riverholmes

Harry Leonard is a rare success story for the academy, even more so, if he makes it at Peterborough. I can't think of forwards coming through the ranks at Rovers lately to go on to play regular league football.

It's important they go on loan in non-league for a month to play no games and toughen up! That will surely aid their development.

Wharton did some great work to create the chance for Palace's penalty goal today against Leeds. However, he was also involved the other way at three set-piece goals conceded by Palace. To me, it looks like he was marking Calvert-Lewin for both his goals and then relieved of that duty, arguably didn't do enough to try to stop a knock down on the edge of the box that Ampadou seized on. I would say the first conceded goal was the biggest mistake, the other two were harder for him to defend. Nonetheless, I do think it highlights some defensive frailties in a clearly wonderful player. It reinforces to me that he is not (yet) the defensive midfielder some present him as and, arguably, Glasner, was at fault for putting him on duty on Calvert-Lewin at set-pieces in the first place.

Second non-league loan spell where Boggan played zero minutes? The signs are concerning that these clubs don't want to put him on the pitch. Keep him at the club and let him get some goals at U21s and have some starts.

Didn't look anything great at first team level but had potential. His U21 form was excellent and to me, his lack of pace but guile suggested a Harry Kane-style slow but intelligent forward. Will be interesting to know how he is used at Posh, perhaps, with help of runners, and how he does.

Interesting subject... I feel the analysis is generally better than days of Hansen, Lawrenson, Shearer et al. spouting cliches about passion, heart, desire. On the other hand, there is a horrible excess of everything now online, with the same people everywhere. It's designed both to be addictive and, maybe, even, soul-destroying. In some cases, it's a parasocial situation with these podcasts, an imaginary alternative to the social circles people lack, I feel.

I'm finally calling it (for myself) after seeing recent highlights in which Buckley struggles to track back or defend. He's an attacking midfielder or second forward.

Not sure if it counts as I don't think he had a pro contract at Rovers, let alone an appearance for the firsts, but Flavien Boyomo is racking up appearances in La Liga. He turned down a pro contract here, moved to Albacete and got a move to Valladolid and now at Osasuna. Villa and Fulham are rumoured in the online mill to be monitoring him. Though, Osasuna are struggling, so not sure how he's doing individually. Back on Tyrhys Dolan, he'll be in Turkey, Cyprus or the UK in a season, I would think, but good luck to him.

Jalil Saadi was given a one-year extension and Jordan Eastham, when neither had any future at the club. There's many others - Harrison Wood, the forward who is on the books now. I think it is about numbers and maybe, in some cases, about maintaining good relationships with agents, perhaps.

Seeing Devlin sent off for Portsmouth against Sheffield Utd brought back memories of Paul Devlin, the Sheffield Utd player. He was at his peak as a midfielder in the days Rovers were on the rise from the second tier with our own stars in Duff, Dunn, Jansen and co. Football seemed more exciting back then, though could well have to do with the fact of our current fate.

3-0 defeat to Tamworth. BBC has Stritch playing in CM, when he's an attacker/forward. Only 5 subs on bench of the possible 7, according to BBC. Without knowing the details, just this alone looks another embarrassment. What sense to send out U21 players on one month-loans to non-league and then not able to field full squads in matches - and to weaken a poor side. It looks like self-sabotage. Though, it must be said, no guarantee that the full-strength reserves could beat Tamworth these days. (Looks like other bigger teams struggled in the other fixtures). Edit: 26 yr old Michael Mols lined up for Tamworth, formerly of Rovers Reserves.

Montgomery has it all to prove. He had a decent game at right back and he was being talked of as the replacement for Callum Brittain. I doubt we'll see him at right back much going forward. If he makes it as a DM, fair enough but I think he'll be a very limited squad player in this new degraded era.

I agree but, regardless, I don't think England could've done anything. Technically and, probably, psychologically , English players simply couldn't play or deal with possession football, which was dominant internationally. The Guardiola/Spanish revolution changed things a lot, I think, and now playing styles have converged. It might be shifting away again, now, but nonetheless, the 'rondo' is here to stay. I distinctly remember a Euro U21 tournament, when David Dunn was England captain and hailed by David Platt as the best young player in Europe. The squad had Crouch, Defoe, Gareth Barry, Alan Smith, Jenas, Konchesky - only to be made a fool of in matches by Hugo Viana and Massimo Maccarone.

There's talent and application. Then there's the team. Scholes put it all together to get to the heights. Wharton might be technically there in talent already but the rest has to come. Bellingham seems to have it all but I don't see the application and teamwork to put him on a par - yet.

The highlights don't show up Wharton well. Looked unsure positionally and no moments on the ball in open play (albeit, looked like Bellingham was determined not to be outshone by him). But that's just the highlights and understandable given the moment. I hope he gets more chances, maybe, with a defensive player alongside him.