Morgan Gibbs-White

Berti No Show said:
It’s disheartening how quickly some of our fans dismiss players from our own academy. It often feels like Phil Foden has become the sole benchmark - as if a young player reaches his level immediately, they’re deemed not good enough. We saw this with Cole Palmer.


I was at the Super Cup in Athens, in his final appearance for the club, and what stood out most wasn’t just his performance - which, for me, was the best on the pitch that day — but the abuse thrown at him by grown men that day in the City section despite the fact he’d barely had a proper run in the side. Just days later, he was sold to Chelsea, where he’s since become one of the Premier League's best players. And yet, some of our supporters have turned on him, despite the fact he never even wanted to leave the club.

What makes it more frustrating is the contrast in treatment. Players like Oscar Bobb are rightly encouraged and supported, but Palmer who was a local lad who came through the ranks was criticised relentlessly. It’s hard to understand.

Similarly, James McAtee hasn’t done any worse than others in his position this season. In fact his output has arguably been better. Yet he’s regularly singled out, while others seem to escape scrutiny. Even Rico Lewis who has shown plenty of promise, gets targeted at both home and away games by a section of the younger fanbase. It's wrong.

It just feels unjust. We should be supporting our academy graduates not turning on them when they’re still developing. The academy is something to be proud of.
Click to expand...
Well said. Palmer was a classic case of not getting sufficient game time to improve as a first teamer, he was stifled at City, mainly by us splashing the cash on big name expensive players.
 
Berti No Show said:
It’s disheartening how quickly some of our fans dismiss players from our own academy. It often feels like Phil Foden has become the sole benchmark - as if a young player reaches his level immediately, they’re deemed not good enough. We saw this with Cole Palmer.


I was at the Super Cup in Athens, in his final appearance for the club, and what stood out most wasn’t just his performance - which, for me, was the best on the pitch that day — but the abuse thrown at him by grown men that day in the City section despite the fact he’d barely had a proper run in the side. Just days later, he was sold to Chelsea, where he’s since become one of the Premier League's best players. And yet, some of our supporters have turned on him, despite the fact he never even wanted to leave the club.

What makes it more frustrating is the contrast in treatment. Players like Oscar Bobb are rightly encouraged and supported, but Palmer who was a local lad who came through the ranks was criticised relentlessly. It’s hard to understand.

Similarly, James McAtee hasn’t done any worse than others in his position this season. In fact his output has arguably been better. Yet he’s regularly singled out, while others seem to escape scrutiny. Even Rico Lewis who has shown plenty of promise, gets targeted at both home and away games by a section of the younger fanbase. It's wrong.

It just feels unjust. We should be supporting our academy graduates not turning on them when they’re still developing. The academy is something to be proud of.
Click to expand...
Completely agree with this.
 
Berti No Show said:
It’s disheartening how quickly some of our fans dismiss players from our own academy. It often feels like Phil Foden has become the sole benchmark - as if a young player reaches his level immediately, they’re deemed not good enough. We saw this with Cole Palmer.


I was at the Super Cup in Athens, in his final appearance for the club, and what stood out most wasn’t just his performance - which, for me, was the best on the pitch that day — but the abuse thrown at him by grown men that day in the City section despite the fact he’d barely had a proper run in the side. Just days later, he was sold to Chelsea, where he’s since become one of the Premier League's best players. And yet, some of our supporters have turned on him, despite the fact he never even wanted to leave the club.

What makes it more frustrating is the contrast in treatment. Players like Oscar Bobb are rightly encouraged and supported, but Palmer who was a local lad who came through the ranks was criticised relentlessly. It’s hard to understand.

Similarly, James McAtee hasn’t done any worse than others in his position this season. In fact his output has arguably been better. Yet he’s regularly singled out, while others seem to escape scrutiny. Even Rico Lewis who has shown plenty of promise, gets targeted at both home and away games by a section of the younger fanbase. It's wrong.

It just feels unjust. We should be supporting our academy graduates not turning on them when they’re still developing. The academy is something to be proud of.
Click to expand...
Its easy to tell with some players like him,they won't make the standard we need for the top intense games. Upto him if he wants to hang around the squad.
I dont condone any abuse and I've seen some shite in my time. Players like edgehill got destroyed at times, sad
 
Gibbs white will do great at city given game time, his aggression and effort will remind many of us of tevez ,He will attack space in a more direct style we’re moving towards, and will score goals.
 
Midfielders that will go:

McAtee, Grealish, Phillips.

Midfielders that probably go:

Nunes, Gundo.

Midfielders that might go:

Kovacic, Echeverri (Loan).

In other words plenty of space on paper.

KP doesn’t take up a squad place so let’s say they all go and that’s 5 squad players gone.

We bought in Nico and Marmoush in Jan, Cherki and Reijdners for the CWC.

Theres space for him.

I’d say any other signings going forward rely on someone else leaving. So for example as there’s been talk I don’t see Rodrigo coming unless say Savio leaves.
 
Centurions said:
There's Blue tinted glasses and then there's this...

Did you honestly even notice him when he played?
Click to expand...
Mcatee had a fair few chances last season and sadly we saw next to nothing from him that suggested he was ready for a regular spot in the side. One cup game i think he scored 2/3 goals but other than that he was mainly anonymous in those PL games towards the end of the season.
 
bell_mcfc said:
Midfielders that will go:

McAtee, Grealish, Phillips.

Midfielders that probably go:

Nunes, Gundo.

Midfielders that might go:

Kovacic, Echeverri (Loan).

In other words plenty of space on paper.

KP doesn’t take up a squad place so let’s say they all go and that’s 5 squad players gone.

We bought in Nico and Marmoush in Jan, Cherki and Reijdners for the CWC.

Theres space for him.

I’d say any other signings going forward rely on someone else leaving. So for example as there’s been talk I don’t see Rodrigo coming unless say Savio leaves.
Click to expand...
I see it the other way, Midfielders that most likely stay
Rodri, Gonzalez, O Reilly, Reijnders, Foden, Cherki, Bernardo. Don't see the space there.
 
Last edited:
Bill Walker said:
Maybe he's going to replace one of the players who doesn't play. ;)
Click to expand...
Good point and we need English players, too many foreign. This is quite a problem for us with Walker gone, Grealish probably gone and maybe Stones. Foreign players will need to go and it could all/ most of Nunes, Kovacic, Gundogan in the midfield (Kev already gone), Silva most probably to go next year
 
Berti No Show said:
It’s disheartening how quickly some of our fans dismiss players from our own academy. It often feels like Phil Foden has become the sole benchmark - as if a young player reaches his level immediately, they’re deemed not good enough. We saw this with Cole Palmer.


I was at the Super Cup in Athens, in his final appearance for the club, and what stood out most wasn’t just his performance - which, for me, was the best on the pitch that day — but the abuse thrown at him by grown men that day in the City section despite the fact he’d barely had a proper run in the side. Just days later, he was sold to Chelsea, where he’s since become one of the Premier League's best players. And yet, some of our supporters have turned on him, despite the fact he never even wanted to leave the club.

What makes it more frustrating is the contrast in treatment. Players like Oscar Bobb are rightly encouraged and supported, but Palmer who was a local lad who came through the ranks was criticised relentlessly. It’s hard to understand.

Similarly, James McAtee hasn’t done any worse than others in his position this season. In fact his output has arguably been better. Yet he’s regularly singled out, while others seem to escape scrutiny. Even Rico Lewis who has shown plenty of promise, gets targeted at both home and away games by a section of the younger fanbase. It's wrong.

It just feels unjust. We should be supporting our academy graduates not turning on them when they’re still developing. The academy is something to be proud of.
Click to expand...
The Oscar Bobb love in is very strange, we have no idea if he’s ever going to be the player we hoped after those few quality appearances before his injury.

He’s certainly not looked the same yet, in his sub appearances at the CWC and for Norway.

We initially overhype a player, like we all did with Rico Lewis, Palmer, McAtee and so on and then when they start to play badly or even just not play extremely well, they get slaughtered.

Nico O’Reilly and Bobb still have a lot to prove, let’s give them the time to kick on.
 
willipp said:
Mcatee had a fair few chances last season and sadly we saw next to nothing from him that suggested he was ready for a regular spot in the side. One cup game i think he scored 2/3 goals but other than that he was mainly anonymous in those PL games towards the end of the season.
Click to expand...
Funnily I think this new system where the wingers/ forwards play inside with wingbacks would really suit the lad, but he’s never getting in the side ahead of Foden, Cherki, Marmoush, Doku and so on.
 
Berti No Show said:
I think you're underselling him there. McAtee is a quality player. He's been a quality player since he was 14 years of age and many in the academy thought he had more natural talent than most players we've had in our academy including Palmer. Problem with McAtee is that he's a shy lad who doesn't believe in his own ability. Once the penny drops and he's given the environment where everyone around him believes in his ability, you watch him go. He's always been a confidence player. Players like Cole Palmer, Gazza and Wayne Rooney aren't intelligent enough to overthink. They have nothing between their ears.
Click to expand...

I've liked posts that say MGW is better, but I do agree with most of this, especially the personality part. Unfortunately I just think men's football, is just a bit too big, fast and strong for James. Yes smaller players have prospered, but they need to be fighters and I've never seen that in him.

I wouldn't rule out it all suddenly clicking late in his career, around 28 or so, but clearly both us and him won't wait that long.
 
Last edited:
CΛL said:
The Oscar Bobb love in is very strange, we have no idea if he’s ever going to be the player we hoped after those few quality appearances before his injury.

He’s certainly not looked the same yet, in his sub appearances at the CWC and for Norway.

We initially overhype a player, like we all did with Rico Lewis, Palmer, McAtee and so on and then when they start to play badly or even just not play extremely well, they get slaughtered.

Nico O’Reilly and Bobb still have a lot to prove, let’s give them the time to kick on.
Click to expand...
I'm personally hoping Bobb just needs to get his confidence and fitness back, possibly he just needs to get his own self belief back that his body won't betray him again. He looked the real deal in the youth system, oddly I was never particularly taken with McAtee even then, when he was bossing it.
 
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