Ben Close

[Ian Nimmo]

Two great performances from Ben capped with a goal in each game.
Worked really hard for in both games, all over the pitch, so his fitness looks to be really good.
Surely with his experience he must be in our match day squads.

Rotherham and Bradford will be two fierce games with highly charged atmospheres, expect both will be 3000 away supporters, thus his experience will be invaluable.

[jmt23]

I’ve said before the role Crew eventually played last year, is ideal for Ben, and with Charlie’s fitness looking like it suffers around the 60-70 minute mark, he is the ideal replacement to come on., or start. The position seems an important position for how  Grants teams play, so why not have two who you can swap.

Ben is in great form right now, and cannot do anything more to force Grants hand.

[drfchound]

I was saying last night that Close has proved his quality yet again.
Surely he should be given an opportunity to play on Saturday.

[Chris Black come back]

Who comes out of the matchday squad if Close joins? He has one central midfielder on the bench usually for league games. So far this season the bench player has been Crew, Clifton or Gotts. If Sterry is back then that means the midfield is definitely Bailey and Broadbent, then you have one player to join them and one on the bench from Gotts, Close, Clifton and Crew. Gotts is out for a while so that makes it a bit easier but it is still two from Close, Crew and Clifton. Many people will say drop Clifton but it’s obvious McCann rates him whatever the view on the terrace.

[drfchound]

With Gotts injured, Crew has to make way for Close.
Clifton is a different type of player and is important to the team.
I have been wondering why we even bothered getting Crew here when we already have Close, who is a quality player.
GM sees them all in training every week so I have to trust his judgement but have to say that to my untrained eye, Close is a long way ahead of Crew.

[steve@dcfd]

At the moment the best three central midfield players are Broadbent Bailey and Close play all three. Crew or Clifton on the bench

[Pancho Regan]

With Gotts injured, Crew has to make way for Close.
Clifton is a different type of player and is important to the team.
I have been wondering why we even bothered getting Crew here when we already have Close, who is a quality player.
GM sees them all in training every week so I have to trust his judgement but have to say that to my untrained eye, Close is a long way ahead of Crew.

Agree with that hound.
It was interesting last night to watch Ben and Charlie playing alongside each other in midfield and you couldn’t help but notice the gap in quality.
That’s only one game of course but Close showed his experience against Charlie’s naivety at times.
Crew is obviously a real talent but he’s young and raw and still learning.
There’s a strong argument, in my view, to start with Ben and have Charlie to come off the bench when needed.

[roversdaft]

Close must get in ahead of Crew.

As much as I can see the talent in Crew his effort levels are inconsistent, and last night just awful.
Walking about the pitch, not calling for the ball, zero enthusiasm. What topped it off for me was the pass to Hanlon(a whole separate thread on him) with the outside of his right boot almost showboating at 1-0. We don’t need that attitude every week. I’d drop him and give him a reality check.
Hopefully he will reproduce the hunger he had last season, when he was brilliant.

[Alan Southstand]

With the ball, I’d agree with Close being favoured but when we don’t have the ball, for me, Crew still tips the balance in his favour. He was superb partnering Broadbent last season (when Bailey had to cover defensive duties).
Last night, of course, he was a bit subdued, by his standards, but I think he was given the responsibility of being the defensive linchpin.
It’s a tough call either way - all I will say is that Bailey simply can’t be left out as he can play anywhere in that midfield 3. Broadbent, surely comes back in so that only leaves 1 position to fight over.

[Avsuptem]

It's the touches of magic, the speed of thought and the clear technical ability that is impressive about Crew. He has a natural talent that is a class above, he just needs more game time to become the top player he is destined to be. He raises the bar and the overall quality in the squad which in turn has the effect of making his fellows lift their game. This 2 x 1st teams concept that Grant talks about is really working well and it seems inevitable that Ben Close performing as he is will get plenty of game time during the season.

[Move DRFC]

Bailey proved last night he is good in the 10 (shocker) and can do everything Clifton and Sbarra can do there and more. Get Close in the squad and bin off Clifton and Sbarra who aren't good enough.

I'm not saying to start Bailey as 10 but there's an option to play Close centre mid and push Bailey up if needed.

[GazLaz]

With the ball, I’d agree with Close being favoured but when we don’t have the ball, for me, Crew still tips the balance in his favour. He was superb partnering Broadbent last season (when Bailey had to cover defensive duties).
Last night, of course, he was a bit subdued, by his standards, but I think he was given the responsibility of being the defensive linchpin.
It’s a tough call either way - all I will say is that Bailey simply can’t be left out as he can play anywhere in that midfield 3. Broadbent, surely comes back in so that only leaves 1 position to fight over.

Close was a beast without the ball last night. He’s better defensively than public perception. Like Bostock was, he reads the game well and doesn’t have to charge around diving in.

[andyst79]

Apart from a superbly taken goal I thought Close was very average. Taking the ball off the centre halves 20 yards out and knocking it to the full back does nothing for me, Crew was miles off it first half but wasn't helped by his midfield partner dropping so unesseraly deep all the time when in possession. The Partnership didn't really work and we had to rely on Gibson dropping into pockets getting hold of the ball and moving us up the pitch. Thought the combination of Close & Gotts against Middlesbrough was much more effective, Gotts was the catalyst to allow Close to advance further up the pitch where he became more effective in that game.

[Ian Nimmo]

Bailey proved last night he is good in the 10 (shocker) and can do everything Clifton and Sbarra can do there and more. Get Close in the squad and bin off Clifton and Sbarra who aren't good enough.

I'm not saying to start Bailey as 10 but there's an option to play Close centre mid and push Bailey up if needed.

Whilst we are looking at who is performing best, given we struggled a little to convert in ratio to our performance, we have to consider who has been scoring goals. Obviously Bailey but also 2 in 2 for Ben.
It’s a no brainer for me  Bailey Broadbent and Close have all performed the best so far, therefore why would you not start with these three?

We have Nixon who has played well and Maxwell seemed to be getting back towards his normal performance level, plus Senior. All have the energy to defend well and getting further up the field. I would give Sterry a little bit more time to recover after such a nasty injury and don’t risk him when we have others playing well.

[Cramby10]

Bailey proved last night he is good in the 10 (shocker) and can do everything Clifton and Sbarra can do there and more. Get Close in the squad and bin off Clifton and Sbarra who aren't good enough.

I'm not saying to start Bailey as 10 but there's an option to play Close centre mid and push Bailey up if needed.

agree with this wholeheartedly. I would start Bailey number 10. Without doubt. It would then give us quality throughout. Not making do with bit part nothing players. Bailey has shown he can run all day and press and now he’s shown a deadly eye for goal. It’s made for him. To be honest, we could put him in net and he’d be great.

[mpc123]

It's funny isn't it. I wonder why GM signed him on another contract

[sedwardsdrfc]

He’s earnt his place in the match day squad for me. Good to bring on to keep possession or build momentum if we’re chasing a lead.

Also would a midfield of Broadbent, Close and then Bailey getting into the box be a 1st choice line up? I really like Gotts but while he’s out that’s a good 3.

Crew won’t get dropped out the match day for long due to loan player bias but at the moment he should be the one missing out. He would be if he was contracted to DRFC not Leeds

[sedwardsdrfc]

Also if he doesn’t make the match day I think it tells us we’re trying to offload him before the window closes. His level of performance might be with a view to attracting a club.

[Branton Rover]

I always felt Close is a League One player who’s game is much more suited to the third tier rather than the 4th which is too physical for him.

[KingKendrick]

I thought he has played well the last 2 efl cup games that being said Broadbent drops in between the centre half’s to pick up the ball which close likes to do also. Can’t see it working with both of them in the side. Let’s be honest Accrington were awful last night offered nothing in a press and let us have the ball in our third unopposed which is obviously going to suit close. It’s clear Grant likes a midfield that’s energetic and gets about the pitch and I’m not sure that is close’s game. Still a lot more to do in my opinion before he makes it back into the league side

[Barmby Rover]

I thought he has played well the last 2 efl cup games that being said Broadbent drops in between the centre half’s to pick up the ball which close likes to do also. Can’t see it working with both of them in the side. Let’s be honest Accrington were awful last night offered nothing in a press and let us have the ball in our third unopposed which is obviously going to suit close. It’s clear Grant likes a midfield that’s energetic and gets about the pitch and I’m not sure that is close’s game. Still a lot more to do in my opinion before he makes it back into the league side

But I think he has made a case for himself if Broadbent is injured.

[sedwardsdrfc]

In the squad at least. It’s a good point that the opposition probably didn’t press him much so not that comparable to a league game.

That said if the opposition are coming to just sit back and pressing midfielder like Clifton is wasted a bit.

[selby]

  It won't be the same sort of game on Saturday as Accrington or Middlesbrough, and Close has been disappointing over a long three seasons to be trusted in a hard game to start for me.
  He has earnt the bench but we have started well in far harder games with others playing and they keep the shirt for me.
  Hopefully he might attract a bid.

[IDM]

Close played a lot for Portsmouth in this league not so long ago..

[drfchound]

 Close was a main player for us not so long ago.
I remember when he picked  up the bad injury at Bradford and plenty of us on here were worried about our prospects without him in the team.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Can't help but think McCann doesn't think a thud and blunder local Derby won't suit Close's play maker skills, with the ball often taking the aerial route but, now we rely less on long balls who knows, although Rotherham still likely to prefer that option. Then again, they have been a bit better of late.

Close could be another candidate for the 10 role, due to his eye for goal and his all round passing ability. I think in Gotts absence, then he deffo has a chance to get on the pitch.

[selby]

  He was that much of a main player for us that game at bradford we were about fourth from bottom of the league and looking to be in a relegation battle.
  With him missing we got on a really long run of good results and got in the playoffs.
 We didn't half miss him.

[Bills view]

It does feel that people over react when certain players have a good game or a poor one. No doubt he played well but on balance there’s not been enough evidence of him truly impacting games on a regular basis.

I don’t get the criticism of Crew. He shows real quality and if we nurture him and get him involved more he could be huge for us.

As always football is a game of opinions.

[drfchound]

  He was that much of a main player for us that game at bradford we were about fourth from bottom of the league and looking to be in a relegation battle.
  With him missing we got on a really long run of good results and got in the playoffs.
 We didn't half miss him.

I’m not denying any of that mate but it is a fact that plenty of supporters were worried when he was injured at Bradford.

[andyst79]

  He was that much of a main player for us that game at bradford we were about fourth from bottom of the league and looking to be in a relegation battle.
  With him missing we got on a really long run of good results and got in the playoffs.
 We didn't half miss him.

I’m not denying any of that mate but it is a fact that plenty of supporters were worried when he was injured at Bradford.

Why?! Part of a midfield unit that got relegated from league 1 and was making a bloody good fist of getting us relegated from League 2 until he got injured! As for Crew , he will go on to have a far better career than Ben Close ever will , admittedly he wasn't quite at it Tuesday but he's done more in a short time span at Rovers than Close ever has.