Youngsters won the Lancashire cup tonight against a poor Wigan side. Very one sided. A couple of new faces on display. A massive centre back named Ash Phillips. Handle himself well, very suprise to learn that he turned 16 this year as he was a big filled Out unit. Charlie weston, midfielder, Just turned 17. Was on the bench for the first team in preseason. Really like the look on him. Accomplished two way midfielder with good passing. Probably going to be fast tracked to U23 like Garrett Last year.

0-0 HT. Formation works well. Buckley been very good. Garrett impressive for a first start, some good tackles and solid passing.

I think he suggest someone will be missing on Wednesday's match against Leeds

You are correct. Dahlin and Per Pedersen was brought in as replacements. Dahlin was a very decent striker in his prime, but came with a back injury and was forced to retire.

Watched the whole game, and Ben played as left forward/winger in the same position that he's played this season. Spent the second half mostly tracking back and helping the full-back. Looked a real handful in the first half, and could've several goals if the team mates had not been so selfish.

Fair point. I would probably estimate it to be more in the 5-6 mill region given Joe Nolan, Nsiala, Kayden Jackson fetched quite decent fees at the time. Not arguing that the 12 mill was poor use of funds. Still a 10 player tombola is a large gamble on the wage budget. You would also pay sign-on fees, as well as riddance money for those who doesn't work out. Still it's just nitpicking, we all agree that the 12 mill should've been better spend on strengthening the squad with more than two players and in more positions.

Seems to have serve Brentford well. I don't mind a data-driven approach to scouting and finding targets. The world and technology has changed massively over the last 10 years. The information available now in the form of stats and video from games is totally different from previous decades. If you are not using data you are going to be left behind, as more and more clubs uses it to get a larger reach. The good old approach with feet on the ground and relying on "trusted agents" to find players is limiting in today's market. However the scouting and compiling lists only take you so far. The mayhem with agents is still the biggest obstacle in any signing. You also need a good vetting process on player regarding their personality, motivation etc. You only have to look a club like United who has accumulated bad apples for large sums over the years.

Ipswich tried that approach in 18/19 and finished dead last. They hired the Shrewsbury manager who ran us close when we were promoted. He went on a spending spree in League One bringing in the likes of Joe Nolan, Gwion Edwards, Kayden Jackson, Elliis Harrison etc. Breo was not worth the money, but scattergun approach is dangerous thing as well.

Do you think he's good enough? His stats is pretty underwhelming and has had a few injuries as well. For me he has some good attributes, but I can't really see him any upgrade on Gallagher/Breo. Well done to him for getting a move to Watford. Seemed like a decent bloke in the Sunderland documentary

I wonder how far Rovers scouting reach. Here in Norway, there haven't been many over the last decade I would suggested for Rovers, but here is one if anybody from Rovers are reading: Sivert Mannsverk of Sogndal (Second tier). Made captain last season at only 18 and won player of the year for the whole league. Powerhouse midfielder who dominates the midfield physically with excellent passing range. Destined for greater things and within our budget. Likely career path is being picked up by one of the bigger clubs in Norway (Molde, Rosenborg) and sold on in couple of year for millions of pounds.

Mowatt would be an excellent signing. I didn't realise he was just 26. Excellent on the ball and put in a shift. Also in the Championship team of the year. Why would he extend the contract when he can double his wages and get a sign-on fee elsewhere? Probably not going to be us, but I can't see him staying at Barnsley. I can't see Barnsley performing on the same level next season. They didn't take up the option of Dike because of cost, who was one of the main reason they performed so well from January.

I think most agree with the preference of permanent players. Think loans has been a stop-gap in some cases after failing to acquire players permanently. The last two seasons we have seen very little money spent or recieved on player trading. In interviews it has been pointed out that has been difficult to match wage demands even when we have had a bid accepted. Realisticly I think we have to look at either lower league or foreign players (from less expensive leagues). That demands good scouting and is risky. The Brentford model looks good, but even they buy a lot of duds. However that has been offset buy very high quality players they have sold on which has kept financing their trading. Still they haven't reached PL yet. Ipswich made huge bet on League One players the year after we went up. Spent a lot of money buying players like Joe Nolan and failed massively ending in relegation are still in League One. This summer is interesting because the large clear-out could open space for more academy players. Nyambe, Travis, Lenihan, Wharton, Rankin-Costello and Buckley makes a good core already. Carter should be able to included in the squad after his successful loan as well. For the next batch, I unfortunatly think it's a season too soon for most of them. They would benefit from a loan in League One/Two first. Learning on the job in the Championship is a tough task, and could destroy their confidence. The gap from U23 to Championship is massive and I don't think many of them are ready. Naturally since most them came from U18, and had their first year in U23. Pike is the obvious one which I'm confident could do a job, however he is not better than Nyambe or Rankin-Costello. Butterworth and Vale is the more senior ones, who already has been involved and could kick-on. McBride has something about him, but is a behind those two and should have a loan first.

Thanks Stuart, very interesting topic. I went to soccerbase.com and checked the last 5 seasons to see any pattern in the teams promoted, and this is what I found: Of the 14 teams promoted (auto + play-off): - Only one team had a +=25 and +=15 goalscorer. (Norwich this year) - Only 3 teams had two += 15 goalscorers in the same season. - 4 teams went up without even having a += 15 player. Of those WBA and Cardiff both automaticly went up without even having > 10 goals scorer. Based on those stats, you might argue that having multiple scorers with 5-10+ gives you a higher chance of success. Also, it's clear that the promoted teams concedes less than 1 goal on average for a season. So where does that leave us? - We have been good when hitting teams on the break which has ended in some high scoring matches. - We are awful when teams sit back, because we don't have any plan B. - Losing far too many even matches, soft underbelly and no winning mentality. - Defence and midfield score far too little. The squad is decent but needs an overhaul which it seems we are getting. Armstrong needs replacing, and we also problably need a pacy direct winger/forward who can cause trouble. A lot of promoted teams have had wingers on 10+ goals. Gallagher as a central striker makes sense if you're going to put in crosses. In addition we need a central midfielder who will get into the box and finish chances. Can't remember last time we had a midfielder who scored 5+ goals in a season. Biggest issue however is assembling a team that is coherent and works as unit defensively. We've been overrun in midfield on too many occasions with gaps appearing all over the place with some naive position and lack of tracking back. The defence has not been that great either, playing itself into trouble and not doing the basics right. Can Mowbray fix this? Evidence suggest not.

Yes Pike should've played right-back that one game where Douglas was moved from left-back to right-back. In fairness Douglas did ok, but Pike deserved his chance. You are claiming HB and JB should not been loaned and instead betting on Carter and Magloire. That decision was taken in January when we were still chasing play-offs. Magloire had just returned from a loan spell in Non-league. Carter had a few games for the U23. Not sure many thought they would make a better options than bringing in two top prospects from PL highly rated by Pep and Ancelotti and with more experience. You can always argue now that after the fact, but it seems a bit pointless. Carter and Magloire have probably gained more experience on loan and are returning better players than they would've staying around.

How did you get there? Obviously not. The discussion was whether is was right to loan HB and JB in January, when you could've used Carter and Magloire instead.

I don't think many thought Carter nor Magloire were the answer in January. Bringing in the probably two biggest prospect from PL at the time made sense. Think it was a very good move for Carter to get regular playing time and will return a much better player, similar to Wharton. I have no problem with that decision. If you want to criticize, it would be playing Douglas on right back instead of Pike who has been the standout player in the U23 and deserves his chance.

I agree that I would like to see a few more youngster now, but there are several others with more potential. Players like Pike, Whitehall, McBride. Those three are probably those who are ready. For the rest might be more damaging throwing them in and let them sink. Players like JRC, Buckley, HB and Brathwaite has at least proven too good for U23 level whether to you don't rate them as Championship level.

As a Norwegian, great credits to Gibraltar for the effort. They played with big hearts and commitment. Great goalkeeper! Was interested to see how Annesly would cope, but hard to judge since the quality gap is so large. Gibraltar played two banks of defensive lines with an energetic striker who tried to chase the ball the few times it crossed the oppo half.

Sorry mate, has nothing to do with Mowbray. Annesly is nowhere ready for Championship football. He's now established himself as a decent U23 player, but is far off the Carter, Magloire level shown at U23 football. Needs a loan to Non-league or League 2 given his age. Gibraltar is no yard-stick. Watched them last night, and despite their heroics, they are probably League 2 at best.

Nice little video summary of his performance last night

Not sure what you mean by consistent runs. He has never been a starter at any clubs. Before Shrewsbury, all his career appereances has been from the bench.

I think working hard has been Harry's biggest weakness. He obviously has talent, but doesn't seem to have had the right application nor attitude. Hopefully he can rebuild his career now, and the pressure of having to earn a contract might be the kick he needs. Might be a maturity thing also, probably had it a bit too easy relying on his talent.

I agree. To be fair I think he's left footed and usually plays on the left side. Might explain why he was a bit off with his end product. His crossing from left is usually pretty good.

I really like Jack Vale as a player. Made his debut for the senior team towards in end of the last season, and was expected to be more involved this season. Very unfortunate to pick up an injury in pre-season which kept him out for months.Is just back and has played the last two games for the U23. Still only 19, he is a well rounded forward/striker who is intelligent, pretty quick, can take on players, run with the ball and decent hold-up play as well. Weakness is probably that he is not prolific enough. Probably more of a Brereton type than Armstrong, but has a lot more awareness than Brereton. I'd also like to see how adapt physically in senior football. Good hold-up play in U23 games against 5'11 boys, are not the same as seniors. Another candidate for loan, who have or soon will have outgrow U23 level. The impressing thing with the current U23 is that almost any of them could become a player. Unlike earlier batches, there are very few who just makes up the numbers. Hayden Carter is an example that never stood out, but was always solid and dependable in a number of positions. Suddenly he is playing for the first team and now a regular starter in League One for Burton. Buckley was another who was a bit part player who kicked on and became a midfield maestro and outgrew that level within a season. Loved watching him in the U23, and a bit suprised that he has struggled that much physically to impose himself, but probably evidence of the difference. Butterworth is such a sad case with his injuries. Far too good for U23 and would've been regularly involved for the senior team, but sounds now that there some reoccurence of the back injury that kept him out for the whole of last season.

I think Whitehall has a very good chance. Could feature next season, or probably benefit greatly on a loan. Quite similar as a player to Ben Godfrey who had a great season on loan at Shrewsbury when we were in League One, and kicked on from there. I really like Pike who has all the tools for a right back. Can defend and get forward. Commited and energetic. Mowbray has praised him already and made the bench recently. One who I'm certain will have a have a professional career.