Academy & U21s

[KentExile]

25 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

I’d have brought Ribeiro on before Montgomery. I thought he’d had previous experience at centre half.

He has played on the left of a 3 when he was in Poland.

Cant see Ismael having 3 left footed centre backs in the same 11 though, even for 10 minutes

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

3 minutes ago, KentExile said:

He has played on the left of a 3 when he was in Poland.

Cant see Ismael having 3 left footed centre backs in the same 11 though, even for 10 minutes

It’s a poor do when you can’t manage to play on either side when you’re a professional. Even as an amateur I could manage playing on the left or the right. It’s just a matter of practice, practice, practice. We used to have small scale games with one sock rolled down. That was on your “ weaker “ foot and you could only pass or shoot with that foot.

[arbitro]

1 hour ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

I’d have brought Ribeiro on before Montgomery. I thought he’d had previous experience at centre half.

I just thought it strange not having the insurance policy of another natural centre half albeit possibly inexperienced.

I have never seen Montgomery play as in that position before.

[B16Rover]

Asking from a place of apathy.  There's not a 16 year old 6 ft 3 goal scorer about to break through is there?

[KentExile]

39 minutes ago, B16Rover said:

Asking from a place of apathy.  There's not a 16 year old 6 ft 3 goal scorer about to break through is there?

6ft 2 is the best I can do 😉 

to be clear, I am not saying he is about to break through

Edited Sunday at 10:55 by KentExile

[chaddyrovers]

2 hours ago, KentExile said:

He has played on the left of a 3 when he was in Poland.

Cant see Ismael having 3 left footed centre backs in the same 11 though, even for 10 minutes

Exactly. I'm not keen on having 2 left footed at centre back. Deffo dont want 3 in a back 3. 

No balance at all

[roversfan99]

P He should have just moved away from a back 3/5. Its not ideal to have only left footed centre backs but we shouldnt have fucked up the summer window so much.

Montgomery at centre back was bizarre.

[riverholmes]

On 15/10/2025 at 10:21, Mashed Potatoes said:

Who in the class of 24 do you think would be Championship level players in the years to come ?

Sad to say it, but we might well be looking for less than Championship level.

[KentExile]

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/october/21/igor-included-in-young-lions--world-cup-squad-/

 

 

[KentExile]

I couldn't find any mention of this one on line until this post

U21s play Solihull Moors later today

Edited 5 hours ago by KentExile

[arbitro]

Rovers under 17's out in a sterling performance this afternoon beating Stoke 7-1 in atrocious conditions. Some of the football was excellent and it strikes me that as well as having some real talent they are a really well coached group.

A 3-0 half time score was a fair reflection but a slow start to the second half saw Stoke pull one back but this seemed to be the kick up the backside they needed and from then on it was almost total dominance and in truth the score could have been more.

There were lots of really good individual performances but it was the collective which was impressive. It was good to see Harvey Higgins score before he went off at half-time. This was planned I was told following the 45 minutes he got recently. He will have a hour on Saturday at Leeds and providing there is no reaction it will be full steam ahead.

The left back Theo Pitt looks a hell of a prospect and he is 15. Mbonzale is 14 and we brought a lad on called Oliver Flynn after about 75 minutes who looked about 12. 

It's early days yet but I'm quite excited about this group.

[KentExile]

19 minutes ago, arbitro said:

The left back Theo Pitt looks a hell of a prospect and he is 15. Mbonzale is 14 and we brought a lad on called Oliver Flynn after about 75 minutes who looked about 12. 

It's early days yet but I'm quite excited about this group.

Am I right in that Pitt is actually a right footed right back?   Albeit he was playing on the left today.  I seem to recall him being used more often as a right back

Captained Wales U17 last week too

 

Edited 4 hours ago by KentExile

[arbitro]

12 minutes ago, KentExile said:

Am I right in that Pitt is actually a right footed right back?   Albeit he was playing on the left today.  I seem to recall him being used more often as a right back

Captained Wales U17 last week too

 

I have seen him play on both sides and he looks equally adept at both.

The advantage of being two footed I suppose.

[KentExile]

Ismael presumably decided that having a centre back on the bench v Sheff Utd this evening (instead of playing Montgomery there) wasn't a useful allocation of resources as Atcheson starts for the U21s v Solihull Moors

 

Edited 3 hours ago by KentExile

[arbitro]

12 minutes ago, KentExile said:

Ismael presumably decided that having a centre back on the bench (instead of playing Montgomery there) wasn't a useful allocation of resources as Atcheson starts for the U21s v Solihull Moors

 

The nucleus of that side have started the last few games. Excluding loans out and injuries the under 21 squad is looking a bit thin.

[KentExile]

8 minutes ago, arbitro said:

The nucleus of that side have started the last few games. Excluding loans out and injuries the under 21 squad is looking a bit thin.

Goddard, Litherland, Dunn, Boggan & Mullarkey-Matthews all missing (injured I think.. as you say), presume Michalski is with the first team as 3rd choice.  Sergeant wasn't involved with the u17s earlier was he? so could have been an option, but yes, not many options

Edited 2 hours ago by KentExile

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

1 hour ago, arbitro said:

I have seen him play on both sides and he looks equally adept at both.

The advantage of being two footed I suppose.

I always thought that way you had twice the chance of getting selected.