I think we've had this chat before mate, but I see this guy as somebody who has ridiculous processing time. He has already made his decision when everybody else is still deciding and that is one of the few skills that are incredibly hard to teach. His technique falls under "fine to great" rather than "good to great" which we'd want though I'd argue that he's at a disadvantage due to him not being compared to those of his age rather than those who more advanced.
Agree that he's struggled at times in the U21s. But again he's 17. We shouldn't be comparing him to people of that age group as his peers though obviously we always will.
Just as a comparison, I look at him and perennial BM favourite Barker and it just seems that there's light years between them. Barker is going to be a good player somewhere but he'd never developed a brain defensively nor as part of a 11 man tactical system that requires complete flow, rhythm and that type of movement.
I look at Manu Garcia and see a man who understands how to express his ideas within the greater collective unit without detracting from it. That's a bit special at only 17.
See that's the thing, you say about seeing the game and making his decision, but the thing that stands out so far in the EDS, is that he gets the ball and turns into his man and dawdles on it. If deciding what to do is turn the wrong way into a man that's marking him, then I agree. Whereas I see someone like Patching, younger, play in the same u19s side, and the EDS now, and actually look more alive and alert and turn into space better and more intelligently when receiving the ball, while looking every bit as graceful. Plus being a greater goal threat and a better dribbler. Same as Boadu last year.
That's the exact thing we've not seen so far in the EDS, despite it apparently being his main strength. There's been hints at it, but very sporadically, and it'd be the least I expect too. I totally agree re he's only young, but then again, most of that team are young too, and i saw people doing better than what he's doing now last year aged 16/17 in the EDS. And I've seen that this year too.
The Barker comment I don't get. He was absolutely exceptional in the balanced EDS and u18s side last year, so that's an odd statement. His linkup play with Angelino, Byrne and Ambrose around him, dropping back and pushing forwards, was exceptional. As was the flow and rhythm of the team. Garcia's not shown that for the u18s youth teams or the EDS yet, but has looked really nice playing some neat passes in some preseason friendlies for the first team.
I'm *really* not slagging off Garcia, I just believe you're playing up what he's done so far a hell of a lot. I properly pay attention to these games, and i've been looking for signs of encouragement all season and the things that's let me down so far is the fact that he isn't reading the game, looking lost and making bad decisions... which is the exact opposite of what you believe he's doing...in my opinion.
PS - i think Garcia's a class prospect, if there was any doubt about that. Ha. I'm just being realistic, imo, based on what i've seen so far having seen him in 20/30 games, which i think is fair.
