On a positive note - Uche Ikpeazu

[GreaterTorontoRoyal]

Wasn't he nicked off QPR? Not a true loss, per se. I guess you have to half expect it when you pick other team's players.

[winchester_royal]

I don't understand this move at all. He was outstanding last season. He battered Chelsea and was getting rave reviews. Not earning another contract or being released, it just doesn't make sense to me. Watford have got themselves an absolute bargain, and whilst he still has it all to do in terms of developing and getting his head down, if he does he will be an exceptional striker for them and off to the Premier League in a few years for big money. He's got all the attributes to be an top striker if he works hard for it.

We offered him a new deal, but it will have been as part of the development squad, and clearly he thinks he is more big time than that now. Fair enough, he wants senior football now, but based on what I've seen (which is probably more than most on here) he's not yet good enough to get it at any level above league 2 so no surprise to see that we haven't matched Watford's promises.

As maffff says, it is a shame, but he still has a long old way to go as a footballer.

[maffff]

We offered him a new deal, but it will have been as part of the development squad

It would have been pro terms too - it's basically like for like. More opportunities to develop, better coaches, easier route to the first team perhaps, closer to London (ex-QPR). No one knows for sure except Uche. But either way he's gone now and we move on.

[winchester_royal]

We offered him a new deal, but it will have been as part of the development squad

It would have been pro terms too - it's basically like for like. More opportunities to develop, better coaches, easier route to the first team perhaps, closer to London (ex-QPR). No one knows for sure except Uche. But either way he's gone now and we move on.

What I mean is that we told him he'll be in our U21 squad next season, whereas Watford are involving him in their first team pre-season tour so presumably he's been promised more senior involvement there.

Given the loan constraints they are now facing it's no surprise to see them hoovering up some younger talent on cheap(ish) money that they can involve in their squad.

[maffff]

We offered him a new deal, but it will have been as part of the development squad

It would have been pro terms too - it's basically like for like. More opportunities to develop, better coaches, easier route to the first team perhaps, closer to London (ex-QPR). No one knows for sure except Uche. But either way he's gone now and we move on.

What I mean is that we told him he'll be in our U21 squad next season, whereas Watford are involving him in their first team pre-season tour so presumably he's been promised more senior involvement there.

Yeah, what I was getting at above. He'll be like what Dom Samuel was for us this year I'd imagine. Whereas for us he'd be behind him as well.. be interesting to see how he gets on. Like someone tweeted me, if honed correctly he could become a Drogba. He could equally end up being another Akinfenwa.

[winchester_royal]

Fair enough, my bad. FTR, having seen Uche and Dom play in a few U21 games last season, Samuel is way ahead in terms of technical ability. Don't blame Uche for wanting to capitalise on his current reputation because he may well have disappeared completely next season.

Plus I think he's a Chelsea fan, so the opportunity to work with Zola would have been a big draw.

[maffff]

Fair enough, my bad. FTR, having seen Uche and Dom play in a few U21 games last season, Samuel is way ahead in terms of technical ability. Don't blame Uche for wanting to capitalise on his current reputation because he may well have disappeared completely next season.

Plus I think he's a Chelsea fan, so the opportunity to work with Zola would have been a big draw.

Yp. all sounds sensible.

[Simon's Church]

Hope we have him on a long contract.

Me too.

[sandman]

Strange move that is seemingly a blow to Zingarevich and his claims that the Academy is "essential part for our future development".

[Royal91]

Can't work this out.

Surely Uche looks at the first team and realises there are a fair few academy products in the team, and he knows he will get a chance if he's good enough. Don't know the ins and outs but surely if we valued him enough we would of tied him down.

[SPARTA]

maffff, are Matt Partridge, Shane Griffin and Niall Keown all under contract?

[winchester_royal]

Strange move that is seemingly a blow to Zingarevich and his claims that the Academy is "essential part for our future development".

I would imagine someone will be getting a slap on the wrists for this at the very least.

Should have signed him up before we got to June, but the fact we didn't, when you consider how early we signed up the likes of Obita/Tshibola/Tanner, suggests we didn't think he was as valuable as other prospects..

[maffff]

maffff, are Matt Partridge, Shane Griffin and Niall Keown all under contract?

No, why?

[SCIAG]

Obviously this is a significant loss, but I'd much rather lose Ikpeazu than Samuel. I've never actually seen Ikpeazu have a good game, but then I've not seen him play much and he obviously has had good games.

I think the scoring records of Samuel and Ikpeazu say more about Obita/Tanner/Fosu than the strikers, though not to take anything away from either striker. Hopefully next season Crossdale-Taylor will have a similarly outstanding season.

maffff, are Matt Partridge, Shane Griffin and Niall Keown all under contract?

Partridge is a professional so yes. Griffin and Keown have both at least been offered terms, like Ikpeazu, but I don't know if they have signed- I have a feeling Keown signed a long time ago. Can't see anyone wanting to poach either full back though.

[maffff]

maffff, are Matt Partridge, Shane Griffin and Niall Keown all under contract?

Sparta -

those out of contract but offered new deals are:

Stuart Taylor, Dan Lincoln, Stuart Moore, Shane Griffin, Niall Keown, Sean Long, Matt Partridge, Lawson D'Ath, Shepherd Murombedzi, Conor Shaughnessy.... and Uche.

and possibly a few more of the academy boys they've never spoken about publicly.

Also, Ryan Edwards, Jordan Obita and Jake Taylor were all publicly announced as contracted until summer 2013 but I can't see anything about renewals for any of them.

http://www.thetilehurstend.com/2013/6/2 ... ract-dates

[winchester_royal]

Given that Obita's training with the first team atm one would assume he's under contract, same with Taylor

[sandman]

Strange move that is seemingly a blow to Zingarevich and his claims that the Academy is "essential part for our future development".

I would imagine someone will be getting a slap on the wrists for this at the very least.

Should have signed him up before we got to June, but the fact we didn't, when you consider how early we signed up the likes of Obita/Tshibola/Tanner, suggests we didn't think he was as valuable as other prospects..

Didn't he win an award from the club last season though? Strange thing to give someone you don't feel is as valuable as other players.

[winchester_royal]

I think it would have taken the piss somewhat not to give the award of best U18 player to the guy who scored 28 goals in 29 games...

As I said, I'm sure they'll be annoyed at losing him, but at the end of the day you don't let the contract of a guy you r8 highly run down quite so easily.

[sandman]

It was probably the Academy's best season ever. They could've given it to a number of players Shirley.

As you pointed out he scored 28 from 29 so unsure why they wouldn't rate him.

[SPARTA]

maffff, are Matt Partridge, Shane Griffin and Niall Keown all under contract?

No, why?

Are they off? I''ll DM you.