Academy & U21s

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Redcar and Marske, both on the North East coast if my memory serves me well.

[Exiled_Rover]

On 21/12/2025 at 10:21, KentExile said:

Litherland has a lot of plaudits in this section of the forum, a year older than Atcheson, but both have the potential to make it at Championship level (at least).  Both did ok in National League North loans last season also

Dlamini was a surprise selection, a winger (when we don't play with them) who has only played 6 times for the U21s this season, Joseph (an actual striker who has scored goals this season for the U21s) would have made more sense

I wonder why Powell doesn't get a look in as as LWB?

[KentExile]

Already looks an upgrade on De Neve, makes little sense to me why he wasn't at least on the bench in recent weeks with Hedges out

[KentExile]

14 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Redcar and Marske, both on the North East coast if my memory serves me well.

2 more, from a bit further afield, I think one of these was mentioned in another part of the forum a few weeks ago

 

[cesus]

Does Jake Batty play football at any level for us anymore? I remember him going to Stanley and playing quite a lot for them last season but haven't heard much this season.

[bluebruce]

19 minutes ago, cesus said:

Does Jake Batty play football at any level for us anymore? I remember him going to Stanley and playing quite a lot for them last season but haven't heard much this season.

Still on the books. 5 PL2 games for the U21s this season. Plus 2 PL Cup, 2 National League Cup.

[KentExile]

10 hours ago, cesus said:

Does Jake Batty play football at any level for us anymore? I remember him going to Stanley and playing quite a lot for them last season but haven't heard much this season.

 

10 hours ago, bluebruce said:

Still on the books. 5 PL2 games for the U21s this season. Plus 2 PL Cup, 2 National League Cup.

Although he had some injury issues, he did well when he played for Accrington in League 2 last season, mainly at left wing back, winning their young player of the season awards

You would have thought that would have meant that he should have either pushed on or be sold last summer, he was a given a 1 year deal with an option during last summer, but has looked disinterested in the few games he has featured for the U21s (9 games in all competitions) this year

Seems to have now been overtaken by Brandon Powell

Edited Sunday at 07:52 by KentExile

[chaddyrovers]

28 minutes ago, KentExile said:

 

Although he had some injury issues, he did well when he played for Accrington in League 2 last season, mainly at left wing back, winning their young player of the season awards

You would have thought that would have meant that he should have either pushed on or be sold last summer, he was a given a 1 year deal with an option during last summer, but has looked disinterested in the few games he has featured for the U21s (9 games in all competitions) this year

Seems to have now been surpassed by Brandon Powell

Pointless re-sign him

[KentExile]

7 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Pointless re-sign him

should have been loaned out again, silly decision not to do so

[chaddyrovers]

20 minutes ago, KentExile said:

should have been loaned out again, silly decision not to do so

I think he think we shouldn't have re-sign him and allow him to find a club where he would be first team starter, that was never going to be the case here

[bluebruce]

1 hour ago, chaddyrovers said:

I think he think we shouldn't have re-sign him and allow him to find a club where he would be first team starter, that was never going to be the case here

I think that's a big assumption. He is still only 20 and used to be seen as a major prospect. Pratt has only made his breakthrough at 22.

[chaddyrovers]

1 hour ago, bluebruce said:

I think that's a big assumption. He is still only 20 and used to be seen as a major prospect. Pratt has only made his breakthrough at 22.

Just my thoughts on Batty. Said the same point in the summer. Tho you make a a valid fair point

[philipl]

We can easily forget that so many of our youngsters have lost a year or more to serious injuries. I tend not to look at the ages of our Academy graduates. Scott Wharton is still a promising youngster in my mind yet he is 28.

[bluebruce]

1 hour ago, philipl said:

We can easily forget that so many of our youngsters have lost a year or more to serious injuries. I tend not to look at the ages of our Academy graduates. Scott Wharton is still a promising youngster in my mind yet he is 28.

Wow, 28, that surprised me. Thought he was about 26. Definitely not a promising youngster anymore though!

Amazing that he made his debut in 2016, and yet hasn't made 100 league appearances for us yet (98 according to Wiki). He has some 210 total career appearances, but injuries have definitely done a number on the poor lad. Hope his brother avoids that fate.

[riverholmes]

7 hours ago, philipl said:

We can easily forget that so many of our youngsters have lost a year or more to serious injuries. I tend not to look at the ages of our Academy graduates. Scott Wharton is still a promising youngster in my mind yet he is 28.

Sam Barnes, Isaac Whitehall and Lenni Rae Cirino are a few names who would likely have got a first team squad chance (not necessarily beyond that), but terrible injuries have all but ended their careers. It seems to be a huge problem for the U21s, though, not sure how it compares to previous eras.

[bluebruce]

5 hours ago, bluebruce said:

Wow, 28, that surprised me. Thought he was about 26. Definitely not a promising youngster anymore though!

Amazing that he made his debut in 2016, and yet hasn't made 100 league appearances for us yet (98 according to Wiki). He has some 210 total career appearances, but injuries have definitely done a number on the poor lad. Hope his brother avoids that fate.

To add to this, there is a solid chance that when Tronstad leaves us in the summer, he will have made more league appearances for us in his 3 years than Wharton will have made in nearly 10.

[Tim Southampton Rover]

Do we actually have any young strikers who are better than Axel Henriksson up top? And by ‘better,’ I literally just mean someone who can get into decent positions and at least take a shot at goal. I’m not even asking for someone who can score, which tells you how low the bar currently is 🤣

[KentExile]

18 minutes ago, Tim Southampton Rover said:

Do we actually have any young strikers who are better than Axel Henriksson up top? And by ‘better,’ I literally just mean someone who can get into decent positions and at least take a shot at goal. I’m not even asking for someone who can score, which tells you how low the bar currently is 🤣

Valentin Joseph - big powerful 18 year old, striker with 11 goals in 17 games this season

Absolute madness that he is not on the bench given our lack of options

Edited 12 hours ago by KentExile

[Tim Southampton Rover]

After yesterday's game, I'm guessing we'll see him on the bench next game. 

[cesus]

26 minutes ago, KentExile said:

Valentin Joseph - big powerful 18 year old, striker with 11 goals in 17 games this season

Absolute madness that he is not on the bench given our lack of options

My knowledge of the youth system isnt great, so it really frustrates me that there is a player as you describe who could have offered us something different last night even for the last 10 minutes. 

[KentExile]

33 minutes ago, cesus said:

My knowledge of the youth system isnt great, so it really frustrates me that there is a player as you describe who could have offered us something different last night even for the last 10 minutes. 

Not the best clips, but you can see the size of him here, and its against the dingles, so that's a bonus

 

His brother Vincent is apparently very good too, U16 on the books a Liverpool and wanted by Bayern

[Comfortably numb]

It's been interesting to see someone like Diamini force his way into the managers thinking, a player who has not been getting the exposure of the likes of Joseph, Tyjon, Higgins and the like from academy regulars.

Presumably, he has impressed in training and caught the managers eye, unlike Gueye who seems to have thrown his toys out of the pram

[KentExile]

Not unexpected, but given the below, the question remains, why bring Tyjon along as 21st man for the past few games over someone like Joseph?

 

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/25728695.blackburn-rovers-reveal-arsenal-targets-contract-decision/

 

Igor Tyjon has told Blackburn Rovers he won't sign a professional contract with the club.

 

The talented teenager has been chased by Arsenal, Manchester United and other Premier League suitors in recent years. He signed a two-year scholarship with Rovers 18 months ago despite that interest.

That expires this summer, with Tyjon eligible for his first professional terms since last February when he turned 17. Rovers have held contract talks and made a big push to sign him on by including him in first-team plans during pre-season.

 

However, further Championship opportunities haven't arisen with no deal signed, and therefore, Tyjon won't be staying at Rovers and could be sold in January.

Given he's out of contract in June, the club's best chance of securing a reflective fee would be to agree a deal next month. Otherwise, they'll only receive compensation due to his age.

As a result of his decision, he is being overlooked in favour of other Academy prospects despite Rovers' injury crisis in attack. Tyjon was the 21st man against Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday with Brandon Powell selected for the bench ahead of him at Hillsborough.

"We were in discussion with him to extend his contract. He decided not to extend his contract," Ismael revealed.

"So for us, it's clear that from 1st of January, he might leave the club. So that's why we are focused now on the players who are for us, for the future.

"As I said, it's a chance at least in that period of time to see some Academy players. I think they are doing very well at the moment. They really help us to bridge the gap until the players come back from injury."

Edited 10 hours ago by KentExile

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

2 minutes ago, KentExile said:

Not unexpected

 

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/25728695.blackburn-rovers-reveal-arsenal-targets-contract-decision/

 

Igor Tyjon has told Blackburn Rovers he won't sign a professional contract with the club.

 

The talented teenager has been chased by Arsenal, Manchester United and other Premier League suitors in recent years. He signed a two-year scholarship with Rovers 18 months ago despite that interest.

That expires this summer, with Tyjon eligible for his first professional terms since last February when he turned 17. Rovers have held contract talks and made a big push to sign him on by including him in first-team plans during pre-season.

 

However, further Championship opportunities haven't arisen with no deal signed, and therefore, Tyjon won't be staying at Rovers and could be sold in January.

Given he's out of contract in June, the club's best chance of securing a reflective fee would be to agree a deal next month. Otherwise, they'll only receive compensation due to his age.

As a result of his decision, he is being overlooked in favour of other Academy prospects despite Rovers' injury crisis in attack. Tyjon was the 21st man against Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday with Brandon Powell selected for the bench ahead of him at Hillsborough.

"We were in discussion with him to extend his contract. He decided not to extend his contract," Ismael revealed.

"So for us, it's clear that from 1st of January, he might leave the club. So that's why we are focused now on the players who are for us, for the future.

"As I said, it's a chance at least in that period of time to see some Academy players. I think they are doing very well at the moment. They really help us to bridge the gap until the players come back from injury."

Sell him. His estimation of his ability exceeds my estimation for sure. 

[Comfortably numb]