Academy & U21s

[riverholmes]

Looks a really big test for the U23s. Arsenal are near the bottom of the table and on an indifferent run but they won 6-0 in the reverse fixture. Emile Smith Rowe scored back then and, though he won't play, first team fringe strikers, Nketiah and Balogun start for Arsenal, alongside Moller. Reiss Nelson also in the team.

Antonis Stergiakis not involved, for some reason.

Rovers team: Eastham, Pike, Saadi, Garrett, Cirino, Durrant, Annesley (c), Whitehall, Nolan, Burns, McBride
Dowling, Gent, Baker, Connolly, Harlock

Arsenal: Okonkwo; Alebiousu, Dinzeyi, Monlouis, Lopez; Azeez,Taylor-Hart, Nelson, Nketiah, Balogun (c), Moller,
Bola, Lewis, Smith, Cirjan, Akinowla

Edit:

3-0 to Rovers at h-t. 

Arsenal playing from the back unsuccessfully and Rovers closing down and working very hard, forcing numerous errors.

 

Edited March 12, 2021 by riverholmes

[Hanks]

3-0 to the rovers at h/t

[1864roverite]

More proof that the DS and Academy will not be disposed of 

[inflikted]

Proved their worth against the likes of Reiss Nelson and Eddit Nketiah, Mowbray must surely start thinking of trying some of the youth soon. It's another mid-table season in the Championship, start planning for next season now.

[Hanks]

Ended 3-0 McBride, Burns 2

[riverholmes]

Rovers U23s look like a real team. Very good attitude, organised and pressing the opponents constantly, with McBride and Burns leading by example up front. In fact, most of Rovers chances came from Arsenal losing the ball in their own third, after trying to play out from the back. The Rovers first team could learn a lot from watching them, I think, in terms of intelligent positional play and closing down as a team.

Arsenal, by contrast, were incoherent and resembled, in a way, Rovers first team at times, in terms of not tracking back or maintaining positional discipline. They evidently have some really gifted individuals -  but not a team. A clear contrast was at corners; time and again, Rovers had the short corner on. Rovers defenders, on the other hand, were always looking to pick up the short corner from Arsenal.

I don't think there's standout talent in the Rovers team, as Arsenal have in Reiss Nelson, but all the players look comfortable on the ball and tough and hardworking. Garrett and Whitehall were very solid in the middle. Durrant looked clever on the ball. McBride and Burns worked tirelessly and linked up well. In defence, Annesley played well and, perhaps, the pick of the players was Cirino, at left back. He was fouled for the penalty and he looked very quick, skillful and strong in the tackle. Pike, who's been talked about a lot, did ok but, at times, looked uncomfortable against the pace of Nelson. Eastham deserves credit too. He fairly confident with kicking and handling and shot-stopping was excellent as Arsenal pressed for a late consolation.

Edited March 12, 2021 by riverholmes

[slowmo]

Great result , especially via the gunners channel , with some very deflated gonners😁 spent more time watching this than the first team.

Good pressure from the front and commitment ,perfonified by Pike .

[Stuart]

Looks like we are going to be below Preston after tomorrow. Hopefully Swansea can beat Luton and avoid us going down to 17th.

Wish there weren’t still ten games to go.

”Stop the count”

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Just watched the highlights. That’s what a Rovers team should look like. At it from the off, playing on the front foot, pressing hard all over the pitch, passing to running players, everybody getting a foot in, keeper on his toes etc. Good to watch.

[ben_the_beast]

Pretty sure I saw something the other day about Butterworth being back in training again. Can anyone confirm or did I imagine this?

U23's are one of the few things to be excited about with Rovers at the moment. Feel like a few of them will be needed next season.

[AllRoverAsia]

Rovers v Brighton U23s is LIVE on Rovers YouTube at 2 pm

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2021/march/watch-rovers-under-23s-v-brighton--hove-albion-under-23s-live/

Confusion being Rovers think 19th March is/was a Wednesday.

I think it is today.

Edited March 19, 2021 by AllRoverAsia

[JacknOry]

3 hours ago, AllRoverAsia said:

Rovers v Brighton U23s is LIVE on Rovers YouTube at 2 pm

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2021/march/watch-rovers-under-23s-v-brighton--hove-albion-under-23s-live/

Confusion being Rovers think 19th March is/was a Wednesday.

I think it is today.

Think ill tune in again. 

Says it all when I get more joy out of watching our kids play than I do the senior team.

[rigger]

4 hours ago, JacknOry said:

Think ill tune in again. 

Says it all when I get more joy out of watching our kids play than I do the senior team.

If Mowbray is still here next season. I will be going to watch the U23s, to get my Rovers fix. 

[MarkBRFC]

Stefan Mols back in the Rovers u23 side today.

[Guest]

Stefan Mols back in is interesting having been on trial with the Dingles down the road.

Louie Annesley to fill in at Left-back apparently. Live from 1:55pm.

[Exiled_Rover]

Nvm it's Adam Wharton on the bench, not Scott.

Edited March 19, 2021 by Exiled_Rover

[Hoochie Bloochie Mama]

I'm watching it. Does anyone have the team sheet including numbers? 

[mr bishi]

[Hoochie Bloochie Mama]

Whitehall looks a very good player. 

[Bigdoggsteel]

I thought Mols was gone to Burnley? 

[Exiled_Rover]

6 minutes ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

I thought Mols was gone to Burnley? 

He was so good that Burnley sent him back. They just didn't know what they had on their hands.

[Hoochie Bloochie Mama]

Pike is a beast!

[bluebruce]

U23s playing more like the first team than normal.

Normally that should be a compliment, but it isn't.

[1864roverite]

0-1 and should be at least 3 down, rovers themselves have spurned a few chances

[Guest]

Mols has been terrible. Pass success % must be at 20%. Slowing everything down. Can see why he's going in the summer.