We used to play loads of kids 7-10 years ago, but the very best available wanted ManUre because the children and their parents were seduced by ManUre's on field success. When we compared our former selves to ManUre there was very little in the way of competition, but now there's been a 180° flip and the Salford's are struggling to come to terms with it.
Just based on the education aspect of it, even St Bede's have had to up their game in line with City's growth aspirations just so they can stay on board with City. At youth level, many of the old guard training staff and talent spotters have been replaced and the balance integrated into a cohesive global training and scouting network. We now have a CFG-wide 'holistic' philosophy that whilst still in its infancy threatens to change the way elite football clubs are run forever.
For the kids who don't make it with City, they will still get the best education around and will have been trained to highest football standards available which will still give them a better than evens chance of forging a football career at a decent level albeit at another club. I've seen first hand what City have to offer and believe me, only the reddest of red-eyed Rag parent would even fleetingly contemplate turning down what's on offer at CFA and opt for ManUre given the choice.
ManUre may continue to play their kids (mostly out of necessity than talent) but without the on field success to back it up it means nothing more outside of geographical location and ManUre's previous history to a child and its parents than choosing between our CFA and Stoke City's youth academy. The difference is already that big, and the gap is getting wider all the time. If further qualification of that is needed, all one has to do is cast their mind back to ManUre trying to form a coalition with Liverpool and Everton to boycott playing City at youth team level because they could no longer compete with us.
The difficult has taken time, and what was seemingly impossible is taking just that little bit longer......
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/oct/24/manchester-city-united-youth-policy