Charlie Crew

[Sven Vath]

So begs the question whos going to be in the midfield 3? Last season it worked because Bailey dropped into centre back but i cant see him dropping Bailey or Broadbent.

Bailey will be right back

[sedwardsdrfc]

Wow honestly looking at the midfield options on Saturday I didn’t think this would be on the agenda. Crew and Broadbents best games came together when Bailey was playing centre half. I like Crew but personally don’t want him playing in place of Broadbent who we own and is developing nicely. Gotts to me looks the long term player in the forward midfield role. So either Bailey goes to centre half or Crew is a bench/rotation player, a very good one too.

There’s good competition for places now and we can let Close & Westbrooke go along with Sbarra. Get too many players not making the matchday squad and it becomes an issue imo.

[andyst79]

Superb news this , I did call this the other week but it was pure guess work as opposed to being in the know

[graingrover]

What a statement of intent but also of how we have gained in standing for this player and his club to choose us for the season .

[Lesonthewest]

Great news, welcome back Charlie.

[danumdon]

Fantastic news for us and a big headache(of the nice kind) for GM.

[GazLaz]

So begs the question whos going to be in the midfield 3? Last season it worked because Bailey dropped into centre back but i cant see him dropping Bailey or Broadbent.

Bailey will be right back

Won’t Nixon come in for Sterry?

[karldew]

So begs the question whos going to be in the midfield 3? Last season it worked because Bailey dropped into centre back but i cant see him dropping Bailey or Broadbent.

Bailey will be right back

Won’t Nixon come in for Sterry?

I’d like to think so. It was a strange game Saturday, I thought Broadbent was poor but seen a few singing his praises on here.

[philsky]

Serious point.

Absolutely love the lad.

How is crew engineered into the team ?

[sedwardsdrfc]

So begs the question whos going to be in the midfield 3? Last season it worked because Bailey dropped into centre back but i cant see him dropping Bailey or Broadbent.

Bailey will be right back

Won’t Nixon come in for Sterry?

I’d like to think so. It was a strange game Saturday, I thought Broadbent was poor but seen a few singing his praises on here.

If Bailey plays right back we might as well loan Nixon out. I like we aren’t waiting to sell to bring people in but we now need to have a look at outgoings

[adamtherover]

If the back end of last season is benchmark,  Bailey is a better defender than midfielder... and he's no slouch as a midfielder.. as.stated tho, if Dixon isn't called up, there's little point him being here..

[McCammon egg n chips]

Surely that means Close and/or Westrooke are leaving. Broadbent, Bailey, Crew, Clifton, Close, Westbrooke, Sbarra, and Ajayi in the mix for 3 positions.

Let's be honest Close & Westbrooke weren't ever in the mix for those three positions last season in L2. They were never going to feature this season.

Those two new contracts are some of the most bizarre I've known at Rovers.

[PDX_Rover]

Yeah, no. Great news.

[andyst79]

Surely that means Close and/or Westrooke are leaving. Broadbent, Bailey, Crew, Clifton, Close, Westbrooke, Sbarra, and Ajayi in the mix for 3 positions.

Let's be honest Close & Westbrooke weren't ever in the mix for those three positions last season in L2. They were never going to feature this season.

Those two new contracts are some of the most bizarre I've known at Rovers.

I like Westbrook and think he has something to offer still if he's over his fitness issues. Did well back end of the season when he came on to help us close games out. Need to trim the squad though so hopefully some outgoings. Close & Sbarra won't be anywhere near so hopefully those 2 at least

[Padge_DRFC]

It sure is a great time to be a Rovers fan right now. We're a serious league 1 club and I expect us to stay in it this year and maybe outside chance of play offs. Striker position now is the only worry.

Superb all thanks to a bloke who isn't bothered about football much too.

[drfchound]

It sure is a great time to be a Rovers fan right now. We're a serious league 1 club and I expect us to stay in it this year and maybe outside chance of play offs. Striker position now is the only worry.

Superb all thanks to a bloke who isn't bothered about football much too.

Perhaps “isn’t” should be replaced with “wasn’t”.

[Alan Southstand]

If the back end of last season is benchmark,  Bailey is a better defender than midfielder... and he's no slouch as a midfielder.. as.stated tho, if Dixon isn't called up, there's little point him being here..

Dixon? I think Nixon may have something to say about GM sneaking in another right back!

[philsky]

Worth watching Crew’s interview, quietly composed, focused, well spoken and seems like a super kid.

His energy is ideal for our pressing work.

McCann just goes about his business with no fuss.

[Sven Vath]

So begs the question whos going to be in the midfield 3? Last season it worked because Bailey dropped into centre back but i cant see him dropping Bailey or Broadbent.

Bailey will be right back

Hello Campsall they still haven't reinstated your ability to talk yet ?

[Padge_DRFC]

Likely plays instead of Clifton but not in the same role. Bailey and Crew will probably play as box to box or whatever you want to call it

[RugbyRover]

I'd like to think Crew and Broadbent will sit and control the midfield while Bails does the pressing higher up, replacing Clifton. He did something similar in one of the cup games last year and was an absolute wrecking ball up there.

[Reg of the Rovers]

The last four games of the year when we kicked on and won the title, Bailey didn't play in the midfield at all (covering centre half) and Crew started them all. That being said, I though the press on Saturday (first half especially) was the best I've seen from us in a long long time. Our shape and energy were excellent, something that wasn't always the case last year.

As others have said, nice problem to have, but can't see Close, Westbrooke or Sbarra making the bench so for their sakes and ours a move away - temp or perm - is probably for the best.

Can't see Grant dropping Bailey or Broadbent from any starting lineup so Crew might have to wait - unless he slots in the ten ahead of Clifton and we use Ajayi as a 'finisher' when we need to stretch teams after 60mins.

Exciting times for sure, sign any more and we'll need an extension on the dressing room to fit all the buggers in!

[ncRover]

Sbarra would be the easier sale because of his age and his public perception as some sort of highly technical creative player. Not seen that here. Close and Westbrooke better footballers IMO. We have enough runners in midfield.

Sbarra couldn’t impact any L2 games last year so a big ask to do it in L1.

[turnbull for england]

Wonder what side he will be on when we play Leeds in Championship next season.....

[DonnyBazR0ver]

He's obviously developing physically as well which, for a player with high potential, will be important how he copes with his growth spurts. Added to his international call ups, how we manage his game time will be interesting to see. The good news is we've got the depth whereas when we had Galbraith and Smith(s) you could argue they were overworked with too much responsibility on their young shoulders.

Would just love to see us start games strongly, not giving too much away, then bring on Crew and Ajayi to tie the Mansfield and other defences in knots.

[Butchers Red]

He's obviously developing physically as well which, for a player with high potential, will be important how he copes with his growth spurts. Added to his international call ups, how we manage his game time will be interesting to see. The good news is we've got the depth whereas when we had Galbraith and Smith(s) you could argue they were overworked with too much responsibility on their young shoulders.

Would just love to see us start games strongly, not giving too much away, then bring on Crew and Ajayi to tie the Mansfield and other defences in knots.

Exactly !  Some folks get too wrapped up in who starts the games - these days it's more and more about distinct phases during the 90 minutes, having the versatility and personnel to change and alter games, piling on pressure for the last 20 or 30 minutes is the difference between success and failure nowadays.

[IDM]

He's obviously developing physically as well which, for a player with high potential, will be important how he copes with his growth spurts. Added to his international call ups, how we manage his game time will be interesting to see. The good news is we've got the depth whereas when we had Galbraith and Smith(s) you could argue they were overworked with too much responsibility on their young shoulders.

Would just love to see us start games strongly, not giving too much away, then bring on Crew and Ajayi to tie the Mansfield and other defences in knots.

Exactly !  Some folks get too wrapped up in who starts the games - these days it's more and more about distinct phases during the 90 minutes, having the versatility and personnel to change and alter games, piling on pressure for the last 20 or 30 minutes is the difference between success and failure nowadays.

You are Sarina Wiegman, and I claim my £5.!!

I agree, however..

[DonnyBazR0ver]

They started to call subs 'finishers' more often in Rugby like but now there's a new buzzword for subs, 'Impacters'.

[graingrover]

Players used to arrive at the club they now arrive ‘ in the building’

[moses]

On my kids FA Coaching course they called the subs 'Change makers'.