Tracking our (outbound) loan players 24/25

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

19 hours ago, bluebruce said:

Have fun with whatever you're getting up to (or, hope it goes well - delete as appropriate). Your efforts with this have been immense.

I second thst. KentExiles  posts are essential reading for me.

[KentExile]

This weekends games

 

Starts this weekend for

Duru - won 2-0 - scored the opening goal - replaced for the last 20 minutes - former Rover Sam Barnes finally made his debut

O'Riordan - drew 1-1 - scored the equaliser

Montgomery - won 3-2 - loan due to expire on Wednesday, I wonder if it will be extended as he has started for them when he has been fit.  If not, his last game for Chorley could be Tuesday

Eastham - drew 1-1

Barrett - won 4-1

Honor - won 4-0

Saadi - drew 0-0 - withdrawn in the 89th minute with the score at 0-0

 

On the bench

Garrett - won 2-1

Batty - lost 2-0 - came on for the second half - recently been injured

 

Not involved in matchday squad

Markanday - lost 2-1 - cannot find why he was not included, but will update when I see something

Olson - lost 2-1 - currently injured

Goddard - lost 2-1 - currently injured

Mafoumbi - won 3-1

 

No game this weekend

Vale - next due to play 15th March - has missed the last few games with injury

 

 

Earlier this week

 

Starts for 

Markanday - lost 1-0 - withdrawn after 67 minutes with the score at 1-0

Duru - won 2-1

O'Riordan - lost 4-1

 

On the bench

Garrett - drew 1-1 - subbed on after 65 minutes with the score at 1-0

Batty - won 2-0 - subbed on after 78 minutes has recently been injured

 

Not involved in matchday squad

Olson - won 2-1 - currently injured

Goddard - lost 2-0 - currently injured

Edited March 9 by KentExile

[RoverCanada]

O'Riordan's goal was a decent strike (er, perhaps given a bit too much time to settle the ball by L2 defenders haha...):

 

Duru's goal poking in a header off a corner (first highlight below):

 

[KentExile]

Starts this evening for

Batty - won 5-0

Montgomery - lot 3-0 - final game for Chorley unless his loan is extended

 

On the bench

-

 

Not involved in matchday squad

Olson - lot 3-0 - currently injured

Edited March 11 by KentExile

[KentExile]

Starts this weekend for

O'Riordan - drew 1-1 - scored the opening goal - subbed off with 20 minutes to go with the score at 1-0, injured according to BBC

Duru - drew 2-2 - withdrawn early in the second half whilst 2-0 down

Batty - drew 1-1 - withdrawn after 72 minutes whilst winning 1-0

Olson - lost 2-1 - withdrawn after an hour with the score at 0-0 (first game back after injury)

Montgomery - lost 2-1 - loan has been extended until the end pf the season

Eastham - lost 1-0

Barrett - drew 1-1

Honor - won 3-0

 

On the bench

Markanday - won 2-1

Garrett - won 1-0 - was a very late sub

Saadi - drew 1-1

 

Not involved in matchday squad

Vale - drew 2-2 - currently injured

Goddard - won 1-0 - currently injured

Mafoumbi - lost 2-1

 

Edited March 16 by KentExile

[arbitro]

Connor O'Riordan has scored again for Crewe today.

Interestingly he was among the Rovers fans at Stoke on Wednesday.

[KentExile]

On the bench this evening

Olson - lost 1-0 - made his first appearance in about a month on Saturday following injury, so this may be a case of being careful not to have him play too much, too soon

Edited March 18 by KentExile

[Devon Rover]

On 14/03/2025 at 19:15, KentExile said:

 

 

Just to say that, in amongst so much crap going on at our club, I really appreciate these updates on our loaned out players. You never know which of them we might become dependent on in the next season or two..! Thank you for taking the time.

[RoverCanada]

While there's still some 'hope' (had a glance and bookies have us at 16/1 for playoffs at the moment...), I'm so checked out about the season... I was sceptical of Eustace (and the sustainability of what he had managed to start the year), but he was starting to win me over, and then... Ismael, bah, more a symptom than the root cause.

Amid all that, how the loanees and Academy lads are doing at least remains a topic of relatively optimistic interest!

Some positives: 

- Markanday: recent lack of minutes a bit concerning. Hope it's just an outlier. Overall, he's still had 8 starts in 12 league games with 2 goals in L1, plus the obviously successful L2 loan

- Batty: injuries still a concern, but he's managed 22 appearances with Accrington, which is a positive?

- Duru a regular with L2 Barrow with 8 apps so far. 3 games in a USA U20 call-up too.

- Olson immediately becoming a regular starter with Altrincham in NL (now at 13 starts) is a good sign - any potential there? That seemed to come out of nowhere. 

- Obviously a low level, but Edmondson apparently did well with 7th tier Macclesfield as a 19yo (3 goals in 14 apps) and has again made our bench a couple times. There was a bit of hype about him last year too.

- 14 games for Atcheson at NLN Marine as a 17/18yo can't hurt, and has made our bench a few times. Presumably some promise there. NI U19 call-up too...

- Montgomery's been a steady starter for both his NLN loans (21 league starts), but he is turning 21 in a couple months, so...

On the negative side: Vale blighted by injury (albeit probably running down his contract/trying to showcase him for a low fee sale at this point); O'Riordan maybe salvaging things a bit with Crewe in L2, but hard to ignore the disappointment of the L1 Cambridge loan; poor-ish loan for Gamble for NL Fylde (but perhaps not much of a prospect to begin with); simply looking like a disastrous loan season for Garrett; Harrison Wood's scored 4 in 6 Academy games yet has struggled for minutes at both his Scottish L1 and NLN loans (5 starts, 6 subs, 1 goal, left on the bench 5 times). Guessing he wasn't much of a prospect in the first place given his age (turning 21 in the summer) and the level of those loans? Mafoumbi loan looking more like offloading a signing that didn't work out (baffling if that took up an international slot). Saadi, bah who cares haha.

Also, while I agree that the slew of low non-league loans look odd - I'll admit to ignorance at just how low a level those leagues are! - I also suspect they're more 'give a lad a handful of games against men in local non-league/work experience'-style loans rather than full-blown loans. Many have just been for one month, and they've often still played Academy games during the loans. I'd also guess some of those lads weren't really promising prospects in the first place...

Edited March 21 by RoverCanada

[Exiled_Rover]

26 minutes ago, RoverCanada said:

While there's still some 'hope' (had a glance and bookies have us at 16/1 for playoffs at the moment...), I'm so checked out about the season... I was sceptical of Eustace (and the sustainability of what he had managed to start the year), but he was starting to win me over, and then... Ismael, bah, more a symptom than the root cause.

Amid all that, how the loanees and Academy lads are doing at least remains a topic of relatively optimistic interest!

Some positives: 

- Markanday: recent lack of minutes a bit concerning. Hope it's just an outlier. Overall, he's still had 8 starts in 12 league games with 2 goals in L1, plus the obviously successful L2 loan

- Batty (injuries still a concern, but he's managed 22 appearances with Accrington, which is probably a positive?);

- Duru a regular with L2 Barrow with 8 apps so far. 3 games in a USA U20 call-up too.

- Olson immediately becoming a regular starter with Altrincham in NL (now at 13 starts) is a good sign - any potential there? That seemed to come out of nowhere. 

- Obviously a low level, but Edmondson apparently did well with 7th tier Macclesfield as a 19yo (3 goals in 14 apps) and has again made our bench a couple times. There was a bit of hype about him last year too.

- 14 games for Atcheson at NLN Marine as a 17/18yo can't hurt, and has made our bench a few times. Presumably some promise there. NI U19 call-up too...

- Montgomery's been a steady starter for both his NLN loans (21 league starts), but he is turning 21 in a couple months, so...

On the negative side: Vale blighted by injury (albeit probably running down his contract/trying to showcase him for a low fee sale at this point); O'Riordan maybe salvaging things a bit with Crewe in L2, but hard to ignore the disappointment of the L1 Cambridge loan; poor-ish loan for Gamble for NL Fylde (but perhaps not much of a prospect to begin with); while simply looking like a disastrous loan season for Garrett; Harrison Wood's scored 4 in 6 Academy games yet has struggled for minutes at both his Scottish L1 and NLN loans (5 starts, 6 subs, 1 goal, left on the bench 5 times). Guessing he wasn't much of a prospect in the first place given his age (turning 21 in the summer) and the level of those loans. Mafoumbi loan looking more like simply offloading a signing that didn't work out (baffling if that took up an international slot). Saadi, bah who cares haha.

Also, while I agree that the slew of low non-league loans look odd - I'll admit to ignorance at just how low a level those leagues are! - I also suspect they're more 'give a lad a handful of games against men in local non-league/work experience'-style loans rather than full-blown loans. Many have just been for one month, and they've often still played Academy games during the loans. I'd also guess some of those lads weren't really promising prospects in the first place...

I'd suggest Batty and Duru are the next two men up on the Academy conveyer belt.

Especially when you consider the lack of squad depth there (unless they somehow find the money to sign Ribeiro to a longer contract in the summer). Don't know much about the central defenders, but they younger ones are quite highly rated I gather.

Garrett - wow, what has happened there? He always struck me as a tidy, intense CM. He held his own in the Championship - he seems to have fallen off a cliff this year. You'd think he'd be the first name on the team sheet in L1, never mind L2.

[KentExile]

Litherland has signed for Curzon Ashton (currently 5th in the 6th tier and in the play off spots) on loan until the end of the season, could make his debut tomorrow

 

 

 

Edited March 21 by KentExile

[arbitro]

57 minutes ago, KentExile said:

Litherland has signed for Curzon Ashton (currently 5th in the 6th tier and in the play off spots) on loan until the end of the season, could make his debut tomorrow

 

 

 

I think this is a really good move for him. The under 21's only have three matches left whereas Curzon have nine left not including potential playoffs. 

On the downside as our seniors plummet I would have liked to have seen him getting an appearance or two when it becomes mathematically impossible for us to reach the Championship playoffs.

[KentExile]

1 hour ago, arbitro said:

I think this is a really good move for him. The under 21's only have three matches left whereas Curzon have nine left not including potential playoffs. 

On the downside as our seniors plummet I would have liked to have seen him getting an appearance or two when it becomes mathematically impossible for us to reach the Championship playoffs.

It would have been good to see him get his full debut, but it seems Atcheson is further up the hierarchy at the moment  (judging by him being named on the bench ahead of Litherland in recent weeks).  Maybe at least in part due to Atcheson's size?

It will be very interesting to see how Litherland's trademark runs (vaguely Rothwell like for those who haven't seen it, which is mental considering he is a centre back) fare in men's football.  I hope (and think) he will do well.

Edited March 21 by KentExile

[arbitro]

26 minutes ago, KentExile said:

It would have been good to see him get his full debut, but it seems Atcheson is further up the hierarchy at the moment  (judging by him being named on the bench ahead of Litherland in recent weeks).  Maybe at least in part due to Atcheson's size?

It will be very interesting to see how Litherland's trademark runs (vaguely Rothwell like for those who haven't seen it, which is mental considering he is a centre back) fare in men's football.  I hope (and think) he will do well.

Litherland was absent for a couple of under 21 games so I wondered if he was injured. Personally I think he is the best prospect right now and he can hopefully continue his development and progress next season.

I have seen him go on those runs several times and it's refreshing to see. Compare that to the mundane, sideways passing from centre halves that is so prevalent in the modern game.

[KentExile]

Starts this weekend for

Batty - drew 0-0 - replaced in injury time - looks to have a dangerous long throw

O'Riordan - drew 0-0

Olson - lost 1-0

Litherland - lost 3-1

Montgomery - won 2-0

Eastham - lost 3-1

Barrett - lost 2-1

Honor - drew 2-2

 

On the bench

Garrett - drew 0-0

Goddard - drew 3-3 - on the bench following a return from injury

 

Not involved in matchday squad

Duru - drew 2-2 -apparently has a stress fracture of his foot & is out for the rest of the season

 

No game this weekend

Markanday

Vale - currently injured

Saadi

Mafoumbi

Edited March 22 by KentExile

[riverholmes]

Garrett was a left back five years ago. He has reasonable pace, can get forward and tackle; I just wonder if he should go back to that position on the pitch.

[roversfan99]

It would be best for him to leave permanently in the summer if anyone wants him in the lower leagues. He looked out of his depth last season which considering his age there certainly was no shame in, but hes struggled to get minutes even in League 1 and now League 2. I cant see him making it at this level similar to Markanday.

Probably more chance of him and Buckley being our first choice midfield next season though knowing our owners.

[arbitro]

8 hours ago, riverholmes said:

Garrett was a left back five years ago. He has reasonable pace, can get forward and tackle; I just wonder if he should go back to that position on the pitch.

I was at Fleetwood on Saturday against Tranmere where Garrett was named on the bench. Seeing him coming through the ranks at Rovers I always thought he was going to make it for us. He didn't get on which was disappointing as I would have liked to see him play but overriding that was the fact that Tranmere weren't very good at all.

I just worry what the future holds for him.

[MarkBRFC]

I think if we're planning on having Duru, Batty, O'Riordan, Garrett and Markandey in the squad next season then we're in more trouble than I originally thought.

Jury out on Duru, but 8 appearances in the 4th division doesn't really fill me with hope no matter how promising he looked in kids fooball.

The rest of them though are nowhere near, and probably never will be good enough for this level.

[KentExile]

35 minutes ago, MarkBRFC said:

I think if we're planning on having Duru, Batty, O'Riordan, Garrett and Markandey in the squad next season then we're in more trouble than I originally thought.

Jury out on Duru, but 8 appearances in the 4th division doesn't really fill me with hope no matter how promising he looked in kids fooball.

The rest of them though are nowhere near, and probably never will be good enough for this level.

The games that Duru has missed have been through injury, and he is now out for the rest of the season with a stress fracture of his foot

Which is of course a worry, but not the same worry as him not playing due to a lack of (or perceived  lack of) talent/application/etc

Edited Monday at 08:53 by KentExile

[chaddyrovers]

Garrett's loan spells this season have been disaster tbh..

He was developing here under JDT into a box to box midfielder and doing well..after he left his development hasnt happened sadly

[KentExile]

7 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Garrett's loan spells this season have been disaster tbh..

He was developing here under JDT into a box to box midfielder and doing well..after he left his development hasnt happened sadly

Two very poorly chosen loans at two struggling teams with two managers who have been sacked.

The Tranmere interim manager has had a decent run of results (at least in comparison to his predecessor... unbeaten in the last 5), so has kept faith with the players currently in the team, so there is the faint hope that Garrett could still play a part this season if injuries/or a change in form allow 

Edited Monday at 09:17 by KentExile

[chaddyrovers]

2 minutes ago, KentExile said:

Two very poorly chosen loans at two struggling teams with two managers who have been sacked

Exactly. We need to better with clubs for players we want to loan out

[KentExile]

Starts this evening for

Montgomery - drew 1-1

 

On the bench

Olson - drew 1-1

 

Not involved in matchday squad

Duru - won 1-0 - injured

 

 

There are a few games  for our loanees in Leagues 1 & 2 on Sky later this week in case anyone is interested in watching them

Thursday 8pm kick off - Markanday - game on Sky Sports Football

Friday 7:45pm kick off - Garrett - game on Sky Sports +

Saturday 12:30 kick off - Batty - game on Sky Sports +

Saturday 12:30 kick off - O'Riordan - game on Sky Sports +

Edited Tuesday at 21:44 by KentExile

[KentExile]

Start this evening for

Markanday - won 1-0 - withdrawn with 20 minutes remaining with the score at 1-0

 

Harrison Wood has joined Warrington Rylands (7th tier) on loan for the rest of the season, they are next due to play on Saturday

 

Edited yesterday at 06:21 by KentExile