AC Arles-Avignon & Man City (possible link-up)

[DontLookBackInAnger]

We might well be able to get a better deal from them and frankly, I can't think that it would be that hard to help them get up.

Yeh, maybe mate, well im sure our boys have something up their sleeve if they are considering it. Just cant see the next batch of Clairfontaine kids coming from AC Arles-Avignon!

I think we will be sending LOTS of kids there, don't forget I'm sure it's an easier sell to send kids from Africa to the south of France than the north of England. Then there is the issue of visas do kids from say south of central America have the same issues getting into France as the UK? I think not, but I might well be wrong on that count.

 

[Ricster]

I understand both replies but my point is why a Ligue 2 side?

Surely the better youngsters are to be found in the top flight (in general) and also our lads would be better prepared for the Premier League by facing French top flight opponents if they were to go out there for a spell.

What a load of tosh. Look at Strasbourg in Ligue 2. A youngster there, that i mentioned in the transfer forum a while back, Magaye Gueye is highly rated and sought after. He has scored 5 goals in 8 games, and also has 3 assists. All the big French clubs are keeping an eye on him.

The lower leagues of France is where most of the top teams get their decent prospects from.

 

[Cheltblue]

I understand both replies but my point is why a Ligue 2 side?

Surely the better youngsters are to be found in the top flight (in general) and also our lads would be better prepared for the Premier League by facing French top flight opponents if they were to go out there for a spell.

What a load of tosh. Look at Strasbourg in Ligue 2. A youngster there, that i mentioned in the transfer forum a while back, Magaye Gueye is highly rated and sought after. He has scored 5 goals in 8 games, and also has 3 assists. All the big French clubs are keeping an eye on him.

The lower leagues of France is where most of the top teams get their decent prospects from.

A load of tosh it may well be, i am not suggesting my knowledge of french football is anything but.

But now you are implying that the Ligue 2 academies are indeed better than the french top flight which in my book is wholly unusual (but happy to bow down to your greater knowledge), as the Dutch, German, and our English Academy set-ups are all very much driven by the top flight clubs, so more than justifies my orignal questioning.

 

[BingoBango]

What a load of tosh. Look at Strasbourg in Ligue 2. A youngster there, that i mentioned in the transfer forum a while back, Magaye Gueye is highly rated and sought after. He has scored 5 goals in 8 games, and also has 3 assists. All the big French clubs are keeping an eye on him.

The lower leagues of France is where most of the top teams get their decent prospects from.

A load of tosh it may well be, i am not suggesting my knowledge of french football is anything but.

But now you are implying that the Ligue 2 academies are indeed better than the french top flight which in my book is wholly unusual (but happy to bow down to your greater knowledge), as the Dutch, German, and our English Academy set-ups are all very much driven by the top flight clubs, so more than justifies my orignal questioning.

Crewe Alexandra have one of the best-renowned youth academies in Europe, and haven't been anywhere near the top-flight for ages. We shouldn't underestimate the abilities of smaller clubs like these in attracting kids and nurturing them along, nor their scouting network.

 

[Cheltblue]

A load of tosh it may well be, i am not suggesting my knowledge of french football is anything but.

But now you are implying that the Ligue 2 academies are indeed better than the french top flight which in my book is wholly unusual (but happy to bow down to your greater knowledge), as the Dutch, German, and our English Academy set-ups are all very much driven by the top flight clubs, so more than justifies my orignal questioning.

Crewe Alexandra have one of the best-renowned youth academies in Europe, and haven't been anywhere near the top-flight for ages. We shouldn't underestimate the abilities of smaller clubs like these in attracting kids and nurturing them along.

Of course there are always exceptions mate, but i dont see any of the big Euro clubs banging on Darios door for a link-up. And im certainly not saying its wrong, i just cant see too much benefit for City aprt from possible a geographical benefit as DLBIA stated earlier.

 

[Ricster]

Crewe Alexandra have one of the best-renowned youth academies in Europe, and haven't been anywhere near the top-flight for ages. We shouldn't underestimate the abilities of smaller clubs like these in attracting kids and nurturing them along.

Of course there are always exceptions mate, but i dont see any of the big Euro clubs banging on Darios door for a link-up. And im certainly not saying its wrong, i just cant see too much benefit for City aprt from possible a geographical benefit as DLBIA stated earlier.

Look at the Welsh lad we've just signed, he's from a lower league team. As was Richards, Sturridge. Im sure if you go through City's youngsters alot of them will have been signed from lower league team's, as is the case in most countries.

 

[BingoBango]

Crewe Alexandra have one of the best-renowned youth academies in Europe, and haven't been anywhere near the top-flight for ages. We shouldn't underestimate the abilities of smaller clubs like these in attracting kids and nurturing them along.

Of course there are always exceptions mate, but i dont see any of the big Euro clubs banging on Darios door for a link-up. And im certainly not saying its wrong, i just cant see too much benefit for City aprt from possible a geographical benefit as DLBIA stated earlier.

Liverpool have a link-up with Crewe, not that we'd know it from their singular failure to use it.

 

[davepick]

Maybe it's just a 'Pont' in the dark?

 

[Cheltblue]

Look at the Welsh lad we've just signed, he's from a lower league team. As was Richards, Sturridge. Im sure if you go through City's youngsters alot of them will have been signed from lower league team's, as is the case in most countries.

But thats my point, the lower leagues will often have golden nuggets that get snapped up by the big boys, but its usually the odd one from here and there. So unless AC are a reknown academy that attract players from other french clubs, hence a one-stop(ish) shop for City, what is the benefit to us?

 

[Cheltblue]

Maybe it's just a 'Pont' in the dark?

Oi, coat....... and quick!!!