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Tommy Watson ( ...off to Brighton)


Big Bellyingham said:
Why is that ?-and why is it necessary?
Certainly dosnt seem to protect a club that’s nurtured a talent from the age of 6-massively favours the rich
Could this not be challenged somewhere /somehow
The way we are as a club development is key and this is a problem moving forward ?
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Will be around them not being able to make decisions that can lock them in for too long while they are still not adults. Clubs are still protected because they still can’t move for free even out of contract.
 
In so far as playing him goes, having a player who is leaving at the end of the season is no different to having someone who is only on loan.

Now I'm not really a fan of loans if they can be avoided, but no one says don't play someone because he's only on loan.

What does change is we no longer need to worry about his development or keeping him happy. I was keen for him to play more before he got into the team to start with to help with his development (and potentially keep him happier which might have changed his willingness to sign a contract).

Now his development is Brighton's problem, so no need to rotate him with Mundle just to keep him happy - only do it if it's actually going to strengthen us. If we've got minutes to spare to help develop players, give them to Aleksic instead (fat chance of that I realise).
 
Gloucester said:
All this nurture business is bullshit. For every Watson the club will have discarded dozens of kids that trod the same path as Watson until the club decided to get rid of them.

Personally, I much preferred the system where kids played for their schools and Sunderland or Seaham and District boys before signing Associate Schoolboy forms with clubs.

It sickens me that kids are dragged all over the country playing for junior teams when it is a dead end for the vast majority.

Rant over.🤔
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I’ve made this point before. You’re right, the club think nothing of releasing a lad so why should the lad really think anything or leaving the club. I know it sounds a bit clinical but it’s true. I think a bit different on the academy side of thing to you though, I think the more they get in there and get better quality coaching the better and while it may feel like a dead end for them in that they won’t stay at the club it will likely lead to them playing at a good level and earning decent part time football money.
GordonMuchallNo1Fan said:
The timing is not perfectly reasonable. Clearly he's a bad egg.
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How do you work out he’s a bad egg like?
 
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RTGAdmin said:
Have you never left a job for what you felt was a better one somewhere else? It doesn't necessarily mean you hate where you were, or the people there or that you will be disruptive whilst working your notice. It is possible to leave on good terms.

He obviously feels he has a better deal somewhere else and the club have accepted the offer. I am disappointed he is leaving, but as a young lad, it is his career choice and I don't hold that against him.

Negotiations have been going on for ages and he was wanted in January, the deals have been agreed so whilst the timing isn't great, it was all pretty much out in the open anyway, so why try and pretend it isn't happening?
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You're missing the point about the timing. It's a sad reflection on modern day football. Sunderland have served him well and he announces he's leaving at this time along with Ian Harte (I assume he's his agent?) acting like a bellend on social media, another reflection on modern day football. The lad is entitled to move on but the timing here is rotten for someone who so far has achieved very little. Not the sort of person I'd want fighting for promotion
 
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GordonMuchallNo1Fan said:
You're missing the point about the timing. It's a sad reflection on modern day football. Sunderland have served him well and he announces he's leaving at this time along with Ian Harte (I assume he's his agent?) acting like a bellend on social media, another reflection on modern day football. The lad is entitled to move on but the timing here is rotten for someone who so far has achieved very little
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Ian Harte is his father in law matey so probably still advising.

He’s only looked average bar 1 game for me that’s not saying he won’t improve as Brighton have a good eye for decent prospects.

Club have done the right thing if it’s agreed imo.
 
mackem1989 said:
Ian Harte is his father in law matey so probably still advising.

He’s only looked average bar 1 game for me that’s not saying he won’t improve as Brighton have a good eye for decent prospects.

Club have done the right thing if it’s agreed imo.
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Agreed. Noticed he "liked" the social media comment by Harte as well which says a lot. Sunderland have done well with this one.
 
Hulkster said:
In so far as playing him goes, having a player who is leaving at the end of the season is no different to having someone who is only on loan.

Now I'm not really a fan of loans if they can be avoided, but no one says don't play someone because he's only on loan.

What does change is we no longer need to worry about his development or keeping him happy. I was keen for him to play more before he got into the team to start with to help with his development (and potentially keep him happier which might have changed his willingness to sign a contract).

Now his development is Brighton's problem, so no need to rotate him with Mundle just to keep him happy - only do it if it's actually going to strengthen us. If we've got minutes to spare to help develop players, give them to Aleksic instead (fat chance of that I realise).
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The big difference is loans can become purchases, like Isidor did, or Le Fée will if we go up.

No matter what happens Watson is at Brighton next season, there is no next season at Sunderland for him.
 
Simster said:
Doesn't come across as bitterness at all, no. He's 18 years old, so it comes as no surprise. I think we're paying for the potential. I have no idea how the recruitment arm goes about deciding how and when to throw millions at kids, but I am not going to argue given the phenomenal success of the club.

It's weird being a fan of a club that hasn't really got anything to moan about. These days all we end up whining about on our board are the futility of the Fans Advisory Board, the club's handling of STHs who miss games, the shitness of Southern Trains and asking why the lids are confiscated off coke bottles.
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We still find time to fit all that in tbf. :lol:
Wakoro said:
It's such a shame under these owners our young fans will never get to have heroes because they get sold ASAP. We aren't even getting good fees for our talent because these owners will take anything to prevent them putting their own money on to run the club on. Of this 10m they'll put 500k into replacing him.

Got to get rid of these owners asap.
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What a load of shite.
 
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Wakoro said:
Lihadji, sold as soon as someone showed an interest despite him being here 2 seconds.

This is the model, offer uncompetitive wages then sell the player ASAP if they don't sign the contract. It's what they did with Stewart and Clarke too. If we have any other prospects worth something they'll be sold too before we get a chance to see them make their mark.

Got to get rid of these dodgepot owners asap. I don't even think they have the money to invest, they'll just keep saddling debt onto the club and selling our best young lads undervalue to service the debt and to pay other club costs.

Even if we get promoted they won't invest the funds required to stop up, the promotion money will mostly disappear. I don't trust them even slightly, KLD already lied to us multiple times including how much of the club he owned, and the other owner has been taken to the high court for misleading investors. Dodgy AF and I don't want them at our club any longer.

If a solid offer comes in for a player, they are gone.
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Oh. Didn't realise this is your thing.
 
Hulkster said:
In so far as playing him goes, having a player who is leaving at the end of the season is no different to having someone who is only on loan.

Now I'm not really a fan of loans if they can be avoided, but no one says don't play someone because he's only on loan.

What does change is we no longer need to worry about his development or keeping him happy. I was keen for him to play more before he got into the team to start with to help with his development (and potentially keep him happier which might have changed his willingness to sign a contract).

Now his development is Brighton's problem, so no need to rotate him with Mundle just to keep him happy - only do it if it's actually going to strengthen us. If we've got minutes to spare to help develop players, give them to Aleksic instead (fat chance of that I realise).
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Is the deal still on if he gets injured in these final games?
 
harryCLSsafc said:
Yes it would have been good to maybe have seen him next season just too see how good he was.

I do accept that he only has one career and by moving to Brighton he becomes, I assume, an instant millionaire, but my point still stands about wanting too see more of him.

But best of luck to him. I hope he does well for them.
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I’m same I’m not one who hope he fails
 
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