Quote Originally Posted by AdrianAlston View Post
Good post. Matondo wasn't 1st choice for the U18's last season (he did have some injury problems). He was a peripheral player.

He's a year younger than Ashford who plays the same position and is the same age as Nyakhuwa who was the pick of last years U18 and will probably the next academy graduate to make a 1st team debut. His best position, like Matondo, is also inverted left wing/inside left.

I think Matondo has chosen to leave because he could see his path to first team opportunities blocked/complicated by Ashford and Nyakhuwa.

Cole Fleming is also a right footed winger.
Totally agree with this and TOBW views.

I watched a lot of the U21's and U18s last season.

My view on Matondo is exactly that - very good prospect but not the best one at u18's or even in that position. Nyakhuwa got better and better as the season progressed showing not only guile and pace but also strength. Fleming also, in many games, was picked ahead of Matondo.

We rated him enough to offer him a pro deal, so it is not as if the club discarded him - it was his choice and probably because he was some way behind in the pathway to the first team, but who knows.

Not sure how Purse gets the blame for that.