Alexis Sanchez

[BringBackSwales]

Yes, encouraging play by them but did we not have the same last close season and even with lower grade players Pep refused to play his young stars of the last pre season.

We can but wait and see. I think he will, in certain games, particularly if we are winning, but I can't prove it, and you may be right

 

[SWP's back]

Yes, encouraging play by them but did we not have the same last close season and even with lower grade players Pep refused to play his young stars of the last pre season.

I think I'll trust Pep's choices on whether (then 16 year olds) are ready to make the step up rather than yours.

 

[City_Sean]

http://sportwitness.co.uk/chile-sanchez-sending-wenger-messages-public-private-wants-man-city-move/

Was just about to play this, he's definitely doing his bit!

 

[SilverFox2]

0.

I think I'll trust Pep's choices on whether (then 16 year olds) are ready to make the step up rather than yours.

Don´t blame you on that score I back Pep completely and so do the board with the cash to buy proven players with cover in all positions.

 

[Dobsy]

Sorry but I think that this year we have seen the board back Pep to the hilt because they also are impatient for success so the academy is put on hold despite Mr K.´saying otherwise about 1 or 2 being in the mix.
My point is that for this season we have bought our way forward with probably more to come so it will be great for the fans and probably great for City generally but with bought players in even reserve positions our academy graduates will take a backseat irrespective of their talent potential.

The domestic cups may get them on display but my opinion and apparently Pep´s is buy for success in the PL and CL at least in the short term.

I don't think you really answered my question.

I understand why you'd want to see us develop our own players and have some world class homegrown talent, because I'd also take great satisfaction from that.

The thing is nobody can ever really tell until it happens if a player is going to be good enough, and it's exceptionally difficult to get to the level required to break into a top team to get the chance. Look at Trippier, Lukaku, De Bruyne. They all spent years playing games at clubs with more modest budgets and ambitions, improved and then got a break.

I think that what is usually required to reach the best level is for a player to gain that experience. I don't think anyone would suggest, say, a 21 year old Lukaku should be allowed to be our starting striker this season. If they would then they'd be prioritising developing young players over success. Just because you play them doesn't automatically mean they become world class.

City fans aren't exactly forgiving. Look at the dog's abuse Samaras used to take. People would say what the hell is Pep doing, get him out.

 

[prestonibbo_mcfc]

I don't think you really answered my question.

I understand why you'd want to see us develop our own players and have some world class homegrown talent, because I'd also take great satisfaction from that.

The thing is nobody can ever really tell until it happens if a player is going to be good enough, and it's exceptionally difficult to get to the level required to break into a top team to get the chance. Look at Trippier, Lukaku, De Bruyne. They all spent years playing games at clubs with more modest budgets and ambitions, improved and then got a break.

I think that what is usually required to reach the best level is for a player to gain that experience. I don't think anyone would suggest, say, a 21 year old Lukaku should be allowed to be our starting striker this season. If they would then they'd be prioritising developing young players over success. Just because you play them doesn't automatically mean they become world class.

City fans aren't exactly forgiving. Look at the dog's abuse Samaras used to take. People would say what the hell is Pep doing, get him out.

You can see if they have the tools and talent. Not saying this because he's at United, but Lukaku is never going to be world class, imo.

 

[Dobsy]

You can see if they have the tools and talent. Not saying this because he's at United, but Lukaku is never going to be world class, imo.

I don't understand why some people think they can't tell that from watching them train with the first team squad.

Agreed on Lukaku, although I can see him hitting 20 goals a season for United.

 

[Proy]

Yes, encouraging play by them but did we not have the same last close season and even with lower grade players Pep refused to play his young stars of the last pre season.

That's mostly because he can't.

To be honest it's a bit fucking boring now. The kids will get an opportunity but only when they are in a different ozone to the next best one.

This football club is not currently in a position to be rolling out unproven youngsters. End of story.

When it is, there will be opportunities.

 

[SilverFox2]

I don't think you really answered my question.

I understand why you'd want to see us develop our own players and have some world class homegrown talent, because I'd also take great satisfaction from that.

The thing is nobody can ever really tell until it happens if a player is going to be good enough, and it's exceptionally difficult to get to the level required to break into a top team to get the chance. Look at Trippier, Lukaku, De Bruyne. They all spent years playing games at clubs with more modest budgets and ambitions, improved and then got a break.

I think that what is usually required to reach the best level is for a player to gain that experience. I don't think anyone would suggest, say, a 21 year old Lukaku should be allowed to be our starting striker this season. If they would then they'd be prioritising developing young players over success. Just because you play them doesn't automatically mean they become world class.

City fans aren't exactly forgiving. Look at the dog's abuse Samaras used to take. People would say what the hell is Pep doing, get him out.

I also understand our current policy to sell with buy back clauses those that hopefully will be in horse racing terms improvers.
Eventually we will hit gold and the player is proven to be at least similar to players we are now buying.
In other words we have removed the need to try them out at PL level.

My point is still that unless they leave City we will be very lucky to get a player who is certaIn to reach even PL level.
The academy is developing and may get a new Messi but that is just luck.

Not saying this is incorrect policy simply that our team no longer needs to promote an academy player, it has improved to only have places for the best in each position with reserves to match so let the academy be self sufficient in the future with City benefiting by getting their pick via buy backs and the academy benefiting by selling on Monaco style.
In other words 2 cost centres.

 

[Neville Kneville]

I don't understand why some people think they can't tell that from watching them train with the first team squad.

Agreed on Lukaku, although I can see him hitting 20 goals a season for United.

If they could, there wouldn't be so many mistakes made over the years keeping the wrong kids & moving on the wrong kids, & failling to see talent in non league etc etc.

And Pep couldn't even get it right with Bojan, giving him 100 games for Barca, never mind watching him in training.

Non of these people know, they just use a best guess but sometimes even then, they can't see the wood for the trees & get it wrong.

If there was a person in football anywhere who could look at a kid in training & be sure whether or not he'd be a top player, that man would be worth ten times Mbappe's transfer fee. In fact a hundred times it.