Thank God, I believed and believed he'd come good but clearly a poor man's Ravel Morrison.
TFH has probably scored more goals in a handful of games than Watt did in nearly 60 - complete waste of space and the team unity is now strangely much, much better since he did one.
I was a fan of his, but I don't think I know a player right now who has become instantly as obsessed with social media / general waffling about meaningless bollocks as him.
I was a fan of his, but I don't think I know a player right now who has become instantly as obsessed with social media / general waffling about meaningless bollocks as him.
It's because other players train and get match fit while he sits on his arse all day
"To be completely honest with you, the last eight months there I felt totally out of place. My time at Charlton was up for a while and I knew I needed to find somewhere I felt wanted and needed."
This from a guy who is on his 9th different club at the age of 23.
Broken toe ? For TW to sustain an actual sporting injury is a miracle akin to the Virgin Mary's Immaculate Conception.
OHL are on a wonderful run, only blemished by the Cup defeat at STVV. For a vital game away to their closest rivals, why on Earth would you not go along to support your buds. The fact is that he probably doesn't have very many close personal friends, and it could well be he doesn't spend so much time in Belgium anyway.
When Pearson finally gets to meet this enigmatic figure, feet are not going to touch.
Tone's a likeable guy and no-one would wish ill on him, but he is his own worst enemy and I really hope his closest mates and his professional support do all they can to help get his career back on track.
Broken toe ? For TW to sustain an actual sporting injury is a miracle akin to the Virgin Mary's Immaculate Conception.
OHL are on a wonderful run, only blemished by the Cup defeat at STVV. For a vital game away to their closest rivals, why on Earth would you not go along to support your buds. The fact is that he probably doesn't have very many close personal friends, and it could well be he doesn't spend so much time in Belgium anyway.
When Pearson finally gets to meet this enigmatic figure, feet are not going to touch.
Tone's a likeable guy and no-one would wish ill on him, but he is his own worst enemy and I really hope his closest mates and his professional support do all they can to help get his career back on track.
At 23/24 the fella has had more clubs than Jack Nicklaus.
He'll never learn, he's no doubt had numerous pieces of advice and nothing changes.
"To be completely honest with you, the last eight months there I felt totally out of place. My time at Charlton was up for a while and I knew I needed to find somewhere I felt wanted and needed."
This from a guy who is on his 9th different club at the age of 23.
Maybe he would feel wanted and needed if he put some effort into his training and got fit and played a vital part in the team.
With just the one goal in 500 minutes playing for OH Leuven this season, it doesn't look if our former "talisman" is showing any signs of turning his career round under Nigel Pearson. Interesting article about his demise from scoring "that" goal whilst at Celtic to where he is now:
The world now knew the name of Tony Watt and the potential he held. The future of his career formulated in the minds of football fans in an instant; continue to score bags of goals for Celtic, win trophies and earn a lucrative move to one of the game’s modern giants.
This vision of the future, sadly, would never materialise.
The 2013/14 season proved to be the beginning of the end for Watt. After making a name for himself in the previous campaign and amassing almost 30 appearances, he understandably thought this was to be his first season as a guaranteed starter, a feeling exacerbated with the sale of Celtic’s top goalscorer and talisman Gary Hooper. Lennon evidently disagreed, using his summer funds to purchase Amido Baldé for £1.8 million and Teemu Pukki for £2.4 million; not inconsiderable sums for Celtic at that time.
A medium was found with a loan move to Belgian top-flight side Lierse. Understandably downbeat with the development, Watt did his best to paint the move in a positive light. “I had a meeting at Celtic and got told there was an option to come here. It’s a good opportunity and I’d like to give it a try.”
To say his time in Belgian football was eventful would be an understatement. His spell at Lierse was characterised by Watt enduring a series of running battles with coach Stanley Menzo. A steady stream of goals was not enough to prevent Menzo from dubbing him “fat and lazy”. Watt’s response was as comical as it was infuriating for his increasingly beleaguered gaffer. After netting a brace in the Belgian Cup, Watt took off his top to display his naked upper body, displaying the fact that he was indeed not fat. Explaining his actions Watt said plainly: “I just wanted to show that I am not fat. I just wanted to show everyone that I am in prime condition.”
If Watt thought that his parent coach Lennon would bat his corner and stand up for him, he was desperately mistaken. When prompted about his loanee’s troubled time, Lennon said: “There’s an immaturity about Tony and the reason for putting him on loan was we wanted him to sample a different culture and a different type of football. If it’s not going well, then he needs to knuckle down and make it work. The onus is on him.”
Watt’s Jekyll-and-Hyde spell at Lierse was hyperbolically summed up by Menzo. “Today I am glad we have him, but tomorrow I might want to murder him! That’s just how it is with him.”
Still, his time there was solid, as he scored a credible nine goals from 15 games, good enough to secure a move up the footballing ladder to Belgian big boys Standard Liège in a deal rumoured to exceed £1 million. It was hoped that Watt could lay his roots and establish a strong base for his career to blossom. Sadly, the move was the beginning of a nomadic period that continues to this day. His failed period in Liège yielded just three goals, forcing the club’s owner, Roland Duchatelet, to transfer him to his other plaything, Charlton Athletic.
Charlton, Cardiff, Blackburn and Hearts all took a gamble on Watt, only to be left dejected. A predictable pattern emerged any time Watt joined a new club; the coach would initially be impressed with his talent, only to be dejected by the lethargy that quickly infected his game. Unbelievably, since Watt’s loan at Lierse came to an end nearly four years ago, the once buoyant forward has only scored 20 competitive goals.
As with so many precocious forwards who break forth with a talent so immense, Watt seems to be gripped by arrested development. This inability to throw off the shackles of perpetual adolescence has been visible from his very first trial at Airdrie. When asked to attend the game in smart but casual attire, Watt had his own interpretation of the instruction. Ex-skipper Lovering takes up the tale: “In football terms, the boys knew that meant club tracksuits. All the lads arrived in their trackie bottoms and polo-shirts. Tony appeared in a pair of Bermuda shorts, a T-shirt and a rucksack.”
Watt can now be found plying his trade in the Belgian second division for OH Leuven, where he has become a vocal presence on Twitter with his movie review site Watt to Watch. In case you were wondering, his reviews are shallow yet oddly enjoyable. Watt has carved a life for himself that is the envy of most of the world, one that shouldn’t be sniffed at, yet a career that is a million miles from the vision many Celtic fans held after he captured the hearts and minds of so many that night against Barcelona. While he is still at the age of just 23, it regrettably looks as though he will require a miracle to fulfil the promise he once displayed.
After the maelstrom of attention his Champions League goal garnered him, Watt’s coach Neil Lennon said to his impressionable gem: “Don’t let this become all you are remembered for.” Sadly, for Watt, Lennon’s words proved to be more precognitive than anyone could have imagined
Who cares, was a disgrace for us at times, most notably at Blackburn in what has to be the worst performance I've ever seen from a player for Charlton. Air shots, falling over, clearly still pissed.
He was briefly the most exciting player I’d remembered seeing since Scott Parker. I think he had six great games for us in the first season he joined.
In football there are very few times that one can get that excited about a player (certainly watching Charlton) so I’ll always have fond memories of him but in the end he failed to justify his presence with us.
Sad for us, sad for him and sad for anyone that commits to paying him a living. I just hope, for his sake, that he shows more maturity with his money than he does with his attitude otherwise he, really, is going to have a tough life as soon as he (or his agent) runs out of suckers to pay him to play football - or not play, as the case may be.
He was briefly the most exciting player I’d remembered seeing since Scott Parker. I think he had six great games for us in the first season he joined.
In football there are very few times that one can get that excited about a player (certainly watching Charlton) so I’ll always have fond memories of him but in the end he failed to justify his presence with us.
Sad for us, sad for him and sad for anyone that commits to paying him a living. I just hope, for his sake, that he shows more maturity with his money than he does with his attitude otherwise he, really, is going to have a tough life as soon as he (or his agent) runs out of suckers to pay him to play football - or not play, as the case may be.
Sadly, if he's not woken up by the age of 24 he's unlikely to. He'll join a depressingly long list of those who had the talent but pissed it away. I suspect he won't even still be playing professional football when he's 30. Once word gets round a player is not worth the effort, they're done. There's always a dozen teenagers with the ability and the attitude ready to grab their chance.
That was excellent and most enjoyable at the time but this, being the highlight of his time with us, probably sums him up best. Wasting a couple of minutes and getting two players booked at the end of a game.
I hadn’t realised at the time, but do now, that he was so knackered that he could hardly walk. That is the other thing about Watt that he will always be remembered for - he was never fully match fit. Not once!
The "too much too soon" cliche could not be more appropriate in Watt's case.
Jamie Vardy was released by Wednesday when he was 16 because he was too small and played non League football and worked in a factory right up until he signed for Leicester when he was 25. The same could be said about George Boyd and Lawrie Wilson who didn't get play League football 'til they were 22 and 23 respectively.
As much as talent is a vital commodity, without the right attitude, no player will do anything in sport. If Watt wants to know what hard work brings he could do worse than to look at another 24 year old - Harry Kane - who was told, as a youngster, by Arsenal that he was being released. He's probably worth £100m plus now. I wouldn't give a £100 for Watt at the moment.
I’d imagine a night out with Tony would be decent. Birds, booze, bugle horn finished off with a chicken shish.
Oh yeah. There’s little doubt that he would be a great bloke to be around. I got the impression that all the players loved him - until associating with him affected their careers.
He is the kind of bloke that you would love to have on speed dial but wouldn’t want your children or employees to know as his attitude could rub off on them.
I’d imagine a night out with Tony would be decent. Birds, booze, bugle horn finished off with a chicken shish.
Oh yeah. There’s little doubt that he would be a great bloke to be around. I got the impression that all the players loved him - until associating with him affected their careers.
He is the kind of bloke that you would love to have on speed dial but wouldn’t want your children or employees to know as his attitude could rub off on them.
I was on the table next to him at the POTY dinner.
I can confirm that TW is not a happy drunk, but a very, very, miserable one.
I would imagine it would be the worst night out imaginable...
That was excellent and most enjoyable at the time but this, being the highlight of his time with us, probably sums him up best. Wasting a couple of minutes and getting two players booked at the end of a game.
I hadn’t realised at the time, but do now, that he was so knackered that he could hardly walk. That is the other thing about Watt that he will always be remembered for - he was never fully match fit. Not once!
Take your point KHA, but his goal against Leeds was pretty good too...
Luzon may not be one of the great names of football management, but he seems to be one of the few people who got Watt playing. Clearly they had some sort of a bond
Comments
Hopefully it works out for him over there but I can't see it myself.
TFH has probably scored more goals in a handful of games than Watt did in nearly 60 - complete waste of space and the team unity is now strangely much, much better since he did one.
Grrrr!
This from a guy who is on his 9th different club at the age of 23.
Broken toe ? For TW to sustain an actual sporting injury is a miracle akin to the Virgin Mary's Immaculate Conception.
OHL are on a wonderful run, only blemished by the Cup defeat at STVV. For a vital game away to their closest rivals, why on Earth would you not go along to support your buds. The fact is that he probably doesn't have very many close personal friends, and it could well be he doesn't spend so much time in Belgium anyway.
When Pearson finally gets to meet this enigmatic figure, feet are not going to touch.
Tone's a likeable guy and no-one would wish ill on him, but he is his own worst enemy and I really hope his closest mates and his professional support do all they can to help get his career back on track.
He'll never learn, he's no doubt had numerous pieces of advice and nothing changes.
The world now knew the name of Tony Watt and the potential he held. The future of his career formulated in the minds of football fans in an instant; continue to score bags of goals for Celtic, win trophies and earn a lucrative move to one of the game’s modern giants.
This vision of the future, sadly, would never materialise.
The 2013/14 season proved to be the beginning of the end for Watt. After making a name for himself in the previous campaign and amassing almost 30 appearances, he understandably thought this was to be his first season as a guaranteed starter, a feeling exacerbated with the sale of Celtic’s top goalscorer and talisman Gary Hooper. Lennon evidently disagreed, using his summer funds to purchase Amido Baldé for £1.8 million and Teemu Pukki for £2.4 million; not inconsiderable sums for Celtic at that time.
A medium was found with a loan move to Belgian top-flight side Lierse. Understandably downbeat with the development, Watt did his best to paint the move in a positive light. “I had a meeting at Celtic and got told there was an option to come here. It’s a good opportunity and I’d like to give it a try.”
To say his time in Belgian football was eventful would be an understatement. His spell at Lierse was characterised by Watt enduring a series of running battles with coach Stanley Menzo. A steady stream of goals was not enough to prevent Menzo from dubbing him “fat and lazy”. Watt’s response was as comical as it was infuriating for his increasingly beleaguered gaffer. After netting a brace in the Belgian Cup, Watt took off his top to display his naked upper body, displaying the fact that he was indeed not fat. Explaining his actions Watt said plainly: “I just wanted to show that I am not fat. I just wanted to show everyone that I am in prime condition.”
If Watt thought that his parent coach Lennon would bat his corner and stand up for him, he was desperately mistaken. When prompted about his loanee’s troubled time, Lennon said: “There’s an immaturity about Tony and the reason for putting him on loan was we wanted him to sample a different culture and a different type of football. If it’s not going well, then he needs to knuckle down and make it work. The onus is on him.”
Watt’s Jekyll-and-Hyde spell at Lierse was hyperbolically summed up by Menzo. “Today I am glad we have him, but tomorrow I might want to murder him! That’s just how it is with him.”
Still, his time there was solid, as he scored a credible nine goals from 15 games, good enough to secure a move up the footballing ladder to Belgian big boys Standard Liège in a deal rumoured to exceed £1 million. It was hoped that Watt could lay his roots and establish a strong base for his career to blossom. Sadly, the move was the beginning of a nomadic period that continues to this day. His failed period in Liège yielded just three goals, forcing the club’s owner, Roland Duchatelet, to transfer him to his other plaything, Charlton Athletic.
Charlton, Cardiff, Blackburn and Hearts all took a gamble on Watt, only to be left dejected. A predictable pattern emerged any time Watt joined a new club; the coach would initially be impressed with his talent, only to be dejected by the lethargy that quickly infected his game. Unbelievably, since Watt’s loan at Lierse came to an end nearly four years ago, the once buoyant forward has only scored 20 competitive goals.
As with so many precocious forwards who break forth with a talent so immense, Watt seems to be gripped by arrested development. This inability to throw off the shackles of perpetual adolescence has been visible from his very first trial at Airdrie. When asked to attend the game in smart but casual attire, Watt had his own interpretation of the instruction. Ex-skipper Lovering takes up the tale: “In football terms, the boys knew that meant club tracksuits. All the lads arrived in their trackie bottoms and polo-shirts. Tony appeared in a pair of Bermuda shorts, a T-shirt and a rucksack.”
Watt can now be found plying his trade in the Belgian second division for OH Leuven, where he has become a vocal presence on Twitter with his movie review site Watt to Watch. In case you were wondering, his reviews are shallow yet oddly enjoyable. Watt has carved a life for himself that is the envy of most of the world, one that shouldn’t be sniffed at, yet a career that is a million miles from the vision many Celtic fans held after he captured the hearts and minds of so many that night against Barcelona. While he is still at the age of just 23, it regrettably looks as though he will require a miracle to fulfil the promise he once displayed.
After the maelstrom of attention his Champions League goal garnered him, Watt’s coach Neil Lennon said to his impressionable gem: “Don’t let this become all you are remembered for.” Sadly, for Watt, Lennon’s words proved to be more precognitive than anyone could have imagined
In football there are very few times that one can get that excited about a player (certainly watching Charlton) so I’ll always have fond memories of him but in the end he failed to justify his presence with us.
Sad for us, sad for him and sad for anyone that commits to paying him a living. I just hope, for his sake, that he shows more maturity with his money than he does with his attitude otherwise he, really, is going to have a tough life as soon as he (or his agent) runs out of suckers to pay him to play football - or not play, as the case may be.
I hadn’t realised at the time, but do now, that he was so knackered that he could hardly walk. That is the other thing about Watt that he will always be remembered for - he was never fully match fit. Not once!
Jamie Vardy was released by Wednesday when he was 16 because he was too small and played non League football and worked in a factory right up until he signed for Leicester when he was 25. The same could be said about George Boyd and Lawrie Wilson who didn't get play League football 'til they were 22 and 23 respectively.
As much as talent is a vital commodity, without the right attitude, no player will do anything in sport. If Watt wants to know what hard work brings he could do worse than to look at another 24 year old - Harry Kane - who was told, as a youngster, by Arsenal that he was being released. He's probably worth £100m plus now. I wouldn't give a £100 for Watt at the moment.
There is a quality player in there, we saw it in patches, but that goal has probably ruined his career because he cant stay grounded now
hornfinished off with a chicken shish.He is the kind of bloke that you would love to have on speed dial but wouldn’t want your children or employees to know as his attitude could rub off on them.
I can confirm that TW is not a happy drunk, but a very, very, miserable one.
I would imagine it would be the worst night out imaginable...