KentExile Posted September 23 Posted September 23 7 hours 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. Seems you are right, and this situation will remain until Sherons successor is appointed Quote
KentExile Posted September 23 Posted September 23 2 minutes ago, arbitro said: 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. https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2024/march/09/rovers-u13s-reach-national-final-/ https://cascais.ibercup.com/en/master/player/90597/stats Some info on Mbonzale, which may or may not be exactly what you found Quote
arbitro Posted September 23 Posted September 23 1 minute ago, KentExile said: https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2024/march/09/rovers-u13s-reach-national-final-/ https://cascais.ibercup.com/en/master/player/90597/stats Some info on Mbonzale, which may or may not be exactly what you found That is pretty much what we gleaned at the game. The lad is 14 (only just 14 btw) though and is already huge. Incredible really that he was plying his trade with on league Irlam Town up to last year. Rovers would have had to get permission for him to miss school this afternoon 😂. 1 Quote
KentExile Posted September 23 Posted September 23 10 minutes ago, arbitro said: That is pretty much what we gleaned at the game. The lad is 14 (only just 14 btw) though and is already huge. Incredible really that he was plying his trade with on league Irlam Town up to last year. Rovers would have had to get permission for him to miss school this afternoon 😂. Apparently signed for Rovers in 2022 3 Quote
bigsigarner Posted September 23 Posted September 23 Is the keeper a relation of Suhails? As bad as I've seen at this level. 1 Quote
KentExile Posted September 23 Posted September 23 4 minutes ago, bigsigarner said: Is the keeper a relation of Suhails? As bad as I've seen at this level. We brought him in from Palace in 2022, his contract was extended during the summer (surprisingly in my opinion), he has been called up for the senior Pakistan team once or twice which think says more about the lack of quality in their squad than it does his ability 1 Quote
Parsonblue Posted September 23 Posted September 23 A really disappointing performance in the second half today. Despite being in a strong position at 2-0 and then 3-1, the youngsters lost control and then failed to do the basics in terms of defending. Blackpool, who don't have an under-21 team, looked a pretty decent outfit. This was a steep learning curve for our youngsters but hopefully, one that will benefit them in the future. A Blackpool fan informed me that James Butterworth, who scored a couple for the visitors when he came on as a second-half sub, is the son of John Butterworth - a former youth and reserve player for us in the early 1990s who many will remember from when Jim Furnell was running the youth set up. 2 Quote
KentExile Posted September 24 Posted September 24 Report from yesterday https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/september/23/report--rovers-under-21s-3-4-blackpool-under-21s/ Quote
KentExile Posted September 27 Posted September 27 (edited) Higgins was on the bench for U18s today, first time (I think) he has been in a squad this season Rovers U18 were 1-0 up with a goal from Clanford (Joseph with the assist), but the game was suspended just before the end of the first half, no idea why Edited September 27 by KentExile Quote
TheKitGuy Posted September 27 Posted September 27 3 hours ago, KentExile said: Higgins was on the bench for U18s today, first time (I think) he has been in a squad this season Rovers U18 were 1-0 up with a goal from Clanford (Joseph with the assist), but the game was suspended just before the end of the first half, no idea why Head injury to a wolves player 1 Quote
hollowsr Posted September 27 Posted September 27 Sounds like a head injury to a Wolves player. Both u18 and u16 had to be abandoned as left no ambulance on site according to bits on twitter 1 Quote
bluebruce Posted September 27 Posted September 27 3 hours ago, hollowsr said: Sounds like a head injury to a Wolves player. Both u18 and u16 had to be abandoned as left no ambulance on site according to bits on twitter Fucking hell, recurring theme this. Obviously different and totally unavoidable reasons here, but that's 3 games abandoned in a week, and in the two I've heard the scores of we were winning 1 nil in both. Bizarre. 1 Quote
KentExile Posted September 28 Posted September 28 (edited) A few games this coming week U21s are away to Leicester on Monday night PL Cup (U17) game at home against the Dingles on Tuesday afternoon U21s are away to Stoke on Friday night U18s are away to Leeds on Saturday The U21s also have a couple of cup games during the international break Home to Leyton Orient on the 8th Oct in the Premier League Cup Away to Preston on the 14th Oct in the Central League Cup Wonder if they will try to replay the U18 Wolves game during the break? Edited September 28 by KentExile Quote
arbitro Posted September 28 Posted September 28 1 hour ago, KentExile said: A few games this coming week U21s are away to Leicester on Monday night PL Cup (U17) game at home against the Dingles on Tuesday afternoon U21s are away to Stoke on Friday night U18s are away to Leeds on Saturday The U21s also have a couple of cup games during the international break Home to Leyton Orient on the 8th Oct in the Premier League Cup Away to Preston on the 14th Oct in the Central League Cup Wonder if they will try to replay the U18 Wolves game during the break? I wonder if the Stasi will allow spectators at the Burnley game. 1 Quote
KentExile Posted September 29 Posted September 29 (edited) Preview of tonight's game for the U21s, apparently Goddard is injured and Forshaw may play https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/september/29/preview--leicester-city-under-21s-v-rovers-under-21s/ Also, just noticed that Rovers are not in the PL International Cup this year, They have been regular participants for several years I wonder if this is a competition that can be opted out of, and Rovers exclusion being possibly another sign of cost cutting? Edited September 29 by KentExile Quote
bluebruce Posted September 29 Posted September 29 2 hours ago, KentExile said: Preview of tonight's game for the U21s, apparently Goddard is injured and Forshaw may play https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/september/29/preview--leicester-city-under-21s-v-rovers-under-21s/ Also, just noticed that Rovers are not in the PL International Cup this year, They have been regular participants for several years I wonder if this is a competition that can be opted out of, and Rovers exclusion being possibly another sign of cost cutting? If I remember rightly, it was last year where we were in far too many competitions and played a ton of games whilst having a ton of players out on loan? Or may have been thr srason before where we were in loads of competitions, but either way they might not want to overstretch the youngsters if they still plan to load a fuckton of them out. Quote
KentExile Posted September 29 Posted September 29 (edited) 18 minutes ago, bluebruce said: If I remember rightly, it was last year where we were in far too many competitions and played a ton of games whilst having a ton of players out on loan? Or may have been thr srason before where we were in loads of competitions, but either way they might not want to overstretch the youngsters if they still plan to load a fuckton of them out. Given that the U21s were scheduled to play 2 games in less than 24 hours last Monday & Tuesday, I cannot imagine that was part of their considerations https://www.rovers.co.uk/Matches/u21/?view=results Edited September 29 by KentExile Quote
bluebruce Posted September 29 Posted September 29 16 minutes ago, KentExile said: Given that the U21s were scheduled to play 2 games in less than 24 hours last Monday & Tuesday, I cannot imagine that was part of their considerations https://www.rovers.co.uk/Matches/u21/?view=results I don't follow, am I misunderstanding? If the U21s were playing 2 games in less than 24 hours, that sounds like an incredibly good reason not to enter more competitions? Quote
KentExile Posted September 29 Posted September 29 3 minutes ago, bluebruce said: I don't follow, am I misunderstanding? If the U21s were playing 2 games in less than 24 hours, that sounds like an incredibly good reason not to enter more competitions? The powers that be get to negotiate dates/times fixtures are played on, if they cared a jot for not overloading the players, they could have easily shunted one of those fixtures to a different week, or at least given them a day or so gap between fixtures Quote
KentExile Posted September 29 Posted September 29 (edited) starts for Michalski, Tyjon, and midfield maestro Forshaw 😉 Why do we keep playing Powell out of position on the wing ahead of Doherty? Edited September 29 by KentExile Quote
KentExile Posted September 29 Posted September 29 Forshaw taken off at half time with Rovers 3-1 up, Mullarkey-Matthews with the first before Tyjon put away 2 penalties Quote
rigger Posted September 29 Posted September 29 1 minute ago, KentExile said: Forshaw taken off at half time with Rovers 3-1 up, Mullarkey-Matthews with the first before Tyjon put away 2 penalties Was Forshaw taken off, for injury, precaution, or just poor ? Quote
KentExile Posted September 29 Posted September 29 (edited) 10 minutes ago, rigger said: Was Forshaw taken off, for injury, precaution, or just poor ? It's his first game back, almost certainly it was pre-planned that he would come off at half time, presume he will get 60 mins on Friday, and 75 mins next week v Orient Edited September 29 by KentExile 1 Quote
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