Why did he leave Leuven if he isn't allowed to play somewhere else ? Surely it's better to spend the next three months in their reserves than on his sofa ?
The really stupid thing is that he’s not allowed to play for another club. Surely that’s some kind of restrain of trade is it not?
Don't think that you'll see Watt complaining - he would have received a pay off and can now drink, play on his play station and watch as many films as he likes without even getting out of bed.
Why did he leave Leuven if he isn't allowed to play somewhere else ? Surely it's better to spend the next three months in their reserves than on his sofa ?
For a normal footballer, you're probably right, this is Watt though.
I read the interview with Jeff Wood in January's Voice of The Valley last night.
What the hell has an interview with Jeff Wood got to do with Tony Watt I hear you ask?
Well, the old gits will remember but for the benefit of the youngsters, Jeff Wood would probably have never played for Charlton Athletic at all had it not been for a tragic career ending injury to our talented young goalkeeper Graham Tutt thanks to a piece of wanton grievous bodily harm by a Sunderland player.
Graham Tutt's considerable talent was unfulfilled through no fault of his own yet Waster Watt, who does possess talent, chooses to fritter his away.
Twww finds it hard to stay fit even when he is training regularly at a club. God only knows what sort of shape he will be in if he can't play again till next season
Ask if he can come in to training at Sparrows Lane, "just to keep his fitness levels up"...
First day: he will turn up on time, and do a full training session...
The second day, he will turn up late, do half a session, then sit down exhausted by the side, get his breath back, and shout abuse at the others still training...
The third day, he will turn up for training half way through, pi55ed, throw a punch at an academy player, wobble off back to his car, drive off in a screech of tyres, and will never be seen at Sparrows Lane again...
Ask if he can come in to training at Sparrows Lane, "just to keep his fitness levels up"...
First day: he will turn up on time, and do a full training session...
The second day, he will turn up late, do half a session, then sit down exhausted by the side, get his breath back, and shout abuse at the others still training...
The third day, he will turn up for training half way through, pi55ed, throw a punch at an academy player, wobble off back to his car, drive off in a screech of tyres, and wont be seen at Sparrows Lane for another 12months...
Perhaps he should look at Ryan Mason, and realise how lucky he is to still be in a position to play football. Wake up and smell the coffee Watt before it is too late
He can come and do my job if he wants. Up at 04.30, Twelve hour day Mon-Fri. He's going to wake up one morning and realise it's to little to late with a headful of regrets. Some people are beyond help and advice.
He'll be the type of player playing for the likes of AFC Flyde in the FA Cup First Round one day - Commentator will naturally make a comment about the Barcelona goal, and can already hear Mark Lawrenson coming out with some sarcastic response
I always noticed with Watt, that he would absolutely berate the younger players during a match when they didn't do what he expected of them. His reaction's were over the top at time, and only ever at the younger players which made me think it must be something psychological.
Tony Watt born with magic feet from Harrods, unfortunately his brain came from the pound shop. Rarely were they in sync. Maybe on 2 occasions against Forrest and the £5 game against Huddersfield if my memory serves me right. A Celtic legend predicted TW would be driving a bus by the time he was 28 ! That could still come to fruition.
Would you want to get on that bus? He really needs some help from a psychologist.
He can come and do my job if he wants. Up at 04.30, Twelve hour day Mon-Fri. He's going to wake up one morning and realise it's to little to late with a headful of regrets. Some people are beyond help and advice.
Ask if he can come in to training at Sparrows Lane, "just to keep his fitness levels up"...
First day: he will turn up on time, and do a full training session...
The second day, he will turn up late, do half a session, then sit down exhausted by the side, get his breath back, and shout abuse at the others still training...
The third day, he will turn up for training half way through, pi55ed, throw a punch at an academy player, wobble off back to his car, drive off in a screech of tyres, and will never be seen at Sparrows Lane again...
I always noticed with Watt, that he would absolutely berate the younger players during a match when they didn't do what he expected of them. His reaction's were over the top at time, and only ever at the younger players which made me think it must be something psychological.
Isn't that the difference? We have seen so many with exceptional talent over the years who haven't made it, and it's almost always because of what's going on in their heads.
He can only play for certain teams I:E China America Ireland(i believe)
What he is probably the last to realise is that each time he fails at a club, his appeal diminishes, until the point, which is close, he runs out of last chances and new starts ... and just ends up another sad overweight 40 something in the corner of the pub that apparently used to play football
Potentially boring-as-hell post alert. Read at own risk
So a recent 50min interview he's in showed up in his Twitter comments... mainly about how his career started and Celtic, and a little about terminating his contract at Leuven. We do get a slight mention too. I listened to it on the train in and thought I'd share for the handful of interested people...
Given how much was said about him, his attitude and what he's like and everything I've never actually heard him really speak except for reeling off the usual "gun-to-the-head" textbook post-match interview cliches.
He actually comes across pretty well... I wouldn't say he's stupid (like I kind of expected) and he has a lot more personality than I thought he would - seems like a fun character. Can really see him being liked by the Jacko-esque characters in our squad because he clearly loves a wind-up as well. But as he says himself he's just a 'ned' from Coatbridge (having stayed there a couple of nights I'd say it's a got a fairly rough, Glaswegian council estate type vibe) who was suddenly in professional football. A couple of years after his trial for Airdrie's U17s he was playing for the team he supports, scoring a brace on his debut and the winner against Barca making him a 'legend' at 18. It is a bit different to the usual pro career (although not really an excuse).
On that point... when I was up there, a cab driver in Coatbridge was telling me how he used to see Tony drinking with his pals, who were "the wrong crowd", on street corners in Coatbridge even when he was a pro at Celtic. Cabbies do like to embellish though - but either way, just shows how his "professional development" differs for example to academy kids that have had the likes of Steve Avory mentoring them from a young age where they seem to come out so disciplined.
Interesting things in the interview though... the way he talks about his career, although he says he's still got a lot of football to look forward to at 24 years old, a few things he says does make it sound like he's given up a bit or at least not got the hunger for it. Also, he mentions a number of times how "he's not much of a trainer", "not naturally fit" and all that - even Neil Lennon giving him grief for it at Celtic as a kid. He also said his trial before then at Liverpool ended very soon after a bleep test. It just back-ups the well known view that that's his problem... surely anyone who is a full-time professional athlete can make themselves fit enough, it's a bit of discipline - it's not like he's a box to box midfielder. Football is just too competitive for that now, I bet pre-1990s he'd have had a fine career!
Anyway... I just got from it that a talented kid got a million-to-one shot which got him a career in professional football which he probably wasn't cut out for. But I suppose if you asked anyone on here if they'd take any career that included scoring a winner against Barca at the Valley, you wouldn't get many "no"s.
He can only play for certain teams I:E China America Ireland(i believe)
Part of me thinks he would do well in the US because 80% of every starting 11 are League One at best level players, but then I remember despite the fact TW probably has more talent in his little finger (well, maybe his entire hand and forearm, but still) than most of them, I'm reminded that they actually have a pretty stellar level of fitness, so he'd probably be blowing out of his arse after a few minutes.
Maybe he'd suit an NASL or USL team like Red Bulls II or something
He can only play for certain teams I:E China America Ireland(i believe)
Part of me thinks he would do well in the US because 80% of every starting 11 are League One at best level players, but then I remember despite the fact TW probably has more talent in his little finger (well, maybe his entire hand and forearm, but still) than most of them, I'm reminded that they actually have a pretty stellar level of fitness, so he'd probably be blowing out of his arse after a few minutes.
Maybe he'd suit an NASL or USL team like Red Bulls II or something
Whilst the quality might be League One level, American soccer (particularly MLS) is renowned to be extremely fitness focused.
The teams have to travel cross country a lot, playing in different climates, dealing with jetlag etc. If you have a natural fitness problem then playing in the US isn't for you.
I got the feeling towards the end of his time with us that he had lost whatever it was he had. A luxury player with little in return - why on earth would anybody want him back?
Comments
What the hell has an interview with Jeff Wood got to do with Tony Watt I hear you ask?
Well, the old gits will remember but for the benefit of the youngsters, Jeff Wood would probably have never played for Charlton Athletic at all had it not been for a tragic career ending injury to our talented young goalkeeper Graham Tutt thanks to a piece of wanton grievous bodily harm by a Sunderland player.
Graham Tutt's considerable talent was unfulfilled through no fault of his own yet Waster Watt, who does possess talent, chooses to fritter his away.
I find it both sad and annoying in equal measure.
God only knows what sort of shape he will be in if he can't play again till next season
He will go back to his Thames side flat...
Ask if he can come in to training at Sparrows Lane, "just to keep his fitness levels up"...
First day: he will turn up on time, and do a full training session...
The second day, he will turn up late, do half a session, then sit down exhausted by the side, get his breath back, and shout abuse at the others still training...
The third day, he will turn up for training half way through, pi55ed, throw a punch at an academy player, wobble off back to his car, drive off in a screech of tyres, and will never be seen at Sparrows Lane again...
Wonder who it was.
He can only play for certain teams I:E
China
America
Ireland(i believe)
i.e. Ostersunds lost to Arsenal the other day but they'll be hindered because its their pre-season at the moment
So a recent 50min interview he's in showed up in his Twitter comments... mainly about how his career started and Celtic, and a little about terminating his contract at Leuven. We do get a slight mention too. I listened to it on the train in and thought I'd share for the handful of interested people...
Given how much was said about him, his attitude and what he's like and everything I've never actually heard him really speak except for reeling off the usual "gun-to-the-head" textbook post-match interview cliches.
He actually comes across pretty well... I wouldn't say he's stupid (like I kind of expected) and he has a lot more personality than I thought he would - seems like a fun character. Can really see him being liked by the Jacko-esque characters in our squad because he clearly loves a wind-up as well. But as he says himself he's just a 'ned' from Coatbridge (having stayed there a couple of nights I'd say it's a got a fairly rough, Glaswegian council estate type vibe) who was suddenly in professional football. A couple of years after his trial for Airdrie's U17s he was playing for the team he supports, scoring a brace on his debut and the winner against Barca making him a 'legend' at 18. It is a bit different to the usual pro career (although not really an excuse).
On that point... when I was up there, a cab driver in Coatbridge was telling me how he used to see Tony drinking with his pals, who were "the wrong crowd", on street corners in Coatbridge even when he was a pro at Celtic. Cabbies do like to embellish though - but either way, just shows how his "professional development" differs for example to academy kids that have had the likes of Steve Avory mentoring them from a young age where they seem to come out so disciplined.
Interesting things in the interview though... the way he talks about his career, although he says he's still got a lot of football to look forward to at 24 years old, a few things he says does make it sound like he's given up a bit or at least not got the hunger for it. Also, he mentions a number of times how "he's not much of a trainer", "not naturally fit" and all that - even Neil Lennon giving him grief for it at Celtic as a kid. He also said his trial before then at Liverpool ended very soon after a bleep test. It just back-ups the well known view that that's his problem... surely anyone who is a full-time professional athlete can make themselves fit enough, it's a bit of discipline - it's not like he's a box to box midfielder. Football is just too competitive for that now, I bet pre-1990s he'd have had a fine career!
Anyway... I just got from it that a talented kid got a million-to-one shot which got him a career in professional football which he probably wasn't cut out for. But I suppose if you asked anyone on here if they'd take any career that included scoring a winner against Barca at the Valley, you wouldn't get many "no"s.
Maybe he'd suit an NASL or USL team like Red Bulls II or something
The teams have to travel cross country a lot, playing in different climates, dealing with jetlag etc. If you have a natural fitness problem then playing in the US isn't for you.
A luxury player with little in return - why on earth would anybody want him back?