Also easy to forget how young he is because he came from elsewhere. He's only 20, younger than Tyreece and Leaburn and only a month older than Karoy. I think he gets assessed much more as a first teamer than players of an equivalent age who have come through the academy. I really hope we can keep him
I think this lad is quality, I really hope we can keep hold of him, but I feel we will need to get promoted. I think he is the sort of player if you really get behind him he will respond, Really hope he can kick on for the rest of the season and score a few goals to give him that extra spark!
As has been said, our recent upturn in form almost coincides with his return to the team. Down either wing he is a force for opponents to reckon with, he is a powerful young man. Sign up up to a long term deal a s a p please
At the kids signing events, Small, Edwards and AMB always stand out as being really likeable, friendly and outgoing individuals. All very decent young talents.
It does appear that Thierry hasn't had it easy but is also very single minded and knows what he wants- he went from WBA as a kid to a PL club in Everton and was the youngest player to make his debut for the club when still 16. He then turned down the opportunity to turn pro at 17 and rejected what David Unsworth described as an "unbelievable offer" to sign a contract but instead chose to join Southampton who offered £1.5m for him. Everton wanted £5m and the deal was settled via a tribunal. He was then substituted at half time in his one and only appearance for Southampton, went out on loan to Port Vale and St Mirren (twice) but was released by mutual consent a year ago.
That's a lot of upheaval and combined with the injuries that isn't easy. If anything, though, my experience of youngsters encountering those things is that it is better for them to do so before "they've made it" because they have that experience to learn from. A lot of youngsters that are thrown in early, are successful and in the limelight and then can't cope when things do start to go wrong because of that weight of expectation. Vardy is one that faced rejection at a young age but who used the experience to make him the player he is. One such example of someone who had it all at a young age might be Dele Alli - debut for MK Dons at 16, regularly playing in the PL at 19 and then a regular England international. He has some well documented issues, hasn't kicked a ball in anger for two years and has just signed for Como but is still only 28 and should be at that age in his prime. Time will tell if he has the mental strength and hunger to come back,
Thierry mentioned in the video that he has a strong network to support him who support him home and away which is so important as is the family aspect of the Club. He's still only 20 and fingers crossed that he kicks on now and stays injury free because he could turn out to be one exceptional signing.
I'd offer Aneke a new Contract simply to try and entice Small - They're clearly good friends, and wonder if the former staying will be an incentive for Small to stick around longer.
It does appear that Thierry hasn't had it easy but is also very single minded and knows what he wants- he went from WBA as a kid to a PL club in Everton and was the youngest player to make his debut for the club when still 16. He then turned down the opportunity to turn pro at 17 and rejected what David Unsworth described as an "unbelievable offer" to sign a contract but instead chose to join Southampton who offered £1.5m for him. Everton wanted £5m and the deal was settled via a tribunal. He was then substituted at half time in his one and only appearance for Southampton, went out on loan to Port Vale and St Mirren (twice) but was released by mutual consent a year ago.
That's a lot of upheaval and combined with the injuries that isn't easy. If anything, though, my experience of youngsters encountering those things is that it is better for them to do so before "they've made it" because they have that experience to learn from. A lot of youngsters that are thrown in early, are successful and in the limelight and then can't cope when things do start to go wrong because of that weight of expectation. Vardy is one that faced rejection at a young age but who used the experience to make him the player he is. One such example of someone who had it all at a young age might be Dele Alli - debut for MK Dons at 16, regularly playing in the PL at 19 and then a regular England international. He has some well documented issues, hasn't kicked a ball in anger for two years and has just signed for Como but is still only 28 and should be at that age in his prime. Time will tell if he has the mental strength and hunger to come back,
Thierry mentioned in the video that he has a strong network to support him who support him home and away which is so important as is the family aspect of the Club. He's still only 20 and fingers crossed that he kicks on now and stays injury free because he could turn out to be one exceptional signing.
The lad has obviously not had a settled career so far. When speaking he genuinely seems to love it here. Hopefully he recognises that a decent spell spent at a club will only help his progress and he wants to stay
What a difference Small and TC are making to this team. Neither have a consistent end product yet, but they're threatening throughout every game and playing with real confidence and belief. They keep going and try again even when things don’t come off.
We've got a lot of solid reliable types elsewhere in the side, some who are arguably better players, but we’d be a completely different and much worse team without these two. They must be getting noticed, both will have a future at a higher level if they keep improving - they’re only 20 and 21, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t.
I would absolutely love him to sign a contract, even thought some of the criticism at the start was a bit unwarranted. If he came through our academy, he'd have never have got as much criticism I don't think.
Judging by that interview, it comes across to me he's found a home here.
He's young, has an extremely high ceiling, is the right character, and seems very well liked among his peers. He also happens to be a very decent player right now.
I'd absolutely love it if we signed him. Small, Edwards and Ramsay is genuinely such a good pool of full-backs for this level.
Tempting to hope that a nomadic player enjoying the best period of his career where he's finally found a home would sign a contract to carry on the good times but you just have to look at CBT to see that that isn't always the route they'll take. CBT had bounced around a few clubs before getting relegated from L1 with Tranmere playing a bit-part role and then playing even less at L2 level. He finally stayed somewhere for a while, found his form, found himself very popular with the fans and jumped ship at the first opportunity he got. He's now failing again elsewhere. I really hope Small signs an extension and is here for years to come but I've long since stopped being surprised when money and the offer of something new at a higher level wins a player over.
Comments
Really hope he can kick on for the rest of the season and score a few goals to give him that extra spark!
That's a lot of upheaval and combined with the injuries that isn't easy. If anything, though, my experience of youngsters encountering those things is that it is better for them to do so before "they've made it" because they have that experience to learn from. A lot of youngsters that are thrown in early, are successful and in the limelight and then can't cope when things do start to go wrong because of that weight of expectation. Vardy is one that faced rejection at a young age but who used the experience to make him the player he is. One such example of someone who had it all at a young age might be Dele Alli - debut for MK Dons at 16, regularly playing in the PL at 19 and then a regular England international. He has some well documented issues, hasn't kicked a ball in anger for two years and has just signed for Como but is still only 28 and should be at that age in his prime. Time will tell if he has the mental strength and hunger to come back,
Thierry mentioned in the video that he has a strong network to support him who support him home and away which is so important as is the family aspect of the Club. He's still only 20 and fingers crossed that he kicks on now and stays injury free because he could turn out to be one exceptional signing.
I'm less confident he will do though.
We've got a lot of solid reliable types elsewhere in the side, some who are arguably better players, but we’d be a completely different and much worse team without these two. They must be getting noticed, both will have a future at a higher level if they keep improving - they’re only 20 and 21, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t.
Judging by that interview, it comes across to me he's found a home here.
He's young, has an extremely high ceiling, is the right character, and seems very well liked among his peers. He also happens to be a very decent player right now.
I'd absolutely love it if we signed him. Small, Edwards and Ramsay is genuinely such a good pool of full-backs for this level.
Come on Thierry, you know it makes sense.