apprentice

I have just heard that Norwich have offered 1 year pro contracts to all but 2 of their current 2nd and 3rd year scholars.  Lets hope that finally Worthy is going to take a leaf out of Ipswichs book and start doing something with them.

SURELY HE MUST BE QUITE PEED OFF HE COULD BE PLAYING FOR THE RESERVES AT FULHAM, AND LIVING IN HIS OWN HOME RATHER THAN A HOTEL (NO DOUBT A NORWICH''S EXPENSE) I AM SURE WHEN HE SIGNED HERE HE EXPECTED TO BE PLAYING FIRST TEAM FOOTBALL, ALL IN ALL IT APPEARS A BAD SIGNING, NOT SAYING THE LAD IS POOR BUT ITS NOT REALLY BENEFITTING ANYONE AT  THE MOMENT.  I AM SURE THAT THERE ARE SCHOLARS WHO ARE GOING TO BE RELASED SOON WHO WOULD LOVE TO BE PLAYING RESERVE MATCHES TO HOPEFULLY GET NOTICED BY WATCHING SCOUTS.  

I THINK THIS IS A VERY VALID POINT, ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR AS THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE SCHOLARS HAVE BEEN ON A 2 YEAR CONTRACT.  I BELIEVE THAT IT MUST BE WORTH OFFERING SOME OF THEM EVEN A 1 YEAR PRO CONTRACT FOR £200-250 PER WEEK (A HUGE INCREASE ON THE £50 THEY GET NOW) AND LET THEM WORK WITH THE FIRST TEAM, PLAY ONLY ONE GAME (RESERVE)  A WEEK AND OF COURSE "MATURE" THIS IS SURELY THE BEST WAY TO SEE WHAT THEY ARE MADE OF AND AT A VERY SMALL COST.  SOME OF THE BOYS COULD ACTUALLY BE RELEASED BEFORE THEY ARE 18 YEARS OLD AND THAT JUST SEEMS TOO YOUNG IMO.

Rumour has it he will not sign for Norwich on his 17th birthday but will wait till the end of the season when he will sign a 5 year deal.  Lets hope thats true, Shacks and Spillane very exciting future centre half partnership.

Seen him play loads both at youth level (whilst still at school and not training full time) and reserve level.  Will be imo the biggest name to come through the academy both comfortable in central midfield of central defence, very strong, quick and agile.  Still a little rough round the edges but will be one to watch for the future for sure.  One slight minus point seems to be a little bit of a hot head at times, and picks up silly bookings but im sure this can be nutured. VERY VERY EXCITING PROSPECT!!!!

Billy Jones absolute brilliant player seen him play often as a youngster for England etc. but just one problem TOO YOUNG for worthy to play in first team.

Sorry Charlies Dad way off on this one, Patrick Bexfield is not a left back, he is a centre midfilder who has helped out at right back.  The left back for the youth team is either Adam Gusterson or Robert Eagle both of whom were playing other roles last night.  Patrick is certainly not up to first team standard, in fact is normally down the list of starters for the reserves.  So I dont see that happening.  Shacks is left footed dont forget, so may well be that he slots into that position if needed.  But I am sure if they were that desperate they would probably play Rossi Jarvis, he has played left back before although right back is his favoured position.  

We certainly had the chances to win, Ryan Jarvis, Ian Henderson, Rossi Jarvis, Andrew Fisk, Bally Smart all missing one on ones Ryan Jarvis missed an easy header (bit like Ashtons for West Ham v Bolton) so all in all the chances were there.  What I find extremely worrying is the effectiveness of the pros like Dixon maybe he just doesn''t want to play ressie football.  I think on the face of it 500k looks an awful lot of money for him, when you see teams above us getting much cheaper/free players doing a better job.   

HE CERTAINLY DIDNT GET THEM IN ON SUNDAY AS THEY WERE HOME LATE FROM THE FIGHT IN LONDON (HOPE THEY ENJOYED THEMSELVES AFTER SUCH A WONDERFUL DISPLAY IN THE AFTERNOON - THEY DESERVED IT). 

GREAT POINT, AND DONT FORGET WE ARE GOOD ENOUGHT TO PLAY IN THE FA PREMIER ACADEMY LEAGUE!!! SURELY THAT SHOULD COUNT FOR SOMETHING.  THE FA SET UP THE ACADEMY STRUCTURE SURELY THIS SHOULD BE PART OF THE AGREEMENT.  

I Wonder if this would have had any bearing on Rossi Jarvis signing, or maybe Michael Spillane will now think twice when he is due to sign as where are these young lads now going to play regular football.  Rossi will rot under Worthington, Michael may be a bit luckier, but Worthington is not known for his love of playing young talent.  I think it is a shame, but this year has been a bit of a farce with hardly any pros being available (Monday was an exception) hence the fact they are sitting at the bottom of the league.  I suppose it probably would not improve next season (unless first team squad remain fit)!!!! So its back to playing reserve games about once every three weeks then at Colney on a Tuesday afternoon as it used to be.  SHAME.

THE BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NORWICH & IPSWICH RESERVES IS THAT IPSWICH RESERVES PLAY ONLY RESERVE GAMES, NORWICH RESERVES PLAY BOTH ACADEMY AND RESERVES.  SO ALOT OF THEM PLAY 90 MINS ON SAT AND 90 MINS ON MONDAY NIGHT PLUS TRAIN ON SUNDAY THATS PROBABLY THE REASON.

I couldnt agree with you more.  The problem now is that the 2nd and 3rd years scholars will probably be released next month without really having a chance.  Nigel Worthington never watches a youth match and never an away reserve game.  I know he watches some home reserve matches but it appears he watches them when he is checking the fitness of any of his first team members returning from injury.  I do believe that now that the lads only get 2 years whilst it is a fair time to assess them, I feel that many will slip through the net ie. those that develop a bit later than others etc. as you will be telling some "boys" they are not good enough when they are still only 17 years old. it.  I have heard that other clubs are offering their 2nd year scholars a 1 year pro contract (probably very low wages) which I feel would be a good idea so the players can train regular with the frist team, only play reserve team football (not academy as well) and then you may get a good insight into what they are made off..      

[quote user="pete"]All this Worthy is a decent man rubbish, look how he treats players he falls out with.  He strikes me as arrogant and stubborn to the point of being single mindedly wrong in most things he does.[/quote] HERE HERE THAT IS WHAT I HEAR FROM PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH THE CLUB!!!!

THE 1 HOUR RULE ONLY APPLIES TO BOYS UNDER 16 ONCE THEY LEAVE SCHOOL AND BECOME SCHOLARS THEY LIVE IN DIGS IN AND AROUND COLNEY. ALSO IT IS ONE HOUR TRAVELLING TIME DONT FORGET MOST FLIGHTS ARE AT LEAT 45-60 MINS SO YOU WOULD HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT TRAVELLING TO/FROM AIRPORT. BUTS BIGGEST DOWNSIDE IS MONEY!!!!!!

Most of the Academy payments come from the FA if Norwich are spending a million on it a year I would like to see the accounts of where it is going, they run on the minimum payments to scholars and minimum amount of scholars hence the boys playing twice a week and even travel expenses and trips abroad are funded largely by FONCY.  Im sure the coaches in the younger age groups aren''t paid the earth as they are only part time positions  I know they do kit the boys out well with tracksuits training kit etc, but even so 1k a year seems awfully excessive to me.[*-)]. 

He has signed a new long contract, but personally I doubt he would come propably needs to establish himself and maybe not get the reputation of moving all the time as he was only at WBA for a short while, followed by Leeds for a short while he can be forgiven for moving onwards and upwards so quickly but to come to Norwich now I think would be foolish of him.

Not all has beens and casts offs I would say a fantastic mix Old and Young and they are certainly playing for their manager and what a fab post match interview he was absolutely thrilled and showed loads of emotion.  Why did we let him go.[:@]

Couldn''t agree more CM I know several academy boys and they are increasingly embarrased by the way in which the academy is being run.  Other clubs seem to manage on FA funding and let me tell you the money they get from the FA does not go to scholars "pocket money" as they are on the minimum allowed and some wages actually dropped by over 30% this season.  

Danny Haynes came to Norwich about 18 months ago for a trial along with a fellow Chartlon player Andrew Cave Brown.  But for whatever reason he was not signed at that time, Norwich had offered only 4 scholarships Joe Lewis (Keeper) Adam Gusterson & Rossi Jarvis (Defenders) and Andrew Fisk (Defensive Midfiled) you think they would have taken a chance on both the Charlton boys but they only signed Andrew Cave Brown (they did not offer Danny Haynes) Whilst I know that Ipswich bring their youngsters on differently to Norwich they do not allow them to play 2 games a week ie reserves & academy I cannot believe that this lad has improved this much (and developed pace) in that short time surely there is something wrong in the way in which we select and nurture our youngsters. PS I AGREE I THOUGHT HE WAS VERY GOOD TODAY.

WINNING "GOAL" SCORED BY A KID DEEMED "NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR OUR ACADEMY" WHEN ON TRIAL IN 2004.  JUST GOES TO SHOW EITHER SCUM COACHES DO A BETTER JOB OR SCUM COACHES SPOT BETTER PROSPECTS.

My prediction   Green, Flem, Rehmen, Doherty, Drury, Hooze, Safri, Ethuhu, McVeigh JJ, Earnshaw Subs:  Gallacher, Hucks, Thorne, Shacks, Colin

MAYBE HE WILL DROP HUCKS AGAIN LIKE HE DID AT PORTMAN ROAD, SEEMED TO WORK WELL THERE!!!!

Here Here every time this "***" opens his mouth it appears to be a lie, he would be better off keeping quiet, or better still moving out of the club.  I know someone who sat with Ashton yesterday in the exec box and he said that he was definitely not going to West Brom or Everton so it was totally obvious the deal to West Ham was done then.  Also no doubt he will be "fit" for the FA cup on Saturday (was the injury another lie, or part of the West Ham Deal)  

WELL DON''T FORGET CREWE GET 25% OF ANY SELL ON FEE SO THE PROFIT NORWICH GET WILL BE REDUCED ANYWAY.