Academy & U21s

[RevidgeBlue]

38 minutes ago, SuperBrfc said:

 

Good appointment on paper, has vast experience and has worked at some big clubs. Something that hasn't been been mentioned so far, is that Vignal is part of the HSH stable. HSH, the same agency who represented Coyle, Lambert, Mowbray and others over the past decade plus. I know it doesn't guarantee success on the pitch, but I'm quite optimistic as they have always had a reasonable talent pool.

That doesn't fill me with any confidence - exactly the opposite in fact.

[KentExile]

 

[KentExile]

Obviously Rovers didn't bother mentioning this

[arbitro]

40 minutes ago, KentExile said:

Obviously Rovers didn't bother mentioning this

Thanks for posting this. 

If it was left to Rovers I would have been sat at the Academy like a lemon.

[KentExile]

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/november/14/brandon-bags-player-of-the-month-award-/

[MarkBRFC]

Seen Brandon Powell has won the PL2 player of the month.

Any regulars tell us more about him?

I have seen him play live once, for the under 21's against Man Utd last season the night before we played Burnley away.

He stood out to me straight away as one that looked like he could at some point make the step up, he played left back that night and was up and down the line all night comfortable in attack and defence, looked to have decent pace too.

Left wing back could be made for him?

[chaddyrovers]

1 hour ago, KentExile said:

Obviously Rovers didn't bother mentioning this

 

 

 

[KentExile]

5 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

 

 

 

Only an hour later then 

[KentExile]

56 minutes ago, MarkBRFC said:

Seen Brandon Powell has won the PL2 player of the month.

Any regulars tell us more about him?

I have seen him play live once, for the under 21's against Man Utd last season the night before we played Burnley away.

He stood out to me straight away as one that looked like he could at some point make the step up, he played left back that night and was up and down the line all night comfortable in attack and defence, looked to have decent pace too.

Left wing back could be made for him?

Has been playing further forwards this season, hence the increased rate of goals & assists, his interview seems to indicate that this is a permanent positional change (*). 

* I did originally wonder if it was just a way of shoehorning both him and Batty into the same 11 on a regular basis given the failure to send Batty out on loan to build on what was a decent first loan in League 2 last season

Edited November 14 by KentExile

[arbitro]

One for three weeks and one for a month?

Seems a bit pointless but I suppose Jordan Rhodes has to justify his existence.

[KentExile]

17 minutes ago, arbitro said:

One for three weeks and one for a month?

Seems a bit pointless but I suppose Jordan Rhodes has to justify his existence.

Blake Wolsoncroft also, ... "until the beginning of next month"

[RevidgeBlue]

19 minutes ago, arbitro said:

One for three weeks and one for a month?

Seems a bit pointless but I suppose Jordan Rhodes has to justify his existence.

Do they get any benefit from playing at that sort of level?

Genuine question as I've no idea.

[arbitro]

31 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Do they get any benefit from playing at that sort of level?

Genuine question as I've no idea.

The absolute minimum standard in my opinion for any of our youngsters going on loan should be Northern Premier League Premier division. Anything below that and the standard drops markedly. 

[KentExile]

49 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Do they get any benefit from playing at that sort of level?

Genuine question as I've no idea.

 

11 minutes ago, arbitro said:

The absolute minimum standard in my opinion for any of our youngsters going on loan should be Northern Premier League Premier division. Anything below that and the standard drops markedly. 

I do broadly agree re standard, although Solomon Honors loan last season in the 8th tier did seem to do him a lot of good.    From memory, that started as a few weeks loan, and was extended a few times until it ended up as a full season loan.

Maybe because he is a goalkeeper rather than an outfield player, that drop in standard matters less?

Edited November 14 by KentExile

[arbitro]

45 minutes ago, KentExile said:

 

I do broadly agree re standard, although Solomon Honors loan last season in the 8th tier did seem to do him a lot of good.    From memory, that started as a few weeks loan, and was extended a few times until it ended up as a full season loan.

Maybe because he is a goalkeeper rather than an outfield player, that drop in standard matters less?

I saw him play a couple of times for Atherton Colls and I agree it's different for a goalkeeper whose job is essentially the same whatever the level.

[simongarnerisgod]

1 hour ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Do they get any benefit from playing at that sort of level?

Genuine question as I've no idea.

main benefit of loaning players at that level is the they`ll have to learn how to deal with the physicallity,refs are far more leniant and tackles do get tasty,dominic calvert lewin,the ex everton and now leeds c/f did a loan stint at stalybridge celtic and it brought him on no end,he`s still not very good but it did teach him how to look after himself on the pitch

[arbitro]

1 minute ago, simongarnerisgod said:

main benefit of loaning players at that level is the they`ll have to learn how to deal with the physicallity,refs are far more leniant and tackles do get tasty,dominic calvert lewin,the ex everton and now leeds c/f did a loan stint at stalybridge celtic and it brought him on no end,he`s still not very good but it did teach him how to look after himself on the pitch

I'm not sure that the game generally is as physical as it was and that is all relative. I watch NPL and, having refereed on there in the early 90's I don't believe it is anything like it was. Lots of players at that level now have come through Academies where physicality is kept to a minimum.

One benefit could be the facilities and pitches. Any entitled young player won't be too well accepted if he expects the same great and gives it the big 'un.

[KentExile]

Tyjon & Montgomery possibly play later today

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/november/15/igor-and-kristi-set-for-action/

[riverholmes]

On 14/11/2025 at 13:34, arbitro said:

The absolute minimum standard in my opinion for any of our youngsters going on loan should be Northern Premier League Premier division. Anything below that and the standard drops markedly. 

As important as the standard is the length of the loan, I believe. A work experience loan for an U21 player of a few weeks gives no time to adjust or gain meaningful playing experience. Moreover, it's a recipe for getting injured.

I cannot understand why the club persists with these bitty, risky non-league loans which also disrupt the U21s without any reward from what I can see. By all means, send out someone you're letting go or isn't involved, but a Joe Boggan who is probably second choice striker for the U21s deserves much better. If not, keep him here, grab some goals and get a better loan in January or next season.

Edited November 16 by riverholmes

[rigger]

17 minutes ago, riverholmes said:

As important as the standard is the length of the loan, I believe. A work experience loan for an U21 player of a few weeks gives no time to adjust or gain meaningful playing experience. Moreover, it's a recipe for getting injured.

I cannot understand why the club persists with these bitty, risky non-league loans which also disrupt the U21s without any reward from what I can see. By all means, send out someone you're letting go or isn't involved, but a Joe Boggan who is probably second choice striker for the U21s deserves much better. If not, keep him here, grab some goals and get a better loan in January or next season.

I still think the no promotion or relegation for the U21s might effect the way loans are organized.

[roversinmyblood]

1 hour ago, riverholmes said:

As important as the standard is the length of the loan, I believe. A work experience loan for an U21 player of a few weeks gives no time to adjust or gain meaningful playing experience. Moreover, it's a recipe for getting injured.

I cannot understand why the club persists with these bitty, risky non-league loans which also disrupt the U21s without any reward from what I can see. By all means, send out someone you're letting go or isn't involved, but a Joe Boggan who is probably second choice striker for the U21s deserves much better. If not, keep him here, grab some goals and get a better loan in January or next season.

I’m guessing these short term loans are to give the club who recruit them cover when they have injuries. If this is the case they’re unlikely to get any meaningful playing time which makes it a waste of time. 

[KentExile]

18 hours ago, roversinmyblood said:

I’m guessing these short term loans are to give the club who recruit them cover when they have injuries. If this is the case they’re unlikely to get any meaningful playing time which makes it a waste of time. 

Of the 3 players who were loaned out to this level last week, 2 started games yesterday, one playing 75 minutes, 1 playing the full game, and the other came off the bench after an hour

I should probably add that as far as I can tell, Wolsoncroft (the one who played 90 minutes) is a goalkeeper and it looks very much like he was brought in to cover a 1 game suspension to their regular first choice, they lost 4-1, so without having seen the match, I am inclined to think that he will likely be on the bench for the rest of his 3 (ish) week stint

Edited November 17 by KentExile

[Rogerb]

Joe Boggan should benefit from playing in front of a decent crowd. FC United having a decent season pushing for promotion to national League north.

[roversinmyblood]

4 hours ago, KentExile said:

Of the 3 players who were loaned out to this level last week, 2 started games yesterday, one playing 75 minutes, 1 playing the full game, and the other came off the bench after an hour

In that case it has proved be very useful. I retract my previous statement.

[...]

Sorry if this has already been mentioned

https://blackburnroversfc.co.uk/news/2025/november/17/-it-s-a-very-attractive-club-and-the-pathway-is-there-/browse

I think this is a super appointment