Just always followed Max’s progress online and on social media. Some may call me a fan. DEFINITELY NOT HIS FARTHER (wrong race) LOL
Kaylen Hinds has finally signed after being at the club since the start of pre-season. A 1 year contract with the option of a further year. It makes for an interesting sextet of forwards at u23 level. Jakubiak and Folivi are out on loan and development football is probably seen as a backward step for both now. The club signed Dalby (19) who's a tall forward and looks to either hold the ball up or lay off to a supporting player and works along the defensive line well. Hinds (21) and Crichlow (19) are more comfortable playing off the main striker or possibly wide and cutting in. That leaves Ryan Cassidy (18). Is he staying as the new contract reported by an Irish journalist suggests? And if Cassidy does stay will he go out on loan now Hinds has signed, giving Mullins good options up front. He could also use Jayden Bennetts (18) as a forward, as he did occasionally last season, or, as is more likely, in the supporting role. JJ McKiernan from the u18s is also waiting for an opportunity. Cassidy tweeted a slightly ambiguous tweet 4 days ago showing a picture of himself playing for Watford accompanied with the text 'Soon' followed by the Shhh emoji. Hopefully he's fit and well in both mind & body and the reason he hasn't been involved so far this season is because the club are looking for a loan move for him as they have done with Daniel Phillips & Harry Hudson. All in all though, the club have put together an interesting and differing types of player for the attacking positions at u23 level. (And no, I hadn't forgotten Joseph Hungbo but he looks an out and out wide midfielder rather than a forward option).
It's descriptions like this, of a plan of action for the young players and the U23 team in terms of tactical acquisitions which makes me think - '**** it, put them in charge of the full team'.
Why are u23 games always on during workday afternoons? Wouldn't it be better to play them in the evenings when more people may be inclined to turn up? Would get them more used to bigger crowds as well. Is it cost of playing night games maybe?
Time to bleed a few of these young'uns into the first team. It's all the rage this year and may show some desire plus pushing some competition on to the first 11.
You also have to take into account, the home fans love nothing more than cheering on a young academy prospect making his debut after spending his formative years with another club. Could bring some much needed optimism to Vicarage Road.
Have to say they maybe haven't played that well but been very solid and the goalie as per last season with the Youth Cup run has been very impressive. We'll all take a scrappy 2-0 for the first team!
Two others called up to international squads. Lewis Gordon for the Scotland u19s for two games against Japan. Bosun Lawal for the Republic of Ireland u17s for two games against Russia.
Academy manager Richard Thomas is off to Bermuda next month to attend EPL Summer Camps to scout the 10 to 15 year old age groups. http://www.royalgazette.com/soccer/article/20190903/watford-set-to-run-rule-over-local-talent
I've posted several times recently the u23s are playing next on Friday, September 6th, but that is no longer the case. Whether I got the date wrong or it's been rearranged I don't know, but that fixture is now Thursday, September 26th with a 2pm k/o. Their next fixture is away to Leeds United on Monday, September 16th, at 7pm. Their next home game is at Clarence Park, St. Albans, on Friday, September 20th, starting at 1pm, versus Bristol City. Apologies if any one had made plans to pop down there tomorrow!
Two more u23/u18 players have left on loan. Left-back Cameron Green has joined Braintree Town of the National League South unitl December 31. Green (18) is yet to start for the u23s since moving here in July after being released by Reading. The move actually happened on Tuesday and he made his debut that evening in a 2-2 draw against Concord Rangers. Braintree were relegated from the National League last season despite a cracking run of form towards the end of the season with ex-Hornet Andrew Eleftheriou playing at right-back. James Hoskins has today joined Northwood of the Isthmian South Central Division on an initial 1 month (28 day) loan. Goalkeeper Hoskins is a 3rd year scholar and is set to make his debut tomorrow with regular 'keeper Rob Partington due to be rested (source; Northwood FC club site). Northwood are currently 2nd from bottom after 4 games.
A mixture of Watford first team and U23's lost 6-3 to Gillingham today in a behind closed doors friendly.
Good to see QSF is stamping his defensive mentality on the squad. TBF the Gills are a good side and would have hit double figures against Arsenal.
Re. the game versus Gillingham, I've been told the Watford team was solely a development/u23 side while the Gills confirmed they had a mixture of u23/1st team players. That could be wrong but the Watford players currently not involved with international fixtures were training at London Colney today, so it makes more sense having the available players working with the new coach and not spread between training and a friendly game in Kent. As for the game itself, two of the goals conceded were penalties and another scored directly from a free-kick. Just as an aside, in a friendly fixture between Wimbledon & Swindon today Michael Folivi scored for the Dons in a 4-2 win.
Couldn't find any news of the lineup or goalscorers, but at first glance judging from this photo it does indeed look more of a youth side: https://twitter.com/TheGillsFC/status/1171400373439029248/photo/1
Watford u18s had a trialist playing in their first loss of the season on Saturday, 17 year old midfielder Spencer Keller. He left Norwich at the end of last season, supposedly of his own accord, and has since had a trial at Manchester City. Keller was also an unused sub on August 17 for West Ham in their 3-4 loss away to Chelsea in the u18 Premier League.
The u18s got back to winning ways with a 3-1 victory against Burnley this morning. Going a goal down after 68 minutes the young Hornets scored a quick fire equaliser, a direct free-kick on 80 minutes and a goal deep into added time. That's now 5 wins from 6 games.
Well it wasn't direct really - just a well worked free kick into the back post which was headed across the 6 yard box and tapped home . The sort our 1st team try to do aiming for Dawson ..
Have to say again we probably had less of the ball but managed to take our chances and react well to going behind. The youngsters seem much more comfortable playing the ball around at the back than Mr Cathcart, Dawson and co do but different level I guess!
Yes I was at the game . Without knowing their names the goalkeeper was good and our number 9/10 were very good attacking wise .
u23s away to Leeds tonight, kick-off 7pm. Leeds include four 1st XI players in the starting line-up; Gaetano Berardi, Barry Douglas, Jack Clarke and Eddie Nketiah. Watford have a trialist on the bench, Dejahrn Grant, who appears to have previously been at QPR.
