Interesting that we’re offering extensions to players who’ve been playing non-league, but Phillips who’s spent a year in League One is being released.
No point holding onto Maurizio after the "Come and manage us, or we'll release your son" threat to Poch failed.
I thought Phillips could've potentially provided a bit of squad depth this season as he offers something a bit different to our current midfield.
That's some clear out. But if they're not pushing towards the first team what's the point of keeping them. Hopefully we see the same in the so called 25 man squad.
We currently have 12 scholars (inc. 2x keepers) who'll be in their 2nd year next season (17/18yrs old), some of whom became semi regular for the u23s this season. Add to that the 2nd year scholars getting new deals (Andrews, Manning, Forde & Hunter) plus George Abbott (already on a pro deal), Scott Holding, maybe even James Morris still, probably several more new faces and the squad fills out with a younger, fresher look. Important to note 12x u16s have also been offered scholarships so the u18s is looking full if we add one or two more from outside of that group also. So yes, a bit of a cull but by and large the numbers are there with a fresh batch to prove their worth.
In fairness, those who have been playing in non-league have a few years on Phillips, who for all we know might have rejected terms?
An edit to my previous post; It could be we'll now have 14 scholars (inc. 2x keepers) entering their 2nd year as I hadn't included defenders Hamzat Balogun or Christos Batzelis whose scholar/contract status I'm not 100% sure of.
Good insight. And lets face it, as harsh as it sounds, none of these players released were suddenly going to break through. I hope the club support them in finding deals elsewhere or the difficulty of leaving football at that age - but there's also no reason for us to be keeping them given we don't play our kids and they aren't of the standard required (and haven't been for a long while). Best to start afresh with a new plan (I say in hope more than expectation.)
Apart from possibly Dan Phillips (who after all was hardly an automatic pick for one of the worst teams in League 1 when not injured/suspended) I'm not one bit surprised at the rest of this batch being released. I get the symbolism of blooding youths, but the last youth product who ever played anything more than a bit part role was who?
Professional contract for this lad . Any good ? https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/20176336.watford-hand-professional-deal-ryan-andrews/
For what it's worth, my opinion on Andrews. On a very small sample size of games he did stand out as one of the better players. Not bad going for a right-back. I wouldn't say he was exceptionally quick but neither do I remember him being outpaced by anyone, either with the ball at their feet or in a foot race when a pass was played in behind. Still only 17yrs old (18 in August) and with what seemed like good strength. I don't remember him being pushed off the ball easily which isn't bad going in the u23s against potentially older, stronger players. Neither can I remember him being brushed aside when a player was trying to take him on. His positioning in open play was excellent. That sounds a bit dull but I was taken aback as to how often he intercepted passes meant for the opposition player on his side. Not just blocking but either taking a touch and laying it off or carrying the ball forward. But neither was he beaten or having to recover his position when the ball was played long on his side, he seemed to have that covered too. His passing was good without being exceptional. I can't remember any crosses of note. He is capable of beating a man on both sides. Not by any fancy footwork but generally by wrong footing the opposition with the timing of his movement. When cutting inside his passing was then limited as he seemed very right footed. Possibly the most obvious weak point was his hesitation in attacking the penalty area when the ball was wide on the opposite side. On more than one occasion he was some yards off the ball coming across the area when being braver in attacking the far post, as it were, could have seen him have a chance on goal. If I had to liken him to a full-back I've seen I would say he looks like a very raw Gary Neville. Not flamboyant or particularly exciting on the ball or someone who goes flying down the wing but he's got the basics to be a good defender who can break up attacks and move the team forward by either a simple pass or carrying the ball. If he can learn to cross the ball like Neville any time soon then even better. Overall, for a 17 year old playing in the u23s he looks a very good prospect.
I am not up at all on young players or the academy system, but is it a rational strategy to weed out your own academy hard at 15/16 and recruit to build a competitive u23 squad. Rather than investing in a bigger academy? It seems every time you get a stand out youngster they want to go to a bigger cub anyway rather than plan a career that sees them break into our first team.
I've tweeted the person who posted the 'Watford u14s/u15s' tournament information posted above but they couldn't (wouldn't?) tell me what the competition was, only that it was in France. It bugged me. He even posted Watford had taken a strong PSG academy side all the way in the semi-final only to lose on penalties. https://twitter.com/Academyballers3/status/1533476509968650243?s=20&t=NL-P0ujD-sitXD04NJzKEQ I tried a google image trace but the picture wasn't picked up. It really bugged me now. Anyway, I've managed to track down the tournament and it was a 10-team affair (PSG not even there!!) held by US Camon. Camon is a community in/of the Somme in the northern region of Hauts-de-France. Here are the Watford results; Group Stage vs. Étoile De Matoury (French Guiana) (W) 2-0 vs. US Boulogne CO (France) (W) 1-0 vs. CS Universitatea Craiova (Rom*nia) (W) 6-0 vs. Amiens SC (France) (W) 1-0 Semi-Final vs. AS Nancy Lorraine (L) no result posted! - It could be this is the game lost on penalties. AS Nancy Lorraine won the competition, beating US Boulogne CO in the final. There may have been a 3rd/4th place play-off between Watford and Amiens as US Camon have posted Amiens finishing 3rd and Watford 4th. Other final positions; 5th US Quevilly-Rouen Métropole (France) 6th Sporting Club Abbevillois Côte Picarde (France) 7th US Camon (France & hosts) 8th GKS Gwarek Ornontowice (Poland) 9th CS Universitatea Craiova (Rom*nia) 10th Étoile De Matoury (French Guiana)
Yes. Truly excited to see which prem teams they end up playing for. Could be just as satisfying and proud as watching Sancho turn out for England and Man Utd.
Adam Leventhal 3m New • @TheAthleticUK Ex-#WatfordFC defender Josh O’Brien in advanced talks to join Salford City. Understand 1 year deal with option being finalised.
I wonder if he is the younger brother of Anthony who also played for the u23s a decade ago before buggering off to Tottenham aged sixteen and the brother of Andria who joined the Golden Girls recently. UAE can sod off. There are some talented kids in that age group but no doubt we will lose them to the vultures as with the last six departures.
