Next academy stars?

bobom said:
Our fans' enthusiasm for academy players is only exceeded by our willingness to write them off once they've actually played for us...
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I was thinking that the other day - loads of posts on social media slagging the club for letting some of the kids like Hamilton leave, then pulling O'Reilly apart for losing the ball on his first team debut in a midfield three of academy graduates against United first choice midfield!
 
BedsBlue68 said:
I was thinking that the other day - loads of posts on social media slagging the club for letting some of the kids like Hamilton leave, then pulling O'Reilly apart for losing the ball on his first team debut in a midfield three of academy graduates against United first choice midfield!
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It's crazy how quickly players get written off or criticised. We started the Community Shield with Rico Lewis (19), Nico O'Reilly (19), Oscar Bobb (21) and James McAtee (21). Rico and Bobb were superb. O'Reilly showed glimpses of his talent, lovely drop of the shoulder and touch but the odd stray pass which is to be expected. Stick him next to Rodri and amongst a stronger 11 and there's no reason he couldn't improve and step up. He's playing at Wembley in a derby having very little senior experience. You can't expect much more than what he delivered considering it was a second string against a first 11. We've got to give them time, and we should be happy that we might get to see a bit more from academy products. I was buzzing to see three local lads in the starting 11 personally, and another academy player in Bobb getting a chance too. It could be that we see Foden playing too, and we should be incredibly proud to see 4 local lads getting first team football at City. They're living our dream and should get our backing.
 
Delphinho said:
Mfuni, Leke Drake, Dunbar-McDonald and Finley Gorman (all 16 or under) are four to look our for

Might sound a bit negative but with possibly another attacker and a midfielder coming in, I don’t think Ndala, Susoho and Wright will make it. A year ago I would suggest Dada-Mascoll, who’s got the physicality of O’Reilly, but is a natural DM. Struggles a lot with injuries nowadays, so it’s impossible to say how far he can go
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Mfuni, Drake and Dunbar-McDonald will be U17 for the new season. Finley Gorman will be U16 and has the big reputation. I expect him and another U16, who I rate very highly, to play regularly at U18 level, similar to what Mfuni did as a U16 last season.
 
Presumably Dunbar-McDonald is leaving as he didn’t sign a scholarship deal with us
 
StockportJB76 said:
Mfuni, Drake and Dunbar-McDonald will be U17 for the new season. Finley Gorman will be U16 and has the big reputation. I expect him and another U16, who I rate very highly, to play regularly at U18 level, similar to what Mfuni did as a U16 last season.
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We've brought a few in from other clubs at u16 level (as well as Gorman, Drake).

Midwood and Noubissie are two of those who should be u18 next season too. Picked up from Sheffield U and Leicester City, respectively.
 
1Basti said:
Mfuni...last season should be a wake-up call to invest/change something in the u18/u21 department
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Wake up call? We sold or loaned a whole list of players and promoted up the age ranges. No issue with last season at all. City have always promoted ahead of the age range so there will always be a cycle. This year those players retained will have another year on them
 
The EDS squad is looking pretty stacked this season

Wint
Brits
Carrington
Samuel
Alleyne
Noble
Parker
Smith
Simpson-Pusey
Naylor
Taylor
Okeke
Dada-Mascoll
Gray
Wright
Wilcroft-King (not sure if he’d signed yet)
Ndala
Lawrence
Oboavwoduo
Alcala
Alfa-Ruprecht
Heskey
Muir
Dickson
Warhurst

That’s almost 30 players and doesn’t include any U18s who might play up a level (Mukasa, Mfuni etc)
 
I imagine the likes of Sodje, Katongo and Murray-Jones will depart in one way or another? Maybe some off the list as well, e.g. Dickson or Wright.
 
1Basti said:
Mfuni...last season should be a wake-up call to invest/change something in the u18/u21 department
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Last seasons u21s were effectively under 18s, and are a good group as the FA youth cup win proved. I don’t think they will push for u21 title this year either, but I think they would rather promote lads to first team such as Oreilly, or loan lads out for development like susoho than go for PL2 titles.

I think if there is a potential problem it’s too much investment in players at U15/16+ for big money rather than schooling the best kids from very young like most of the youth cup winning side were. Risk diluting the DNA with older age group investment
 
90s blue brother said:
Last seasons u21s were effectively under 18s, and are a good group as the FA youth cup win proved. I don’t think they will push for u21 title this year either, but I think they would rather promote lads to first team such as Oreilly, or loan lads out for development like susoho than go for PL2 titles.

I think if there is a potential problem it’s too much investment in players at U15/16+ for big money rather than schooling the best kids from very young like most of the youth cup winning side were. Risk diluting the DNA with older age group investment
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Do you know if Dada-Mascoll is back in training yet?
 
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