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[Archived] Pre-season

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Balwer Uefa Europa League

Balwer

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At the end of the day this was a Stanley team that was playing its final pre-season game before they start the League campaign next week. They are a better side than Leigh but the Reserves were outstanding tonight. We actually have some very good young players - Phil Jones, Gavin Gunning, Martin Olsson, Alex Marrow, Aaron Doran, Alan Judge, David Hoilett, Marcus Marshall - and it will be interesting to see how they develop this season. Obviously not all of them are going to break into the senior team this season and I would expect the likes of Gunning, Marrow and Doran to be sent out on loan to get some first team experience. However, it is as good a crop of youngsters as we have had for some time.

Zurab does a great job guiding the youngsters while Gally looked very good tonight and van Heerden impresses with his use of the ball.

Thanks for the review Parson.

You mention Phil Jones specifically but I haven't heard his name before. I know that Alex Marrow started at RB for the other games I've followed of the reserves, is Jones a regular in the reserves or an academy product or what?

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rover6 Champions League

rover6

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Van Heerden goes about his work in a unspectacular way but rarely gives the ball away and some of his through passes are a delight.

From the reviews I've been reading, Van Heerden does not seem to be the player we thought we were getting - well, I thought we were getting, anyway.

I thought we were getting a Duff-type winger who loves nothing better than to run with the ball. From the reserve reports it seems as if he doesn't actually run with the ball that much.

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Dave S Premier League

Dave S

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They are a better side than Leigh but the Reserves were outstanding tonight. We actually have some very good young players.

Thanks Parson.

I see a lot of the reserves but not all the games like you do.

The young players at present give us all a bit of optimism for their future development. Certainly a lot more than in recent years.

Accy are four levels above Leigh by the way, thats why I asked the question.

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owenrilla Premier League

owenrilla

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This evening was the first time I have seen the reserves so it was interesting to have a look at some of the younger players I haven't seen before. They actually play pretty good football and looked a much better quality of player than the (admittedly rather poor) Accrington team. There was certainly no hoofball, though that would have been pointless anyway with Gallagher and Hoilett up front.

Fielding didn't have much to do really so there isn't much to judge him on. There were one or two wayward kicks and he still looks a bit short to me but that might be a bit harsh. Kean, who replaced him during the second half made the save of the match showing decent reactions diving to his left to stop a volley from Accy's No 10 (Mullin I believe) but had little else to do.

I was surprised to find out when I got home that the RB Jones is only 17. He is a big lad (feels weird saying that at 22) and apart form one or two wayward passes looks a decent prospect - got forward a few times and put some crosses in and not afraid to tackle. Zurab was his usual calm self as you would expect - the most obviously Premiership quality player on the pitch. Gunning was reasonably impressive, solid enough defender, perhaps lacks a bit of pace but assuming his reading of the game improves with age that wouldn't be a problem, decent distribution. A loan out to test himself regularly would probably do him good. Olsson looked very quick tonight and it was probably a good job that he could use it to get out of trouble as his defending wasn't up to much. If he is going to play at all this season I would prefer it to be further up the pitch as that is where he does his best work.

Doran had a good game, plenty of pace and got the chance to show more of his ability against this kind of opposition. A bit more strength (without losing the pace) would be good. Seemed a bit reluctant to cross the ball - not sure why. Judge was a bit disappointing really. For someone who apparently impressed at Plymouth last season I was expecting a bit more. His passing generally tidy and he works hard, there just seems to be something missing. His height doesn't bother me too much (though it might hinder his chances of playing centrally), though I noticed he was put on the post for a corner and he was half the size of the post. Can't see him playing for us this season (though that is only based on tonight). Marrow looks like he could have something. His passing started off a bit erratic but got better as the match progressed, he is strong and put his foot in but I was more surprised by his pace breaking from midfield. Another one for a loan really, a bit more discipline in his game and he could be good. Van Heerden looked like he needed a smaller strip. He didn't get the chance to show off his pace (he clearly does have it) but was tidy enough and comfortable using both feet. He did do a bit of running with the ball (more second half) but didn't have the room to stretch his legs. There was some nice link-up between EVH, Olsson and Hoilett without actually creating much.

Hoilett didn't have the best night tonight but still looked dangerous. He is reasonably quick but I wouldn't say lightening. Got shoved off the ball quite a lot and sometimes needs to release the ball a bit earlier. Would probably benefit from playing wider or with a bigger, stronger partner. Definitely has ability though, he seemed to dribble past the whole Accy defence before hitting the post. He runs a bit like Michael Johnson - sort of upright. I think it is important not to expect too much too soon from Hoilett. He is talented but can only see him being an impact sub/cup player for the moment.

Gallagher was as you would expect - technically good and a couple of nice finishes (Jason Roberts should look at the second goal for how to convert one-on-ones) and was probably the second most '1st team ready' player out there for Rovers, I just don't see how he fits into the general plan.

A lot of the substitutes passed me by a bit as there were a lot of them and by that time the game was won (plus I was bursting for the loo). Haworth didn't really do much. O'Connor (whose name they mixed up with Morrissey) came on at RB and looked quick-ish. Morrissey disappeared into the middle somewhere. Flynn had nothing to do really, same for Hall (LB). Lowe only touched the ball a couple of times but looked pacey. Blackman and Marshall had a bit more time than the rest of the subs and both looked fast and direct. I saw Marshall's one appearance in the cup last year but don't remember him being this quick. Neither did much of any consequence though.

Overall then on a sigle viewing there seem to be some decent players in the reserves. They play football the right way and I think there could be a few potential first teamers in there.

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Parsonblue

Parsonblue

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Thanks for the review Parson.

You mention Phil Jones specifically but I haven't heard his name before. I know that Alex Marrow started at RB for the other games I've followed of the reserves, is Jones a regular in the reserves or an academy product or what?

Last season Jones played in the centre of defence for the Under-18's but also made a few appearances at right-back and in midfield. He looked a very good prospect but I have been surprised at how well he has done at right-back for the Reserves in pre-season games. At just 17 he really does look the part when playing at right-back. Alex Marrow is far better in midfield than at right-back. Marrow was outstanding last night at Accrington in that position. Both lads look really good prospects for the future.

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Balwer Uefa Europa League

Balwer

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Last season Jones played in the centre of defence for the Under-18's but also made a few appearances at right-back and in midfield. He looked a very good prospect but I have been surprised at how well he has done at right-back for the Reserves in pre-season games. At just 17 he really does look the part when playing at right-back. Alex Marrow is far better in midfield than at right-back. Marrow was outstanding last night at Accrington in that position. Both lads look really good prospects for the future.

Thanks for clarifying that.

Good to hear from you and owen who went that Jones looks a prospect, and it heartens me to read that he's only 17.

Right Back is not one of our strongest positions and it would be good to see some youth players from within pushing to be in contention.

I have to agree with the sentiments that our reserves seem stronger than they have in years. Hopefully we can translate this into a few senior squadmen over the next few years, to decrease the reliance on making sure every player we buy is up to it.

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Al World Cup

Al

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I bought tickets this morning for Hibs, not many at the ticket office although it was early.

Mine's in the post. Come on lads and lasses let's get a few thousand down there to cheer them on. There's a few new guys to get a first look of and it's only a tenner.

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rover6 Champions League

rover6

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Judge was a bit disappointing really. For someone who apparently impressed at Plymouth last season I was expecting a bit more. His passing generally tidy and he works hard, there just seems to be something missing. His height doesn't bother me too much (though it might hinder his chances of playing centrally), though I noticed he was put on the post for a corner and he was half the size of the post. Can't see him playing for us this season (though that is only based on tonight).

I wonder if Judge's best position at the moment is right wing. That's where he played for Plymouth (aside from occasional stints on the left) and outperformed Gallagher, most of the time.

Problem for Judge is that Doran is preferred on the right wing for the reserves because his extra pace.

I think a loan to a decent Champ club would be worthwhile for Judge - whilst Doran stays as a member of the first team squad.

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Silencio Uefa Europa League

Silencio

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Great to hear that we have some promising youngsters coming through for the first time in years. It would be great if we can really start to supplement the squad with some of these boys. If they can improve from that point then it will do the club a world of good.

One year ago it didn't look like anyone was coming through. Did the likes of Gunning, Marrow, Marshall, Doran and Jones improve so much during the previous season?

Are the above 5 and Hoillet the best of the bunch?

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Balwer Uefa Europa League

Balwer

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Great to hear that we have some promising youngsters coming through for the first time in years. It would be great if we can really start to supplement the squad with some of these boys. If they can improve from that point then it will do the club a world of good.

One year ago it didn't look like anyone was coming through. Did the likes of Gunning, Marrow, Marshall, Doran and Jones improve so much during the previous season?

Are the above 5 and Hoillet the best of the bunch?

You'd probably take Marshall out of that list and replace him with Judge. Marshall doesn't get much of a run currently with Hoilett and Gallagher ahead of him and Blackman seems to have moved ahead of him in the pecking order.

Also you have to remember we have Zurab, Bunn, Gallagher and EVH as first teamers who will consistently play for the reserves if not out on loan.

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den

den

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SHEFF WEDS: Grant, Spurr, Buxtin, Purse, Tudgay, McAllister, Clarke, Wood, O'Connor, Johnson, Gray.

Subs: Beevers, Esajas, Jeffers, Sodje, Simek, O'Donnell, Boden

ROVERS: Robinson, Jacobsen, Samba, Nelsen ©, Givet, Diouf, Nzonzi, Andrews, Warnock, Roberts, McCarthy.

Subs: Pedersen, Brown (GK), Khizanishvili, Olsson, Doran, van Heerden, Gallagher, Hoilett, Judge.

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