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Rob Holding

Rob Holding

Want to know more about our latest signing Rob Holding? Find out what former team-mates, managers and local journalists said about the young defender...

 
Derik Osede Former Bolton team-mate Derik Osede
"I heard the rumours when they started last season. I think it's a great step for him. He needs to be at a team who will help him grow as a player, and Arsenal are a team who give young players a lot of opportunities.
 
"I'm sure he will take his chance and it will go very well because he's an excellent player and he has a great future. He's a good team-mate. He's quite tall, he's strong and he has a lot of quality. It's not easy to show that in the centre of defence. Coaches in England like tall, physical players at the back, and tall players don't usually have as much technical quality as shorter ones, but Rob is a complete defender.
 
"He can play in any position in defence. He sees things clearly and he is very mature for his age, which is really what you want. It didn't help that everything went badly for the team last season, but Rob has a lot of personality for a young player. I think teams like that."
 
Rob Holding

Rob Holding

 
John McGinlay John McGinlay, former Bolton Wanderers player
“Even though he only got his first England Under-21 cap recently, it’s one step towards a senior cap. It puts him on the right path. He’s getting the reward for really shining through in a difficult season and I am very pleased for him.
 
"He’s a very level-headed lad and I had the pleasure of speaking with him at the legends game. He’s a genuine pleasure to be around. He speaks so highly of the club and they can take a great deal of credit for nurturing his talent, for giving him the opportunity, and the lad himself should take a lot of credit too. In an ideal world you would keep him, make him captain, build a team around him.”
 
Marc Iles Marc Iles, chief football writer for the Bolton News
“At 19, Holding was reading the game like a 35-year-old Premier League veteran. He brought the ball out of defence, sprayed it left and right, timed his heading to perfection and never got caught out of position. I don’t know how this pleasant young Tameside lad had turned into Bolton’s version of Bobby Moore almost overnight, but he had.
 
"It was only once I started talking to him after games and bumping into him around the club that I honestly started to believe he was the real deal. He was a pleasure from day one. His first post-match interview with the local press lasted several minutes and was as polished as his performances on the field.”
 
Gareth Southgate Gareth Southgate, England Under-21 manager, speaking ahead of the Toulon Tournament
“He's a centre back that can use the ball well, which I think at this level is crucial. I was torn with the initial squad between a loyalty to the lads who've worked with us all season but also Rob was very much a player I wanted to have a look at.
 
"It's an opportunity for Rob and I think he can settle into this no problem. From what I've seen, the way he plays, he's had nearly two-thirds of a season at Championship level, he's stood out in a difficult season for his club and has some good leadership qualities that are clear on the field."
 
David Fitcroft Bury manager David Fitcroft on Holding’s loan spell at the club
"Rob has been top drawer and I have enjoyed working with him. He can play left back as well as right back so that gives us cover.
 
"He can even fill in as a right-sided centre-half, so the utility he offers was important. He also has good size and he’s a player that has an aggression about his work, which I like.”
 
Neil Lennon Neil Lennon, speaking as Bolton manager in February
"Rob Holding has been a superstar for me. Every game he seems to be growing in maturity and improving in performance."
 
 
 
 
How much do you know about Rob? Let's find out...
 

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