Connor O'Riordan

[Chris Black come back]

Signed on loan. Massive centre back from Blackburn Rovers.

[Nudga]

Someone needs to check on Selby immediately.

[Danmckay456]

We’ve got a  Keeler !

[The Dav]

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/june/27/connor-secures-donny-switch/

[turnbull for england]

Seems a quality addition, some real intent shown here, we aren't just making the numbers up

[NickDRFC]

Another Irish U21 centre half, possibly played alongside Grehan at international level in the past. Don’t know much about him other than he’s played most of his football at Crewe.

[drfchound]

Seems a quality addition, some real intent shown here, we aren't just making the numbers up

I know it feels like a long shot when I look at the other clubs we are going to have to compete with, but yesterday I backed us for promotion.

[GazLaz]

Interesting one. Was awful for Crewe last season.

[jm291]

Two big risks with the Irish centre backs we’ve signed. Keeping fingers crossed Pearson and Jay form a solid partnership

[RoversInSpain]

Interesting one. Was awful for Crewe last season.

…that’s a big gap between your description and Grant’s ‘exceptional for Crewe’ statement.
Do elaborate… is he a real duffer?

[GazLaz]

Two big risks with the Irish centre backs we’ve signed. Keeping fingers crossed Pearson and Jay form a solid partnership

Having three centre halves unproven at the level and one who is, without doubt, not the player he was a couple of years ago, is a risk.

I’m not saying they are bad players or not capable of playing at the level, but I’d have liked to see at least one at a more “prime” 25/26yo. Pearson gets injured early and we could be in bother.


I thing Bailey could end up playing a part at centre half even though I know that’s not the plan.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

I do agree, 3 young centre halves feels a bit risky to me.  Let's see how good they are at this level. Crewe fans seem to rate this lad and I rate McGrath.

[GazLaz]

Interesting one. Was awful for Crewe last season.

…that’s a big gap between your description and Grant’s ‘exceptional for Crewe’ statement.
Do elaborate… is he a real duffer?

Opinions I suppose. He’s young, certainly possible he comes on for another season under his belt.


I’ve always seen him as a bit of a player that could trap you into thinking he’s better than what he is. Tall, moves well, ok on the ball, goal threat, BUT is he a great defender? I don’t think he is. Potentially coming in as 4th choice cover though so…

[GazLaz]

I do agree, 3 young centre halves feels a bit risky to me.  Let's see how good they are at this level. Crewe fans seem to rate this lad and I rate McGrath.

All the young lads have the potential to step up, just a lot getting the balance of risk right.

[MachoMadness]

Wonder if this is another one Grant has had an eye on for a while based on his games against us. He's put 4 goals past us in 4 games.

[GazLaz]

Wonder if this is another one Grant has had an eye on for a while based on his games against us. He's put 4 goals past us in 4 games.

That’s another trap managers fall into, signing players that play well against them.

[Spilsby Red]

Let’s trust Grant. I feel we are going for a back 3. Maxwell and Sterry attacking fullbacks

[turnbull for england]

We never signed Phil Stant

[Drover]

Owolu and McGrath both improved under Grant in my eyes,no reason these new lads won't do the same

[Silkscarf]

Anybody else immediately think of Don O’Riordan? 2 games on loan in 1978 it seems.

[Drover]

Seems a quality addition, some real intent shown here, we aren't just making the numbers up

I know it feels like a long shot when I look at the other clubs we are going to have to compete with, but yesterday I backed us for promotion.

Me too,yesterday I backed us e/w to win title and goner see best price I can find for reaching play-offs next

[StocksArmy]

I do find it interesting when a young player signs for us and instantly is deemed as a risky signing for previous performances at a club who showed no ambition to build on their play off final loss in the previous term and therefore, resulting in them finishing in a bang average league position last season. Now I’m not saying he will be a superstar but I do remember Billy Sharp being sh!t for Sheff Utd before SOD got his hands on him, Adelakun/ Street being sh!t before GM got his hands on them etc. If we had signed a 30 year old journeyman I would understand the doubt.

[Dutch Uncle]

We never signed Phil Stant

But we did sign Les Chappell who always scored against us

Oh, and we signed Alford and Justin Jackson

[sedwardsdrfc]

Two big risks with the Irish centre backs we’ve signed. Keeping fingers crossed Pearson and Jay form a solid partnership

Having three centre halves unproven at the level and one who is, without doubt, not the player he was a couple of years ago, is a risk.

I’m not saying they are bad players or not capable of playing at the level, but I’d have liked to see at least one at a more “prime” 25/26yo. Pearson gets injured early and we could be in bother.


I thing Bailey could end up playing a part at centre half even though I know that’s not the plan.

Bailey is still probably our best centre half from the games I’ve seen. Midfield works better when he’s not in it too.

[BobG]

I was one of the few who saw Les Chappell score the winner FOR the Rovers - at Elm Park!!

BobG

[Pancho Regan]

Interesting one. Was awful for Crewe last season.

…that’s a big gap between your description and Grant’s ‘exceptional for Crewe’ statement.
Do elaborate… is he a real duffer?

Yeah it’s a tough one isn’t it RoversInSpain?

Trust our manager Grant McCann, or GazLaz?

I won’t sleep now with worrying.

[Metalmicky]

Wonder if this is another one Grant has had an eye on for a while based on his games against us. He's put 4 goals past us in 4 games.

That’s another trap managers fall into, signing players that play well against them.

I agree - scoring against us several times surely signifies a risky signing......run away time

[Draytonian III]

We never signed Phil Stant



He seemed to get a transfer every season and his first game or so for his new club was always at Belle Vue

[Usher wide.]

Wonder if this is another one Grant has had an eye on for a while based on his games against us. He's put 4 goals past us in 4 games.

That’s another trap managers fall into, signing players that play well against them.

This post, along with #12 & 13, might have some posters thinking you were an arrogant pr**k who believes he knows more about the abilities of footballers than the current manager does.

Opinions I suppose.

[BobG]

Usher - why are you so bitter these days?

BobG