We have him back for the rest of this season. ? Wow, we do drive a hard bargain. First we give Chucks to Birmingham and then buy him back, now this. You just don’t mess with Charlton.
We didn't "give" Chuks to anyone. He was out of contract, we offered him a new one, he turned it down and went elsewhere. Then we bought him back which I'm pleased about as he's a proven league one goal scorer and we needed more strikers. And it's nothing to do with Burstow.
Yes, it seems we get Burstotw back on loan for the rest of the season plus the fee. I would have taken the same with Parker, Grant, etc etc but because we didn't/couldn't do that our squad was weakened.
Yes, I'd rather have not sold him now but as said before other than Man City and Chelsea everyone is a selling club.
What we have to hope for is that we get a decent fee plus add-ons and resale percentage and the money is re-invested in the squad. That alone will be progress from the Duchatelet era.
I don't like it but that is the problem with football in general, not just Charlton.
At Fulham they have a 19 year old called Carvelho who's been doing brilliantly for them. He's out of contract in the summer. He was set to be sold to Liverpool for a reported £5m and loaned back but the deal wasn't completed in time so he's staying at Fulham but in the summer he can leave for a set compensation fee which will be a lot less than £5m, I'd guess.
So if we got anything like £5m for Burstow we've done well.
I feel sorry for Maidstone who probably won't get a penny from this deal after we took him from them 18 months ago. But that was the right move for Mason, it furthered his career and bank balance, just like this deal has.
I haven't heard that Mason was acting up or demanding a move ala Parker nor have I seen any lack of effort from him.
Sorry if he goes but good luck to him and hope he has a good career, both for him personally and so that Charlton earn a few more bob off the deal.
I really don’t see the advantage of signing for a big team this early in his career. All he will do is go out on loan or a youth set up. Yet he is giving up a reasonably regular first team place
Just thinking logically the money he will now be earning first of all, and although the majority of Chelsea youth don’t play for the first team most do continue having a pretty good league career elsewhere.
I’m not that upset about him going to Chelsea . To be honest I’d rather he wasn’t loaned back to us . Is he really that good ? I’ve watched him in every first team game he’s played and I can’t say he’s set the world alight. I know he’s only 18 and he’s done well to fit into the first team but I’d rather have Stockley , Washington or Chuks up from , ahead of Mason.
Good luck to him and I certainly don’t blame him for signing for Chelsea but let’s face it , he’s a million miles away from getting anywhere near their first team.
We have him back for the rest of this season. ? Wow, we do drive a hard bargain. First we give Chucks to Birmingham and then buy him back, now this. You just don’t mess with Charlton.
We didn't "give" Chuks to anyone. He was out of contract, we offered him a new one, he turned it down and went elsewhere. Then we bought him back which I'm pleased about as he's a proven league one goal scorer and we needed more strikers. And it's nothing to do with Burstow.
Yes, it seems we get Burstotw back on loan for the rest of the season plus the fee. I would have taken the same with Parker, Grant, etc etc but because we didn't/couldn't do that our squad was weakened.
Yes, I'd rather have not sold him now but as said before other than Man City and Chelsea everyone is a selling club.
What we have to hope for is that we get a decent fee plus add-ons and resale percentage and the money is re-invested in the squad. That alone will be progress from the Duchatelet era.
I don't like it but that is the problem with football in general, not just Charlton.
At Fulham they have a 19 year old called Carvelho who's been doing brilliantly for them. He's out of contract in the summer. He was set to be sold to Liverpool for a reported £5m and loaned back but the deal wasn't completed in time so he's staying at Fulham but in the summer he can leave for a set compensation fee which will be a lot less than £5m, I'd guess.
So if we got anything like £5m for Burstow we've done well.
I feel sorry for Maidstone who probably won't get a penny from this deal after we took him from them 18 months ago. But that was the right move for Mason, it furthered his career and bank balance, just like this deal has.
I haven't heard that Mason was acting up or demanding a move ala Parker nor have I seen any lack of effort from him.
Sorry if he goes but good luck to him and hope he has a good career, both for him personally and so that Charlton earn a few more bob off the deal.
Great post.
It’s the way of life and by the sounds of it we drive a good bargain after rejecting quite a few offers.
Blood in a decent 18 year old who wasn’t even our youth player and get £4m + add ons (reported) to cover all transfer fees since TS has taken over and more besides. It’s a no brainer for all parties at this current time.
I think those criticising Burstow need to have a look at themselves. Put yourself in his position at that age, I'd be willing to guess what he's been offered now is more than the vast majority on here make at the moment, would you really turn that down?
Also let's not forget that it's not exactly a terrible footballing decision either, yes Chelsea have a huge amount of players on the books but as the big teams go they are one of the better ones at progressing young players. Also for those saying he'd do better staying with us we can count towards many of the next wonderkid to have come through at the club who have not gone on to play any higher than our level.
I'm a bit surprised that they've gone for him now, can't say I've seen enough to think he's going to be anything special but that might be because I haven't seen enough like many of us. Without knowing the details of the deal it's hard to know if this is good financially or not, it should be given his contract status and our stable ownership and if it proves that the sale goes on to find promotion next year then it is by far worth it.
I would say I'll give £100 to the Upbeats that Mason never makes a PL appearance for Chelsea but we'd have to wait 10 years and 15 loans for that to be confirmed.
I think you should make it a grand mate because the £100 will only be worth a tenner in 10 years time 😉.
4-5 million it pays for a promotion squad next season, anything less than this for a player on contract then I’m with the roland with a guitar comments, him coming back on loan bad idea as going to be the highest paid player on pitch and causes unrest amongst players.
In THEORY
Unfortunately just look at us, Ipswich and Portsmouth. Oh and Sunderland- who MIGHT get out of this shithole league this season after a long time down here!
You MUST spend it well. How's that gone so far...
To be fair, a few of the signings in the summer have been our better players (McG, Clare, Famewo, Dobson, Stockley), a couple like Arter, Leko and Kirk not so much and jury us out on Lavelle and CBT but the success rate wasn't bad.
There just weren't enough of them, and they were too late which left us relying us other still like Gunter, Watson, Davison.
If this money in means we can push the boat out just enough to get more, earlier, I'm confident we can sign the right players.
We have him back for the rest of this season. ? Wow, we do drive a hard bargain. First we give Chucks to Birmingham and then buy him back, now this. You just don’t mess with Charlton.
We didn't "give" Chuks to anyone. He was out of contract, we offered him a new one, he turned it down and went elsewhere. Then we bought him back which I'm pleased about as he's a proven league one goal scorer and we needed more strikers. And it's nothing to do with Burstow.
Yes, it seems we get Burstotw back on loan for the rest of the season plus the fee. I would have taken the same with Parker, Grant, etc etc but because we didn't/couldn't do that our squad was weakened.
Yes, I'd rather have not sold him now but as said before other than Man City and Chelsea everyone is a selling club.
What we have to hope for is that we get a decent fee plus add-ons and resale percentage and the money is re-invested in the squad. That alone will be progress from the Duchatelet era.
I don't like it but that is the problem with football in general, not just Charlton.
At Fulham they have a 19 year old called Carvelho who's been doing brilliantly for them. He's out of contract in the summer. He was set to be sold to Liverpool for a reported £5m and loaned back but the deal wasn't completed in time so he's staying at Fulham but in the summer he can leave for a set compensation fee which will be a lot less than £5m, I'd guess.
So if we got anything like £5m for Burstow we've done well.
I feel sorry for Maidstone who probably won't get a penny from this deal after we took him from them 18 months ago. But that was the right move for Mason, it furthered his career and bank balance, just like this deal has.
I haven't heard that Mason was acting up or demanding a move ala Parker nor have I seen any lack of effort from him.
Sorry if he goes but good luck to him and hope he has a good career, both for him personally and so that Charlton earn a few more bob off the deal.
Some good points but one thing to note and that Carvelho is out of contract so it makes sense for Fulham to sell. Burstow on the other hand still has time on his contract. Great bit of business for the club and I wish him well.
Good luck with Valley Gold trying for a sales push now though
4-5 million it pays for a promotion squad next season, anything less than this for a player on contract then I’m with the roland with a guitar comments, him coming back on loan bad idea as going to be the highest paid player on pitch and causes unrest amongst players.
In THEORY
Unfortunately just look at us, Ipswich and Portsmouth. Oh and Sunderland- who MIGHT get out of this shithole league this season after a long time down here!
You MUST spend it well. How's that gone so far...
To be fair, a few of the signings in the summer have been our better players (McG, Clare, Famewo, Dobson, Stockley), a couple like Arter, Leko and Kirk not so much and jury us out on Lavelle and CBT but the success rate wasn't bad.
There just weren't enough of them, and they were too late which left us relying us other still like Gunter, Watson, Davison.
If this money in means we can push the boat out just enough to get more, earlier, I'm confident we can sign the right players.
The problem is, we can’t just make players disappear and we have to be able to balance the books. Players like Gunter and Watson aren’t on small wages. This is why it takes time to sort things out.
It was easier for Wigan as they had no players so were just free to sign who they and their manager wanted/needed instead of having a squad half full of players who were around pre TS.
Sad about this news, i know we will lose players especially young talented ones, but your not getting to enjoy them long enough.
Hope he keeps a level head and makes it, be sad to see in 3 years time that he is playing for Royal Antwerp or similar. Good to see my 34 year contribution to Valley gold is furnishing other clubs with our players still.
Before the pedantic start i will acknowledge he did not come through our ranks.
It’s the very short period of time between his league debut Plymouth on 20th November to signing for the European Champions on 31st January. So frustrating that he will probably be sent on loan to a league 1 next season, instead of playing for Charlton.
Massively important that we get a good sell on with this deal. He's not proven, so it's like an insurance against it turning out that we've let a Lookman (or even a Rashford) go cheaply. Could turn out to be a dud of course. [Edit: If it's £4M plus add ons, that's a decent deal]. Looks like Thomas is looking for a decent fee as well. Should think he might be less than entranced with his bang for buck at the moment, what with us languishing in L1 mid table, so if a bit of a financial boost helps him keep his Charlton mojo, then I'm all for it. Goes without saying that we'd have all loved to watch him progress at, and with, Charlton, but we can only hope that'll happen more with other youngsters, if we start to climb up the league table ladder over the next few years.
I think those criticising Burstow need to have a look at themselves. Put yourself in his position at that age, I'd be willing to guess what he's been offered now is more than the vast majority on here make at the moment, would you really turn that down?
Also let's not forget that it's not exactly a terrible footballing decision either, yes Chelsea have a huge amount of players on the books but as the big teams go they are one of the better ones at progressing young players. Also for those saying he'd do better staying with us we can count towards many of the next wonderkid to have come through at the club who have not gone on to play any higher than our level.
I'm a bit surprised that they've gone for him now, can't say I've seen enough to think he's going to be anything special but that might be because I haven't seen enough like many of us. Without knowing the details of the deal it's hard to know if this is good financially or not, it should be given his contract status and our stable ownership and if it proves that the sale goes on to find promotion next year then it is by far worth it.
I don't think there are too many criticising Mason himself. Like most people, I can see it is a life changing move for him and as he seems a good kid I wish him all the best.
The thing that annoys me, and others seem to share this view, is that we now only get to see our good young prospects for 5 or 6 games before the PL vultures swoop.
Same will happen if Kanu or Anderson or the other lad who scored in the FA youth Cup game and whose name has slipped my memory atm break into our first team soon.
Anyway thinking pragmatically if we have got a good few million for him and reinvest in a promotion chasing squad for next season and who knows even have Burstow on a season long loan next term it might not be a complete kick in the bollocks.
However the first part remains to be seen and no doubt Burstow will head to Hull, Watford or Palace in August.
For development, it will be League One. Burstow is not ready for Premier league or Championship yet.
I’m not that upset about him going to Chelsea . To be honest I’d rather he wasn’t loaned back to us . Is he really that good ? I’ve watched him in every first team game he’s played and I can’t say he’s set the world alight. I know he’s only 18 and he’s done well to fit into the first team but I’d rather have Stockley , Washington or Chuks up from , ahead of Mason.
Good luck to him and I certainly don’t blame him for signing for Chelsea but let’s face it , he’s a million miles away from getting anywhere near their first team.
I think I'm with you in this, he shows promise and is strong and fast, and looked to have good potential for 18, but he didn't really standout, not in the way Bowyer, Parker, Rufus or even (showing my age) Gordon Watson! did. (Incidentally the selling of Watson to Sheffield Weds was a major kick in the balls at the time).
It seems that this is the way of the world now, and if we had received all the Sheik money we thought for five minutes we were going to get, this is exactly how we would have wanted us to behave!.
A little disappointed because was looking forward to seeing
him push on a develop for us the rest of the season but of we can get 2-4 mill
for him, and this helps build a promotion team then so be it.
I want our football club to be successful and sustainable and
selling promising youngsters is unfortunately how it is done.
It is also a good message to get someone like Kanu or other youngsters signed up with us, we will give you a chance and will not stand in your way.
In terms of the fee, some are really overlooking that we are now in L1. Our players stopped playing for us to get a "once in lifetime" contract at Nottingham Forest!
4-5 million it pays for a promotion squad next season, anything less than this for a player on contract then I’m with the roland with a guitar comments, him coming back on loan bad idea as going to be the highest paid player on pitch and causes unrest amongst players.
In THEORY
Unfortunately just look at us, Ipswich and Portsmouth. Oh and Sunderland- who MIGHT get out of this shithole league this season after a long time down here!
You MUST spend it well. How's that gone so far...
To be fair, a few of the signings in the summer have been our better players (McG, Clare, Famewo, Dobson, Stockley), a couple like Arter, Leko and Kirk not so much and jury us out on Lavelle and CBT but the success rate wasn't bad.
There just weren't enough of them, and they were too late which left us relying us other still like Gunter, Watson, Davison.
If this money in means we can push the boat out just enough to get more, earlier, I'm confident we can sign the right players.
The problem is, we can’t just make players disappear and we have to be able to balance the books. Players like Gunter and Watson aren’t on small wages. This is why it takes time to sort things out.
It was easier for Wigan as they had no players so were just free to sign who they and their manager wanted/needed instead of having a squad half full of players who were around pre TS.
I agree, but we have a good chance this summer - Gunter, Matthews, Watson, Souare etc out of contract (I think?), we can hopefully add in the right places and this may give us a chance to make them good signings not fillers.
Obviously I appreciate it's never quite that simple....
I would just stop playing him. Chuck him in the u23s and play Kanu instead
Presumably 'til the end of his contract? We would have to legally carry on paying him and won't get a penny for him at the end of his contract. So Burstow will actually cost us. The system stinks but it is what it is. Football has changed. Players are far more commodities than they have ever been but to blame a lad for wanting to secure his future is nonsense.
For the umpteenth time, if Burstow were your son I would defy you to say, on the life of that son, that you would call him "Judas" or refuse to talk to him ever again or even just say that you would make him play for the U23s. You wouldn't because reality would suddenly hit you - your son isn't even proven but he's got that life changing move. It's what he's always dreamed of. He could have a career ending injury playing for our U23s with very little compensation. Signing for a PL Club will mean that he will get as much experience, if not more, than had he stayed with us and earn ten times more in the process. And to treat a Burstow or a James Beadle any differently to your own son is the height of hypocrisy especially as we would do exactly the same thing to a Wimbledon or Plymouth if we were in the PL and not one person would bang on about how unfair we've been to those clubs. Think Mark Kinsella for £150k!!!!
With the system as it is we, a League 1 club, have a choice. Carry on running an academy system in the hope that we make money out of those players or go down the Brentford route. The irony is that Burstow is a product of the two systems. The money we receive now might be enough to get us four or five players such as Fraser who will get us out of League 1 next season. Even if Burstow stayed the likelihood is that he, alone, simply wouldn't do that. If the lad goes on to make first team appearances for Chelsea or even to play for England like Gomez than we will reap the financial benefit. But if he never does play in the PL we are quids in anyway because we sold Chelsea a dud!
We have him back for the rest of this season. ? Wow, we do drive a hard bargain. First we give Chucks to Birmingham and then buy him back, now this. You just don’t mess with Charlton.
We didn't "give" Chuks to anyone. He was out of contract, we offered him a new one, he turned it down and went elsewhere. Then we bought him back which I'm pleased about as he's a proven league one goal scorer and we needed more strikers. And it's nothing to do with Burstow.
Yes, it seems we get Burstotw back on loan for the rest of the season plus the fee. I would have taken the same with Parker, Grant, etc etc but because we didn't/couldn't do that our squad was weakened.
Yes, I'd rather have not sold him now but as said before other than Man City and Chelsea everyone is a selling club.
What we have to hope for is that we get a decent fee plus add-ons and resale percentage and the money is re-invested in the squad. That alone will be progress from the Duchatelet era.
I don't like it but that is the problem with football in general, not just Charlton.
At Fulham they have a 19 year old called Carvelho who's been doing brilliantly for them. He's out of contract in the summer. He was set to be sold to Liverpool for a reported £5m and loaned back but the deal wasn't completed in time so he's staying at Fulham but in the summer he can leave for a set compensation fee which will be a lot less than £5m, I'd guess.
So if we got anything like £5m for Burstow we've done well.
I feel sorry for Maidstone who probably won't get a penny from this deal after we took him from them 18 months ago. But that was the right move for Mason, it furthered his career and bank balance, just like this deal has.
I haven't heard that Mason was acting up or demanding a move ala Parker nor have I seen any lack of effort from him.
Sorry if he goes but good luck to him and hope he has a good career, both for him personally and so that Charlton earn a few more bob off the deal.
Some good points but one thing to note and that Carvelho is out of contract so it makes sense for Fulham to sell. Burstow on the other hand still has time on his contract. Great bit of business for the club and I wish him well.
Good luck with Valley Gold trying for a sales push now though
I think he was pushed into the first team (although injuries helped) to get him in the shop window as money was needed, not for a promotion push but because of how poor this season has gone. It’s more to cover debt.
I think he was pushed into the first team (although injuries helped) to get him in the shop window as money was needed, not for a promotion push but because of how poor this season has gone. It’s more to cover debt.
He was pushed into the first team as he scored goals in the cups, looked better than Davison, and Stockley and Washington were injured.
We have him back for the rest of this season. ? Wow, we do drive a hard bargain. First we give Chucks to Birmingham and then buy him back, now this. You just don’t mess with Charlton.
We didn't "give" Chuks to anyone. He was out of contract, we offered him a new one, he turned it down and went elsewhere. Then we bought him back which I'm pleased about as he's a proven league one goal scorer and we needed more strikers. And it's nothing to do with Burstow.
Yes, it seems we get Burstotw back on loan for the rest of the season plus the fee. I would have taken the same with Parker, Grant, etc etc but because we didn't/couldn't do that our squad was weakened.
Yes, I'd rather have not sold him now but as said before other than Man City and Chelsea everyone is a selling club.
What we have to hope for is that we get a decent fee plus add-ons and resale percentage and the money is re-invested in the squad. That alone will be progress from the Duchatelet era.
I don't like it but that is the problem with football in general, not just Charlton.
At Fulham they have a 19 year old called Carvelho who's been doing brilliantly for them. He's out of contract in the summer. He was set to be sold to Liverpool for a reported £5m and loaned back but the deal wasn't completed in time so he's staying at Fulham but in the summer he can leave for a set compensation fee which will be a lot less than £5m, I'd guess.
So if we got anything like £5m for Burstow we've done well.
I feel sorry for Maidstone who probably won't get a penny from this deal after we took him from them 18 months ago. But that was the right move for Mason, it furthered his career and bank balance, just like this deal has.
I haven't heard that Mason was acting up or demanding a move ala Parker nor have I seen any lack of effort from him.
Sorry if he goes but good luck to him and hope he has a good career, both for him personally and so that Charlton earn a few more bob off the deal.
Some good points but one thing to note and that Carvelho is out of contract so it makes sense for Fulham to sell. Burstow on the other hand still has time on his contract. Great bit of business for the club and I wish him well.
Good luck with Valley Gold trying for a sales push now though
He didn't come through our academy though.
I know that but many people will see him as an academy player progressing from the U23's just like many people still think that the club shop is run by the club.
4-5 million it pays for a promotion squad next season, anything less than this for a player on contract then I’m with the roland with a guitar comments, him coming back on loan bad idea as going to be the highest paid player on pitch and causes unrest amongst players.
Not sure about unrest as Nile John and Castillo are probably both on similar but no one comments on them.
More worrying will be him mixing with our U18's and them seeing him buy a nice car, spend money etc. Sure they will all likely have an idea of their worth but actually seeing it transform a lad you were recently kicking around with will be eye catching.
Comments
We didn't "give" Chuks to anyone. He was out of contract, we offered him a new one, he turned it down and went elsewhere. Then we bought him back which I'm pleased about as he's a proven league one goal scorer and we needed more strikers. And it's nothing to do with Burstow.
Yes, it seems we get Burstotw back on loan for the rest of the season plus the fee. I would have taken the same with Parker, Grant, etc etc but because we didn't/couldn't do that our squad was weakened.
Yes, I'd rather have not sold him now but as said before other than Man City and Chelsea everyone is a selling club.
What we have to hope for is that we get a decent fee plus add-ons and resale percentage and the money is re-invested in the squad. That alone will be progress from the Duchatelet era.
I don't like it but that is the problem with football in general, not just Charlton.
At Fulham they have a 19 year old called Carvelho who's been doing brilliantly for them. He's out of contract in the summer. He was set to be sold to Liverpool for a reported £5m and loaned back but the deal wasn't completed in time so he's staying at Fulham but in the summer he can leave for a set compensation fee which will be a lot less than £5m, I'd guess.
So if we got anything like £5m for Burstow we've done well.
I feel sorry for Maidstone who probably won't get a penny from this deal after we took him from them 18 months ago. But that was the right move for Mason, it furthered his career and bank balance, just like this deal has.
I haven't heard that Mason was acting up or demanding a move ala Parker nor have I seen any lack of effort from him.
Sorry if he goes but good luck to him and hope he has a good career, both for him personally and so that Charlton earn a few more bob off the deal.
Also let's not forget that it's not exactly a terrible footballing decision either, yes Chelsea have a huge amount of players on the books but as the big teams go they are one of the better ones at progressing young players. Also for those saying he'd do better staying with us we can count towards many of the next wonderkid to have come through at the club who have not gone on to play any higher than our level.
I'm a bit surprised that they've gone for him now, can't say I've seen enough to think he's going to be anything special but that might be because I haven't seen enough like many of us. Without knowing the details of the deal it's hard to know if this is good financially or not, it should be given his contract status and our stable ownership and if it proves that the sale goes on to find promotion next year then it is by far worth it.
There just weren't enough of them, and they were too late which left us relying us other still like Gunter, Watson, Davison.
If this money in means we can push the boat out just enough to get more, earlier, I'm confident we can sign the right players.
Good luck with Valley Gold trying for a sales push now though
It was easier for Wigan as they had no players so were just free to sign who they and their manager wanted/needed instead of having a squad half full of players who were around pre TS.
Hope he keeps a level head and makes it, be sad to see in 3 years time that he is playing for Royal Antwerp or similar. Good to see my 34 year contribution to Valley gold is furnishing other clubs with our players still.
Before the pedantic start i will acknowledge he did not come through our ranks.
Looks like Thomas is looking for a decent fee as well. Should think he might be less than entranced with his bang for buck at the moment, what with us languishing in L1 mid table, so if a bit of a financial boost helps him keep his Charlton mojo, then I'm all for it.
Goes without saying that we'd have all loved to watch him progress at, and with, Charlton, but we can only hope that'll happen more with other youngsters, if we start to climb up the league table ladder over the next few years.
The thing that annoys me, and others seem to share this view, is that we now only get to see our good young prospects for 5 or 6 games before the PL vultures swoop.
Same will happen if Kanu or Anderson or the other lad who scored in the FA youth Cup game and whose name has slipped my memory atm break into our first team soon.
It's depressing.
It seems that this is the way of the world now, and if we had received all the Sheik money we thought for five minutes we were going to get, this is exactly how we would have wanted us to behave!.
A little disappointed because was looking forward to seeing him push on a develop for us the rest of the season but of we can get 2-4 mill for him, and this helps build a promotion team then so be it.
I want our football club to be successful and sustainable and selling promising youngsters is unfortunately how it is done.
It is also a good message to get someone like Kanu or other youngsters signed up with us, we will give you a chance and will not stand in your way.
Obviously I appreciate it's never quite that simple....
For the umpteenth time, if Burstow were your son I would defy you to say, on the life of that son, that you would call him "Judas" or refuse to talk to him ever again or even just say that you would make him play for the U23s. You wouldn't because reality would suddenly hit you - your son isn't even proven but he's got that life changing move. It's what he's always dreamed of. He could have a career ending injury playing for our U23s with very little compensation. Signing for a PL Club will mean that he will get as much experience, if not more, than had he stayed with us and earn ten times more in the process. And to treat a Burstow or a James Beadle any differently to your own son is the height of hypocrisy especially as we would do exactly the same thing to a Wimbledon or Plymouth if we were in the PL and not one person would bang on about how unfair we've been to those clubs. Think Mark Kinsella for £150k!!!!
With the system as it is we, a League 1 club, have a choice. Carry on running an academy system in the hope that we make money out of those players or go down the Brentford route. The irony is that Burstow is a product of the two systems. The money we receive now might be enough to get us four or five players such as Fraser who will get us out of League 1 next season. Even if Burstow stayed the likelihood is that he, alone, simply wouldn't do that. If the lad goes on to make first team appearances for Chelsea or even to play for England like Gomez than we will reap the financial benefit. But if he never does play in the PL we are quids in anyway because we sold Chelsea a dud!
More worrying will be him mixing with our U18's and them seeing him buy a nice car, spend money etc. Sure they will all likely have an idea of their worth but actually seeing it transform a lad you were recently kicking around with will be eye catching.