(That long since we've had any, couldn't find the thread)

Alan Nixon: "Top Liverpool starlet Cameron Branagan will Ben allowed out on loan in Jan.

Bolton lead the race for the 20 year old midfielder"

Edited December 11, 20169 yr by Ratwhite

39 minutes ago, peelyfeet said:

Stephen Warnock was in my younger brother's class at school, came to our house a few times when he was a kid, there was a lad from 2 years below me who was absolute mustard, played for Liverpool once at 17 in the cup winners cup. We all thought he was destined for England. Ended up getting released from crewe at 26 and became a driving instructor.

Got me thinking now. Similar story to Max Clayton who was with us (also from Crewe). Really talented lad who had some horrible injuries. Gave up on football and makes pizzas for a living now. Seems like a waste of huge talent!

Strange comment from Southwood, on joining Bristol Rovers. " its a club that matches my ambition ". What you mean you haven't got any. I know new players have to make a positive statement, but please.

12 minutes ago, waffer cup 07 said:

Strange comment from Southwood, on joining Bristol Rovers. " its a club that matches my ambition ". What you mean you haven't got any. I know new players have to make a positive statement, but please.

waste of time watching those interviews when players / managers join new clubs etc 

huge club

fan base

exciting project 

all come out with the same jargon 

6 hours ago, peelyfeet said:

How many u18s matches did you watch last season

none 

but like yourself I've followed the club for a long time, so we've a big enough sample size to go off 

 

6 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Inwood clearly did.

The others perhaps not so much.

Of course it's SS views that will shape the squad, but I find it somewhat bizarre to claim he won't do anything. 

Clearly how? 

21 minutes ago, thebells said:

Got me thinking now. Similar story to Max Clayton who was with us (also from Crewe). Really talented lad who had some horrible injuries. Gave up on football and makes pizzas for a living now. Seems like a waste of huge talent!

Decent pizza too.

Jordan Davies transitioned into the pizza business folowing a football career blughted by injury. He runs Jordy's Pizza, which includes a mobile catering service, a stall at Crewe market hall, and a new dine-in pizzeria in Nantwich that opened in Autumn 2023.

4 minutes ago, L/H White said:

waste of time watching those interviews when players / managers join new clubs etc 

huge club

fan base

exciting project 

all come out with the same jargon 

they match my ambition (as per @waffer cup 07)

as soon as I spoke to the gaffer I knew I wanted to be part of this project

I can't wait to meet the lads and get started

looking forward to showing the fans what I can do

7 hours ago, peelyfeet said:

All academies are. But if you can get to the stage where youre playing home grown 17 and 18 yr olds against men for a couple of years in a B team instead of buying B team players in, it costs less and they'll be better prepared for the step up. The 18s walked the league last season so theoretically weve got the best crop of 19s 18s in league one. Surely thats a positive 

 

Folk are getting giddy. They walked it but it’s not the most competitive level. I mean you can only beat what’s in front of you but like the women’s teams it’s a level. Winning is good but it’s not good when you aren’t playing good enough competition as folk don’t develop 

36 minutes ago, waffer cup 07 said:

Strange comment from Southwood, on joining Bristol Rovers. " its a club that matches my ambition ". What you mean you haven't got any. I know new players have to make a positive statement, but please.

maybe his ambition is to play every week as a #1 choice, like he was at Cheltenham, before he joined us

 

For what it’s worth chatting with a level headed roverrrr at work today on our new winger. His summary was he’s fast but light weight with no end product 1 goal in 22 apps. Nicknamed baby saka when at Arsenal (sickening). 

Fingers crossed a drop in division will help him, with and a couple of destroyers along side him to protect. 

Also zero fucks on Southwood leaving, a typical modern day ball at feet goal keeper that wasn’t actually very good at saving the ball from going in his net. 

1 hour ago, Big E said:

Clearly how? 

Really?

There were many plaudits on here and more importantly from the manager. 

As before, the level of praise wouldn't have been given had Inwood been reasonable, but nothing special.

Not just about him being decent, but showing maturity and settling into the side well.

You may see that as not meaning a great deal given it was end of season stuff, however considering the way we were playing, the results and injuries, I think it was all the more difficult, especially for a young centre half, to show a maturity and quality better than those senior players on the pitch at the time.

Hardly justifies the comments that he won't do anything etc.

 

47 minutes ago, Matt Lofthouse said:

For what it’s worth chatting with a level headed roverrrr at work today on our new winger. His summary was he’s fast but light weight with no end product 1 goal in 22 apps. Nicknamed baby saka when at Arsenal (sickening). 

Fingers crossed a drop in division will help him, with and a couple of destroyers along side him to protect. 

Lost me at level headed jackburn fan ha. All throbbers mate

27 minutes ago, tomski said:

Lost me at level headed jackburn fan ha. All throbbers mate

That's a bit unfair, their could well be one amongst their 10,000 fans.

Bit of a poor show today. Nobody signed, nobody sold. Come on Schumacher and Harkin. Get it sorted. 🙂

1 hour ago, Matt Lofthouse said:

For what it’s worth chatting with a level headed roverrrr at work today on our new winger. His summary was he’s fast but light weight with no end product 1 goal in 22 apps. Nicknamed baby saka when at Arsenal (sickening). 

Fingers crossed a drop in division will help him, with and a couple of destroyers along side him to protect. 

If he needs help from two players, its a no from me 😀.  

Anyway its a loan and feels like a no-risk signing, if he's no better than Schon and Tutu, he won't play and we aren't stuck with him, so let's see what he can do in L1.

2 hours ago, Big E said:

Folk are getting giddy. They walked it but it’s not the most competitive level. I mean you can only beat what’s in front of you but like the women’s teams it’s a level. Winning is good but it’s not good when you aren’t playing good enough competition as folk don’t develop 

They beat the supposed best southern, league one academy team, Luton 7-2 in the north south league final. Walked the league. Only lost 2 all season (of the final 3) when league sewn up and players rested. That's top of 43 CAT 3 teams from championship clubs down

 

Played Blackburn cat 1 away in the cup, beat them. Played fleetwood cat 2 twice, won 1 drew 1. Beat wigan, crewe, drew with Burnley all supposed higher quality teams. Didn't lose a match to a higher ranked team.

 

Not the same as the women, we are playing academy teams from lg 1 rivals and we were streets ahead, teams who will have future league  professionals playing for them.

 

 

 

47 minutes ago, peelyfeet said:

They beat the supposed best southern, league one academy team, Luton 7-2 in the north south league final. Walked the league. Only lost 2 all season (of the final 3) when league sewn up and players rested. That's top of 43 CAT 3 teams from championship clubs down

 

Played Blackburn cat 1 away in the cup, beat them. Played fleetwood cat 2 twice, won 1 drew 1. Beat wigan, crewe, drew with Burnley all supposed higher quality teams. Didn't lose a match to a higher ranked team.

 

Not the same as the women, we are playing academy teams from lg 1 rivals and we were streets ahead, teams who will have future league  professionals playing for them.

 

 

 

Well when you put it like that it makes perfect sense that we are gonna be knocking out superstars.

 

lets just hope he’s better than that lad GT who is shitter than shit. And schon who can’t beat his man. Or any of the other lads who played last year. 

Edited July 7, 2025Jul 7 by Big E

8 minutes ago, Big E said:

Well when you put it like that it makes perfect sense that we are gonna be knocking out superstars.

 

lets just hope he’s better than that lad GT who is shitter than shit. And schon who can’t beat his man. Or any of the other lads who played last year. 

If we're doing better than our  current direct rivals at 1st team level, in an area that they all deem important for the club long-term, thats a good thing. 

1 minute ago, peelyfeet said:

If we're doing better than our  current direct rivals at 1st team level, in an area that they all deem important for the club long-term, thats a good thing. 

It is. But again it’s a long term thing. Folk are far too giddy about the current graduates and it will end in them all being shit and being hounded when they are played too early 

We’ve been promoted already according to Wikipedia:

 

Jesper Ismaila Ceesay is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for championship side Bolton Wanderers. Born in Sweden, he is a youth international for the Gambia. Wikipedia

1 hour ago, peelyfeet said:

They beat the supposed best southern, league one academy team, Luton 7-2 in the north south league final. Walked the league. Only lost 2 all season (of the final 3) when league sewn up and players rested. That's top of 43 CAT 3 teams from championship clubs down

 

Played Blackburn cat 1 away in the cup, beat them. Played fleetwood cat 2 twice, won 1 drew 1. Beat wigan, crewe, drew with Burnley all supposed higher quality teams. Didn't lose a match to a higher ranked team.

 

Not the same as the women, we are playing academy teams from lg 1 rivals and we were streets ahead, teams who will have future league  professionals playing for them.

 

 

 

Problem, imo, is that its not about team success, its about producing 1, maybe 2 individuals

If theyre winning cos big dave can bully kids, its not quite as rosy a picture

Im not saying this is the case, but it really wouldnt surprise me

Your thoughts?

1 minute ago, Casino said:

Problem, imo, is that its not about team success, its about producing 1, maybe 2 individuals

If theyre winning cos big dave can bully kids, its not quite as rosy a picture

Im not saying this is the case, but it really wouldnt surprise me

Your thoughts?

There is always that possibility

Our youth beat Spurs youth 8-4 away from home in the FA Youth Cup a few years ago and I think the only one from that group who made it as a professional was Clough (I can't remember if Holding was also a part of that group)

8 minutes ago, Big E said:

It is. But again it’s a long term thing. Folk are far too giddy about the current graduates and it will end in them all being shit and being hounded when they are played too early 

They won't be played in SS doesn't think they're up for it. Even when they are given opportunities, no one would expect them to become permanent fixtures instantly.

Another bit of supposition there.

However, he has made it clear that the squad is to be reduced and opportunities presented to younger players should they merit it. 

Something that appeared to be lacking under Evatt.

Nothing is a given with the young players, but I'm perfectly happy to see them given a go when the manager sees fit.

The first team players we have were all young ones too at one point, how did they ever prove their worth without being given a chance?

We're a third division club and don't need world beaters. 

We've gone through a process with a manager who kept telling people that we were the best team, played the best football etc, as if the players were exactly that.

It had limited success.

3 hours ago, Matt Lofthouse said:

For what it’s worth chatting with a level headed roverrrr at work today on our new winger. His summary was he’s fast but light weight with no end product 1 goal in 22 apps. Nicknamed baby saka when at Arsenal (sickening). 

Fingers crossed a drop in division will help him, with and a couple of destroyers along side him to protect. 

Similar Spoke to Rovers mates and they said along the lines of enthusiastic , busy , energetic, unproductive.