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 February 18 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 February 20 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 February 21 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 February 21 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 February 22 by KentExile

[arbitro]

The under 21's are playing Nottingham Forest tonight at Leyland and the under 18's are playing Leeds tomorrow at Brockhall. It will be interesting to see who is picked to play tonight as quite a few of the under 18's have stepped up recently.

Hopefully Hayden Carter and Yuki Ohashi get some game time tonight along with some of the bench warmers from recent games as we can play up to five over age players.

[KentExile]

33 minutes ago, arbitro said:

The under 21's are playing Nottingham Forest tonight at Leyland and the under 18's are playing Leeds tomorrow at Brockhall. It will be interesting to see who is picked to play tonight as quite a few of the under 18's have stepped up recently.

Hopefully Hayden Carter and Yuki Ohashi get some game time tonight along with some of the bench warmers from recent games as we can play up to five over age players.

Rovers have confirmed Ohashi and Carter will both feature tonight

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/february/24/preview--rovers-under-21s-v-nottingham-forest-under-21s/

[Exiled_Rover]

2 hours ago, KentExile said:

Rovers have confirmed Ohashi and Carter will both feature tonight

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/february/24/preview--rovers-under-21s-v-nottingham-forest-under-21s/

Dennis has to play, surely?

[rigger]

2 hours ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Dennis has to play, surely?

Is he the one that's a bit of a menace ?

[Cherry Blue]

5 hours ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Dennis has to play, surely?

If not why not?

[bluebruce]

4 hours ago, rigger said:

Is he the one that's a bit of a menace ?

Not so far. Very strange indeed how we are using him. The highest wage at the club allegedly, has come not fully fit, and yet the most we have given him at U21 level is 45 minutes when he first arrived, and we have him largely sitting the bench, only coming on once for a 34 minute cameo. With one start in the cup, and 66 minutes in his legs there.

He clearly should be getting 90 minutes, or close to, in the U21s. If he isn't fit and ready to start very soon it will really be a waste of a money and our marquee signing from the window. I mean, there are only 12 games left now, and I'm presuming he won't start the next game either, which would make it 11 at best.

[KentExile]

6 hours ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Dennis has to play, surely?

Apparently not, no Carter either, which is a worry after they said he would start

score/update if Rovers do not update twitter

 

 

 

Edited February 24 by KentExile

[Cherry Blue]

10 minutes ago, KentExile said:

Apparently not, no Carter either, which is a worry after they said he would start

score/update if Rovers do not update twitter

 

 

 

Following was posted 9 hours ago on Rovers website so something clearly going that is not being communicated:

[Cherry Blue]

Dennis not playing because its v NFFC?

[rigger]

2 hours ago, Cherry Blue said:

If not why not?

Perhaps it is in the loan agreement that he only plays for the first team, who knows ?

[chaddyrovers]

8 minutes ago, rigger said:

Perhaps it is in the loan agreement that he only plays for the first team, who knows ?

He previously played for under 21's 

[chaddyrovers]

Ohashi played 45 mins and off

[rigger]

Baker has had an interesting 15 minutes, came on as a sub at half-time, scored a goal, and has been subbed off.

[KentExile]

Looks like Alex Baker is injured again.  He has just come back after being injured for the best part of 3 years

 

[simongarnerisgod]

24 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Ohashi played 45 mins and off

did he did much???

[chaddyrovers]

16 minutes ago, simongarnerisgod said:

did he did much???

I'm not at the game sadly tonight. I'm sure Arbitro will give his match report after the game like most games