I saw he is on the retained list - does that mean his deal doesn't expire this summer? Agreed that it is an odd move.
I'm probably wrong here but I think I've somewhere before if they've been offered a new contract (but don't sign it) then they stay on the retained list even though their deal is technically expiring (as they're not being released per se)
Weird. Whenever a poster says something like this on here they might as well just quit pretending to support the club at the same time and go elsewhere.
Dunno what their youth system is like, but you'd think he'd have a relatively clear path to the first team, clearer than if he'd joined a big club. I also don't suppose he's leaving for the money now!
Yeah, in terms of career it's probably a good step. As you said, easy path to the first team, defences are poor so chances are he'll be able to score easily enough and after a good season or 2 then English teams will be back in for him for their first team.
Odd at first glance, but makes a lot of sense. Agree that given his interest, one of the better clubs for his development and will have English clubs go back for him later. He would be for their first team. Not U23's. Otherwise he'd have gone to a PL Side
Now official FC Utrecht Here we go! Welcome to your new home, Adrian Blake! FC Utrecht on Twitter: " ! ✍️ Welcome to your new home, ! #fcutrecht #vanuithethart" / Twitter
Andrews has got nowhere near the potential of Blake. At the moment, few, if any Championship clubs, are going to be interested in Andrews.
Maybe shows he wasn’t just chasing the money as some might have expected . Probably get some good game time .
Good luck to the kid, we won't get much for him, but it's nice to know his intentions were pure. I wonder if we really did try to keep him, I wonder if giving him a bit more playing time would have persuaded him to stay...
What are you basing this on?! Andrews has done very well for an 18 year-old in his first few months playing Championship football. Andrews certainly at least has some "modicum of talent".
Not quite as we'll get a small sum for training compensation I think. Probably fair to say it won't be much, a few grand, maybe nudging into 6 figures.
I wouldn't know I've never really seen Blake play. If he was that good I'm sure he would of got more minutes. I believe it's pointless comparing Andrews and Blake because of the positions they play. The only obvious one is of which I replied to. They both came from the youth sides. Andrews showed committed displays and I was extremely happy to see potential there. Pace is needed of which Andrews has on the other hand it seems that Blake lacks this. In all honesty it doesn't matter because he seems to be off anyway.
I saw Blake play a couple of times last season. I wasn’t overly impressed with him. For me, Andrews is a far better prospect and has already broken into the first team. Blake has potential, but the biggest disappointment for me was he thought going to Utrecht would be a better career path for him. I know everything “Watford” is crap right now, but this is probably the best time a young player has ever had to break into the first team. We’re broke so we’re bound to use academy players more than we ever have since the Pozzo takeover. I’m not too fussed with him going, but good luck to him and I hope it turns out to be a good decision.
Andrews hit the ground running and certainly didn't look out of place in Men's football, he will be a lot more valuable to us next season than Blake who looked a bit rabbit in the headlights'ish when he played, thinking he could jinx around people which didn't really come off!
Best of luck to the lad. He has a promising future and turning down an extension for Watford just means he's sensible and wants to get out when he can to escape this circus. I hope he continues to improve his game and would not be against perhaps getting him back at some point if the chance came around.
Just been having a looking at who may be sticking around and who may be leaving from the academy. U21 Ryan Andrews has another year left on his deal, would be good to tie him down to a longer contract before the start of the season. Myles Roberts, George Abbott, Zak Fraser-Grante, Dawid Hamiga, and James Collins have been offered contracts for next season. Aidan Coyne, Scott Holding, Luigi Gaspar, Shaqai Forde all seem to still have contracts at least for another season. Damani Hunter, Adian Manning, JJ McKiernan, Jordan Fankwe, Max Delyfer, and Ezio Touray are all missing from the 'retained' list so can presume they've probably been released. (Could be surprised of course) U18 Tobi Adeyemo has already signed a pro-deal until 2026 so will definitely be staying and moving up to the U21's / First Team squad. Adrian Blake, Andres Aguilar, and Bogdan Marian are confirmed to be leaving so far from the second-year scholars. Unclear who else will be leaving / retained. You'd like to think that Jonathan Macauley and Jack Grieves will be offered contracts though. You'd think Alfie Marriott, Hamzat Balogun, and Charlie Davis could be decent shouts for contracts as well. First-year scholars will be moving onto their second years (notable names: Gabriel Ortelli, Josh Mullins, and Michael Adu-Poku)
Incorrect - in 2022 Andrews signed a 2 year deal with an option for a further year, which we would no doubt take up; so he still has 2 years left on his deal. https://www.watfordfc.com/teams/under-21/players/ryan-andrews
That’ll keep the special fictitious relationship with Arsenal alive for another couple of years. Might get another UCL training ground friendly out of them as well.
Anyone know if we had a kid called Laken Torres on trial? Seems he could of signed from Chesterfield.
The kid certainly knows where the back of the net is. Heard anything about the youngster from Hibs we were interested in?
Harry Amass joining Man Utd. Looking forward to seeing his 2 minute Europa League cameo in 3 years time.
Told we’re hoping to get a couple mil all in for Amass, add ons etc. Boy who went to Wolves was just under half a million.
