James McAtee

Well McAtee won’t want to go back to Sheffield but might want another loan. He turned down Brighton last year which reportedly upset City.

I think we will see him in preseason, like last year.
 
I've not really kept an eye on him this year.
Had he done enough (in a poor Sheffield united team) to get interest from other Premier league clubs for either a loan or permanent transfer?
 
Gabriel said:
Each window we're linked with every man and his dog, but they never all turn up. There will also be more games and different challenges next season, and with little break over the summer more injuries.

I still think a lot will depend on how this season unfolds, the transfers done, and those who decide to leave. McAtee is just a touch younger than Doku but has collected more League minutes this season, and he has a skill set that we could do with next season. If Bernardo leaves and Foden continues in midfield, we only have Doku who can play wide right, and his inclination is to attack rather than play that pausing role. Bobb could also play there, of course, but his skills are better suited for between the lines.
Click to expand...
But out wide is hardly where McAtee has been playing, is it? Bobb is definitely ahead of him in the pecking order now, not to mention Grealish, KDB, Foden, Doku, etc.

I'm also not convinced that if he were to play in a Grealish role he'd be ready for it. For two seasons now he's been playing in a system that doesn't have much of the ball and needs to do something with it quickly when they do. He's hardly been learning how to be patient, retain the ball etc.

I'd be delighted to be proved wrong because I've always been sentimental about McAtee, but I think he is less likely to get a squad place here next season than he was a year ago. Going to Sheffield United for a second year was just a very bad decision and it looked like a bad decision at the time.

I can see him getting minutes if we get relegated for FFP (which is unlikely), but not in an other scenario.
 
bobom said:
But out wide is hardly where McAtee has been playing, is it? Bobb is definitely ahead of him in the pecking order now, not to mention Grealish, KDB, Foden, Doku, etc.

I'm also not convinced that if he were to play in a Grealish role he'd be ready for it. For two seasons now he's been playing in a system that doesn't have much of the ball and needs to do something with it quickly when they do. He's hardly been learning how to be patient, retain the ball etc.

I'd be delighted to be proved wrong because I've always been sentimental about McAtee, but I think he is less likely to get a squad place here next season than he was a year ago. Going to Sheffield United for a second year was just a very bad decision and it looked like a bad decision at the time.

I can see him getting minutes if we get relegated for FFP (which is unlikely), but not in an other scenario.
Click to expand...
He’s actually played 878 of his 1,803 minute this season on the right, either wing or midfield, and the only reason we have Bobb ahead of him right now is because he is at the club; I do think Bobb will play inside sooner because of his touch and awareness. Just like Foden and Bernardo, McAtee could learn to walk out on the right before learning to run in the middle, and because he knows the system, I think he could quickly adapt to that role.
 
youngbob said:
Needed to go to Brighton or Wolves. Made a mistake not doing it.
Click to expand...
Yet he might not have gained as many minutes at either of those clubs. He went where he was known but went up a level to test himself and will probably finish the season with over 2,000 League minutes. Irrespective of the style of football or Sheffield United's final position, he will have played home and away against most of the top teams in the League, bar us, and his mind and body will have been sharpened by the experience.
 
Cheadle_hulmeBlue said:
I still think we should give him a chance. He’s got everything to be a top player, he just needs to be developed properly.
Click to expand...
I agree but it is largely dependent on what he himself wants. If an offer were to come in from the likes of Brighton or Villa I think he would join them in preference to warming our bench.
 
He’s been poor the last few times I’ve seen him play, but then again the whole team has. Still gets knocked off the ball far too easy, needs to work on his strength and stamina over the summer. But if Morgan Rogers can be a regular for a top 4 club then there’s no reason McAtee can’t as he was miles ahead of him at EDS level.
 
He’ll get his chance to impress in pre season. I got the impression before wanting to go to Sheffield and annoying some at the club he was highly thought of. Not just talent but character.
 
youngbob said:
Needed to go to Brighton or Wolves. Made a mistake not doing it.
Click to expand...
Brighton would have been a good shout.
Doubt he wasn't going to Wolves as their preference was for Tommy Doyle.
Realistically there are very few premier league teams that can take our younger players. They are not good enough for teams at the top and not sure if teams expected to be at the bottom can improve the players.
McAtee and Kabore are with poor teams and are probably no better now than they were this time last year.
 
If I was in charge I would try to loan him to stuttgart.

could see him flourish there. I think he has the capability to play regularily and would get some cl experience.
 
merz said:
If I was in charge I would try to loan him to stuttgart.

could see him flourish there. I think he has the capability to play regularily and would get some cl experience.
Click to expand...
Definitely something to consider.

City might need to dig in a bit more with the very promising group.

Reason I say that is the player and his agent can't really loose except trophy maybe by leaving picking up a nice lump sum and better contract, the buying club might double their money overnight

City benefit from the fee but should they hold on a year or two and see if he looks like a worldy after his loan or his value might plummet so there is a risk as well

That's the dilemma but personally yes a good bundesliga club for the best ones sounds good.

As a fan it's great to see the nurtured lad rather than the off the shelf replacement.
 
If we did a role reversal and Palmer was at Sheffield United on loan and McAtee was at Chelsea, would McAtee be at international level and Palmer a bit part player with a team in the relegation zone.
It is evident that the loan of young players is a critical part of their development.
 
Wouldn't want to lose him but struggling to see where he gets regular minutes for us.

Should make us at least £40-£45m. Will shine ever more with better players around him.
 
Otamendi's Beard said:
Wouldn't want to lose him but struggling to see where he gets regular minutes for us.

Should make us at least £40-£45m. Will shine ever more with better players around him.
Click to expand...
The very same logic led us to allow Palmer to leave for roughly the same price. McAtee should be groomed to play the same role that Grealish has but on our right. Same height, similar build, and a left foot that can protect the ball and pause play. If we also then bring in Savio, that then gives us the opportunity to have an attacking/pausing player for both flanks. We’ll probably never play Grealish/McAtee together, but we’ll never find ourselves in the position of having to play Bernardo/Foden out there and thereby reducing our central options. If he can shine at Leicester he can sparkle in Manchester.
 
Gabriel said:
The very same logic led us to allow Palmer to leave for roughly the same price. McAtee should be groomed to play the same role that Grealish has but on our right. Same height, similar build, and a left foot that can protect the ball and pause play. If we also then bring in Savio, that then gives us the opportunity to have an attacking/pausing player for both flanks. We’ll probably never play Grealish/McAtee together, but we’ll never find ourselves in the position of having to play Bernardo/Foden out there and thereby reducing our central options. If he can shine at Leicester he can sparkle in Manchester.
Click to expand...
If Bernie does finally leave this summer, I'd say he's a shoe in for that side.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top