Ryan Cassidy is apparently attracting interest both from clubs wanting to sign him permanently and from League 1 and 2 clubs looking to take him on loan. There's also a Dutch club offering to take him for a season, which is our favoured option. With 18 months left on his contract we don't want to loan him until an extension is sorted - but then the article says no contract talks have taken place. https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/host-english-clubs-interested-signing-13839271
Only a year left on his contract. I'm sure we'll offer him a new deal and probably have done so already. It's up to him whether he signs it. If not, good luck to him, but hopefully he sees his immediate future at Watford.
He means scoring for one of Man U/MC/L/THFC/Chelsea at the Vic though. And then cupping his ear to us fans. He's dead to me.
That was the nickname of Oxford United's Nigel Cassidy back in the 70's. I have a very vague recollection of him kicking the ball out of Mickey Walker's hands and scoring their second goal in a 2-1 defeat.
I hope we get this kid on a long contract soon as he looks like he might be knocking on the door of the 1st team sooner rather than later.
He would really need to improve his first touch in open play when receiving the ball with a defender closely marking him. Both he & Folivi aren't able to make the ball stick often enough right now. Cassidy isn't able to run past players through pace, is weak in open play in the air & is usually pulled up by the ref for dissent/mouthing off. He does draw defenders away to create space for others. He does read the game well and makes excellent runs off the ball which aren't seen enough by teammates (you'd hope 1st XI players would pick him out). He appears tireless but his shooting isn't clean off the floor though he does hit the target more often than not. He's a fighter and an excellent team player. The amazing thing I've noticed this season is how often the ball falls for Folivi in the area but not Cassidy yet I'd say it's the Irishman who has better positional sense overall. What I'd like to see is an U23 game without Folivi to see if Cassidy is more effective in receiving chances to score. So far I've yet to see the pairing split. (With regards to Folivi and something I said on his thread recently, that he's not very good with one on ones; he missed another today as well as hitting a soft penalty straight at the keeper. A very frustrating part of his game though his movement was very good today and Sarll barely barked instructions at him at all). Out of the two I'd say Folivi is closer to a call up if I really had to chose between them. I just don't think either are ready right now. edit; Cassidy will be 18 on March 2nd and despite me not having a glowing opinion overall of him, it's obvious he's a very good forward. I just think him bursting on the scene the way he did last season has given false hope of a teenage starlet knocking on the 1st XI door. He's very much a work in progress and if he does sign a new contract it's possible a loan next season will be the next step. Physically he's really grown and now looks like a strong young man who could stand up to the rigours of competitive football.
He actually gives a very balanced view of our youngsters, suggest you block him if you have a problem!
I take offence at being called weird!! However, the stalker bit... maaaaybe. I've been going to the home U23 games this season and it's easy to get talking to people who are connected to the club, players or whatever. No, I don't work for WFC.
Oxhey67, I don't blame you for taking offence, however don't let what one poster has said stop you, I am sure that myself and others learn a lot from your postings! keep up the good work!
I'm not really offended, just making light that I'd take offence at being called weird but not a stalker. It's all good.
Cormac Byrne @CMacByrne Ryan Cassidy likely to leave Watford in the coming days. Several Premier League clubs interested in securing the young strikers signature. The 18-year-old scored 49 goals during his two seasons with the Hornets. Cormac Byrne is a reporter for the Irish Mirror and has a blue tick, so it seems like a genuine story to me. Gutted by this, if true. I always had big hopes for Cassidy. We really should have integrated him into the first team before now.
Asked why Byrne replied in another tweet; First team opportunities are seemingly a little hard to come by for youth players at Watford at the moment. A shame as Cassidy showed early promise and certainly knows where the goal is. I just hope the lack of news regarding Jayden Bennetts and especially Daniel Phillips signing the pro deals they were offered doesn't mean they're leaving too.
So why not go out on loan ? If he's looking for first team football he won't get that by joining a bigger club on more pay ! If we loan him out we can send him to the right club and move him if he's not getting games. He moves to the wrong club and sits in their reserves he's stuck there..... makes no sense to me as a reason to want to leave...
Guess he won't sign so we are looking to dispose of him now, probably for very little but a healthy sell on clause ??
He only turned 18 this year and we're a Premier League club. Of course opportunities will be limited. Not many PL clubs go around handing out debuts to players who haven't played a single minute of senior football, can't see why we'd be any different unless we were really struggling (or really dominant as we could then afford to give players chances if we're 5-0 up!).