Honestly, what is the point of us having an academy when the actual decent players just get knicked by the big clubs? It's a joke.
I look forward to us receiving those sweet, sweet solidarity payments when he moves for over £100m in 5 years' time then
This would be happening time and again over the years and across the various age groups, but usually we wouldn't even hear about it. We just end up with the Arsenal rejects once they hit 17/18/19 or so.
The way to fix this is simple. 1) Pay the "losing club" a sum each year equal to 15% of his wages for as long as he's with the new club or 10 years, whichever comes first. 2) Mandate a 50% sell-on fee for the first move away from the new club and a 25% sell-on fee for the next move. That way you don't restrict a young player from moving somewhere (they have rights too) but you provide valid compensation for clubs whose assets are pillaged.
All our decent academy prospects (e.g. Sancho) get nicked. We've produced next to nothing for the first team in years. Meanwhile, if we wait patiently we get to sign the likes of Ngakia and Dele-Bashiru for sod all. I know which route seems to be working better for us.
Hugely envious of Brentford's B team system, identifies some cracking talents just like the Pozzo system, but offers a clear pathway to the first team. Obviously a very different dynamic to him being nabbed by a big club, but it'll be interesting to see how former Watford youngster Lewis Gordon does in their system, must have something about him if they rated him
Agreed. One of Man Citeh's big wigs has been spouting nonsense about how they should allow B teams to enter the EFL. Akin to Spain. That would be the death knell of the domestic game in this country. The sooner the 'big' teams **** off to a European Super League the better.
The current system is a joke. We need to can the academy ASAP. Pointless if any first team prospects are just whisked away for next to nothing. Hope this kid is on the scrap heap in 3 years time.
Yes. The Brentford B team approach is working and is costing them only slightly over half of what they were paying on their academy. We really should move to that approach. It makes far more sense and gives the players a clear route to the first team.
Well, based on my understanding that Watford is a category 3 club and this lad sat within the U12 - U16 age group, we'll get a whopping £12,500. Pisstake. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41839083
We’re Cat 2. We toyed with it for 5 minutes when Andy Scott came here but it seemed to wither on the vine: https://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/sport/watford-overhaul-academy-structure-create-1141683
I thought we were Category 2 as we play in the Professional Development League? Still only £25k compensation though so probably best cancel the deluxe Christmas office party option.
Makes you laugh don’t it. Obviously it’s a closed shop etc, but in the most capitalist of countries, the US, the worst team in the NFL gets to pick the best college player, to keep the league competitive. Whereas in the premier league the big clubs get to hoover up all the young talent at the smaller clubs expense. We need a rule whereby they can’t leave their academy club until they’re 23 or something like that. It would give the smaller clubs the benefit of their talent for a period of time whilst giving them the opportunity to sell them on for a more deserving amount.
I expect to see a tweet tomorrow morning from our head of academy confirming this news that reads "We go again".
Yep. If all clubs closed their academies, then they could have B teams that offered a pathway to the first team, could also be used to get playing time for those out of form/on the way back for injuries etc. They could even play in a league so it was competitive. They could call it The Football Combination League or something like that. Incidentally, it appears we might still be the reigning champions of the East Division of the Football Combination League, after it folded after our stellar season in 2009-10. Bring back reserve team football!
The most remarkable thing is that we held on to Sancho for so long really. I could never understand why he was at Watford in the first place from such a young age - I thought he was from South London, and was also best mates with Callum Hudson-Odoi who was with Chelsea from an early age. I don't know why he wasn't also at Chelsea with him given how highly rated he's always been and the two hung out and played football together all the time.
I read a brief interview with him recently where he admitted having an appalling attitude when younger. It continued into his time at the Harefield Academy where it was finally pointed out he either buck up his ideas or we'd dump him both academically and from the football side too. He cited the incident as a major turning point for his career as the warning struck a chord and he started to knuckle down. Maybe other clubs weren't willing to take on such a disruptive influence?
Reading the BBC article and based on the lad from Derby’s academy being valued at £120k as he had been there 3 years would suggest we would get at least £75k from Arsenal plus maybe something for his time in the lower age categories as well. Granted it is not a lot and probably barely covers our investment we have made and shows how far football is removed from reality these days
The draft pick thing is a farce as teams who under perform fight it out to finish last to get that first pick. Especially when a young player that’s coming through is special. Also the wage limit plays a part. Clubs also get to trade their picks when doing transfers. I believe the main reason is to have players going to less inviting places to play, as it’s such a massive land mass for example the nhl if you had a choice to live and play in Florida California or Manitoba I know where I’d go. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
https://twitter.com/ground_guru/status/1313944867983290369?s=20 In this article, Man City's Chief Exec argues for B team's on the basis that their best talent is stolen by German clubs. Someone in the comments rightly points out that those three players that were 'stolen' from them were in turn stolen from Us, Cardiff and Reading respectively.
Of course trading goes on, but only if it’s beneficial to both parties. The bottom team might trade their first pick but for all of the other teams picks. Either way the reality is the brightest young talent from the college leagues are available to the worst performing teams, unless those teams feel it’s beneficial to trade that opportunity.
Not going to pretend I know all about it. But you can see why the bottom teams trade their picks. Obviously when nobody is that good to pick from or they have good options in positions these up and coming players play. I don’t think this would work in Europe But something needs to change Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
