Conor Masterson D Gillingham b.1998

Glad to see him hold his place in the matchday squad - after his appearance on the bench against Man City, i was thinking that he was making good progress but that a decent loan move would be the best option for him next season, but now it's starting to appear like Klopp has plans for him in the not-too-distant future. Amazing to think that a year ago, our only centre-back options in the Premier League were an about-to-be-relegated John O'Shea in the twilight of his career and Kevin Long, who only had a couple of Premier league games under his belt. And then Declan Rice made his debut and has established himself at West Ham, Shane Duffy and Ciaran Clark got promoted and Long became semi-regular at Burnley. Hopefully Masterson will manage an appearance or two before the end of the season and put himself into contention for regular first-team consideration next season. Plus, if Derby go up, Alex Pearce and/or Richard Keogh could also become Premier League regulars. And we've yet to see how far Lee O'Connor, Ryan Nolan and Tyreke Wilson can go. So definitely some positive developments for our defence over the past/next twelve months.

Interviewed by Newstalk after the match today - https://twitter.com/offtheball/statu...073563650?s=19

FAI posted this earlier, promoting the upcoming pre-season friendly between Liverpool and Napoli

with matip and Gomez gone till February this must surely be a huge chance for him to be involved for Liverpool. he has been back from his knee injury for the last few 23 games and Phillips the other 23s centre half has missed the last few with an Achilles issue

https://m.independent.ie/sport/20yea...-37626918.html . Good news if true be nice to see him in bench at some point over Christmas

Masterson linked with a move to Norwich in the summer in this morning's papers. His contract is up, so it could just be agent talk to get him a new deal at Anfield.

Little bit concerned that he still hasn't made his first team debut, and is arguable behind Corey Whelan in the race to partner van Dijk in defence now following Whelan's loan experience.

Thought Dara O'Shea was the better of the two centre halves in the U21 game against Luxembourg last Sunday, you could see the difference first team football at Exeter had on him.

Wouldn’t be a bad move to be honest, considering Norwich will be in the premier league next season (most likely). Also the qualities in a CB will likely be different in the eyes of Norwich than in the eyes of Liverpool.

Great but hopefully Norwich don't get promoted. Himself and idah and maybe power would have obviously much better chance of playing in championship rather than in a struggling premier league side. I am surprised Masterson s contract is up wasn't there right fanfare about him signing a new contract last summer? He needs games so wherever he goes he needs to play even if its league 1. Thought he looked so comfortable on ball against Luxembourg as he always does. He does need to physically develop alot though

Think Irish players should either go to the championship on loan or leave England altogether.

Signed by QPR > https://www.balls.ie/football/former...ew-club-413416

Interviewed on off the ball last night, Shane Duffy also interviewed

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Interviewed on off the ball last night, Shane Duffy also interviewed

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Thought Nathan Murphy kept going on too much about how amazing it must have been to be at Liverpool and how hard it must have been to leave, it got a bit annoying. Masterson handled it pretty well to be fair

Not even on bench today. He needs to be making a pretty average QPR team

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Originally Posted by Razors left peg

Not even on bench today. He needs to be making a pretty average QPR team

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Makes bench today for first time in league. By God, is there life in Conor’s career yet? Also, QPR playing with 3 centre backs i think so increases his chances. Molumby retains his position for second consecutive league start for Millwall

On at half time for Ball to shore up QPRs leaky defence that has shipped 3 goals vs Brentford. The only man for the job, working so far, still 3-0. First senior league appearance

Hopefully a chance for him to get a run of games after that QPR first half defensive effort.

Starts today ahead of Ball, with Hall in a 4 man defense. Solid first half, some good distribution, cool on the ball, and made some clearances. Got caught out on wrong side of Bamford from a long ball and got away with it. Other than that really solid. Qpr do have a mini centre back injury crisis, hence this op, he’s doing well so far. 1-0 qpr half time

Cheers Tommy. Might stuff.

1-0 victory for qpr. 3rd clean sheet of season coinciding with Masterson’s first league start. He really was good considering the circumstances against high-flying (albeit stuttering) Leeds. One lapse of concentration in 2nd half when he forgot about Bamford behind him who won a penalty, but could argue it was Halls duty to cover across. But other than that he was very good

Yeah excellent today. Pity he has had so much lost time to injury this season. Irish centre half who genuinely comfortable on the ball and wants to pass into midfield and get it back to play not hit constant 60yard diagonals. He forces midfielder s to get on the ball and not hide

QPR fans are impressed with him:

https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/member.../masterson/#18

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Originally Posted by youngirish

QPR fans are impressed with him:

https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/member.../masterson/#18

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Indeed! > From the same site in the match report:

QPR Star Man – Conor Masterson 8 A mature performance from the youngster who capped his display by staying to clap all sides of the ground and even joining in a ‘You R’ss!’, which of course went down a treat for the many home fans still in attendance. If and it’s a big if, he can stay fit and maintain these performances then we may well have a big asset on our hands. He will face tougher battles than that of Patrick Bamford and as he grows will fill out his frame. But at just 21, to play like that in the Championship live on Sky against one of the best teams in the league, well done young man.

The manager was impressed by his display also:
https://www.westlondonsport.com/qpr/...-debut-display

I only saw the last 15 mins and he had one very good carry well into the Leeds half but what stood out was his maturity / confidence. At no point did he look like he felt he was a kid in a man's game.

Very solid first half again from Conor, vs Sheff Wed in FA cup. On the ball a lot, keeping things simple, with one nice cross field ball. Dominating in the air for the most part. One excellent piece of defending when isolated on a 1 to 1, ensured Jacob Murphy had to go wide before he made a classy interception to a raucous applause from the QPR faithful. QPR conceded just before half time when their right back was asleep from a quick throw in, nothing Conor could do about it

Solid second half as well. Did have a mixup with his keeper Lumley, from which Conor recovered well and saved a goal. 100% lumleys fault who should have stayed in his box to enable Conor to head the ball back to him. Overall, good performance from Conor. Hopefully he’s done enough to start again Tuesday night. I think he offers more than Leistner going forward, so perhaps Hall as his partner. The other qpr centre back Barbet also fit again I believe so hopefully Conor can keep his place.

On a side note, Manning was very poor defensively again. The second time I’ve seen him play. He certainly appears to have gone off the boil. If I was him, I would snap up any long term contract qpr are offering and stay another season in championship. He is nowhere near premiership standard at the current time, he has a lot of work to do

Leistner off to Koln in Germany, a huge vote of confidence in Conor. The path is clearer for him now to get a solid run of games

Got in today as late replacement done well it seems . Seemed to be unlucky to be droped a few weeks ago. Nice to see him getting a break

Did well and all according to their fans forum and twitter. Including an excellent sliding block on Hogan in injury time who was going for his hat trick. QPR will be “safe” with one more win or so, really hope Conor will get a firm run of games as they develop him for next season

Club captain Grant Hall has left the club after rejecting contract offer with immediate effect. Great news for Conor who should get an uninterrupted run of games now to close the season

Starting his second game in a row for QPR this afternoon. Fingers crossed he can progress!

interviewed this week on QPR's podcast: https://soundcloud.com/theloftcast/t...ockdown-lifted

Subbed after 33 minutes, after starting in 5 man back line. Really not looking good for him at this stage to make an impact at a high level. Can’t say he hasn’t had chances this season. A number of QPR fans were questioning his legs prior to him being frozen out for the past few games. Dara O’Shea is going from strength to strength, albeit at right back. Nathan Collins has had a very frustrating season, banished to right back for 2 recent games, then whipped off at half time for the terrible James Chester in the most recent game having started centre back. Michael O’Neill really knows how to build a youngsters confidence. Fans haven’t been overly impressed by Collins in any case, has allowed opponents easily skip pass him too many times. Ryan Nolan is a forgotten man, played in relegation playoffs in Serie C for his loan club, and was dropped (perhaps injured) for return leg. He’s unlikely to make it at this stage, and hasn’t impressed me when I’ve seen him, again doesn’t look to have the legs and mobility.

At this stage, looks like Egan and Duffy going forward. Long playing solid for Burnley having had an unexpected run in the team. O’Shea, and possibly Collins if he can mature and get a run of games. There’s obviously a few younger hot prospects, but will have to see how they develop in coming years

I see Masterson was subbed off for a striker. So, clearly there must have been a tactical decision made. Also, I would have little worry for Nathan Collins.

I don't think either need writing off just yet.

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Originally Posted by Olé Olé

I see Masterson was subbed off for a striker. So, clearly there must have been a tactical decision made. Also, I would have little worry for Nathan Collins.

I don't think either need writing off just yet.

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Of course it was tactical, hence I stated 5 man defense. Masterson had a clear run at centre back once Hall moved on, but QPR felt the need to move Cameron back to centre back, and play an unknown 22 year old defender from Sierra Leone ahead of him in recent games. And he is the first to make way in a tactical decision. QPR will bring in at least 2 centre backs over the summer, and Masterson clearly has failed his “test.” I’m not definitely writing him off, just presenting objective data as to why he is unlikely to make it at a high level (a top division and regular international football)

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Originally Posted by youngirish

QPR fans are impressed with him:

https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/member.../masterson/#18

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"Unlikely to make it at a high level"- I think your post is riddled with confirmation bias. He has played a decent number of games for QPR. It is his first season at the club. It is his first season of senior football. He is 21. Geoff Cameron has played a lot of football centre half and is more experienced. The Sierra Leonian (Kakay) you refer to is 22 and has had loan spells so is far more experienced at senior level. I would say he is "unknown" because you are neither a Sierra Leonian or QPR supporter (correct me if I'm wrong). Is Kakay not a full back?

"Presenting objective data"- Anyone can espouse objective data. Being objective when selecting the objective data to espouse is a little different.

I think you are unnecessarily leaning towards writing Masterson off.

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Originally Posted by Olé Olé

"Unlikely to make it at a high level"- I think your post is riddled with confirmation bias. He has played a decent number of games for QPR. It is his first season at the club. It is his first season of senior football. He is 21. Geoff Cameron has played a lot of football centre half and is more experienced. The Sierra Leonian (Kakay) you refer to is 22 and has had loan spells so is far more experienced at senior level. I would say he is "unknown" because you are neither a Sierra Leonian or QPR supporter (correct me if I'm wrong). Is Kakay not a full back?

"Presenting objective data"- Anyone can espouse objective data. Being objective when selecting the objective data to espouse is a little different.

I think you are unnecessarily leaning towards writing Masterson off.

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Yes I believe he’s a full back. But there was talk of Masterson getting a run there a la O’Shea. Cameron was playing defensive midfield for the QPR games I’ve seen this year, but he was pushed back to cover Masterson. All I’m saying is Masterson has not established himself as a centre half at a club currently at league one standard skinned down to its bare bones, with only 2 fit centre halves, with Cameron playing as defensive midfielder mostly this season (granted he’s also a centre half). They will buy at least 2 new centre halves over the summer. At this stage, it is unlikely that Masterson who will be 22 when the new season starts will be a top player.

Im basing this on seeing him in 20 or so matches, and I do agree he looked promising in the first few games with QPR, but this was allowing for the leeway given to a youngster in his initial breakthrough (for example he was clearly shaky against Leeds and Bamford showed him up a couple of times). I haven’t seen him this side of lockdown but have read the two QPR forums and other reports and he clearly hasn’t pushed on. Perhaps my memory is foggy, so perhaps you can add recall bias to my confirmation bias as flaws in my argument.

I wrote Idah off early, and he’s proving me wrong thus far. Let’s hope I’m wrong about Masterson, but the signs are pointing in the wrong direction

If there's one part of the team we shouldn't need to worry about its the defence. O'Shea is developing incredibly well, Collins is doing very well for his age and Masterson is getting first team games as well. Ebosele looks like he might be the next young defender to break through.

Today was just a tactical thing, I'd expect him to outlast Warburton at QPR to be honest so I wouldn't draw too many conclusions based on Warburton's ineptness.

That said he does seem to be a bit behind Collins and O'Shea despite being the oldest of the three. But he's playing a good amount of Championship football at 21 so he's doing fine for now.

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Originally Posted by Eirambler

If there's one part of the team we shouldn't need to worry about its the defence. O'Shea is developing incredibly well, Collins is doing very well for his age and Masterson is getting first team games as well. Ebosele looks like he might be the next young defender to break through.

Today was just a tactical thing, I'd expect him to outlast Warburton at QPR to be honest so I wouldn't draw too many conclusions based on Warburton's ineptness.

That said he does seem to be a bit behind Collins and O'Shea despite being the oldest of the three. But he's playing a good amount of Championship football at 21 so he's doing fine for now.

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Masterson definitely needed to get league football earlier and liverpool held him back and he was also unlucky to be injured in his last preseason there when he likely would have gone on loan. He is such a lovely footballer and so comfortable on the ball I think he has a real chance given how most top flight teams now play and relatively speaking how few centre halves have that footballing ability. Physically he is not where he should be though and he really needs to put serious muscle on that lanky frame and he is the only one who can knuckle down and push himself to do that. No harm remembering where John Egan was at Masterson s age. To be fair QPR forums seem to think he shouldn't have been.pulled off today similar to stokes forums reactions to Collins been withdrawn against Leeds.

Ebosele has only been converted to fullback this season so i wonder how he will manage defensively in league football cause certainly underage he was an out and out winger and even emergency striker . He seems to have put on serious muscle though so he must be a committed lad .

I'd agree with pretty much all of that. Similar to Masterson John Egan had played less than 20 games of league football at this stage of his career and almost all of those were in League 2. Obviously not every player kicks on the way Egan did but it's far to early to write Masterson off. The time to judge him will be in 12 or 24 months time. Hopefully he'll be an established Championship player by then, if he is he will again be ahead of Egan at the same age.