75 | Nico O'Reilly - 2024/25

[SilverFox2]

I agree with the premise, but it's a balancing act when dealing with youngsters at our level, where a couple of losses could be the difference in winning the league (or cup) or not and then you don't want that situation to affect the lads confidence.

Pep knows this and will be careful with him and introduce him slowly.
It's a big leap in terms of standard but, as seen with Oscar, the lad will have to trust the process, be patient and be ready to take his chances when called upon.

The Palmer comparison is a bit different in that he was playing in a team that didn't look like it had any real style of play and seemed to be trying anything to see if it worked.
I like Palmer and think he's a great talent, but there's no way he would've been given the licence to play like that with us, because our style and structure of our play is/was so different.

Spain as a country team play similar to City. Young talent is given a chance so do you think Pep would promote a 15 or 16 year old to the PL team if one appeared?

 

[Blue_Lightsaber]

Spain as a country team play similar to City. Young talent is given a chance so do you think Pep would promote a 15 or 16 year old to the PL team if one appeared?

He did exactly that to Messi.. but then again he knew Messi from being his manager of the B team!

So the answer to your question is Yes undoubtedly but with caveats.

 

[domalino]

He did exactly that to Messi.. but then again he knew Messi from being his manager of the B team!

So the answer to your question is Yes undoubtedly but with caveats.

Pep did not know Messi from the B team, he stopped playing for them 3 years before pep arrived and had nearly 100 first team appearances. He scored 17 in 35 games the season before pep arrived!

Foden is actually the only real example of Pep really pushing a teenager into the first team since Thiago.

 

[Tevez City]

More Busquets than Rodri and I love it! He would give us something different

But he is a striker

 

[bluesmith]

But he is a striker

He's a midfielder albeit much more attacking than defensive.

 

[lasereyes]

Pep did not know Messi from the B team, he stopped playing for them 3 years before pep arrived and had nearly 100 first team appearances. He scored 17 in 35 games the season before pep arrived!

Foden is actually the only real example of Pep really pushing a teenager into the first team since Thiago.

I think decent chance Rico becomes a semi regular 1st teamer this year

 

[Txiki Txiki Bang Bang]

Pep did not know Messi from the B team, he stopped playing for them 3 years before pep arrived and had nearly 100 first team appearances. He scored 17 in 35 games the season before pep arrived!

Foden is actually the only real example of Pep really pushing a teenager into the first team since Thiago.

It was Rijkaard that gave Messi his break but that's something you don't always hear about

 

[mcfcpride]

Better than Casemiro

 

[Keeper!]

Future Rodri?

 

[SilverFox2]

He did exactly that to Messi.. but then again he knew Messi from being his manager of the B team!

So the answer to your question is Yes undoubtedly but with caveats.

So is it possible that academy talent is at last good enough for Pep rather than seeming to prefer talent that other PL teams have proven to be OK at that level.?
I am mindful that Messi played Spanish style football whereas Pep himself had to adjust and eventually prove with trusted City players that his style could consistently win in the PL.