If I recall rightly, Fielding was promoted from the England U21s, after a senior goalkeeper dropped out. The England manager at the time opted to promote internally, rather than get someone new in from outside the two squads. Just from memory, mind you.

Very impressive from Adam Wharton. I felt the initial praise after his move was too much, especially, given he was making some notable defensive errors in the midst of fine passing displays. However, there's no doubt that his partnership with Will Hughes has helped Palace transform. It makes me wonder why Rovers didn't get more out of Wharton. It's true that football becomes easier with better players supporting you but given Wharton's now evident level, I feel we didn't get the most out of him, especially, against lesser players. I wonder if part of the issue was failing to find a Will Hughes type player to partner him. The brief highlights I've seen of Palace recently suggest that Wharton plays as a double pivot with Hughes, with the latter slightly more defensive. Hughes's energy and bite complements Wharton's more languid style and attacking minded instinct. Perhaps, Rovers played him too deep. Not sure. He'll have a job to make the final 26-man squad, when its cut down in June but clearly a huge achievement for him. Credit to Rovers academy and the player himself - and such a shame that Rovers didn't hold onto him for another year. That said, given the dire straits the team and club are in, I could easily imagine us continuing to struggle, even with him in the team.

Interesting article about recruitment staff at Rovers from two years ago which gives a run down of the various individuals responsible and their career history. I have no idea how such departments work, though, I understand, increasingly, there is emphasis on data for recruitment and as one of the staff are quoted to say in the article: “I basically use data to try and identify players that we haven’t been able to look at due to resources.." What surprises me a bit is that our then Head of European Scouting came to the club via a relatively short spell at Hibernian, as well as Cheltenham and AFC Fylde. I suppose that must emphasise how much these roles are data based (and, perhaps, outsourced to scouting agencies) because clearly he must lack experience and contacts, however talented he is in the role. Article: https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2022/december/19/the-team-behind-the-team-/ Edit: Also surprised to read the comment from the Head of UK Scouting, Tom Sutton, at the time that at a point in summer 2022, the Rovers UK scouting team consisted of him and Gregg Broughton, until they recruited scouts and others.

Matty Pearson has climbed back up the league since leaving Rovers. Also Andy Fisher (Swansea GK) and Flavien Boyomo of Real Valladolid, though, I read that Rovers earned a sell-on fee for Fisher and, I think, Boyomo might've rejected Rovers offers to go to Albacete. A concern for me would be that Rovers reserve goalkeepers Eastham and Hilton can't seem to get league club loan moves with games. A higher standard is probably needed for them to progress. We definitely need them to progress to provide more competition for the senior goalkeepers.

I'm thinking less about nationality but scouting and recruitment directly from Ireland and Scotland youth football. The likes of Bloxham, Finneran and Gilsenan haven't played youth football in Ireland, as far as I know. Not sure about Atcheson, or the others from elsewhere. There was more of an emphasis on bringing in players from Ireland and Scotland into the academy and reserve system before and we reaped quite a lot of benefit in the likes of Duff and Hanley and to a lesser extent players like Treacy, Judge and Douglas. There is less emphasis now in that area, which makes me wonder if old scouting ties have been ended. However, it could be that, also, other clubs have muscled into what is probably a small pool, relatively speaking. It could also be that there is more concern about moving young players as teenagers so far from home - not sure. In our Prem days, Rovers went on a major recruitment drive for youth players from the Continent and I think, basically, none of them broke through. (And then there was the separate Cercle Brugge tie-up that also didn't get anywhere in terms of recruitment though, I'm sure that wasn't the only objective of the deal). Edit: Just reading on Wikipedia, one of those players in the failed European youth player recruitment drive was Hugo Fernandez, a defender. And, it was that connection between his old club Cornella, that, later, led to David Raya coming to Rovers - a rare success in that type of recruitment, I think.

The club used to recruit youth players widely from Scotland and Ireland, especially. It was how we got Duff, Hanley, Treacy, Alan Judge, Jon Douglas, etc. That seems to have mostly halted, though there are some occasionally brought in. I wonder if investment in that sort of scouting would be beneficial, though, I'm sure the competition is fierce and likely the pool not huge.

I was surprised that he spoke highly of Grella as a tough and technical player without referencing his injury problems. I'm surprised, also, to hear how eager Warnock was to leave Liverpool. It sounds like he was shafted by management by being left out of the Champions' League final squad, as his name was put on the list but then he was told there had been an error and Josemi replaced him. Maybe, Djimi Traore starting at left back frustrated him too, though they got the win, in the end. However, In the interview, I don't think he even hints of any regret at leaving his boyhood club, Champions' League winners and the manager, Benitez, who gave him his opportunity at Liverpool. Rovers were a promising team but not Liverpool, with Gerrard near his best. Strange - though, I'm sure there's more to the story for things to have soured so badly. Moreover, I guess that Liverpool also were ready to let him go because they had Riise and then they brought in Fabio Aurelio.

I’m sure this will be a controversial (and insignificant) an opinion but for all Szmodic’s goals and effort, I find his on-field antics a bit distasteful. Others will love it, as they loved it when Savage, Diouf (though, not sure he was in their league of wind-ups) and others were up to it. I find it especially cringeworthy given how pathetic a team we have been. That said, he deserves all the credit for his goals and saving us from relegation. His effort in harrying opposition players was always great. I’ll remember him fondly but not in my pantheon!

I hope they buy Travis, though, I suspect not, seeing as he has barely played in recent games. He’s been a solid player but it’s got really stale and I think he felt the same and hence wanted to move.

Credit to Ben Chrisene who, like the other young loanees, hasn’t had much of a chance but came in today with a lot of pressure.

I think that farce follows the farce that we weren’t able to get better performances and results with him in the team. He should’ve been our Dewsbury-Hall, albeit he is still very inexperienced. It’s something of a pattern as we see Branthwaite having another good game for Everton. We’ve had talents at the club but rarely been able to put together a coherent team. I’ve been cautious about overstating Wharton’s performances but I think one thing he is doing for Palace is simplifying their game. He plays clever passes but he also plays with minimal touches. Palace’s lauded individualists probably need a player like Wharton. He also seems to have helped Will Hughes improve past few games.

Nice to see Lenni Cirino get a chance after his long injury layoff and absence of 18 months - and 80 mins on his comeback is something. Edit: Watching highlights, it looks like there were a lot of chances for both sides. Rovers defence didn’t look too convincing, albeit against a strong side. Also, Harrison Wood up front looked very involved and took his goal well.

They did really well against Newcastle and I thought that that would be the moment they’d be much more involved. I think JRC should be at RB and one of our CMs brought in, with Chrisene at left back. I firmly believe we have the players to be higher.

Mikey Johnston of WBA resembling Damien Duff with his jinking run in highlights of their loss to Leicester. One of the best but rarer sights in football, I think. Looks like they have quietly assembled a very good team. There’s a great assist from Kipre in the game too. I vaguely remember him being linked with Rovers. Edit: Just watching a few more highlights of Johnston and he really does play in the style (if not level) of Duff. Has a similar running and shooting style.

Vale is an obvious sale (buyers permitting) and Gent a keep, which makes me somewhat concerned about what the club will do.

I may be wrong, but given our indifferent form and fact that even Wharton was struggling for consistency at times, I suspect we couldn't have realistically got much more for him up front - though, maybe in add-ons. The sensible move would've been to keep him for another season knowing that he has the real potential to become a dominant player for us and command a huge fee - potentially pushing 30m +. His story, incidentally. is a bit like Steven Nzonzi who was signed from relegated Ligue 2 Amiens, as a relative unknown and turned out to be a silky midfielder for Rovers. Albeit, Wharton had more of a spotlight on him being in England and Nzonzi was signed for something like 650k.

I’m getting quietly hopeful about RB, Leo Duru, based on reviews lately. Sounds like he’s dependable and might have something in the attacking third. I hope he gets a meaningful promotion of sorts, either into first team squad or loan move, for next stage of development.

Second De Bruyne goal. Wharton and Hughes lose Rodri for a moment and then Wharton makes a hesitant effort at blocking the De Bruyne shot. I am being very critical and, as I said, it's no shame to be overrun by City's players. However, it's pretty clear that Wharton needs a better organiser and defensive player alongside him, because that is a weaker part of his game.

I see what you mean by that comparison. He has a tenacious and technical style on the ball. If JRC was more athletic and less injury prone he would probably be at a higher level. A significant issue with this team is a lack of athleticism. None of the Prem loanees are favoured who probably are more mobile. It seems Eustace might be a managerial throwback to his era of playing (at least at moment, as we battle relegation).

1 win in 9. Today might’ve been his first assist. He’s done well in a struggling team and is a great prospect but the hype is too much currently. He may well get there, especially with the right midfield partner. Edit: Wharton watch... Great pass for the opener finished well by Mateta - if Wharton meant it. The co-commentator seemed to doubt it. I think it was intended but whether it was a hopeful or a calculated pass, hard to tell. If calculated, it was even more brilliant. Apparently, he had a role in the second Palace goal but not covered in the highlights. On the downside, he and Hughes were overrun for the City goals. There's no shame in that and potentially a tactical issue as well. However, if I was being very critical, for the second De Bruyne goal, he and Hughes let Rodri go and then Wharton doesn't cover himself in glory when trying to block the strike.

Similar story it seems, Palace drop points, Wharton does well but lacking defensively in a key moment. For Bournemouth’s goal he gets caught too high up the pitch, not anticipating the break. Not to say it was a decisive error and his midfield partner seems to be missing, so not all on him, at all, but another sign of lack of defensive intensity, perhaps. As the deep-lying midfielder, which I assume is his role at that moment, it’s crucial. If he does get that right, he’ll do just fine.

In a stellar season, one of the few personal critiques you could put to him is his only 4 assists. This seems low for a forward that comes from deep and can link up play. You expect low assists from a player like Adam Armstrong, who played high up the pitch for us - but he has managed 11 assists this season. I'm very sure this reflects the differences in the quality and form of the teams. In a better team, Szmodics is getting more assists, but I just wonder if he could do more in this regard, especially, his tendency to take the difficult shot at times. Perhaps, also, it's just not his game and, to be fair, he is almost a false 9, rather than a traditional AM.

Gent had another good game for Motherwell at LWB, albeit against St Mirren. I hope the club have got him under a contract and have a plan for him. I have no idea how good he is but clearly is on the up currently. PS. Looking at that Bamber Bridge x/Twitter post reminds me of how pointless much of club social media activity is. What exactly does it offer that a webpage doesn’t? A rhetorical question, btw.

Watching the highlights of Forest v Palace today, Wharton made a great pass for a chance spurned and created another which was missed. However, if I’m not mistaken, he is also the player who inexplicably gives Forest’s most talented player, Gibbs-White, the freedom of the City Ground to make his own lofted pass for Woods’ goal. I think there you see the two sides of Wharton. Currently, Palace fans are greatly impressed by his technical game but at some point, he will be called out for the intensity in his game at times. Tugay got away with it and maybe, in other countries it’s tolerated from the playmaker but the pressure will be on at some point, I think. It could be partly a fitness issue, as was suggested whilst he was playing for Rovers.

Still a very slow back line and a not particularly mobile central midfield, either. However, I have a horrible feeling that Pickering will be a third CB and Chrisene wing-back. Edit: BBC online guess Chrisene at LCB, which is better, in my opinion, than Pickering, as it adds some pace there.