[Albion] Josh Duffus, reported interest from Marseille and others

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GT49er

Well-known member
Feb 1, 2009
51,696
Gloucester
On known facts I just think we should have given him more guarantees to a first team pathway. I worry that some of our top talents seem to be left behind for expensive shiny new toys.
Why? If our coaching and management team didn't think he was ready and/or good enough, why on earth should we? One good reason why will do ..........................
Offering a guaranteed pathway is one thing, offering a guaranteed place is another!
 




jackalbion

Well-known member
Aug 30, 2011
6,146
Why? If our coaching and management team didn't think he was ready and/or good enough, why on earth should we? One good reason why will do ..........................
Offering a guaranteed pathway is one thing, offering a guaranteed place is another!
I don’t think the issue was him not being good, but alas we’ve gone over that a few times now.
 




jackalbion

Well-known member
Aug 30, 2011
6,146
Have we? OK, what's your definition of us fouling up as far as he is concerned then? What did we do wrong - apart from offering him a contract?
I don’t think there anymore to be said, I think the lad will be a very good talent and more should have been done to keep him, but clearly the club didn’t, and if he didn’t want to sign a new contract then he didn’t want to sign it.
 


GT49er

Well-known member
Feb 1, 2009
51,696
Gloucester
I don’t think there anymore to be said, I think the lad will be a very good talent and more should have been done to keep him, but clearly the club didn’t, and if he didn’t want to sign a new contract then he didn’t want to sign it.
No, there isn't! He didn't want to sign a new contract. End of. No fault of the club. I'm sure they asked him very nicely, and probably even asked his agent what it was that he wanted that wasn't there.
 




Greg Bobkin

Silver Seagull
May 22, 2012
17,883
Whatever anyone thinks, I reckon next season could be career-defining for him.
 


jackalbion

Well-known member
Aug 30, 2011
6,146
No, there isn't! He didn't want to sign a new contract. End of. No fault of the club. I'm sure they asked him very nicely, and probably even asked his agent what it was that he wanted that wasn't there.
Well letting a talent go is ultimately fault of the club if he turns out to be very good. I think there will become a problem for a lot of academy talent where they struggle to see a route through a large first team squad, and I think it’s something that may lead to talent going elsewhere.
 


Terry Butcher Tribute Act

Well-known member
Aug 18, 2013
4,231
No, there isn't! He didn't want to sign a new contract. End of. No fault of the club. I'm sure they asked him very nicely, and probably even asked his agent what it was that he wanted that wasn't there.
Jack's pathway comment is one you've completely ignored.

It's absolutely fantastic seeing Hinshelwood play and Howell get a debut, because I'm sure a lot of kids in our academy will look at us bringing in loads of young overseas wonderkids every summer (and seeing numerous called back from loan each year) as a very congested path, which might see us miss out on a good player from under our noses.

You have to trust the club, but it is a bit of a shame to see kids actively forcing a move away.
 




albionalex

Well-known member
Feb 26, 2009
4,957
Toronto
I don't think anyone who follows the U-21s would attempt to argue that he isn't a good player. This simply comes down to him choosing not to sign a new contract. He is absolutely entitled to do that; and, in turn, the club are absolutely entitled to then decide not to give him playing time.

But is that because he wasn't getting playing time? Or maybe didn't see a pathway?

I like to think if this lad was first-team potential, he would have been more involved/had more opportunity during his time here.
 


Whitechapel

Famous Last Words
Jul 19, 2014
4,594
Not in Whitechapel
No, there isn't! He didn't want to sign a new contract. End of. No fault of the club. I'm sure they asked him very nicely, and probably even asked his agent what it was that he wanted that wasn't there.

Players are less likely to stay when the club are stockpiling multi-million pound players in their position. It’s okay to think the club are doing a lot right whilst still thinking our current Chelsea-lite transfer strategy could see some top local talent slipping through our fingers.

You whinged about the club letting Leo Ostigard go for years on here, so the change of tune is pretty perplexing although not entirely unwelcome.
 


pigmanovich

Good Old Sausage by the Sea
Mar 16, 2024
3,673
London
Well letting a talent go is ultimately fault of the club if he turns out to be very good. I think there will become a problem for a lot of academy talent where they struggle to see a route through a large first team squad, and I think it’s something that may lead to talent going elsewhere.
Who in the first team this season do you believe blocked Duffus’s pathway out of curiosity?
 




GT49er

Well-known member
Feb 1, 2009
51,696
Gloucester
Jack's pathway comment is one you've completely ignored.

It's absolutely fantastic seeing Hinshelwood play and Howell get a debut, because I'm sure a lot of kids in our academy will look at us bringing in loads of young overseas wonderkids every summer (and seeing numerous called back from loan each year) as a very congested path, which might see us miss out on a good player from under our noses.

You have to trust the club, but it is a bit of a shame to see kids actively forcing a move away.
I do trust the club (though like everybody else I sometimes question something). I haven't ignored anything, but I have asked what should we have done? First team if not ready? Development loan? - well yes, that looked like the next step to me, but ............who said, 'No way'? The club or the player?
 


jackalbion

Well-known member
Aug 30, 2011
6,146
Who in the first team this season do you believe blocked Duffus’s pathway out of curiosity?
I think as a striker/winger, the purchases of Minteh, Coizer Duberry, Gruda, Buonanotte, Tzimas it must seem a very congested path. I don’t think it’s a massive worry, and Duffus could end up being crap, but with two decently talented players choosing to move on seemingly because a lack of pathway, it’s a trend worth looking at and a slight concern.

I mean a fine example of good pathway, is Howell who’s tracked from U18 to first team remarkably quick, so it’s not all doom and gloom, it just seems sometimes that the U21 operation is verging on the player hoarding side of things with no clear future. I’d like to see young local players come through, rather than let’s say someone who may or may not be good brought in from another academy for a fee. It’s a first world problem as a football club, just what I’d rather see.
 


jackalbion

Well-known member
Aug 30, 2011
6,146
I do trust the club (though like everybody else I sometimes question something). I haven't ignored anything, but I have asked what should we have done? First team if not ready? Development loan? - well yes, that looked like the next step to me, but ............who said, 'No way'? The club or the player?
Probably the player, but IMO a lot of our domestic loans over the last season or two have been quite crap. Players often going to clubs where they get minimal game time or chaotic environments with very little consistency on manager.
 




GT49er

Well-known member
Feb 1, 2009
51,696
Gloucester
Probably the player, but IMO a lot of our domestic loans over the last season or two have been quite crap. Players often going to clubs where they get minimal game time or chaotic environments with very little consistency on manager.
Well yes, some of us have been following our loanees quite closely on the loanee tracker thread. There is a worry that some of our loans - particularly loans to the Championship - have been particularly under-whelming this year. Is that players being loaned to the wrong club (Buonanotte - should have been pulled in January) or players just being very disappointing (won't list them, very unsupportive - look for yourself).
 


jackalbion

Well-known member
Aug 30, 2011
6,146
Well yes, some of us have been following our loanees quite closely on the loanee tracker thread. There is a worry that some of our loans - particularly loans to the Championship - have been particularly under-whelming this year. Is that players being loaned to the wrong club (Buonanotte - should have been pulled in January) or players just being very disappointing (won't list them, very unsupportive - look for yourself).
Yes I’ve been watching closely as well, and I think anything below the championship has been pretty unsuccessful bordering on completely pointless this year.
 








GT49er

Well-known member
Feb 1, 2009
51,696
Gloucester
Yes I’ve been watching closely as well, and I think anything below the championship has been pretty unsuccessful bordering on completely pointless this year.
Well, obviously not very closely. Championship loans mostly not great. Below that, Offiah runner up for POTS at Blackpool, Caylan Vickers pretty decent half season at Mansfield.
 




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