I’ve heard a rumour today that Dunny is off, have nothing more but was wondering if anyone had heard similar

Just now, Stuart said:

He dropped Nuttall ages ago, and Tomlinson even sooner. You and I both know Travis should be cover for Nyambe and not Bennett.

We have other clubs coveting our youngsters and a forward thinking manager would be making use of them.

What happens next season (hopefully) in the Championship? “It’s too big a step up” will be the excuse made on behalf of Mowbray by people who have never seen our young lads play. Yet they are routinely beating other PL teams’ U23s. This is meant to be a ‘premier’ competition - albeit at reserve level. We are the only L1 club to have U23s in it (and winning Div 2) and yet cannot produce any L1 players. That’s down to Mowbray. Johnson is keeping up his part of the deal, Mowbray is turning a blind eye. Made worse by the fact that he regularly watches them!

Not only watches them but raves about how good they are

Apparently TM has already told some of the younger players that he can’t play them over “his lads” and by this I mean players he has paid money for, the Nuttall and Samuel situation is a prime example of this, Nuttall would have to be smashing in goal after goal for the 1st team every time he got a chance to be involved before Samuel....it’s a double edged sword how can TM go to the Venkys and ask for money for new signings if the ones he has brought in are being leapfrogged by academy players, it’s a tricky situation and one we all should be able to appreciate even if it is a little frustrating 

Chapman injury apparently not the same as his initial injury....this time it is a hamstring injury but another part of his hamstring more muscular not tendon which if is the case it’s good news....fingers crossed for the lad

Goal keeper Olly Byrne who is a free agent after leaving Cardiff, is set to sign for Rovers, been on trial last week and impressed, another former United youngster

Connor Tompson has left Rovers by mutual consent....going on trial at a couple of clubs, he needs to be playing 1st team football somewhere which wasn't going to happen at Rovers....good luck to the lad let's hope he gets fixed up 

Calum Wright has left Rovers and signed for Leicester City....3 year deal which will become a 4 and half year deal when he turns 18

you can't sign longer than 3 years until after you turn 18

For me it's not a bad thing as Stefan Mols, Dan Butterworth and Joe Rankin-Costello are all better players and can operate in the same positions as Wright and will be more affective as time goes by

43 minutes ago, donnermeat said:

So it took an 'injury crisis' for Rashford to get his chance, he was obviously considered ready, or at least more so than any of his teammates, or another player would have gotten in. Fair play to him, Rashford is a special talent though. I'm not averse to giving youngsters a chance, not at all, as long as they are ready and good enough. My post was just why I think Mowbray isn't picking them.

Im not saying our youngsters arent good enough, I dont watch them often enough to determine that. You say our kids are better than Harper and others, that's great, good for you, however that's not something I would have known, nor was it the point I was trying to make.

I'll reiterate what I said above, I have no problem with youngsters being given games, providing they are the best option. My post was just the reason I think they aren't being picked, as I can't really see any other logical reason, other than a decision by the management that they think they're best served where they are for now.

I'm aware of the Mahoney situation thanks. Though I would imagine quadrupling his wages (at a guess) and moving to a Premier League club with one of the top young managers in the country would be an attractive proposition for any young professional, regardless of where you are born.

Mahoney wouldn't of even looked to go anywhere if he had been given a chance instead of seeing his pathway blocked by unnecessary loan signings he made his mind up a long time before he finally got a chance in the 1st team to move on and he didn't quadruple his wages he quadrupled them and then some

so it looks like to me you are not aware at all of the Mahoney situation....Thanks

and I haven't said anywhere that our u23s are better than Harper but I did say they are as good if not further on in their development....so to pass judgment I would advise you watch some u23s games instead of spouting uniformed garbage....I hope that's good enough for you 

Just now, blueboy3333 said:

So if it's not financial then why would Mowbray block the young lads progress?

I'm guessing he either doesn't think they are good enough and that Harper, for example, is better than what we have or some other more suspect reason? We'll see when Harper plays how good he is, but I've always thought Tomlinson was a good player (from the bits I've seen) and he's certainly a more imposing figure than he was two years ago.

 

Rakeem Harper isn't a bad player for his age....all I'm saying is if he's good enough for Rovers 1st team so are Hardcastle...Tomlinson....Mols...Grayson...Travis....Rankin-Costello....etc

when you sign players for a specific area of the pitch in this case midfield the 1st question that should be asked is...is he better than what we've got?

im not sure that's the case with this one...

Just now, Bigdoggsteel said:

 

Apologies, I read DL, when you said DJ. You were referring to Damien Johnson. I think the young players should get a chance. I just can't imagine the 2 lads telling Mowbray not to sign someone! 

 

They offered their opinion on the lad and said we have better...I don't think for one minute they said don't sign him at the end of the day TM is their boss....it's up to him if he takes their advice or not

20 minutes ago, blueboy3333 said:

Are the reasons for this financial i.e. if the club start playing them in the 1st team it will trigger new contracts?

I know some lads will have clauses with regards to new contracts based on 1st team appearances it's 5 starts and 10 substitute appearances at Rovers it's a generic clause which is just standard with young players contracts it doesn't mean though that it's set in concrete if the players agent pushes for renegotiation he is within his and the players right but most agents will wait for the right moment before diving in as it could affect the players progress 

at Everton it's 1 start in the first team and the contract can be renegotiated...so it changes from club to club

13 minutes ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

 

I believe they are good players. What I don't believe is that Dunn and Lowe told Mowbray not to sign Harper. 

Not Lowe!!!! He has no input with the u23s

3 minutes ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

What is your source for this? I find it hard to believe 

That's your choice bud...if you want to find hard to believe you do that...

2 hours ago, donnermeat said:

These young players are obviously not considered to be ready yet, they have numerous professional coaches, some of which have played at a very high standard, that work with them every day and I would imagine Mowbray gets regular reports on them too. They are far more informed than most to say player X,Y or Z is ready to step up to the first team. 

Plus this is League One and we need promotion. Not exactly a scenario I would want to throw a load of kids in, if they aren't ready.

But that's the thing these professional coaches....DD....DJ....are a little bemused as to what's going on....they both apparently told TM he needn't bother with Harper especially as they feel they have better players in the U23s already which are further on in their development and more than ready to be given a chance....it seems they are not being listend to...

And it's not about throwing loads of kids in it's about opportunities for OUR own kids being blocked by a player from another club who is no better.....

when Mahoney left why do you think it happened??.....he was blocked by loan signings from other clubs who shouldn't have been near the club....you will see similar instances as the Mahoney scenario come the end of the season again

our U23s play in a decent standard against top young players higher than the u23s at Bournmouth but clubs like Bournmouth, Burnley, Watford and so on have big budgets running into Millions just for their U23s and don't be surprised if some of our lads are cherry picked by such clubs just to play u23 football especially as they will look and see the pathway to the 1st team blocked by other clubs loaned youngsters

Great game and performance tonight...this team and it is a team that's what makes this crop exciting for me are playing the 3-4-2-1 formation to perfection they all press together they hunt the ball in packs and have players who posses quality when required

the 11 that started are the majority of the side that made it to the FAY cup semis a couple of years ago so it isn't a shock to me at the way they have started the season and the performances they are putting out there

Rankin-Costello now has 4 goals in 4 games and has actually scored more goals from open play at this level than Joe Nuttall so far......not bad for a player that is essentially a midfielder granted he's an attacking one but still goal scoring midfield players are like hens teeth 

i do think there is something in Mowbray not wanting a Cat 1 academy for a league 1 club and I think he thinks he can hang a few of these players out to dry if so he's going to get bitten on the arse....I hope I'm wrong in this assumption

this squad of players have something going on at the minute let's hope they can continue it as it looks like they will be together for the season looking at some of the players brought in on deadline day 

1 hour ago, Blueandwhitemike said:

 

Funny how all the U-23 results show how attacking this formation can be... with the right players.

Also does this not only reflect well on Damien Johnson but also Eric Kinder?  Was he the one who restructured the team and pushed the younger ones through early?

Eric Kinder pushed Mansell, Warton, Hardcastle, Tomlison, and Platt up to the 21s as they were then very early 17/18 some stayed up there and some went back to the 18s

he played a big part in pushing Rankin-Costello up to the 21s and he was playing 21s football at 16 which is pretty impressive and was sometimes the best player on the pitch and he's been there ever since only playing for the 18s in the youth cup

he was also instrumental in pushing Dan Butterworth up to the 23s early into his scholarship he was 17 and seems he will be staying up with them 

Kinder was big in pushing them up but they do need to show they are capable to get the chance

Just now, arbitro said:

Thanks for the updates - are you at the game? I can't find anything on the official website.

Behind closed doors this one unfortunately using Readings Twitter feed 

Finished 3-5 well done to the lads great result

3-5 own goal

The squad they have this season is very experienced at this level and very balanced even though the majority are still teenagers 

2-5 Platt header from corner

if this stays the same this is an exceptional result absolutely brilliant

2-4 Mols what a game

Half time

2-3 another pen some game

3-1 Rankin-Costello header from Travis cross

come on boys 26mins gone

Just now, arbitro said:

Surely Nuttall has done enough to at least earn a squad number. I only saw him briefly in pre season but he certainly looked like he has something about him, Big, strong, mobile and as has been proven since an eye for goal. Given the dearth of quick players in that position the answer to that question could well lie within.

I agree he's not a kid either he's 20....and has experience of 1st team football in Scotland

1-2 Reading pull one back 10mins