Rovers 1-0 Colchester

[Boz]

All I heard for years was Tranmere supporters moaning about Curran and Gornell not playing, then when Les brought both through properly, we couldn't wait to get rid of them. I think fans always have rose-tinted views of their own young players which are often based on nothing, whereas the managers and coaching staff work with them every day and see them play. Steve Jennings was a first team regular in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009, making 100 appearences under Ronnie in those two seasons. Up until then he was a bit-part player, under previous managers too.

Mike Jones slipped through the net. It's a shame, and it was Ronnie's fault. But there still isn't that much basis for the argument that Ronnie stifled our young players IMO. The current crop coming through under Les is simply more talented.

Interesting viewpoint, but I don't entirely concur.

Steve Jennings had 20+ starts and a number of sub appearances in Brian Little's last season, but in Ronnie's first season he only got 3 games off the bench and was shipped off on loan to Hereford, while we endured the McLaren/Mullin central midfield pairing. Arguably, his development was initially held back by Ronnie. When Mullin's injury forced Ronnie's hand, Jenno took his chance and as you say was virtually ever-present in RMs last two seasons.

Curran. Never lived up to his explosive hat-trick start, but it must have been soul-destroying only being given a couple of minutes by Ronnie game after game. I'll always be grateful to Craig for the hour of hope his goal gave us at Scunthorpe and think he worked his socks off in the wide-forward position Les deployed him in. Shabby treatment by Les/the club offering him a contract on worse terms than his existing one meant he left for Carlisle. Never be a world-beater, but can do a job at this level.

Gornell. Has showed at Accrington that he is capable of scoring goals as a striker, but he was never going to function out wide as part of a front three. Les' weakness here was to try and force players into an unsuitable system, rather than picking the formation best suited to the players we'd got.

"Rose-tinted views" I think that's true of all clubs to an extent, wanting to see players coming through the ranks. Would stand by my view that the only way to know if a player can hack it is to play them. I'm not sure about the current crop of youngsters being more talented; of those only Max Power and Cole Stockton look likely to make the breakthrough. Though I'm not a reserves regular and you or others may be better equipped to judge that.

 

[Mal]

At Carlisle: Craig has scored 6 goals in 47 games (with 13 of the games as substitute)
At Motherwell Jennings has scored 3 in 70 (with 11 of the games as substitute) but is seen as a 'valuable member of midfield'. Not exactly a Gerrard though.

Don't you think having to play at Hereford improved Jennings? Maybe his attitude was wrong and that is why Ronnie sent him out.

 

[Boz]

At Carlisle: Craig has scored 6 goals in 47 games (with 13 of the games as substitute)
At Motherwell Jennings has scored 3 in 70 (with 11 of the games as substitute) but is seen as a 'valuable member of midfield'. Not exactly a Gerrard though.

Don't you think having to play at Hereford improved Jennings? Maybe his attitude was wrong and that is why Ronnie sent him out.

Agree Craig Curran isn't tearing up trees at Carlisle. Certainly when he initially moved there, the Cumbrians deployed him in the same way as Les; wide-right in a front three. I don't know if he's being used in a more central role now Madine has left. The issue is whether he'd have developed better by being played for more than 5 minute cameos by Ronnie, my feeling is he would have.

Re Jennings, McLaren Mullin and Kay were always in contention for an England call up right?](*,) From what I've read from Motherwell forums, Jennings is favourably regarded there in a league of a higher standard than L1. There was no evidence of attitude problems from Jennings that came to light. Ronnie might have caused Mullin and McLaren to snap out of their complacency with being automatic selections had he not loaned Jennings out,

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

I think there is no doubt that Ronnie held Curran back by failing to give him an extended run in the side. As we can see now from Jennings, who was rejected by several clubs despite his obvious ability, the confidence of young players can be fragile when they are first coming through and they need to be 'nurtured', which I think is something Les and the current coaching team are good at, and Ronnie apparently less so.

Regarding Steve Jennings, as I recall the midfield partnership of Harrison and Jennings in Little's last season was awful, and I wouldn't blame Moore for delaying his development for 12 months before bringing him back into the side: in 2006 he wasn't ready.

I think Ronnie's record regarding young players is not quite as black as some are suggesting, as he did put Cresswell in ahead of Taylor at left back for a time, even when the latter was fully fit. He also brought Barnett into the side in a key role, although he subsequently fell by the wayside.

I also think it is easy with hindsight to criticise any manager for failing to develop young talent (Little with Dagnell for example). Of the current crop of players there are probably one or two that will be released but will progress at League Two level. Fraughan, for example, has ability, but doesn't look like he is going to make it under Les.

 

[SonkORLY?]

Interesting viewpoint, but I don't entirely concur.

Steve Jennings had 20+ starts and a number of sub appearances in Brian Little's last season, but in Ronnie's first season he only got 3 games off the bench and was shipped off on loan to Hereford, while we endured the McLaren/Mullin central midfield pairing. Arguably, his development was initially held back by Ronnie. When Mullin's injury forced Ronnie's hand, Jenno took his chance and as you say was virtually ever-present in RMs last two seasons.

Curran. Never lived up to his explosive hat-trick start, but it must have been soul-destroying only being given a couple of minutes by Ronnie game after game. I'll always be grateful to Craig for the hour of hope his goal gave us at Scunthorpe and think he worked his socks off in the wide-forward position Les deployed him in. Shabby treatment by Les/the club offering him a contract on worse terms than his existing one meant he left for Carlisle. Never be a world-beater, but can do a job at this level.

Gornell. Has showed at Accrington that he is capable of scoring goals as a striker, but he was never going to function out wide as part of a front three. Les' weakness here was to try and force players into an unsuitable system, rather than picking the formation best suited to the players we'd got.

"Rose-tinted views" I think that's true of all clubs to an extent, wanting to see players coming through the ranks. Would stand by my view that the only way to know if a player can hack it is to play them. I'm not sure about the current crop of youngsters being more talented; of those only Max Power and Cole Stockton look likely to make the breakthrough. Though I'm not a reserves regular and you or others may be better equipped to judge that.

Mostly I guess that's fair. By current crop, though, I was referring more to the trio of Cressa, Taylor, Jenno - average age of less than 20.

Agree with RLC too, I forgot how bad Jenno-Harrison was. In fact, Harrison probably looked the better of the two at the time.

 

[Boz]

Agree that Steve Jennings and Danny Harrison weren't a great combination in midfield, both too defensive for that. However, having dug out my Complete Record, they only started just over a dozen games together during Little's last season. Rankine, McAteer and Stephen O'Leary also featured in assorted central midfield combinations.

 

[SonkORLY?]

I also think it is easy with hindsight to criticise any manager for failing to develop young talent (Little with Dagnell for example).

Richard Hinds, though injury prone, went on to be a very good player. Rueben Hazell always looks good for Oldham too. Alan Navarro was a good player for MK Dons, and is on his way back from injury at league-topping Brighton.

I'm sure there are others - guess it just happens.

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

Ironically, the best example of wasting our own local talent is Andy Robinson. A late developer, we first had him on our books for a year without playing in the first team. Then, at the age of 23, he signs for Swansea and becomes an instant success.

 

[SonkORLY?]

We booted him out because he was a ****

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

We booted him out because he was a ****

43 goals in 192 matches for Swansea speaks for itself. Why was he never given a chance with his home-town club?

 

[Mal]

The feedback I heard was that he didn't put appropriate effort into training and liked to 'socialise' too much. Got his act together after being thrown out of Tranmere.