Academy & U21s

[riverholmes]

8 hours ago, KentExile said:

I do wonder with Joseph just how much of his good form at youth level is due to his size allowing him to physically dominate & "bully" his peers in the same age group, and if so,will that translate if/when he steps up to first team level

 

You have probably seen more of him than most on here, what are your thoughts?

Makes me think of Lewis Mansell and Keith Barker of Rovers youth yesteryear. Target men forwards who scored for fun at U18s and a fair few at reserve level, I think, but found it harder once faced by older defenders.

Joseph looks like one to watch, though, and will be welcome in the U21s, for sure, where the forwards are struggling.

 

[philipl]

Under 18s won 8-3 at Liverpool

[KentExile]

Liverpool did a nice write up for us, shame our own club haven't bothered yet with anything beyond a graphic

https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/u18s-match-report-liverpool-suffer-heavy-defeat-blackburn

Didn't realise at the time, but Patrik Farkas' brother was on the bench for Liverpool

https://www.anfieldwatch.co.uk/liverpool-fc/news/exclusive-meet-the-15-year-old-liverpool-wonderkid-who-has-england-fighting-for-him/

Edited Sunday at 09:13 by KentExile

[KentExile]

U21s are at home to Middlesbrough this evening

Imagine that those who are missing will be involved in the U21s game v Blackpool tomorrow afternoon

[KentExile]

On 20/09/2025 at 13:28, arbitro said:

 

Are you at the U21 game this evening?  If so, who was manager following Sherons departure?  I assume Tuffy?

Edit - also if so, enjoy the game 🙂 

Edited 23 hours ago by KentExile

[Colt Seavers]

I'm there. Drawing 1-1 at the moment. Good, competitive game. Three bald headed chaps on the bench. Can't say I recognise any of them.

[KentExile]

3 minutes ago, Colt Seavers said:

I'm there. Drawing 1-1 at the moment. Good, competitive game. Three bald headed chaps on the bench. Can't say I recognise any of them.

Is this one there?  Its Darragh Tuffy

Edited 23 hours ago by KentExile

[Colt Seavers]

Yes, I would say so

[philipl]

7 hours ago, Colt Seavers said:

I'm there. Drawing 1-1 at the moment. Good, competitive game. Three bald headed chaps on the bench. Can't say I recognise any of them.

Pears and two other subs?

[KentExile]

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/september/22/report--rovers-under-21s-1-1-middlesbrough-under-21s/

Report from last night

[arbitro]

12 hours ago, KentExile said:

Are you at the U21 game this evening?  If so, who was manager following Sherons departure?  I assume Tuffy?

Edit - also if so, enjoy the game 🙂 

From afar (well the other side of the ground) it looked like Darragh Tuffy.

The game itself wasn't much of a spectacle but to be fair it was one we could easily have lost. Our goal was terrific with an excellent touch from Mullarky-Matthews killing the ball which was a difficult one to control and playing in Boggan who made his mind up early and smashed the ball into the net.

More worryingly was how sloppy we were in possession. Their goal came from Dunn trying to play a ball on the half turn without recognising that a Middlesbrough player behind him. There were many other examples of turning over possession cheaply through carelessness.

Batty once again looked disinterested as he seemed to be going through the motions. On a night when the majority of players were worth 6 only Goddard rose above this. He was dominant when coming for crosses and made a few smart saves.

[Parsonblue]

13 hours ago, KentExile said:

Are you at the U21 game this evening?  If so, who was manager following Sherons departure?  I assume Tuffy?

Edit - also if so, enjoy the game 🙂 

I think John Prince was taking the team with Tuffy assisting.  It was a pretty dull affair, particularly in the second-half.  Fully agree with arbitro about Batty.  Really needs to move on for his own sake.  Looks totally disinterested at Under-21 level and also caught out of position on so many occasions.

Another game for the Under-21's today which I expect to be a very young side.

[KentExile]

6 minutes ago, Parsonblue said:

I think John Prince was taking the team with Tuffy assisting.  It was a pretty dull affair, particularly in the second-half.  Fully agree with arbitro about Batty.  Really needs to move on for his own sake.  Looks totally disinterested at Under-21 level and also caught out of position on so many occasions.

Another game for the Under-21's today which I expect to be a very young side.

We may have Wood, Tyjon, Litherland, Michalski/Honor, and possibly Montgomery in todays side, but apart from that, it will be U18s I think

[arbitro]

2 minutes ago, KentExile said:

We may have Wood, Tyjon, Litherland, Michalski/Honor, and possibly Montgomery in todays side, but apart from that, it will be U18s I think

Given the reluctance to give first team squad players any game time I agree.

[KentExile]

a couple of other former U18s/U21s have found new clubs

Teddy Ramwell is in Spain

Tom Bloxham must love blue & white halves

 

Edited 10 hours ago by KentExile

[Exiled_Rover]

3 hours ago, arbitro said:

From afar (well the other side of the ground) it looked like Darragh Tuffy.

The game itself wasn't much of a spectacle but to be fair it was one we could easily have lost. Our goal was terrific with an excellent touch from Mullarky-Matthews killing the ball which was a difficult one to control and playing in Boggan who made his mind up early and smashed the ball into the net.

More worryingly was how sloppy we were in possession. Their goal came from Dunn trying to play a ball on the half turn without recognising that a Middlesbrough player behind him. There were many other examples of turning over possession cheaply through carelessness.

Batty once again looked disinterested as he seemed to be going through the motions. On a night when the majority of players were worth 6 only Goddard rose above this. He was dominant when coming for crosses and made a few smart saves.

Then Batty won't make it I'm afraid.

If he's sulking in the U21s rather than ripping up trees trying to impress (either us or his next employer) then he's done for.

[KentExile]

 

score/update

I  assume it will be

 

               Kahn

Pitt  McIlroy  Eze  Wilkinson

         Potter Farkas

Clanford McCoy Doherty

            Joseph

 

From what I've seen, Clanford looks very fast on the right wing, McCoy is more the modern type of winger cutting inside from the left onto his right foot (although looks like he may be playing as a 10 today), McCoy made his U21s debut off the bench last night

Assuming its the same player, Mbonzale was part of our U13 squad less than 2 years ago

Edited 6 hours ago by KentExile

[KentExile]

Goals from U18s 8-3 win at Liverpool

 

[KentExile]

 

[KentExile]

 

[Tugayisgod]

Just now, KentExile said:

 

Got high hopes for this lad 🔥

[KentExile]

 

[KentExile]

Seems as though it fell apart after Joseph was withdrawn with 30 mins to go

 

[Roverthechimp]

1 hour ago, KentExile said:

Seems as though it fell apart after Joseph was withdrawn with 30 mins to go

 

Exhibit A in the Ipswich response to a suggestion that Rovers should be awarded a 1-0 win...

[arbitro]

Really poor defending cost Rovers dearly this afternoon as they literally threw away after goal advantage on two occasions. It wasn't like there hadn't been warnings prior to Blackpool second comeback as over playing in the wrong areas really bit them hard.

From an attacking point of view we were good and always posed a threat at corners but the opposite can be said from defensive corners. For one of the Blackpool goals they won the first and second headers from a corner to score and this gave them the belief to go on and win it.

We did have a young side out but in fairness it looked like Blackpool did too. 

A lot is expected of Silver Eze but he looked cumbersome and slow today particularly in the first half. He did look a bit sharper in the second half though. The replacement for Valentin Joseph, Christian Mbonzale had us flummoxed but a quick search told us he was born in August 2011 (if the information was accurate) and signed last year from Irlam Town. Physically he didn't look out of place and showed some nice touches.

The youngsters looked deflated at full time but the naivety in game management really cost them.