Loan Lads Friday 7th September - early game. Colombia Liga Aguila - La Equidad 1-1 D.I.Medellin - Jorge Segura played 90mins for Medellin.
Loan Lads Friday 7th September Belgium UEFA Euro U21 Qualifier - Malta u21 0-4 Belgium u21 - Dodi Lukebakio subbed off on 80mins for Belgium. Assist for 1st goal, scored 3rd goal. Belgium/France Friendly - Royal Excel Mouscron 0-1 ESTAC Troyes - Mamadou Mbaye not in Troyes match day squad. Belgium/Holland Friendly - Standard Liege 4-1 Fortuna Sittard - Obbi Oulare not in Standard Liege match day squad. Spain La Liga 2 - UD Las Palmas 4-0 Gymnastic de Tarragona - Luis Javier Suarez subbed off on 35mins for Gymnastic after teammate sent-off (0-0). Spain La Liga 2 - RCD Mallorca 1-0 Cadiz CF - Pervis Estupinan unused sub for Mallorca. (earlier game) Colombia Liga Aguila - La Equidad 1-1 D.I.Medellin - Jorge Segura played 90mins for Medellin.
Another goal for Randell Williams at Wycombe. He seems to be going well for them in League 1 https://twitter.com/wwfcofficial/status/1038429717051920385?s=19
Loan Lads Saturday 8th September Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier - Gambia 1-1 Algeria - Sulayman Marreh subbed off on 76mins for Gambia (1-1). England League 1 - Bristol Rovers 0-0 Plymouth Argyle - Alex Jakubiak unused sub for Bristol Rovers. England League 1 - Charlton Athletic 3-2 Wycombe Wanderers - Randell Williams subbed off on 63mins for Wycombe (1-1). Scored 1st goal. England League 1 - Sunderland 1-1 Fleetwood Town - Jerome Sinclair on as 51min sub for Sunderland (1-1). Spain Segunda Division B, Group 3 - CF Badalona 0-0 CD Teruel - Juan Camilo Becerra on as 63mins sub for Teruel. Spain Segunda Division B, Group 3 - Hercules CF 1-0 Espanyol B - Jaime Alvarado Hoyos on as 90mins sub for Hercules (1-0).
Loan Lads Sunday 9th September - early games. Spain Segunda Division B, Group 2 - SCD Durango 1-4 CD Mirandes - Matheus Aias on as 61mins sub for Mirandes (1-4). Spain Segunda Division B, Group 3 - SD Ejea 2-1 CD Atletico Baleares - Matheus Santana unused sub for Ejea. Spain Segunda Division B, Group 4 -CF Villanovense 0-0 UD Ibiza - Kingsley Fobi on as 82mins sub for Ibiza.
Dodi Lukebakio An assist for the 1st goal (corner taker) & scored the 3rd goal for Belgium u21's against Malta u21's on Friday 7th September. Randell Williams Scored the first Wycombe Wanderers goal against Charlton Athletic on Saturday 8th September.
Loan Lads Sunday 9th September - evening games. Colombia Liga Aguila - Envigado FC 2-1 Patriotas Boyaca - Eduardo Montenegro not in match day squad for Envigado. Colombia Liga Aguila - D.I.Medellin 1-1 Leones FC - Jorge Segura played 90mins for Medellin. Spain Segunda Division B, Group 3 - CE Sabadell 0-1 FC Barcelona B - Williams Velasquez not in match day squad for Sabadell.
Alas, no. I'll never match SLB's excellent round-ups from last season but if it's list form data you're after...
Loan Lads Tuesday 11th September. England Central League - Forest Green Rovers Reserves 1-3 Bristol Rovers Reserves - Alex Jakubiak subbed of on 62mins for Bristol Rovers, (0-3). Scored 2nd goal. Belgium UEFA Euro U21 Qualifier - Hungary u21 0-3 Belgium u21 - Dodi Lukebakio subbed off on 83mins for Belgium, (0-2). Spain Copa del Rey - RCD Mallorca 1-0 Royal Oviedo - Pervis Estupinan played 90mins for Mallorca. Alex Jakubiak text commentary mentions for Bristol Rovers Reserves (development squad) versus Forest Green Rovers Reserves, earlier today. 02' - Early chance for Cameron Hargreaves to feed the ball to Alex Jakubiak inside the area - but the cross is claimed by the FGR 'keeper. (at 0-0) 28' - An interception by Alex Jakubiak sets up a break for Rovers, but the striker is halted by Laird, who recovers to make a tackle. (at 0-1) 39' - Swift turn by Alex Jakubiak clears a sight to goal for the striker - who hits a powerful right-footed shot that is deflected wide. (at 0-1) 48' - A fine goal for Alex Jakubiak, as the striker goes on a winding run into the area and keeps his composure to finish low into the bottom corner. (goal for 0-2) 58' - Alex Jakubiak draws in his man and is patient in picking out the run of Joe Martin, as the left-back breaks forward and earns Rovers a corner. (at 0-3) 62' - Alex Jakubiak off, Cameron Ebbutt on. (at 0-3)
I've just noticed my spelling mistake - Jakubiak was subbed off on 62mins... I believe he's played an hour today to get minutes in his legs as, for now, he's generally started on the bench for their 1st XI. It's a long season though and hopefully he'll do well when called upon. Who knows, maybe he'll tear L*t*n apart on Saturday if he gets the chance! He may not make the step up while WFC are in the Premier League but if he can make an impact during the season over in Bristol then good luck to him. He's not long turned 22 so there's plenty of time for him to carve out a decent career for himself.
Ox, how many are we loaning out this season? And how many are in with a chance of playing for us (as mid table Prem)?
The first part I can answer. I'm not 100% certain it's the correct answer but at least I can offer forward a number. I'm currently tracking (stalking seems such a harsh term) 22 players who I believe are loaned out by Watford. There may be others who've slipped under a collective radar of bespectacled keyboard fiends, but if they're out there they'll be found. It's a case of constantly checking randomly like some weird Anti-Doping Official gone rogue, together with a number of tried and tested news outlets. It sounds dull and it is at times but it occupies moments that could be spent less productively. The second question is impossible to answer really because I don't sit and watch these people play. I actually watch very few games these days as football in general bores me. The modern game seems less about playing with freedom and skill but more about match management through gaining set-pieces and a pragmatic use of data sets to nullify and stifle the opposition. But that's off topic and doesn't help in answering your question in any way, shape or form. It may be easier to highlight some of those who are out on loan where it seems highly improbable they'll ever pull on a yellow shirt rather than those who might. Valber Huerta Jerez is a case in point. 25 years old and playing for Huachipato FC in his native Chile. He's only ever played 15 games outside of his homeland and they were 4 years ago for Granada B. He's not a Chilean international and has only represented them at under-20 level in 2013. A work permit would never be attained if he was ever considered good enough. Dimitri Foulquier is another. 25 years old, French and a right back. No need for a work permit, his pedigree is good and currently spends his weekends in La Liga but there would have to be a major cull at the club in his preferred position for him to be anywhere near the squad. Obbie Oulare recently joined Standard Liege in Belgium with an 'option to buy' clause. Presumably this is reliant on his fitness as much as his ability. Either way it looks doubtful he'll play for WFC again. Not including Tommie Hoban or Daniel Bachmann, the rest are aged between 19 and 22 years of age. Two of those have gone back to Colombia after brief forays into Europe last season so it's not looking promising for them. They are Jorge Segura Porto and Eduardo Antonio Montenegro Zuniga and I believe with the latter, Envigado FC have an 'option to buy' in their loan conditions. That leaves 15 others who are in Europe with 11 of those needing to fulfil work permit conditions to even train at London Colney. Of those 15 I'd say the only player earning enough accolades to be considered good enough to come to Vicarage Road would be 'Cucho' Hernandez at La Liga first timers SD Huesca. It's been mooted Watford want him in the Premier League for at least one season to maximise his sale value but it wouldn't surprise me if he were sold to Barcelona in a cash + player deal before that ever happens. Recent reports concerning the Catalan side are saying there's now a shift in their transfer policy with big money buys becoming rare due to financial restraints. Looking to buy younger (and cheaper) players seems to be the way both Bar*a and Real Madrid will look to change their squads in the coming seasons. So in brief, I personally don't expect to see a single one of these players at Watford Football Club as it stands! But this is what does interest me about football these days, player development. And with so many still to reach their 23rd birthday, a breakthrough season for any of them in the next couple of years could see a move over here a distinct possibility.
Characteristically rigorous & balanced. Unusual traits on this forum. Have WFC become too good to benefit from an academy & pool of prospects? You do wonder if an academy lad will ever break through for us. Either they are more Champo/League 1 level or they will be sucked away (a la Sancho). Likewise, how many Chilean frogs will the Pozzos now have to kiss to find the next Sanchez prince?
Judging from Udinese's experience, there will be many, many frogs and just a few princes (or counts or dukes). The scouts already have a difficult job in trying to spot the good ones between the 16-18YO. Even harder now that competition is increased a lot. But a promising one at 16-18YO very very often becomes a disappointment 4-7 years later. Not many have the "right mind" as Sanchez. One should have a team of psychologists flanking the scouts and dispensing questionnaires to interesting prospects, to understand if they will probably become exemplary professionals or will waste themselves after the first glimpses of money and glory. But I guess that's not very easy to do.
Very true. Probably the most succesful product of the Watford academy is Ashley Young. The club almost let him go at 16 years, but at the last minute they decided to give him a 1 year contract , (but without pay) t give him anther chance. The deciding factor that swung it was because he had a very strong and supportive family ...which is a huge factor in a players development.
Loan Lads Wednesday 12th September. Spain Friendly - AD Almudévar 1-0 SD Ejea - Matheus Santana named as sub for Ejea. No details available yet. Spain Copa del Rey - Córdober CF 2-0 Gimn*stic de Tarragona - Luis Javier Suarez on as 65mins sub for Gimn*stic. Booked on 86mins.
Alex Jakubiak Scored the second Bristol Rovers Reserves goal against Forest Green Rovers Reserves on Tuesday 11th September. (Helpful hint #1 - make the video full screen otherwise it's just random pixels moving about the opened window.) https://twitter.com/Official_BRFC/status/1040181334403100672
This may free up some time to enable me to finally get a haircut. FIFA considering limiting the number of loans leaving a single club. http://www.marca.com/en/football/international-football/2018/04/10/5accdff2ca4741a4578b4611.html
Loan Lads Friday 14th September. France Ligue 2 - ES Troyes AC 2-0 Chamois Niortais FC - Mamadou Mbaye not in Troyes match day squad. Spain La Liga - SD Huesca 0-1 Rayo Vallecano - Cucho Hernandez on as 57mins sub for Huesca, (0-1).
Loan Lads Saturday 15th September. Belgium Jupiler Pro League - Waasland-Beveren 0-0 KAS Eupen - Sulayman Marreh played 90mins for Eupen. Belgium Jupiler Pro League - Royal Standard Liege 0-0 Royal Charleroi SC - Obbie Oulare not in S.Liege match day squad. Injured. England League 1 - Luton Town FC 1-0 Bristol Rovers FC - Alex Jakubiak on as 72mins sub for Rovers, (1-0). England League 1 - Burton Albion FC 2-1 Sunderland AFC - Jerome Sinclair played 90mins for Sunderland. England League 1 - Wycombe Wanderers FC 0-0 Oxford United FC - Randell Williams subbed off on 83mins for Wycombe. Germany Bundesliga - Fortuna Dusseldorf 2-1 TSG 1899 Hoffenheim - Dodi Lukebakio on as 67mins sub for Dusseldorf, (1-0). Won penalty on 87mins, (1-1). Scored penalty, (2-1). Scotland Premiership - St. Johnstone FC 1-1 Aberdeen FC - Tommie Hoban not in Aberdeen match day squad. Injured. Scotland Premiership - Hibernian FC 3-2 Kilmarnock FC - Daniel Bachmann named as sub for Kilmarnock. Spain La Liga 2 - Club Gimn*stic de Tarragona 1-0 CA Osasuna - Luis Javier Suarez subbed off on 71mins for Gimnastic, (0-0). Half a transfer scoop - Ghanaian midfielder Kwasi Sibo, bought from Banants Yerevan in the latest transfer window, has said he'll be going out on loan in Portugal. No indication (yet) as to who with though - well I did tell you it was only half a transfer scoop!
Dodi Lukebakio Dodi managed to hit the bar from 30 centimeters and the Dusseldorf twitter account captures the moment in all its miserable glory. The Watford loanee redeemed himself five minutes later though...
That's why I put the tweets up! 1. That must've been some miss! and 2. To have the balls to take the penalty after missing from such a distance! Shows a good level of self-belief.
