Still recovering from yesterday tbh, 80 minutes of turgid football followed by too many pigs in blankets and Bailey's. But nice to see all the family. How's yours?
And Duxbury's lie was...? Or have you now realised it was an article, not a direct quote? I would love it if the system was how it used to be, and it was worth the effort/money to commit to our academy, and enjoy the rewards whilst also competing at the level we've been at for the last decade. Sadly, that's not how it works anymore. As I said, if we fall to Millwall's level, we'll probably see some O'Nien's/Hungbo's given a more prolonged chance, and some will probably develop to decent Championship players.
I didn’t think it was a direct quote but it can’t have been far off what was as it’s clearly what is suggested (based on the journalist and those who attended the meeting suggested) and as you’ve described, they’ve included academy players this season who aren’t apparently good enough. Incompetence leading from attempting to placate. I think it could still work in a way that works but it would now take 10 years to get it to a decent level and the ROI isn’t comparable to casting a net over Brazil and selling at a decent profit every 5 years. So you’re definitely right, it certainly doesn’t work like that - for us - anymore. For now.
We've (Millwall) been rubbish with our academy over the last 10 years as well. Any decent youngster with with reputation has been swept up by Chelsea/Man city/Liverpool and most recently Rangers... when they are 15/16 years old.... I used the adjective lucky just to show that Billy Mitchell came out of nowhere. He started off as nothing special, but the last 12 months at only 21 years old is always having a positive impact on the match. Some of his passing yesterday was great as well, he was instrumental against Preston in our 4-2 away win. I don't see the academy as a long term strategy as we lost Zak Lovelace last August to Rangers for peanuts. Any good youngster goes to a top Prem club and the compensation isn't worth the investment. I think signing players like Zian Flemming (aka Brentford strategy) is the way forward for clubs like ourselves. Signing foreign youngsters cheaper before selling them onwards for a hefty profit to reinvest. I expect us to sell him next year for £10million +, already 10 goals, missed first 6 games of season, not an out and out striker, doesn't take penalties . What I badly explained in my original post, we are a decent team this year, any team that finishes above us will more than likely be in the top 6. We battered Sunderland away in first half but couldn't find the opener... we could have been 3 nil up in the first half there. Amad Diallo (on loan from Man United) came out second half and turned it around. 3-0 massively flattered them. He's probably one of the best players in the league right now. (Amad Diallo). Good luck for the rest of the season. I imagine when you're players aren't so hungover from Xmas, that they will click and pick up enough wins over the course of the season to finish around the playoffs if not inside them.
That's what I said to the family members who angrily confronted me when they discovered they were all gone
When it's impossible to stop all your best prospects getting nicked for peanuts there is no clear route to making it work and no way you can estimate achieving any kind of return on investment whatsoever. The club could easily pump millions more in to the academy for exactly the same non result as now.
I meant he went complaining to Gino’s father to get his job back like a child might complain to their mum to get their way - well that was the allegation. Then Pozzo Snr told Gino to give CG his job back.
Ours (Millwall) also get snatched up too… SE London is a huge conveyer belt of talent. Indeed, Liverpool and Manchester City have hoovered up a few of ours in recent years. In fact, we made a nice profit from the transfer of Samuel Edozie from City to Southampton in the summer. And people forget that Rio Ferdinand was poached from us by West Ham. Anyways, we do manage to keep hold of the youth players that do not shine quite as bright as the ones harvested by City, Liverpool etc. and give them their opportunities to become first team players. I believe that being able to bring through the likes of Tony Craig, Alan Dunne and now Billy Mitchell and Danny McNamara has really benefitted the club. Three of those are from Millwall supporting families and you can really see that in their performances. All of them give every last bit of blood, sweat and tears for the club and you can’t buy that sort of thing. I think having those kind of homegrown players in the team has helped Millwall punch above their weight in the expensive foreign/spoilt ex big club academy player mercenary era. Imo
Yes that is true but it’s a shame we literally have none who can fill the bench in an injury crisis apart from Morris and Hungbo and they aren’t really from our youth system . I accept and the club will do as well that it’s not like the past when you could throw someone in for a game as our expectations are different now and as you say anyone with potential is snapped up ASAP. I am not sure a young player would be given a chance to settle in by manager or fans these days either .
I mentioned this above - pretty much our only hope of bringing a player through is if one of our better prospects happens to also be a Watford fan. Otherwise they have little reason not to jump to Spurs/Arsenal etc. It'll be the same with you and all the other London clubs on your doorstep, hence it's no surprise whatsoever that of the few players you've brought through they're mostly also Millwall fans (because if they were any good and not Millwall fans they'd also have not stuck around).
I completely understand & agree with this, an unfortunate side effect of the desire for instant success or a return to the “promised land”. However, once the gems have been picked off by the big boys, to then have absolutely nothing left whatsoever in terms of ability just seems negligible to me. I’m no academy system expert but surely there’s something in between those being nabbed and those destined for obscurity?!
Even at an academy like Spurs you might only get 1 player per year group good enough to play to some degree in their first team, then maybe 1 or 2 at lower PL/upper Champ level. And if anything that's being generous. So even in Spurs' academy the vast majority of players each year are unlikely to even be good enough for a club like Watford's first team - so they'll always have room to nick anyone who seems like they might have a chance of making it to that level. 70% of players at Category One academies are never even handed a professional contract - whether at a PL or even a lower Football League club. So for a club like Watford to find and keep a player good enough for its first team who Spurs/Arsenal whoever else haven't been able to make room for in their own academy, just isn't likely. As I mentioned before, they'd probably have to be Watford fans, or perhaps have a completely unexpected rapid improvement in their level of ability at around 17-18 after Watford have already been able to offer first pro terms. https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/...y-players-figures-appearances-numbers-1387302
Bleh. Some further thoughts following the game. I do have to sympathise with Bilic's personnel selection problems even if the attitude was still unacceptable. Our current injury list is Hause (Who?), Cleverley, Gosling, Louza, Kayembe, Choudhury, Pedro and Manaj (oh no). Of these, Louza, Choudhury and Pedro were completely unpreventable contact injuries whilst Cleverley and Gosling seemed to be a case of bad luck as well. Manaj seemed to be a risk that failed. Our best line-up would involve Pedro, Louza and Choudhury at least but missing almost every central midfield option would make any manager's life incredibly hard and just highlights the neglect of the academy to produce any players of remote standard. A fit Hause I would wager also gets into the starting XI. It does not forgive the attitude displayed. But it does absolve some of the disjointed link-up play.
I agree up to a point. What nobody can explain is the catalogue of misplaced passes,step forward Ngakia,that found a blue shirt or touch. As we play "walking football" to borrow ETG's phrase,most if not all of these are unforgivable. Our failure to adhere to basics,from scouting and recruiting clearly unfit/injured players to being able to control a sphere are longer than the Maastricht Treaty and no area of the club is untainted.
Don't think it's any coincidence that the ones from our academy that have carved out decent careers were those that seemed more mature and articulate at a young age (e.g. Hoban, O'Nien, Byers). Strongly suspect that they all responded better to coaching and were able to remain grounded and keep working hard realising they hadn't yet made it. Perhaps the way forward might be to keep more of this type of player as they are more likely to flourish later and improve?
Spot on and both out for very lengthy periods, Pedro may miss a large chunk of the remaining games especially given our medical teams pedigree.
Haven’t seen the Davis potential penalty again but not many really appealed and given he didn’t get one last week either maybe like Sarr has a reputation for going down easily ? Ofcourse if we think the refs are against us (Pedro will be targeted unfortunately- particularly if he has a prior injury) then we don’t need players giving them any opportunity to send someone off .. https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/23215271.bilic-brands-kamara-reckless-unhappy-decisions/
Having played over half the season it’s frustrating that we still have a squad lacking in depth. There is an abundance of cheap talent available in the championship and instead of utilising this, the recruitment would rather waste their time on foreign misfits, injury risks and journey men. Add to this the priority to bring in youth from South America that is not going to help the team in the present fight and may or may not become a success. Someone mentioned Jake cooper and he is someone who I have been a fan of since his Reading days. A decent championship defender will not cost millions & millions but the utter ignorance we have shown this area of our squad for a decade is shocking. Cathcart and Kabasele started at Millwall… let that sink in for a minute
What does Bilic gain by saying it? No point burning bridges with Villa over it. Especially if we perhaps still have an eye on Cameron Archer. And the loan is very, very likely to get cancelled in early-January (if allowed).
Is this a new Christmas cocktail? Is it blended or do you garnish the glass with said pig in blanket?