Good for Montgomery but makes you wonder why Litherland was sent away on loan when he actually plays right back sometimes.

Manager’s only getting paid five million a year… I watched some of the first half of the England U21 game v Portugal U21, which England won 4-2. England looked much better than in the previous game, albeit, probably a lot to do with the opposition being not as good. In yesteryear, any Portugal youth side would make England's boys look like amateurs. Yet, it is a sign of the times, that England's players looked technically as proficient (as well as physically stronger). Jobe Bellingham and Hackney looked decent in the centre in the absence of Wharton and Anderson. Also, Cresswell (a Toulouse player I discovered) looked fairly good alongside Branthwaite, though the defence and goalie looked shaky at times. Not sure about the formation with midfielders at full back and wingers as forwards but Carsley likes to throw players into new positions. Could also hint that England may be scratching around for full backs and strikers at that level, as well as goalkeepers.

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.

Saw a small part of it and agree, he didn’t seem to be influencing the game much. Maybe because he was playing deeper than he usually does for his club. It seemed a bit like a playground football, end-to-end game. It needed Wharton (and others) to try and control the flow but perhaps he isn’t quite experienced enough yet. I think I saw him do his trademark diving in to try and stop a counter-attack. The opponent got away and Wharton was out of the game on the ground. I’m no coach, but it might be something he needs to work on. Rayan Cherki on the wing for France looked a player.

It depends what you do with possession. The classy Spain sides of yesteryear kept possession but they did it with intent.

England’s much heralded U21s (with Wharton) lost 5-3 in France. Naturally, the media that complacently hype the team don’t much reflect on what became a near thrashing. Watching parts of the game, what was apparent, apart from horrendous defending, was that this talented young side struggled to know how to manage the game. Concerning for the future, despite the individual talent.

May be the case but aside from a few exceptions, not much coming through, especially in attack. Our lead fit striker, Harrison Wood, couldn’t get a game for Annan Athletic, whilst on loan in Scotland this season. He might’ve been injured but then, most of the U21 forwards are, for some reason.

It’s a relatively small point in the mess of the U21s, but If you give Saadi a one year extension, then keep him at the club to play U21 games to support the youngsters and paper-thin squad. Instead, he has sent out on what seems like effectively a secondment (holiday?) in Cyprus. Edit: I suppose an explanation is that they realised they had too many overseas players..

It says a lot about our owners and also our coaches that we’ve had players like Harvey Elliot, Wharton, Ayari, Van Hecke, Rothwell, Tosin but we couldn’t assemble a team to get into the play offs. In some cases, we couldn’t get the best out of them, albeit, they were young players. Palace have tended to appreciate young creative players. I recall a certain forward called Matt Jansen. The tables have turned a lot now.

Jake Kean…?

Awful for him. Just injury after injury. Hope it’s not a serious one.

That’s if they don’t get injured or disappear in revolving door non-league loans! Then team will limp on in disjointed fashion. Certainly, there is hope for some of these names but from an outside perspective I can’t but help viewing the U21s management as somewhat chaotic if not, at times, shambolic. The injuries are also a huge concern and the recruitment at that level has looked dubious recently, though the recruits are young players that may improve. I would say, the lack of relegation from PL2 can’t have helped the whole set-up, designed to develop players.

Another Holtby? Eustace appeared to have a soft spot for Sigurdsson purely based on his quotes. Was often talking him up.

Harrison Wood and Alex Baker I suppose will be released this year and futures of Mafoumbi and Gilsenan doubtful, Rovers have to be looking to bring in a few forwards at U21s level. I believe too much was asked of Tyjon too early in his physical development (though whether it is linked to his injuries is a medical matter) and the same will happen to Boggan, who may be the next ‘hope’, albeit he is older.

Not having so many players going through revolving doors on loan and back again must make a difference. Makes sense to loan out players to gain experience but not everyone at the same time and preferably longer-term to actually gain meaningful experience.

I’m guessing “gentleman’s agreement” is in place.

Agree, Kargbo looked like a Dolan-type. Eager small runner but link play and judgment dubious. However, it is early and can hope.

LB Ribeiro looks a good addition. Has a Givet look about him in a few ways. But pace will always let us down at the back against good sides.

Selling or, often, letting contracts expire… I do feel we lack quality in what is generally a low quality league. With a bit of investment, a chance to get into the play-offs arises - though the inevitable chasm awaits. Is Jack Barrett our 3rd choice keeper now? If so, that is reflective of the foundations at the moment, as he has been shaky since coming in, as far as I have followed. Our U23s are getting beat by non-league second strings. Individuals getting sent on short-term revolving door loans to non-league to ‘toughen up,’ but not much sign of quality or in some cases, games. But we’ll add value to our loanees so that their clubs can profit financially/on the pitch - see Ayari and Ben Chrisene.

Any chance of converting Beck’s deal to permanent? It seems he’s not rated highly enough to earn a recall when Liverpool are going on all fronts. It would take a fairly big bid but about time we spent having sold the generational talent in Wharton and lost the next big thing in Finneran… There’s dreaming. But really, we should be at least trying, however unlikely.

My impression is that Markanday was impressive and improving at Chesterfield but he wasn’t a class above. His record is 6 goals, 3 assists in 22 appearances it seems.

I think getting Garrett out might at least partly be a financial decision to allow others to come in. Makes no sense to have teenagers Frank Vare and Dunn on the bench in the last game and have him in the stands. I also wonder if Forshaw is going to contribute much more than Garrett could have. But we’ll have to see. If Garrett gets regular games, could turn out a good move for him.

Last Serie B recruit, Ciccio Grabbi? An excuse to remind fans that Rovers spent £6 million or so on a player, back in the early 2000s, who had a history of Ledderhose disease which affects the feet. Not widely reported in English then but you can find reports in Italian online. Translated article: https://www-calciofere-it.translate.goog/2018/12/17/ciccio-grabbi-e-ancora-una-fera-tifosi-rossoverdi-nel-mio-cuore/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp

Not been widely reported in places but the National League sides are putting out near second strings in this competition. I had hoped Joe Boggan might break through into the U23s this campaign. Hopefully, he’ll steer clear of injury and revolving door non-league loans and get a run of games somewhere beyond u18s.

Personally feel that as a leftie, Garrett would offer something more than Hedges on that side. Though, admittedly, scraping the barrel.