Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Rip Van We Go Again on July 23, 2011, 05:40:28 PM
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sportinglife.com
Ajax coach Frank de Boer says former Aston Villa midfielder Harry Forrester is close to signing a deal with the Dutch champions.
The 20-year-old was released by Villa in May after his contract expired having joined the Midlands club from Watford as a youth player in 2007.
Forrester, capped at England Under-17 level, did not make a senior appearance for Villa but was a regular performer for their Academy and reserve sides.
He also spent part of last season on loan at Scottish Premier League club Kilmarnock, notching up seven appearances.
The attacking midfielder is currently undergoing a trial period with the Eredivisie giants in hope of earning a contract.
And De Boer is hopeful of bringing the youngster to the Amsterdam Arena on a permanent basis after witnessing him in action for Villa reserves last year.
He told De Telegraaf: "He is close to a deal.
"He's a good player. But it's not only about the two per cent of the time you have got the ball during a game. The 98% you don't have the ball is more important. And I think he has to develop that side of the game.
"Harry will go with Jong Ajax (Ajax's reserve squad) to a training camp in (Dutch region) Zeeland. After that we will make a decision. But it surely looks good."
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Good luck to him.
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I always rated him... maybe his attitude didn't match his talent. Be interesting to see how he gets on. Is he still young enough to play against us in the Yoof Champions League?
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I always rated him... maybe his attitude didn't match his talent. Be interesting to see how he gets on. Is he still young enough to play against us in the Yoof Champions League?
Under 19 competition, article says he's 20!
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Good luck to him.
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For Ajax?
Been scouring the newspapers for this without luck.
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what about official site of Ajax ?
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he has a lot of ability, but his huge ego and bad attitude match that ability...
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How much did he cost again? 1M? dearie me......
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he cost a couple hundred thousand which could have potentially risen to 1m...
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Still overpriced. Anyway i thought big chief Faulkner was talking of us following the AJax system, and they've gone and nicked one of ours.
Doh!
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hindsight is an interesting tool...
if he had applied himself properly, 200k (or 1m asit would have risen to), would have been a snip... like dwight yorke and gareth barry were...
and for me, i would rather we invested a bit of cash and gambled on few players young talented with lots of potential and have a few fall by the wayside, than not bother because it may not work out...
forrester didnt earn a new contract, because the people who deal with him didnt like something about him... as it wasnt his ability, as he is a very talented young man, it is down to his application and attitude...
ajax have mentioned that his talent isnt in question, but he will need to apply himself properly, otherwise he wont make it...
however, i am a little confused mate... are you saying that he wasnt worth 200k, but at the same time criticising the club for letting him go?
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just being arguementative.. ignore me, i'm in a funny mood
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just being arguementative.. ignore me, i'm in a funny mood
fair enough...
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ignore me,
Most intelligent thing you've said in months.
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and for me, i would rather we invested a bit of cash and gambled on few players young talented with lots of potential and have a few fall by the wayside, than not bother because it may not work out...
Quite right. In fact it's something I'd like to see us do more of. Our youth system is very good, but I'd really like to see us bring through the odd real superstar. I think having a policy of investing say £1M a year to try and poach players like Forrester was at that age would have a good chance of reaping big dividends. If say we spent £200K on five players a year, only one of them needs to come off for us to at least get our money back.I'm sure it's easier said than done, but this is what Wenger does at Arsenal, and I don't see why we can't do something similar....
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i agree cb and i would assume that is a direction we are looking at taking for the long term "plan"...
a few examples in recent years, arsenio halfhuid (didnt work out), juan jose serrano de la cruz vidal, (looks good so far), benjamin siegrist (looks a fantastic prospect), daniel johnson (is progressing a lot quicker than i thought he would), etc, etc, etc...
and then the likes of callum robinson, jack grealish, jordan graham, etc, coming direct from the academy, etc...
the academy is going to be vital to our future...
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Opts for Brentford instead (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/brentford/9556292.stm)
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Oh well , you can probably still get cheese in Brentford.
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As would anyone.
I love this that's on the BBC page though.
AJAX v BRENTFORD
Domestic titles - Ajax 30-0 Brentford
European Cups - Ajax 4-0 Brentford
Football League Trophy finals - Ajax 0-3 Brentford
Whoever did that, I salute you!!
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He's chosen Brentford over Ajax. My cynical head tells me that's not the whole story.
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He's chosen Brentford over Ajax. My cynical head tells me that's not the whole story.
I think he thought he would have to wear clogs ..
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from another forum
'I know him. His mother is very ill. Said to only have a few months to live. Ajax would not allow him to travel home weekly so he chose Brentford.'
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from another forum
'I know him. His mother is very ill. Said to only have a few months to live. Ajax would not allow him to travel home weekly so he chose Brentford.'
Sounds like a very good reason. My sympathies and best wishes to Harry and his mom and all the family.
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Sounds like he's learning how to grow-up.
Forrester said: "I need to start playing first-team football and prove myself in a men's environment."
And if it's true about his mam he'll learn even quicker. Best of luck to him.
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I think Ajax have reserve and other affiliated teams lower down the Dutch League. Presumably he would've been playing for them. Makes some sense to choose lower-division English football ahead of lower-division Dutch football. Maybe he got sick of playing for Villa Reserves and wanted first team football. Fair enough.
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As would anyone.
I love this that's on the BBC page though.
AJAX v BRENTFORD
Domestic titles - Ajax 30-0 Brentford
European Cups - Ajax 4-0 Brentford
Football League Trophy finals - Ajax 0-3 Brentford
Whoever did that, I salute you!!
Obviously Brentford can't win the Dutch league but not to win a single European Cup..tut tut