Academy & U21s

[KentExile]

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/october/08/report--rovers-under-21s-3-1-leyton-orient-under-21s/

[bigsigarner]

1 hour ago, Parsonblue said:

A win, against a more than impressive Orient outfit, is welcome after recent results.  However, if Orient's final ball had been better they could easily have got at least a point, even with ten men. 

I thought Brandon Powell was our best performer.  He seemed to have a roving commission and his pace and movement was a delight to watch. 

Orient looked a very skilful outfit.  Quick in attack, with one touch passes which left us struggling to keep up at times. A mixture of wayward shooting and a poor final pass let them down.

Honour looked confident in goal and made some decent saves.  He's a big lad but gets down well and seems to have good judgement.

Batty continues to be something of an enigma.  He ought to be a dominant figure at this level, with his experience, but at times looked disinterested and petulant.  He went missing when Orient scored and in my view needs a loan move for the second half of the season if he is to develop into the player we want him to be.

Up front, Joseph proved a handful in the first half before tiring after the interval.  He's still very raw but there does look to be potential there.

 

Joseph looked a little clumsy at times but he's definitely a handful. Batty needs to be on loan for me and 21s football isn't what he needs. Powell always impresses me and is tireless in his work ethic. Certainly one to watch. The lad in goals looks like a real presence at 19. Not sure why we don't see more of him?

[arbitro]

48 minutes ago, bigsigarner said:

Joseph looked a little clumsy at times but he's definitely a handful. Batty needs to be on loan for me and 21s football isn't what he needs. Powell always impresses me and is tireless in his work ethic. Certainly one to watch. The lad in goals looks like a real presence at 19. Not sure why we don't see more of him?

It was mentioned recently on here that Joseph, because of his size was more likely to physically dominate opposition players as he came through the system but last night (in the second half) both of Orient's centre halves were the equal of him physically. I thought he coped really well against them both.

He does have a strange gait and at times looks unathletic but I have been told he is really quick which along with his physicality is a real asset.