendrick]

Sounds like he is on his way out on loan by Grants latest interview. Wants 4 centre backs competing for the 2 positions and said he wants to bring another centre half in. Won’t be either of the 2 new boys or McGrath.

[NickDRFC]

Sounds like he is on his way out on loan by Grants latest interview. Wants 4 centre backs competing for the 2 positions and said he wants to bring another centre half in. Won’t be either of the 2 new boys or McGrath.

Right call, he needs to be playing football and he won’t be doing that here. Really hope he can get a League Two loan but there might be concerns over playing time; playing week in, week out in the NL will still be beneficial.

[selby]

He certainly is popular with other clubs after him, makes you wonder why nobody is bothered about the rest seeing as how he hasn't kicked a ball yet this season, and before anyone has clapped eyes on the new players to judge just how good they are.
  The only thing certain is after yesterday we haven't anyone who can catch him.

[Sven Vath]

He's that good Selby had to say it twice

[selby]

  I  have never done anything Twine as far as I know Sven is that Flemish for wine?

[GazLaz]

A NL move would be great for him. Scunny?

[Metalmicky]

He certainly is popular with other clubs after him, makes you wonder why nobody is bothered about the rest seeing as how he hasn't kicked a ball yet this season, and before anyone has clapped eyes on the new players to judge just how good they are.
  The only thing certain is after yesterday we haven't anyone who can catch him.

I agree with your first sentiment Selby - everyone should get get a chance to display their wears and I don't think from Grant's interview he has cut anyone off from the squad.  I know you're keen on Faulkner - as am I by the way - and I hope he progresses and becomes the next Andy Butler: however, speed won't solve every problem and we need to give the lad time to develop also.  Linford Christie could run fast.... but wasn't as good with a football at his feet.... apparently.

[Sven Vath]

  I  have never done anything Twine as far as I know Sven is that Flemish for wine?

Not a clue what you are on about ?

[Alan Southstand]

He certainly is popular with other clubs after him, makes you wonder why nobody is bothered about the rest seeing as how he hasn't kicked a ball yet this season, and before anyone has clapped eyes on the new players to judge just how good they are.
  The only thing certain is after yesterday we haven't anyone who can catch him.

Then ‘other ‘ Clubs should have made him an offer he couldn’t refuse! But, they obviously didn’t, so we’re going to be taking care of his development and, to me, that’s the right thing for both parties.

Are we to spend the rest of this season making comparisons with Faulkner? No, definately not. What a waste of space that would be. Our trust, and hopefully Faulkner’s, is and should be with GM and the management team. Look at how other players have improved whilst under their tutelage!

[selby]

  MM he is a far better player than when most others last saw him, has improved with the ball and id terific getting the ball when others have it,
  He isn't a boy anymore and is a big fast unit, and Grant has been nothing else but encouraging.
 He knows himself he needs games for experience and has no problems with a good loan and knows of the interest he is causing as the club do, but first and foremost he is after that shirt and others need to be aware if they don't cut the mustard he will give them problems and the manager a decision to make they need to be on their toes and at their best to keep him out of the team.

[GazLaz]

  MM he is a far better player than when most others last saw him, has improved with the ball and id terific getting the ball when others have it,
  He isn't a boy anymore and is a big fast unit, and Grant has been nothing else but encouraging.
 He knows himself he needs games for experience and has no problems with a good loan and knows of the interest he is causing as the club do, but first and foremost he is after that shirt and others need to be aware if they don't cut the mustard he will give them problems and the manager a decision to make they need to be on their toes and at their best to keep him out of the team.

Why doesn’t the manager rate him Selby?

[selby]

  he does  from conversations , to be honest I think I think he would be better getting a loan and smash it there small steps to bigger things.

[Jonathan]

Tricky one. Personally, rather than spend another chunk of our budget on bringing in a 4th centre half (as it sounds like we will) I’d be happy to see Faulkner competing for that spot. However I also get that games would be more beneficial for him. If he goes out on loan it had better be to a good level with a longer term plan to see him challenging for a place in our team.

[Ryaldinhio]

Personally don't think we should be after a CB, IMO that is Baileys natural position and we should be utilising him there and bringing in a CM, hopefully Crew.

I rate Bobby, but only from the few times I have seen him in Rovers colours. If he has come on as Selby states them it would be crazy to just ship him out on loan without giving him the preseason first to compete with the newcomers.

I think we have our CBs and the budget would be better contributing to a Forward and CM.

That said I trust in Grant.

[IDM]

If we are bringing another cb in, does that lean more to playing 3 at the back more often.?

[GazLaz]

It is an interesting one, the same with hurst and the academy lads. There’s certainly no remit for Grant to develop these players “in house” is there. Getting a loan from higher up when we have players on the books possibly the best thing to do short term but perhaps not the best thing long term.

[5minstogo]

Points to take from interviews this week are that GM wants 4 CBs competing for two places.

DFP now suggesting no further incomings likely until after the Spain trip. Hopefully Bobby can impress in that time. Personally I think we have enough there, Pearson, Grehan, McGrath with a mixture of Bailey, Senior, Faulkner and possibly Flint backing up, although yes Bobby and Will need to be playing regularly for development now.

It's a tricky balance with no reserve team / U23 football.

[selby]

  Our only realistic aim this season is to stay up IMHO. My present thinking is that Pearson and Bailey would by far be our best pairing to start the season in central defence as I don't see the others myself as division 1 standard in that position.
  Flint and Faulkner in my opinion are as good as the rest we know of and we will have to wait and see what the new signings bring to the table as realistically looking at their history they have not exactly set the world on fire, so can only be judged as to how they play when they are here.
  Faulkner, Flint, and Sam Brown did well, in fact very well last season on loan and need to be playing at a good standard and if not here good loans need to be found for them, as they might be needed in January as rescue dogs, hopefully not and have done well if out on loan.