The glaring problem with our youth policy with this shaping up to be another year of failure, as they simply will not be risked in the league, is that we look for excuses not to play our youth, rather than opportunities to play them.
There have been ample opportunities this season, and previous before, to give youth players a chance. However, there is always a perceived excuse to be had, a 'what if' blocking the door. Many of us make these same excuses on managements behalf, what if we needed at that extra CB on the bench, we need to keep that player happy and therefore in the squad. X has been good lately so he stays, X has been bad lately so he stays to get better. Our entire ethos is geared towards finding excuses not to afford these kids time to prosper.
Not a single Monaco player would make it here, nor would of Sterling, Stones, Sane or Jesus.
This problem runs deeper than our youth players though, it's the same reason the BBC can mock a fan without any fear, certain outlets run awful hit pieces on Sterling and of course it's what we see on the pitch when we utterly capitulate against Monaco, as they have done under Pellergrini, and going back under Mancini.
Edit: Fuck I'm in a bad mood today.