For anyone that needs a refresher, this kid was in our academy only 5 years ago and was linked with some of the biggest clubs in Europe. https://www.foxsports.com.au/breaki...d/news-story/e52ca3acda61b9808e26b44f0b330666 Saw online last night that since leaving Watford, he spent about a year and a half out of football before leaving the game completely. Sad really, for someone who apparently had so much talent. Perhaps he made some bad decisions or prehaps he just felt he didn't want to be a footballer. Who knows eh?
Free agent released by Panathinaikos. Barely played for them so unsurprising. Has failed to develop. League 1/2 fodder.
A new intake of scholars was announced today with the club commenting five of the nine are from Watford. Sadly they didn't indicate which five. https://twitter.com/WatfordFC/status/1283386080117612546?s=20 Each are on a 2-year scholarship. Six have been included in the Under-18 page on the official site but actual information is non-existent at the moment. Alfie Marriott ('keeper? - I'm 99.99% sure Alfie is a g/k)) Will Hall (defender? - I think he's a left-footed & tall centre-back) Adian Manning (midfielder?) https://www.watfordfc.com/teams/watford-under-18-under-18/players/adian-manning Damani Hunter (forward?) https://www.watfordfc.com/teams/watford-under-18-under-18/players/damani-hunter Enoch Muwonge (forward) https://www.watfordfc.com/teams/watford-under-18-under-18/players/enoch-muwonge Ryan Andrews (?) https://www.watfordfc.com/teams/watford-under-18-under-18/players/ryan-andrews Shaqai Forde (?) https://www.watfordfc.com/teams/watford-under-18-under-18/players/shaqai-forde Ben Smith (?) https://www.watfordfc.com/teams/watford-under-18-under-18/players/ben-smith Freddie Moriarty (?)
In my fantasy, he’s the son of Fabian Forde, sent to score the goals his father scored for my Watford team on an early version of Champ Man.
Very sad. Being tipped as such a talent along with fellow Aussie Zaneddeine, I wonder why they both failed to develop?
I see in the paper this morning that Ryan Cassidy has signed a new 2 year contract. https://www.the42.ie/ryan-cassidy-watford-contract-5155470-Jul2020/
He's been home in Dublin training since lock down, looks in great shape to be honest. He's back to the UK next week to get ready for preseason.. I thought he'd be looking for out as he was promised football this season but I suppose with how things went he's being realistic.
Yes when you put it like that it's the most sensible choice for the lad. Hopefully Deeney is right about him and he can kick on.
I do think he'll do well, what level he can reach and maintain is up to him. A little bit of good news is welcome this week
@The Recluse Question for you, as you seem an expert on the subject. Do you have any idea how many players we've released at youth level since 2012?
I've no idea is the honest answer. I wouldn't even know where to begin to look to find an answer either, sorry. (I'm no expert either, they're just opinions. I only really took an interest in the youth set-up two or three years ago when I started to go to home games regularly after becoming bored with first team football).
@GoingDown - Here is an updated and I think comprehensive list of youth & U18/U23 players released either at the end of their contracts, released to be able to join a club on a free transfer or released by mutual agreement. I haven't included those sold for a fee who were U23, U18 or academy scholars. I make it a total of 67 players. Please, anyone, feel free to point out mistakes or add player names because I'll be surprised if I managed to find everyone released at youth level since the Pozzo's have taken over. May 2012 Michael Bryan - released Chez Isaac - released August 2012 Gavin Massey - free transfer (Colchester United) February 2013 Matty Whichelow - released by mutual agreement June 2013 Kyle Connolly - released Jordon Wilmore - released Austin Eaton - released Kameron English - released June 2013 Jack Bonham - free transfer (Brentford) Piero Mingoia - released (joined Accrington Stanley) Aaron Tumwa - released Stephan Hamilton-Forbes - released July 2014 Gary Woods - free transfer May 2014 Arie Ammann - released Li Myeong Choi - released Kunle Otudeko - released Harry Kyprianou - released May 2015 Luke O’Nien - released (joined Wycombe Wanderers) January 2016 Connor Smith - free transfer (AFC Wimbledon) June 2016 George Byers - released (joined Swansea City) Josh Doherty - released (joined Leyton Orient) Uche Ikpeazu - released (joined Cambridge United) Jorell Johnson - released (joined Hemel Hempstead Town) Mahlondo Martin - released (joined Kings Langley) Bernard Mensah - released (joined Aldershot Town) Luke Simpson - released (joined York City) Alfie Young - released (joined Hendon) August 2016 Sean Murray - free transfer (Swindon Town) July 2017 Ola Adeyemo - released (joined Valdres FK) Charlie Bannister - released Ogo Obi - released (joined Hemel Hempstead Town) Rhyle Ovenden - released July 2018 Nathan Gartside - released (joined York City) Dennon Lewis - released Brandon Mason - released (joined Coventry City) Louis Rogers - released Charlie Rowan - released (joined Queens Park Rangers) Max Ryan - released David Sesay - released (joined Crawley Town) Connor Stevens - released (joined Wealdstone) Carl Stewart - released (joined Wingate & Finchley) August 2018 Harvey Bradbury - free transfer (Oxford United) January 2019 Jubril Adedeji - free transfer (Køge) Randell Williams - free transfer (Exeter City) July 2019 Ashley Charles - released Andrew Eleftheriou - released (joined Dagenham & Redbridge) Sam Howes - released (joined Woking) Tom Leighton - released Michael Mullings - released Kai Sanders - released Sam Sesay - released Ryan Suckling - released Ben Tricker - released (joined Fulham) June 2020 - the following have all been released and are now able to sign for a new club Emmanuel Adebiyi James Hoskins Harry Hudson Ryan MacLean James Matthews Imaad Sankoh Harvey White Jamal Balogun Jayden Bennetts Michael Folivi Lewis Gordon Cameron Green Kaylen Hinds Alex Jakubiak
Folivi, Jakubiak and Cameron Green were all highly rated at one time, but I suppose they have not lived up to their potential. Lets hope none of them come back to bite us on the bum
I remember Jakubiak playing in that final day humiliation against Huddersfield, 1-4 under Beppe. We’ve won promotion, spent half a decade in the Prem and been relegated again since then. Mad he’s still been on our books all this time.
He wanted to leave a while back but the club wouldn't sell him unless he signed a new contract. Crazy business .. again !
The company who built it (ASB MCM Construction) have today shared these pictures of a new structure at the training ground. https://twitter.com/asb_mcm/status/1288763092302782465?s=20
Alex Jakubiak appears to be the first of those released to get a club after signing for Dundee on a 2-year deal. https://dundeefc.co.uk/news/alex-joins/
Supposedly, the powers that be will confirm the end of Academy league competitions tomorrow with the final positions decided by Points-Per-Game (PPG). This means our previously U23 PDL2 (South) table topping side are demoted to second, with Millwall claiming the title by 0.02 of a point. The U18 PDL (South) title also goes to Millwall with Watford gaining a position to finish in third. (tables taken from YouthHawk)
What does this all mean? Is 2nd a promotion spot, or are there normally play-offs (and if there are, are they likely to go ahead?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_Development_League#Professional_Development_League Watford play in the Professional Development League (southern division). No promotion or relegation in the PDL but there is in the Premier League Youth Divisions, which Watford aren't a part of. To find an overall champion in the PDL there is a play-off, presumably between the winners of the North and South divisions. The same goes for the U18 league. There hasn't been any news of the play-offs yet but if they go ahead they'll be between Millwall and Nottm. Forest at U23 level and Millwall vrs. Wigan at U18s. Chelsea won the PL2 Division 1 title (U23s) with Wolves relegated. West Ham (top) & Manchester United were promoted from PL2 Division 2. With the increased numbers of Category 1 academies from next season it looks like the PL2 Division 1 will be expanded to 13 teams with Division 2 going up to 14. Crystal Palace, Leeds & Burnley all join Division 2. Manchester City were PL2 Division 1 title winners at U18 level and Fulham the Division 2 winners. (Sunderland managed 1 point between their U23 & U18 PL2 sides all season!)
Only just seen this. Thank you for getting the info together. A scandal. Not one of these players was ever good enough? Though the lack of any real response to it says it all. No one cares. Day tripping, happy clapping ****s.
No worries GD. I've also found another player who, I think, was released in July 2019 - Reece Miller. Remember him? Promising forward who got involved in a brawl at Ascot. Miller later signed for his hometown club Aldershot to join their academy, and in March of this year signed his first professional contract with them. (https://www.theshots.co.uk/news-reece-miller-signs-first-team-contract/)
