Hanlan

[ncRover]

Getting rid of Ironside was criminal, not suggesting he'd be a starter but for what he lacks in goals he has a presence up the pitch by holding the ball up .

Loved Ironside, but he wasn’t good enough anymore.

But we did need to replace him with a better and more mobile version of him.

[TonySoprano]

Totally disagree, he was given game time at the start, and I have seen no improvement from him at all.

He played an hour in the first two league games and hasn’t started a league game since. He’s played 240 mins total in the league. That’s not being given a run is it.

Sharp has got one goal every 350 minutes in the league. That’s not good.

Other than Bailey sharp has been our best player this season so far.

Ridiculous comment

He hasn’t. He does his best and his effort for the cause can’t be questioned. He’s just completely the wrong profile for our team.

He's easily been our 2nd best player.

[5minstogo]

Of our three strikers, two are wingers who can also play up top and the other is 39. I tried to optimistic with Hanlan especially after a half decent pre season but I think it gets clearer week on week what our issues are. Thankfully it will soon be January

[GazLaz]

Totally disagree, he was given game time at the start, and I have seen no improvement from him at all.

He played an hour in the first two league games and hasn’t started a league game since. He’s played 240 mins total in the league. That’s not being given a run is it.

Sharp has got one goal every 350 minutes in the league. That’s not good.

Other than Bailey sharp has been our best player this season so far.

Ridiculous comment

He hasn’t. He does his best and his effort for the cause can’t be questioned. He’s just completely the wrong profile for our team.

He's easily been our 2nd best player.

Maxwell and Bailey have been our two best players this season. That’s pretty clear.

[mpc123]

As I mentioned earlier Its strange as if you watch That David Vlog of the game, Hanlans shirt is hung up on the peg, pre the game. So maybe something happened.

[Alan Southstand]

And Nixon was with the other players as they headed to the dressing room!

[TonySoprano]

Totally disagree, he was given game time at the start, and I have seen no improvement from him at all.

He played an hour in the first two league games and hasn’t started a league game since. He’s played 240 mins total in the league. That’s not being given a run is it.

Sharp has got one goal every 350 minutes in the league. That’s not good.

Other than Bailey sharp has been our best player this season so far.

Ridiculous comment

He hasn’t. He does his best and his effort for the cause can’t be questioned. He’s just completely the wrong profile for our team.

He's easily been our 2nd best player.

Maxwell and Bailey have been our two best players this season. That’s pretty clear.

  clueless

[GazLaz]

Totally disagree, he was given game time at the start, and I have seen no improvement from him at all.

He played an hour in the first two league games and hasn’t started a league game since. He’s played 240 mins total in the league. That’s not being given a run is it.

Sharp has got one goal every 350 minutes in the league. That’s not good.

Other than Bailey sharp has been our best player this season so far.

Ridiculous comment

He hasn’t. He does his best and his effort for the cause can’t be questioned. He’s just completely the wrong profile for our team.

He's easily been our 2nd best player.

Maxwell and Bailey have been our two best players this season. That’s pretty clear.

  clueless

Can I ask you how many games you’ve watched live this season?

[ForsolongaRover]

It is rather obvious that there was far more wisdom in the recruitment of the defenders and midfielders than in the forwards with the exception of Middleton. You might conclude that it became clear fairly quickly that Hanlan was not adequate which was what prompted a desperate search for another central striker which materialised in Olusanya on 30/08/25.

You might further deduce from the fact that he is a loan with little encouraging goal-scoring history that there was little money left in the transfer pot. Looking at how it turned out, the player has brought us nothing, meaning that it was cheap failed gamble and recruitment falling well short of "competent".

I've said before, and I think we've all been reminded by the "Youngest Goal-scorer" thread, that if you are going to be any good you ought to be showing promise before you are 20 or 21. 18yo players can perform well in the Premier League and so would we not have probably been better giving our U21s the chances which Hanlan and Olusanya and Ajayi have squandered. Are young players really so vulnerable that they cannot be released on to the pitch with so-called "seasoned professionals"? Is it not the case that today they are probably generally more mature both physically and mentally than my and Alick's generation were? Very few of Rovers' youngsters graduate to the first team currently and I can't help wondering whether this is because they are denied proper opportunities. I'd be surprised if Selby did not have some sympathy for this viewpoint.

[TonySoprano]

Totally disagree, he was given game time at the start, and I have seen no improvement from him at all.

He played an hour in the first two league games and hasn’t started a league game since. He’s played 240 mins total in the league. That’s not being given a run is it.

Sharp has got one goal every 350 minutes in the league. That’s not good.

Other than Bailey sharp has been our best player this season so far.

Ridiculous comment

He hasn’t. He does his best and his effort for the cause can’t be questioned. He’s just completely the wrong profile for our team.

He's easily been our 2nd best player.

Maxwell and Bailey have been our two best players this season. That’s pretty clear.

  clueless

Can I ask you how many games you’ve watched live this season?

Thats irrelevant, but ill play.
I've not missed a home game, and gone to 5 away games, and the ones I've not been to I've watched a stream, apart from yesterday when there wasn't one.

To suggest maxwell is above Billy this season, tells me either you know nothing about football, or have hardly seen any games this season, or probably both.

[GazLaz]

Totally disagree, he was given game time at the start, and I have seen no improvement from him at all.

He played an hour in the first two league games and hasn’t started a league game since. He’s played 240 mins total in the league. That’s not being given a run is it.

Sharp has got one goal every 350 minutes in the league. That’s not good.

Other than Bailey sharp has been our best player this season so far.

Ridiculous comment

He hasn’t. He does his best and his effort for the cause can’t be questioned. He’s just completely the wrong profile for our team.

He's easily been our 2nd best player.

Maxwell and Bailey have been our two best players this season. That’s pretty clear.

  clueless

Can I ask you how many games you’ve watched live this season?

Thats irrelevant, but ill play.
I've not missed a home game, and gone to 5 away games, and the ones I've not been to I've watched a stream, apart from yesterday when there wasn't one.

To suggest maxwell is above Billy this season, tells me either you know nothing about football, or have hardly seen any games this season, or probably both.

Been to every game, home and away, in every competition bar Huddersfield. Maxwell has been superb, can’t be the only one noticing that surely.

[steve@dcfd]

Does the Kit man put every players shirt out in the away dressing room as said above Hanlan shirt was hung up so you would think he would be in the squad.
As I said before he is our player he should be given more chance than Olusanya who has shown he is not good enough.
ForsolongaRover I’m not up with all our young players and their ages but we do not have a striker/forward above the age of 17/18.

[Usher wide.]

Totally disagree, he was given game time at the start, and I have seen no improvement from him at all.

He played an hour in the first two league games and hasn’t started a league game since. He’s played 240 mins total in the league. That’s not being given a run is it.

Sharp has got one goal every 350 minutes in the league. That’s not good.

Other than Bailey sharp has been our best player this season so far.

Ridiculous comment

He hasn’t. He does his best and his effort for the cause can’t be questioned. He’s just completely the wrong profile for our team.

He's easily been our 2nd best player.

Maxwell and Bailey have been our two best players this season. That’s pretty clear.

  clueless

Can I ask you how many games you’ve watched live this season?

Thats irrelevant, but ill play.
I've not missed a home game, and gone to 5 away games, and the ones I've not been to I've watched a stream, apart from yesterday when there wasn't one.

To suggest maxwell is above Billy this season, tells me either you know nothing about football, or have hardly seen any games this season, or probably both.

Been to every game, home and away, in every competition bar Huddersfield. Maxwell has been superb, can’t be the only one noticing that surely.

‘My black cat’s blacker than your black cat’.

I’d go with Owen & Billy. Billy is absolutely essential to the team & is proving game after game that age is just a number, without him the team hasn’t anyone who can lead the line anywhere near the way he does with his runs, positioning & finishing (bar the Burton miss).

Just my opinion.

[number19]

Never happens, but would be interested to know who was behind the signings of Hanlan & Olusanya and what they actually thought they'd bring. Both look a fair way off the standard required.

Have a little sympathy for Ajayi, 19 year old on first loan in men's footy. Pretty much only goes 1 of 2 ways, sadly for us it looks like he's not much of improvement on the Yeboah gamble of last year.

[i_ateallthepies]

Does the Kit man put every players shirt out in the away dressing room as said above Hanlan shirt was hung up so you would think he would be in the squad.
As I said before he is our player he should be given more chance than Olusanya who has shown he is not good enough.
ForsolongaRover I’m not up with all our young players and their ages but we do not have a striker/forward above the age of 17/18.

Perhaps the kit man is working to instruction to prevent any potential early leakage of the team.

[TonySoprano]

Totally disagree, he was given game time at the start, and I have seen no improvement from him at all.

He played an hour in the first two league games and hasn’t started a league game since. He’s played 240 mins total in the league. That’s not being given a run is it.

Sharp has got one goal every 350 minutes in the league. That’s not good.

Other than Bailey sharp has been our best player this season so far.

Ridiculous comment

He hasn’t. He does his best and his effort for the cause can’t be questioned. He’s just completely the wrong profile for our team.

He's easily been our 2nd best player.

Maxwell and Bailey have been our two best players this season. That’s pretty clear.

  clueless

Can I ask you how many games you’ve watched live this season?

Thats irrelevant, but ill play.
I've not missed a home game, and gone to 5 away games, and the ones I've not been to I've watched a stream, apart from yesterday when there wasn't one.

To suggest maxwell is above Billy this season, tells me either you know nothing about football, or have hardly seen any games this season, or probably both.

Been to every game, home and away, in every competition bar Huddersfield. Maxwell has been superb, can’t be the only one noticing that surely.

He's been ok, ill give him that, but that wasn't your original point, you were trying to say billy has been poor, which of course is ridiculous.

[GazLaz]

Totally disagree, he was given game time at the start, and I have seen no improvement from him at all.

He played an hour in the first two league games and hasn’t started a league game since. He’s played 240 mins total in the league. That’s not being given a run is it.

Sharp has got one goal every 350 minutes in the league. That’s not good.

Other than Bailey sharp has been our best player this season so far.

Ridiculous comment

He hasn’t. He does his best and his effort for the cause can’t be questioned. He’s just completely the wrong profile for our team.

He's easily been our 2nd best player.

Maxwell and Bailey have been our two best players this season. That’s pretty clear.

  clueless

Can I ask you how many games you’ve watched live this season?

Thats irrelevant, but ill play.
I've not missed a home game, and gone to 5 away games, and the ones I've not been to I've watched a stream, apart from yesterday when there wasn't one.

To suggest maxwell is above Billy this season, tells me either you know nothing about football, or have hardly seen any games this season, or probably both.

Been to every game, home and away, in every competition bar Huddersfield. Maxwell has been superb, can’t be the only one noticing that surely.

He's been ok, ill give him that, but that wasn't your original point, you were trying to say billy has been poor, which of course is ridiculous.

I said hes not been good as opposed to poor. Maybe my expectations of a striker, in a team with aspirations of being well into the top half of L1, are hiigher than yours.

[mpc123]

Never happens, but would be interested to know who was behind the signings of Hanlan & Olusanya and what they actually thought they'd bring. Both look a fair way off the standard required.

Have a little sympathy for Ajayi, 19 year old on first loan in men's footy. Pretty much only goes 1 of 2 ways, sadly for us it looks like he's not much of improvement on the Yeboah gamble of last year.

Sonetimes its about not what they are today but hopefully what there is to work with to fit us. Some dont work and I personally still think there is time. As Mccann is very good at this. Remembering my guess is we will never be able to stretch to a top striker in form as most clubs would struggle to do. Mccann obviosuly feels both are workable to adding value and if Hanlan takes a little l9nger then fair enough. If both dont work, 8ts just one of thise things and fingers criss we can address in Jan.

[Bills view]

As has been pointed out elsewhere, Hanlan seems to lack a strikers instinct. I’m unsure about the qualities McCann et al had seen and thought would bring to the team.

Just going on what I’ve seen Billy has been superb.

I question our so called creative, skilful players not doing what they are in the team to do. They need look forward, make runs, see the runs and make that pass early,take players on, get crosses in, make telling passes etc.

It will not always pay off but simply laying it back or to the side is something that any player in the team can do. Players need to do their jobs.

[Reg of the Rovers]

I think we’re in an inflated place in the table due to the quality of Owen Bailey. Take away his quality, work and goals and we would be bottom end and struggling. It’s a single point of failure which is hugely risky.

Sharp is running his blood to water. Hanlan doesn’t look as terrible to me as others seem to feel, but the issue for both, and Olusanya is that they don’t suit playing in a 4-3-3.

We’ve got the personnel we’ve got, for the next two months at least. So instead of blaming players I think we should stop putting square pegs in round holes and set up the team to the strengths of the players we have, e.g. playing a proper 9 and 10 - it gives game time to players that need it, and plays to the strength of Sharp, Hanlan and Olusanya who are much more likely to flourish in this set up.

[TonySoprano]

Totally disagree, he was given game time at the start, and I have seen no improvement from him at all.

He played an hour in the first two league games and hasn’t started a league game since. He’s played 240 mins total in the league. That’s not being given a run is it.

Sharp has got one goal every 350 minutes in the league. That’s not good.

Other than Bailey sharp has been our best player this season so far.

Ridiculous comment

He hasn’t. He does his best and his effort for the cause can’t be questioned. He’s just completely the wrong profile for our team.

He's easily been our 2nd best player.

Maxwell and Bailey have been our two best players this season. That’s pretty clear.

  clueless

Can I ask you how many games you’ve watched live this season?

Thats irrelevant, but ill play.
I've not missed a home game, and gone to 5 away games, and the ones I've not been to I've watched a stream, apart from yesterday when there wasn't one.

To suggest maxwell is above Billy this season, tells me either you know nothing about football, or have hardly seen any games this season, or probably both.

Been to every game, home and away, in every competition bar Huddersfield. Maxwell has been superb, can’t be the only one noticing that surely.

He's been ok, ill give him that, but that wasn't your original point, you were trying to say billy has been poor, which of course is ridiculous.

I said hes not been good as opposed to poor. Maybe my expectations of a striker, in a team with aspirations of being well into the top half of L1, are hiigher than yours.

Well, your arguing semantics now.

But to say billy hasn't been good is a ridiculous comment

[mpc123]

I think we’re in an inflated place in the table due to the quality of Owen Bailey. Take away his quality, work and goals and we would be bottom end and struggling. It’s a single point of failure which is hugely risky.

Sharp is running his blood to water. Hanlan doesn’t look as terrible to me as others seem to feel, but the issue for both, and Olusanya is that they don’t suit playing in a 4-3-3.

We’ve got the personnel we’ve got, for the next two months at least. So instead of blaming players I think we should stop putting square pegs in round holes and set up the team to the strengths of the players we have, e.g. playing a proper 9 and 10 - it gives game time to players that need it, and plays to the strength of Sharp, Hanlan and Olusanya who are much more likely to flourish in this set up.

Its silly when peole say this type of thing.

Take away a goal keeper and we would have conceed loads 

It just so happens the team are set up t9 play to those strengths which gives him opportunities.

[Reg of the Rovers]

I think we’re in an inflated place in the table due to the quality of Owen Bailey. Take away his quality, work and goals and we would be bottom end and struggling. It’s a single point of failure which is hugely risky.

Sharp is running his blood to water. Hanlan doesn’t look as terrible to me as others seem to feel, but the issue for both, and Olusanya is that they don’t suit playing in a 4-3-3.

We’ve got the personnel we’ve got, for the next two months at least. So instead of blaming players I think we should stop putting square pegs in round holes and set up the team to the strengths of the players we have, e.g. playing a proper 9 and 10 - it gives game time to players that need it, and plays to the strength of Sharp, Hanlan and Olusanya who are much more likely to flourish in this set up.

Its silly when peole say this type of thing.

Take away a goal keeper and we would have conceed loads 

It just so happens the team are set up t9 play to those strengths which gives him opportunities.

So Bailey hasn't been our outstanding player? And we'd have done equally well in games with someone else playing there, e.g. Crew or Close? I personally don't think so.

[Bessie Red]

As has been pointed out elsewhere, Hanlan seems to lack a strikers instinct. I’m unsure about the qualities McCann et al had seen and thought would bring to the team.

Just going on what I’ve seen Billy has been superb.

I question our so called creative, skilful players not doing what they are in the team to do. They need look forward, make runs, see the runs and make that pass early,take players on, get crosses in, make telling passes etc.

It will not always pay off but simply laying it back or to the side is something that any player in the team can do. Players need to do their jobs.

Clifton spotted the run Billy made for our first goal and made a perfect pass.to Billy to do what he does best!

[mpc123]

I think we’re in an inflated place in the table due to the quality of Owen Bailey. Take away his quality, work and goals and we would be bottom end and struggling. It’s a single point of failure which is hugely risky.

Sharp is running his blood to water. Hanlan doesn’t look as terrible to me as others seem to feel, but the issue for both, and Olusanya is that they don’t suit playing in a 4-3-3.

We’ve got the personnel we’ve got, for the next two months at least. So instead of blaming players I think we should stop putting square pegs in round holes and set up the team to the strengths of the players we have, e.g. playing a proper 9 and 10 - it gives game time to players that need it, and plays to the strength of Sharp, Hanlan and Olusanya who are much more likely to flourish in this set up.

Its silly when peole say this type of thing.

Take away a goal keeper and we would have conceed loads 

It just so happens the team are set up t9 play to those strengths which gives him opportunities.

So Bailey hasn't been our outstanding player? And we'd have done equally well in games with someone else playing there, e.g. Crew or Close? I personally don't think so.

I dont think we would be near the bottom of the league if he wasnt. He has an effect but its wrong to base it on him scoring goals, who knows whoever played there may have done the same you never know.

[scawsby steve]

Never happens, but would be interested to know who was behind the signings of Hanlan & Olusanya and what they actually thought they'd bring. Both look a fair way off the standard required.

Have a little sympathy for Ajayi, 19 year old on first loan in men's footy. Pretty much only goes 1 of 2 ways, sadly for us it looks like he's not much of improvement on the Yeboah gamble of last year.

Sonetimes its about not what they are today but hopefully what there is to work with to fit us. Some dont work and I personally still think there is time. As Mccann is very good at this. Remembering my guess is we will never be able to stretch to a top striker in form as most clubs would struggle to do. Mccann obviosuly feels both are workable to adding value and if Hanlan takes a little l9nger then fair enough. If both dont work, 8ts just one of thise things and fingers criss we can address in Jan.

With that last sentence, I thought I was into an episode of "Allo Allo".

[Janso]

I think we’re in an inflated place in the table due to the quality of Owen Bailey. Take away his quality, work and goals and we would be bottom end and struggling. It’s a single point of failure which is hugely risky.

Sharp is running his blood to water. Hanlan doesn’t look as terrible to me as others seem to feel, but the issue for both, and Olusanya is that they don’t suit playing in a 4-3-3.

We’ve got the personnel we’ve got, for the next two months at least. So instead of blaming players I think we should stop putting square pegs in round holes and set up the team to the strengths of the players we have, e.g. playing a proper 9 and 10 - it gives game time to players that need it, and plays to the strength of Sharp, Hanlan and Olusanya who are much more likely to flourish in this set up.

Its silly when peole say this type of thing.

Take away a goal keeper and we would have conceed loads 

It just so happens the team are set up t9 play to those strengths which gives him opportunities.

So Bailey hasn't been our outstanding player? And we'd have done equally well in games with someone else playing there, e.g. Crew or Close? I personally don't think so.

You're essentially saying though "if we didn't have this player that we do indeed have, this other thing would have happened."
Largely irrelevant, because we do in fact have Owen Bailey.

[Reg of the Rovers]

I think we’re in an inflated place in the table due to the quality of Owen Bailey. Take away his quality, work and goals and we would be bottom end and struggling. It’s a single point of failure which is hugely risky.

Sharp is running his blood to water. Hanlan doesn’t look as terrible to me as others seem to feel, but the issue for both, and Olusanya is that they don’t suit playing in a 4-3-3.

We’ve got the personnel we’ve got, for the next two months at least. So instead of blaming players I think we should stop putting square pegs in round holes and set up the team to the strengths of the players we have, e.g. playing a proper 9 and 10 - it gives game time to players that need it, and plays to the strength of Sharp, Hanlan and Olusanya who are much more likely to flourish in this set up.

Its silly when peole say this type of thing.

Take away a goal keeper and we would have conceed loads 

It just so happens the team are set up t9 play to those strengths which gives him opportunities.

So Bailey hasn't been our outstanding player? And we'd have done equally well in games with someone else playing there, e.g. Crew or Close? I personally don't think so.

You're essentially saying though "if we didn't have this player that we do indeed have, this other thing would have happened."
Largely irrelevant, because we do in fact have Owen Bailey.

Quite right, but it’s a castle built on sand if he breaks his leg in the derby at the weekend or leaves for Preston in January. That was my point, we’re plain sailing with him, we’re up shit creek without him, so cross everything he’s available every week - which in fairness he usually is!

[adamtherover]

I think we’re in an inflated place in the table due to the quality of Owen Bailey. Take away his quality, work and goals and we would be bottom end and struggling. It’s a single point of failure which is hugely risky.

Sharp is running his blood to water. Hanlan doesn’t look as terrible to me as others seem to feel, but the issue for both, and Olusanya is that they don’t suit playing in a 4-3-3.

We’ve got the personnel we’ve got, for the next two months at least. So instead of blaming players I think we should stop putting square pegs in round holes and set up the team to the strengths of the players we have, e.g. playing a proper 9 and 10 - it gives game time to players that need it, and plays to the strength of Sharp, Hanlan and Olusanya who are much more likely to flourish in this set up.

Its silly when peole say this type of thing.

Take away a goal keeper and we would have conceed loads 

It just so happens the team are set up t9 play to those strengths which gives him opportunities.

So Bailey hasn't been our outstanding player? And we'd have done equally well in games with someone else playing there, e.g. Crew or Close? I personally don't think so.

I dont think we would be near the bottom of the league if he wasnt. He has an effect but its wrong to base it on him scoring goals, who knows whoever played there may have done the same you never know.

bails is doing what bails does best!!!! Leading by example, and putting in a captains shift more often than not!!

[i_ateallthepies]

Wouldn't you think that the absence of Clifton over recent games has shown the impact the presence or absence of a single key player in our team can have?