Even taking Torres off (which we should TBH) then the totals are 26 appearances and 1581 minutes played which still leaves us at the top of that particular table.Players 20 or under at Big 6 clubs - apps & minutes played this season (all comps):
Rank 1 - City
9 players (Delap, Palmer, H-B, Doyle, Bernabe, Garcia, Nmecha, Garcia, Foden, Torres*)
Total 37 appearances and 2282 minutes played
Rank 2 - Liverpool
5 players (Elliot, N Williams, R Williams, Jones, Brewster)
Total 24 appearance 1541 minutes played (Brewster now sold)
Rank 3 - Chelsea
2 players ( Hudson-Odoi, James)
Total 22 appearances and 1327 minutes played
Rank 4 - Arsenal
2 players (Saka, Balogun)
Total 13 appearances and 920 minutes played
Rank 5 - United
2 players ( Greenwood, Williams)
Total 12 appearances 12 and 610 minutes played
Rank 6 - Spurs
1 player (Jack Clarke)
Total 1 appearance and 5 minutes played
* yep, I know Torres hasn't come through our Academy
I see your point but i also struggle to understand how playing Mahrez and Zinchenko would have benefited us more than playing Palmer and Nmecha.I cant agree that last night was a missed opportunity for the kids. If we'd have been 3-0 up more would have come on for longer but it was imperative that we qualified. The good news for the Academy lads is that there are now two Champions League games where a number of them will play including starts.
They'd have come on I suspect if it hadn't been 1-0. Don't underestimate that there's a massive chasm in class between the standards at EDS/U18 level and premier/champions league and one bad mistake through nerves and it would have been a problem. It took Foden 2 years to bridge that gap and he's special. I know you know this but Pep has also got conflicting demands: Zinchenko badly needs game time, Mazreq badly needs form.I see your point but i also struggle to understand how playing Mahrez and Zinchenko would have benefited us more than playing Palmer and Nmecha.
These kids are good enough to start against a poor Greek outfit,nevermind come on as subs.The manager needs to start trusting them more and giving them a genuine chance to break through and become 1st team regulars.If that doesn't happen we will waste a golden opportunity as these kids can be special.
I'm not even convinced we will see them in the final two group games.
I get that for sure,i guess i'm just frustrated that two players(amongst others) who shouldn't be part of our future are getting game time ahead of kids who could be.I know you know this but Pep has also got conflicting demands: Zinchenko badly needs game time, Mazreq badly needs form.
"who shouldn't be part of our future", maybe not but the fact is they're here now. One is contracted until 2024 and the other until 2023, the club isn't going to put them on gardening leave as they could do a Bridge and refuse any permanent transfer. It wouldn't send a good signal to any future potential transfers either.I get that for sure,i guess i'm just frustrated that two players(amongst others) who shouldn't be part of our future are getting game time ahead of kids who could be.
Yes mate,i know.......hence the tone of my original comment."who shouldn't be part of our future", maybe not but the fact is they're here now. One is contracted until 2024 and the other until 2023, the club isn't going to put them on gardening leave as they could do a Bridge and refuse any permanent transfer. It wouldn't send a good signal to any future potential transfers either.