Academy Players in the First Team

[Didsbury Dave]

We all love trophies and there's nothing to say that we can't have both - exceptional academy players in the first team AND continued success.

You mean exactly like we have now then.

 

[Kinkys Left Foot]

Sheffield United were desperate to sign or re-loan McAtee and Tommy Doyle and we've refused both.
Do we (we being City, not you lot) think both can make it here?
Both have talent but JM has more natural gifts whilst TD has worked very hard on his game.
Will we see a slow integration into 1st team duties like Foden or is one about to have a Rico breakout season?
As midfielders both play in the most difficult areas of the team to break into. Defensively you have to oust Rodri, best player in the world currently at DM. Attacking you have to get past KDB, Grealish or Foden. No easy task!

 

[johnnytapia]

Good post. I must have heard literally hundreds of names over the last decade or so where people have screamed that they "aren't been given a chance in the first team". Don't hear about any of them any more. None.

It's a huge gap to bridge and one player in one game who can't bridge that gap can cost you a trophy.

We "gave youngsters a go" under Peter Swales, not in this era. If they prove to be good enough they get transitioned slowly and step by step over several years. It's working well so far.

Redmond, Lake, Brightwell, White, Hinchcliffe, Moulden, Scott et al won the square root of fuck all.
(Actually I think Hinchcliffe won an FA Cup with Everton) but the point remains: playing homegrown lads just for the sake of it is crackers.
If you’re better than KDB Bernardo Dias Stones Emerson Phil etc, you’ll get a game. Otherwise, you won’t .

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Redmond, Lake, Brightwell, White, Hinchcliffe, Moulden, Scott et al won the square root of fuck all.
(Actually I think Hinchcliffe won an FA Cup with Everton) but the point remains: playing homegrown lads just for the sake of it is crackers.
If you’re better than KDB Bernardo Dias Stones Emerson Phil etc, you’ll get a game. Otherwise, you won’t .

And in that period when you aren't experienced enough you'll get game time in the cups against lesser opposition and in the league when games are won. It's working brilliantly so far. How many people went mad about Phil Foden not getting enough game time? Look at him now.

If we play a team full of kids in the early round of the league or FA cup, we run the risk of being knocked out which also reduces opportunities for other kids. We also have fringe/second choice type players who we need to keep happy, fit and motivated and for when we need them. Playing kids "to give them a go" would result in us losing those type of players too.

We are getting it just right. We are bring through kids whilst building a winning culture from top to bottom which has won us two different trebles. Fans want their cake and want to eat it.

 

[Ste68]

You mean exactly like we have now then.

I agree the filter to the first team is currently about right. Exceptional talent will make it through (like Foden, Palmer and Lewis have done) and then they will still be expected to perform if they want to remain part of the first team. Those other lads , some of whom look very good at the the level they are playing at are given opportunities gradually and if in the interests of both player and club they move on for whats' been very fair fees we leave the door open for a return should we have been proven to be wrong. Over the years we have had 100s of young lads described as future world stars with hell to pay when we have let them go, many have had good careers but really only thought Sancho and Sturridge who both left arguably in part because of lack of first team chances would be big regrets but even those 2 fell far short of expectations.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Sheffield United were desperate to sign or re-loan McAtee and Tommy Doyle and we've refused both.
Do we (we being City, not you lot) think both can make it here?
Both have talent but JM has more natural gifts whilst TD has worked very hard on his game.
Will we see a slow integration into 1st team duties like Foden or is one about to have a Rico breakout season?
As midfielders both play in the most difficult areas of the team to break into. Defensively you have to oust Rodri, best player in the world currently at DM. Attacking you have to get past KDB, Grealish or Foden. No easy task!

You can see from what we've done with others what will happen this year. They'll train with the first team and get minutes in situations which won't cost us (and them - imagine if Tommy Doyle gets us knocked out the FA Cup in his first game. It could destroy him). Then they'll get more responsibility if they earn it. Like Phil and Ricoh.

 

[KS55]

The purpose of an academy is to give players a first class education both on and off the pitch. It is not to produce first teamers per se. When they graduate we have to make a decision on each individual whether to integrate them into the senior squad, loan them out, or sell them.
The fact that City’s academy is known for its excellent education is why other teams will buy for anything up to £20m. They will get a player with potential maybe for their first team or to make a big profit later, see Lavia. We will have immediate income and buy back and profit sharing for the better graduates.

 

[colorado blue]

What were the thoughts on Academy and fringe players from US tour? It’s always a little hard to judge from these less competitive matches but would like to see Bobb getting a lot more minutes this season. Sounds like McAtee impressed Pep and he had a solid tour but can’t see him starting league games yet. O’Reily and Doyle look like great talents too.

 

[Brendan110_0]

What were the thoughts on Academy and fringe players from US tour? It’s always a little hard to judge from these less competitive matches but would like to see Bobb getting a lot more minutes this season. Sounds like McAtee impressed Pep and he had a solid tour but can’t see him starting league games yet. O’Reily and Doyle look like great talents too.

McAtee will get some cup games and sub appearance every now and then in league, more minutes if he impresses. Oscar Bob is one of our first team now IMO.

 

[Norbiton]

You can see from what we've done with others what will happen this year. They'll train with the first team and get minutes in situations which won't cost us (and them - imagine if Tommy Doyle gets us knocked out the FA Cup in his first game. It could destroy him). Then they'll get more responsibility if they earn it. Like Phil and Ricoh.

Tommy Doyle has signed for Wolves hasn’t he? It’s Callum we’re hanging on to