09 Jun 2025 19:06:52
I'm sad to see the Donnell McNeilly turn down the offer of a new contract. I can't say I've seen the lad play but I'm told he is a good goal scoring talent.
He has been with the club since he was 12 so he must have found it a tough decision not to sign a new contract but I can maybe understand/ guess his feelings. The club continues to sign young talent in all positions and it's not a surprise that some players from the academy will feel there path to the first team is blocked.
I guess it would be easy just to think that any player should have enough belief in there ability to play in the first team but I think that's far too simplistic. I know it's happening at other clubs but it just doesn't feel right to me.
Of course the other side of this fickle supporter wants us to sign top young players.
It's a dilemma!
10 Jun 2025 08:53:36
Tom
I'm nit surprised one little bit. I certainly don't blame the lad and I'm sure he will find a top team bearing in mind how good he is.
10 Jun 2025 11:32:53
Bill, I’m not sure that “blame” is appropriate but it is always frustrating when an academy player leaves. The same thing is happening at other clubs and we have benefited from such circumstances.
My guess would be that approach’s are being made all the time to these young players and maybe some of those approaches break the rules. That’s when I get slightly more concerned.
10 Jun 2025 15:55:53
The method of the club is to not use the player of the club and sell the player for money to buy more player from another club so i know why the Nelly player is gone but I don't know him I have not heard him before.
10 Jun 2025 20:32:06
Maresca blooded 8 or 9 academy players last season and speaks very highly of Josh, George and Reggie who is only 16. The pathway will always be there providing the young player is good enough.
10 Jun 2025 21:21:41
Rpd is your post name trying to steal RBD post name or you are the same poster?
10 Jun 2025 21:27:29
The point is there can be easier pathways to playing first team football. That can be in the premiership with other teams but also notably in Germany.
11 Jun 2025 08:20:06
RPD is an aircraft salesman based in slough and RBD is a tester of vintage tea based Margate. Two completely different posters as far as I can tell.
I suppose they could have two homes and two jobs. ??.
11 Jun 2025 08:32:34
Very true Tom and in Italy at AC Milan! Tammy, Tomorri, RLC, Pulisic.
11 Jun 2025 09:13:36
True but three of them had played for us in the premiership on a regular basis and one wasn’t an academy player.
11 Jun 2025 10:09:22
None of them went on to achieve much either! I think the young striker you are talking about will end up at a league 0ne or possibly championship side but I hope he does well. I think our biggest loss from the academy was Declan Rice who Neil Bath deemed to frail to make it as a top player.
11 Jun 2025 14:08:13
What about Musiala?
11 Jun 2025 15:13:20
Edw, he is a player that’s been mentioned a few times as one that got away but I don’t remember any moans or groans when we parted ways. Lots of these regrets are with the benefit of hindsight.