Manchester United are ‘making good progress’ in their attempt to sign the England under-17 international skipper Seth Ridgeon from Fulham, according to the Athletic.
The attacking midfielder, who has a scholarship offer on the table from Fulham, has been approached by Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea about beginning his professional career in their academies but United’s ‘attractive proposal’ is believed to be interesting the sixteen year-old the most. The Whites have not yet given up hope of keeping Ridgeon at Craven Cottage but there is a serious danger of another promising young talent leaving Motspur Park for a nominal compensation fee.
The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell has revealed this evening that Ridgeon received a personal tour of Old Trafford overseen by United’s director of football, Jason Wilcox, and was introduced to first-team coach Ruben Amorim.
Something needs to really be done about this whole poaching of kids etc, just doesn’t seem right, who is advising these kids ?
If the FA paid proper compensation it would help often the youngsters are sold false dreams as the big clubs snap them all up most to be never seen again. Which is worth it to the big clubs there so cheap if only a couple make it and the rest cast a side
Okay so why don’t we throw the kitchen sink at this and get Jon Ridgeon and Seth out to America to meet Khan snr to explain his vision for the club. Why do we not fight for our talent? This is becoming the new normal, why bother with an academy if we roll over every time?
Greedy player managers Lee. They get a clip with every transaction remember.
Can’t really see a solution to this problem. The lure of the big clubs is just too much, understandably. If they do make it, big rewards in the offing, if not they still get a lot of exposure and still end up in the PFL. Can’t imagine any of us turning down the opportunity to play for one of the big teams on significantly better terms.
We just have to be a top 4 club, playing in Europe every year and generating squillons. Simple.
In answer to your question Lee, their bank managers:)
It’s disgusting that these kids are forgetting what club gave them a chance!! If he does go then I really hope he ends up like Roberts and Carvalho who have failed at a higher level after going where they thought the grass was greener only to find that it isn’t, stay with Marco you greedy twats
Exploitation of these youngsters by agents should be stamped on by the FA. They should ban agents from recruiting youngsters under 18, this would give the lads time to make proper decisions based on their own experiences not pressure from these parasite agents, who after all are only in it for themselves.
Likewise the academies should have a more structured career plan to progress academy players towards !st team squad.
I agree with David when he says you need to be playing regular European football, and showing Fulham is a progressive upwardly mobile club – hopefully we’ll get there. I also agree with Martin when he says the youngsters need a path or roadmap to the first team and then it is down to them to show their worth.
However, the biggest problem is money talks….
At the root of all this is a question of loyalty. I regret to say that few professional footballers have a loyalty to their clubs. It’s a job and they’ll go, as we all would, to the highest bidder.
Gone are the days when 40maybe 50%of the players on the pitch came from within a 5-10 mile radius of the ground, as they did in my youth in the 1950-60s.
I went to school a few hundred yards from the Cottage and every promising footballer from George Cohen on had trials with Chelski, Fulham, QPR, Brentford Palace and maybe Charlton. If nothing else these guys had a loyalty to London clubs which prevailed for most of their careers.
Today the only loyalty that exists in football is with the fans. Maybe the odd exception but like hens teeth. You really should expect anything else.
It grieves me that these kids move on but I’m not delusional and realise that the only way we will hold onto and even more importantly attract the best is by being successful.
If he leaves how much money will our club be entitled to receive with a sell on percentage clause
To me this is just an extension of the transfer window where the big clubs open their cheque books to price out the smaller clubs. This is how they continue their dominance at the top leaving the rest of us to play on an uneven playing field. It’s always the same, you unearth a gem and they turn the players head and take him from you so you can’t compete.
Look at that mob down the road. Why do they need all those players, most of whom cost more than our whole team. I find it disgusting how every window the ‘big’ teams are trying to buy the title. It’s brilliant when our team of paupers consistently turn them over because in Marco we have a top manager and players who play for the shirt, the fans and each other.
Why would we support anyone else!!! COYW
I agree with all of the above.
We can’t compete financially, or in terms of reputation. It’s **** to have to say that, but it’s the reality.
There needs to be a change so that clubs who develop a young player get a better deal if another club turns their head.
With the current rules, what would we lose by running the academy down to the barest permitted minimum?
Any talent we have with it functioning at the current level just results in bigger clubs hoovering up the best players for peanuts.