Was kind of hoping Christie Ward would have progressed to maybe national league level by now. He certainly had a few people expecting big things. Hopefully still time.
Sure there was some element of him having played higher but resetting due to injuries too, so maybe having a played a fair bit of loan football you'd expect him to be flying, might be difficult to place some players though if they aren't personally known to the coaching staff or haven't got a good highlights reel.
And I don’t know how we use loan system. I assume Woodhouse and Clark are closer to the first team than Ward because they’re loaned to a higher level, but I don’t know that for sure. It could be that Tonbridge promised him 90 minutes a week and that’s more important. Or that he’d be a good mentor for Brody Peart while they‘re there.
agree @micra Obviously Bakinson was seen as a step up from Butcher...but sadly he wasn't. Might not have been Butcher's position but I feel he might have made a better fist of it after Morley went myself.
Butch was great tail end of last season, don't know if he maybe had a knock or poor pre-season but looked a shadow of himself early on this season, then you unfortunately end up needing games but not really justifying them...and then they buy someone else. Glad he's doing well on loan, may not be last we've seen of him.
It may be reading too much into a stock media comment, but out of all of the recent senior loans that were made, Butcher was the only one where Dan Rice explicitly said that the club looked forward to him coming back in the summer - the likes of Hanlan and Hartridge got a more non-commital, “we’ll be monitoring their progress”.
I don't think it is unfair to say that Butcher saved our season. We were in a total funk and his play allowed others to perform. Hence why so many have a soft spot for him. And he seems like a really decent chap.
You could be right of course, but I don't think we actually know contract lengths - COTN lists all three (Butcher, Hartridge, Hanlan) as out of contract as of June 2025, but that's an estimated date (in GasMan's own words) not a confirmed one.
It's amazing isn't it? Morley wasn't good enough for Bolton. Butcher not good enough for us. Both excelled at other clubs. A fresh start and new surroundings can do the world of good.
I feel sorry for Butcher in particular because last season he changed us. He was just what we needed at the time.
Now I just don't think he is quite a good enough "footballer" for what we are trying.
Any news on whether any of the development boys have gone back out on loan? I think Woodhouse went to Aldershot but haven’t noticed any news on the likes of Ward, Clarke and Bartolo
Comments
Bit harsh on Jeremy Santos
Peart and Ward gone to Tonbridge Angels too. Dotse gone to Winchester to wait for this all to blow over. No word yet on a new loan for Bartolo.
Edit: didn't notice a new page started
Was kind of hoping Christie Ward would have progressed to maybe national league level by now. He certainly had a few people expecting big things. Hopefully still time.
Me too. A player’s development isn’t always linear, but given Ward played for the first team in 2023 I’d hope he’d have progressed further by now.
Sure there was some element of him having played higher but resetting due to injuries too, so maybe having a played a fair bit of loan football you'd expect him to be flying, might be difficult to place some players though if they aren't personally known to the coaching staff or haven't got a good highlights reel.
Exactly so.
And I don’t know how we use loan system. I assume Woodhouse and Clark are closer to the first team than Ward because they’re loaned to a higher level, but I don’t know that for sure. It could be that Tonbridge promised him 90 minutes a week and that’s more important. Or that he’d be a good mentor for Brody Peart while they‘re there.
Just seen Matt Butcher is getting rave reviews from Rovers fans, they all want him to sign permanently
He is a very decent player. I just feel his credentials have not necessarily suited what we have needed when we needed it.... if that makes sense 😅
I would have Butcher ahead of both Bakinson and Leahy. Presumably he won’t be able to play against us next week🤞
Agree re Bakinson, not Leahy.
No, he won’t. Feels like a relief, interestingly.
Taylor Clarke has returned from his loan at Wealdstone. Can't have helped they changed managers after his first game.
agree @micra Obviously Bakinson was seen as a step up from Butcher...but sadly he wasn't. Might not have been Butcher's position but I feel he might have made a better fist of it after Morley went myself.
They are completely different players. I think Bakinson's done a great job for us recently as it happens and has turned in some very good performances
Butch was great tail end of last season, don't know if he maybe had a knock or poor pre-season but looked a shadow of himself early on this season, then you unfortunately end up needing games but not really justifying them...and then they buy someone else. Glad he's doing well on loan, may not be last we've seen of him.
I was completely staggered to see two posters describe Bakinson as "lazy" in recent posts.
I wish that I were staggered by that, but..... you know.
It may be reading too much into a stock media comment, but out of all of the recent senior loans that were made, Butcher was the only one where Dan Rice explicitly said that the club looked forward to him coming back in the summer - the likes of Hanlan and Hartridge got a more non-commital, “we’ll be monitoring their progress”.
Is that because those two are out of contract?
If we go up, I don't think any of them will still be here
Bakinson, Butcher, Hanlan, Hartridge, Leahy ?
I reckon so. I can see there being a big turnover.
I don't think it is unfair to say that Butcher saved our season. We were in a total funk and his play allowed others to perform. Hence why so many have a soft spot for him. And he seems like a really decent chap.
No one's denying that Butcher was great last season, but he didn't get anywhere near that form this year.
Much better for him to be playing regular football than not even sitting on our bench.
You could be right of course, but I don't think we actually know contract lengths - COTN lists all three (Butcher, Hartridge, Hanlan) as out of contract as of June 2025, but that's an estimated date (in GasMan's own words) not a confirmed one.
It's amazing isn't it? Morley wasn't good enough for Bolton. Butcher not good enough for us. Both excelled at other clubs. A fresh start and new surroundings can do the world of good.
I feel sorry for Butcher in particular because last season he changed us. He was just what we needed at the time.
Now I just don't think he is quite a good enough "footballer" for what we are trying.
I’m still pleased that he won’t be playing against us on Tuesday though.
Any news on whether any of the development boys have gone back out on loan? I think Woodhouse went to Aldershot but haven’t noticed any news on the likes of Ward, Clarke and Bartolo
Ward is on loan at Tonbridge, Brody Peart is also there.