Academy & U21s

[Exiled_Rover]

19 minutes ago, arbitro said:

An excellent game of football was to be enjoyed tonight as both teams set about each other but Rovers came out the winners when a draw would probably have been a fair result. The early tempo was intense from both teams who moved the ball quickly and accurately. Rovers got an early breakthrough with a well worked goal but Middlesbrough scored a terrific goal to equalise. The pace understandably dropped off a little in the second half but both teams still looked to get on the front foot as often as possible. Rovers took the lead again only for Boro to equalise with a few minutes to go. Rovers were then reduced to ten as Baker collected two quick yellow cards shortly after coming on. At this stage the vast majority would have accepted the draw but Mafoumbi lobbed the keeper from twenty five yards for the winner. What made his goal even more special was that he had to hold off two defenders to get his shot away. Rovers dug in for the remaining period and showed some mature game management to see the game out. The delight from the players was evident at the final whistle and the effort from every one of them was first class. 

I saw Igor Tyjon As we were leaving and asked him why he wasn't with the first team of indeed playing in tonight's game. He said he was injured with a calf strain but should be back next week

Are Doherty or Mafoumbi anywhere near first team quality?

[arbitro]

2 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Are Doherty or Mafoumbi anywhere near first team quality?

Which Doherty? Personally I don't think either of the Doherty's or Mafoumbi are anywhere near ready yet.

[rigger]

5 hours ago, arbitro said:

Which Doherty? Personally I don't think either of the Doherty's or Mafoumbi are anywhere near ready yet.

I think it is doubtful any will become ready

[KentExile]

8 hours ago, arbitro said:

An excellent game of football was to be enjoyed tonight as both teams set about each other but Rovers came out the winners when a draw would probably have been a fair result. The early tempo was intense from both teams who moved the ball quickly and accurately. Rovers got an early breakthrough with a well worked goal but Middlesbrough scored a terrific goal to equalise. The pace understandably dropped off a little in the second half but both teams still looked to get on the front foot as often as possible. Rovers took the lead again only for Boro to equalise with a few minutes to go. Rovers were then reduced to ten as Baker collected two quick yellow cards shortly after coming on. At this stage the vast majority would have accepted the draw but Mafoumbi lobbed the keeper from twenty five yards for the winner. What made his goal even more special was that he had to hold off two defenders to get his shot away. Rovers dug in for the remaining period and showed some mature game management to see the game out. The delight from the players was evident at the final whistle and the effort from every one of them was first class. 

I saw Igor Tyjon As we were leaving and asked him why he wasn't with the first team of indeed playing in tonight's game. He said he was injured with a calf strain but should be back next week

Thanks as always for the report 🙂

Can I ask, was it a 4-3-3? or a 4-2-3-1 with Garrett as the 10?

[arbitro]

55 minutes ago, KentExile said:

Thanks as always for the report 🙂

Can I ask, was it a 4-3-3? or a 4-2-3-1 with Garrett as the 10?

It was more a 4-3-3 but it was really fluid. Harrison Wood was playing more down the middle until we made the changes. Litherland and Rhys Doherty played at full back but in many games in the first half of the season they have been our centre back pairing. 

[islander200]

Stuart Jones leaving according to Nixon

[KentExile]

2 hours ago, islander200 said:

Stuart Jones leaving according to Nixon

He was one of the "new senior leadership team announced in the summer", along with Owen, Gestede & Park

If this is indeed true, it is typical to see that 6 months later, only half of them are left at the club.

Jones must have been ok, was head of academy for about 10 years before his new role, and the academy has produced.  Park likewise has a decent reputation..  So it is worrying that the 2 more experienced operators are gone and we are left with Adam Owen, whose career history tells us he doesn't  tend to stay in place for long, and Gestede.

Edited Sunday at 10:42 by KentExile

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Let’s face it, people only stay at Ewood until something better turns up. Would you work for the chicken chokers when you could work for normal owners ? The churn of back room staff is ridiculous at Rovers.

[KentExile]

On 17/01/2025 at 22:36, arbitro said:

Mafoumbi lobbed the keeper from twenty five yards for the winner. What made his goal even more special was that he had to hold off two defenders to get his shot away.

 

 

 

[Mattyblue]

Hang on, a certain poster was telling us that we now had a well set up structure from the academy through to recruitment and that’s why managers aren’t important anymore.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

18 minutes ago, KentExile said:

 

 

 

What was the keeper doing ? Going to buy a pie ?

[bluebruce]

7 hours ago, KentExile said:

 

 

 

Nice goal. I'd call that 30 yards. Only possible because of a kamikaze keeper clearly though. He didn't hold off two defenders like the other post said. One defender backed off him and conceded the space, I don't think there was much physical contact if any. The other didn't really get close.

Nice to see even after not much football he has the vision and confidence to pull that off though. Hopefully not a lost cause yet.

[KentExile]

On 19/01/2025 at 08:31, islander200 said:

Stuart Jones leaving according to Nixon

Jackson saying the same

 

TLDR - He has taken another job, and is currently working his 6 month notice period

 

Blackburn Rovers' Head of Academy, Stuart Jones, is set to leave the football club, The Lancashire Telegraph understands.

Jones has been at Rovers for over a decade and has worked within the youth system in various roles during that time. He has overseen the development of some of the club's finest youth prospects.

In an Academy restructure this summer, Jones was promoted to Head of Academy, focusing specifically on the development of players aged 17-21 to make them ready for the first-team or a senior career elsewhere.

 

Reports on Sunday claimed Jones was set for new pastures and that is accurate. The LT understands that Jones has handed his notice in at Blackburn Rovers but will still be at the club for the next six months.

Club sources state Jones is 'ready for a new challenge' after well over a decade's service at Ewood Park. The club now have an extended period to source his replacement and begin the handover process before Jones' exit in June.

The Academy remains one of Rovers' biggest assets and so this is a critical role for Blackburn to fill. Paul Gray was promoted to Academy Manager in the summer during the restructure and could be an obvious internal candidate to step up again.

Rovers have yet to announce the appointment of a new Chief Scout, the role designed to replace John Park. Rudy Gestede continues to lead transfers with the aid of Adam Owen and Steve Waggott, as well as input from John Eustace.

Interviews took place before Christmas so an appointment may have been made, with perhaps a notice period being served elsewhere. Rovers are expected to confirm an appointment through the official channels when the time is appropriate.

The club will also be looking for a new analyst, with one of their team set to move to Middlesbrough.

Edited yesterday at 09:57 by KentExile

[islander200]

3 minutes ago, KentExile said:

Jackson saying the same

 

Taken another job, working his 6 month notice period

 

Blackburn Rovers' Head of Academy, Stuart Jones, is set to leave the football club, The Lancashire Telegraph understands.

Jones has been at Rovers for over a decade and has worked within the youth system in various roles during that time. He has overseen the development of some of the club's finest youth prospects.

In an Academy restructure this summer, Jones was promoted to Head of Academy, focusing specifically on the development of players aged 17-21 to make them ready for the first-team or a senior career elsewhere.

 

Reports on Sunday claimed Jones was set for new pastures and that is accurate. The LT understands that Jones has handed his notice in at Blackburn Rovers but will still be at the club for the next six months.

Club sources state Jones is 'ready for a new challenge' after well over a decade's service at Ewood Park. The club now have an extended period to source his replacement and begin the handover process before Jones' exit in June.

The Academy remains one of Rovers' biggest assets and so this is a critical role for Blackburn to fill. Paul Gray was promoted to Academy Manager in the summer during the restructure and could be an obvious internal candidate to step up again.

Rovers have yet to announce the appointment of a new Chief Scout, the role designed to replace John Park. Rudy Gestede continues to lead transfers with the aid of Adam Owen and Steve Waggott, as well as input from John Eustace.

Interviews took place before Christmas so an appointment may have been made, with perhaps a notice period being served elsewhere. Rovers are expected to confirm an appointment through the official channels when the time is appropriate.

The club will also be looking for a new analyst, with one of their team set to move to Middlesbrough.

Wonder what the club have decided now with the running of the academy to make Jones seek a new club

 

[KentExile]

3 minutes ago, islander200 said:

Wonder what the club have decided now with the running of the academy to make Jones seek a new club

 

Jones hasn't been running the academy since the summer restructure, That is now Paul Gray but I would have thought that Jones would have at the very least been a useful sounding board, and likely much more

Jones, (having been here for close to 15 years), spends about 6 months in a more senior role (and presumably in closer contract with Waggott, Suhail etc) and jumps ship

Edited yesterday at 10:02 by KentExile

[bluebruce]

Yeh I don't buy this wanted a new challenge shit. He literally just started a new challenge like 6 months ago. The smart money would be on him not having appreciated the closer company of those at the top or how they run things and there being, putting it generously perhaps, a clash of ideas.

[Tom]

So who replaces him? My money is on ‘one of our own’, what’s Alex Marrow up to these days? 

[chaddyrovers]

1 hour ago, Tom said:

So who replaces him?

Paul Gray I bet 

[bluebruce]

I don't remember the last time we appointed someone from outside to one of the top two Academy related jobs. We always promote from within. I imagine we will again.

Edited 18 hours ago by bluebruce

[KentExile]

42 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

I don't remember the last time we appointed someone from outside to one of the top two Academy related jobs. We always promote from within. I imagine we will again.

I think it was Jordan McCann, 2 years ago, from Lincoln

And in searching for him, I have just discovered he left to join Arsenal last week, replaced by John Prince (internal appointment)

 

Edited 17 hours ago by KentExile

[DeeCee]

1 hour ago, bluebruce said:

I don't remember the last time we appointed someone from outside to one of the top two Academy related jobs. We always promote from within. I imagine we will again.

Easiest option as usual.

[bluebruce]

39 minutes ago, DeeCee said:

Easiest option as usual.

Although in fairness, there's also an argument for continuity and understanding how we work, since we operate a quite successful academy. Plus incentive for existing coaches knowing they can move up if they do a good job.

But yeh, the truth is most likely it's mostly about lazy, cost cutting options.