Young striker signs contract after progressing from the Harefield Academy: http://www.watfordfc.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10400~2386247,00.html The Watford Observer thinks we beat Arsenal and Tottenham for him: http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sp...beat_off_Arsenal_and_Spurs_to_sign_schoolboy/ More good news
Nice to see a young player noty think about the big money and join a top club which wouldn't help his career.
And I can't think of a player called Bernard playing for Watford before. Nice to beat Arsenal and Spurs and could it be another start like Ashley Young. Lets all hope so its the way forwward for our club.
I'm not sure what to be happier about. The fact that Harefield is producing 16 year olds that the really big clubs are keen on (Bonham, Murray and Mensah in the last year alone), or that these players are consistently choosing to spend their early professional years here.
It's interesting isn't it. I imagine it must be so difficult trying to convince a 16 year old to not be blinded by money. I know if when I was 16 I was offered a contract at Arsenal, I would have been beside myself! Well done to the academy though, and to Mensah for sticking with it. We are obviously going to say things like, "this is the right decision", but I am sure it really is. I look forward to getting a glimpse of him next season.
I think being able to directly compare Ashley Young and Harry Forrester is a big help on that front. They started at the same club, they went to the same club, and if either was the higher rated of the two as a teenager, it was Forrester.
A lot of it must come down to the parents in situations like this. I suspect some see pound signs when they hear that the likes of Arsenal are interested, whereas others might actually weigh up the pros and cons of uprooting their son at such an early stage of his career. Given that the huge clubs can turn over youngsters on an industrial scale, it makes perfect sense to stay a club like ours. Less chance of immediately getting thrown on the scrap heap; better chances of getting game time; and, crucially, continuity at a key stage of personal development. And, as NNW says, it's nice to be able to point out through real-life examples that the grass is not always greener.
The youth scene is so much more ruthless then it was even 3 or 4 years ago. My 7 year old had his first year playing football last season and I have seen scouts for QPR, Watford, Arsenal, L**on and Spurs . He has had training with Watford and Spurs already along with another lad from the same club. They are ruthless at this age though, one lad was training and played 2 games for WFC for his age group but was dropped because he was not physical enough! It's just a little too serious for my liking, and now from the age of 9 players with a club cant play with their mates anymore, 99% of these kids wont make it as an amateur let alone as pro's! They should just concentrate on giving them the training but also letting them enjoy the times with their mates, thats half the fun of playing footy anyway. On a more amusing note one of the coaches of my lads team told me that Lu**n wanted my lad to go and train with them, I said you can go tell him to fu... go away. He then said what if they offered you £10K, I said the answer would still be no, even my lad said he would rather not play football then play for them! As you can see the training is going well ..
