Feck me this lad was one of our top prospects a few years ago. He even had Man Utd sniffing...... Former Sunderland Academy star Louis Laing is back in the region after signing for Hartlepool United.The 24-year-old joins Pools on a free transfer after spells at Motherwell, Notts County and Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Having been highly-rated at Sunderland as a youngster, Laing will be hoping a return to the North East will further enhance his career. Here's the lowdown on what happened to him since leaving Sunderland. Nott a good move? When Laing decided to leave Sunderland in 2014, there was a number of clubs interested in him, including Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United. However, he decided to join Nottingham Forest on a 12-month contract. Laing was quickly farmed out on loan to neighbours Notts County and did enough there to secure another loan move, this time to SPL side Motherwell where he also impressed. At the end of the season, his contract at Forest wasn't extended. All's not 'Well Laing returned to Motherwell in June 2015, signing a two-year deal with the Premiership outfit. He made 16 appearances in the first team in his first season before losing his place after manager Ian Barraclough was sacked and Mark McGhee took over. At one point, Laing even admitted he had considered quitting the game. However, he rejoined Notts County on loan at the start of the last campaign. After a spell there, Laing's contract at Motherwell was cancelled in January, six months ahead of schedule. Back to Scotland In February, Laing joined SPL side Inverness Caledonian Thistle on a free transfer, where he played 14 times, helping the strugglers to four wins including victory over Rangers and his old club Motherwell. However, he was unable to save them from relegation. In demand again After the success of last season, where Laing played 41 times for both Notts County and Caley Thistle, a number of clubs were interested in his services as a free agent. Inverness were keen on getting him to stay, while Scottish Premiership and League One clubs were also linked with the defender. However, Pools have won the race for the defender who has signed a 12-month deal at Victoria Park.
Nothing special after all. One if McNamees lot wasn`t he? Seems to me quite a few of McNamees wonderkids turned out to be bang ordinary.
He was way above what we had but was he not one of the naughty boys who left SAFC in a hurry. Got too big for his boots and learned the hard way.
Another prime example showing the lower leagues are of a higher standard then u21/u23 level. Highlights how desperate the calls from last season to randomly and blindly throw kids into the first team in the premier league actually was.
Regardless of how desperate them calls were we probably still would have went down but at least with some effort and commitment as opposed to our so called established "stars" who went down without trying or what appeared to be a f*cking care in the world.
And then we would have been fined for failing to field the strongest team. As I said last season, you just can't drop top earners for kids and not expect the FA to get involved. Then there's the negative impact it could have on the young ones. They all grow up wanting to be Premier League footballer. Throwing kids in who aren't to the standard only to have their entire dreams obliterated in embarrassing fashion is not the way I'd bring kids through personally. We did right not throwing those kids to the dogs imo. The clip of the first team squad was a result of years of mismanagement, I don't see how risking the one part of the club which was doing well by throwing them deep in among the poison would have helped. Throwing good after bad imo.
Can understand what your saying Bri but it was so galling turning up at the SoL for every game knowing we were going to lose as them b*stards never tried at all.
I remember something like this, where he turned out to be a bit of a twat, so he was let go. Isn't he a Mag?
