Neill Byrne

[Glyn_Wigley]

He's only been trusted enough to play 427 matches? Christ he must be shit!

Mostly in non league

So what? By your own logic, as you've never played at that level you know sod all about what it takes!

[The Beast]

I know we’ve got a lot of things to be thankful for with the way the clubs ran compared to some others but do you ever think if we had a bit more ambition we’d be absolutely flying, if you look at the lad who Lincoln have signed from Bromley as an example they’ve probably signed him for 500k or less and no doubt he’ll potentially go for a couple million in a few years, similar to the Peterborough model, why do we seem to be bottom feeders instead of being proactive? I’m not saying we should be chucking money by any means but I think some signings we used to make, Matt mills, wellens, sharp etc… what happened to them kind of signings?

We had JR then who absolutely loved the club.
Now we've got a chairman who does the bare minimum.

Except...err ..pay the bills for 20 years after Ryan's ambitions turned out to be bigger than his pockets

Begs the question why he actually owns the club if he refuses to make a go of it.

You never cease to amaze me!

[ChrisBx]

I've no idea where the idea that the budget is shit has come from. We've made 16 signings this season!

[Glyn_Wigley]

I'd have loved to see what the doomsayers would have said if they'd been Leicester fans when they signed Jamie Vardy!

[Draytonian III]

“ Come on Terry, throw money hand over fist at Rovers without thinking, what sort of businessman do you call yourself, I don’t care if you’ve got reputably £500million, you don’t know what you’re doing. I could do better than you, I do when I’m playing on my computer “
There you go Ive saved you typing it

[TonySoprano]

I'd have loved to see what the doomsayers would have said if they'd been Leicester fans when they signed Jamie Vardy!

Probably similar to what most rovers fans said when we signed Alfie may

[Metalmicky]

I'd have loved to see what the doomsayers would have said if they'd been Leicester fans when they signed Jamie Vardy!

Probably similar to what most rovers fans said when we signed Alfie may

I know you're a WUM, but you are the reason we need an 'ignore' button on here....
The drivel and claptrap you come out with wears away at folk who want to support and discuss the team..

[Move DRFC]

There is some bollox written on here... we have signed a player who has played nearly 500 senior games, is therefore experienced enough and will know what is required of him at this level.
Some of the comments are shocking - especially as most will never have even heard of him before his name was rumoured recently.  Give the lad a bloody chance...!!

People do give players a chance but are entitled to an opinion on them before they play surely.

Byrne has been promoted to league 1 twice and not been trusted to play in league 1 twice, by two different managers. What makes us think differently?

The other big thing is that he’s not coming in to make up the numbers in a side that’s comfortable, he’s coming in to hopefully help drag us out of the horrible mess we are in. When signing players it’s all about assessing the level of risk and likelihood of success. These things are never binary but on any scale this looks a pretty high risk of not succeeding to the level it needs to.

We are chronically under achieving, recruitment has been awful it’s, fairly easy for people not to trust the process at the minute.

The thing is, if you form an opinion before ever seeing him play, you’re starting off negatively, then whatever he does will be twisted negatively, just to prove yourself right.
Football is all about opinions, and just because one person doesn’t fancy you doesn’t mean you’re no good, football is littered with examples

We’ve seen him play against us three times in the last 15 months.

Everyone been saying he’s been back up for league 2 teams for the last 2 years! Yet he played in every game he could have against us?
And pretty sure nobody remembers what a random centre half played like against us a year ago

He played at the same level as us last season. Really easy to run the numbers and compare him to Olowu, Jay, Wood, Anderson, and Bobby who have had plenty of minutes playing centre half at L2 level of late. I have done just that.

Any chance we could get a summary mate?

I'm of the opinion that Olowu is streets ahead of the lot. Would be interesting to also see how Bobby and Jay are comparing.

[Danmckay456]

Give Byrne a chance , disgraceful that abuse he’s receiving before kicking a ball for us - he’s here to play and hopefully help us worse case scenario is he’s worse than what we have and someone comes back in who’s under performed this season we’ve got nothing to lose !!!

[Bessie Red]

There is some bollox written on here... we have signed a player who has played nearly 500 senior games, is therefore experienced enough and will know what is required of him at this level.
Some of the comments are shocking - especially as most will never have even heard of him before his name was rumoured recently.  Give the lad a bloody chance...!!

Thats the thing, he DOESNT  know what's required at this level because hes never played at this level
 

Yes he has!

699 minutes accross his ENTIRE career

So he has played at this level, glad you agree!

[Smyth]

Problem being he's probably as he was in his previous clubs for a short time--a perfectly adequate 4th choice defender-- can't argue he isn't.
But other day Grant said he goes straight into the starting 11, maybe the post match frustration got the better of him, his private thoughts could be different now from his public utterance then and now he's reflected.
If he hasn't and Byrne starts then we're seeing screeching handbrake turns that mirror Kowtow Keir Starmer's way.

Both keepers ditched, dumping of Mr Rapido pace and the original first choice forwards for Frankie to start,  Middleton doesn't seem to have a defined role, even when he does eventually get on the pitch, moving Bailey back after telling him all season to get into the opposition box and now dumping someone brought in on a two year contract as organiser and senior figure in defence for a short term loanee.

Perhaps Grant should've gone on an end of season  break after all?
Maybe it's  bluffing and Pearson starts tonight as he was always planned to?
Doesn't feel that way but that's my hope.

[NickDRFC]

There’s a fair bit of false equivalence in this thread with the comparisons to us signing Owen Bailey & Leicester signing Jamie Vardy.

Our defence is a shambles at the minute and we desperately need one, if not two new centre halves of real quality to fix it. Byrne will get my unwavering support when he plays but it’s not unreasonable to be concerned if this is it. It’s extremely unlikely that a player who is 32 and hasn’t been able to hold down a place in the league below for the last few years after a career in non-league is going to be the solution. He might be, but the odds aren’t in our favour. Based on player profiles, what’s the difference between him and Pearson? Same age, same size, seemingly same profile (except, contrary to fan opinion, McCann says Byrne is quick…). Is he really going to be an upgrade on someone that McCann has so quickly discarded?

[Spilsby Red]

Let’s give the lad a chance. He might not have got in other teams but just maybe he will do good for us. He will want to prove a point.
People say we need a centre half. We get one and people slate him, the manager, even TB. Get a grip people. We are where we are in the league. It’s not a lost cause yet. Look where Peterborough were and are now. Some positive results and it changes.
People were saying Gotts wasn’t up to league 1 standard. Different views now.
Give people a chance

[Smyth]

Let’s give the lad a chance. He might not have got in other teams but just maybe he will do good for us. He will want to prove a point.
People say we need a centre half. We get one and people slate him, the manager, even TB. Get a grip people. We are where we are in the league. It’s not a lost cause yet. Look where Peterborough were and are now. Some positive results and it changes.

Mentioning Peterborough isn't the win you think it is for the points you've made.
They being in a worse position that we currently are when Fergie was removed.

[andy didcott]

Lots of moaning before hes kicked a ball, give the bloke a chance.

[sf9944]

I think it’s worth considering that the teams he has found it difficult to break into have been teams on the up with the resources to sign high quality players thus lots of competition. Also the fact that both Stockport and Bradford signed him shows they saw something in him!

[Smyth]

I think it’s worth considering that the teams he has found it difficult to break into have been teams on the up with the resources to sign high quality players thus lots of competition. Also the fact that both Stockport and Bradford signed him shows they saw something in him!

Those points have already been made,  he did find it difficult securing a regular place in League 2 for both Bradford and Stockport.  He did find a more regular place for  Hartlepool and FC Halifax.
Is that what you were getting at?

[Spilsby Red]

Smyth- I mentioned Peterborough to just prove a change in results can alter things. Irrelevant who is there manager. Just an observation

[ncRover]

I think it’s worth considering that the teams he has found it difficult to break into have been teams on the up with the resources to sign high quality players thus lots of competition. Also the fact that both Stockport and Bradford signed him shows they saw something in him!

We finished above Bradford last season. Doing the double over them in the process. Now we’re signing their deadwood to save us.

Players above him in the pecking order signed this season are Joe Wright and Curtis Tilt. Nothing that would have been out of our reach, especially Tilt who I don’t rate.

[i_ateallthepies]

Will give him a chance. But I'm not seeing what he brings that we don't already have in the squad?

He’s cheap ?

He has an Irish name?

[Sprotyrover]

Reminds me of the Swansea Supporters board, they have a space for UNRESERVED BLEATING !

[Donnybax]

I've no idea where the idea that the budget is shit has come from. We've made 16 signings this season!

I don't think the budget is the problem it's how it's used. We've got far too many players.

[selby]

Come on lads, everyone knows I think we have missed used what we have already in the house, but give the club, management,  and the lad a break.
  People were sceptical about Anderson the first half of last season and fornicated over McGrath and Anderson just being the no nonsense steady Eddy was the main reason we did so well.
  Any two from Baily, Pearson, and Byrne could be the way forward and against Huddersfield play Flint and Faulkner if available and see what they can bring to the party next season. You might just get a shock.
   I think we could well have more to look forward to than many realise if we have the b****cks to take a chance.

[Donnywolf]

Give Byrne a chance , disgraceful that abuse he’s receiving before kicking a ball for us -

[Fal]

Come on lads, everyone knows I think we have missed used what we have already in the house, but give the club, management,  and the lad a break.
  People were sceptical about Anderson the first half of last season and fornicated over McGrath and Anderson just being the no nonsense steady Eddy was the main reason we did so well.
  Any two from Baily, Pearson, and Byrne could be the way forward and against Huddersfield play Flint and Faulkner if available and see what they can bring to the party next season. You might just get a shock.
   I think we could well have more to look forward to than many realise if we have the b****cks to take a chance.

Beginning to think you're getting paid heavily from Flint and Faulkner to promote them Selby haha!

[Donnywolf]

Reply to #104 above

Agree and I remember Etheridge I think it was , a young Keeper from Accrington getting panned before he'd caught a ball because the first interview he gave to the Club was judged as a pathetic , nervous ramble and which he never recovered from

He made some errors early on , got the crowd ( some of them ) on his back and the sad thing I remember he was dropped to Sub , but had to come on in a home game and was jeered as he came on and walked towards the South Stand

Poor bugger

[RoseTInteD]

Only on Viking Chat could we have 115 comments about a guy who has not even kicked a ball yet.

Welcome to the squad, Neill, and not all our fans are miserable so-and-so's.

[Ho]

Come on lads, everyone knows I think we have missed used what we have already in the house, but give the club, management,  and the lad a break.
  People were sceptical about Anderson the first half of last season and fornicated over McGrath and Anderson just being the no nonsense steady Eddy was the main reason we did so well.
  Any two from Baily, Pearson, and Byrne could be the way forward and against Huddersfield play Flint and Faulkner if available and see what they can bring to the party next season. You might just get a shock.
   I think we could well have more to look forward to than many realise if we have the b****cks to take a chance.

Beginning to think you're getting paid heavily from Flint and Faulkner to promote them Selby haha!

Bobby's basic defending stats for this season at Harrogate compare favourably with Olowu, Anderson & McGrath's data from L2 2024/25.

[dickos1]

I think it’s worth considering that the teams he has found it difficult to break into have been teams on the up with the resources to sign high quality players thus lots of competition. Also the fact that both Stockport and Bradford signed him shows they saw something in him!

We finished above Bradford last season. Doing the double over them in the process. Now we’re signing their deadwood to save us.

Players above him in the pecking order signed this season are Joe Wright and Curtis Tilt. Nothing that would have been out of our reach, especially Tilt who I don’t rate.

We’ve signed plenty of players over the years that weren’t playing regularly for their club , they then turned out to be very good signings for us.
It’s pretty irrelevent.
Football is all about opinions.

[selby]

Fal, actually trying to use a bit of sense , we have two older end defenders and we have Bailey who has hardly missed a minute this season and can be ready to come on if needed, and others who are in poor form and I have no confidence in are even good enough for this level.
  Flint has already had two very good games in this competition, and Bobby has played well in division 2 and is very close to fitness probably will be back at Harrogate but both can play in this competition I think, can give  a low risk indication of where they are at, and face it can't do much worse than what has been dished up by some defenders this season who want taking out of the firing line for themselves and to give us a chance of getting out of danger.
  Out of the four players we have two, McGrath and Grehan who must be shot of confidence and two who would be full of it, and deserve a chance.
  And I will not hide behind the fact I think are better players.