riverholmes

Keep them at the club or send out on meaningful, season or half-season loans. Instead, I expect, unless there is a change in policy, the monthly/weekly revolving doors to non-league, injury and unexplained disappearance will continue.

Coming up through the ranks behind them are Stritch, Doherty and Mafoumbi - wingers who could barely muster 5 goals in the U21's season. They're young and may well improve but the standard is really looking weak. The new crop from U18s will come in too but, to my mind, the club had/have to invest in recruits specifically at U21 level to improve the standard. That said, Doherty and Mafoumbi were recruits, along with goalie, Barrett, last season.

Would be interested to know if there is any statistical correlation between young players going on short loans to non-league and getting injured. Hard to say without data (maybe even with), but I would imagine that a young player unaccustomed to the physicality of that level, who's dropped in suddenly, might well be more likely get injured. Throw in poorer pitches and training methods as well. That said, the likes of Gilsenan, Alex Baker, midfielder whose name evades me who was out for 2 years et al, were getting seriously injured regularly without going away on loan. It seems, from an outside perspective, like a problem for the U21s.

I appreciate that players were missing, like Delap, but only 4 of the starting England U21 side were from a top 5 side. Of those four, Quansah and Harvey Elliott might be dropping down a bit soon (albeit both possibly still at Champions League level). A sign that these young English players are finding it hard to make the grade at the very top of the Premier League? Though, perhaps, that is part of their strength, with more humility and desire to work together.

A last chance in the attacking role in a midfield three? Not sure he has the consistency to play deeper but with a freer role, I just wonder if would improve. I am sceptical, of course. Ideally, he'd be replaced but when the rest of the squad looks so poor and incomings underwhelming, I just wonder if keeping him might be preferable.

Southgate was a good ambassador for the England team and, I feel, a focal point for some sort of unity. However, (without triggering the debate now as tiresome as any) it cannot be forgotten that Southgate presided over a time when the Premier League football style shifted towards the continental, especially, I think, due to Pep Guardiola's influence - and, no doubt, due to many an unrecognised work of grassroots coaches. This made competing internationally more possible than the days of Stevie Kick-A-Ball-40-Yards and 4-4-fucking-2. Though, arguably, for England to take the final step, they need to reconnect with their traditional strengths, alongside the new found ability to keep possession.

We effectively have a Super League without relegation as the promoted teams are increasingly likely to go straight down. This will be even more likely if players get picked off like Jobe Bellingham and James Trafford, before a ball is kicked.

If they're kept on as back-up, that's one thing. Wood has been fairly prolific when fit. However, this season showed that the standard needs to be drastically improved at U21s level. The level sunk so low that the team were struggling to beat non-league second strings. To my mind, the club needs to recruit externally, to support and challenge players like Tyjon and Boggan (maybe Joseph) who are the next hopes.

All hindsight now, but if he stayed at Chesterfield and continued scoring some goals and Rovers had extended his deal in January (a couple of big 'ifs'), he would probably carry a small transfer value now.

My less-than-informed impression, which is based only really on highlights, is that Wharton has not been at his best since returning from groin injury and surgery mid-season. Though he has been starting, Palace have rotated their many CMs, including Kamada, Hughes, Lerma and Devenny. Wharton didn't play in their last game, if I remember rightly. My guess is that there is a lot of confirmation bias going on. Every sliver of evidence being used to build the argument that Wharton is currently a world-beater - overlooking where he's not doing so well, compared to before. It makes sense for Wharton to rest and get back to his best. Palace failed in their duty of care, I believe, in playing him when he was suffering from injury.

I'm not sure, but I wonder if Wharton has not been the same since his groin surgery mid-season. Palace continued to play him when he was struggling badly, putting off the op. This despite the fact that they have a fair few central midfielders. I don't know the details, obviously, but from afar, it was negligent, at best, and maybe even cynical. As a result of having his op. later, clubs needing a quick fix couldn't consider him for the January transfer window. He certainly wasn't great against Villa in the semi-final and outshone by Kamada, in my opinion (despite the pundits lazy bandwagoning). Hopefully, he will return to his best.

Arguably, the most naturally gifted footballer in our current squad (not saying much) but is it the end of the road for Buckley at Rovers? He has a few years on his contract, I think, without checking, but things have never clicked since the days when he was touted for the Premier League. His best brief spell was probably as a false 9 with Reda Khadra creating space with his pace (the rare days when the team had pace). He also had a handful of end of season games as a CM under Mowbray when he scored a long-range goal or two and looked to be finally cementing his place. At Sheff Wed, on loan, they stuck him out wide and then on the bench, in a desperate team near the bottom of the league. When playing well, he has fantastic passes in his armoury. However, he just hasn't developed (arguably, like other academy graduates, like Scott Wharton or JRC - though, they have injuries as a mitigating factor). For me it's a dilemma whether to keep or move on. Ismael's not a fan, it seems and even Montgomery was moved ahead in the order, it seemed (unless Buckely was injured at the end of the season). For his career, I think a move abroad could do wonders. A less physical league where he can get on the ball might help him. It's a shame, because in natural passing ability, he was/is close to Adam Wharton. Though, lacks in most other areas, perhaps, most importantly, in some aspect of mentality.

It's appalling the way it's gone. It is now the norm for promoted clubs to have managers or players taken off them. What chance would we have had back in the day if Duff or Dunn were sold before a Premier League ball was kicked, after promotion? It's also notable to compare the top scorers in the second tier back in those days - Louis Saha, Michael Ricketts, Matt Jansen, Lee Hughes, Mikael Forsell and on.

Bloxham made the bench for the first team squad once or twice, if I remember rightly. He was one of the better players for the U21s until moved to full back and then injured. Again, goes to show how shallow the depth is at youth/U21 level currently.

As a youth, most things are more vivid - I remember new signings being hugely exciting. In particular, I learnt about Jimmy Corbett signing from Gillingham, I think, and read he was considered the new Ryan Giggs. I wish I could still get so happy about so little!

With Hedges and Dolan on the wings, we almost reached the play-offs (albeit, it seems to me in a league drifting away from the top league at great speed). With Brereton, Armstrong, Rothwell, Harvey Elliott, Branthwaite, Harwood-Bellis et al. we finished, I believe, mid-table or so. It does depend on the standard of the league, which seems in decline, except for a select few. However, overall I am gloomy about the future, not least, based on the lack of youth talent coming through. Players like JRC, Scott Wharton, Buckley, Garrett, Carter, Nyambe, Lenihan etc. haven't all been great or consistent, but they've bolstered the squad and have made a difference at certain times. Right now, we have nothing like that coming through.

The year option is no real security when it comes to decent players. The player has all the power entering the final year and (assuming it's the same for the youth players as with seniors) they can start talking to other clubs. In which case, I'm disappointed but not surprised that Litherland hasn't had a new deal given that most of the regular watchers say that he's been one of the best U21 players.

I'd like to see Litherland, Edmondson and Dunn involved in pre-season with the first team. If they get a league club loan move, then fine, but otherwise, should stay around the firsts. They were the better performers in a dismally lowkey U21s campaign. Not sure about Montgomery but probably deserves a chance in pre-season too. I've been a backer of Buckley, his natural talent being evident. However, it's time for him to move on, I suspect. If he was to stay, I'd like to give him a go a last chance as an attacking midfielder. But, chances are, he will leave as he fell behind Montgomery in the pecking order, it seemed, in the final games.

My Young Player of the Season would go to Jalil Saadi or Lorenze Mullarkey-Matthews. They've done exceptionally well to highlight the club's youth loan strategy. Edit: Nice roundup @KentExile and thanks for the updates through the season. Joe Boggan looks like a striker with promise. I just hope the club recruit a few forwards to support him next year. It seemed to me that Igor Tyjon slogged away up front without adequate support this season. It's a recipe for injuries and disillusionment.

It looks as if Batty's contract expires this year. Could we be missing out on some potential transfer value, beyond any compensation?

Watching the game and been a bit disappointed in Wharton. To my layman's eye, he looks positionally and physically a bit indecisive defensively - though did great to nick the ball away for the second goal. Palace haven't had a great deal of possession, so harder for him to impress with his passing but still looks good.

Last season Jake Garrett was awarded Young Player of the Season and the award this season looks even more unclear. I guess it might go to Kristi Montgomery for his breakthrough, but, if I'm not mistaken, the most consistent performer for Rovers U21s has been Matty Litherland, with James Edmondson and Tom Atcheson coming out with credit. I suppose Duru and Tyjon might be in with a shout and Dunn potentially. However, the fact there is not a stand-out or two reflects what has been a disappointing campaign for the U21s and a lack of talent coming through (dubious management too..?). Edit: Forgot Tyrhys Dolan - if he qualifies at the age of 23, I guess, it'll be him, just as he leaves.

Good for Montgomery but makes you wonder why Litherland was sent away on loan when he actually plays right back sometimes.

Manager’s only getting paid five million a year… I watched some of the first half of the England U21 game v Portugal U21, which England won 4-2. England looked much better than in the previous game, albeit, probably a lot to do with the opposition being not as good. In yesteryear, any Portugal youth side would make England's boys look like amateurs. Yet, it is a sign of the times, that England's players looked technically as proficient (as well as physically stronger). Jobe Bellingham and Hackney looked decent in the centre in the absence of Wharton and Anderson. Also, Cresswell (a Toulouse player I discovered) looked fairly good alongside Branthwaite, though the defence and goalie looked shaky at times. Not sure about the formation with midfielders at full back and wingers as forwards but Carsley likes to throw players into new positions. Could also hint that England may be scratching around for full backs and strikers at that level, as well as goalkeepers.

Garrett was a left back five years ago. He has reasonable pace, can get forward and tackle; I just wonder if he should go back to that position on the pitch.