Watmore getting fast tracked

SUNDERLAND starlet Duncan Watmore is being fast-tracked for success by Gus Poyet.


The head coach sees the 20-year-old as a potential Premier League player of the future and this week the attacker has been training with the first team as part of his footballing education.

Watmore has caught the eye with his skill, speed and directness and Poyet says the former Altrincham player’s pure enthusiasm and desire to improve is a tonic for coaches.

“It’s great because it’s so nice to see him playing and training,” Poyet told the Echo.

“He’s the player who you want at the football club.


“He’s got plenty to learn, but he’s desperate to do it.

“We had, I don’t know how many clubs call us, but we believe he needs to be here and I think he agrees as well.

“It’s important that he plays football at a better level, but, at the same time, he needs to learn what we want.

“He is training with us throughout the international break, where he will learn the things he needs to do week in, week out.

“He’s been playing up front for the Under-21s and he’s been impressive – a nightmare really for the opposition.

“But he’s a great lad and it’s so nice to be able to talk to a person like that.”

Watmore, one of half-a-dozen players to have started all five Barclays Under-21 Premier League games so far this season, has just signed an extended contract keeping him at the club until 2016.

And it remains to be seen whether he will spend any of that time out on loan or be kept close to the first team squad.

As the Echo revealed earlier this month, a firm loan enquiry from League One side Scunthorpe United was rejected by Sunderland.

And Poyet said that unless something special turns up, he plans to keep Watmore – who had a loan stint at Hibs last season – close to the first-team squad at Sunderland.

“I think we are always open to something unique – a Championship club where he’s going to play and you can’t say no,” said the Uruguayan.

“But, at the moment, unless it’s something incredible, we want him to stay and train here – if we had had a decent draw in the cups, maybe he would have played.

“This week, one or two players have been training with us and it’s chances for them.

“In Duncan’s case, you always know what you get with him, and that’s good.”

 

All of which translates as,
"I'll train this lad day & night to make him into a better player than Borini, then tell the little Eytie bastard to get f**ed!"

 

Im all for him learning the Poyet way but the only way for a young player to really develop is to go get first team football

 

Agreed, but it can also destroy a young lad if he's hoyed in unprepared.

 

Lol.

 

I reckon he'll be ready for the first team next season and save us a few quid in the summer.

I watched him pre season against Pools and I was highly impressed.

 

True but it can also do alot of good. Jonny Evans was unknown before he came to us, he was in the Man Utd squad the following season.

I reckon he'll go out second half of the season.

 

Sadly we went out of the League Cup too early so don't have 'spare matches' to play him in.

The FA Cup is now our only chance of success so we can't waste it.

Poyet won't want to risk another nightmare like last season so will have to be really brave with Watmore.

But, then again, he's thrown Buckley in who did as much as anyone to produce a win against Stoke.

I've watched the Stoke match again and really watched Buckley ........ he takes the game, quickly, right up the pitch which means we're not bringing pressure straight back on us and, now that the strikers are cottoning on, can produce goal scoring chances.

Playing the ball around the back line isn't so prevalent now which is OK at times but not all the time.

 

Id play Buckley every week. Ive been very impressed with him since he signed.

 

Buckley and Gomez for me still havent shaken off the championship yet. Buckley just needs a bit more confidence to really make an impact imo. Gomez is too slow to be any more than a bit part player for me.

 

Watmore has raw talent that needs to be nurtured. Hopefully he will shine whilst training with the first team and maybe earning a place on the bench in the near future. From what I have saw of him, he offers a dimension that we have never had since the days of Marco Gabbiadini, with his fantastic pace and directness..

 

Watmore needs to move ahead of Jozy and Danny now if he is as good a prospect as you all think, I have only seen him once, and he did not impress to be honest, but if Gus rates him then he should, and will, give him a chance as soon as possible, we need options up front, if we are to prosper this season.

 

90% of our squad is too slow, I'll not discriminate Gomez's pace when he's clearly more technically gifted then some of his other CM colleagues.


As for Watmore, Think he needs some intense work on his final ball, I've heard it's weakness, and looked it when I've seen him. Knowing when to make the final ball and the quality of it. He can start achieving that on the training ground under guidance from coaches and better players imo.

 

Buckley has looked a fine prospect so far, and games should make him even better, if he can maintain his form he looks a good buy, shame Gus hadn't made it a threesome, with Ulloah, imo. as good if not better than Boringi.