We plan to open talks with Adrian Blake over a new contract, and promote him to the first team. https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1596504128984944642?t=sm2qSeXxYFi_yuq977ZXUw&s=19
Roy Moore seems to think we've already offered him a contract this summer and he hasn't signed yet. So he'll be off next year.
Yep, he’d be mad to stay here and miss out on all the opportunities we give young academy players. Oh wait….
Pollock, Hubgbo and Morris are all in the first team squad and none of them will likely be consistent Championship players. There are opportunities if they don't leave chasing a big payday, which they ultimately do
Difference is that none of those 3 are good enough for a bigger club to be interested in taking them.
This is true. But it's the idea that somehow there's a blocked pathway that's making these young lads leave, not the prospect of more money.
As per above, if any of the academy players we have had who are potentially good enough didn't bugger off at the first chance then they'd have gotten more opportunities here.
There will be plenty of chances for the kids next season after we miss out on promotion and have to sell anyone valued more than £1m.
I mean just look at all the players who we never gave chances to, who have gone on to bigger and better things. Like Folivi, Cassidy, Pereira, Dalby, Lo-Everton etc etc etc It's proven time and time again that anyone decent enough for our level will be snapped up by clubs who can pay much more and can't snatch them away for a minimal fee.
*can snatch them away for a minimal fee, sorry. Also remembered a few more to add to the list. Brandon Mason, Dennon Lewis, Jakubiak, Phillips, Byers, Mensah. "Give them a chance, can't be any worse than Former International Footballer!" League 1 level players at the absolute best.
Will be interesting to see which are the most likely to be the next 2-3 poached by bigger clubs for peanuts. Hopefully they will all play poorly with the cameras on them and we get hammered.
I’m sure he will bring us the same degree of happiness and pride as he moves between heavyweight champs league sides for tens of millions.
Surely he'll be off to UAE. They live to amass talent. Boom boom. Anyway. What happened to Langston junior ?
Playing for Eastleigh. https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/s...rd-academy-defender-langston-moves-eastleigh/
Yes - had a few injuries which set him back and well we don't seem to like any defenders under the age of about 27!
No Andrews again. I wonder if he's done enough to be wrapped in cotton wool with the rest of what's left of our first team
A lot of the better youth players don't seem to have featured - no Amass. Grieves, Blake, Adu-Poku etc. Don't suppose it means they'll be used in the first team necessarily, probably just being rested and giving a chance to some of the other youth players.
https://www.watfordfc.com/news/academy-five-players-sign-for-the-young-hornets Bunch of new signings announced, with a good chunk coming from non-league sides which is an interesting move.
Five youngsters signed for the academy from lower league football this week, including Ezio Touray: https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/23249139.five-new-young-players-sign-watford-join-academy/
Lovely interview with Jack Grieves here, about the Watford history in his family. Would be a great story if he progressed to the first team. https://twitter.com/BBCSport3CR/status/1613962079660122113?t=lB40oszP6eCrVmKoFu6W4Q&s=19
