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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.

Ladytron - Destroy Everything You Touch

Spirited fight back, that side wouldn't take no for an answer!

Interesting just watching this video of Adam in the warm up. Not watching the ball, just constantly looking around as if in a game scenario, looking for options, head up all the time https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPi1u1LDEly/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Sex Pistols announced today, with Frank Carter doing lead vocals. I’m tempted to go just to see 70yr old punks wondering around the place 🤣

Iggy & The Stooges - Search And Destroy

As a kid, the top end of Lammack road, was my paper-round.

Not a beanie hat, but keep your eyes open on Thursday ...

I don't think our sports science staff even know what day it is. Fifth raters in my opinion.

He'd probably deafen you with a shout of,"Eight wickets!"

Haha 🤣

I wouldn't want to be the one to tell him he isn't playing. 😁

A little more optimistic than I was last week following a strong performance on Friday, but we often have a habit of following these kinds of performances up with damp squibs. This is an opportunity to really show some intent, but not losing at home would be progress. Rovers 1-1 QPR

I was brought up on Lammack Road, so the H&H was my local for years. I worked the bar for a good while in my late teens. I popped in on the weekend it was closing after the Stoke game, it was rammed. Sad to see it go.

Feels the kind of game we lose so would be quite happy with a point but it’s definitely winnable. I’m down in London Town for a few drinks so likely not watching any of it but will hope to be smiling when I check the score

Anyone tried buying tickets for this today? I've been unable to purchase all day - tried different computers/internet connections.

Something for everyone there to be fair!

How he was seen here (during the summer) is one thing, how (and how often) he was seen on the pitch by scouts from League 1 & 2 teams is another. Its not a secret that Rovers cut costs where possible, so the title of "squad player" doesn't mean much, what will matter to scouts /ata analysts etc is performance on the pitch, of which there was not a lot to go on at Championship level

It's a very fair point, although I'd say he was seen in the summer window as a squad player and with potential to push on. Squad player in a Championship side so soon after his non league loan still suggests to prospective clubs that we may have some absolutely overqualified players for League Two and National League available. I know National League is also non league, but these days those are pretty much pro teams and the level is decent for academy players so in many cases I'd be happy for young players to go there. It's these tier 7 loans we are so keen on that I really think of as borderline worthless in most cases But you're absolutely right that it could cement that these players could be ready for higher levels than they're getting. Especially with Montgomery seemingly kicking on more now.

Montgomery didn't really play a lot of games or minutes before the summer window opened (featured in 3 games totaling 136 minutes), even then he was sent off in one of those 3 games. Pratt by a necessity & lack of options, will probably play a fair bit by the time the next window opens. If hre performs well before January, then other clubs may start to pay more attention to our U21s Completely agree with the 2nd bold part

There is definitely a case to be made for players 'outgrowing' their age group and it can be a quantum leap from under 21 to senior but after under 21's there is nowhere to go. Jake Batty is a prime example although I have been told he is looking for another club as there is no future for him here which explains his recent absence. Powell is probably getting into those realms as he turned 20 in October.

He will get more robust over time and with men's football too. Starting to have hopes for him. If he gets more robust, with that tenacity he could end up being a Szmodics type maybe?

I dunno, Montgomery moving rapidly from non league to our first team didn't seem to have any effect. I think we just aren't good at finding loans and have a bit of a bias against our youth players due to not being a Prem side. I feel confident if we went up then the same players would be finding loans in League One and Two more frequently, and if we stayed up a couple years, the Championship. I get that we may be cautious, though I'm of the opinion we should generally be testing them at the highest level we can find them semi regular football (another issue, not getting game time for them where we do send them...we need to take a leaf out of Prem sides books and slip in some sort of penalty for not playing them, even though it's a system I dislike). Flip side is Olson may be struggling at that level but he may also just not be good enough. Some teams won't play a youth player over their established players they're paying more money for, or their own youth. If there is a penalty then they will only do that if the player truly isn't good enough, then we learn something about them.

His versatility could be useful too. He can play anywhere down the left but recently has moved infield with ease. Some would say he is too lightweight but his tenacity and timing of his challenges is really good.

Liking the look of Powell as well as the stats. Looks fast, tenacious. Could be one to press on to the first team squad later this season (hopefully not in that way we like where they just sit the bench a lot and don't get the regular minutes at youth level anymore, slows their development IMO)