Pollock

Harsh to say it and I hope he recovers as he looked quality in 19/20, but no chance he's off to a Prem club after the season he's just had.

Quoted from Son of Cod

Harsh to say it and I hope he recovers as he looked quality in 19/20, but no chance he's off to a Prem club after the season he's just had.

Not a fantastic season but look at the standard of players he had to play with. Maybe playing with much better quality players would have a positive influence on him. He is still only 19 after all. Plenty of learning to be done

Thought he was hung out to dry a bit last year.  Clearly struggling with injury, was exposed down the left side that was weak until Clifton and then Habergham went there (by which time he'd pretty much come out the team with injury), also paired with someone for large parts of the season having a confidence crisis.  Oh and never really had a settled team in front of him, never mind a settled system.

I think he's a decent player with a lot of potential.  But I'll be amazed if he ends up at a club like Watford, not unless he can find an extra couple of yards pace.  

Quoted from WayneBurnettsJockstrap

Not a fantastic season but look at the standard of players he had to play with. Maybe playing with much better quality players would have a positive influence on him. He is still only 19 after all. Plenty of learning to be done

Yeah, like I say I hope he can revert back to how he was when he broke through. Him and Waterfall were a terrible pairing, I'd have liked to see Pollock alongside either Hewitt or Menayese. Hopefully PH brings in a CB or two with the pace needed to compliment Pollock as he's got pretty much all the other attributes a good CB needs. Can ping a pass too to be fair to him.

Pollock is a fantastic defender for his age and for some reason came in for stick from fans as soon as he got injured. There's absolutely no denying his ability, calm on the ball, strong as an ox and will run through walls for you.

Unfortunately for him, you cannot teach somebody pace and he needs a good few yards of that to make it in the PL. What'll likely happen is he'd go to Watford, learn a lot more about positional awareness and will become a decent Championship defender.

Can't get my head around the fans saying 'you're welcome to him', there are many players from last season who deserve stick from fans, Pollock isn't one of them.

If you want to succeed you need to hang on to your top goal scorers.

Quoted from Poojah

If you want to succeed you need to hang on to your top goal scorers.

Good job we've got Waterfall (OG) signed up for another season.

If we can get something for him now we should go for it, better than letting him walk for free. Talented youngster with potential, as mentioned pace will be an issue in PL but I imagine Watford are looking more to the future with him than anything. He's still a really good defender but needs somebody with more pace and athleticism around him as he suffered from Waterfall being too similar. Good head of the ball and able to chip in with goals, I'd say good for him and to take the chances he gets. Hopefully we get some money for him we can use to boost our own campaign next season.

You don’t need great pace at CB. It helps but it’s not essential. Look how many years Thug Ramos has survived for Real and Spain with the speed of a lethargic cart horse. People like Jack Charlton, Chris Nichol, Steve Bruce, John Terry … were never really quick. It’s about football brain and positioning more than anything and passing ability comes next.

Quoted from pontoonlew

Pollock is a fantastic defender for his age and for some reason came in for stick from fans as soon as he got injured. There's absolutely no denying his ability, calm on the ball, strong as an ox and will run through walls for you.

Unfortunately for him, you cannot teach somebody pace and he needs a good few yards of that to make it in the PL. What'll likely happen is he'd go to Watford, learn a lot more about positional awareness and will become a decent Championship defender.

Can't get my head around the fans saying 'you're welcome to him', there are many players from last season who deserve stick from fans, Pollock isn't one of them.

Think you're overegging the pudding a bit lew - imho most fans are just disappointed/surprised that he's gone backwards in the last 12 months. it's with that in mind that I think I'd 'take the money and run'

i wonder whether he could do with a change of scene himself, i can imagine as a 19 year old he must be psychologically battered and bruised by the Fenty/Holloway years

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

You don’t need great pace at CB. It helps but it’s not essential. Look how many years Thug Ramos has survived for Real and Spain with the speed of a lethargic cart horse. People like Jack Charlton, Chris Nichol, Steve Bruce, John Terry … were never really quick. It’s about football brain and positioning more than anything and passing ability comes next.

For a large part of his career Ramos has been one of the fastest defenders in the world  

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

You don’t need great pace at CB. It helps but it’s not essential. Look how many years Thug Ramos has survived for Real and Spain with the speed of a lethargic cart horse. People like Jack Charlton, Chris Nichol, Steve Bruce, John Terry … were never really quick. It’s about football brain and positioning more than anything and passing ability comes next.

Agree with this to a certain extent, the problem with a CB lacking pace is that you can't pair them with someone also lacking pace so a CB with pace is quite a valuable commodity. The example that I always think of is our first season down in The Conference, when Steve McNulty absolutely bossed it all season but then in the playoffs I think they had an injury crisis and had to play Sean Gregan next to him who was also well slow and Wimbldeon ripped them apart in both matches by deploying Kaid Mohammed who was an average player at best at that level. You're right though, there are plenty of centre backs that do very well without pace so maybe I'm being overly harsh saying he won't ever make it to the Prem on that basis alone.

Unfortunately for him, you cannot teach somebody pace and he needs a good few yards of that to make it in the PL. What'll likely happen is he'd go to Watford, learn a lot more about positional awareness and will become a decent Championship defender.



I think that with the right training you can increase your speed. When I played I significantly increased my speed - it is a matter of "teaching" you how to run properly to suit your size and weight

Every prem CB has loads of pace do they ? positioning is more important , and that can be taught ... injury clearly hampered him , and the confidence drained out of him . Would love to see him stay , playing at full confidence in a winning side ... could have his pick of teams then further up the leagues . Sell him and loan him back maybe 🤷🏻‍♂️.

The problem with a centre back who lacks pace is that the opposition will target him. Sure , experience will improve his positioning sense but that only comes with time and it can be demoralising for a player if he is frequently " left for dead " and his fellow defenders have to constantly cover for him. If Watford come in with a decent offer for Pollock then I think we should cash in on him. I also believe that a season or two under Hurst and with a decent centre back to guide him then Pollock could improve here and become a very valuable asset in the future.

Already looking forward to seeing him play against Messi during his 22/23 Granada loan spell.

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

You don’t need great pace at CB. It helps but it’s not essential. Look how many years Thug Ramos has survived for Real and Spain with the speed of a lethargic cart horse. People like Jack Charlton, Chris Nichol, Steve Bruce, John Terry … were never really quick. It’s about football brain and positioning more than anything and passing ability comes next.

Lord Futcher wasn't particularly blessed with pace either!

Whilst you can’t learn to be lighting fast you can certainly improve your acceleration and overall speed.

Frank Lampard was told he was going to be released as a youngster as he was too slow. After training was finished he set up his own sprint drills and saw enough of an improvement to keep his place in squad. Clearly he was never Usain Bolt be he was quick enough to cope.

I never saw sweat on Bobby Moore's shirt, and he handled the likes of Pele and Eusebio by superb positioning and brillant timing of his tackles !!

Quoted from pontoonlew

For a large part of his career Ramos has been one of the fastest defenders in the world  

Christ Lew, there must be some slow forwards in Spain then. Ramos gets a head start with a bloody great tattooed arm across the chest, throat, nose or whatever. He used to get skinned when he played full back. But he has made a career out of being a brick wall so fair enough.

Quoted from Marinerdan

Whilst you can’t learn to be lighting fast you can certainly improve your acceleration and overall speed.

Frank Lampard was told he was going to be released as a youngster as he was too slow. After training was finished he set up his own sprint drills and saw enough of an improvement to keep his place in squad. Clearly he was never Usain Bolt be he was quick enough to cope.

Phil Foden was profiled in the Times and he did a lot of sessions with a sprints coach from Liverpool Harriers.i've never understood why clubs don't use sprints and high jump coaches from athletics to improve their players. i see so many rubbish running styles with footballers, even a few sessions of how to accelerate and sprint efficiently would improve players no end

Quoted from forza ivano

Phil Foden was profiled in the Times and he did a lot of sessions with a sprints coach from Liverpool Harriers.i've never understood why clubs don't use sprints and high jump coaches from athletics to improve their players. i see so many rubbish running styles with footballers, even a few sessions of how to accelerate and sprint efficiently would improve players no end

Me neither. Even with the naturally quick players I'm sure this type of coaching would make them a touch quicker and in the long run make them less susceptible to injuries.

Quoted from forza ivano

Phil Foden was profiled in the Times and he did a lot of sessions with a sprints coach from Liverpool Harriers.i've never understood why clubs don't use sprints and high jump coaches from athletics to improve their players. i see so many rubbish running styles with footballers, even a few sessions of how to accelerate and sprint efficiently would improve players no end

I think most clubs do nowadays incorporate a whole range of training methods and approaches, especially at the elite level.  Oddly, despite an absolute boatload of money coming into the game for the last 30 years, football has been quite slow on the uptake of advancements in training methods.  

It's absolutely nailed on that we've never had anyone take a look at anything like that though.  I mean when was the last time running fast got you 3 points on the pitch?

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

Christ Lew, there must be some slow forwards in Spain then. Ramos gets a head start with a bloody great tattooed arm across the chest, throat, nose or whatever. He used to get skinned when he played full back. But he has made a career out of being a brick wall so fair enough.

He’s clocked a top speed of 30.6km/h in the past. What a cart horse.

Seems to be legs in this one.

http://wfcforums.com/index.php?threads/mattie-pollock.58386/


First mentioned on Watford end back in April, lad who first raised it now saying “nearly a done deal”. Would fit in with their recent recruitment having signed a young lad from Rochdale for £125k and would be a straight replacement for some u23s they’ve shifted on.

Said a while ago the best thing for Pollock’s would be to get a move to a club where he’s got access to decent facilities and better players. If your job is to be a lower league stopper, that’s all you’ll get trained to be here.

I did think there was something up with Hurst in his Humberside interview the other day when asked about Grist, and he said something along the lines of “it’s not like we’re suddenly trying to get rid of ALL our young players...Andrew & Jason have been clear that if anything is done it’ll be for the right reasons”.

Good luck to him, hope he gets it over the line.

Quoted from ska face

Seems to be legs in this one.

http://wfcforums.com/index.php?threads/mattie-pollock.58386/


First mentioned on Watford end back in April, lad who first raised it now saying “nearly a done deal”. Would fit in with their recent recruitment having signed a young lad from Rochdale for £125k and would be a straight replacement for some u23s they’ve shifted on.

Said a while ago the best thing for Pollock’s would be to get a move to a club where he’s got access to decent facilities and better players. If your job is to be a lower league stopper, that’s all you’ll get trained to be here.

I did think there was something up with Hurst in his Humberside interview the other day when asked about Grist, and he said something along the lines of “it’s not like we’re suddenly trying to get rid of ALL our young players...Andrew & Jason have been clear that if anything is done it’ll be for the right reasons”.

Good luck to him, hope he gets it over the line.

It’s taken nearly two full pages for a thread about us on an opposition messageboard to descend into fish puns. This is serious.

Quoted from mariner91

He’s clocked a top speed of 30.6km/h in the past. What a cart horse.

In a Seat Ibiza?

Quoted from ska face

Seems to be legs in this one.

http://wfcforums.com/index.php?threads/mattie-pollock.58386/


First mentioned on Watford end back in April, lad who first raised it now saying “nearly a done deal”. Would fit in with their recent recruitment having signed a young lad from Rochdale for £125k and would be a straight replacement for some u23s they’ve shifted on.

Said a while ago the best thing for Pollock’s would be to get a move to a club where he’s got access to decent facilities and better players. If your job is to be a lower league stopper, that’s all you’ll get trained to be here.

I did think there was something up with Hurst in his Humberside interview the other day when asked about Grist, and he said something along the lines of “it’s not like we’re suddenly trying to get rid of ALL our young players...Andrew & Jason have been clear that if anything is done it’ll be for the right reasons”.

Good luck to him, hope he gets it over the line.

Interesting. I noted that in Hurst said that too, and wondered whether that was in reference to anything.

Hilarious that there one of the quotes off here on their forum is this:

"Where were you saying this? Everybody on here was frigging themselves senseless over Pollock at the start of the season and every time I suggested he's not that good I got about 20 red crosses."

Siri, please generate the most Fishy response ever and send it to Watford.

From the pen of old galaxy brain himself -

Quoted from pen penfras

Where were you saying this? Everybody on here was frigging themselves senseless over Pollock at the start of the season and every time I suggested he's not that good I got about 20 red crosses.

Him and Waterfall were the most horrendous partnership and a massive reason we went down. Waterfall can do one and Pollock can leave for a fee

For smaller clubs the add-ons can be far more profitable than transfer fees.  Exeter made millions with Ollie Watkins when he moved from Brentford to Villa. Even more if England status included.

York City also made a lot of money when Ben Godfrey was transferred from Norwich to Everton for a large fee.  Again, even more lucrative if an England call-up clause was included.

I am sure that the club will be as smart as they can be in any transfers.  Better than in the 1980s when the Ramsden’s sold 1 player and gave one away free.  Hard to break these supermarket habits.

Quoted from Mariner_501

Him and Waterfall were the most horrendous partnership and a massive reason we went down. Waterfall can do one and Pollock can leave for a fee

Sorry to disagree but the most horrendous partnership ever was Holloway and Fenty who were the real reason we went down.

https://mobile.twitter.com/AdamLeventhal/status/1397601696310693889

5 year deal at a Prem club, incredible move for the lad. Will do our standing as a decent option for young players no harm either.

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

In a Seat Ibiza?

You have obviously either got something against Sergio or you have not seen enough of him play . He is a mixture of Rio Ferdinand and Ron Harris . Put those together and you have one of the best centre backs in the world

Quoted from barrattstandman

You have obviously either got something against Sergio or you have not seen enough of him play . He is a mixture of Rio Ferdinand and Ron Harris . Put those together and you have one of the best centre backs in the world

I know I’m being tongue in cheek about him but I do regard him as a Grade A thug on the pitch who has got away with so much over the years it’s unbelievable. Shame. I just don’t understand why a player needs to be such a persistent fouler.

Quoted from ska face

https://mobile.twitter.com/AdamLeventhal/status/1397601696310693889

5 year deal at a Premium club, incredible move for the lad. Will do our standing as a decent option for young players no harm either.

100k is a small amount for a 19 year old with almost 50 league appearances though really, I'd like to think we've got some good add ons on that if it's true. I know we've just gone down, but they've just gone up to the Prem. Great move for him though, like you say.

Quoted from Son of Cod

100k is a small amount for a 19 year old with almost 50 league appearances though really, I'd like to think we've got some good add ons on that if it's true. I know we've just gone down, but they've just gone up to the Prem. Great move for him though, like you say.

I'd agree with this, you'd assume that the add on's related to 1st team appearances ahead of massive sell on's.    

Mmm - aint seen any confirmation from GTFC or Watford on this rumour?

Quoted from Son of Cod

100k is a small amount for a 19 year old with almost 50 league appearances though really, I'd like to think we've got some good add ons on that if it's true. I know we've just gone down, but they've just gone up to the Prem. Great move for him though, like you say.

Follow-up tweet suggests substantial add-ons:

https://mobile.twitter.com/AdamLeventhal/status/1397606822387847173

That said, £100k (ish) up-front seems a little on the low side - we got £500k for Ryan Bennett from a League One club well over a decade ago, and we know how mad money at the top-level has gone since then. Other notable League 2* centre-back transfers include:

Ben Godfrey: York to Norwich - £2.7m (18 years old, 12 appearances)

Ben Wilmot: Stevenage to Watford - £1.5m (18 years old, 10 appearances)

Jordan Storey: Exeter to Preston - £765k (20 years old, 13 appearances)

George Edmundson: Oldham to Rangers - £700k (21 years old, 76 appearances)

These are basic examples, I get that. There’s more to scouting young talent than looking at how many games they’ve played by what age, but given the relatively similar profiles and the fact that he is at least good enough to have interested Premier League teams in the first place, surely he has to be worth significantly more than £100k as an up front fee?

Realistically; if Watford sign 50 players like Mattie for £100k plus add-ons and only one makes it, that’s still going to have cost them a lot less than having gone out and bought a proven top flight centre-half in this early to mid-twenties (not withstanding the fact that they’ll probably still be able to recover any losses by selling on those who don’t make the cut for a nominal fee).

The journo in question seems trustworthy, but that kind of figure just doesn’t seem right.

*I know we’re not a League Two club anymore but that’s ultimately the level Pollock has been plying his trade.

I am surprised a Premier League club are in for Pollock if these reports are true. His chronic lack of pace would be ruthlessly exposed higher up the pyramid. I don't even think he would have been first choice in the Conference.

However, if Watford are taking him then the 100,000 pounds quoted is ridiculous. That is chicken feed at clubs awash with money. I cannot see the new owners accepting offers like that. We would be gambling on add ons which probably won't materialise.

Good luck to the boy if it's true, hope he makes it. 2 years ago when he first appeared he was our great hope but the club was a shambles last year and nobody looked good
He'll have access to top quality physical conditioning coaches and be given every chance to succeed

He’ll be a star that boy. Dominant in the air and a good reader of the game. Lacking pace, but a great brain.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

I am surprised a Premier League club are in for Pollock if these reports are true. His chronic lack of pace would be ruthlessly exposed higher up the pyramid. I don't even think he would have been first choice in the Conference.

However, if Watford are taking him then the 100,000 pounds quoted is ridiculous. That is chicken feed at clubs awash with money. I cannot see the new owners accepting offers like that. We would be gambling on add ons which probably won't materialise.

They are paying for potential, though I do think £100.000 is a bit light nowadays.

Looks like more money will be forthcoming if he racks up games, which isn't a given, though I do think he is better than some are giving him credit for.

Good luck to the lad. He must be buzzing if this is true.

Quoted from DB

Sorry to disagree but the most horrendous partnership ever was Holloway and Fenty who were the real reason we went down.

Yeah can’t disagree with that to be fair

£100,000 is paltry IMO. He’s not going to get into a premier league side so the add ons aren’t going to be much cop, unless he’s sold for ten times that.

it suggests he might be loaned back to us. That's probably the best situation. He only had one year left on his contract so no real incentive to sign a new contract with a non-league club. If we can get £100k, a loan back and a load of potential add-ons then it seems a good move.

I'd be amazed if Pollock ever made it at Premier League level, but it would be a great move for the lad if there is some truth in the story. I'd imagine he'd be earning a lot more than he could with us and will presumably have access to better fitness and coaching facilities than at Cheapside. Even if he doesn't get a game at Watford, he'd probably get a move to League One or thereabouts afterwards.

£100k doesn't sound like a lot of money but you have to remember that he was part of a terrible defence at the worst club in the league.

Ultimately, I'd be happy to see him playing for us next season, but wouldn't expect him to be a standout player if he did stay. Certainly replaceable in the shorter term.

See the other amounts quoted above for defenders sold from this level.  It seems hasty to me.

We also got £100k for Rumarn Burrell, Siriki Dembele and I think £150k for Jack Barlow. Just goes to show, there isn’t a “going rate” for these kind of deals.

Anyway, the fee increases “substantially” according to the reports. So if he’s any good we get a load more money, if he’s no good we’ve got £100k for a busted flush. Win win.

Depends on the add-ons, I suppose. Those other players may be more highly-rated than Pollock by those teams involved.

I suppose I'm just confused by it. He's got a marked lack of pace and I can't see how he could be considered a Premier League prospect. I think back in comparison to Bennett who was a much better player at that age and yet has only managed a middling career at the top level.

Think both pollock & waterfall both got hung out to dry & made scapegoats , played in front of a keeper who was shocking under holloway and a midfield of rose & spokes or taylor that offered no protection , coke & matete made a differance to our defending plus hursts negative tactics , these two didn't play in half of the games either & we still got relegated

Baah has just been signed by Watford from rochdale for 125k, but has played less than half the games pollock has. V disappointed if it's only 100k.

Well good luck to the lad, it would give him a fighting chance of getting set up for life. Personally I think the notion of him playing regularly at premier league level is rather fanciful given his epic lack of pace and mobility as well as poor passing ability. Wpuld be delighted for him to prove me wrong though!

Would be quite happy to have him stay - he's exceptionally calm for his age, reads the game well, has good control, is strong as an ox and fantastic in the air as well as chipping in with goals. I'm sure he would be very capable of dealing with NL target men types.

100k does seem rather light but perhaps reflects that nobody else in the prem sees him as prem material either so they can afford to low ball us if they loanback and offer generous add ons?

Depends on what the add ons are but it could be £50k when he makes his debut which could realistically happen in a cup competition, £50k after a few appearances, £50k if Watford stay up, a fee for international appearances and then a sell on clause.

If he "failed" at Watford, a club could still take a punt on him for £500k-£1m.

The alternative is to run down his contract and get next to nothing at tribunal.

If he's gone there then good luck to the lad.
Hes a very good prospect and is better than a lot on here give him credit for.
The only reason his form dropped was because of that male masturbator Hollowhead.

Am told the add ons are extremely good.
Apparently Grist was at Leicester Monday.when he goes it looks like we will have lost 2 good young centre halves to premier clubs for c£125k. How is that fair? Seems hardly worth while having a Youth structure
Ps am also told pollock wont be back on.loan

Quoted from TAGG

The only reason his form dropped was because of that male masturbator Hollowhead.

Didn't I read that he had a hernia, or was it some other sort of injury? That would certainly help to explain his poor form when he was in the team as he looked competent the year before.

think long term, clear to see Pollock has talent. being at watford with their facilities and staff will help him. we we receive financial reward in the long term.

Quoted from forza ivano

Am told the add ons are extremely good.
Apparently Grist was at Leicester Monday.when he goes it looks like we will have lost 2 good young centre halves to premier clubs for c£125k. How is that fair? Seems hardly worth while having a Youth structure
Ps am also told pollock wont be back on.loan

Are Watford still involved with Udinese?

Slightly disappointed it’s only 100k but we’ve just received 100k purely off the back of Dembele getting promoted so if the add ons are anything of that sort we’ll likely see a fair bit more than that over the coming years.

Good luck to him, always gives me a sense of pride when somebody we sell at a young age goes on to achieve something.

We've got idehen and gouldry as well.  So probably be breakthrough season for them.

Quoted from Meza

We've got idehen and gouldry as well.  So probably be breakthrough season for them.

From what I saw from Idehen he's a million miles off at the minute. Holloways fault for chucking him in the deep end mind you, but he looked absolutely all over the place.

Quoted from ska face

We also got £100k for Rumarn Burrell, Siriki Dembele and I think £150k for Jack Barlow. Just goes to show, there isn’t a “going rate” for these kind of deals.

Anyway, the fee increases “substantially” according to the reports. So if he’s any good we get a load more money, if he’s no good we’ve got £100k for a busted flush. Win win.

A busted flush in the Premier League might well not have been in League One though, where we'd have had a significantly better chance of getting a decent sell on. No point on dwelling on it, it's irrelevant now. We can't really be turning down six figure fees let alone be holding out to choose what level/club we sell to.

I guess we can look back at the time we didn't sell Michael Reddy to Bristol City for 300k at the end of the 05/06 season and then he fell off the face of the Earth. Sometimes it's just better to get that money in. Good to see that the reports have now been caveated with the "rise significantly" bit now.

Not properly read this thread, but to me, 100k is a good deal all round.

Pros for Watford:
Young
Played 50? senior games already

Cons:
Just had a relegation on his CV
Injured for 2/3 months of the season

To us, you take into account the injuries
he's got 1 year left, and come next year can leave on a free
he has big potential, so 100k, plus 'significant' add ons is a good deal for both parties IMO

When you look at some of the fees that have been chucked about, £100k does seem a bit poor.

But we don't know the inner details of the deal.  A lot has been said about the add-ons, it may well be that Town insisted more on the add-ons than the actual deal, preferring to take a little less now in the hope that the add-on value will far exceed it in the future.

Dembele felt like a low fee but that's looking likely to net us a windfall far greater than we could have hoped for from the initial fee.  

Much said about Pollock's form last season, he was injured for most of it.  Carrying a hernia I believe.  On a bad day, it's painful getting up the stairs with a hernia problem, never mind playing professional football.  He was badly exposed due to this around him as well.  I still think his lack of pace may be the thing that prevents him making it at a higher level, but who knows what better facilities will bring.  

Good luck to Mattie.

I suggested months ago that he would be better off finding another club.
I don't see why he can't make it at that level.

I really hope he does and prove the football 'experts' on here wrong.

Agreed, as strange as it may seem to some, the boy will be better suited to playing at a higher level IMO. Hope he does well!

It’ll be another season of not playing in front of fans for him though at U23 Premier L level. Hope he’s ready to make the adjustment, footy at that level is very different to the do or die of the lower leagues.

People on here not rating him reeks of the old classic "Rob Atkinson is better than Ryan Bennett" line that used to get thrown about on here when we sold Bennett.

He's clearly got a lot of talent and a mature head on him for someone his age..remember he is only 19 and has loads of time to improve. I also think he's a good passer of the ball!

Good luck to him.

Quoted from sam gy

People on here not rating him reeks of the old classic "Rob Atkinson is better than Ryan Bennett" line that used to get thrown about on here when we sold Bennett.

He's clearly got a lot of talent and a mature head on him for someone his age..remember he is only 19 and has loads of time to improve. I also think he's a good passer of the ball!

Good luck to him.

Whilst I don't remember conforming to that view personally, it has nevertheless surprised me just how far apart the two ended up in their respective careers. Age 30, one was playing in the Premier League whilst the other was knocking about in the Conference North for Guiseley.

The crucial thing to remember is that Bennett was three years younger than Atkinson - that's significant in the context of central defenders. There are very few centre-halves who have the physical and mental maturity, let alone the talent, to play regular EFL football to a competent level at age 18 / 19. Look around the rest of leagues One and Two - it's literally exceptional.

Of course there are flaws in his game, his lack of pace being the obvious one. But in this modern age there's a lot you can do to improve that with the right facilities and conditioning - speed isn't a purely innate quality. He can also build on other areas of his game so that those weaknesses become less of an issue; it's a classic and almost cliché example now but Paul Futcher had no pace whatsoever by the time he rocked up at BP, but it was largely irrelevant as he was intelligent enough to avoid getting into situations where he was exposed.

Pollock has another decade to hit his peak. No guarantees by any means but that's ample time to improve to an unrecognisable degree.

Quoted from sam gy

People on here not rating him reeks of the old classic "Rob Atkinson is better than Ryan Bennett" line that used to get thrown about on here when we sold Bennett.

He's clearly got a lot of talent and a mature head on him for someone his age..remember he is only 19 and has loads of time to improve. I also think he's a good passer of the ball!

Good luck to him.

Let's face it, we're probably the best fan base in the world at not rating our quality players and criminally overrating our shite ones.

Regards Futcher, did he ever have pace or did he adapt his game as his pace left him?

John McDermott was a very, very nippy full-back that used his pace as a great asset in his early career.  As he got older and he developed a few injury problems, his pace left him a little (I don't think he ever became slow) but he had developed his game to the point where he offset his loss of pace with his positional sense and general know-how.  Further up the ladder, Ryan Giggs was a flying winger when he was younger.  Age and injury saw him lose that electric speed but he was good enough to adapt his game in other ways, but playing at that higher level when he had pace exposed him to better players who he could learn from.

Pollock simply doesn't have pace, he might get quicker but he's never going to be fast.  He looks slow at our level, at Championship/Premier League level he'll stand out like a mile.   The question for my mind would be how good are his other attributes and how far can he go with them?  At what point of the league ladder will he reach before his lack of pace holds him up?  Does he read the game well enough now to make up for his lack of speed?  

Going back to the McDermott point, he was able to develop his reading of the game because he played at a higher level which allowed him to play against better players, understand them and learn how to defend against them in ways other than just with his pace.  He didn't have that natural ability to read the game instantly, he was afforded the chance to learn because his other attributes meant he wasn't a liability as a youngster.

I'm not saying Pollock is or would be a liability, but I do wonder what chances he'll be afforded to learn at a higher level and develop his reading of game against and with better players.

I actually hope the lad goes on to do really well in his career.  He's never given anything but his everything when he's pulled on that Town shirt and I think it's a shame we can't hold onto him.

I'm disappointed we never sang HIS NAME IS A FISH, HIS NAME IS A FIIIIIISH, MATTIE POLLOCK, HIS NAME IS A FISH to be honest. We should be ashamed of that. Unless we did and I missed it.

Quoted from Son of Cod

I'm disappointed we never sang HIS NAME IS A FISH, HIS NAME IS A FIIIIIISH, MATTIE POLLOCK, HIS NAME IS A FISH to be honest. We should be ashamed of that. Unless we did and I missed it.

How on earth did we miss an opportunity like that?

My last and abiding memory of Mattie in a Town shirt is after the win at Scunny last season, celebrating in front the away end. The lad looked absolutely pleased as punch, every bit as chuffed as the rest of us. What a feeling that must be for a young kid.

Anyway, putting the financial aspects of any deal to one side, it’s a brilliant opportunity for him. Never saw him give less than 100% for us - you can’t help but wish him all the best.

I think from the moment he made his debut at Exeter in 2018/19 when we won 2-1 it was pretty obvious he'd go on to bigger and better things.

He was immense that day for a 17-year old kid making his first team debut.

Quoted from Les Brechin

I think from the moment he made his debut at Exeter in 2018/19 when we won 2-1 it was pretty obvious he'd go on to bigger and better things.

He was immense that day for a 17-year old kid making his first team debut.

and he took one right in the jaffas on the goal line !

Good job we weren't relying on the pollock transfer fee to pay off fenty

The fee is actually £250,000! Much better, great news

The fee has been confirmed as 250k

That's a very very impressive deal for the club, be interesting to hear if there's anymore add ons.

Cheers Mattie, good luck.

250K into PH Budget hopefully

plus add ons


best of luck to the lad

Quoted from Jarmo.Is.God

Not properly read this thread, but to me, 100k is a good deal all round.

Pros for Watford:
Young
Played 50? senior games already

Cons:
Just had a relegation on his CV
Injured for 2/3 months of the season

To us, you take into account the injuries
he's got 1 year left, and come next year can leave on a free
he has big potential, so 100k, plus 'significant' add ons is a good deal for both parties IMO

150% more than i was happy with.... beautiful

Go smash it Mattie!

Fair play to his agent(his dad) getting this deal sorted, really hope he kicks on and be interesting to watch his progression through the ranks.
Nice little lump into our own transfer coffers and should Dembele go from posh then hopefully we'll not be down Poundland this year and we'll actually spend some money on a decent squad for next season
Anyway, I digress, all the best to Mattie and alsi kudos to Neil Woods too

Good luck to the lad in his future career, hope he earns us a load more wonga.

Nice to be told the value and not the usual undisclosed

I must admit, when the story began to emerge yesterday the figure of £100k just didn't seem right. Assuming we have some healthy add-ons, I feel much better about it than I did yesterday.

Short of an auction between prospective suitors, we of course lost leverage when we dropped out of the league whilst he also he only had one year to run on his contract - I would have had little expectation of any tribunal cutting us a fair deal.

To put this into context, I think this is the third largest initial transfer fee we have received for a player since we sold Jack Lester over 20 years ago (Christ, that makes me feel old). Only Bogle and Bennett have gone for more. It's also almost 1.5x the impressive amount raised by Operation Promotion back in 2015, and it will go a long way in the National League on top of the £100k already received from Peterborough and next season's parachute money. Oh, and of course, no benign loan repayments!

Things are looking up. We just need Dembele to get his arsé in gear, be a good boy now, Siriki...

Good luck Matty.  
UTMM

250k is the initial fee. Got to assume there are add ons so we need him to make 50 first team appearances next season, get into the England squad and see Watford qualify for the Champions League and we'll be laughing.

Quoted from BobbyCummingsTackle

250k is the initial fee. Got to assume there are add ons so we need him to make 50 first team appearances next season, get into the England squad and see Watford qualify for the Champions League and we'll be laughing.

😂 Are you Knut in disguise?

and we will get a little bit of compo if Grist goes to leicester. i've been guessing it will be about the £25,000 we got from Boro for Burrell

Good luck Matty. Old head on young shoulders at times. Hope your career goes from strength to strength.
Definitely a case of once a Mariner always  Mariner as far as I am concerned and will hopefully get the same feeling of pride I got when glimpsing Crofty, Oster, Butterfield or Bennett on the big stage.

Good luck to him!

I'm sure the new owners aren't daft, they're not going to chuck it alll at PH and say 'fill your boots'
I do hope this sale has slightly loosened the wages purse for next season but not dramatically. I'd rather them use it towards better facilities etc. Which I'm sure is the case anyway.

Quoted from lukeo

Good luck to him!

I'm sure the new owners aren't daft, they're not going to chuck it alll at PH and say 'fill your boots'
I do hope this sale has slightly loosened the wages purse for next season but not dramatically. I'd rather them use it towards better facilities etc. Which I'm sure is the case anyway.

Not sure it will have made much difference to the wage budget. Doubt he was in the Green/Hanson category. Nor Macca or Williams, of those still here.

Quoted from lukeo

Good luck to him!

I'm sure the new owners aren't daft, they're not going to chuck it alll at PH and say 'fill your boots'
I do hope this sale has slightly loosened the wages purse for next season but not dramatically. I'd rather them use it towards better facilities etc. Which I'm sure is the case anyway.

‘Paul, we’ve decided to sell pollock on to Watford. We’re gonna get £250k for him’

‘Do I get some extra transfer funds?’

‘You can have £600 mate. We’re getting cushelle in the loo’s’