Mark Waddington

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Thunder Bolt

Silly old bat
Bournemouth going in for 5million transfers and we're offering peanuts for kids, which team is Premier League ready ?

Two or three years ago Bournemouth came in for two of our kids, probably not offering much, who are now their team captain and fellow CB.
 






Dec 29, 2011
8,037
People moaning about this are a joke, it's not exactly a big risk and Blackpool fans seem genuinely gutted about the possibility of him leaving. What's the issue with signing highly rated youngsters for our development squad? It's exactly what we should be doing.

Because most people live for the moment. They can't see the value of investments or future gains.

They play highlights of the youth squads in the concourse before each game and every one looks amazing. Apart from our dev squad we must have some of the best youth squads in the country. We are going to be getting lots of talent through our ranks in the near future to add to Ince, March, JFC, Walton and Dunk. Tony Bloom is a rich man because he knows about investment and assets maturing. The investment in the training ground is a classic example of that, he knows it'll pay for itself within 10 - 15 years - not a long time in footballing terms.
 


Icy Gull

Back on the rollercoaster
Jul 5, 2003
72,015
Two or three years ago Bournemouth came in for two of our kids, probably not offering much, who are now their team captain and fellow CB.

Rumour has it they were on better wages than our central defenders last season.
 








OvingdeanSeagull

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2012
747
Ovingdean
You are almost certainly right but the fact that we actually sign so few first team players probably leads to cynicism from some of us. Most of our signings seem to be development players these days. Having had so much ambition when the Amex opened and getting so close, it's pretty disappointing that we have lowered our sights so much. Completely understandable but non the less very disappointing.

I agree that our lack of signings has been disappointing, which is why I don't understand people moaning when we might make one! I don't think this is a sign of lowering our sights at all, rather the opposite. I do hope we make at least one first team signing before the end of the day too though.
 








Rookie

Greetings
Feb 8, 2005
12,140
Poor kid, not signed and already some are having a go.
 








Uncle Buck

Ghost Writer
Jul 7, 2003
28,071
Two or three years ago Bournemouth came in for two of our kids, probably not offering much, who are now their team captain and fellow CB.

You are correct, but there was a bigger picture.

Elphick was not featuring / coming back from injury and people felt he did not fit into the Poyet style.

Cook hardly ever played and the fact he was arrested (not guilty I know) days after we sold him, suggests the club did not see him having a future at the Albion.
 


Diego Napier

Well-known member
Mar 27, 2010
4,416




GT49er

Well-known member
Feb 1, 2009
47,015
Gloucester
Development squad I guess. Fair enough. £100K a bit generous, as his (youth) contract will soon expire anyway?
 


Thunder Bolt

Silly old bat
You are correct, but there was a bigger picture.

Elphick was not featuring / coming back from injury and people felt he did not fit into the Poyet style.

Cook hardly ever played and the fact he was arrested (not guilty I know) days after we sold him, suggests the club did not see him having a future at the Albion.

My post was more about the potential of kids rather than why we let Elphick & Cook go. Waddington may turn out to be a gem.
 


pornomagboy

wake me up before you gogo who needs potter when
May 16, 2006
6,021
peacehaven
Development squad I guess. Fair enough. £100K a bit generous, as his (youth) contract will soon expire anyway?
It's properly compensation as he is a product of their youth system
 








edna krabappel

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 7, 2003
47,244
No problem with it myself.

Are the negative sorts suggesting we shouldn't go after talented youngsters simply because they're not going to improve the first team at this time?

I'm pretty sure the Albion don't see (potential) signings like this as an alternative to experienced, "name" players. It's just an investment for the future. People need to separate these sort of deals in their mind. They're not mutually exclusive.

(Not that I can honestly say I'm expecting any "proper" transfer action today really).
 


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