George Shepherd (15 Viewers)

[BaldyJ]

Man United monitor exciting youngster at Championship side

The 16-year-old was named on the first team bench for Saturday's game against Blackburn. It comes after he impressed making his first appearance for the club's U21s earlier this season.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Seems he has suitors.

 

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[Ccfcisparks]

Great player!

 

[Ccfcisparks]

Total rubbish.

 

[David O'Day]

Guess that's why he is on the bench. To show him what he ca have instead of u21 football and a free transfer at 22

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[TomRad85]

Guess that's why he is on the bench. To show him what he ca have instead of u21 football and a free transfer at 22

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Was Charlie McCann the last one to try it? I get the appeal of immediately getting more money but it's so often career suicide long term getting swallowed up by these clubs.

 

[shepardo01]

Know somebody close to him. Never been mentioned.

Mind you, some clubs scouting networks go deep. Arsenal were watching Will Bapaga for a long time!!

 

[Martw]

One of those my mate said stories but he has a friend whose son plays at leicesters academy and is friend of Shephard. He reckons he is a player and then some for his age ! Get him signed up I say

 

[BaldyJ]

You would think being an “attacking midfielder with an eye for goal” he is currently in the best place. Here’s hoping he sticks around for bit, but if the interest is real then money usually talks.

 

[David O'Day]

Was Charlie McCann the last one to try it? I get the appeal of immediately getting more money but it's so often career suicide long term getting swallowed up by these clubs.

Yeah, sure he was paid well for a couple of years but his career isn't what it could of been


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[ccfc1234]

Players going to the big six, how many actually make it? United's academy is littered with talented kids who never get near the first team. They loan them out, they lose years bouncing around, and by 22 they're at a League One club wondering what happened.


At Coventry right now, George is training with a squad that's top of the Championship, unbeaten, and playing some of the most attacking football in the division. He's now made the matchday squad. He's progressing through the U21s. The pathway is right there in front of him and with the added bonus of Lampards expert guidance.

 

[shmmeee]

If he’s good enough to get some minutes it’s a position we’re very short in. Think a move now would be silly tbh. But I’m biased.

 

[David O'Day]

Players going to the big six, how many actually make it? United's academy is littered with talented kids who never get near the first team. They loan them out, they lose years bouncing around, and by 22 they're at a League One club wondering what happened.


At Coventry right now, George is training with a squad that's top of the Championship, unbeaten, and playing some of the most attacking football in the division. He's now made the matchday squad. He's progressing through the U21s. The pathway is right there in front of him and with the added bonus of Lampards expert guidance.

problem is even an u21 player at a big 6 team is on a fortune compared to what we would pay, so it's cash vs the chance of 1st football
if you are a kid from an estate in cov it is hard to turn down that money

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

One of those my mate said stories but he has a friend whose son plays at leicesters academy and is friend of Shephard. He reckons he is a player and then some for his age ! Get him signed up I say

Can’t till 17 I don’t think

 

[Ccfcisparks]

Aren't scholars unable to sign professional terms and therefore limited on how much a club can pay them?

If thats the case surely its better to stay at us until 18 where if hes that good he will be playing fairly often?

 

[Gynnsthetonic]

Did we have a couple of academy players the last few years, one went to Villa and the other to Man City?

 

[SkyBlueSam01]

He and a few of the other standouts in his age group have been CCFC ST holders and huge fans since they were little so hopefully that influences things

This generation have come through at a genuinely successful club with a positive environment and winning mentality unlike those lads who came through when the club was a joke and going elsewhere was a more attractive proposition

 

[HadjiChippo]

problem is even an u21 player at a big 6 team is on a fortune compared to what we would pay, so it's cash vs the chance of 1st football
if you are a kid from an estate in cov it is hard to turn down that money

especially in a career that can be taken from you very quickly through injury/bad luck.

 

[skyblue025]

We would lose him for peanuts if he went before he was 17 and signed pro terms. Hopefully his love of Cov and the pathway to the first team will keep him here.

 

[shmmeee]

Did we have a couple of academy players the last few years, one went to Villa and the other to Man City?

Would have thought they’d all travel by coach together so this sort of thing doesn’t happen.

 

[PVA]

problem is even an u21 player at a big 6 team is on a fortune compared to what we would pay, so it's cash vs the chance of 1st football
if you are a kid from an estate in cov it is hard to turn down that money

Yeah it's easy to sit here as people that never have to make this decision and say 'you're better off staying at Cov'.

It's fair to say he (or anyone) could go to Man U get released only to then bounce around the lower leagues. But he'd have made good money doing it.

He could stay here and get released at 19 too. There's no guarantee he makes it if he stays here either.

Very difficult decision for any young player and their parents.

Obviously I hope he stays here and smashes it.

Seems to have come from nowhere though and jumped ahead of some of the older academy players e.g. Betjeman who is a CM and has featured in pre season games, maybe even been a sub for the first team?

 

[GC1976]

He’s had his head turned I bet by a Premier League club and we are trying to convince him to stay by a place on the bench. Cant remember the last time I saw a name on the first team sheet I had no idea who it was.

 

[shmmeee]

I wouldn’t be moving heaven and earth for these kids. We have one every couple of years and none of them ever make it long term. If they don’t realise that progression is more important than saying you played for Man Utd (cough youth team cough) they probably haven’t got the right mentality anyway.

 

[Yorkshire SB]

Yeah it's easy to sit here as people that never have to make this decision and say 'you're better off staying at Cov'.

It's fair to say he (or anyone) could go to Man U get released only to then bounce around the lower leagues. But he'd have made good money doing it.

He could stay here and get released at 19 too. There's no guarantee he makes it if he stays here either.

Very difficult decision for any young player and their parents.

Obviously I hope he stays here and smashes it.

Seems to have come from nowhere though and jumped ahead of some of the older academy players e.g. Betjeman who is a CM and has featured in pre season games, maybe even been a sub for the first team?

Yep, move to a big club and you mitigate some risk and provide some certainty in terms of income

Higher risk staying, but greater rewards as there is a chance you can break through.

 

[shmmeee]

Also we could genuinely be above Man Utd this time next year. They’re hardly what they were.

 

[shmmeee]

Yeah it's easy to sit here as people that never have to make this decision and say 'you're better off staying at Cov'.

It's fair to say he (or anyone) could go to Man U get released only to then bounce around the lower leagues. But he'd have made good money doing it.

He could stay here and get released at 19 too. There's no guarantee he makes it if he stays here either.

Very difficult decision for any young player and their parents.

Obviously I hope he stays here and smashes it.

Seems to have come from nowhere though and jumped ahead of some of the older academy players e.g. Betjeman who is a CM and has featured in pre season games, maybe even been a sub for the first team?

You say that but you’re going into a factory situation at these clubs. A club like Cov you’re going to stand out and get personal attention. So it comes down to quality of training and TBH I’d be amazed if there’s a massive difference once you get to 16.

 

[TomRad85]

Also we could genuinely be above Man Utd this time next year. They’re hardly what they were.

Yeh its not quite the same as when people used to try and convince themselves staying here was better when we were a middling league 1 team (or worse!)
We're an attractive club now.

 

[ptr]

Poor kid. Didn’t get off the bench yesterday and now being linked with Man U.

Might be good to loan him to them to get some game time.

 

[nicksar]

Know somebody close to him. Never been mentioned.

Mind you, some clubs scouting networks go deep. Arsenal were watching Will Bapaga for a long time!!

My youngest Daughter knows George and my eldest Granddaughter went to school with him... he's a great kid, just told them he's been on the subs bench for the first team, they are delighted!!!.
His family must be really proud of him.

 

[SBT]

I wouldn’t be moving heaven and earth for these kids. We have one every couple of years and none of them ever make it long term. If they don’t realise that progression is more important than saying you played for Man Utd (cough youth team cough) they probably haven’t got the right mentality anyway.

We are not going to be a bigger team than Man Utd by the time this kid decides to turn pro, and they would offer him a much better standard of training, more money etc. It’s easy as Coventry fans to sniff at a kid deciding to take a chance at one of the world’s biggest clubs, but the arguments for doing so are obvious.

In all likelihood the unfortunate reality is that the odds are against him succeeding either here or there, but our own club is itself a better prospect for young players than it has been for years, and we will enjoy the benefits sooner or later.

 

[Gynnsthetonic]

Know somebody close to him. Never been mentioned.

Mind you, some clubs scouting networks go deep. Arsenal were watching Will Bapaga for a long time!!

Your not his dad are you?

 

[Samo]

I wish they would update the youth team pages on the official website.
This lad isn't even on there!

 

[wingy]

There's a reason I think, maybe if they actually used the long hand to mailshot the fans who would appreciate it It's saying something that secrecy is a weapon but it seems it's one defensive that prevents poaching,he certainly shouldn't make a decision yet hell we may supercede them next season.

 

[Briles]

I wish they would update the youth team pages on the official website.
This lad isn't even on there!

He hasn't signed a pro contract yet has he?

 

[shepardo01]

He hasn't signed a pro contract yet has he?

Not old enough.

 

[Samo]

He hasn't signed a pro contract yet has he?

He'd still be on the U18 page though surely?