Matthew Dennis isn’t a name that will be immediately recognised by many MFW readers. He joined us from Arsenal in the summer of 2020 for a small fee and, like many similar signings that Stuart Webber seems to specialise in, was thought of as “one for the future”.
Maybe that phrase was not used by NCFC publicly, but nobody was in any doubt that was the case. On Saturday, Matt Dennis was sold to MK Dons for the all too predictable “undisclosed fee” after almost exactly three years with the Club, not that he was actually here in a physical sense for much of that time of course.***
Matthew joins the ranks of Conor McGrandles [Lincoln City] and Timi Odusina [Hartlepool United] in being sold on by Norwich City without ever kicking a ball for the first team. There are others of course, as well as a few who have also been bought in and simply released rather than attracting that unmagical word undisclosed.
Why, apart from topicality, do I single out the 20-year-old Matthew Dennis, you might well wonder.
The reason for this is that I was strolling along the Haymarket one fine summer’s day when I saw these two young lads bowling along in very high spirits, checking out the shops as they went. One had what looked like an official City training top, so I pointed at it and gave them the thumbs up and one of them pointed at my fanboy shirt and did likewise.
I thought no more of it.
The following morning there was a picture of the recently-signed Matt Dennis along with his new pal Bali Mumba enjoying a stroll in the City in the local press and I quickly realised who I’d enjoyed a cheerful exchange with.
A nice memory of a carefree summer’s day.
I am just concentrating on the young footballers we buy in, play in our Under-23s for a while and are then often loaned out under the careful eye of Neil Adams and latterly Andrew [we know you’re real name’s Andy] Hughes. I am not looking at Academy lads or speculative transfers in of slightly older players who may well be sent straight out on loan, such as Sam McCallum or James Maddison.
Some folks would claim that these youngsters are simply bought in cheaply to make what the Club hope will be a profit or we can make a first-team squad regular out of them. When they don’t make the cut, cynics will say “what a waste of time and money he was.”
But despite being a fully paid-up member of the Cynics Society, I cannot force myself to think that way in this case.
Not every young footballer is going to “make it” in terms of ending up playing regularly in the Champions League, Premier League or even the EFL Championship. No $hit Sherlock I hear you say, but hang on a mo.
The one thing a young prospect surely knows is that the day he signs for Norwich City he will be looked after off the pitch as well as on it, which is becoming increasingly important by the day in this wonderful world of professional football.
These players will know that if they show evidence of the promise believed to be in them at “point of purchase” a clear line of opportunity is there for them to progress from the Under-23s through carefully selected loans and then, with the grace of the Football Gods, a place in the first-team squad and quite likely a high-value transfer out when the time is right.
The examples are there. James Maddison and Ben Godfrey will certainly vouch for that. But we also got a great couple of seasons out of both of them, the vast majority of supporters realised that they had to leave when they did and both remain fondly remembered at Carrow Road, at least by all the folks I know anyway.
Sure, the reasons why we sold them when we did are largely unappealing but we have never been a club that is able to hang to the best of its younger players as they are peaking and that will not change in the foreseeable future as we all well know.
But is it really so bad that sometimes we develop players and don’t sell them for a profit?
I reckon we’ve struggled to break even with Dennis, McGrandles or Odusina when development factors such as salaries, accommodation [which is really quite generous, believe me], and the other allowances that are available are taken into consideration.
But I don’t see anything intrinsically wrong with this process. So what if it means we have developed a player who will never play at a higher level than League One?
What we have done is to give them the very best we can in terms of development and when they leave us it is up to them how far they progress from there.
And if it turns out that they enjoy a happy and successful career away from Norfolk, I think that’s good for all concerned and I would imagine the coaching staff will be very pleased with the fact they have helped to make professional football a young man’s career.
*** Matthew Dennis quickly became a regular for the Canaries at Under-23 level, initially as a wide player, before successfully converting into a striker. He finished the 2020/21 campaign as Norwich’s top marksmen at youth level, finding the net seven times and providing three assists, including two in the Papa John’s Trophy, one each against Newport County and Plymouth Argyle.
MK Sporting Director Liam Sweeting said: “We are delighted to welcome Matt to the club as our first signing of the summer window.
“His athleticism, directness and quality on loan at Southend alerted many clubs and I’m delighted he and his family have chosen MK Dons as the best fit for him to develop further.”
***
So as somebody who knew every blade of the very sparse grass on Hackney Marshes, a certain pitch at North Weald airfield and several places in Harlow I can no longer recall, I don’t feel that sorry for you Matt, but I sure do wish you all the best for the future.
No regular MFW reader would expect this from me, but I do like the odd bit of vintage pop:
Morning Mr P, trust you are well now some of the frustrations of the season are passed, we are in that lull period between before it all starts again..
There must be several young players who have come in for hopefully nominal fee and then let depart, also many from the academy can join them, some go to forge a half-decent career in the lower level. Kings Lynn have had a few canaries turn into Linnets over the years..
I know you centred on the young lads like Dennis, but I would just like to add there a few like Hondermarck now with Barnsley, Lomas (sent to Tampa Bay Rowdies, now with Bracknell Town.. Finally Ethen Vaughan, now with Burnley. Have got to mention Sebastian Soto, (Livingston) was going to be the next best thing out of USA apart for the flight path. also Melvin Sitti signed a 4&1/2 deal only to have the contract terminated now with FC Annecy. Sinani, was going to be let go, but thank goodness Smithy wants a look at him, this after a good season at Huddersfield, plus is international getting a double over the weekend.
I could go on, these are a few of the more recent ones, the list goes on but I have not got the time to find out nor the inclination either, plus it gets boring. I have this notion that we seem to buy willy nilly and terminate contracts at speed, I may be wrong on this but I do feel we have signed more than any other time in recent history. It feels like a waste for a club on a cotton thread budget.
I wish Mr Farke all the very best with Borussia Mönchengladbach (yep had to copy & paste that). will be keeping an eye his progress.
Morning Lad
I agree with you about the overkill on this type of signing under Stuart Webber as it’s definitely been more scattergun than rifle shot.
Thanks for those you mentioned but I picked out three I was familiar with rather than try to produce an exhaustive list – as you say it would have been very tedious!
I’m amazed the Terriers didn’t want Sinani for a rumoured £1 million – they must have their reasons but I dunno what they are. He could yet prove useful to us of course.
Most of us will join you in wishing DF well. I’ve seen Real Mallorca play several times so follow them in La Liga [when they’re in it!] and now I have a Bundeslige team to follow as well. *The Foals* is a strange nickname but there’s a connection to our Daniel in there somewhere 🙂
Cheers
Ah “Borussia Mönchengladbach” as in the old joke about their least popular fan. The one who starts up the chant:
“Geben Sie uns ein B….”
(If you’re a professor of German and that’s wrong, blame Google translate)
Hi Keith
I speak a bit of Spanish and French but no German so I’ll take your word[s] for it as I’ve no choice really.
I sure know what you mean though 🙂
Cheers
Marty, it would nice to think it‘s all about football but of course in the background are the dreaded accountants. So far the player development activities have not incurred their wrath and many young players have benefitted from the system and long may it continue. I‘m sure there will be questions asked and tweaks made to the operation to improve the success rate but importantly your paragraph about young players enjoying a happy career sums it up beautifully. Well done to the Club.
Hi Cutty
Personal experience forces me to agree with you about accountants, although I see mine as a pedantic and expensive but nonetheless essential shield against the even more dreaded HMRC.
Of course the youngsters often miss their hometown and their friends but I know NCFC does everything it can to combat this as well as provide top-class accommodation and, more importantly still, coaching.
Well done the Club indeed.
Cheers
Bringing in young players is good but only in moderation and only if they’re coached by the club.How many youngsters get loaned out only to see their progress stall or go backwards?Pity that the reserve leagues are not brought back,play them in that and coach them the same as the first team squad.The younger ones could then play in the u 23’s.For every Aarons or Godfrey theres probably
20 times or more youngsters who dont make the grade unfortunately.
Hi Tonyb
Many of us lament the Reserve leagues such as the Football Combination.
They were a great environment for the youngsters to play alongside first teamers who were either out of form or returning from injury and the youth of the day must have learned a lot by playing alongside them for sure.
Youthful talent can become dissipated for a variety of reasons of course.
Cheers
Finnish top 5 most talented listed players include Teemu Pukki, list was made 2016.
1. Lauri Dalla Valle
2. Teemu Pukki
5. Berat Sadik
Third and fourth placed players never made anything to be mentioned. Number 1 Dalla Valle was known mainly because he decided to choose italian national team instead of finnish national team. He never made it to italian national team. Also he is known because of his signing bonuses. He wrote first to Inter Milano, went back to play in Finland second or third level and played 7 games there and after that moved to Liverpool. Chelsea are said to be offered to him 1 million pounds signing bonuses, so Liverpool offered more and its been rumored as 1,5 million pounds. After Liverpool he moved to Fulham. He never played a single game for Liverpool and Fulham. Fulham loaned him to several clubs. During his 10 season career he only played 99 games but became a multi millionaire, he represented 11 clubs as a professional and played most of his games for Crewe (41 games).
Berat Sadik plays still, just like Teemu. He plays for Doxa in the Cyprus league and has represented 11 different clubs and played 13 times for Finland. He and Teemu were known striker partnerships for HJK, he has scored so far 137 goals in 422 games as a professional. He scored last season 13 goals in 28 games at the age of 35.
So yes even in very top rated talents which is believed to make a good professional footballing career, many things can happen.
Hi 1×2
Absolutely. We have had so many players in the UK who have burst onto the first team scene only never to be heard of again after six months or whatever.
Whatever their nationality any footballer can make off the grid money by being sensible and level headed. People like Gary Lineker [investment and media] and Robbie Fowler [property] come particularly to mind. Norwich City’s Mick Channon became a very successful racehorse trainer and I believe he still is to this day.
Fowler owned so many properties he rented out for profit that Liverpool fans even had their own version of Yellow Submarine: *We all live in a Robbie Fowler house*!
Kiitos
I going to put Andrew O into the list of promising kids, brought to City to progress and pleased to see he’s signed s new deal till 2026.
Hi Bernie
Omobamidele was signed from Leixlip at 16 and went straight into the Academy, which is why I didn’t include him or the boy from Corcaigh, Adam Idah.
Like you I’m delighted Andrew’s signed on for four more – until the right offer comes in for him of course.
Cheers
Hi Martin
Excellent read
There’s a young lad up here playing for Blackpool called Carey that left city for Kings Lynn then got a chance in the Championship last season but fell out of favor with the manager he might get another chance now said manager has jumped ship for Villa.
This time of year many clubs release u23 players to make room for others coming up in their Academy’s and many other clubs have the list’s of these players.
A few years back the FA arranged games for those released for lower leagues to have a look at and pick up on the cheap ie small signing fee, City also rain trial days for ex Academy players that they were interested in not sure if either still happens.
Agents of these young players will be working overtime to find them new clubs so they could shy away from trials incase of injury.
Glen Hoddle ran a training camp in the Costa’s for a few years with limited success but a few got picked up by lower league Spainish clubs.
Just think how many city have released that the club hailed as possible the next big success story especially on the keepers rota I think Oxenborough has left now after a poor loan but that’s for another day.
Hi Alex
I’m probably wrong here but I cannot immediately think of a player that meets the criteria that has ever really come back to bite us on the butt.
The dichotomy is does this recuitment policy drive the Academy lads on harder or does it make them drop their heads?
I really dunno the answer to that one.
Cheers
Picking those future successes years in advance is not an exact science – I expect the club play the percentages and buy xxx amount of players who tick the right boxes knowing one may make it to the first team squad.. The club then needs to make decisions on these other youngsters at some time – do they keep them for a number of additional years or move them on and make space for another new potential.
Through recent history, Norwich do have a good record of bringing players through and at the end of the season there were a number sitting on the bench ready to continue the clubs young player development to hopefully break into the first team on a regular basis.
From the write up, it does seem like the young players are looked after by the Club and that is a minimum that can be asked.for those that just do not get to make it to the first team and as happens on a number of occasions, we can only hope they go on to have enjoyable careers with other clubs
Hi Dave
You’re right of course – it is about playing the percentages. Sometimes I think Webber goes a little bit over the top with his stakes, mind.
NCFC does indeed look after these young lads very well from what I know, whether with thoroughly vetted host homes for the younger ones or shared flats/houses for the type of player i was writing about – as in two players sharing, not with anybody else from anywhere else in sight.
There is a dedicated welfare employee who manages all this and although I briefly met him I’m ashamed to say I cannot remember his name for the life of me right now.
Cheers
I am, like you Martin, pleased to see these youngsters who do not make it here go on to success at a lower level.
As long as it is not a massive drain on resources it should be continued, as you say Max and Ben are living proof it can pay off.
My worry as has been highlighted massively this season is that the money at the top end has been wasted. Behind closed doors I am sure SW has a different description of last year’s recruitment other than “Alright”
Perhaps the “new” investors will allow us one day to perhaps look that little bit higher in terms of ability.
I hope Matt Dennis goes on to do well at M K Dons. Harry Toffolo has done really well at Huddersfield.
Congratulations to Daniel Farke in his new post, I am so pleased he has gone to a very decent German side and not to a rival Championship club.
Hi Tim
All agreed here.
Yes what appears to be *wastage* at the top end in terms of transfer dealings does appear worrying to say the least but don’t expect an explanation from Webber because we will not be getting one.
I can kind of understand why as he won’t want to say anything individually against recruits who he will be looking to get a trick out of or even more likely in some cases offload.
Sargent and Tzolis really stand out to me.
Cheers
Irrespective of whether we lose a bit of money on a relatively high percentage of these lads, if the club can show that they developed them, and they were able to cut it at whatever level and make a career out of the game they obviously love, you have to see it as a “selling point” the club can use if there is a potential wonderkid being looked at by multiple clubs. Why not come to Norwich, where you can have a decent standard of living, have great training facilities under experienced professionals, and if you don’t quite make it with us, the stats show there’s a good chance you’ll be picked up by someone else?
There’s got to be young starlets we missed out on back in the day before the training facilities were improved; I’m guessing parents have a massive say in where their kid goes, not having to show them a couple of portakabins and a tin bath has got to help matters, and if parents can see that we give their kid every possible chance to make a living at football, it’s a higher chance we grab ourselves some gems.
Probably only 1 in 50 is going to be a Madison or a Godfrey, but maybe that’s about the percentage clubs can expect? I have no idea. Any stats on how many youth other clubs get through in a season?
Hi Justin
That’s very much akin to the way I see it myself.
Sometimes folks put up the lack of *bright lights, big city* appeal in terms of Norwich as a place to live in for a teenager and I kind of get that as I grew up in London where a short hop on the Tube could take you anywhere you wanted to be.
But anybody who seriously wants to make it as a footballer wouldn’t have that need as top of the shop anyway so I doubt it’s that much of a factor in reality for the age group I’ve been looking at in this article.
Thanks for a good comment.
Hi yer Martin cold and miserable Cromer way at mo down at red lion just a quick mention that Connor macrandles did play for norwich once can’t remember which game then ended up with serious injury while out on loan which people stopped him progressing here all the best mate .
Hi Kev
Good spot mate – I knew he got a couple of really bad injuries at MK Dons but didn’t realise he actually made an appearance for us.
Now off to Mundesley for a few days so might venture into Cromer at some point now the Jubilee’s over and the kids are back at school.
Cheers