(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

1 minute ago, Krimzon said:

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

With a year already behind him.

If it helps us to get up, then great.

Just now, Tonge moor green jacket said:

With a year already behind him.

If it helps us to get up, then great.

Totally , no real risk in this . 

3 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

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.

It's definitely a good thing that we now have a manager seemingly more willing to entertain the possibility of giving them a go

6 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

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)

Wanderers: Sievers, Hendrie, Gibson, Holding, Maher, Bailey, Lester, Wolstenholme, Clough, Youngs, Walker (Newby 88): (Unused substitutes: Campbell, Hamer, Nolan, Kennedy)

 

Holding

Maher

lester

Clough

Walker

but this team made the semis of the youth cup, which id suggest is a lot more impressive than last years crop

To be fair, I'd argue that of those four only Clough and Holding really made it

It just goes to show how tough it is

Hopefully a few of our current crop buck the trend

1 minute ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

To be fair, I'd argue that of those four only Clough and Holding really made it

It just goes to show how tough it is

Hopefully a few of our current crop buck the trend

You could even argue Clough 

Played 30 games for forest after us then absolutely naff all to talk about 

Played most of his football in Australia which is pretty much non league 

Edited July 7, 2025Jul 7 by L/H White

3 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

To be fair, I'd argue that of those four only Clough and Holding really made it

It just goes to show how tough it is

Hopefully a few of our current crop buck the trend

Agreed

On all points

Mahers actually done ok, i suppose

The others were just names who played first team for us

If the kids don’t count towards the squad cap it’s a no lose situation- if they come good, great, if they don’t we ain’t lost anything.

11 minutes ago, L/H White said:

You could even argue Clough 

Played 30 games for forest after us then absolutely naff all to talk about 

Played most of his football in Australia which is pretty much non league 

Getting £9.5m for Clough and Madine should've lead to criminal charges and prison sentences.

1 minute ago, gonzo said:

Getting £9.5m for Clough and Madine should've lead to criminal charges and prison sentences.

Mad innit 

Sell good players for crap money and th shite for decent money 

28 minutes ago, Casino said:

Wanderers: Sievers, Hendrie, Gibson, Holding, Maher, Bailey, Lester, Wolstenholme, Clough, Youngs, Walker (Newby 88): (Unused substitutes: Campbell, Hamer, Nolan, Kennedy)

 

Holding

Maher

lester

Clough

Walker

but this team made the semis of the youth cup, which id suggest is a lot more impressive than last years crop

Of course it is but it’s about levels that team had little chance of breaking into a premier league team and you can end up drifting out of the game if there were about now they would get a chance at league one and probably develop better and have a chance of making it at a lower level 

33 minutes 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?

Many teams have their own version of Big Dave these days. Rotherham, Blackpool, Accrington Salford for example  all have land of the giants up front.  Dave is v effective at winning free kicks high up the pitch so whilst he can bully, he's also clever.

 

I didn't see the tranmere match, but the report said their CB, a 29yr old with 370 appearances for port Vale, was grappling and pulling to try and contain him. Hopefully you'll get to see what I mean. He was great a drawing a foul near the area last season.

But footballing wise there's Rice, a v fast  direct and physically strong left winger, low centre of gravity and great at getting to the byline and crossing, smith a 6ft 2 powerful and skillful right back, lawrence is a wiley 10 who can finish and build up well. Theres some good quarterback style midfielders who will need to get bigger. Hogan is a v tough no nonsense centre back great in the air. And there's a few in the 18s who might get a sniff too. Good crop. 

38 minutes ago, peelyfeet said:

Many teams have their own version of Big Dave these days. Rotherham, Blackpool, Accrington Salford for example  all have land of the giants up front.  Dave is v effective at winning free kicks high up the pitch so whilst he can bully, he's also clever.

 

I didn't see the tranmere match, but the report said their CB, a 29yr old with 370 appearances for port Vale, was grappling and pulling to try and contain him. Hopefully you'll get to see what I mean. He was great a drawing a foul near the area last season.

But footballing wise there's Rice, a v fast  direct and physically strong left winger, low centre of gravity and great at getting to the byline and crossing, smith a 6ft 2 powerful and skillful right back, lawrence is a wiley 10 who can finish and build up well. Theres some good quarterback style midfielders who will need to get bigger. Hogan is a v tough no nonsense centre back great in the air. And there's a few in the 18s who might get a sniff too. Good crop. 

Thanks Peely that’s reassuring to know.

13 hours 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.

Mate of mine, a very good amateur footballer once played in a game with Quinton Fortune. Not a full on match, bit of a kick about.

Said he was 10 times better than any other player on the pitch. Basically playing at walking pace too.

Any lingering doubts my mate had "could have made it with a bit of luck " shattered. 

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/25294647.bolton-wanderers-must-wait-celtic-nod-johnny-kenny/

Rodgers just pushing the price up, or genuinely wanting to keep him?

Not too sure that we will wait so long, unless there is something already in place regarding a loan, and Rogers actually does want to keep him long term.

 

9 hours ago, L/H White said:

Mad innit 

Sell good players for crap money and th shite for decent money 

I've always thought this. When you see some of the money going for some of the players and it's head scratching and then we seem to sell ours for less than what we think they should be going for. Was it four million for madine? That's the only one where I thought we did well. Anelka, Eidur and Cahill from way back when always felt like we sold them for the first massively reduced offer on vinted instead of waiting for a better offer or someone actually paying the right amount. Especially when you look at who bought them and the money they had to spare

7 minutes ago, SalCity Biggie said:

I've always thought this. When you see some of the money going for some of the players and it's head scratching and then we seem to sell ours for less than what we think they should be going for. Was it four million for madine? That's the only one where I thought we did well. Anelka, Eidur and Cahill from way back when always felt like we sold them for the first massively reduced offer on vinted instead of waiting for a better offer or someone actually paying the right amount. Especially when you look at who bought them and the money they had to spare

Think it was actually six million to Cardiff for Madine which seems as crazy now as it did then!

12 hours ago, waffer cup 07 said:

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

I also know one and his view of the lad was the same. Hopefully a level lower will suit him better

1 hour ago, SalCity Biggie said:

I've always thought this. When you see some of the money going for some of the players and it's head scratching and then we seem to sell ours for less than what we think they should be going for. Was it four million for madine? That's the only one where I thought we did well. Anelka, Eidur and Cahill from way back when always felt like we sold them for the first massively reduced offer on vinted instead of waiting for a better offer or someone actually paying the right amount. Especially when you look at who bought them and the money they had to spare

obvs diff circumstances but I think we got more for madine than cahill

Why did Swansea pay us £2m for Ngog?!

We sold Eudir to Chelsea for a million less than Leicester paid for Ade Akinbiyi around the same time.
 

 

5 minutes ago, Ani said:

We sold Eudir to Chelsea for a million less than Leicester paid for Ade Akinbiyi around the same time.
 

 

We got £2.5m for Rob Holding from Arsenal around the same time David Brooks went from Sheffield Utd to Bournemouth for £11.5m, whilst City signed Patrick Roberts from Fulham for £12m

I know we had financial issues but seeing young lads with barely a season of championship football under their belts go for £10m+ and we got fuck all was just further evidence of us being wank in the transfer market 

Particularly when RH went on to have the best PL career of the 3 of them

 

Think Everton got £40m for Lescott same time as we got a paltry £6m for Cahill.

10 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Think Everton got £40m for Lescott same time as we got a paltry £6m for Cahill.

Then Coyle bragged about how he turned down £20m for him the previous summer 

12 minutes ago, Zico said:

I know we had financial issues but seeing young lads with barely a season of championship football under their belts go for £10m+ and we got fuck all was just further evidence of us being wank in the transfer market 

This is the crux of the issue, bad management which includes being a forced seller of players whose contracts we were running down as we couldn't afford to offer new ones.   Whilst the current raft of 4 year deals may not all work, someone will have to pay to buy anyone successful off us.