Academy & U21s

[KentExile]

34 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

Our U21s shouldn't really be losing to Bolton, especially at home. I see they're not a U21 team from Bolton, but a B team. As far as I can see there was only one proper senior team player there, same as us. But I don't know how many of their other players may have some degree of first team experience. Anybody know?

Rovers were away, but your point still stands

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/february/18/report--bolton-wanderers-b-2-1-rovers-under-21s/

Edited Tuesday at 20:12 by KentExile

[Exiled_Rover]

42 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

Our U21s shouldn't really be losing to Bolton, especially at home. I see they're not a U21 team from Bolton, but a B team. As far as I can see there was only one proper senior team player there, same as us. But I don't know how many of their other players may have some degree of first team experience. Anybody know?

Good to see Carter getting minutes in his legs again, and scoring too. I echo Exiled, it's odd for Dennis, who needs game time, to not get any here when he hasn't come off the bench in the last two games. He won't get fit not playing. It makes me wonder if he's said he's not willing to play any more U21 games. We are allegedly paying 20k per week for him, we need to get him fit or else he's just replacing Siggy in the 'biggest wages at the club but not playing' category. In fact it's 2k per week more than Siggy and we will have had to pay off the bulk of Siggy's contract too. If we don't get him fit and playing we might as well have not bothered and kept Siggy around and saved some money.

I get the impression our U21s aren't that strong this year - and anyone they think has something about them is out on loan. The U18s and below sound promising though. 

[bluebruce]

20 minutes ago, KentExile said:

Rovers were away, but your point still stands

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/february/18/report--bolton-wanderers-b-2-1-rovers-under-21s/

Ah ok, it was the way the twitter post put Rovers first when they showed the score, but I guess that's just how they do it.

[KentExile]

Not sure if this has been posted elsewhere

15 minute chat between Zak Gilsenan & Elliott Jackson about his injury

https://podfollow.com/1706105069/episode/eaa6628e53c121ddf278c5e5cc0c9197b1a3bbf8/view

TLDR - he has had surgery, same injury as previous, will be back for pre season

Edited Thursday at 19:27 by KentExile

[KentExile]

On 18/02/2025 at 20:20, Exiled_Rover said:

I get the impression our U21s aren't that strong this year - and anyone they think has something about them is out on loan. The U18s and below sound promising though. 

It is maybe worth considering that due to a combination of outgoing loans & injuries, the vast majority of minutes at U21 level this season have been played by teenagers, some who are still eligible for the U18s (Houghton, Atcheson, Dunn, Tyjon, Michalski) , and that given this years experience, next year, they will push on both individually, and as a group

 

Edited yesterday at 09:59 by KentExile

[riverholmes]

7 hours ago, KentExile said:

It is maybe worth considering that due to a combination of outgoing loans & injuries, the vast majority of minutes at U21 level this season have been played by teenagers, some who are still eligible for the U18s (Houghton, Atcheson, Dunn, Tyjon, Michalski) , and that given this years experience, next year, they will push on both individually, and as a group

 

That’s if they don’t get injured or disappear in revolving door non-league loans! Then team will limp on in disjointed fashion.

Certainly, there is hope for some of these names but from an outside perspective I can’t but help viewing the U21s management as somewhat chaotic if not, at times, shambolic. 

The injuries are also a huge concern and the recruitment at that level has looked dubious recently, though the recruits are young players that may improve.

I would say, the lack of relegation from PL2 can’t have helped the whole set-up, designed to develop players.

Edited yesterday at 16:24 by riverholmes

[KentExile]

59 minutes ago, riverholmes said:

I would say, the lack of relegation from PL2 can’t have helped the whole set-up, designed to develop players.

I would say that this is one of the factors which has led to more outgoing loans, to put the players into a somewhat competitive environment, even if only for a month or so.  

[Mashed Potatoes]

1 hour ago, riverholmes said:

That’s if they don’t get injured or disappear in revolving door non-league loans! Then team will limp on in disjointed fashion.

Certainly, there is hope for some of these names but from an outside perspective I can’t but help viewing the U21s management as somewhat chaotic if not, at times, shambolic. 

The injuries are also a huge concern and the recruitment at that level has looked dubious recently, though the recruits are young players that may improve.

I would say, the lack of relegation from PL2 can’t have helped the whole set-up, designed to develop players.

It's worth pointing out that had they still been at the club Adam Wharton and Ashley Phillips would both have been eligible to play for the U21s this season. Along with those two we also have Michalski, Tygon and Higgins playing for England in various age groups, plus also Finneran who has moved away- so overall the level of talent below 21 that has come through I would think to be probably better than any other club not in the Premier League. 

[KentExile]

U18s lost 2-1 vs Man Utd, Max Davies with the goal for Rovers.

Based on the stats, Rovers got off lightly, but they lost the reverse 9-0 earlier in the season, so maybe that's some progress

 

Edited 4 hours ago by KentExile