Academy & U21s

[KentExile]

 

 

 

Edited November 15 by KentExile

[KentExile]

Well that didn't end well

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2024/november/15/report--rovers-under-21s-1-3-burnley-under-21s/

https://x.com/academy_brfc/status/1857438434266148951

 

Edited November 15 by KentExile

[hollowsr]

Sheffield United away in FA youth cup draw

[KentExile]

Tyjon started and got an assist for England U17,

Michalski came off the bench for England U18

Duru started for USA U20 as they beat France U20 2-1

 

The Americans seem to like Duru

 

 

 

Edited November 18 by KentExile

[den]

Would be nice to think we were developing these lads for us to promote to and strengthen the first team, rather than with the only intention of selling them at the first opportunity. Not to reinvest the fees and build the squad in that way but simply to pay the bills. It can’t continue forever.

[KentExile]

Atcheson played the full game as Northern Ireland U19 beat Albania U19 1-0

Aodhan Doherty was an unused sub

[joey_big_nose]

Duru getting games for US under 20 is pretty impressive 

[KentExile]

Text/score updates on Colchester's website 

https://www.cu-fc.com/matches/u21s/2024/g2483565#Live_Updates

Edited November 22 by KentExile

[arbitro]

1 minute ago, KentExile said:

 

From that line up it looks like Litherland and Hilton will be on the bench tomorrow with Barrett potentially the third keeper.

[KentExile]

Think you are probably right, Duru too

But also possible that the timing of fitness tests meant that some players had to be omitted from travelling to (and back home from) an away trip in Essex just in case they are needed

Edited November 22 by KentExile

[bluebruce]

1-1 draw, goal from Murphy-Worrell. Not gonna lie, that's a pretty disappointing result against the likes of Colchester U21s, even with all the players we have out on loan. Looks like QPR drew with them too though. We're second in the 4-team group, behind QPR on GD, ahead of Preston by a point, Colchester by 2. Not sure how many go through.

[arbitro]

7 hours ago, bluebruce said:

1-1 draw, goal from Murphy-Worrell. Not gonna lie, that's a pretty disappointing result against the likes of Colchester U21s, even with all the players we have out on loan. Looks like QPR drew with them too though. We're second in the 4-team group, behind QPR on GD, ahead of Preston by a point, Colchester by 2. Not sure how many go through.

To be fair I saw us narrowly beat Colchester in the game at Leyland and they were unlucky not to get something from the game.

[KentExile]

U18s game at Sunderland also called off

 

[riverholmes]

No strikers coming through at U21s level? Tyjon is leading the line lately, though he's 16, and more of a second forward, I suppose.

Joe Boggan was on the bench recently, having not featured much, as far as I can tell, since he went to Macclesfield (where he didn't play, it seems). Otherwise, we don't really seem to have anyone, now that Leonard is returning to the first team squad. Looking very threadbare.

 

 

Edited November 25 by riverholmes

[bluebruce]

41 minutes ago, riverholmes said:

No strikers coming through at U21s level? Tyjon is leading the line lately, though he's 16, and more of a second forward, I suppose.

Joe Boggan was on the bench recently, having not featured much, as far as I can tell, since he went to Macclesfield (where he didn't play, it seems). Otherwise, we don't really seem to have anyone, now that Leonard is returning to the first team squad. Looking very threadbare.

 

 

I think Tyjon is the one coming through at U21 level. That he's 16 isn't really the point, he's made it onto the first team bench a few times and even played briefly. Probably have some more first team appearances by the end of the season. If he's as good as made out, he needs regular U21 football to keep developing, so I'm not really concerned that there isn't someone getting in his way. Next year it will probably be Harvey Higgins pushing into the U21s, if not this season.

[riverholmes]

Rovers U21s have played 17 games so far, by my reckoning - quite a few of them in various cup competitions, some against non-league, some against continental opponents. Tyjon and Bloxham are the best bet for goals in the U21s (aside from Leonard) but even they aren't scoring often. U21s goalscorers this season:

Harry Leonard - 5
Tom Bloxham - 4
Igor Tyjon - 4
Amario Cozier-Duberry - 3
James Edmondson - 2
Zack Stritch - 2
Leo Duru - 1
Lewis Bell - 1
Exaucé Mafoumbi - 1
Freddie Leatherbarrow - 1
Brandon Powell - 1
Adam Caddick - 1
Matty Litherland - 1
Paul Murphy-Worrell - 1

 

 

[KentExile]

16 hours ago, riverholmes said:

No strikers coming through at U21s level? Tyjon is leading the line lately, though he's 16, and more of a second forward, I suppose.

Joe Boggan was on the bench recently, having not featured much, as far as I can tell, since he went to Macclesfield (where he didn't play, it seems). Otherwise, we don't really seem to have anyone, now that Leonard is returning to the first team squad. Looking very threadbare.

 

 

 

11 hours ago, riverholmes said:

Rovers U21s have played 17 games so far, by my reckoning - quite a few of them in various cup competitions, some against non-league, some against continental opponents. Tyjon and Bloxham are the best bet for goals in the U21s (aside from Leonard) but even they aren't scoring often. U21s goalscorers this season:

Harry Leonard - 5
Tom Bloxham - 4
Igor Tyjon - 4
Amario Cozier-Duberry - 3
James Edmondson - 2
Zack Stritch - 2
Leo Duru - 1
Lewis Bell - 1
Exaucé Mafoumbi - 1
Freddie Leatherbarrow - 1
Brandon Powell - 1
Adam Caddick - 1
Matty Litherland - 1
Paul Murphy-Worrell - 1

 

 

Looking slightly more into the context behind some of those numbers

Tyjon has apparently played 528 minutes (spread across 8 games) for the U21s this season, which equates to a strike rate of about 1 in every 2 full games, which for a 16 year old in the U21s is not to be sneezed at

Boggan, has 5 in 6 this season for the U18s

Bloxham seems to be in the process of being converted to a right back (or at least experimenting with it) rather than a forward.  Albeit only in the past 2/3 games

The main goal threat for the U21s last season was Gilsenan with 13 goals in 15 games, and then 2 more goals in very limited minutes for the first team.  He has not been available so far this term due to injury.

 

For me, Rovers biggest issue with youngsters on the cusp of breaking through is they end up spending too much time sat on the first team bench or being the "21st man" and therefore not playing for any team (first/U21/U18/away on loan).   Which is mainly caused by a lack of investment in the first team playing squad

Edited November 26 by KentExile

[KentExile]

Rovers have 2 games this afternoon, both at 1pm

Central League Cup - away v Morecambe - entry is apparently free (with voluntary donations)

Premier League Cup - home v Fleetwood

Edited November 26 by KentExile

[Trinidad Rover]

Is Mafoumbi any good?

I haven’t had a chance to see him play but seemed as though there was some fanfare over his signing this summer 

[KentExile]

11 minutes ago, Trinidad Rover said:

Is Mafoumbi any good?

I haven’t had a chance to see him play but seemed as though there was some fanfare over his signing this summer 

I am sure others have seen more of him than me, but so far, he does not seem to have stood out,   Has a decent amount of pace, and looks better as in inside left forward cutting in, rather than as a central striker from what I've seen of him

Edited November 26 by KentExile

[arbitro]

15 minutes ago, Trinidad Rover said:

Is Mafoumbi any good?

I haven’t had a chance to see him play but seemed as though there was some fanfare over his signing this summer 

I have seen him play a few times and if you asked me for a decision right now based on that it would be a resounding no. However he is young, under contract and does have an asset in his pace so based on that and faith in the Academy coaches he has to be persevered with.

[KentExile]

I was expecting that we would see Gilsenan in an U21 squad before Pratt based on recent updates of Gilsenan's recovery

 

Edited November 26 by KentExile

[rigger]

I quite like Pratt, he is more of a no nonsense defender. Once we give up fucking about at the back, he might fit in.

[arbitro]

https://x.com/MorecambeFC/status/1861406288967606304?t=EY_bnB3m5SIeI0J_bIOMkQ&s=19

0-0 at half time. 

Edited November 26 by arbitro

[Tugayisgod]

2 hours ago, KentExile said:

I was expecting that we would see Gilsenan in an U21 squad before Pratt based on recent updates of Gilsenan's recovery

 

Details on the trialist