Retained list

[Reg of the Rovers]

TBH, I would like us to bring in a 1 or 2 Ben Whiteman types (physically) - I do think we have been out-muscled a bit by teams this year.   It might also help if we are to persist with the long throw options.

I fully agree Micky. Size isn't everything as other have said - I'd much rather head in to a scrap next to Gotts rather than Broadbent, but generally speaking strength and size are a more direct way to be effective, Lincoln as case in point as others have said - they weren't prime Barca knocking the ball around, but they were an average of 6ft and all strong and physical. We need a bit more of that!

[Chris Black come back]

It’s no good starting with attributes blindly. You start surely primarily from what is the set up you want to play. Then select players who can both work and prosper in that set up. Only after that do you then look at attributes. No good for instance signing a load of giants if your game is possession football.

This is why the absence of pace in our side is mystifying. Whole McCann game is low possession, getting ball up field quickly and out wide. That’s the attribute of a player for his system.

[5minstogo]

I think McCann has probably realised having one of every type of player is counter productive to playing one particular style of football. Frankie, Sharp and Hanlan all different. Gibson, Middleton, Haks all different yet expected to play the same role. Hopefully he is looking st recruiting specific players with attributes specific to their role in our team. Also hope he stops with this "Can play anywhere across the top three" nonsense. Don't think one signing he's said that about actually can.

[Ian Nimmo]

McCann will be looking for pace AND physicality.

He said in his Posh pre-match we have been overpowered in games we have struggled in.

We need more direct options, it suits his teams.

We need more athleticism undoubtedly. Everyone doesn’t have to be 6’3 though. Why didn’t we need more pace and physicality when we were signing players 12 months ago? Is it a new thing?

It’s easy to pivot towards a new set of requirements and actually start overlooking other stuff that’s important.

No gaz not a new thing.
However it’s been clear to most people that we have not been strong enough against a number of teams this season.
So this needs to be serious consideration when recruiting this summer.

[Ian Nimmo]

It’s not that difficult to figure out. Hanlan is still contracted, the others (excluding Middleton who desperately wants out) aren’t.

Hanlan is a fine 3rd choice striker who will occasionally come on out wide too and act as a bit of a nuisance/spoiler towards the end of some games.

This says it all about Hanlan. Signed has lead striker but not considered good enough by many, or fine for 3rd choice.
I have said before, expensive on budget to have someone on wages when expected to be no1, but now only low squad player.

[StocksArmy]

I’ve no doubt Hanlan would be allowed to leave if an offer came in, but it seems highly unlikely that will happen. He’s not going to drop down to a level his ability matches while he’s still under contract with us. I’d be surprised if GM has him in his plans for next season. I appreciate that he puts the effort in, but I find it baffling when people suggest he’s actually been any good. Shown spells but that’s about it.

It’s a shame things haven’t worked out with Middleton, for both sides. There’s clearly a player in there, but it feels as though GM may have been persuaded into signing him, as he doesn’t really fit the McCann style. That said, he could be a real asset to a team that plays alongside a striker who dominates aerially.

As for the rest, I think the decisions are spot on. It was the right time for Maxwell and Close to move on, and Gibbo perhaps shows why some players never quite reach the level they’re capable of mainly due to inconsistency. Best of luck to all of them, and thanks for their efforts and the memories from last season.

[Barmby Rover]

The daft thing is that I can see us signing a striker that would get on the end on Middletons crosses, then let Middleton go.

Ironside was that man

You mean that player who has struggled to score and keep his place in a team 20th in League 2 and does more bench warming than playing? When we shipped him out he was irrelevant, as Hanlan is.

[Shawn_drfc]

I think Hanlon will start on the right wing next season with 3 new strikers being signed for next season ,the last 2 home games when he played on the right he has been outstanding and I said all season he is not a number 9 but a winger and a good one when played in his true position

I think outstanding is a bit overboard, he has been decent, He gave Stevenage's LB some issues, quick yellow helped as the lad couldn't jump in etc, but then when they took him off and sub came on, it levelled out.

My issue is that Hanlan playing on the right, he can't cross etc, he knows this because when he got the ball, he knocked it back to Sterry to whip it in.

Still have worries about his touch etc, again can play a depth position and come on last 20 minutes but if he is Starting right of a front 3 we haven't learnt from this season.

[Ian Nimmo]

I think Hanlon will start on the right wing next season with 3 new strikers being signed for next season ,the last 2 home games when he played on the right he has been outstanding and I said all season he is not a number 9 but a winger and a good one when played in his true position

I think outstanding is a bit overboard, he has been decent, He gave Stevenage's LB some issues, quick yellow helped as the lad couldn't jump in etc, but then when they took him off and sub came on, it levelled out.

My issue is that Hanlan playing on the right, he can't cross etc, he knows this because when he got the ball, he knocked it back to Sterry to whip it in.

Still have worries about his touch etc, again can play a depth position and come on last 20 minutes but if he is Starting right of a front 3 we haven't learnt vfrom this season.

You state he can’t cross and still have worries about his touch etc.
Add this that he very rarely takes on a player and get past him. He wins a small percentage of headers. He has a very low score ratio.
Thus the question is what his he good at?

[selby]

 Getting paid to play football.

[mpc123]

Sometimes its not about the person being the finished article, but someone as a coach and a style of play you could possibly mould, how quick that happens, if it happens, who knows, along with fitting the budget.

So with Hanlan, I think that is the case. At some point we had no choice to have him as first choice upfront because of injuries.

So next year with a full season just played and learnt by do the coaches and the player understand more.


Can they all use a full pre season now to get where they need to be,that could be lone upfront or out wide or back up.

With where we are club size, fan base, budget. This has to be sometimes our process as to get a player  upfront with instant success is going to cost a hell of a lot of money upfront and wages, the rest of the team / squad will have to deteriate in some way to allow it.

Lets see where they get with him and others, I personally think there is something there, if we play to those attributes and if we can get him where we need to play him and succeed, we will soon find out.

Today what it doesn't make him is a bad player.

Looking forward to seeing next season and if the potential players can make it or the new ones that come in, will they take time, or take the league by storm from day one.

Most of the fans favourites today have taken time or been through stages of hero to zero at some point.

I think it just needs a realism perspective of which is for league one you dont need a striker upfront to score loads of goals to be successful, take a look at the top goals scorers for the league thus season all if them are for teams that are lowly placed in the league.

[ncRover]

My predictions:

Kyle Hurst: Solihull
James Maxwell: Dundee Utd
Glenn Middleton: Falkirk
Ben Close: Crawley
Zain Westbrooke: Scunthorpe
Joe Sbarra: Shrewsbury
Billy Sharp and Jordan Gibson: York

[EasyforDennis]

I think Hanlon will start on the right wing next season with 3 new strikers being signed for next season ,the last 2 home games when he played on the right he has been outstanding and I said all season he is not a number 9 but a winger and a good one when played in his true position

I think outstanding is a bit overboard, he has been decent, He gave Stevenage's LB some issues, quick yellow helped as the lad couldn't jump in etc, but then when they took him off and sub came on, it levelled out.

My issue is that Hanlan playing on the right, he can't cross etc, he knows this because when he got the ball, he knocked it back to Sterry to whip it in.

Still have worries about his touch etc, again can play a depth position and come on last 20 minutes but if he is Starting right of a front 3 we haven't learnt vfrom this season.

You state he can’t cross and still have worries about his touch etc.
Add this that he very rarely takes on a player and get past him. He wins a small percentage of headers. He has a very low score ratio.
Thus the question is what his he good at?

A couple of those points could equally apply to everyones favourite player 

[Chris Black come back]

As a result we need the following:

2 senior keepers
1 or maybe 2 left backs
1 left winger
2 strikers
1 central midfielder
Potentially 1 centre back depending on whether Grehan and Faulkner are going to be in the squad

Lots more we could look at but the retained list makes the above the baseline.

Turns out this was pretty much entirely on the money. McCann confirmed today he is looking to sign:

2 keepers to fight for the spot
Left back
Centre back
Central midfielder
Wide right player
Wide left player
2 strikers

[MachoMadness]

McCann saying Middleton asked to leave in January and nearly did, but we blocked the move late on.

[Usher wide.]

As a result we need the following:

2 senior keepers
1 or maybe 2 left backs
1 left winger
2 strikers
1 central midfielder
Potentially 1 centre back depending on whether Grehan and Faulkner are going to be in the squad

Lots more we could look at but the retained list makes the above the baseline.

Turns out this was pretty much entirely on the money. McCann confirmed today he is looking to sign:

2 keepers to fight for the spot
Left back
Centre back
Central midfielder
Wide right player
Wide left player
2 strikers

Where did you see this CB?

It’s exactly the positions & numbers we need.

We just need to ensure they’re better quality than we started last season with of course.

[Usher wide.]

Just seen the link on ‘New Striker’ topic.

[Metalmicky]

Challenge laid for Bobby Faulkner...

https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/grant-mccann-lays-down-challenge-to-player-who-doncaster-rovers-fans-havent-seen-for-31-months-8550916

[Rupee92ONLY]

Doesn’t sound too great for him. I read that as an admittance he’s been kept on so we don’t lose him for no fee. McCann isn’t having him I don’t think.

[GazLaz]

Doesn’t sound too great for him. I read that as an admittance he’s been kept on so we don’t lose him for no fee. McCann isn’t having him I don’t think.

McCann is just not having him is he.

[drfcsteve]

Best thing McCann could do is play him… even if it’s just in the cups initially.

There’s no point in saying he needs to prove himself and then giving him zero opportunities.

[Chris Black come back]

Doesn’t sound too great for him. I read that as an admittance he’s been kept on so we don’t lose him for no fee. McCann isn’t having him I don’t think.

McCann is just not having him is he.

Could barely be less enthusiastic short of not giving him the contract extension.

[GazLaz]

Best thing McCann could do is play him… even if it’s just in the cups initially.

There’s no point in saying he needs to prove himself and then giving him zero opportunities.

He was ok when he played 3 years ago by the way. Politics are involved in these decisions and Grant may not like the character of the lad, who knows.

We are talking about club assets, not Grant McCann assets here as well. Grant was adamant that Jay was a million pound plus player last summer. We rejected a strong bid which is ultimately looking like the wrong decision (this may change again btw, players do develop). I'd like to see a quantifiable case for the perceived gap in value between the two players.

[GazLaz]

Best thing McCann could do is play him… even if it’s just in the cups initially.

There’s no point in saying he needs to prove himself and then giving him zero opportunities.

Its difficult to carry 5 centre halves in a squad though. With Grehan, Jay and Pearson we have an unbalanced group that contains two unproven or with question marks and one past his best. That's forcing us to recruit another. Giving Pearson two years was another horror decision. Its another example of them not having a clue what they were signing. I honestly don't see how the % of budget wasted due to poor signings decreases significantly next season. Another thing to add into the mix is that we are odds on to have a worse player availability % than this season, that will be through no fault of anyone just natural variance.

[PACMAN]

Doesn’t sound too great for him. I read that as an admittance he’s been kept on so we don’t lose him for no fee. McCann isn’t having him I don’t think.

I don’t read it like that at all, it’s McCann saying go out there and prove me wrong. Personally I hope young Mr Faulkner does just that, we need to be unearthing gems from either the academy or non league as we certainly can’t compete financially with some of the teams in this division

[selby]

  The quote bit in the conversation is about the only real part of the conversation Grant has had with Bobby.
  He knows what he has to do here and happy to face up to the challenge, and is well thought of elsewhere in the game, his best option is to be here for the next season.
 Gaz has the info on record and knows more than he is letting on  I think.
  If he starts the season like he ended last season in the first team he will be hard to hold onto, and will be good value to other clubs with his contract running out if the club just sit back like Olowu, and can use the fact he has been ignored for the period by the club to any tribunal.  Its wake up time.
  As for his character you wouldn't meet a nicer kid anywhere, completely different off the field to on it, very humble and respectful, just wants to play football and has just been away for a paddle holiday with past and present team mates at the Rovers to Portugal.
  But he isn't daft, and playing on loan has given him confidence in himself and what he is capable of. Non of the managers he has played for on loan has a bad word to say about his quality or his attitude to the team he plays for always giving one hundred per cent on and off the field.
  He has built friendships for life at all the clubs he has played for and keeps an interest in their results and watches  lads play when he is able to at a lot of clubs Scunthorpe and Buxton especially with friends playing, a good all round lad.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

He just needs a good pre season, if he can do that and not get injured he can play himself in to favour.

[selby]

  I know one thing. if I was Grehan, McGrath, or Williams I wouldn't want McCann to leave.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Doesn’t sound too great for him. I read that as an admittance he’s been kept on so we don’t lose him for no fee. McCann isn’t having him I don’t think.

I don’t read it like that at all, it’s McCann saying go out there and prove me wrong. Personally I hope young Mr Faulkner does just that, we need to be unearthing gems from either the academy or non league as we certainly can’t compete financially with some of the teams in this division

Likewise. Just a common sense approach as it is down to Bobby to show he's benefitted from the loan at Harrogate and he's ready to grab the shirt and keep hold of it.

He needed that full season loan to show he was robust enough to cope for a full season and although he suffered yet another injury, he got back in reasonable time to perform until the end of the season. Surely we can see that was better for him, than being on the periphery here where his game time was likely to be alot less.

Every reason to believe Bobby will be starting with a clean slate with an equal chance of earning a place in the starting XI.

[Barmby Rover]

Herbie Kane has been released by Plymouth, maybe too old or too expensive though.