Farewell Friend

Like many football fans throughout Britain I watched in amazement on Monday as Fergie smuggled Berbatov into Old Trafford while across Manchester Robinho became the most expensive player in British football history as the transfer window slammed shut.

But it was a far less glamorous deal that really interested Exeter fans as our promising young left back George Friend moved to Wolves on deadline day in an deal thought to be worth around £350k with plenty of additional fees. Wolves were thought to have faced stiff competition from other Premiership and Championship clubs to sign Friend but his transfer news came completely out of the blue for City fans.

Friend is undoubtedly a significant loss for the team. He had made the left back slot his own and put in plenty of impressive performances at the tailend of last season and the beginning of this one. Despite the blow of losing such one of our best players, the club deserves plenty of respect for haggling such a good deal that could eventually equal our record transfer sale.

They didn’t bite the hand off the first interested party leaving us with a measly sum for a player who had been at the club for 10 years, but kept rejecting bids until they finally accepted one which the management believed was a fair amount for such an impressive prospect.

This deal also highlights the importance of the youth systems at clubs such as Exeter. The side that clinched the long-awaited return to the Football League featured three players who came through our youth system; Dan Seaborne, George Friend and Dean Moxey whose corner set up the only goal of the game. In addition there is also Liam Sercombe, a young midfielder who made his Football League debut last weekend, tipped by many to be quite a talent.

Throughout all our financial worries of the last five or six years the club stuck by its youth system, a decision which is now paying dividends and a choice that many other clubs should take into account before scrapping their youth systems when a little strapped for cash.

We may not have paid for any signings since our last spell in the League, (apart from Paul Jones who arrived for a 'nominal fee') but we have constantly given chances to young players, either those from our own academy or others that were bought in at a young age and developed at the club. As a fan it’s always that extra bit special to see a home-grown player own coming through and performing so well for your club.

The emphasis on youth development has been a talking point at another ‘City’ this week, on the blue side of Manchester. Man City fans (and in fact chairman Gary Cook) have been quick to reiterate the importance of their very impressive academy, which is producing a plethora of quality footballers, in the club’s exciting future.

Their academy has produced Wright Phillips, Richards, Sturridge, Johnson and Ireland amongst others and there are said to be plenty more bright talents waiting to make the breakthrough (including many England youth internationals). The club were today linked with a move for Ronaldo (the more rotund Brazilian one) who hasn’t played for months following another serious injury. Would all supporters really rather see Ronaldo leading the line and picking up a huge wage than the hugely talented Daniel Sturridge being given a chance alongside Robinho et al?

Peter Evans

Picture courtesy of Cheggers