Didn’t he delay for as long as possible on the initial pro deal too? Sure him and Cotcher dragged their heels, be surprised if he comes off the bench for the rest of the season now, really strange one this potential huge talent but genuinely not bothered he’s going
Really disappointed with Watson, but as i've said often, MONEY TALKS.... he also has an agent that will drill the financial benefits into him as he did with Jack Clarke. A footballers life is a short time in the overall scheme of things, so maybe for someone like Clarke this could be a consideration. I wish him good luck, Brighton could well be a good club for him...I sincerely hope Watson will only be used in an absolute emergency for the remainder of the season....but, we move on with what we have.
Club have done well imo. Watson is a little ****er! Pushing for a move and refusing contracts before he has even hit double digits in appearances! I like Speakmans statement as he has told it as it is, club didn't want to sell but player pushed for it and refused contract offers.
And as he says, his journey through our academy. He thanks us for it all. The club isnt just first team. It isnt a good look dismissing him imo. He is an exceptional talent and one we clearly didnt want to go. Personally gutted he has gone. But I hope he has a stellar career. He has already earned us £10m and a 20% sell on could bump that nice and high. Clubs these days look at players as financial assets. There to trade. This one is pure profit for the club, straight to the bottom line. Whilst I am gutted we wont see his talent blossom in our shirt, the hierarchy are here to make the club sustainable. They have done a decent job of that here.
Some of you are making me laugh out loud. How precious and offended can you be. I might understand you all a bit more if he had not signed his pro deal and gone on a free. Haway man lads, hardly bloody crime of the century. Wait till the summer and you will be chomping at the bit to spend the money on some overseas player who will be regarded the best we have ever signed, before he has even pulled the shirt on
I do think as a group of fans, if we think "Loyalty" comes into play with ANY footballer, we are barking up the wrong tree. Those days are long gone....all about money now. As an example If Patto has the chance to double his money and play 2nd fiddle to a keeper in the premier league...he would be away in a heartbeat...sad but thats the way it is now
I think we all know money does rule the roost but you really have to look at this has played out. We have developed him since a boy. Surely he can show an ounce of loyalty. He kicked and screamed to sign his pro deal. Then wouldn't sign an extension when we showed him a pathway into the first team. He hasn't played a handful of games and wants away. That doesn't show a player who appreciates his development, the club or the fans. Giving it the large on socials doesn't ignore the reality of him wanting to be away at the first opportunity before giving anything back on the pitch. I think the vast majority of sunderland fans no our model and wouldn't stand in the way for people to move on, but Christ this is before he has hardly touched the grass at the SOL. I personally hope he sits on the bench and doesn't get a minute. I have little time for youngsters with his attitude.
It can be a fleeting and temporary game for some players so I can’t begrudge too much when they look out for themselves. Still a shame that Watson doesn’t want to stay but he is another success story for the academy.
I really can't get my head round the criticism of the club with this. I do understand that people are disappointed he's gone but looking at it logically the club have handled it as well as possible imo. Watson is now fit, available and many people's first choice. That being the case there'd be many supporters demanding he starts not to mention reporters asking the manager why he isn't. If the team are struggling the demands for Watson would grow and the club would be forced to lie to the supporters. Because Watson, and his agent, family and friends, are openly talking about his departure everyone would know the club are lying ... which would draw much worse criticism. I doubt he'll be starting games, we need total commitment and no distracting sub-plots. And how would Mundle react if he was benched so a player, who doesn't want to be at the club, is starting ahead of him ... ... in my opinion he'd be the next one asking to leave. There were recent estimates that the club was £8m in debt, now we're not ... we've never really had Watson so we're not really going to miss him.
He was obviously never going to sign a new contract so the club have got a good deal imo. No way should he be involved now, the club need to move on from him.
I’m not saying this emotionally, he’s not got under my skin yet because he hasn’t played enough, but the honest truth about this lad is he’s considered buggering offer every season for money and now he’s saying thanks I love this club. The first is just what many footballers do, the second one - I love this boyhood.club ****- is a piss take - add this to the fact that Harte and Graham are pushing him to leave and it’s an extra piss take. I’m sad he’s going because he’s a good player but genuinely glad we lose his character and his connections thinking about the big picture
Got no issue with him leaving and Speakman has played a blinder with the reported fee. Good luck to him Long insta posts not required - he's barely even a first team player. Had Mundle not got injured I doubt he would have started a game
