To be fair, the guy that said this about Nelson, also said he's a good kid and worth every penny.
Youth team development
Ricky1985 wrote:To be fair to Arsenal they have absolutely no choice. If they don't pay him that, his agent finds 5 other clubs that will (and then some). The kids hold all the cards in this situation whilst there are clubs that will pay them this crazy money. As I said, City are having a very similar problem with one for their big talents, Jadon Sancho.
I'd bet good money that Arsene Wenger really doesn't like it one bit.
And, yeah, Bielik has been training and playing as a centreback for 2 seasons now. And he's been on loan playing there since January too.
He may not like the amount but it's very much part of the club's financial and transfer strategy, as is the likely consequence of OTT wages etc. The benefit being that you can sustain more youth prospects for the same fee and wages you'd pay for a top flight player. The issues only come to the fore when they reach the senior squad and are still being paid above their actual performance levels.
8 days later
An 11 minute hattrick for Reiss Nelson, Malen inches away from a hattrick of his own. Some good goals too.
Maybe we need to get the first team to also play at random farms.
The bull shit they are serving up would be useful as manure.
5 days later
Did anyone catch Arsenal U23 vs Man United U23 on Arsenal.com tonight? It finished 2-2 at the Emirates. Nelson and Nketiah with the goals. 2 assists for Cohen Bramall from left back, apparently he was very good going forward.
Malen missed a penalty to make it 3-1, whilst Nelson and Nketiah were withdrawn at half time because they will be playing tomorrow against Chelsea U18s - if we avoid defeat we'll win the U18 National League.
Here's the goals:
Also quite interesting that Chris Willock faced his older brother Matty Willock who was in United's midfield, whilst their younger brother Joe came on at half time.
Nketiah looks a real killer in the box doesn't he? He made that goal look so easy.
Bramall looked pretty impressive there, electric pace! How's he been doing?
U23s have hardly played recently. I watched him in the flesh a month or so back and he was very impressive. A little raw here and there in possession but astoundingly quick on the overlap. Got a good, powerful cross on him too.
Segway wrote:Nketiah looks a real killer in the box doesn't he? He made that goal look so easy.
He is a killer, 100%. The rest of his game is starting to look better too because he's gotten noticeably quicker and stronger. When he first stepped up to the U23s he couldn't compete at all.
He's a very, very smart player in the final third generally. Like very good scorers normally are. Nothing flashy but clever.
Interesting. Lethal strikers are hard to come by these days so he might have a decent chance of making it here.
That looked to me more like a fortunate bad touch than anything. Also the defending was pretty shoddy for that second goal.
Looks like we've got some pacy youngsters, which is good. But I prefer intelligent players so I hope Ricky's evaluation is accurate.
We'll see how he does out on loan, there's plenty of players prolific at youth level who fail to be prolific at any level thereafter. I may be wrong but a lot of his goals seem to be scuffed in... I know they all count but I don't trust a goalscorer who can't get a clean strike on the ball.
Trust me, he can hit hard and clean with little back lift. Not seen him bang any in the top corner from 25 yards or anything like that but he consistently bangs it in the bottom corner with both feet.
He's not going to be Afobe or Akpom, now they really are scuffers, he genuinely does have a touch of genius about him in the box. One of those players that just seem to know the best move to make in and around goal.
Shame he doesn't have Akpom's or even Afobe's body but he still has time to develop. He could be very interesting. I do wonder what level he could get a loan at. We've got to get him a good one to give him a chance.
flobaba wrote:That looked to me more like a fortunate bad touch than anything. Also the defending was pretty shoddy for that second goal.
Looks like we've got some pacy youngsters, which is good. But I prefer intelligent players so I hope Ricky's evaluation is accurate.
I agree it was a slightly loose touch but that's not the norm with him. He's very efficient.
Reiss Nelson is not about speed, his awareness and decision making is perhaps his best quality. You'll like him.
Joe Willock, Matty Willock and Chris Willock. Pretty cool.
Unfortunately the U18s have lost 3-1 at Chelsea today. Nketiah scored for us against his old club. Chelsea need only to beat Reading U18s on Friday to retain the National League title.
Sounds like the whole day went badly, our team bus broke down and kick off had to be delayed. No shame in losing to Chelsea - they spend a lot of money and take this level very seriously (and then never produce a single player for the first team!).
Ricky1985 wrote:
Joe Willock, Matty Willock and Chris Willock. Pretty cool.
Unfortunately the U18s have lost 3-1 at Chelsea today. Nketiah scored for us against his old club. Chelsea need only to beat Reading U18s on Friday to retain the National League title.
Sounds like the whole day went badly, our team bus broke down and kick off had to be delayed. No shame in losing to Chelsea - they spend a lot of money and take this level very seriously (and then never produce a single player for the first team!).
It's all about the money CFC raise by selling players as it's a deliberate revenue stream.
Unfortunately I know all about their practices.
8 days later
Got better as the season went on. You could see his confidence growing as he started to realise he could score at higher levels.
He's got much better footwork than I credited him for. He's a good finisher but still think he scuffs his shots a little.
I wonder if the fact that he experienced rejection self-motivates him as we've seen too many seemingly talented youngsters fall away at the next stage.
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/10676766/eddie-nketiah-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-arsenal-striking-prospect
6 days later
ARSENAL YOUTH AWARDS – 2016/17
https://arsenalyouth.wordpress.com/2017/05/15/arsenal-youth-awards-201617/
Very straightforward, no surprises.
6 days later
Interesting interview with Krystian Bielik that someone has translated on Reddit.
That's a good read. That passing bit sounds like he will enjoy a 3 man defence a hell lot.
Rosicky part is nothing surprising. Every young player loves him. He should go on to be a youth coach or something, such a great presence to have around the club.
Really good read, cheers for the link Ricky. I still haven't seen Bielik play as a defender, but I like what people have been saying about him. It sounds like he fits the mold of a potential Koscielny replacement.
Clrnc wrote:Rosicky part is nothing surprising. Every young player loves him. He should go on to be a youth coach or something, such a great presence to have around the club.
I'm all for that! Rozza is a real nice guy and twas great to see him at the final.
Yeah, same with Arteta. We should bring him back as soon as Wenger leaves (I guess he won't return before that, else he wouldn't have gone to City in the first place).
9 days later
“We have some young players who will join the squad next season,” Wenger told Arsenal Player. “Like Reiss Nelson, like Ainsley Maitland-Niles already. So they are two players.
“So we have quality players who might have a chance next season and hopefully we will be able to do that again because that’s part of the DNA of the club as well."
Excited to see Nelson get his chance in pre-season. Can't wait! Maitland-Niles absolutely has to get more minutes next season.
We need to sell one of Coq and Elneny to give AMN some more game time. I'd lean towards selling Elneny personally, I feel like he'll only ever be useful with a run of games which he'll never get here, while Coq is a decent utility player.
I'd sell Coq before Elneny. If Ramsey is injured, which he will be, I'd much rather see Elneny with Xhaka.
AMN should be our right wingback in the Europa League and the domestic cups.
AMN definitely deserves his share of minutes next season. You wonder what this means for Zelalem though. Sold in the summer?
He isn't on the release list so I reckon the club will give him the season to rehab. He is out of the next season with injury.
Quincy Abeyie wrote:I'd sell Coq before Elneny. If Ramsey is injured, which he will be, I'd much rather see Elneny with Xhaka.
Yeah, same. You need to factor in the players too though. It's not a given that Elneny wants to be here next season. If I were him I would want to leave.
Clrnc wrote:He isn't on the release list so I reckon the club will give him the season to rehab. He is out of the next season with injury.
I didn't know that. ACL?
Yep, ruptured ACL in the opening match of the U20 WC.
His career wasn't going all that great to begin with either. How many players have ever made a full recovery from an ACL at that age?
No mention of Willock there. Reckon he is off then afterall?
I'm assuming Jeff will get minutes
Yep, I think he's already very much part of the first team squad and will see a lot more minutes next season.
Art wrote:No mention of Willock there. Reckon he is off then afterall?
His contract runs out at the end of the month and he's been linked with a move to Man City in today's Evening Standard:
Says Everton, Celtic and Borussia Dortmund are also trying to sign him and that we haven't given up on convincing him to sign a new contract.
So if he considers going to Dortmund and City I'm guessing playing time isn`t the reason he wants to leave?