1 hour ago, LordBaltimore said:

Who knows.  When was the last time a Bolivian or someone from Tibet won a marathon?  

32 minutes ago, rigger said:

Or a snickers.

All the East African countries like Kenya, Ethiopia etc, have athletes born and brought up at altitude. Plus athletes like Paula Radcliffe, Mo Farah trained at altitude. It well known that it increases the oxygen carrying ability of your blood. Why it’s not used in other sports, I suppose for football the come round so quickly that it’s not practical.

5 hours ago, bluebruce said:

So not only are we missing him for a game that is a few days before his Chilean game, but he is already undergoing some regimen to change his breathing in readiness for high altitude, which he will not be playing at with us in the meantime.

It better not reduce his fitness at normal altitude even 0.01%.

Long distance athletes have been using this and high altitude training for decades. High altitude living is one of the reasons East African runners have been so successful.

3 hours ago, windymiller7 said:

There's been few including in the LT.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/19843449.blackburn-rovers-one-host-clubs-keen-mk-dons-matt-oriley/

Doesn’t the LT get their transfer stories from off this site.

9 hours ago, windymiller7 said:

He might be, but, unless I've completely got the wrong of the stick, we're talking about Matt O'Riley from MK Dons.

Has there been any sources linking us to O’Riley. The first it appeared on here was a poster saying we should be looking at him. Since then it’s gathered a pace and become we are looking at him.

2 hours ago, RoversClitheroe said:

He's a dickhead

Can you explain why he’s a dickhead. I can understand he’s expensive and out of our reach, but I’ve never heard anything bad about his behaviour.

3 hours ago, briansol said:

As someone mentioned, Johnson can play as a make-shift centre-back, and Nyambe can probably do a job centrally in a crisis.

Yes I agree that Carter probably is the better option, but in my opinion it will far more beneficial for him and the club to allow him to go on loan. He has outgrown U23 and if he plays there he is only stands in the way of the next batch, but that is the only way for him to have some match fitness.

We kept all the youngster from going on loan in august, which they suffered from a development standpoint. The only option left after the transfer deadline was Non-League loans.

Johnson center half NOOOOO. He was shit at Wigan. His time is up, I hope he’s not got another season after this one.

2 hours ago, rigger said:

From what I have seen of Eastham for the U23s, he is average at best. A good shot stopper with good distribution. But again, as it seems with most of our keepers, poor decision making and does not control the box. I have never been a believer in, if other people have done it, then it is the best thing to do. But even by your examples, Eastham is two inches shorter than Given.

I’ve been to most home matches for the u23s and he lots the best we have in that age group. My 4 foot nothing granny who has passed away would be better than Pears. Eastham will make it I’m sure and a couple of inches will not be held against him.  Decision making comes with experience, and my view is he does command his box.

10 hours ago, rigger said:

I would say Eastham is too short. I have not seen enough of Hilton or the Greek lad to make a decission.

How tall was Les Green? Shay Given was not that tall, if they have a good spring they can command their box. The lad is class.

13 minutes ago, only2garners said:

And another 4 deemed worthy of an experience on the bench on Saturday - Magloire (maybe not!), Garrett, Phillips and Adam Wharton.

Based on the City game Magloire needs to find a club in January, and then we release the lad in the summer. He’s got too many mistakes in him, he can’t concentrate for 90 minutes. Garrett’s younger brother says he’s better than Jake, we sat with his family against Leicester. Phillips and Adam look real prospects. 

12 hours ago, Ulrich said:

Why on earth don't you rate Pears?

Because he’s a mates son who’s shit. The clean sheets came in front of a solid back 5 not a made up one where we lost our Captain before they scored. Pears should be shipped out. Eastham one of our own is 10 times better as those who go to the u23’s will testify.

16 minutes ago, Sparks Rover said:

Then why bother with the academy?.  Why not just wait to get the ones that don't make it at clubs like citeh?  Could save a fortune

I suppose we have done that at the lower age end with Trav, Danny, JRC. The problem when they’re older is they may not be any better than we are ready have, the ones that are command a big fee e.g. Tosin, and Lampty (Chelsea to Brighton). There’s an unfair balance to the Premiership clubs. The quicker we can get back there the better.

City had one player Kayki who reportedly they will be paying £30m for, they’ve paid £15m upfront and there’s another £15 in add-ons. George was giving him grief towards the end of the match about how much he cost/ Their whole u23s team cost more than our first team squad. Bobb is another Norwegian who they paid an undisclosed amount for. The young sub who came on late and scored their fifth is a £300k purchase. Youth football for these clubs is a money making operation. We can’t hope to compete with them. We matched them until Magaloire had his custom mare. 

2 hours ago, Gav said:

You never saw Matt Dickens and John Butcher then.....

Pears was excellent in the league which is where our focus should be.

 

His performance today made John look world class. I remember hearing a story that John was in the bogs at the Cav and a team mate told him to at least keep hold of it so as not to soak his shoes. This lad must be walking around in piss smelling shoes.

As a side note Johnson was fucking useless, Magaloir (spell can’t be bothered) has a mistake every match. Johnson took it to another level. For fuck sakes don’t give him another match. My mate who watches Derby couldn’t believe we gave him a contract. When is he out of contact?

2 hours ago, bluebruce said:

Pears not as much to blame on that one. But after the game he's had, half inclined to blame him anyway.

Commentator seems clueless to the fact that was clearly a cross that fluked in.

Did you go Bruce, we were right behind the goal. The first goal the defence/midfield should have closed him down BUT, Pears should have got a hand to it ash it went through his hands. The second was schoolboy goalkeeping. The third he was off his line and not in the centre. It was floated rather than hit with pace, any competent goalie would save it, pushing it over the bar. All the supporters around us were of one mind on Pears. 
If Mowbray wanted to rest Kiminski then Eastham would have been a better selection. The lad is out of his depth, he rode on the back of his father getting him into Middlesbrough, and his father’s mate scouting him and buying him for us!!! 

1 hour ago, rigger said:

From what I have seen this season, I don't think it matters that much which league the U23s are playing in. What is important is if the players can show whether they have the quality to play for the first team. 

Hopefully if the u23’s get relegated the u18’s will step up to the mark and the u23’s bounce back.

4 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

I can’t see Tony going for him if he turns up dressed like that.

What does it matter what he wears. Beckham wore a skirt, would that stop us signing him when he was 24? What matters is what he does on the park. I’m not bothered if he looks like Uncle Albert or Grace Jones. I reserve judgement on him. His record is not brill but if he’s been identified as potential then let us see what happens.

15 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

He played right back all game but he is very attacking player. 

In most games I've seen him play mostly on TV he has played right wing back

Did you go to the game? I thought I’d got it wrong so checked with someone I sat with. They agreed with my assessment. I’ve checked on the t’interweb and it does have him as a defender. He definitely played further up the park in the first half and the beginning of the second half.

2 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

I would like Barnsley's right wing back Callum Brittain who was their best player against us last week and someone who impress me every time Ive since him on TV. 

Agree that Brittain was there best player by far. I’m not sure he’s a wing back as he played in midfield and for the last 20 mins dropped into the right full back position.

2 hours ago, riverholmes said:

Ex-Rover, Joe Grayson is at Barrow, I think, in League 2 and Annesley's perhaps, in that category - though I stand corrected by those who watch the U23s regularly. I think, Grayson's better on the ball - and, admittedly, has an influential contact or two.

I still find it surprising that Dan Pike has been sent out one level lower than Annesley at Woking, to the National North, with Fylde. With the transfer window opening, I would've thought it'd make sense to keep him here and at least try to find a higher standard for him to test himself.

If McBride's and Burns' loans go through at Crewe and Scunthorpe, it'll be excellent news, I think for all. From what I can see, both players' contracts expire this summer, with a one year option. They are very close to be let go by Rovers, barring, perhaps, a good loan spell. I think it'd be a mistake to let them go so soon, but the loan spells could shed more light on that.

Edit: With 23 year old James Brown coming in from Drogheda United, to play right back and the choice to let Pike go out to Fylde, it suggests that the latter's days at Rovers are looking numbered, barring a major turnaround.

Can’t agree that Burns is close to being let go. He’s been the main striker for the u23’s. Have you been to the matches this season? What makes you think he’s close to being released?

Look back over thread. I’m not saying YOU made the comment, but it’s been going on for a couple of pages. That’s what I was answering to.

19 minutes ago, Ulrich said:

Come on Joe, anyone can get stronger and Bucko is no exception.
In a game where strength influences so many physical and mental attributes, becoming stronger would only reap benefit. Bucko should hire a coach and do it himself, he'd be much better off for it and so would we be.

5 minutes ago, J*B said:

Ah apologies. I thought you where saying that you knew he hadn’t got bigger, rather than thought he hadn’t got bigger. 

We share the same barber and I’ve bumped into him a few times a year over the past 3/4 years. He’s definitely got wider. But that’s only natural as a boy turns into a man. 

He’s not bulked up, there’s a difference between a boy of 18 turning into a young man of 22. “Bulking up” suggests a purposeful use of weights and food (normally protein/supplements) to add body mass. I don’t see that in John. He looks the same as last year which is the basis of this discussion. As Joe has said game time has made all the difference.

29 minutes ago, RoversClitheroe said:

James Brown - what's everyone's opinions on it? Will he actually ever play?

Wait a minute!
Shake your arm, then use your form
Stay on the scene like a sex machine
You got to have the feeling sure as you're born
Get it together, right on, right on

2 hours ago, J*B said:

How often are you weighing Rovers players?

How often are you weighing Rovers players? He’s not bulked up, he looks the same stature as last season. He gained more experience.

4 minutes ago, RoversClitheroe said:

Yeah but probably cos there peanuts compared to SG contract, who is nowhere near as good as the 3 players that will be leaving on a free.

If they are here in the summer then yes they’ll go for free, but I think some will be gone in January if they don’t sign new contracts. They maybe looking at the current table and having second thoughts about not signing.

What will be his nickname?

1. Godfather of Soul

2. Mr Dynamite 

3. Soul Brother No 1

Whatever it is he’ll need to be one hell of a player to push Nyambi, plus Pike has looked good when I’ve seen him for the U23s.