[Archived] Rovers U21's

[FGS5635]

So tonight it appears evans, dabo and mahoney all get starts. Think Im going to go to Leigh to watch this.

Just checked Leighs website to get some details and they open with this in the description -

Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn Rovers play their Barclays U21 Premier League games at Leigh Sports Village, meaning some of the biggest names in English football come to Leigh on a regular basis.

lol bit of a stretch that is, but I guess they obviously mean the beast that is Dabo

[darrenrover]

So tonight it appears evans, dabo and mahoney all get starts. Think Im going to go to Leigh to watch this.

Just checked Leighs website to get some details and they open with this in the description -

Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn Rovers play their Barclays U21 Premier League games at Leigh Sports Village, meaning some of the biggest names in English football come to Leigh on a regular basis.

lol bit of a stretch that is, but I guess they obviously mean the beast that is Dabo

I was discussing the under 21s with some mates at Boro who know Eric Kinder. Apparently his view is that we are thin on the ground to put it politely. If that is the case, as no doubt it is, it's another sad indictment on the recent regime that whilst the physical infrastructure is in place and funded to compete with the best, there is little to show for it in the immediate future.

Worryingly, that's taken place generally under Bowyer's and Terry McPhillip's watch.

[FGS5635]

TBF like everything else in modern football it really favours the big clubs. Tough to recruit young kids now in our catchment area when you consider the clubs we have to compete with

[darrenrover]

TBF like everything else in modern football it really favours the big clubs. Tough to recruit young kids now in our catchment area when you consider the clubs we have to compete with

I agree but disagree. Whilst clearly all is in favour of big clubs, I think clubs are lazy these days when looking to find and ultimately develop (the important thing IMO) local talent.

[FGS5635]

I agree but disagree. Whilst clearly all is in favour of big clubs, I think clubs are lazy these days when looking to find and ultimately develop (the important thing IMO) local talent.

Sadly its things like this that often get neglected when cash is tight and the irony is when cash is tight you should proably spend more on youth as its potentially your golden ticket

Anyone been to an U21 game at Leigh before?Anything I need to know?

I suspect there will be a huge crowd to see Dabo

[darrenrover]

Sadly its things like this that often get neglected when cash is tight and the irony is when cash is tight you should proably spend more on youth as its potentially your golden ticketAnyone been to an U21 game at Leigh before?Anything I need to know?

I suspect there will be a huge crowd to see Dabo

Not been to Leigh for a couple of years but knowing the general local sporting allegiance best not to mention Wigan!

My point regarding youth is that I think it's been very much business as usual regarding costs and expenditure. I do believe that their is still a wealth of local, youthful talent to be watched, harnessed and developed rather than looking to Montpelier for example.

For me Majiball has come up with some very valid points in the past, it's all about attitude and personal discipline, particularly when testosterone, girls and beer kick in at 15/16 years of age. That's when most of our local talent disappear.

[McClarky]

When we got that grade 1 classification for our Academy does that not mean we can poach the best young players off other clubs who don't have it? Should mean we can have the pick of any young players within the area.

[darrenrover]

When we got that grade 1 classification for our Academy does that not mean we can poach the best young players off other clubs who don't have it? Should mean we can have the pick of any young players within the area.

I'd have thought so too but having the best roads doesn't necessarily ensure the best drivers.

I firmly believe that there is still good, young talent available locally. They've just got to get off their backsides to find and harness it in addition to not turning the lads heads at too young an age. I guess that's a whole new topic........

[chaddyrovers]

Corry Evans is going to be playing tonight. as is Dabo aswell.

plus Hugo Fernandez at Right back and Ryan Edwards at centre back aswell. look at good prospect a 2 years ago. could well be the back up centre back(3rd Choice) for rest of the season maybe

here is the starting team and bench for us tonight

http://www.rovers.co.uk/news/article/evans-to-get-reserve-run-out-1349982.aspx

[JAL]

Corry Evans is going to be playing tonight. as is Dabo aswell.

plus Hugo Fernandez at Right back and Ryan Edwards at centre back aswell. look at good prospect a 2 years ago. could well be the back up centre back(3rd Choice) for rest of the season maybe

Any other names playing tonight chaddy?

[ElTwis]

Laat minute change snuck in - Lucas Neill starts!

[ABBEY]

Lucash .. Does the u21 stand for under 21 stone or under 21k a day.

He is not fit to ever wear the rovers shirt again .

[Tom]

Lucash v young lads = penalty

[FGS5635]

At the game and neil is centre half. Carrying a bit of timber is 1st thought

Dabo playing 'in the hole'

[Jimmy612]

Lucash .. Does the u21 stand for under 21 stone or under 21k a day.

He is not fit to ever wear the rovers shirt again .

Why Abbey?

He warned the club that he would not be renewing his contract with a year remaining on it. What's wrong with that? He allowed Rovers to make money on him. Where he went and for what reasons is quite frankly none of my concern.

If he's good enough to have an impact on our squad then we should sign him

[yoda]

Why Abbey?

He warned the club that he would not be renewing his contract with a year remaining on it. What's wrong with that? He allowed Rovers to make money on him. Where he went and for what reasons is quite frankly none of my concern.

If he's good enough to have an impact on our squad then we should sign him

I am sure he will have an impact, like Murphy, Best and co did

[thenodrog]

I am sure he will have an impact, like Murphy, Best and co did

I doubt it yoda. He wont have the luxury of a one way, 3 year, megabucks contract to fall back on.

[yoda]

I doubt it yoda. He wont have the luxury of a one way, 3 year, megabucks contract to fall back on.

you never know with the punatics

[ABBEY]

Why Abbey?

He warned the club that he would not be renewing his contract with a year remaining on it. What's wrong with that? He allowed Rovers to make money on him. Where he went and for what reasons is quite frankly none of my concern.

If he's good enough to have an impact on our squad then we should sign him

why ? read my words previous.Hes a turd.

[chaddyrovers]

Rovers u21s 2 - Tottenham u21s 2. Rovers battle back twice to earn a share of the spoils thanks to goals from Rittenberg and Tumwa.

Evans played 60 minutes.

[AdamRochina]

2-2 not a bad result considering we went down twice, how did neill play? and dabo according to twitter looked weak

[FGS5635]

Just back from the game. Some thoughts.

Suprised Neil was playing so bit of a bonus getting to see him play. Not sure wether its timber or muscle, but he looks bigger than when he left us. Looks a bit wooden and rigid in his movements as you expect from older players. I must say after 1st seeing him I was thinking no way should we sign him. But to be fair to him he didnt put a foot wrong all game. If he is going to do a job for us in the championship then he has to look comfy at this level and to his credit he did. That said he wasnt up against much so hard to really judge, but he showed enough to tell me he isnt totally past it.

Evans as expected after so long out looked unfit. He sat deep and didnt get forward much. Looked knackered when replaced after 60mins. The mins will be good for him, but he doesnt look ready to start for us just yet

Dabo - Played in the hole, which was a suprise as I thought he was a defensive midfielder. maybe he is and was played out of position..who knows. He's certainly comfy on the ball and showed some nice touches and passes. But he wanted a bit long on the ball at times and the pace of the game seemed to catch him out. To be fair its his 1st game, so may need to cut him a bit of slack but on this showing he doesnt look like threatening the 1st team starters.

Mahoney - Was the reason I decided to go to the game, to watch this kid play. He was rovers main attacking outlet for most of the game. Very good touch, good passer, seems very 2 footed. Looks very assured on the ball also. Only negative is I hoped he'd be a proper winger who'd go at the fullback, but he never really beat the fullback all game which was a let down. He may end up playing off a striker as he gets older / stronger

As for the game, pretty poor standard between 2 poor sides really. The rovers subs deserve credit as they added a spark and looked lively and fair play to rovers for coming from behind twice.

Also a mention to Colin Hendry. It was freakin freezing. I had about a million layers on and was froze solid and big col is on the sideline in shorts with socks rolled down and a trackie top on. Hard as nails lol

[tomphil]

Mahoney steamed around after everything in the first 20 min and looked good going forward but then he was knackered and drifted out of the game really i thought. Typical young lad but does look like he could make a player although i was pretty non plussed with all the others though it's the first ive seen of them this season. Dabo needs a good few games at that level surely before he's near the first team, very strange signing that. Evans had a decent run out although very rusty and not really involved much. Lucash needs to run up the hills a bit more i think.

[Tom]

Dabo sounds like he has potential but I doubt we'll see him much at all

Wonder what he has been promised here as it seems a strange move for him

[SoldierMo]

Maybe one for next season?