Academy & U21s

[Sweaty Gussets]

2 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

Finished 6-1, another Weston goal. Super-sub.

His nickname's Spaghetti apparently. 

[rigger]

24 minutes ago, Ossydave said:

Where is the final played does anyone know?

 

24 minutes ago, Ossydave said:

Where is the final played does anyone know?

Maybe once the other semi is decided, the two teams will toss-up for ground advantage. It is another one-off game, with penalties if needed.

[1874]

Well done on reaching the final.

[Sparks Rover]

11 hours ago, rigger said:

 

Maybe once the other semi is decided, the two teams will toss-up for ground advantage. It is another one-off game, with penalties if needed.

What's the point.? U21 but half the outfield can be over 21..joke

[Mattyblue]

“Well done, they’re thirteen”

Edited April 12, 2023 by Mattyblue

[Hasta]

1 hour ago, Sparks Rover said:

What's the point.? U21 but half the outfield can be over 21..joke

Let's be honest. It's just the reserves in all but name, except for it now makes sure that youth players get a chance.

If it was completely under-21's how else are the lads who perennially sit on the bench going to get any game time unless we bring in 'older' reserve fixtures.

Edited April 12, 2023 by Hasta

[Atko's Engine]

1 hour ago, Sparks Rover said:

What's the point.? U21 but half the outfield can be over 21..joke

It's the same for both teams though. I think I'm right in saying that most games we've played in this comp have been much younger than last night's was, and in fact given how many players Forest have on their books they might regret not doing the same.

This is as much a case of us using the rules to suit our squad as it is of proving how reliant we've become on the academy as a whole, with so many younger players being part of the 1st team squad. 

At the end of the day, the best academy youngsters playing alongside seasoned pros is only going to benefit those youngsters for the benefit of the club long term. Those behind them in the pecking order will hopefully only be further motivated.

[Sparks Rover]

42 minutes ago, Hasta said:

Let's be honest. It's just the reserves in all but name, except for it now makes sure that youth players get a chance.

If it was completely under-21's how else are the lads who perennially sit on the bench going to get any game time unless we bring in 'older' reserve fixtures.

There is the central league.

This smacks of us not playing fair in my opinion. Just looked at forests team, no first teamers..... how embarrassing 

Edited April 12, 2023 by Sparks Rover

[Sweaty Gussets]

4 minutes ago, Sparks Rover said:

There is the central league.

This smacks of us not playing fair in my opinion. Just looked at forests team, no first teamers..... how embarrassing 

6-1 was embarrassing. The only place those Forest lads will get a contract when they're released is PNE. 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

15 minutes ago, Sparks Rover said:

There is the central league.

This smacks of us not playing fair in my opinion. Just looked at forests team, no first teamers..... how embarrassing 

That’s Forest’s problem not ours. It’s not like they’re stuck for options is it ?  We need to keep the “ fringe “ players at Ewood match fit and ready to go.

[Sparks Rover]

35 minutes ago, Sweaty Gussets said:

6-1 was embarrassing. The only place those Forest lads will get a contract when they're released is PNE. 

I'd say it's embarrassing that we feel that putting our first team players in just to win is totally against the spirit of everything to do with the comp.....if it wasn't 6-1 it would have been poor.   But let's all pat ourselves on the back eh?

[Sparks Rover]

27 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

That’s Forest’s problem not ours. It’s not like they’re stuck for options is it ?  We need to keep the “ fringe “ players at Ewood match fit and ready to go.

Wonder how Luton keep their lads up for it....

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

21 minutes ago, Sparks Rover said:

I'd say it's embarrassing that we feel that putting our first team players in just to win is totally against the spirit of everything to do with the comp.....if it wasn't 6-1 it would have been poor.   But let's all pat ourselves on the back eh?

I don’t think getting to a pretty low level final was the rationale behind us fielding such a strong team. I think JDT likes to keep the players on their toes fitness wise.

We’ll see how far it gets us soon enough.

[Sweaty Gussets]

27 minutes ago, Sparks Rover said:

I'd say it's embarrassing that we feel that putting our first team players in just to win is totally against the spirit of everything to do with the comp.....if it wasn't 6-1 it would have been poor.   But let's all pat ourselves on the back eh?

It's a weird gripe to have. It's great we're in a final. 

[bluebruce]

39 minutes ago, Sparks Rover said:

I'd say it's embarrassing that we feel that putting our first team players in just to win is totally against the spirit of everything to do with the comp.....if it wasn't 6-1 it would have been poor.   But let's all pat ourselves on the back eh?

Pretty sure it wasn't done 'just to win', but to keep players match sharp. JDT has been doing it all season, including in meaningless behind closed doors friendlies.

[only2garners]

There’s also the factor that relations between Rovers and Forest are at a pretty low ebb.

[Sparks Rover]

12 minutes ago, only2garners said:

There’s also the factor that relations between Rovers and Forest are at a pretty low ebb.

We did em proper then with our big lads

[Sparks Rover]

15 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

Pretty sure it wasn't done 'just to win', but to keep players match sharp. JDT has been doing it all season, including in meaningless behind closed doors friendlies.

I'm pretty sure it was done just to win

[Mattyblue]

Both surely?

[Atko's Engine]

Forest have just spent £160m on new talent in the last 9 months, isn't the fact that they played half of those against mostly our kids in the League Cup 4th round just as unfair?? I didn't hear much moaning then, it's no different really.

It's within the rules, so we have the right to choose our team if it complies with those rules, regardless of motivation. 

FWIW, it's true that JDT has been consistent in ensuring kids mix with pros, be that in first team squads, U21s squads & in training.

Nothing to see here, unless you have an agenda...

[rigger]

3 hours ago, Sparks Rover said:

What's the point.? U21 but half the outfield can be over 21..joke

But were they ? I am also sure that every team knew the rules befor entering the competition.

[bluebruce]

31 minutes ago, Sparks Rover said:

I'm pretty sure it was done just to win

I guess we really wanted to win those behind closed door friendlies too. And that we weren't too arsed about the quarter final of this very same competition where we didn't field senior players.

[rigger]

33 minutes ago, Sparks Rover said:

I'm pretty sure it was done just to win

I have not got a problem with that.

[Sweaty Gussets]

Although the cup is an Under-21s competition, clubs can use up to five overage players, as Rovers did for their last 16 win over Huddersfield. However, it was a much more youthful side who made it through to this stage with victory at Southampton last month.

 

From the LT above. So some U21 games Rovers have fielded overage players, sometimes they haven't. It appears to depend on how up-to-speed the seniors are and how in need of a match sharpness. JDT has been fairly consistent. 

[Sweaty Gussets]

15 minutes ago, Atko's Engine said:

Forest have just spent £160m on new talent in the last 9 months, isn't the fact that they played half of those against mostly our kids in the League Cup 4th round just as unfair?? I didn't hear much moaning then, it's no different really.

It's within the rules, so we have the right to choose our team if it complies with those rules, regardless of motivation. 

FWIW, it's true that JDT has been consistent in ensuring kids mix with pros, be that in first team squads, U21s squads & in training.

Nothing to see here, unless you have an agenda...

I'd say that just about covers it.