Let's talk about the Evertonu21s game

[rover-n-out]

Thanks for your review of the game Selby. I couldn't get last night, so just watched extended highlights on Thy'tube, and I must say that what I saw was very pleasing on the eye, quick, incisive forward play by the Rovers, a willingness to take players on, and battle with the Everton lads to win the ball back all over the pitch. I know it was only the highlights, but it shows there is talent in this team, and I can only see improvement game after game whilst the players are getting used to each other, and the system Grant and Cliff have implemented. Their marking for Biggins goal was poor, should have been closed down by a couple more of their defenders as soon as the ball was played to him, he just skinned the lad that tried to stop him getting a shot away, but had plenty of time to pick his spot. Well done guys! Now on to one of our historically "bogey" teams. Jeez, I'd love to see us beat these buggers!

[Bailey Vickerage]

Very good all round team performance last night, close was a level above and be good to see him back in the team regularly, Broadbent is also improving every game. Bailey is Mr Consistent wherever he plays, Olowu had his best game in a while and was good performances from Faulkner, Marsh, Jones (distribution was good all night), Biggins, molyneux and Goodman.

Think ppl are being harsh on Roberts, thought he started the game very well and had the beating of their LB but faded as the game went on and tried a bit too hard if anything. Sotona had bright moments but he’s nowhere near ready to start, needs to learn when to run with the ball and take players on and when to just keep hold of it. Both of them and Faal (who I thought played well again apart from not being able to stay onside when looking across the line lol) are still young and raw, they have potential and I’m sure McCann and Byrne will make them better players.

Tough game on Saturday but confidence seems to be growing, a good performance and result against Gillingham will be a real statement to everyone else in the league that we are turning it around.

[The Beast]

What did Bobby Faulkner do wrong in a previous life to be paired with Oluwu.
Though on second thoughts he won’t half look good.
Strong team so hope for a good run in this competition.

I saw enough of Olowu last year to still believe he is our most valuable asset, still only young, will come good!

Olowu looked good last year whilst being surrounded by utter tosh. He won’t make a career above league two.

Good result tonight, hopefully we see Faulkner start at the back on Saturday. I won’t hold my breath though

Don’t see why he can’t play in league one again, the Championship is one of the top leagues in Europe so probably not. What level do you think Faulkner can play at in your expert opinion??

[Thorney]

  Nobody has mentioned Roberts started off the game our best attacking option, took the full back to the cleaners on more than one occasion and then they doubled up on him and he faded but still had the confidence to attack the full back but had a couple in front of him but still worked hard.
  I thought we did very well, nobody had a bad game, as a matter of fact I would have picked Olowu as my man of the match, I thought he was solid all night along with Faulkner and Bailey who snuffed out their wide  men despite having Sotona, who had a good game on the ball but struggles off it in front of them, at least Sotona looked last night willing to compete defensively but has a lot to learn, his obvious  strength carrying the ball at pace.
  I thought the we showed improvement all through the team as far as team work was concerned, we have some good players, very skilful when in possession, but need to work harder and be more game wise off the ball, but at least it looks like the coaching staff are hard at work getting that side of the game into the team, again Roberts and Sotona  examples of improved willingness to do the dirty work.
  We are work in progress Faal for instance to my mind will be a handful for anyone as the season progresses as will Marsh, both of which look to be promising players and better loans than we have had of late.
  That brings me to our own players, much improved as a whole, and mainly on the young side so more to come. Close I can accept if putting in shifts like last night, more of it please and I can at last warm to him. Bailey has been rightly picked out as a good un and the midfield players as a whole are beginning to understand each other and become a cohesive unit.
  The best moment for me last evening was about ten minutes from the end of the game for me, everyone rightly have praised the Everton youngsters for their efforts and playing well, Faulkner as Thorney said put a couple of balls out of play his only mistakes  really but saw Goodman make a run wide on the right and chipped a ball over the top taking out the whole of the right side of the Everton defence and Goodman in one movement brought down the ball brilliantly under complete control on the run a brilliant move brilliantly executed by a 19yrs old and 18yrs old in a team of young players of our own and a good prospect in Flint 17yrs old on the bench. Everton young players better than ours on the night really, international players at age groups, better than Faulkner really.
  Bigger tests face such as Bobby, on Saturday if he plays. but he is better than academy standard u21,s or u23s, he needs games he will only get better.

Sorry selby it wasn't me who stated Bobby put the ball out of touch a few times.  The only real one I can remember was in the 2nd half where he lost concentration and let it run out while looking to pick a pass.
He did very well and his better than any u21 or u23 levels.

[Bailey Vickerage]

  Nobody has mentioned Roberts started off the game our best attacking option, took the full back to the cleaners on more than one occasion and then they doubled up on him and he faded but still had the confidence to attack the full back but had a couple in front of him but still worked hard.
  I thought we did very well, nobody had a bad game, as a matter of fact I would have picked Olowu as my man of the match, I thought he was solid all night along with Faulkner and Bailey who snuffed out their wide  men despite having Sotona, who had a good game on the ball but struggles off it in front of them, at least Sotona looked last night willing to compete defensively but has a lot to learn, his obvious  strength carrying the ball at pace.
  I thought the we showed improvement all through the team as far as team work was concerned, we have some good players, very skilful when in possession, but need to work harder and be more game wise off the ball, but at least it looks like the coaching staff are hard at work getting that side of the game into the team, again Roberts and Sotona  examples of improved willingness to do the dirty work.
  We are work in progress Faal for instance to my mind will be a handful for anyone as the season progresses as will Marsh, both of which look to be promising players and better loans than we have had of late.
  That brings me to our own players, much improved as a whole, and mainly on the young side so more to come. Close I can accept if putting in shifts like last night, more of it please and I can at last warm to him. Bailey has been rightly picked out as a good un and the midfield players as a whole are beginning to understand each other and become a cohesive unit.
  The best moment for me last evening was about ten minutes from the end of the game for me, everyone rightly have praised the Everton youngsters for their efforts and playing well, Faulkner as Thorney said put a couple of balls out of play his only mistakes  really but saw Goodman make a run wide on the right and chipped a ball over the top taking out the whole of the right side of the Everton defence and Goodman in one movement brought down the ball brilliantly under complete control on the run a brilliant move brilliantly executed by a 19yrs old and 18yrs old in a team of young players of our own and a good prospect in Flint 17yrs old on the bench. Everton young players better than ours on the night really, international players at age groups, better than Faulkner really.
  Bigger tests face such as Bobby, on Saturday if he plays. but he is better than academy standard u21,s or u23s, he needs games he will only get better.

Sorry selby it wasn't me who stated Bobby put the ball out of touch a few times.  The only real one I can remember was in the 2nd half where he lost concentration and let it run out while looking to pick a pass.
He did very well and his better than any u21 or u23 levels.

there was 1 in the first half aswell tbf where he tried playing it down the line with his left foot and went out of play. Thought he was better in the second half when him and Bailey switched sides.

[selby]

Francis Okoronkwo who Bobby had a joust with in the first half and Bailey in the second half is twenty years old and was signed from Sunderland as a 15 year old for a fee that can reach £1 million subject to staged appearances and is very well thought of as a future prospect and is an England age group international.
  He was scouted by no less than John Doolan formerly of this parish.
  Bobby Faulkner meanwhile played for Askern Welfare as a 15yr old, Rossington at 16yrs old, and paid his own way playing for nothing the first six months as an amateur with Doncaster Rovers academy while also attending Doncaster College. He turned 19yrs old a couple of weeks ago and has played on loan at Frickley, Spennymoor and Worksop.
  Well played Bobby, he will know he is in for a hard game if you meet again.

[Colin C No.3]

Time for us surely to ‘invest time’ in Bobby Faulkner (& a few others who quite rightly have been mentioned) if we’re ever going to bring on exceptional players that have come through our academy otherwise, what’s the point in having an academy?