Charlie Crew

[grayx]

What did folk think of him yesterday? Like most in here i thought he was shocking midweek and looked like a boy against men. Perhaps the conditions were against him.
Yesterday I was surprised he got another start but thought he was much better. Showed some nice touches and can see why Grant wanted to try him again against a good footballing side.
Perhaps he is worth keeping.

[mushRTID]

Played well yesterday.

But we are in the shit now and we can’t be affording players to have one good game in 4/5.

We’ve got too many of these players and it’s hurting us.

[Usher wide.]

He jumped over two 50/50 challenges on Tuesday night.

He was sent here to learn how to play ‘a man’s game’, if he man up & commit to challenges then he’s not only a luxury he’s a liability.

Send him back to Leeds, they can have a go at turning the boy into a man, we can’t afford to be concentrating on affording him & Ajayi game time if they only have eyes for the ‘big stage’.

[VivaRovers]

He was sent here to learn how to play ‘a man’s game’

Didn't realise we'd taken him on loan from the 1980s

[TonySoprano]

Did alright, looked an average league 1/ 2 player, which is a huge improvement for him

[grayx]

Did alright, looked an average league 1/ 2 player, which is a huge improvement for him

Agree. Hes never going to be a tough tackling, dominant midfielder but he can produce a defence splitting pass like the one yesterday for Hanlans goal. We havent got many who can do that.

[Alan Southstand]

Not what we need in midfield at the moment.

[Avsuptem]

There is an awful lot of negative opinion about this lad but imho its all wrong. There is an element of Trevor Brooking about him, he has class and will play at very high level in years to come.

[Ian Nimmo]

I thought he played better yesterday, although he left their player for one of the goals in the first half, which was a terrible mistake.
Yets face it if he couldn’t performance in his national stadium, then serious questions would have been asked.

[Ian Nimmo]

I thought he played better yesterday, although he left their player for one of the goals in the first half, which was a terrible mistake.
Yets face it if he couldn’t performance in his national stadium, then serious questions would have been asked.

[ncRover]

There is an awful lot of negative opinion about this lad but imho its all wrong. There is an element of Trevor Brooking about him, he has class and will play at very high level in years to come.

Maybe so, but his ceiling in years to come doesn’t necessarily benefit us between now and May.

In the midfield department, a dynamic and athletic attacking midfielder would be of more use to us right now.

[tommy toes]

Yes.
He will probably end up a fine player at a high level, but he’s got a lot to learn and for me he can go and learn it somewhere else.

[Usher wide.]

He was sent here to learn how to play ‘a man’s game’

Didn't realise we'd taken him on loan from the 1980s

You’re better than that Glen, you know what I meant.

Premiership clubs ‘send out on loan’ to clubs like ours young players who need to be playing ‘competitively’ in an environment where they come back to their parent clubs having had a taste of the physicality of ‘men’s football’ instead of playing in U21 games for Leeds or Spurs against players of their own abilities.

Crew & Ajayi have been sent to us to pit their skills amongst the ‘unforgiving’ nouse of players a decade older than them in some instances in a faster, more challenging & competitive environment to see if they’re equal to that challenge.

These two in my opinion aren’t at a time when we need nothing less than total commitment from anyone who pulls on that hooped shirt.

Nothing to do with asking them to step back in time 45 years.

[drfchound]

There is an awful lot of negative opinion about this lad but imho its all wrong. There is an element of Trevor Brooking about him, he has class and will play at very high level in years to come.

It should be noted that Trevor Brooking is 77 yeas old though.

[BobG]

Like you said, it's your opinion.

Other folk have other views.

And, before you cast any more aspersions about when and where I see the Rovers, I suggest you find out a few facts. Making up lies with which to smear folk just makes you look a total ........ Insert adjective of choice.

BobG

[Move DRFC]

Can’t Close do everything he can anyway? Genuine question btw.

[EasyforDennis]

Like you said, it's your opinion.

Other folk have other views.

And, before you cast any more aspersions about when and where I see the Rovers, I suggest you find out a few facts. Making up lies with which to smear folk just makes you look a total ........ Insert adjective of choice.

BobG

It might help the rest of us to be able to see who you replying to.

[BobG]

Sorry. T'was Usher.

BobG

[grayx]

Can’t Close do everything he can anyway? Genuine question btw.

I dont think so. Close didnt have a bad game saturday but he prefers to go sideways or backwards.

[Alan Southstand]

And he doesn’t tackle! We have players who are ok when we have the ball but can’t do the dirty work when we havn’t got it.

[Spud]

Can’t Close do everything he can anyway? Genuine question btw.

George certainly can.

[GazLaz]

And he doesn’t tackle! We have players who are ok when we have the ball but can’t do the dirty work when we havn’t got it.

Interestingly, last season (closed due to greater minute sample size) Crew did more tackling (per 90) than Broadbent. 

It’s not a game of tackles anymore, it’s a game of interceptions, even at L1 level. Physicality is obviously a thing but recruiting players that are “experienced” and “get stuck in” won’t get you very far in the long term. Just sign players that are good.

[i_ateallthepies]

And he doesn’t tackle! We have players who are ok when we have the ball but can’t do the dirty work when we havn’t got it.

Interestingly, last season (closed due to greater minute sample size) Crew did more tackling (per 90) than Broadbent. 

It’s not a game of tackles anymore, it’s a game of interceptions, even at L1 level. Physicality is obviously a thing but recruiting players that are “experienced” and “get stuck in” won’t get you very far in the long term. Just sign players that are good.

Then Saturday's game must have been an outlier in that metric because it was clear throughout the game that in 50/50 battles our players were easily brushed aside by the greater strength and stature of the Cardif players.

[ncRover]

And he doesn’t tackle! We have players who are ok when we have the ball but can’t do the dirty work when we havn’t got it.

Interestingly, last season (closed due to greater minute sample size) Crew did more tackling (per 90) than Broadbent. 

It’s not a game of tackles anymore, it’s a game of interceptions, even at L1 level. Physicality is obviously a thing but recruiting players that are “experienced” and “get stuck in” won’t get you very far in the long term. Just sign players that are good.

Then Saturday's game must have been an outlier in that metric because it was clear throughout the game that in 50/50 battles our players were easily brushed aside by the greater strength and stature of the Cardif players.

I think 50/50 battles go down as ‘duels’ which is a completely separate stat.

[i_ateallthepies]

And he doesn’t tackle! We have players who are ok when we have the ball but can’t do the dirty work when we havn’t got it.

Interestingly, last season (closed due to greater minute sample size) Crew did more tackling (per 90) than Broadbent. 

It’s not a game of tackles anymore, it’s a game of interceptions, even at L1 level. Physicality is obviously a thing but recruiting players that are “experienced” and “get stuck in” won’t get you very far in the long term. Just sign players that are good.

Then Saturday's game must have been an outlier in that metric because it was clear throughout the game that in 50/50 battles our players were easily brushed aside by the greater strength and stature of the Cardif players.

I think 50/50 battles go down as ‘duels’ which is a completely separate stat.

Thanks for the clarification on that metric, nc but Gazlaz appears to imply that physicality isn’t a significant factor which was the point I was challenging.

[GazLaz]

And he doesn’t tackle! We have players who are ok when we have the ball but can’t do the dirty work when we havn’t got it.

Interestingly, last season (closed due to greater minute sample size) Crew did more tackling (per 90) than Broadbent. 

It’s not a game of tackles anymore, it’s a game of interceptions, even at L1 level. Physicality is obviously a thing but recruiting players that are “experienced” and “get stuck in” won’t get you very far in the long term. Just sign players that are good.

Then Saturday's game must have been an outlier in that metric because it was clear throughout the game that in 50/50 battles our players were easily brushed aside by the greater strength and stature of the Cardif players.

I think 50/50 battles go down as ‘duels’ which is a completely separate stat.

Thanks for the clarification on that metric, nc but Gazlaz appears to imply that physicality isn’t a significant factor which was the point I was challenging.

Physicality is a big factor for sure. We possibly just see it slightly differently. Who is more physical, Mickey Demetriou?

I’m not saying you do, but people’s perception of physical is a centre half like Colin Sutherland or a midfielder like Alan Little. I see it as someone with enough athleticism to be able to impose themself on their opponent and  who wins more duels than they lose.

The John Stones example, he’s a rolls Royce of a centre half, but he’s athletic enough to be able to dominate strikers if needed, without being a hatchet man.

[steve@dcfd]

And he doesn’t tackle! We have players who are ok when we have the ball but can’t do the dirty work when we havn’t got it.

Interestingly, last season (closed due to greater minute sample size) Crew did more tackling (per 90) than Broadbent. 

It’s not a game of tackles anymore, it’s a game of interceptions, even at L1 level. Physicality is obviously a thing but recruiting players that are “experienced” and “get stuck in” won’t get you very far in the long term. Just sign players that are good.

I agree with that but Cardiffs goals on Saturday came from players running at pace through our midfield. Neither Close or Crew can closed this type of midfielder down. Both good passes of the ball but lack the aggression and strength required to do the defensive duties required of a centre midfield player. For me if we can get better but not the same dynamic then he can go back.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Agree with GazLaz, it's more about core strength and being able to hold off your opponent. For example Cardiffs two goals where their players ran through and held off challenges. These weren't big lads but they had sufficient robustness to stay on their feet and drive through into the danger area.

Defensively, whether midfielder or across the back four, you can't be making slide tackles by going to ground too often, cos it takes you out of the game. The game generally is higher paced these days.

I think Charlie knows how to close down players and wrap them up and as he develops his upper body and core strength, he'll add that element to his game. As with most players, the rest is about intensity, concentration, vision etc which comes with experience. We've seen a few lapses from him when losing players but he's far from being on his own in that department.

50/50 for me whether Leeds and he are getting good value from us and visa versa. He came good in the second half of last season so, given enough opportunities, who knows but is he up for a relegation scrap?

[NickDRFC]

Agree with GazLaz, it's more about core strength and being able to hold off your opponent. For example Cardiffs two goals where their players ran through and held off challenges. These weren't big lads but they had sufficient robustness to stay on their feet and drive through into the danger area.

Defensively, whether midfielder or across the back four, you can't be making slide tackles by going to ground too often, cos it takes you out of the game. The game generally is higher paced these days.

I think Charlie knows how to close down players and wrap them up and as he develops his upper body and core strength, he'll add that element to his game. As with most players, the rest is about intensity, concentration, vision etc which comes with experience. We've seen a few lapses from him when losing players but he's far from being on his own in that department.

50/50 for me whether Leeds and he are getting good value from us and visa versa. He came good in the second half of last season so, given enough opportunities, who knows but is he up for a relegation scrap?

I agree with a lot of that DBR but he didn’t come good in the second half of last season. He only signed in January and only really imposed himself on the team in the last half dozen games.


There’s clearly some talent there, though, and for me he’s worth keeping unless him going back frees up enough cash for us to get someone in who’s clearly going to be better. I don’t think there’s any point terminating the loan of one talented but raw 19 year old and replacing with another talented but raw 19 year old who doesn’t know McCann, the squad, the environment etc.

[Usher wide.]

That was my point in essence he’s not up for a ‘scrap’ full stop.

By scrap I mean a roll your sleeves up, give the game everything you have be it creativity, physicality the ‘right’ mentality.

We can’t afford to have players (unless they’re homegrown & developing with us for us) who will ‘eventually grow in strength’ & have that necessary core.

We need a Ben Whiteman in there not a “By ‘eck he’ll be a good un in a year or two” loanee.

Herbie Kane offered us much more than Charlie Crew so ‘they must be out there’.