Academy & U21s

[1874]

A check on transfermarkt

[roversfan99]

41 minutes ago, 1874 said:

A check on transfermarkt

A website that just gives players random values? 

[Upside Down]

On 21/04/2025 at 02:28, rigger said:

Do you think Phillips made a good career decision going to Spurs ?

I'd say anybody who leaves this pretend football club to join a real one has made the right decision.

Were I in his position I'd have jumped at the first opportunity just as many others have.

He 100% made the right decision for his career and sanity.

As has been proven by the last two head coaches here, anyone who has a single shred of ambition, dignity and self respect doesn't last long here.

[Ossydave]

One of the main reasons Stoke are in the shite still is their defensive record this season, Philips is their second most used defender appearance wise. Whilst it's obviously not all 1 players fault he can't have been that amazing. He certainly ain't gonna be the defensive equivalent to Adam Wharton and will probably have a career as an average championship defender.

[KentExile]

9 hours ago, 1874 said:

A check on transfermarkt

A site which rates Dolan at £6M with 2 months left on his contract

Edited April 26 by KentExile

[rigger]

4 hours ago, Upside Down said:

I'd say anybody who leaves this pretend football club to join a real one has made the right decision.

Were I in his position I'd have jumped at the first opportunity just as many others have.

He 100% made the right decision for his career and sanity.

As has been proven by the last two head coaches here, anyone who has a single shred of ambition, dignity and self respect doesn't last long here.

It is not so much his choice to leave the Rovers, but his choice of going to Spurs.

[Upside Down]

13 minutes ago, rigger said:

It is not so much his choice to leave the Rovers, but his choice of going to Spurs.

As we saw with Eustace, anywhere else will do.

Even a Mickey mouse club like Spurs.

[KentExile]

Higgins & Eze both started for the U18s today as they came back from 2-0 down  to draw 2-2 away at Nottingham Forest. 

Leatherbarrow with both goals for Rovers

Hopefully that means good news on their contracts?

Edited April 26 by KentExile

[riverholmes]

Last season Jake Garrett was awarded Young Player of the Season and the award this season looks even more unclear.

I guess it might go to Kristi Montgomery for his breakthrough, but, if I'm not mistaken, the most consistent performer for Rovers U21s has been Matty Litherland, with James Edmondson and Tom Atcheson coming out with credit. I suppose Duru and Tyjon might be in with a shout and Dunn potentially.

However, the fact there is not a stand-out or two reflects what has been a disappointing campaign for the U21s and a lack of talent coming through (dubious management too..?).

Edit: Forgot Tyrhys Dolan - if he qualifies at the age of 23, I guess, it'll be him, just as he leaves.

Edited April 26 by riverholmes

[bluebruce]

U18s drew 1-1 away to Everton. Our goal from Pates. The match stats skew heavily towards Everton (23 shots to 4, and 8 on target against 2, with 60% possession to them). 

We sit 6th in the 13-team North league.

[TugaysMarlboro]

On 26/04/2025 at 17:12, riverholmes said:

Last season Jake Garrett was awarded Young Player of the Season and the award this season looks even more unclear.

I guess it might go to Kristi Montgomery for his breakthrough, but, if I'm not mistaken, the most consistent performer for Rovers U21s has been Matty Litherland, with James Edmondson and Tom Atcheson coming out with credit. I suppose Duru and Tyjon might be in with a shout and Dunn potentially.

However, the fact there is not a stand-out or two reflects what has been a disappointing campaign for the U21s and a lack of talent coming through (dubious management too..?).

Edit: Forgot Tyrhys Dolan - if he qualifies at the age of 23, I guess, it'll be him, just as he leaves.

I don't follow the academy very much but I noticed a lot of the younger lads getting short term deals across the leagues this season, has there been more than previous seasons?

None of them have seemingly turned up many trees and look capable of making the step up next year at present.

 

[bluebruce]

59 minutes ago, TugaysMarlboro said:

I don't follow the academy very much but I noticed a lot of the younger lads getting short term deals across the leagues this season, has there been more than previous seasons?

None of them have seemingly turned up many trees and look capable of making the step up next year at present.

 

Montgomery is one of the lads sent on a short loan. He was recalled to play for us and is looking capable of making the step up next year.

A couple of other players have had decent loans, but on the whole I don't think they've gone well and some (Garrett's) have been a disaster. I think a lot have been poorly chosen.

[KentExile]

2 hours ago, bluebruce said:

U18s drew 1-1 away to Everton. Our goal from Pates. The match stats skew heavily towards Everton (23 shots to 4, and 8 on target against 2, with 60% possession to them). 

We sit 6th in the 13-team North league.

Looks as though Dickson Etuhus son came off the bench late on for Rovers

https://www.premierleague.com/match/120672

 

[KentExile]

Very much secondary, but the U18s final game of the season was home home to Sunderland

Edit - they conceded 5 2nd half goals to lose 5-1

Edited Saturday at 14:26 by KentExile

[bluebruce]

3 hours ago, KentExile said:

Very much secondary, but the U18s final game of the season is home home to Sunderland & kicks off at noon.

They were 1 nil up at half time...and then got battered 5-1.

[KentExile]

1 hour ago, bluebruce said:

They were 1 nil up at half time...and then got battered 5-1.

Looks like I updated my post exactly when you replied to me

Bad day all around unfortunately, not even a Preston relegation to console me

Edited Saturday at 16:09 by KentExile

[Exiled_Rover]

On 29/04/2025 at 22:01, KentExile said:

Looks as though Dickson Etuhus son came off the bench late on for Rovers

https://www.premierleague.com/match/120672

 

Hope he does more for us than his dad ever did here.

[Exiled_Rover]

On 26/04/2025 at 17:12, riverholmes said:

Last season Jake Garrett was awarded Young Player of the Season and the award this season looks even more unclear.

I guess it might go to Kristi Montgomery for his breakthrough, but, if I'm not mistaken, the most consistent performer for Rovers U21s has been Matty Litherland, with James Edmondson and Tom Atcheson coming out with credit. I suppose Duru and Tyjon might be in with a shout and Dunn potentially.

However, the fact there is not a stand-out or two reflects what has been a disappointing campaign for the U21s and a lack of talent coming through (dubious management too..?).

Edit: Forgot Tyrhys Dolan - if he qualifies at the age of 23, I guess, it'll be him, just as he leaves.

There isn't one this year, unfortunately. 

You can't rely on your Academy to produce First Team quality players every season, it just doesn't work that way.

[bluebruce]

4 hours ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Hope he does more for us than his dad ever did here.

He already has, by virtue of not stealing a massive wage.

[bluebruce]

4 hours ago, Exiled_Rover said:

There isn't one this year, unfortunately. 

You can't rely on your Academy to produce First Team quality players every season, it just doesn't work that way.

I thought I read that Dolan won it.

[Exiled_Rover]

34 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

I thought I read that Dolan won it.

He did, which means there wasn't really one - he's 23 and been an established first teamer for years. 

[KentExile]

 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

1 hour ago, KentExile said:

 

Another one goes. What other team has this sort of churn of backroom staff ?

[chaddyrovers]

1 hour ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Another one goes. What other team has this sort of churn of backroom staff ?

He's been here for 13 years and in different roles 

[...]

The main question is can he be replaced easily by the same calibre or better does his role require replacing? 🤔