Jenson Metcalfe signs a 4-year contract

Him and Ishe Samuels-Smith are the classiest players we have (that I've seen play anyway). Delighted he's signed and hopefully he gets over the ACL injury okay.

Does it in any way reflect a player's level of commitment to the cause, as in pulling back just a tad, or not going in with full force? A question of self-preservation versus reckless abandon, perhaps?

Hopefully he'll be back soon and into our U21s, he's certainly looked the best of the 2nd Year Scholars.

He played in some of the FA Youth Cup games earlier this year too.

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But, reading the article - and someone with more knowledge than me can educate me - at the club since the age of 5!!!??? What is that all about? Five!!!???? I mean, how do you determine how good a 5-year-old is?

Maybe it is just me. However, it sounds as ridiculous as when I was a teacher in Hong Kong and my married friends were telling me that their kids had to present a portfolio - to get into kindergarten

Cheers for the info Mike, but to me, who has been in education for quite a while, with all ages from kindergarten to pensioners, it seems absolutely nuts, projections or not. The disappointment when they do not make it/pressure on them at such an early age is ridiculous to me. This is where grassroots football should be serving a purpose - pure madness in my book. Five !!!????? Projections?

Again, as a bloke with over 2 decades in education - crazy.

Just my opinion, but based on experience!

Thanks for the insight.

You look like you're 12 years old!

Good luck to the boy he will need it at Everton.

Recovering from an ACL is always tricky, but fortunately pace doesn't appear to be the biggest part of his game, so his development curve should not be tilted off course after full recovery.

Tipping my hat to Thelwell again for giving Jensen a well-planned 4-year contract: assuming Jensen would need the time until the New Year for rehab, that would give him half a season to be brought back up to speed.

If all things go well, he can be sent out on loan as early as next summer. That would give us up to 2 full seasons afterwards to monitor his progress, preferrably out on loans where he can play against established pros and have his growth accelerated (Lewis Warrington becomes the closest comparable).

By the summer of 2025, when he will only have 1 season left on his contract, a full judgement can be made on whether he can be good enough for the First Team (Extension! & the ideal situation for us) or he will just be a solid Pro in the Football League (then at least he can be sold for a nominal fee).

I started work on ١ 10/- a week in 1967 and that was with, at the time, the biggest shipping company in the world, although we also got a 3-shilling luncheon voucher each working day, almost half a day's pay.

As unbelievable as it sounds, most clubs now start with 5-year-olds in the academies. At that age some children do stand out as having the skills, balance and determination to get on the ball and enjoy showing off their skills. It's just their natural ability.

What I don't agree with is when they are no longer allowed to play for other local clubs or schools before turning 9! It takes the fun out of playing as they can't play football with friends etc.

It must be on the verge of child labour, treated as business assets at such young age. But it's a choice I hope the children want and not pushy parents.

As for 1st full contract at a Premier League club, a wide variation. At Everton, I'm sure in 4 years he'll have earned more than a million, probably ٠M.

It leaves gaps in the midfield for Metcalfe, Warrington and Onyango if they can shine on loan.