York City sign Blackburn Rovers centre-back Jack O'Connell on loan (From York Press)
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York City sign Blackburn Rovers centre-back Jack O'Connell on loan
11:50am Wednesday 23rd January 2013 in Sport
By Dave Flett, Sports reporter
Blackburn Rovers centre-back Jack O’Connell in action for York City in yesterday’s 1-0 reserve defeat against Scunthorpe
ENGLAND under-19 international Jack O’Connell looks set to make his York City debut at Gillingham on Saturday after signing a one-month loan deal from Blackburn Rovers.
The 18-year-old defender was recruited by City boss Gary Mills after impressing as a trialist for the club during yesterday’s 1-0 reserve defeat to Scunthorpe and, with David McGurk having joined fellow centre-back Chris Doig in the treatment room, could go straight into the team at Priestfield.
A hamstring injury means McGurk is ruled out against the Kent high-fliers and, with O’Connell having made three appearances on loan at League Two rivals Rotherham before Christmas, Mills would not be afraid to pitch him straight in against Martin Allen’s side this weekend.
The Minstermen chief said: “David McGurk has gone down with a hamstring and won’t be fit for Saturday and Chris Doig won’t be either so Jack’s a possible option for Saturday.
"He’s left-sided and he’s played a few games in the division after his spell with Rotherham. He’s also played for England U19s and reminds me of Ben Gibson in the way he runs and plays. He also passes the ball well.”
Mills ran the rule over O’Connell’s fellow trialists Jameel Ible, Martin Devaney and David McDaid as well against the Iron.
Centre-back Ible, 19, is currently on Salford City’s books, with Mills also impressed by his potential, adding: “He plays for Salford but lives in Leeds and I like him.
“He’s got good attributes for a centre-half and will get better and better if we decided to do something with him.”
On League of Ireland pair Devaney and McDaid, meanwhile, Mills said: “David McDaid is the type of player I am looking for.
“He can play down the middle or as one of the wide strikers. Martin Devaney also did okay (yesterday) although it’s always difficult when you have not played for a while.”
Mills added the performance of John McReady was one of the biggest positives from the Scunthorpe game as he continues his comeback from a dislocated shoulder.
The 20-year-old midfielder, who has been on the bench in recent matches, has not played for the first team since mid-September but is now inching closer to a recall with Mills saying: “It was good to see John McReady getting sharper and fitter. He needed that game and perhaps needs two or three more.
“It was a good workout for our players because we needed a game and it was a competitive match. The final scoreline was a bit harsh on us although that was irrelevant really. It was more about what we got out of the game.”
Oli Johnson, meanwhile, completed 20 minutes as a second-half substitute for McDaid, following his two-month lay-off due to groin and stomach problems.
On the former Norwich forward’s comeback, Mills said: “I didn’t want him to do too much but we gave him a little workout. He’s got to get sharp now like John McReady, who’s been working hard to get fit.”
Yesterday’s City team also included first-team squad members Lanre Oyebanjo, Tom Allan, Jon Challinor, Lee Bullock and Ben Everson, who shaved the bar with the hosts’ best opportunity.
Left-back Danny Blanchett was not involved, however, with Mills revealing he has been made available for transfer.
“We are trying to get him a club at the moment and are hoping something can be sorted,” the City manager explained.
Experienced midfielder Lee Bullock will also be free to leave Bootham Crescent before the transfer window closes having failed to break back into City’s starting line up since being recalled from his loan spell at Gateshead.
Mills added: “Bully has expressed he wants to go and play games, which I understand at his age.
“People know he’s available but nothing’s come up yet and, because he is such a good pro, I know I will get a good shift from him if needed.”
Comments(34)
updarails123
says...
6:35pm Tue 22 Jan 13
Would be better off signing for the rails
Edsoni
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6:52pm Tue 22 Jan 13
Gives some additional cover given injuries and the departure of Carlisle.
Lets give all the new signings more than five minutes before we rush to judgement.
brahma
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7:18pm Tue 22 Jan 13
johnno65
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7:56pm Tue 22 Jan 13
updarails123 wrote:Yes why? we have a young talented defender who has had 2 sub appearances, stop wasting time and effort and work with what we have,improve tactics, set play we now have Rodman and Elerson, Platt and McReady back, TY and smith playing well and keeping clean sheets, Potts finally on the pitch instead of the stands. dont upset something that is close to working.
Why!!
updarails123
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8:11pm Tue 22 Jan 13
Updarails
new_fr
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8:28pm Tue 22 Jan 13
OLD - HEAD
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8:44pm Tue 22 Jan 13
Tug job
says...
8:54pm Tue 22 Jan 13
OLD - HEAD wrote:Perhaps Millsy intends playing him as a striker/winger?
I am sure that this young lad will be a very good player, I have no doubt about that. But with so many centre back options already at the club - McGurk, Smith, Parslow, Fyfield, Oyebanjo, Doig and Allan - I would have thought that getting some strikers in would have been much more of a priority. Even the Manager has been quoted as wanting strikers and wingers.
duffy
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9:13pm Tue 22 Jan 13
OLD - HEAD wrote:He can play left back and played five games on loan for Rotherham. Very highly rated and in for Fyfield I would have thought.
I am sure that this young lad will be a very good player, I have no doubt about that. But with so many centre back options already at the club - McGurk, Smith, Parslow, Fyfield, Oyebanjo, Doig and Allan - I would have thought that getting some strikers in would have been much more of a priority. Even the Manager has been quoted as wanting strikers and wingers.
Dortmun
says...
9:19pm Tue 22 Jan 13
The highly-rated defender is tipped for the very top and Rovers are hoping they will be the ones to benefit from his talents.
The 18-year-old, who can operate at left-back or as a centre-half, made the step up into reserve set-up at Ewood Park in 2011/12 and is expected to be knocking on the first-team door in the near future.
Blackburn fended off interest from a number of their North West rivals to bring O'Connell into their academy ranks and are determined to ensure that he remains on their books.
It is understood that the youngster has agreed to commit his immediate future to the club by penning a two-year deal.
Rovers will welcome positive news on the contract front, with the club still coming to terms with their relegation out of the Premier League.
tips
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9:23pm Tue 22 Jan 13
It's a chance for Gary Mills to see if he could be an option in the close season if he became available
OLD - HEAD
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9:46am Wed 23 Jan 13
eborexile
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12:58pm Wed 23 Jan 13
On Saturday, given the update above, I wouldn't be surprised to see Parslow back in the middle with Oyebanjo right side. O'Connell taking the Gibson role and Bullock just in front of the back four. Equally I won't be surprised if I was proved wrong.
Some old bloke
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1:44pm Wed 23 Jan 13
brahma
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2:11pm Wed 23 Jan 13
yorkiemike
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2:19pm Wed 23 Jan 13
Whatever the result they should get a terrific reception at BC and it should be a cracking game.
Well done Bradford!
paddymacwakey
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2:42pm Wed 23 Jan 13
The_Baron89
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3:30pm Wed 23 Jan 13
Baggy Y Fronts
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4:46pm Wed 23 Jan 13
robiniorocks
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5:07pm Wed 23 Jan 13
Read more: http://www.york.vita
lfootball.co.uk/arti
cle.asp?a=306421#ixz
z2IocTkrvz
RooBeck
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5:09pm Wed 23 Jan 13
SamYCFC
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5:11pm Wed 23 Jan 13
Dortmun
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7:42pm Wed 23 Jan 13
The_Baron89
says...
7:56pm Wed 23 Jan 13
Dortmun wrote:Dead funny that. Thanks for posting.
Great we can now put a full team of central defenders out including C Smith in goal. lol
Dortmun
says...
8:04pm Wed 23 Jan 13
The_Baron89 wrote:Thanks for taking the time to read it.
Dortmun wrote:Dead funny that. Thanks for posting.
Great we can now put a full team of central defenders out including C Smith in goal. lol
Obvious lack of sense of humor. .
Yorkieroy60
says...
9:09pm Wed 23 Jan 13
RooBeck wrote:Yeh Rochdale made it to the FL Cup Final all those years ago & guess who they beat in the Quarter Finals?-yep you've got it Super City after we'd beaten the likes of Leicester City then a First Division Club(Gordon Banks was in goal) Bristol City & Watford-maybe we thought Rochdale would be easy meat but unfortunately not!
Yes, very well done Bradford and a great performance - we must watch out for their big centre-half at corners and free-kicks! Nice to see a team from the lower regions make it to the final of a major competition.(51 years after Rochdale made the final. Fancy Chelsea to beat The Swans to-night and take the other final place and if so, can The Bantams claim a European place if it is Chelsea and who are likely to go into the Champions League?!! Can Swansea be nominated for Europe by the English FA??) Should be a cracking match at BC on the 2nd. March - a full house maybe, and the second Yorkshire derby for us in four days!!! Can't wait! COYR.
brahma
says...
8:03am Thu 24 Jan 13
Yorkieroy60 wrote:Re Swansea City, the following from BBC website 21/03/2012 relates.
RooBeck wrote:Yeh Rochdale made it to the FL Cup Final all those years ago & guess who they beat in the Quarter Finals?-yep you've got it Super City after we'd beaten the likes of Leicester City then a First Division Club(Gordon Banks was in goal) Bristol City & Watford-maybe we thought Rochdale would be easy meat but unfortunately not!
Yes, very well done Bradford and a great performance - we must watch out for their big centre-half at corners and free-kicks! Nice to see a team from the lower regions make it to the final of a major competition.(51 years after Rochdale made the final. Fancy Chelsea to beat The Swans to-night and take the other final place and if so, can The Bantams claim a European place if it is Chelsea and who are likely to go into the Champions League?!! Can Swansea be nominated for Europe by the English FA??) Should be a cracking match at BC on the 2nd. March - a full house maybe, and the second Yorkshire derby for us in four days!!! Can't wait! COYR.
Uefa give Swansea and Cardiff European assurance
Welsh clubs Swansea City and Cardiff City have been told by Uefa the only way they can qualify for Europe is by representing the English league.
Swansea and Cardiff are among six Welsh clubs in the English system and there had been uncertainty they could qualify for Europe via the English pyramid.
chalkytalky
says...
9:24am Thu 24 Jan 13
Irish triallists not up to much by all accounts :(
brahma
says...
2:39pm Thu 24 Jan 13
chalkytalky wrote:As Robiniorocks observed in this string yesterday, the other CB is likely to be Ible from Salford City. As for the Irish triallists, far from not being up to much, Mills thought they were OK. All of this stuff is a matter of inches above your post, chalkytalky, but I'll post it here for your convenience.
Apparently another CB has been signed up by Mills too (as well as O'Connell). Not sure who he is though.
Irish triallists not up to much by all accounts :(
" Centre-back Ible, 19, is currently on Salford City’s books, with Mills also impressed by his potential, adding: “He plays for Salford but lives in Leeds and I like him.
“He’s got good attributes for a centre-half and will get better and better if we decided to do something with him.”
On League of Ireland pair Devaney and McDaid, meanwhile, Mills said: “David McDaid is the type of player I am looking for.
“He can play down the middle or as one of the wide strikers. Martin Devaney also did okay (yesterday) although it’s always difficult when you have not played for a while.”
RooBeck
says...
3:33pm Thu 24 Jan 13
brahma wrote:There is of course one scenario I didn't highlight - The Bantams could win the cup and they are probably going to be less fazed at the prospect of Swansea than Chelsea! Will the English FA allow that, or, is it only Premiership/Champion
Yorkieroy60 wrote:Re Swansea City, the following from BBC website 21/03/2012 relates.
RooBeck wrote:Yeh Rochdale made it to the FL Cup Final all those years ago & guess who they beat in the Quarter Finals?-yep you've got it Super City after we'd beaten the likes of Leicester City then a First Division Club(Gordon Banks was in goal) Bristol City & Watford-maybe we thought Rochdale would be easy meat but unfortunately not!
Yes, very well done Bradford and a great performance - we must watch out for their big centre-half at corners and free-kicks! Nice to see a team from the lower regions make it to the final of a major competition.(51 years after Rochdale made the final. Fancy Chelsea to beat The Swans to-night and take the other final place and if so, can The Bantams claim a European place if it is Chelsea and who are likely to go into the Champions League?!! Can Swansea be nominated for Europe by the English FA??) Should be a cracking match at BC on the 2nd. March - a full house maybe, and the second Yorkshire derby for us in four days!!! Can't wait! COYR.
Uefa give Swansea and Cardiff European assurance
Welsh clubs Swansea City and Cardiff City have been told by Uefa the only way they can qualify for Europe is by representing the English league.
Swansea and Cardiff are among six Welsh clubs in the English system and there had been uncertainty they could qualify for Europe via the English pyramid.
ship clubs that can go forward into European competitions? One thing is for certain, Valley Parade(or whatever their new sponsors call it), is a fine stadium and would appear to meet higher standards! Anyhow, their visit to BC six days after Wembley is set to be a great occasion and hope that Bradford arrive as cup winners, only then to go back to West Yorkshire, less the three points!! COYR.
The_Baron89
says...
4:04pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Dortmun wrote:Like your 'humor' is missing the second u?
The_Baron89 wrote:Thanks for taking the time to read it. Obvious lack of sense of humor. .Dortmun wrote: Great we can now put a full team of central defenders out including C Smith in goal. lolDead funny that. Thanks for posting.
Dortmun
says...
6:03pm Thu 24 Jan 13
The_Baron89 wrote:Yawn Yawn Yawn. xxxxxxxxx
Dortmun wrote:Like your 'humor' is missing the second u?
The_Baron89 wrote:Thanks for taking the time to read it. Obvious lack of sense of humor. .Dortmun wrote: Great we can now put a full team of central defenders out including C Smith in goal. lolDead funny that. Thanks for posting.
Dortmun
says...
6:11pm Thu 24 Jan 13
updarails123 says...
6:34pm Tue 22 Jan 13