The Premier League - 2019/20

Think I read somewhere that they added centres out to the west within their 'catchment area' that veered into Cardiff territory which allowed them to nab Bale a few years back

 

I was wrong and you were 100% correct Smudger, Dyche was the driving force.

This is from October 2017;
https://trainingground.guru/articles/how-burnley-are-laying-foundations-for-the-future

 

Palace also have upgraded to Cat 1 as announced this morning. Makes you wonder why they've bothered considering their proximity to 'big' clubs.

 

Leeds still waiting to hear if they've been granted Cat.1 status.

In the depths of the Development League 2 which both Watford & Leeds are currently playing, albeit in different regions, Leeds have been a class above in terms of skill, technique and athleticism in the games I've seen them play. And they were only 2nd to Forest when lockdown came!

They don't seem to have a problem attracting decent players or in developing them despite not being Category 1.

For all the talk of location, being a 'big club' and whether it's financially viable, if you have excellent coaches, a long term plan which is adhered to and a clear pathway allowing players developed from whatever system the club has into the first team then attracting players shouldn't be a huge problem.

Watford may have a few clubs entrenched in the Premier League around us who have the highest graded academies but we are right next door to/being swallowed up by London which has many highly skilful youngsters looking for a club to join from a very young age. We should be able to attract excellent players because of our location, not despite it. Get the right coaches and get the best of the U23s in some of the match day squads and show these kids being at Watford gives you a chance.

 

Good post @The Recluse. The failing is in not having a coherent youth development strategy/pathway in place at Watford, not the decision to not pursue the Category 1 bauble at massive cost.

This data is a couple of years out of date but suggests being Category 1 is no guarantee of success:

https://trainingground.guru/articles/academy-productivity-rankings-2017/18

Stoke, Brighton and Derby all below us.

 

Are we still Cat.2? I think we are but I'm not 100% sure.

There was a definite shift in the way we were doing things two years ago when Andy Scott came to the club. U16s playing at U18 level, U18s at U23 and a newly formed B team would provide a supposed better class of opposition for the U23s, squad players and any others needing games. Did this ever materialise? They kept those B team matches quiet if it did!

https://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/sport/watford-overhaul-academy-structure-create-1141683

Andy Scott has of course left so does that mean there's been another change of direction in the way the club is developing the younger players?

Personally, I think the new loan rule (far more limited in players allowed to leave the club on loan I believe) has been one of the reasons why we picked up so many EPL cast-offs last season and no doubt will do so again when this season finishes. It provides players who probably aren't quite at the level to get into Chelsea's, Man Utd's or whoever's first team squad but gives them a season to prove themselves somewhere else. I don't mind this as long as the coaching further down the age groups at Watford is of such a high standard that we also integrate a number of our own U18s into the U23s when they no longer qualify for the younger squad.

Next season, if this is the way (basically speaking) the club are approaching the youth players, will be interesting because the likes of Hutchinson, Lo-Everton & McKiernan (not strictly developed by the club) will be among the first to reach the U23s this way and they have all been highlighted on the official site this week (along with Dante Baptiste).

So by trying to look at things positively, what appears to have been a lull in players ready to stake a claim in the match day squad may be because the emphasis has been placed on coaching further down the age groups. Perhaps a long term plan is in place and in the next 1, 2 or 3 years we will start to see the benefits of it.

I just hope the likes of Phillips, Cassidy, Barrett & Whelan (if he stays) and Joao Pedro get some opportunities next season whatever division we are in. Get one or two on the bench at least.

I'll now put the straws I'm clutching back down on the table.

 

Spam one down

 

West Ham have had some excellent chances, how they haven't scored is beyond me.

Burnley goal very simple looking but was made by excellent run on the blindside of WHU's left-back by Rodriguez. As Cresswell(?) swung an ungainly leg to clear the ball at shoulder height Rodriguez has moved across him to head home without jumping. Movement from a centre forward to head home without jumping is so more effective than a lump stood battling a centre-half and jumping lower than he already stands.

And Vydra does not look like a professional footballer. Looks out of condition, lacking any kind of touch and out of his depth. Just awful. Will no doubt score twice in the second half now.

 

Why have BT sport got a child doing commentary on Spam Burnley?

 

MV is not playing well tonight, but he has performed a lot better in the other Burnley games I've seen since the end of lock down. I was hoping he would be up for doing his old mates a favour tonight

 

Why does the commentator call a German Sebastian 'Hellaire'. Did he refer to Gerd Mullaire or Franz Beckenbauaire?

 

Dunno, but she doesn’t seem to understand the offside rule even for a blatant one.

 

The bloke is as bad. Brown hill is a 'Trojan Horse' apparently.

 

Now she’s droning on about contested drop balls, something that was abolished last summer.

 

Ian Darke used to be one of the best commentators. It seems everyone that goes to BT turns into some sort of joke version of themselves.

 

Because he's French, not German.

 

Jay Rodriguez. £10 million. Just saying.

 

My bad. But it's still not Hellaire. Hellay would be correct.

 

Vince Hellaire?

 

No, definitely Hellaire. I've come across a few Frenchmen from Alsace with German names.

 

In which case Heller. Or is it Arsene Wengaire?

 

Ooh err.

 

Purely in a professional context, you understand!

 

I'd think it is Wengaire, but we're so used to the anglisation.

 

Not if you've been French for several generations. My surname is French from a couple of centuries back, and we don't pronounce it in any way that a French person would recognise.

 

"Happy Bunniere" ?

 

Lapin heureux.

 

Wengeur it turns out.

 

However nothing beats Capou-ay.

 

Got it in one!