Academy & U21s

[oldjamfan1]

1 hour ago, davulsukur said:

We won 3-2

Junior Nsangou with 2 goals and an assist.

Zack Stritch with the winner.

Its always nice to beat that lot at any level, well done lads!

[arbitro]

2 hours ago, bluebruce said:

Is this a friendly? Can't find anything about it online and they're not in our league.

It was in the Lancashire FA under 18 Cup. Any win against that lot has to be savoured so today is no different. The game didn't scale any great heights at a freezing cold Brockhall but beating them gave me a warm glow

[RoverCanada]

Interesting that JDT brought up loaning out Batty: https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/24035012.blackburn-rovers-boss-chrisene-deal-batty-plans/ Would make sense after loaning in Chrisene. Definitely needs some steady gametime after apparently more injury issues. I only count 7 starts so far this year with the u21s (across PL2/PLC/PLIC) + starting the Carabao game against Walsall. Only turning 19 in April, so still time and not a 'failure' that he's not a depth option.

LT article on Chrisene: https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/24036008.aston-villa-prospect-ben-chrisene-blackburn-rovers-loan/ At least looks pretty strong for a 19 yo going by the photos within and Villa fans suggest he's physically ready for the pros. Coming back from an MCL tear, but maybe benefitted from plenty of gym time. Kilmarnock fans raved about his spell there before he got hurt.

[davulsukur]

7 hours ago, KentExile said:

He has played a few games for the U21s, despite still being an U18 player, but hasn't yet started banging them in at that level (2 goals in 12 appearances over the past 2 seasons)

U21 stats - 2 goals in 12 appearances over the past 2 seasons  https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/junior-nsangou/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/936903/plus/0?saison=&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=GB21&pos=&trainer_id=

U18 stats - 11 goals in 30 appearances over the past 3 seasons https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/junior-nsangou/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/936903/plus/0?saison=&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=GB18&pos=&trainer_id=

He may get there, but based on how many goals Leonard and Vale both scored at U21 level, I would guess that Nsangou is currently a long way from being a first team option.  Maybe he will get there in the next couple of years?

Cheers for that, appreciated.

Yeah, bit of a concern if he's quite a way off Vales numbers when you look how much he's struggled at first team level. 

[chaddyrovers]

Well done Rovers under 18's.today

[arbitro]

Aynsley Pears starts for Rovers under 21's tonight against Reading. Ayari,  Markanday and Ennis also start.

 

[neophox]

a bit concerned so many first teamers producing a crap performance with the u-21.....Pears not the steady eddie someone hoped for.

[Tugayisgod]

Rovers now 3-2 up after being 2-0 down early on.

A goal for Batty along with 2 assists. 

Edit now 4-2 Ennis with 2 (1 pen) and Markandy the other scorers

 

Edited January 10, 2024 by Tugayisgod

[rigger]

Rovers winning 3-2, Ennis, Markanday and Batty

[neophox]

Batty seems to be a full back scoring goals.

[rigger]

1 hour ago, neophox said:

Batty seems to be a full back scoring goals.

Batty is more like a wing-back, because of his pace he gets up and down the left side.

[arbitro]

Last nights match was the proverbial game of two halves from our perspective. Poor in the first half and should really have been more than two. In the second half we got on the front foot and poured forward and although the two goal winning margin probably flattered us we deserved to win I thought. Batty summed up the general Rovers performance, poor in the first half, awful body language and looking disinterested. He was the antithesis of this in the second half and showed why he was so highly regarded up to recently. Contrary to some posts on another thread Pears wasn't at fault for their goals - it was rank bad defending. He dealt with pretty much everything particularly late on when they had a flurry of corners and his long ball distribution was really good. Ayari was taken off at half time but didn't really do anything of note albeit no Rovers player did during the first half. Finneran looks a real prospect and whilst he is clearly learning he showed some really good things and coped physically.

Nobody saw the second half performance coming but credit to Mike Sheron and the players for a great comeback.

[chaddyrovers]

1 hour ago, arbitro said:

Last nights match was the proverbial game of two halves from our perspective. Poor in the first half and should really have been more than two. In the second half we got on the front foot and poured forward and although the two goal winning margin probably flattered us we deserved to win I thought. Batty summed up the general Rovers performance, poor in the first half, awful body language and looking disinterested. He was the antithesis of this in the second half and showed why he was so highly regarded up to recently. Contrary to some posts on another thread Pears wasn't at fault for their goals - it was rank bad defending. He dealt with pretty much everything particularly late on when they had a flurry of corners and his long ball distribution was really good. Ayari was taken off at half time but didn't really do anything of note albeit no Rovers player did during the first half. Finneran looks a real prospect and whilst he is clearly learning he showed some really good things and coped physically.

Nobody saw the second half performance coming but credit to Mike Sheron and the players for a great comeback.

Thanks for match report and Pears wasn't at fault for either goal..

How did Ennis and Markanday play? 

Edited January 11, 2024 by chaddyrovers

[arbitro]

8 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Thanks for match report and Pears wasn't at fault for either goal..

How did Ennis and Markanday play? 

Both Ennis and Markanday were disappointing overall particularly in the first half. Ennis missed two easy chances although I suppose you could argue he got in the right positions to miss them. Markanday just flatters to deceive although he took his goal well. In normal circumstances neither would be anywhere near the first team and personally I would loan/sell both of them if our squad was stronger.

[chaddyrovers]

2 minutes ago, arbitro said:

Both Ennis and Markanday were disappointing overall particularly in the first half. Ennis missed two easy chances although I suppose you could argue he got in the right positions to miss them. Markanday just flatters to deceive although he took his goal well. In normal circumstances neither would be anywhere near the first team and personally I would loan/sell both of them if our squad was stronger.

I think your opinion of Markanday is share by Kevin Gallagher and alot of fanbase on him. Very little end product. Needs to loan out this window. When JDT came in as head coach, I thought he would be big part of his plans sadly its the other way 

[Parsonblue]

Excellent second-half recovery last night so credit to Sheron who must given them a rocket at half-time and credit to the players for the fight-back.  After a dreadful first-half the second-half showed plenty of spirit and fight.

I thought Charlie Weston was excellent in midfield and completely overshadowed the lad from Brighton who was fairly anonymous before being withdrawn at half-time.  Pears looked decent on his comeback and hopefully will quickly be restored to the first team.  Batty, after a shocking first-half, looked more like the player he can be in the second-half.

The disappointments for me were Ennis - who really does look poor - and Markanday.  Both need to go out on loan and try to get regular football.

[riverholmes]

6 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

I think your opinion of Markanday is share by Kevin Gallagher and alot of fanbase on him. Very little end product. Needs to loan out this window. When JDT came in as head coach, I thought he would be big part of his plans sadly its the other way 

Markanday seems like a player that would be best as a second forward. He has skill and shooting ability but not sure about the physicality or pace to play as a wide forward. Unfortunately, for him, few play with two forwards and no-one seems to see him as an AM. 

He needs a regular run in the U23s to build up his confidence or a loan move - or a permanent move. But it doesn't look promising for him at the moment. 

Edit:

It's been mentioned before, but I'll raise it again because it seems unusual to me. By my account (do correct me if I have got any wrong): Lenni Cirino, Sam Barnes, George Pratt, Isaac Whitehall, Ben Fyles, Alex Baker and Harrison Wood are all on the books at the club and out with long-term injury. From what I can tell, they've all missed most of this season. I don't know how typical such a long-term injury list for youngsters is but it does seem, as an outsider, a cause for concern. 

In the case of Barnes and Whitehall, I think the club backed them with contract extensions despite their injuries which is admirable but I don't know about the others. I presume most will leave this year.

Edited January 11, 2024 by riverholmes

[chaddyrovers]

10 hours ago, riverholmes said:

Markanday seems like a player that would be best as a second forward. He has skill and shooting ability but not sure about the physicality or pace to play as a wide forward. Unfortunately, for him, few play with two forwards and no-one seems to see him as an AM. 

He needs a regular run in the U23s to build up his confidence or a loan move - or a permanent move. But it doesn't look promising for him at the moment. 

He needs either loaning out somewhere or selling for me. 

[bluebruce]

10 hours ago, riverholmes said:

It's been mentioned before, but I'll raise it again because it seems unusual to me. By my account (do correct me if I have got any wrong): Lenni Cirino, Sam Barnes, George Pratt, Isaac Whitehall, Ben Fyles, Alex Baker and Harrison Wood are all on the books at the club and out with long-term injury. From what I can tell, they've all missed most of this season. I don't know how typical such a long-term injury list for youngsters is but it does seem, as an outsider, a cause for concern. 

Jesus, that is a pretty hefty list, especially when you consider how many of our first team have been out with lengthy injuries too. Something has to be causing that. Whether it's the training regimen, or just not enough bodies meaning not enough rotation and recuperation.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

11 hours ago, bluebruce said:

Jesus, that is a pretty hefty list, especially when you consider how many of our first team have been out with lengthy injuries too. Something has to be causing that. Whether it's the training regimen, or just not enough bodies meaning not enough rotation and recuperation.

Or the treatment they receive after being injured ?

[arbitro]

12 hours ago, bluebruce said:

Jesus, that is a pretty hefty list, especially when you consider how many of our first team have been out with lengthy injuries too. Something has to be causing that. Whether it's the training regimen, or just not enough bodies meaning not enough rotation and recuperation.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67417862

This is a good report although Premier League specific. I wonder if the pitches are partly to blame as the modern ones have very little 'give' in them. The harder pitches and training grounds are what the modern game demands but I have a theory that the extra pounding on a firmer surface contributes to more of the soft tissue injuries.

[ben_the_beast]

2 hours ago, arbitro said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67417862

This is a good report although Premier League specific. I wonder if the pitches are partly to blame as the modern ones have very little 'give' in them. The harder pitches and training grounds are what the modern game demands but I have a theory that the extra pounding on a firmer surface contributes to more of the soft tissue injuries.

I think Qpr identified this an issue recently. They'd been training on some specialist pitch and all of a sudden half their squad went down with hamstring injuries. 

Makes far more sense to me to have a series of differently conditioned pitches. One for general training which is softer and reduces wear and tear on the body. A pre-match pitch so players adapt to the surface conditions ready for game day. Then maybe some other fancy one, just for fun.

[KentExile]

Batty on the wing and 2 up front? 

[Cherry Blue]

Anyone know today's result?

[Mashed Potatoes]

4 minutes ago, Cherry Blue said:

Anyone know today's result?

Think we're currently winning 3-2