Branthwaite joins Blackburn

It'll be interesting how we keep all these centre backs happy in coming years. Keane is currently top centre back in the league IMO. Mina is playing really well and consistently. Godfrey has played brilliantly at full back but surely Digne comes back in there at some point. Holgate the same at right back and probably started the season as number 1 choice! They are all at the age where they could be in competition for 5 years plus!

Add in Branthwaite after hopefully a successful loan and keeping them all happy will be a (good) challenge!

Complications could arise if Blackburn got promoted, which is a possibility, as they are mid-table now, but only 15 points from the leaders Norwich. A few wins on the trot and other results going their way, as is the Premiership at present, and the whole picture changes. Just don't get injured Jarrad, and enjoy the experience, and hopefully come back even better.

He's only 18 and far from dead wood. He's still a young sapling who's got to grow first and the loan will do him good (sorry couldn't resist extending the wood/tree analogy!).

As to Jarrad, best of luck to the lad. Stay healthy, listen to Tony Mowbray -- you couldn't ask for a better teacher -- and come back ready to be a star!

Clearly isn't going to challenge the 4 we have in place for the 2 positions right now, so this makes sense.

Hopefully it works for the individual, be that to give him a better chance at Everton when he comes back or to forge a career in the game elsewhere.

Good luck young man.

I'll take it, I've been called much worse on here lol

He needs to get game time, won't be going anywhere on a permanent basis.

Not all managers are eager to give a teenager a chance, but Mowbray will, and Jarrad will benefit. And maybe help Rovers, which scores goals by the bucket, challenge for the playoffs.

Anyone have any news on Gibson's progress?

Thanks for the update.

That is sad news.

He's very young, so expect another loan next season too.

We are well stocked at centre-half, all of Holgate, Mina, Keane and Godfrey are excellent players and none are old. So, should Branthwaite break into the team (be good enough to), it would mean selling one of them, which wouldn't be a bad thing as it'd mean £30+ million in transfer fees.

But as it stands, Mina and Keane is as good as you'll get in the Premier League.

If only we had the same competition for centre-forward!

We have a good future with Branthwaite, Godfrey and Holgate all young and yet to reach their peaks.

I hope he stays injury-free and enjoys his loan. However, when such good young prospects fail to establish themselves at their parent club, they will quickly want to make a permanent move. To prevent his early sale (because I rate him as a John Terry class defender), he needs to be given opportunity's at Everton next season.

Keane and Mina at sub-28 are both young for a senior first-choice centre back pairing. Perhaps coming to their peak ages. Both good Premier League players with similar qualities, good in the air, can block and can pass given time on the ball. Sadly both slow off the mark, not great tacklers and often have headless moments in rushing out of position.

I'm happy with our current form and playing deep to suit the players, but, ideally one needs to be sold and a better, faster centre-back partner brought in, ie, Godfrey.

Holgate and Branthwaite then put pressure on the remaining Keane or Mina and, over a season (with European football), plenty of games to be played for all.

Now please find Gordon a loan so he can progress properly... yer know, by playing football.

Robert (28), that seems a bleak prediction for Gibson. I'd been under the impression that he had probably a couple of seasons to make the breakthrough having been somewhat ahead of the curve. You are sure his loan spell at Reading was of the ‘last chance saloon' variety?

And the Fly Fishing, JR Hartley/yellow pages references all gave me a little warm nostalgic smile too.

Phill Two Brekkies Thompson, lovely stuff!

We look like we're in a good place center half wise and this looks like a good move for Young Branthwaite. I agree with others, let's get Gordon a good loan berth too, if it could have half the benefit of when Coleman went out we'll be laughing.

If he blossoms a bit later so be it. We can move on to other prospects.

Talk that Davide is working relentlessly with the first team to make the unit "more solid" has been supported by recently released footage. I would like to see Jarrad involved in all of this.

The thing is; Virtually every club is training in bubbles within bubbles to keep numbers down. It could be that Jarrad has been training with the juniors since his injury problems and is therefore not part of the first team's "collective effort" at this moment in time.

We may have four centre-halves but, if recent weeks have shown us anything, it's that you are only a couple of injuries away from putting square pegs in round holes.

I'd have kept him here but, if he comes back all the better for first-team experience, I won't be complaining.

I think this lad is class and we are going to be formidable defensively. Get in Aarons in the summer; I think Godfrey will swing that for us.

For those of you too young.

How many laps of the van do you do?

It speaks volumes about the lad.

He looks very, very promising.

The championship will be a greater challenge - playing against wily pros like Troy Deeney and Teemu Pukki.

It was the place where Abraham, Mount, Tomori and James of Chelsea developed and earned their right to a first team spot at Chelsea.

I also feel we should be sending players overseas on loan (or at least Scotland). Technical players like Dowell and Kissock may have developed better in the Eredivisie for example. Anthony Evans looked promising in the Bundesliga and may yet build a decent career there.

The fact few have come back first team ready after loans is a result of the player's own limitations. Ledson, Lundstram, Dowell, Feeney etc were not good enough. Robinson is, and proved that while at Wigan - not in the U23s.

Once a player is comfortable at U23s then they need a new challenge or a spot in the first team squad. Gordon & Simms don't need more U23s, they need a loan.

We've seen with Moise Kean, Nkounkou and Gordon even our exceptional talent was/is finding it hard to break in. Ancelotti knows that any weakness is ruthlessly exploited and has a reluctance to use the PL as a initiation exercise. He will want to see concrete proof they are ready on the training ground or by successful loans and dedication. He will want continuing improvement.

As we are getting a team together to challenge for the top 4 positions it's going to get even harder for the kids to get a proper run in the team. The clubs motto really will apply. Only the very best will be good enough.

At the moment I would bet good money that Nkounkou and Branthwaite will be regular first team players for us. Gordon has an excellent chance too.

As far as your Bacon Buttie Van Training regime is going, you could do a Streaky, round the Middle, and then Back, but no Smoking allowed. Gammon, you know it makes sense. :-)

I am all for that.

Mid-table Championship has been very good for the Chelsea lot – most of whom are now internationals. It ended up being where Grealish matured too. Adarabioyo matured at Blackburn last season and is now a Premier League centre-half. So it's not at all a bad place for our youngsters.

The foreign leagues might be a better place to learn more technical, tactical football – and to grow up a bit too. I'd like us to get a regular partnership going for that purpose.

Jack Grealish, Mason Mount, Ollie Watkins, James Maddison, Reece James, Tammy Abraham are all players who benefitted greatly from spells in the Championship.

It doesn't happen every time of course, mainly because becoming a solid Premier League player is very difficult.

I do feel if Davies had gone on loan when he was 18/19 he'd probably have benefitted more than he did being in and out of a dysfunctional Everton team.

Tim Cauliflowers [ex-England GK],
Andy Carrot [ex-RS Donkey],
John Scones [Citteh],
Harry Sugarkane [Spuds],
Our own Dominic Calvados Lewin,
Domingo Quinoa and Ismaïla Sarrdine [Watford]
Dennis Praetzel [Leicester]

On loan in the Championship may see them train with lesser players, but they get competitive football and there is no substitute for that in a player's development.

Neymar I'm Full!

Or was it Medium Rare? :-)

Jarrad Branflakes, followed by a Barry Fryup.

Also, only 26 himself, so about to hit the age where a centre back peaks. Would rather his best years were in an Everton shirt.

I hear that WBA supporters are doing the Samba in the streets - we missed out big time there, really miss his style of flowing football.

That puts Allardyce on a par with Carlo. :-)

Meanwhile, Blackburn 0-0, Jarrad has been calm, composed, great sliding tackle there, 3 touches in first 10 mins all looking good.

Brian, unless they were wearing an Unsie, or Unsiepants! :-)

I'm wondering what size Unsiepants are these days.

Blavkburn v Stoke

But on that first half, Blackburn were a very poor second to Stoke who could be 2 or 3 to the good.

Branthwaite doing OK considering he will have had no time getting to know his team mates or set up. Stoke have a mammoth Orc at centre back who comes up for corners and Branthwaite is delegated to mark him. The Orc is literally head and shoulders taller than Jarrad (who isn't short!), but he hasn't got the jump on him.

Stoke's goal from a corner not attributable to Jarrad. Not great fare, TBH.

GK I.Stoppard-Shotts

RB Nick Taball

LB Tye Tutline

CB Lofty Kikbak

CB Eddie Ballout

DM Tricky Deville

CM Ivor Neatfoot

RM Cat Cherpidgin

CF Ifor Goal

LM Charlie Richson

Available for weddings, funerals and bahm barmits Jewish ceremonies.

I watched the first 20 mins of the 2nd half. Pretty poor fair from both sides. Commentator did say Branthwaite is the brightest spark for Rovers.

It will be successful loan for him as Mowbray and Lowe are good football people and will hopefully develope his game. There is no place to hide in the championship it's a tough old league.

You just need to look at the way Jarrad moves and carries himself to know he's a player and this loan will serve him very well.

We have started with our defence and we will be building throughout the team over time.

I saw one 'error' from Jarrad all game, when early in the 2nd half he stood on the ball as he was carrying it forward and the Stoke player picked up the loose ball. Jarrad got back and got in a good recovery tackle I thought, but the ref gave a free-kick which came to nothing.

18 years old, let's not forget. Zero settling-in time with his new team and he was obviously leading out on the pitch, pointing and instructing to teammates where to move and pass to.

He has great game awareness of his own position and of those around him. I like how tight he gets to his player without clattering into them and giving away cheap fouls. His speed of foot and thought married to good technique and heading ability.

The Rovers' club commentators praised him a number of times.

He really does have a chance, this fellah.

At this rate, in 2 years, if Brands keeps bringing in 2 or 3 quality young players in annually with 1 academy player coming through, we will be substantially better off financially.

Digne, Kean, Iwobi, Branthwaite, Godfrey, Gordon, Nkounkou and so on. They've all got better, and are all worth more.

Although it was clear he needs loads of experience I liked what I saw when he played in the first team last season.

This move should be good for him. Local and good competitive games at a decent level.

What I'm liking about the current batch of defenders we have is their ability to get ahead of the game and anticipate danger. That has become no more evident than in Michael Keane, who had a real issue in that area.

I know we all love a good 50-50 tackle to get the heckles up, but to quote the great Paulo Maldini, one of the finest centre backs I've witnessed: "If I have to make a tackle, I have already made a mistake".

Talking of tackles and defenders, I see our ex-Acadmey player and US international Antonee Robinson has just seen red for Fulham against Chelsea.

I used it to reiterate the good work our defenders have been doing of late to mostly get ahead of the game in anticipating and reading the game.

I do love a good quote mind! That one is also very Italian!

I only saw him once live, in the Champions League final 2003 at Old Trafford. It was labelled “the most boring game ever”. I loved every minute, watching him and Nesta simply stepping in to cut out a pass half a second before it reached a Juventus forward.

Milan had a good manager too. Best wishes to you and Dave.

I cringe when I see people put up stats of Everton players making the most tackles when their creative game is virtually non existent

The article tells all about Maldini's glittering career, then says after he retired he qualified to play in a professional tennis tournament in Italy at the age of 49.

Or you were DeLigted by his performance?

Maldini jockeyed the forward, if he got away from Maldini, one of the best sweepers the world has seen was on the cover.

Maldini would have done plenty of tackling if he played in the English league.

As regards the tackling, the 90s Serie A sides were more than capable. There's some good showreels of Baresi doing just that – and Cannovaro and (my fave) Paolo Montero could really meter out the violence too. I loved that era of Italian football. Ruthless and artistic at the same time.

And it's not their policy with players. They generally sell all their best players. Hold on, sounds like us already!

Darren, you hit on a similar thing to Tony; if there is creativity and protection in front of the defence by the midfield, they are less likely to be on the back foot and can actually look calmer and composed, just as they have done in recent games.

Tony Everan; if young Godfrey can become half the player Maldini was, we have a star on our books. What I'm seeing so far is delightful and that is watching him play in any position across the back 4. Our midfield acquisitions stole the headlines but Ben could be one of the steals of recent times. And a leader in the making too.

Definitely captain material. You can see the winners attitude in him.

On Godfrey achieving half as good as Maldini status, I would settle for 25%. Him and Lillian Thuram are my all-time European favourites.

As for Maldini yes he was very good, but not that good all the time. I remember him having a torrid time against Chris Waddle when Waddle played for Marseilles in the European Cup. Waddle skinned him time and time again and Maldini reverted to hacking him at any opportunity.

I am just saying every player can have a bad day.

Ben Godfrey and Cuco Martina in the same sentence?

Maldini's bad days could be counted on the thumbs of one hand. You are right though: every player comes across a player he can't handle.

Loved Maldini but that was tested in 2005. 3-0 up at half-time and, as they kicked off the second half, I'm thinking "No way can they get this back against that defence."

First minute of the second half, Maldini intercepts a pass, throws a dummy, then backheeled it to his mate. Totally out of character.

Believe me or don't, I knew Milan were in trouble when I saw that.

Exactly! Apart from the obvious human characteristics, the only thing they had in common was that they were asked to play out of their normal position. Cocu Martina was slightly better as a useless left-back than he was as a right-back; Godfrey has been a revelation.

Fair point but remember the great Pat van den Hauwe was a right-footed left-back though, for me, he was a world-class centre-half. I think Ben will play centre-back and cash will be raised in the summer by selling one of Mina, Keane or Holgate (hopefully not Holgate).

Thanks for asking how me and Dave are Peter, fed up like everyone else I suppose, but hopefully things will start to change soon, and I've even seen that Andy, is organising another get-together at the Excellsior, so maybe you can show me the whole of Maldini's quote then!!

In 1967, he was voted in France as one of the best players in Europe, and he was right-footed! He was the first marauding full-back I ever saw, was a murderously hard man (being a Protestant playing for Celtic probably accounts for that), and really liked a bevvy. He's also one of only three footballers to score in two different European Cup finals.

Lastly, him deservedly booting the snide West German centre-forward Helmut Haller up the arse in an international was comedy gold;

https://youtu.be/xM4ydShTw54

The YouTube items showing interviews with Celtic players talking about their games against Racing Club for the “World Championship” of 1967 are well worth looking up, some brilliant stories and film archive.

He talks of the benefits of playing abroad and in the Championship on loan which has been hugely beneficial to his development.

Thank you for the update on Gibson, sad news.

I think it is only English youngsters who pride themselves on their tackling - Europeans see tackling as a last resort, a failure of anticipation and game-reading.

Apart from that incident he is looking confident, passing out from the back very good and doesn't look out of place against a decent striker in asombolonga alas awareness of whos around him at times is a clear area of improvement..

Hopefully this loan will be the making of him as I feel we have a top class player in the making 🤞

James Nalton

@JDNalton

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2h

Jarrad Branthwaite named Man of the Match in Blackburn #Rovers 1-0 win against Luton Town.

About to settle down and watch an all-Brazlian Libertadores final, Palmeiras (Mina's old team) v Santos (Pele and Neymar's old team).

I believe the BBC is showing it live on one of their channels.