ITK-John Bostock.

[willdayid]

First time poster and everything, so I realise alot of people will think this is bull, and that my "source" is dubious at best.

Anyways, on another forum, I speak to someone who claims to be the cousin with John Bostock, the player who made his debut this season for Crystal Palace. at 15 years of age.

Anyway, he started off a "conversation" by saying-

"my cousins signing with you ¬_¬ you know, the one who plays for palace?"

I asked if it was a done deal, he said-

"not yet, but the papers where saying that hes definately signing a contract with Palace, then i spoke to him last night and he told me that its a load of s***.....Tottenham are offering him alot more than Palace are and he said its most likely he will sign with them"

Apparently Chelsea and Arsenal are sniffing around, Chelsea have made a a concrete offer, Arsenal haven't at this point, but he is apparently not interested in Chelsea.

I realise this isn't very exciting and that and could be crap, but thought I'd pass it on anyway.

 

[hughy]

To be honest, I hope it's crap.

 

[Johnspur]

I'm managing Crystal Palce on fm at the moment, i let Bostock go.

Just thought I'd share that.

 

[milkman]

I'm managing Crystal Palce on fm at the moment, i let Bostock go.

Just thought I'd share that.

:lol: never heard of this kid though? :shrug: any good?

 

[Jody]

thanks for posting mate. what position does he play?

 

[nickspurs]

I hadn't either so I had a look and snatched this article from another forum. Written last autumn and not sure of the original source:

Meet John Bostock, aged 15, the boy Barcelona can't buy

Chelsea are champing at the bit. Barcelona will be back in for him before long. And Manchester United have already put down their marker.

At the age of 15 years and 289 days, John Bostock has suddenly become big news. Fazed? No fear.

The morning after becoming the youngest player to pull on the red and blue stripes of Crystal Palace, Bostock was back at school in Blackfriars, south London, yesterday and wondering whether he had done enough to stay in the team for the trip to S****horpe on Saturday.

S****horpe away?

Hardly every schoolboy's fantasy, but Glanford Park is the next port of call for a player who has a season ticket in the Arthur Wait Stand at Selhurst Park and hopes to emulate Ian Wright, Attilio Lombardo and Dougie Freedman.

Bostock made his debut as a second-half substitute against Watford, runaway Championship leaders, and in 18 minutes he gave Palace's increasingly rattled fans something to cling to: hope.

His name has been added to a list of 34 players, including Matthew Etherington, Peter Lorimer and Neil McNab, who have made their competitive debuts for a professional team under the age of 16.

Even Duncan Edwards, the Manchester United wing half who lost his life in the Munich air crash 49 years ago, had to wait until he turned 16 before making his debut for the Busby Babes. Bostock must be some player.

Former Palace manager Peter Taylor said yesterday: "Bostock will not just be a good player — he can be a great player. He has a good left foot and that makes him easy on the eye, he is a good size, can run all day, pass short and pass long.

"When he first started training with the first team he would take three touches of the ball, but I encouraged him to watch Gareth Barry and Cesc Fabregas; they take one and still they never lose it.

"He's a fantastic talent, no doubt about it. When he had that freekick near the end against Watford, I was willing him to fill his boots."

No question, Bostock means business. Aidy Boothroyd's side are on the fast track back to the Premier League but Bostock will not be far behind.

The way he shrugged off challenges from the likes of Watford skipper Gavin Mahon, a player who has been around the block, suggest Bostock can handle himself where it hurts.

Something had to stir in south London and Bostock, a courteous, intelligent and articulate young man, will soon be a fixture in Palace's first team.

He returned to school yesterday and spent most of the afternoon signing autographs for star-struck pupils, but Bostock will not be fazed by the prospect of fame.

Neil McGregor, deputy head teacher and head of PE at the Nautical School in Blackfriars, said: 'He has a lot of humility, he's very honest and there is no danger of him ever becoming a Big Time Charlie. His feet are firmly on the ground and we're very proud of him.

"He is very good academically — an A star pupil without question — and he has university potential if he decides to go down that route. He is gifted athletically and he could be an international sprinter — he holds the record for the Lambeth Schools 110metre hurdles."

Even the headmaster's PA referred to Bostock as "a remarkable young man" yesterday, but his parents can take immense satisfaction for his upbringing.

Raised in Camberwell, his mum Christine, a teacher, and dad Mick, who is also a Palace fanatic, have been with the boy every step of the way.

Bostock watched Palace's 2-2 draw with Leicester in the stands with his dad back in August but two months later he was sitting on the substitutes' bench. Talk about living the dream.

He beat competition from 200 kids to win a place at the Palace academy when he was just seven and the path that could ultimately lead to the Premier League has been mapped out ever since.

Complications with the FA prevented Bostock playing for Palace before their 2-0 defeat against Watford but the England Under 17 midfielder is relishing the prospect of leading his club away from the relegation zone.

Palace manager Neil Warnock said: "The lad is more concerned with his football than anything else and so is his dad. Mick is incredibly level headed and he has been wonderful to deal with. John is a smashing lad and we want to build a team around him."

So do others. Barcelona have enquired and teams from the top reaches of the Premier League have tempted Palace chairman Simon Jordan to sell the brightest academy prospect in the club's 102-year history, but Bostock is red and blue through and through.

"He's a Palace nut and I want him to stay for two or three years," said Warnock. "There are five or six other young players here, such as Victor Moses and John Hills, who can make a name for themselves.

"His position will be central midfield, where he can dictate things and decide when to get things going. He has a good touch and good vision but I will have to tell him to cut out the showboating.

"I remember Palace being billed as the Team of the Eighties and I wanted to recreate that here with the number of young players we have at the club."

Ah, the Team of the Eighties. The team Terry Venables built around the likes of Kenny Sansom, Terry Fenwick, Vince Hilaire, Jerry Murphy and Dave Swindlehurst.

"The fans want an exciting team to watch and that's what I want to create," added Warnock.

With Bostock on the scene, he has certainly made a start.

 

[Jody]

just found this on him
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/li...all.html?in_page_id=1779&in_article_id=490798

 

[Jody]

doh!

 

[sharky_marky]

Bostock is class and a Palace fan I know rates him a a great prospect - The kid is actually rather intelligent for a footballer as well, which makes a refreshing change! A young left-footed winger with pace and class is so rare these days we should make the kid an offer he can't refuse.

 

[MattWilliams]

Bostock is an excellent player for his age, bags of potential. I'd love to nab Victor Moses off Palace as well. They've got some fantastic youth players coming through at the moment.

 

[Coolpudge]

Looks a good prospect but are we realistically gonna play a 15 or 16 year old. If it were up to me I would rather he stayed at Palace if he is getting games there.

 

[PT]

Like we should have done with Thud and Lennon, get them in then loan them back out for that unmatchable experience.

 

[weststandvoice]

There's only one problem. The word fifteen. Cheers for sharing anyway.

 

[Aay_Jay_Dee]

To be honest, I hope it's crap.

what an idiot

 

[Kyras]

Like we should have done with Thud and Lennon, get them in then loan them back out for that unmatchable experience.

Hudd went on loan for 13 games to Wolves, and had also played 90 odd games before joining us.

Lennon was thrown into the first team due to an injury, and never looked back, until this season.

 

[Coolpudge]

Like we should have done with Thud and Lennon, get them in then loan them back out for that unmatchable experience.

Those 2 are playing well now but for those 2 there are always the likes of Calum Davenport and Jonathen Blondel that come to early and end up getting ruined. just think that at his age he would be better off where he has been since he was 7. Especially if he is a central midfielder. Just think he would be better where he is

 

[nedley]

Looks a good prospect but are we realistically gonna play a 15 or 16 year old. If it were up to me I would rather he stayed at Palace if he is getting games there.

I'm sure he's sixteen now, the age that arsenal signed Fabregas! Two years and then he was in the first team. This boy will be a star!

 

[Coolpudge]

I'm sure he's sixteen now, the age that arsenal signed Fabregas! Two years and then he was in the first team. This boy will be a star!

If Palace get promoted this season maybe get some sort of 1st refusal on him and see if he can hang. In fact maybe do that even if Palace don't get promoted. Saying that Jordan is a bit of a twat and probably wouldn't let us

 

[DoublePivot]

So a 16 year old lad is going to leave the team he supports? That seems dubious to me, as we are not going to give him that much money.

 

[worcestersauce]

This Young lad is good, ok at 16 you can't say how good he will become but he is good.
Perhaps a deal to loan them Tomas Pekhart next season would suit us all.