https://twitter.com/TryzubFootball/status/1658835157149679622 Apparently we're continuing our recent trend of signing up the sons of ex pros hoping one will come good.
Hopefully he'll say the world alight like Henry Wise (New York Red Bulls Reserves), Luigi Gaspar (does he even play much for our academy?), Maurizio Pochettino (Gimnastic, 3rd tier Spain) and Mitchell Bergkamp (Bromley)!
I like how the beginning and end of our "new special relationship" with Arsenal was signing their technical directors son.
Apparently the deal was we get nothing until he has played 38 games for us in a season in the Premier League.
Completely forgot Luigi Gaspar was a nepo baby. I then forgot who his dad was and for a second thought it was our spritely Kiko-replacement Mario. To be fair he's probably old enough.
Seems like this 'highly rated midfielder' (https://www.watfordfc.com/magazine/features/getting-to-know-andres-aguilar) in the club's youth setup is offski: http://sportwitness.co.uk/player-prepares-cut-ties-watford-says-offers-england-france-germany/ Hopefully the last one out the door turns off the lights.
What a pointless exercise this is. Someone will be along in a minute saying he should have been given chances in the first XI and that's why he's off.....
Not even worth a pro deal at our ****-show, seemingly. I wish him well at Girona, Brentford B, Kings Langley (loan), Kings Langley, Tring Athletic
We're letting him go: "his time there wasn’t enough to get a professional contract with the club" He was alrightish against Arsenal in the FA Youth Cup but ultimately isn't one of our top youth players.
Yeah but that omits the ‘it seems’ immediately before the bit you quoted, which strongly suggests that’s complete speculation by the SW article writer. Watford haven’t released their academy retained/released list yet (I don’t think). And the source article in Depor the translation of the interview with player himself is ambiguous as to whose choice it is, and doesn’t have the bit you quote in it. Not sure we can say for certain either way for now.
It was already widely publicised that we offered professional contracts to Blake and Amass - I don't know why the same wouldn't have also been the case with Aguilar had we bothered to do so.
Remember him as a young player in the Dyche /Malky era . https://twitter.com/watfordfocus/status/1662023997343580160/photo/1
Yes nice skillful player comfortable on the ball but a bit too lightweight. Went on to have a patchy career in the lower leagues.
Never heard of him but another youngster gone. https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1663559148875948034
Hope Wolves go **** up as a club. Now that their owners have pulled the plug on their finances. Ungrateful little so and so. Can't even stick with a parent club at his age.
Every one of our youth players that become England youth internationals get nicked. He actually has a highlights video on youtube. Seems a quick, very two-footed winger, for what it's worth: He gave a brief interview in February where he said the following: "You play for Watfords academy, how is that? -I’ve been at Watford since I was 8 years old and I am really enjoying my time here, it’s a good academy with great people." https://fotbollslivet.se/en/emilio-ballard-matthews-2/
It’s a ridiculous situation. As a big club why wouldn’t you just go and take any young internationals from smaller clubs if you are allowed to and they are effectively pretty much free? If it doesn’t work out you can probably sell them back to the likes of us in 3 or 4 years time. Horrible corrupt system designed by, and working for, the bigger clubs.
Yep and also the big clubs attach a premium to any youth product that doesn't make the cut, which would be enforced if it went to a compensation panel (see us agreeing to pay £4m for Jerome Sinclair who Liverpool poached from West Brom). It's perfect for them, take all the best youngsters from around the country for peanuts, keep the ones that do make it, sell the ones that aren't good enough for a few million.
Typical example of the bods incharge trying to fix a problem by attacking the symptoms and not the cause. They wouldn't make the rules like that to accept back handers of course.
Jonathan Macaulay and Adrian Blake have been called up by England U18’s for an international tournament. Macaulay was recently with Sweden U18’s and Jamaica have been talking to Blake so probably a case of England trying to tie them down. IF he stays, I can see Macaulay breaking into the first team within the next couple of seasons.
There were only 2 goalkeepers under the age of 21 who had any minutes in the Championship last season, and they played a grand total of 5 games between them. It's probably the most difficult position for a young player to establish themselves. Is Blake even still at the club?
Most contracts run until 30th June I believe. International recognition adds value to any compensation received as well (though I’m not sure what impact U18 level has)
I just noticed that James Debayo is also in the squad - an academy player who ditched us for Leeds a year ago.
I’d have thought Myles Roberts is pretty far ahead of him though. Think he was the outstanding keeper in the conference south last season. Will probably get a L1 or L2 loan next year.
