We've just signed 18 year old Toby Collyer from Brighton. He's captained England at youth level and is said to be a DM. If anyone would like to share more information on him, please do. @The Boy
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Toby Collyer
- Thread starter Adnan
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Nice. Any youtube highlight vids of him?
Brandon Williams twin?
They do look a lot alike!
The Glazer's trick to bring back Williams in the summer and sell it to the fans as a new DM signing
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The Glazer's trick to bring back Williams in the summer and sell it to the fans as a new DM signing
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With a Fifa regen name.
'One of the best young central midfielders in the country' according to the Secret scout updated tweet, which I've included in the OP now.
It sounds like he's a deep lying play maker type.
There doesn’t seem to be all that much info/videos/hype about this guy? Is it an expensive transfer seeing as he’s highly rated or was his contract running down? Always delighted to see fresh youth coming in either way.
Good luck Toby, welcome to the club!
I honestly don't know a lot about him myself mate. He was on trial with us a few weeks back and I'm pretty sure he was also at Chelsea on trial. Not sure what the situation at Brighton was regards his contract.
But from what I've seen online, he wasn't playing much for Brighton's u18s and could well have been sidelined due to his non committal to them. But that's just speculation on my part.
Interesting. We seem to aiming higher with the U.K. based youth again since Brexit and the new youth scouts arrived. Always pleasing to see us get big talents from London. It’s good to know we are competing well in that area as it’s obviously a very strong talent pool. I’m looking forward to seeing him play for us. Midfielder, hype!
It will be interesting to see how he compares to the Norwegian kid
Don’t understand this signing tbh. Unless he’s a strong 1st team material we are really stacked on midfield around his age. Maybe we do want to move Svidersky on and get Savage out on loan next season so we do need a DM for U23s. In the 18s we already have to either bench Odeyele or Gore when we have full strength team.
England u16 and 17 captain. He’s obviously promising.
Interesting, he sounds promising from the very little things I have read about him since yesterday.
How does it work in the Academies: Will he be able to move right away, or will it be in the summer transfer window?
How does it work in the Academies: Will he be able to move right away, or will it be in the summer transfer window?
Have he even played a game for England U17?
Played one game for England U16. Cochrane was the coach at the time.
Play him ffs
Probably went to one of the camps I’m guessing. He’s not been in any of the u17 teams I’ve seen
Always happy to see signings like this for the youth team, especially someone domestic and doing as well as captaining England at youth levels. If our own young midfielders are good enough to push on they'll relish the competition and outperform him.
I'd rather we have players who might bolster the first team eventually rather than being overly concerned with ones who werent going to make it at United anyway. We signed Pogba when he was France's youth captain too, if this guy turns out even half as good it'll have been a good signing
I'd rather we have players who might bolster the first team eventually rather than being overly concerned with ones who werent going to make it at United anyway. We signed Pogba when he was France's youth captain too, if this guy turns out even half as good it'll have been a good signing
Yes, I'm sure I saw Svidersky say he wanted to leave in the summer in December? I can't remember where I saw it. It could have been on Twitter or Reddit, so may just be a rumour. He's out of contract this summer and didn't want to take up the 1 year option we have or extend to go on loan? He just wanted to play senior football and get on with his career. He was disappointed he didn't get called up to the first team under Ole, given our need for a 6. I've seen him linked to Atalanta, Villarreal and clubs in his homeland on a free.
He was in the England u19s squad for a training camp last year playing a year up. He can also play at full back & centre half. Only played once for Brighton this season because he didn't want to sign a new contract
He looks very comfortable on either foot and is pinging passes with comsumate ease with his left or right peg. Looks to be very mobile too, which is something that is important to have in the game today.
Reminds me of Garner a bit when playing in 18's etc.
"Brighton wonderkid Toby Collyer is the best defensive midfielder in England at under-18 level".
"That is according to Albion's former under-18 coach Mark Beard, who waxed lyrical about the teenager who is set to sign for Manchester United".
1st year or 2nd year?
2nd year. Will be un u23 player next season
Interesting, hope it doesn't block the development of next years 2nd years, although I have a feeling next years U18's will be predominantly 2nd years, after this years poor showing in the league.
Looks like a better option than Fred already!
Sorry I haven't been on much recently, and to be honest i don't know a huge amount about Collyer and I've never seen him play, but I have had a good look through North Stand Chat (Brighton's caf)
Apparently very highly rated local lad (which is a real shame for us) and last season played for both U18 and U23 regularly despite his age. Playing mainly as a DM but occasionally also playing as a CB.
His decision to leave is seen as part of a trend sparked by the new Brexit rules that make it very difficult to buy U18s from abroad so more will move to bigger club from UK based clubs.
Also though he maybe seen as very good, it maybe that there's an easier route into your midfield than ours, though we will presumably lose Bissouma in the summer as well as Gross and Lallana (through age) we still have MacAllister, Moder, Mwepu, Alzate, Caicedo and possibly Kozlowski, all full internationals fighting over 2-3 places. Where as it looks like your midfield is getting overhauled.
Good luck getting in the team when players like Fred are around. I am not sure what this kid's parents are thinking.
Cheers for the feedback mate.
Nice post as always. I’m starting to get a feeling this lad could get games for us fairly early on like someone like Powell or Lee Sharpe (possibly not the two greatest examples!) as we are forced to reshuffle. The rest is up to him.
He’s clearly not going to be part of any midfield overhaul this summer. His prospects of making it into our first team will likely depend on the success of those brought in/through in the overhaul.
Romano confirms today (which is odd as seemed to say it some time ago). But heyho, another (hopefully) good teen to add to several prospects we already have ...
can he start tonight?
If he was 21/22 I would be happier. We needed someone in January and the board failed, so point the finger in their direction if we don't get 4th spot.
We have many young midfielders who are very good in the academy, we need a new manager who will give them a chance. Maybe Ten Hag.
We have many young midfielders who are very good in the academy, we need a new manager who will give them a chance. Maybe Ten Hag.
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Presumably goes straight into the U23s next season?