87 | James McAtee - 2024/25

[Manchester_lalala]

He's kicked balls for other teams though and I didn't see anything that makes me think he'll be a difference maker for us. I have been wrong before though!

Hopefully you are again.

 

[Skrastins]

He has time on his side.

We got some older players in his position, he just needs to play well in the minutes he gets, and the trust is clearly there.

It would be a nice dream to see a starting line up include:

Foden
Bobb
McAtee
Lewis
O Reilly

i thnk in a few years we will see something like that

i remember Khaldoon said in an interview that he wants to win Prem with Academy players

 

[shroom]

 

[Stiff Little Wingers]

He doesn't need to play, he's been playing for 2 years and it's put him further down the pecking order as he's seen the likes of Rico and bobb stay here not play and now they're playing ahead of him.

He needs to be around the team daily, accept he's probably not going to feature but take on board everything he needs to do to get himself to the level where he can make it here and show pep that in training. He's never going to show that playing elsewhere, no matter how well he does he'll always have to then show Pep.

In pre-season he said he needs to be here even if he's not playing much, i took that to mean he knows thats his path, loan players generally don't come back and go straight into the side.

we've got a big midfield overhaul looming, 33 yr old kdb, 34 yr old gundogan, 30 year olds bernardo and kovacic are all going to have to be replaced in the next few windows so there's an opportunity for him on the horizon, best thing he can do is take the cameo role this season, make an impression in training and put himself next in line so he takes one of those replacement spots.

If we sell him. He's never coming back

Quite sensible approach. He doesn’t have to be a world beater - just to be able to come in and do a job

 

[glyncity]

Excellent performance tonight for the under 21s and an excellent and well deserved goal , hoping he gets plenty of minutes in the cup rounds etc this season to show what he can do .

 

[MCFCFanTX]

Brilliant game for McAtee. Played a part in 3 goals. Fully expect him to start against Watford in the Carabaro Cup.

 

[shroom]

JM vs Austria highlights

 

[supercity88]

JM vs Austria highlights

Excellent performance. I didn't manage to watch the game, and it's hard to get a true picture with snippets like that, but a lot of very good passes and sewing everything together well. His talent has never been in question, he was levels above in the EDS. The issue was whether he could take that skillset into first team football. Lots of glimpses in that. Hopefully he can continue to get opportunities for us this year and then his minutes increase year on year. I'm happy Pep wanted to keep him and hope he remains patient.

 

[Tevez City]

Happy for James

Hopefully he will be Pep's next Rico

 

[Mancini’s Pastilles]

In hindsight SU was a terrible loan for him. Shit team with shit football. If he was loaned to a team who played football we would of seen a superstar

 

[M16 citeh]

In hindsight SU was a terrible loan for him. Shit team with shit football. If he was loaned to a team who played football we would of seen a superstar

I used to think this as well but I'm sure I read somewhere that pep was happy with his loan as he has learned to toughen up which is important as a diminutive number 10 - Spanish Dave was solid as nails when he was with us but not sure he was always like that. James already has the pausa and good in tight spaces that pep likes so maybe the club thought he needed to get experience with a physical team?

 

[Father Paul]

In hindsight SU was a terrible loan for him. Shit team with shit football. If he was loaned to a team who played football we would of seen a superstar

What he may have lost in terms of technical knowledge and skill development he gained in terms of grit and hard work. He is on balance probably in a better place following his time there. Sadly it is going to be hard for him to carve out a niche at City and he might have to follow the Palmer route eventually.

 

[jimharri]

What he may have lost in terms of technical knowledge and skill development he gained in terms of grit and hard work. He is on balance probably in a better place following his time there. Sadly it is going to be hard for him to carve out a niche at City and he might have to follow the Palmer route eventually.

Agreed. If we have a fully fit squad, and a CL final coming up at the weekend, it's impossible to see anything better than a place on the bench for him. Shame, as he has the potential to carve out a decent career for himself in the game.

 

[Mancini’s Pastilles]

Agreed. If we have a fully fit squad, and a CL final coming up at the weekend, it's impossible to see anything better than a place on the bench for him. Shame, as he has the potential to carve out a decent career for himself in the game.

I think you both doing him a disservice there. I recall similar being said about Palmer one time or another, i think we have a potential superstar on our hands

 

[jimharri]

I think you both doing him a disservice there. I recall similar being said about Palmer one time or another, i think we have a potential superstar on our hands

We'll see. Time will tell, I guess. Just out of curiosity (not having a pop; not about this anyway!); in the scenario I put forward earlier, who would you leave out to accommodate James? Bernie, Phil, Kev?

 

[.db.]

I think you both doing him a disservice there. I recall similar being said about Palmer one time or another, i think we have a potential superstar on our hands

I don’t know about ‘superstar’, let’s just get him to being a steady Premier League squad player first. He’s not even at that level yet and he’s 22 in a few weeks.

 

[cheekybids]

I think you both doing him a disservice there. I recall similar being said about Palmer one time or another, i think we have a potential superstar on our hands

My thoughts as well.

 

[shroom]

I've seen this around for a while, not sure its ever been posted on BM, so ...

 

[Mancini’s Pastilles]

We'll see. Time will tell, I guess. Just out of curiosity (not having a pop; not about this anyway!); in the scenario I put forward earlier, who would you leave out to accommodate James? Bernie, Phil, Kev?

Thats the problem. None. I wouldnt leave out any of them. Same as i wouldn't of left out anyone for Palmer last season. It could potentially be he flourishes elsewhere same as Palmer but hopefully Pep can find a way to fit him in maybe be bernardos eventual replacement?

 

[jimharri]

Thats the problem. None. I wouldnt leave out any of them. Same as i wouldn't of left out anyone for Palmer last season. It could potentially be he flourishes elsewhere same as Palmer but hopefully Pep can find a way to fit him in maybe be bernardos eventual replacement?

It is an issue. As of now, he wouldn't displace anyone in our midfield, or any of the wide men (Wiki has him down as a midfielder or winger). Will he become as good a player as Palmer seemingly has? Who knows, it's certainly possible. Also, would he be willing to hang around and wait for a chance, when he sees what Palmer has achieved? Bernie has been leaving in each of the last two or three summers!


I wouldn't like to bet a tattoo on any particular outcome!