v Accrington Stanley (a) - 12/7/25 - Friendly

[Goozburger]

17 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

That assumes that every player that stays like Wharton goes on to do what he does.

Well, no, but the chances of it are higher based on what I've seen. I'm also biased to Rovers. 😁 

[MarkBRFC]

20 minutes ago, Theaxe15 said:

Thought they’d just name him if it was…

You dont understand.

If he was a contracted academy player, then yes they would.

Because he's a free agent, whether it's a trial for the first team or academy then he would be listed as "trialist" to not give his identity away.

That's why you see "trialist" on most pre season team sheets over the summer.

[Theaxe15]

Just now, MarkBRFC said:

You dont understand.

If he was a contracted academy player, then yes they would.

Because he's a free agent, whether it's a trial for the first team or academy then he would be listed as "trialist" to not give his identity away.

That's why you see "trialist" on most pre season team sheets over the summer.

And I was saying he’d be a trialist intended for the academy 

[Tom]

16 minutes ago, JBiz said:

If he’d stayed here he’d likely be first choice already. 

He has been first choice where he’s been, improved his wages and his exposure I’d say.

I doubt he’s progressed as Spurs hoped and may not make it there but he’ll find a first team spot at our level no worries 

[MarkBRFC]

2 minutes ago, Theaxe15 said:

And I was saying he’d be a trialist intended for the academy 

Fair enough.

I might have read you're initial post incorrectly as "he will just be an academy player surely".

[riverholmes]

Notable absences today, Matty Litherland (RB/CB), Duru (RB) (but believe he may be recovering from injury) and James Edmondson (our best U21 central midfield option?). Instead Mullarkey-Matthews gets a game having been out for most of last season.

A forward is probably needed, as I don't think Tyjon is ready (he wasn't prolific for the U21s last season. albeit in a poor team) and Leonard is injury-prone.

[arbitro]

4 minutes ago, riverholmes said:

Notable absences today, Matty Litherland (RB/CB), Duru (RB) (but believe he may be recovering from injury) and James Edmondson (our best U21 central midfield option?). Instead Mullarkey-Matthews gets a game having been out for most of last season.

A forward is probably needed, as I don't think Tyjon is ready (he wasn't prolific for the U21s last season. albeit in a poor team) and Leonard is injury-prone.

The under 21's had a game at Celtic today so maybe they were there. I haven't been able to find what the team was.

[arbitro]

The intention of today's game today was achieved in that the players got some competitive game time. Until the changes we played at a decent tempo and pretty much dominated deservedly taking the lead through Ohashi. 

For the start of second half we switched to a back three and left big gaps which Accrington exploited. We then reverted back to a conventional back four and were the better team again. Gueye scored a smart goal which turned out to be the winner. 

I was sat close to the technical areas and heard Ismael on several occasions demanding more work from his players particularly when pressing. 

Another week of training and a game against Everton on Saturday gives more opportunity to build up the fitness levels. 

[...]

Yet again another thread merged into the same as the rest of them. Genuinely forget which threads I'm on half the time

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

That was the hottest I’ve ever been at a game of football. It was blistering. What it was like out on the pitch I shudder to think. It’s hard to judge abilities on a day like today, just running around was an achievement. Not only that but Accy were a very physical team who have got the modern art of shirt pulling at every opportunity off to a tee.

Just a few random thoughts - Tijon - nice neat footballer with a good football intelligence. Nowhere near ready for the first team. Yuki took his goal well as did Gueye. Gueye was more of a target man and held the ball up well. Kargbo, very quick but no football brain. He got past the full back a couple of times but let the ball get away from him each time. Aitcheson, not ready physically. Carter, got played a poor ball that he struggled to control and strained something. It was stupid pass to make in the first place, he was hemmed in and the left back was wide open. It should have gone there ! De Neve - runs about a lot but no end product

Trav and Tronstad looked good but neither of them get up and behind the front players. As a result we had about 3 serious shots. Accy had even less, I could have played in goal for us today.

[roversfan99]

1 hour ago, arbitro said:

The intention of today's game today was achieved in that the players got some competitive game time. Until the changes we played at a decent tempo and pretty much dominated deservedly taking the lead through Ohashi. 

For the start of second half we switched to a back three and left big gaps which Accrington exploited. We then reverted back to a conventional back four and were the better team again. Gueye scored a smart goal which turned out to be the winner. 

I was sat close to the technical areas and heard Ismael on several occasions demanding more work from his players particularly when pressing. 

Another week of training and a game against Everton on Saturday gives more opportunity to build up the fitness levels. 

What did you make to De Neve?

[arbitro]

10 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

What did you make to De Neve?

He did alright. Judging players from performances in friendlies is really difficult so I'll reserve judgement until I've seen him in a competitive match.

[USABlue]

3 hours ago, MarkBRFC said:

Out of contract next summer, highly unlikely he's here after this season i reckon.

Given our owners/admin team's complete lack of attention to our players conracts, safe to say he'll be off too.

[USABlue]

2 hours ago, riverholmes said:

Notable absences today, Matty Litherland (RB/CB), Duru (RB) (but believe he may be recovering from injury) and James Edmondson (our best U21 central midfield option?). Instead Mullarkey-Matthews gets a game having been out for most of last season.

A forward is probably needed, as I don't think Tyjon is ready (he wasn't prolific for the U21s last season. albeit in a poor team) and Leonard is injury-prone.

What is going on with Duru, saw a few fleeting glimpses of him early last season and I was impressed then nuttin!  Was he injured a lot?

[USABlue]

2 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

That assumes that every player that stays like Wharton goes on to do what he does.

Phillips is clearly not at the same level.

Point being, Phillips has now played 18 months of consecutive regular Championship football. He probably wouldnt have here.

I never saw Phillips that.much but when I did I was not impressed he certainly did not look anything special, looks to me like he fancies himself as a Rio Ferdinand.  Time will tell.

[Giant]

What a load of gonads. Brittain won’t play because he wants to talk to ‘Boro. Until they meet Rovers’ valuation he has no right to talk to them. I hope Venky’s do the usual and make him see out his contract. 

[USABlue]

oops double post

Edited July 12 by USABlue

[USABlue]

Says Kargbo showed well, that is good I liked the look of him in his nrief appearances.  Hopefully we can figure out our soft tissues injury issues and we will see more of him. Needs a goid run in the side to ne effective IMHO

[neophox]

Duru, Montgomery, Albieusu all are right back options but not ready surely 

[Tomphil2]

9 minutes ago, Giant said:

What a load of gonads. Brittain won’t play because he wants to talk to ‘Boro. Until they meet Rovers’ valuation he has no right to talk to them. I hope Venky’s do the usual and make him see out his contract. 

Which helps us in no way really because he'll probably sulk, then get injured the come back a hide on the pitch as his contract ticks down.

There's no way it should have come to this yet again (again and again) but best grab the money now and get a replacement bedded in.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

3 minutes ago, USABlue said:

Says Kargbo showed well, that is good I liked the look of him in his nrief appearances.  Hopefully we can figure out our soft tissues injury issues and we will see more of him. Needs a goid run in the side to ne effective IMHO

Who was it said - “ If all you have is a hammer every problem becomes a nail   “ ? He’s got pace to burn but he doesn’t really know how to use it. He could be a real threat if he’s prepared to learn and we have someone who can teach him.

[neophox]

Is Ben Benson still at the club?

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

8 minutes ago, neophox said:

Duru, Montgomery, Albieusu all are right back options but not ready surely 

I watched Montgomery in the first half and it struck me just how much we’re going to miss Brittain. He got into good crossing positions several times in the first half but the ball always came back into midfield. Hard to say what he’s like defensively because Accy didn’t get forward much.

Edited July 12 by Tyrone Shoelaces

[Exiled_Rover]

5 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

I watched Montgomery in the first half and it struck me just how much we’re going to miss Brittain. He got into good crossing positions several times in the first half but the ball always came back into midfield. Hard to say what he’s like defensively because Accy didn’t get forward much.

He's a CM. 

[Exiled_Rover]

14 minutes ago, neophox said:

Duru, Montgomery, Albieusu all are right back options but not ready surely 

Duru played L2 last year and apparently looked quite useful (before injury). Albieusu has played a season in the SPL and they wanted him back - that's probably your two RBs now that we've sold JRC and Brittain is pushing to leave too.